April 190?.] 



231 



Edible Produces. 



1904. In his preliminary report dated 4th April, 1905, Professor Dunstan gives the 



result of chemical analysis as follows : — 



In samples reed. In dry materials. 



Moisture ... ... ... 9*6 ... ... Nil 



Ash ... ... ... 52 ... ... 57 



Tannin ... ... ... 6-4 ... ... 7*1 



Alkaloid (probably caffeine) ... - 22 ... ... "24 



The alkaloid constituent was obtained as a white crystalline product and 



said to be either " caffeine or of some closely related substance." The limited 



quantity of leaves available for the analysis made it impossible to identify the 

 alkaloid which was found in very small proportion. 



At the request of Professor Dunstan. who wished to make a more complete 

 analysis, I forwarded further and larger samples in June, 1905. These consisted of 

 (1) 7 pounds of the " tea " similar to what was sent previously, (2) 7 pounds in bulk of 

 dried leaves, (3) 3^ pounds of expanded flowers, mostly dried petals, and (4) 3 pounds 

 of unexpanded flower buds. 



Professor Dunstan reported in November, 1906, that, though all the samples 

 were examined carefully for caffeine, the alkaloid could only have been detected 

 with certainty in sample No. 1, viz., the preparation described as Rana- 

 wara " tea." 



Though careful microscopic examination failed to reveal the presence of 

 ordinary tea leaves or dust in sample No. 1, Prof. Dunstan asked for a thorough 

 investigation as to the possibility of caffeine having 1 been introduced in the course 

 of preparation. 



In the absence of the direct testimony of the party responsible for the manu- 

 facture, enquiries were made from those likely to tnrow light on the point. The 

 results of these enquiries go to corroborate the fact that no tea in any form was 

 added, and there is evidence that Mr. De Mel himself said so before the Agricultural 

 Society of Panadure. It is thus not understood how caffeine (which cannot be de- 

 tected in the dried leaves) appears as a constituent of the prepared Ranawara " tea." 



The manufacture of Ranawara " tea" is now being carried on in Colombo, 

 and the stuff sold in neatly made up J pounds packets by the Western Trading 

 Company, Bambalapitiya, Colombo, whose manager (Mr. G. W. G. Gunawardana), 

 informs me that there is a good demand for it. 



THE GROUND-NUT OR PEA-NUT. III. 



(Arachis Hypogcva, Linn.) 

 Cultivation. 



It is in the Eastern United States that the greatest intelligence has been 

 applied to the raising and harvesting of the crop. A description of the method s 

 in vogue in Virginia may well serve as a basis for contrasting the manner elsewhere. 

 The soil is reduced to a fine tilth, the preceding crop— maize, cotton, or tobacco- 

 having been one which leaves the surface in a clean condition. Probably a rich 

 supply of marl or gypsum, if not put on the land when under the former crop, 

 is given. Then the seed, which has been left in the pods all winter, is shelled and 

 its power of germination tested. The farmer is advised to make more than one 

 trial, to test a few seeds indoors first, then a larger number in the open, and not 

 to sow till he is satisfied that he can obtain a crop. As a further precaution it is 

 necessary, when the shelled seeds have to be kept for some little time before sowing 

 to keep them in small bags or baskets, lest they heat and lose all power of growing! 



