July i, 1889.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
37 
The Groundnut Trade.— The S. S. "Star of 
Victoria," from Galle is at present taking in a 
consignment of 12,000 bags of groundnuts for the 
French market, after whioh she proceeds to 
Pondicherry for a further shipment of this commo- 
dity and then leaves for Marseilles.— Madras Mail, 
May 18th. 
Oeylon Tea in Aberdeen. — The Overland Ceylon 
Observer of 10th April publishes a list of names 
. of " Benefactors of the Ceylon Tea Industry," and 
first on this list is the name of Mr. William 
Westland, Aberdeen. The agency established at 
53 St. Nicholas Street has the credit of being the 
oldest Oeylon Tea Agency in Britain.— Aberdeen 
Free Prats, May 4th. 
Coffee in S. India. — We learn that coffee prospects 
in the Ouchterlony Valley are not as roseate as we 
were led to represent them a few weeks ago. Much 
of the spike did not open, owing to the rain being 
too late, and a lot of blossom failed to set. Thus, the 
800 ton estimate for the Valley has already dwindled 
down to 500 tons, and it is likely this estimated crop 
may be affected by unforeseen draw backs later on. 500 
tons is not even an average crop for the Valley and 
it is hoped better luck may attend the proprietors in 
the next year. — S. 7. Observer, May 16th. 
Insecticides.— A correspondent, writing to a con- 
temporary, says — I notice that in your lastissue soot 
lime and hellebore powder are all recommended for 
the destruction of caterpillars, but perhaps it is not 
generally known that gas-tar is a first rate preventive 
which is better than cure. I have had whole plots of 
gooseberry bushes devastated by them, and also cab- 
bage and cauliflower. Since I commenced to use gas- 
tar the caterpillars have not made their appearance, 
and it is both a safe and a cheap remedy for the 
gooseberry caterpillar and all others affecting green 
orops which are subject to attack. — Indian Forester. 
Cotton is not to be (like tea) every wheie 
a suocess in Ceylon ! At least we learn that Mr. 
Joseph Holloway of Wattegama — an experienced 
persevering agriculturist, — has been so disheartened 
by the result of his experiments with cotton for a 
long time back, that he concludes that neigh- 
bourhood is unsuited for cotton. He has had to 
contend with "beetles" in dry weather, the report 
says, while the rains when they come spoilt 
his bushes 1 But this reads like a very old story 
of planting difficulties, and Mr. Holloway is not 
the man we take him to be if he confesses himself 
beaten with the new product. 
Western Java Cinchona Company. — At the annual 
meeting of the shareholders in this concern, held at 
Amsterdam a few days ago, it wan stated that there 
are now in the four Java plantations of the com- 
pany an aggregate of 3,600,000 Ledgeriana and 
150,000 Suceirubra trees. The net profit for the 
year 1888, almost exclusively obtained on the sales 
of oinohona, amounting to 98,750f., was 37,812f., 
which admits of a dividend of 3J per cent to the 
shareholders. In view of the falling of the quinine 
prices, experiments are constantly being made with 
other articles, and the coca plantations at Tjiseureuh 
and Bajabang are in a flourishing condition, — 
Chemist and Druggist, May 10th. 
Is Tea going to rival Tobacco in its own par- 
ticular line? The Americans have, it appears, 
discovered the intoxicating properties of the un- 
infused leaves ; and eating the raw tea is now said 
to be the latest fancy which has found favour 
with the go-ahead residents of the United S ates. 
The habit is gaining ground evurywhere, and ij 
stated to be far more pernicious than taking aloonol 
to excess, for its effects are more marked upon the 
nervous system, and ultimately prove more injuri- 
ous to those addicted to it. The raw leaves, when 
taken in large quantities, produce a sensation of 
pleasureable excitement and exhilaration, like other 
stimulants, and then a wild form of intoxication, 
transcending anything experienced by those addic- 
ted to ardent spirits and strong drinks. So, at 
least, it is asserted. The prevalence of the habit 
is said to be attracting a good deal of attention 
on the other side of the Atlantic. If tea is to be 
chewed and smoked as well as infused, planters 
will have to study the requirements of the new 
market. — Home <& Colonial Mail. 
Cotton Cultivation. — If cotton is to do 
anywhere in Ceylon it ought to be in Uva : indeed 
the natives have already shown how good a staple 
can bo produced there. The story is now — and 
it will be supported probably by our Wattegama 
report— that cotton is more liable to the attacks 
of " poochies " of every size and degree than any 
other product in the hands of the planter 1 If 
so, God help the cotton cultivator, we should be 
inclined to say. But we do not believe the report, 
at least in reference to cultivation in a suitable, 
that is comparatively dry climate and good soil. 
There is nothing in the history of cotton cultiva- 
tion in the Southern States of America— although 
" next year " is not unknown there, as a Louisiana 
cotton grower explained to us while travelling with 
him through the Shenandoah valley — or in Tinnevelly 
over the way, to show that cotton cultivation is 
specially precarious. The idea has been started, 
and we think it ought to be carefully considered, 
that the Uva planters, during the period 
of depression in tea, while China and perhaps 
India are being beaten back, might well take 
crops of cotton off their tea land, holding it ready 
for the more permanent product after a couple of 
years say. There is also the hope that in Uva 
even more than in Mr. Blackett's field near Gam- 
pola) two crops of cotton in the year may be 
gathered. We hope so. 
Tea. — The fall in prices is proving a sore dis- 
couragement to our planters as indicating a 
possibly still greater fall when our bigger crops come 
forward. If only the worst could be known with 
out intermediate suspense, there would be a general 
sense of relief. For, in the long-run, Ceylon men 
are, we think, confident that they can carry the 
day both for quality and quantity— that is they 
look forward in a few years, to having so large a 
quantity of tea, medium and good quality, to 
export, as must shut out China tea and stop the 
extension of planting in India. If it were 
known that Ceylon's exports shou'd run on 
for the next five years in the ratio of 35, 
47, 60, 80 and 100 million lb., the effect no 
doubt would be to concentrate attention more 
than ever on this island as the great tea country 
of the future, and to discourage planting elsewhere 
and any but the most temporary arrangements in 
connection with tea business at China ports. 
Attention is still given to the question of intro- 
ducing Ceylon teas into the American market 
the local Company, unfortunately, is not yet in a 
position to start, but is expected to be very shortly 
when Mr. Pineo will at once leave for New York. 
Tea experts here have been impressing on our 
planters the necessity of manufacturing Oolongs and 
so adapting their teas to the prevalent American 
taste. Ceylon Oolongs have already been most 
favourably reported on, and there is no 
doubt that a considerable quantity of this kind 
is likely to be made and sent to the American 
market ; but we shall be sadly disappointed if our 
ordinary black ("breakfast") teas do not meet 
with favour especially in the middle and Western 
States until they gradually become the obief bevnr- 
age on the American Continent and in place of 100 
million lb. of tea in annual consumption for 
North America we see 400 millions consumed with 
a steadily increasing demand 1 
