832 THE TROPICAL 
Some of this fruit has been forwarded to the Starch 
Manufactory at Palinges with a view to ascertaining 
the proportion of starch they contaio. The Society 
decided that an attempt should be made at the Algiers 
Gardens to acclimatize the plant, which may become a 
staple of culture and be utilized in industry. This inter- 
esting communication was listened to with great atten- 
tion. Endeavours are being made in the French 
West India possessions to form a company with 
the object of introducing and cultivating the coca 
plant. 
Ceylon Tea foe China. — The latest we have 
received is an order for 200 lb. Ceylon tea from a 
firm in Shanghai. This is right into the enemy's 
camp, I think! Do you think they want to imitate 
our Ceylon make, if so, they couldn't have chosen a 
better mark than ours eh? — Merchant. [No doubt 
the tea is for " foreign" consumption at Shanghai. 
-Ed.1 
Coffee Notes.— The correspondent of the Journal, 
writing from Ouro Preto, Miuas Geraes, under date of 
the 5th inst., says: " Farmers, in view of what is oc- 
curring (emancipation), are abandoning the old, worn- 
out coffee orchards, and are applying themselves to the 
planting of new, and the development of these in full 
bearing. This will diminish greatly the coffee crop this 
year. Some persons declare that not over two-thirds of 
the crop will be secured." — Rio News. 
Bug on Beet. — A recent exchange says that a des- 
tructive and voracious enemy of the beet-root has 
appeared in Germany. It is a black bug, and was 
first seen in Silesia, where in the district of Leop- 
schutz, upwards of fifty acres of beets were com- 
pletely ruined. One cultivator, on a patch of less 
than ten rods square, killed 1,800 bugs. This unex- 
pected falling off in the outcome of the beet sugar 
crop in Germany this year, may be owing in part 
to the ravages of these pests. — Planters' Monthly. 
The Tea Bug of Java and Ceylon. — At a 
meeting of the Entomological Society of London 
on April 4th, Mr. Waterhouse read a paper en- 
titled " Additional Observations on the Tea-bugs 
(Helopeltis) of Java," and exhibited a number of 
specimens of these insects. He said that the 
species infesting the chinchona in Java was sup- 
posed to have been introduced from Ceylon in 
tea, but that he had discovered that the species 
on the tea and on chinchona in Java were dis- 
tinct, and that both species were distinct from 
Helopeltis antonii of Ceylon. — The Athenaeum, April 
14th. 
Cinchona Bark. — With another fall in price, 
this time of a farthing per unit, it would really seem 
as if "other countries" learning that Ceylon was 
slacking off, had begun to "rush" their bark to 
Europe. If so, they will find Ceylon is waking 
up too, for apart from rising exports, here is the 
railway return for week ended 8th April giving 148 
tons bark against 94| same week last year 1 The 
8th instant closed the week just before the rain began. 
Ceylon Abrowhoot Flour. — Mr. R. P. Jaya- 
wardana of Cotta sends us a packet of "Jaya- 
wardanapura Arrowroot," which is " guaranteed 
pure, and free from all chemical impurities." Ac- 
cording to a contemporary, 
" It appears that he picked up the mode of prepara- 
tion when attached, many years ago, to the Agricul- 
tural and Iudnstrial School under Mr. Thurston. On 
his transfer to Kurunegala, he attempted to grow the 
yam, but the soil there was not favourable to it. Since 
his re-transfer here, he has been making experiments 
in Cotta and has induced the people thereabouts to 
undertake the cultivation, making small advances 
against the crop. The result is that there are now 
about 10 acres of land under the product in that 
district and its neighbourhood. Mr. Jayawardana at 
present works a small Hand-mill, which gives employ- 
ment to about half-a-dozen bands ; but he will under- 
AGRICULTURIST. [June i, 1888 
take operations on a more extended scale when the 
samples ho has distributed for analysis are reported 
upon." 
The sample looks very good, and we wish Mr. 
Jayawardana all success in his new enterprise. 
Hardiness of Eucalyptus Ooccifera.— You have 
been good enough on one or two occasions to insert 
in the Gardeners' Chronicle some remarks of mine 
relative to the hardiness of Eucalyptus coccifera. 
About three, or perhaps nearly four years ago, I 
bad planted in the garden of the Atkinsou Morley 
Hospital at Wimbledon, four small plants of this 
Eucalypt; one perished from drought, but the other 
three, notwithstanding the exceptional severity of 
the late three winters, have withstood snow and 
frosts remarkably well. They are now from 8 to 
12 feet high, in an exposed site, and look (I saw 
them this day, March 27), in perfect health and 
vigour, ©f all the tribe, E. coccifera is the one 
which will best bear our winters out-of-doors. It 
is quite a mistake to plant E. globulus for such a 
purpose. It might grow, in fact I have seen it grow, 
in the open air iu winter in Cornwall, and in a 
secluded sheltered 6pot in Dorsetshire and Hastings 
Old Towu : whereas the E. coccifera will flourish in 
any season, and its culture should be encouraged 
and promoted by all means. — John CoLEBROOK. — 
Gardeners' Chronicle. 
Planting in Borneo.— We understand that the 
Borneo Planting Company are making rapid progress, 
Mr. A. Walker, their Manager, has felled 160 acres 
on the Segaliud River for Liberian Coffee, Cocoa, 
Manila Hemp, Pepper, Coconuts, &c. At Bocara 
60 acres are planted with Manila Hemp and 
Pineapples, and further land is being cleared for 
this purpose. We wish this Pioneer Company every 
success. — Borneo Herald, April 1st. 
Jaffna Tobacco, — The tobacco cultivation is of deep 
interest to all people in Jaffna. In fact, this is the 
chief article of export. Whilst we have to buy from 
foreign markets our articles of food and clothing, as 
well as other articles of necessity, not to speak of 
those of luxury, the principal means of bringing money 
into the conntry from abroad is tobacco. It is now in 
various stages of growth, and in a few weeks more, it 
will be gathered and cured. Probably, the extent 
grown with tobacco this year is greater than any pre- 
vious year. The care and the trouble taken and the 
work done by the cultivators in raising the crop, are 
very great. But where is the market for a good sale ? 
There is more than the demand of the markets in 
Colombo, Kandy and Galle ; and more than the demand 
of the Indian market. Now, it behoves every man of 
patriotic feeling to find out the ways and the means of 
sending the Jaffna tobacco to the European market. 
The process of curing should, of course, be in a superior 
manner. This is well worthy of the attention of such 
good men as Charles Morrison, the banker, or some 
metropolitan merchants. If among the drawbacks, 
bad curing be one, the remedy can be had. Persons 
versed in the act of curing may be got out for a time, 
to teach the cultivators, or instructions may be 
obtained from wheresoever they can be had. It would 
be a great service to the country, if the cultivation of 
the chief article of export can be encouraged. From 
the year 1857 to about 1870, sales of tobacco were very 
encouraging and satisfactory ; but since then, there 
has been a decline. It is certain that there is a large 
acreage fit for such cultivation, and what is wanted is 
larger demand. To develop the resources of the country 
is of the utmost importance for its prosperity. 
Our people have to direct their attention towards find- 
ing out the ways and the means of advancement and 
improvement. Selfishness is an evil and a disgrace. 
It is man's duty to be useful for himself and others. 
It is a good idea to form an agricultural association, 
hold meetings at stated times, and have communi- 
cations with similar institutions in other parts of the 
world, with a view to introduce new modes of culti- 
vation aud adopt all that is good and useful. Are there 
not men of leisure, means and talents in our midst to 
form suoh a useful association ?~Oom, "Morning Star." 
