344 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, [November i, 1887, 
Pekoe, and Pekoe Souchong. The tea industry in 
Ceylon has marvellously increased during the past 
10 years. In 1876 only 282 lb. were exported, while 
in 1885 the exportation had reached 3,796,684 lb. 
Cinchona Barks were fully illustrated at the Ex- 
hibition, and the Museum of the Eoyal Gardens 
became enriched by specimens, each six feet long, 
of the following species : — Cinchona succirubra, renewed 
quill; C. Ledgeriana, original quill; C. officinalis, renewed 
quill. 
A collection of 37 specimens of fruits, seeds, and 
drugs, new to the Museum, were also obtained from 
the Ceylon Commission. 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS : 
Betel Nut Fibre {Areca Catechu). — This is the fibrous 
husk of the fruit exhibited as a paper material. As 
a waste product it is said to be produced in almost 
unlimited quantities. Considering the very general 
practice of Betel chewing in the East, and the 
abundance of fruits produced, the adaptation of this 
apparently useless material for paper making would 
seem to be a very probable benefit to the countries 
where the Areca Catechu is commoD. 
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 
By far the most important of the vegetable products 
exhibited by this Commission, and which were at the 
close of the Exhibition presented to the Kew Museum, 
were the woods. Some very fine planks of the principal 
timbers attracted a good deal of attention during 
the period of the Exhibition, and now form a feature 
in the timber collections at Kew. Many of these 
woods unfortunately had no scientific names, such, 
for instance, as the: — 
Billian or Borneo Ikon Wood. — It is very hard and 
heavy, exceedingly strong and tbugh, "proving," Mr. 
Ransome says in his report, " more than 50 per cent 
stronger than English oak in resisting a breaking 
strain. : i . It is proof against the teredo and 
white ant, and is consequently id great demand for 
wharf piles and planks in the Straits Settlements 
and China. This wood should be largely imported 
into England, as it could be sold at the London Docks 
with a good profit at 3s. 6d. a cubic foot and might 
take the place of green-heart and teak for many of 
the purposes for which those woods are now employed." 
Sumatra or Borneo Camphor Wood (Dryobalanops 
aromatica,) . — This wood is remarkable as being the 
source of the well-known Sumatra Camphor, which 
is found crystallised, often in large masses, in 
interstices of the wood. It is not so volatile as 
ordinary camphor, and is harder and more brittle. 
The Chinese use it in preference to the camphor of 
commerce, which is a product of their own country. 
The wood is of a dark brown colour, hard, and 
heavy. 
Mieabou (Afzelia palembanica). — This is "a strong and 
durable wood, with a dark brownish figure. It 
somewhat resembles teak in grain, and is well adapted 
for furniture and cabinet work, as it works well and 
takes a good polish. 
The other woods received at Kew are :-— 
Penagah, White Borneo Cedar, Greeting, and 
Russock. All of them are woods of more or less 
value. Besides these, various samples of Gutta-percha, 
and some remarkably fine specimens of Dipterocarpeous 
Resins, were presented to Kew by the British North 
Borneo Company. 
TOMATOES. 
Although the climate of Ootacamuud is capable 
of producing, in great excellence most of the English 
vegetables and a number of English fruits, there are 
yet some which cannot be brought to maturity at 
so high an elevation, unless cultivated under the pro- 
tection of glass. The tomato may be named as one 
of the fruits requiring such shelter, and as it is 
proved to be a highly nutritious and wholesome fruit 
it would well repay any little trouble expended on 
its proper culture. The tomato has become highly 
popular of late years in England as may be demonstrat- 
ed by the huge quantities of splendid fruit tb t 
bave been put upon the Covent Garden «ud other 
markets, all through the present season. The supply 
seems not yet to be equal to the demand, so that 
English growers will most probably find the cultiv- 
ation of the tomato a profitable employment for some 
time to come. Large quantities of fruit are sent over 
from Jersey and Guernsey to Covent Garden, very 
early in the season, and the supply is continued 
throughout the summer and autumn months. This 
imported fruit sells at from 3d to 4d per lb. but is 
much inferior to the English produce. The foreign 
tomatoes are of a pale red or orange colour, partially 
shrivelled from the fact of their being gathered whilst 
in a green state. They are also of greatly inferior 
size and quality to the English grown fruit. The 
latter appearing in the markets of large size, highly 
coloured, of splendid quality and almost bursting 
their polished skins with plumpness and high condition. 
Tomatoes at the present moment make a more beautiful 
show in the London fruiterers shops than almost any 
other fruit. English grown fruit fetches from 6d to 
8d per lb. and are all grown under glass in low span- 
roofed houses, where the plants are planted out in 
well prepared borders and trained to stakes till they 
reach the roof. I see no reason why this fruit 
should not be grown at Ootacamund under glass as 
in England, provided the necessary care be taken to 
preserve as equable a temperature as possible, [as 
recommended for the culture of the cucumber under 
similar conditions. 
Construction of House. — The cheapest and best form 
of house is a span, of about ten feet in width with 
a bed or border on each side of the pathway up the 
centre, which may be 3 feet wide. The 6ides may 
be of rough wood or brickwork about 4 ft. 6 inches 
high, head room being secured by sinking the path- 
way. No side lights are necessary, but side ventil- 
ation is desirable, and which may be secured by wood 
ventilators in the wall immediately above the wall 
plate ; or in the case of wood sides a board 9 inches 
wide fixed to the wall plate by hinges and opening 
outwards will answer. Ventilation of some kind should 
be provided for at the apex or ridge of the house. 
An opening about 9 inches will answer. It may be 
of wood and made to open and shut by any simple 
process. The sash -bars may be about 3 inches by 
1^ inch fixed about 15 inches apart or at such dis- 
tances as to suit the width of glass available. Many 
of the growers for market in England, instead of the 
ordinary and more expensive sash-bars, simply use 
rough sawn battens about 2| inches by 1 inch, on 
which the panes of glass are laid and secured by 
small nails or tacks, a slip of zinc is theu tacked 
on to cover the joints. This plan does not secure 
quite a water-tight roof, but the slight leakage is of 
little account and does no harm, and the system has 
the advantage of cheapness. 
Preparation of Beds. — The beds for the reception of 
the plants should be at least 18 inches in depth, six inches 
of whichshould be drainage, and onefootof prepared soil. 
This should be composed of good maiden loam mixed 
with well decayed cow or horse manure. If the top 
spit from a field without removing the turf be laid up 
iu a heap for about a year, this will make excellent 
soil for the beds. Care should be taken not to place 
the compost in the beds, or work it whilst in a wet 
condition. 
Planting. — The plants may be put out when about 6 
inches in height, and about 2£ feet apart. Stakes should 
be driven in, one to each plant, at the time of planting, 
or before the roots have entered the soil and reaching 
to the wire trellis of the house, which should be from 
6 to 9 inches from the glass. After placing in the soil 
the plants should have a rough good soaking of water 
and should never be allowed to get thoroughly dry 
throughout the whole of their subsequent growth, be- 
cause if allowed to suffer in this way, the size of the 
fruit will be diminished and insects will be sure to make 
their appearance on the leaves. 
After Culture. — Little is required with the exception 
of attention to watering, and ventilating till such time 
as the plants begin to show fruit, when liquid manure 
should be applied liberally once or twice a week. This 
is simply made by soaking fresh horse droppings iu a 
