40 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. Quly t, 1887 
THE MADBAS GOVERNMENT CINCHONA 
PLANTATIONS. 
Correspondence is published in the Madras Mail 
in which the Madras Chamber of Commerce com- 
plain that contrary to a pledge given the Govern- 
ment cinchona plantations were being extended 
while, in view of the profit they had yielded they 
ought to be sold. It was also made ground of 
complaint that the Government Analyst was not 
instructed to make analyses at cost price of 
specially interesting specimens of bark submitted 
by planters. The reply was that the gardens were 
not and would not be extended, that they were 
only being filled up where they had fallen into 
decay ; that the bark sent into the market from 
them was about 100,0001b., against some 30,000,0001b. 
produced in the world, and that the gardens would 
be retained until the results of experiments with 
various manures were ascertained, as also of experi- 
ments to obtain preparations of the bark of the 
cheapest possible nature, so as to place febrifuges 
within reach of the poor, and finally of experiments 
in the interest of planters, for obtaining cheaply 
in this country the crude alkaloids, so as to save 
the cost of carriage of the bark. As regards ana- 
lyses it was pointed out that Mr. Hooper by his 
agreement with the Secretary of State was al- 
lowed to charge for private analyses. 
It seems that as yet cow dung, horse dung and 
poudrette seem only to increase the quantity of 
bark but not the proportion of alkaloids, a re- 
sult different to that formerly obtained. 
+ 
China Tea. — I have seen myself in the London 
Warehouses, China Teas in small packages with 
paper lining only, but whether this was only com- 
mon sorts or an exception. I eouid not say. — Cor. 
Cof, EE. — In Brazil kinds a very large business has 
been done, influenced mainly by the American and 
French markets, where the advance has been more 
marked than in London. The loss of the " Ville de 
Rio de Janeiro " on Monday, with 23,000 bags from the 
Brazils, stimulated the excitement, and helped the up- 
ward movement. — Produce Markets' Review, May 14th. 
How to Poison Rats. — Our planter correspond- 
ent who wrote about bandicoots may find " some- 
thing to his advantage " in the following extract 
from the Indian Agriculturist : — 
Captain Fred. Pogsen, of Kotegurh, recommends the 
following speedy and effectual methods for the de- 
struction of rats : — " To exterminate rats is by no 
means a difficult operation, and may be most successfully 
done by — 1st, a simple substance which is a deadly 
poison only to rats, who partake of it ; and 2nd, by 
introducing " sulphuretted hydrogen gas," into their 
holes. Cats, as we all know, are attracted by " Vale- 
rian," and rats by the oil of "rhodium." By means 
of a few drops of this oil, numbers of rats can be 
drawn to any particular locality, where the tasty poison 
being placed, they eat and die on the spot. To make 
this Rat Poison, take of squill, in powder, 2 ounces; 
of cheese of any sort, powdered, 8 ounces ; mix the 
two intimately together, and the result is the Bat 
poison, and is said to kill rats instanter. The " Squilla 
Maritima," is the variety recommended, though perhaps 
Indian squill might answer as well. The cheese cau 
be made by curdling fresh milk, with or without 
rennet. As regards the sulphuretted hydrogen gas, its 
preparation is given in all chemical works, and it can 
bo filled into bottles or bladders, and the gas on being 
poured into a rat bole will instantly pervade space, 
and kill every rat in the hole. The cost of prepar- 
ation is a mere trifle. This plan will kill rabbits as 
well, and has been placed before the Governments of 
Australia for trial, as likely to be more effectual than 
wire fencing one hundred miles long, to keep the 
rabbits of one State from migrating into another. See 
map of Australia for such boundaries," 
Coffee. — An Ootacamund correspondent writes that 
coffee is becoming rather scarce in Ooty markets. 
At present it cannot be had for less than RIG 
per maund of 25 lb. It was sold at the rate of 
15 annas per viss about two months ago, but sud- 
denly there was a rise in the price which has been 
increasing week after week. — Madras Mail, June 7th. 
Tea. — There arc now (says the Shunpao of the 14th 
May) on the Hankow market 1(J5 chops of Hu-Kwtng 
teas, amounting to about 133,00U chests, including last 
year's and new season's teas ; 395 chjps of Niugehow 
and Keemen teas, amounting to about 161,000 chests. 
Nearly one-half of NVi<;ch jw md Kasmen, and one 
quarter of Hu-Kwang new season's teas have already 
arrived at Hankow. 
Cinchona-planting in Russia. — We hear from a 
Continental source that the Russian Ministry of the 
Imperial Domains is about to try cinchona-planting 
on an extensive scale in the neighbourhood of Tiflis 
(Caucasus). Experiments are said to have demon- 
strated that the soil and climate of that part of the 
Caucasus are very suitable for cinchona-growing, 
and it is claimed that cinchonas have actually 
been grown in the Caucasus, and yielded a bark 
suitable for quinine manufacture. We are not in a 
position to judge of the accuracy of the report, 
which, it should be said, emanates from the same 
journal which announced the impending appoint- 
ment of "Dr." Ritchie as British "Minister of 
Public Health." — Chemist d: Druggist, May 7th. 
Ceylon Tea and Indian Tea. — Altohugh the 
Indian tea planters have again and again asserted 
that tea will not last long in Ceylon, they are 
evidently fully alive to the fact of the progress 
we are making. We read in the Madras Times of the 
6th : - 
A meeting of gentlemen interested in the tea trade 
was held at Calcutta on Thursday, to consider the best 
means of popularising tea with the native community 
throughout India. Mr. Lyall, of the. firm of Messrs. 
Lyall and Marshall, who was in the chair, pointed out, 
in view of the largely increasing production of tea in 
Ceylon, that the Indian producers must look to every 
possible outlet for their production. The market at 
their very doors had been hitherto neglected. After 
some discussion the meeting appointed a committee 
to work out the details of a scheme which they pro- 
mised heartily to support. It was proposed to raise 
the required capital in shares of ten rupees, no share- 
holder to hold more than 100. The experiment is to 
be first tried in Bengil and Upper India. The small- 
est village where shops exist will be made the seat 
of an agency. The tea will be sold in one, two and 
four ounce packets, at three, six and twelve pice re- 
spectively. 
Decline of Planting in Fiji. — The follow- 
ing, from the Fiji Times of April 23rd, gives a 
gloomy picture of the planting industry in 
Taviuni : — One of the oldest of the Taviuni planters 
has furnished the following : — " It will no doubt be 
surprising to the early pioneers of Fiji who reside 
abroad, to learn that there are now only sixteen 
plantations occupied and even in partial work on 
the whole island. Some few other holdings are 
occupied, but all cultivation has been abandoned. 
Of the original cultivation on others which have 
been totally abandoned no sign remains, and the 
lands which were cleared at such an immense 
expenditure of money and labour have relapsed 
into the old state of scrub and forest. The 
European population has dwindled to about 80 
people all told, and the island from being the 
garden of Fiji, has except in a few spots, degenerated 
into a wilderness. Of the few plantations occupied 
seven are vakatawa'd, the owners being absentees, 
and other departures will follow almost immedi- 
ately, still further reducing the population, 
