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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September r, 1888. 
"As with ordinary pepper, cubebs are picked when 
full-grown, but before they are mature, hence even if 
fresh- gathered they are incapable of germination. 
" Ripe seed is very rare, I imagine, the plant being 
propagated by slips entirely, and no fruit allowed to 
ripen." 
For the above information we and a good many 
of our readers will feel indebted to Dr. Trimen, 
At Eilandhu pepper vines are grown on trees, jak 
trees specially, besides those trained on rocks, and 
our observation during our recent visit led to 
conclusions the reverse of those stated by Dr. 
Trimen. There were more yellow leaves on the 
vines which had climbed up the trunks of the 
trees than on those which had spread over the 
surface of the rocks. The main reason no doubt 
was the existence of accumulations of deep rich soil 
in which the vines were rooted at the base of the 
rocks, this soil overshadowed by the rocks 
retaining moisture for a longer period than 
that in which the trees grew ; which latter, moreover 
was drawn upon to feed the standard trees as 
well as the adherent vines. There are rocks and rocks 
too as well as different kinds of pepper, and we are 
satisfied that the red granite rocks on Eilandhu 
and the ridge on which it is situated 
are specially rich in felspar and other fertilizing 
constituents. The masses which remain of what was 
in past geologic ages an important range are often 
deeply striated from the decomposition and washing 
down of the softer parts, and we specially 
noticed that it was not on the pepper branches 
which had fixed to and spread themselves up and 
over the rocks, that yellow leaves were to be seen, 
but on branches which had straggled along the 
surface of the ground. It was not our opinion 
alone, but that of our two companions, both ex- 
perienced planters, that the appearance of vegetation 
and fruit on the rock-borne pepper vines, at the 
conclusion of a severe drought, formed a 
full encouragement to extend the cultivation. 
The rocks, the shapes and arrangement of which 
in one part have suggested the idea of a "necro- 
polis," look picturesque as they stand, some of 
them clasped by the long and numerous roots of 
Indian figs, but they will be still more beautiful 
when utilized as supporters of pepper vines with 
the specially luxuriant vegetation of those climb- 
ing and spreading planters. 
THE AMERICAN MARKET FOR INDIA.N 
TEA. 
A well-attended meeting of the General Committee 
of the Indian Tea Districts' Association was held at the 
office, 14, St. Mary Axe, on Thursday, July 26th, at 
which the following gentlemen were present: — Mr. A. 
Bryans (Buchanan aud Co.}, Mr. H. Earnshaw (A. 
Lawrie and Oo.), J. M. Holl (Dejoo Tea Company), Mr. 
R. Lyell (G. Williamson and Oo.), Mr. G. H. M. 
Ricketts, O.B , Mr. R. Rowe (Planters' Stores and 
Agency Co.), Mr. George Seton (Octavius Steel and Co.), 
Mr. R. Gordon Shaw, Mr. A. G. Stanton, Mr. J. 0. 
Stenning, Mr. W. L. Watson (J. Finlay and Oj.),Mr. 
J. B. White Jokai and Panitola Oo., Mr. R. R. Waller 
(Octavius Steel and Oo.,of Calcutta), and Mr.E. Tye, sec> 
retary. 
Mr. W. L. Watson, chairman of the sub-committee 
appointed by the association on May 15th last, 
was called to the chair. The report of the sub- 
committee, previously circulated to members of the 
association, and oopy of which appears in this issue, 
wis laid on the table. The chairman briefly summed 
up the proceedings of the sub-committee, re- 
rriog to the delay which there had been, and to 
its causes Several meetings had been held and a 
good deal of evidence taken. They were confirmed in 
the belief that, in order to progress at all rapidly 
they must go to the consumer*, and probably start 
shops for the sale both of dry tea aud tea in cup, 
extending operations in the different towns by means 
of agents who would sell the Association's blends of 
different grades and of uniform quality. They had 
considered that the joint-stock constitution was, on 
the whole, better suited to the movement than a 
Syndicate, but they proposed that the company should 
hold frequent meetings for tho information of its 
shareholders. To meet the case of companies which 
did not clsa<dy see their way to hold shares, they pro- 
posed the alternativeof contributions of tea — to be sold 
on the market, to produce cash if necessary, and where 
even this course oould not be followed they proposed 
to invite subscriptions to give which, it appeared to him, 
practically every company was competent under the 
usutl general clauses in their Memoranda of Associ- 
ation empowering directors to do all such things as 
are conducive to the attainment of the objects of 
the company. Their report, it would be found, dealt in 
detail with the means proposed for giving contributors 
of tea and others subscribers something to shew for 
their contributions. As regarded the manager or 
agent to be appointed in America, they had decided 
to leave over their decision, as explained in the re- 
port : that in deciding upon this, no personality must 
be brought into the matter. He concluded by pres- 
sing on the meeting the necessity of this being an 
absolutely uuited and universal movement, and he 
felt «ure, if members wodld only unite and pull to- 
gether, that they could undoubtedly look forward to 
making a decided impression on America, and even- 
tually reaping an abuudant harvest. 
A discussion ensued, on the invitation of the Chair- 
man, in the course of which Mr. Shaw made a suggestion 
— supported by Mr. White and others — as to young tea 
being assessed on the basis of its ultimate producing 
power, but exception was taken by Mr. Rowe to the 
proposal. The Chairman, however, said that the sug- 
gestion seemed a fair enough one, and might easily be 
given effect to, on the basis, probably, of value of pro- 
duce with a minimum of four maunds an acre. 
After some further discussion, the following resolu- 
tions were put to the meeting, and passed unani- 
mously : — 
Proposed by the Chairman, and seconded by Mr 
White : "That the report ba received and adopted." 
Proposed by Mr. Lyell, and seconded by Mr. Holl : 
" That the sub-committee be re-appointed, to take such 
further steps as they consider necessary for carrying 
out the scheme, and that they report from time to time 
to the Association." 
The Chairman, in summing up, said that he 
understood that this sub-committee had the 
authority of the Association to proceed to do what 
was initially requisite to carry to a conclusion the 
proposal made in the report, to obtain more infor- 
mation, and to further elaborate details, with a view 
to finally formulating the required soheme. That 
meantime the sub-committee should circulate widely 
if possible, through companies and agents copies of 
the report, accompanied by a circular asking for sup- 
port.— H. $ 0. Mail, Aug. 10th.. 
, — « 
Osteich Feathers; — It has been noticed that of late 
ostrich feathers have increased in quantity and fallen in 
price. This is a matter of fashion's caprice. In 1875, 
the finest white feathers were worth £30 the pound, 
three years later they sold readily, with an augmented 
output, at £50, and very superior realised as much as 
£80. At that palmy time of the industry at the Cape, 
a chick just clear of the shell sold for £2 10s., and the 
profits of ostrich farming fully rivalled those of 
diamond digging. The returns, however, are still con- 
siderable. The secretary of the Port Elizabeth Chamber 
of Commerce has supplied a record of exports from the 
Cape, from 1858 to 1837, whence it appears that in 
the first-mentioned year the quantity exported of ostrich 
feathers was 1,859 lb., worth £12,088; in 1882, the trade 
reached its high-water mark with 253,9541b., valued at 
£1,093,989, aud last year fell to an output of 266,832 Jb., 
valued at £365,587.— Colonies and India, 
