CONTENTS. 



Introductory Chapter ... ... ... ... ... 1 



Objects of the work. Prof. Solly on the demand for a practical book on 

 raw materials. Objects of the Society of Arts and Great Exhibition. 

 jS'ecessity for an attention to tbe culture of the minor staples of the 

 soil. New objects of industry worthy the attention of Science. Prin- 

 cipal part of our homeward commerce composed of raw materials from 

 the Vegetable Kingdom. Mutual dependence of countries on Commerce 

 for the supply of their wants. System of arrangement of subjects 

 adopted by the author. Many articles of commerce omitted for want 

 of space. Those of tropical and sub-tropical regions chiefly discussed. 

 Hints for the cultivator. Division of zones, and countries lying 

 within each, with their range of temperature. Table of climate ; dura- 

 tion and production of the principal cultivated plants. 



SECTION I. — Dried Leaates, Seeds, and Other Substances used in 



THE Preparation of popular Dietetic Beverages .. 11 



Cacao or Cocoa. Varieties and description of the tree. Mode of culti- 

 vation in the Colombian Eepublics. Enemies of the tree. Expenses 

 of a plantation in Jamaica. Cultivation in Trinidad and St. Lucia. 

 Statistics and consumption. 

 Coffee. Home consumption and revenue of coffee. Chicory largely substi- 

 tuted for; history of the fiscal changes. Continental demand. Present 

 produce and consumption in various countries. Cultivation in Mocha. 

 Cultivation in India ; in Ceylon. Exports from that island. Manures 

 suitable for the tree. Peeling, pulping, and winnowing. Improved 

 machinery. New use for coffee leaves. Culture in Java. Production 

 of America and the "West Indies ; Venezuela. Statistics of the Bra- 

 zils. Shipments of various countries to the United States. Compara- 

 tive consumption by different nations. Cultivation in Jamaica ; Tri- 

 nidad; British Guiana ; Cuba; decline of production in this island. 

 Statistics of exports. Preparation of cofi'ee leaves for infusion accord- 

 ing to Dr. Gardner's patent. Dr. Hooker's opinion thereon. 

 Tea. Immense consumption of. Liebig's analysis of. Varieties of the 

 plant. Imports of tea for a series of years. Alterations in the duties. 

 Statistics of import and consumption, revenue and prices. Value and 

 extent of the tea exported from China; first cost at the ports; enor- 

 mous prices paid for superior teas. Total outlay for tea. Consump- 

 tion of tea in China. Export to various countries. Total production. 

 Consumption per head in England ; not properly within the reach of 

 the poorer classes. China could furnish any quantity. Mr. Travers 

 on the tea duties. Brick tea of Thibet. Tea annually imported into 

 the United States ; proportion of green to black. Range of the plant. 

 Countries in which its culture has been attempted. Its progress in 

 America. The Assam Company and its plantations. Extension of tea 

 culture by the East India Co. Mr. Fortune's travels in the tea dis- 



