OciobER i, x88g.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
265 
A CINCHONA SYNDICATE FOR JAVA 
CEYLON AND INDIA. 
We call the special attention of the Ceylon 
Chamber of Commerce, Planters' Association, and 
of our merchants and planters generally, to the letter 
(see page 259) from the Soekaboemi (Java) 
Agricultural Association. We think no harm but 
good would result if, at this critical time in the 
Cinchona bark trade, representative men were 
chosen in Java, Ceylon and India to correspond 
with each other on the subject discussed 
so freely in our columns of late. Baron von 
Rosenberg of North Travancore, and Mr. Jowitt 
of Wynaad might well represent the principal 
Indian Cinchona distriots ; Messrs. Osborne and 
Talbot* as Chairmen of the Badulla and Dimbula 
Planters' Associations — our only districts with Cin- 
chona cultivated to any extent now — together with 
the Hon. W. W. Mitchell, should represent Ceylon ; 
while the gentlemen who write to us, Messrs. Mundt 
and Eekhout have already pledged themselves 
to do all in their power in Java. One matter of 
great practical importance is, our readers will see, 
already taken up in Java, namely the regulation and 
reduction of the export of bark from the Government 
Gardens ; and the Java cinchona planters are evi- 
dently well enough off to agree to do what is more 
difficult to effect in Ceylon. On the opposite Conti- 
nent, however, large holders of bark can be more easily 
brought into the compact and something may also be 
done about the export of bark from the 
Government Gardens in India. As we stated 
before on reliable authority, the very fact that 
Java, Ceylon and Indian owners of bark are 
moving in the direction of a Syndicate to regulate 
exports from the East, cannot fail to have an im- 
proving effect on the markets in Europe. We trust 
therefore, that the gentlemen we have named in 
India and Ceylon will not refuse to second the 
efforts of Messrs. Mundt and Eekhout ■ and we 
would ask Mr. Mitchell who has already shown 
a practical interest in the subject, by his speech be- 
fore the Chamber of Commerce, to take the initiative. 
AMOY 
OOLONGS FOR THE 
MARKET. 
AMERICAN 
a report of Consul Crowell on Amoy Oolongs notes- 
-There was a shrinkage of about 23,0U0 half-chests in 
this season s crop as compared with that of the year 
before, but their inferiority has been fully sustained in 
the quality of this year's teas. A large percentage of 
the Amoy Ooloug lS poorly cultivated, poorly picked 
SL?rt. dlr > and iterated. " Stuff " it was 
ull tl ,> Am0y comm issioner of customs in his 
ast year s annual report, and he added that the stuff 
" was alone wanted in America." This is, unfortunately 
0 tenuufitlo /u he Wh .° h l6Cr ° P of Amoy OolongsTadarfd 
ottea unfit tor use as they are-are annually marketed 
... the United States. The American people Se better 
tt£ T P , ay f ° r a S00d article °f tea than the 
people of any other nation. I am certain it is not the 
interior stun to find a market only in America Tt i« 
he sreed of importers and exporters that aTone make 
"possible to impose this vile stuff, b.y excessive courtesy 
* Should Mr. Talbot personally ha7eTo~int e ^s77n 
unohoua, one of his Committee members from the 
Agras division of Dimbula could act. 
34 
called tea, upon the American public. I have several 
times called the attention of the Department to the 
stuff called Amoy Oolong. I now beg to repeat my 
suggestion with increased emphasis, and to hope that 
the tea-drinking public at home may be protec- 
ted againat this so-called tea known as Amoy 
Oolong. I repeat my suggestions at this time, when 
all the last year's crop lias been marketed and before the 
new crop comes into market, that it may not be thought I 
have any desire to affect the market of these teas or 
to accomplish any other purpose except that of pre- 
venting them from being dumped into the New York 
market, and then, by some occult means, imposed on 
the public. 
The law relating to the importation of bad and 
adulterated teas into the United States is suffici- 
ent, if enforced, to protect the public against such 
spurious teas. 
Every invoice of Amoy Oolongs that reaches New 
York or San Francisco should be rigidly inspected, 
for anything branded as Amoy Oolong is open to 
suspicion as being bad or badly adulterated, and heDce 
every invoice of these teas should be most carefully 
examined at the custom-house. This would afford 
some protection to the American public. It will make 
importers and exporters more wary about dealing in 
the stuff, and it will tend to improve the quality of the 
future product in this district. The Chinese tea 
growers and merchants will never improve their method 
of cultivating, curing, and handling their tqgs until they 
find that they cannot sell them without making some 
improvement. — L. C. Express, Aug. 16th. 
PROSPECTS OF GRAIN CROPS IN BURMAH. 
The Rangoon Gazette hears that in consequence of the 
rains being unusually late and light that in Lower 
Burma more especially, it is probable that the amount 
of land placed under cultivation this season will be 
smaller than usual. It is true that in Upper Burmah, 
despite the cattle disease that has done much damage 
in places, more land is being worked : and here the 
crop is fortunately not so dependent on the monsoon 
as on the rise of the Irrawaddy and its tributaries. 
Still the flood is late, and the river is still lower than 
usual at this time of the year. It is, of course, im- 
possible to even guess at the quantities that may be 
ultimately available for export. So much depending on 
the outturn. A few weeks before harvest makes all the 
difference between failure and a bumper yield, the actual 
area under crop having little to do with the result. With 
anything like an average harvest in the Upper Province 
of which there seems every hope, the demand for up- 
river is not likely to be heavy, and the bulk of t he 
local surplus will consequently be available for export — 
From Siam accounts are favourable ; but China and the 
islands are likely to make heavy draughts in the event 
of a light yield, as the floods in the one and vague 
political uneasiness in the other seem to have thrown 
much land out of cultivation. War in Europe, which 
is becoming more and more a possibility, will cause a 
big demand with high prices, and would certainly 
stimulate production, as a protracted struggle would 
mean large orders for all cereals. Stocks are low at 
present and heavy sales for delivery have taken place. — 
Indian Agriculturist. 
O 
DISCOVERY OF GRAPHITE IN MICHIGAN. 
The disoovery of the Baraga Graphite Mine, in 
northern Michigan, promises to develop into a 
matter of more than ordinary importance. The 
mine has been known to exist for several years, 
but it was not until very recently that the product 
of it was recognized as carbon, and more recently 
still that the carbon was of sufficient purity for 
commercial uses. Graphite comes from this mine 
in large chunks as it is blasted, and is then easily 
subdued to a merchantable form. For the purpose 
of reducing it the same process is adopted as that 
used in grinding wheat, although there has not 
yet been any successful experiments in using the 
