2\1 
THF. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1888. 
fine.iess of its grain, as everyone who has handled this 
stone is aware. Ground soapstone is one of the finest 
materials which can be produced, and from the experi- 
ments which have been made by Messrs. Holzapfel & 
Co., of Quayside, Newcastle-ou-Tyne, it is found that 
nothing takes hold of the fibre of iron and steel so 
easily and firmly as soapstone. It is, moreover, lighter 
than nu-Ullic pigments, and is said to cover a larger 
surface than either zinc white, red lead, or oxide of 
iron. The soapstone is mixed by Messrs. Holzapfel 
& Oo. with a quick-drying varnish of great tenacity 
and hardness, producing a paint of great covering 
capacity and firmness, presenting an enamel-like sur- 
face of a bright red colour. In employing soapstone as 
a pigment for paint, Messrs. Holzapfel employ prac- 
tically an imperishable article. Soapstone is neither 
affected by heat, by atmospheric influences nor by 
ordinary acids, and will, consequently, be a great 
improvement on the pigments employed in paints 
so far. Oxide, lead and ziuc mixed with oil, turpen- 
tine, and driers are usually employed in painting 
the insides of vessels, as well as bridges and all 
iron or steel structures which are liable to corrode. 
All these pigments undergo a change through being 
exposed to the atmosphere, and are all easily dissolved 
in acids, and can, consequently, only last for a 
limited period. For steel structures, particularly, 
these oil paints, as a rule, do not offer sufficient 
adnesive properties to protect the steel against atmo- 
spheric influences effectually, on account of the smooth 
surface and fine grain of the steel. As a strongly 
adhesive, hard-setting varnish is employed in the 
present case, soapstone composition may be considered 
a distinct advance on the present method of painting. 
The soapstone composition will also preserve woodwork 
from rotting and sandstone from decay; it will render 
walls damp-proof, aud will be found an efficient substi- 
tute for all ordiuary punts. — European Mail. 
[Soapstone paint or varnish would, apparently, be a 
valu able application to the wood and metal of teahouses. 
All the notice we can find of this mineral in Oeylon 
is a reference by Gygax to steatite or " French clay " 
of an impure nature in Saffragam. Dixon names 
steatite as occurring at Nuwara Eliya, but gives no 
hint of its quality. It may be worth while looking after. 
The beautiful mineral serpentine, with which it is 
generally assooiated, does not seem to have been 
observed in Oeylon. — Ed.] 
♦ 
PEPPER AND NUTMEGS IN THE STRAITS 
SETTLEMENTS. 
REPORT OF CONSUL A. G. STODER AT SINGAPORE. 
Black pepper takes the lead in exports, with a 
vastly increased cultivation on the peninsula of 
Malacca, in Sumatra, Siam, Borneo, and in localities 
where formerly little or no pepper was planted. It 
is now about 85 per cent higher, $20'50 per picul, 
than it was during the first years of my residence 
here, and not so long ago it was up to $24. For 
the benefit of the masses of our people who consume 
more or less of this spice, I would say that, as I 
understand it, there is in reality no need for such 
high prices. "With due allowance to the plantation 
laborers for the depreciation of their wages, paid to 
them in Japanese silver dollars (which allowance, 
they do not receive, but their Chinese " towkay " 
pockets, when selling his crop), I call this spice, in 
view of its vastly increased cultivation (like three 
to four now to one in 1871 to 1875), very dear (not 
losing sight of thu immense stock held by speculators) 
at £114 hilver p(r picul (133 1-3 pounds]. This wild 
speculation in pepper originated essentially in Europe. 
Pepper, unlike many articles of colonial produce 
is one that will keep lor a very long time without 
any discoverable deterioration, if not handled much. 
The United States' pro rata of population as compared 
with other countries in Europe, consumes more spices 
of pepper, nutmegs and mace especially, than any 
of them, and as to pepper, large quantities of it 
Bte used in curing meats on an extensive scale in 
meat-packing establishments and on the farms in 
our Western States in addition to household con- 
sumption. This consumption of spices, any kind, 
pro rata of population by any country, is pretty 
well known here in the country of production among 
exporters after long experience, and as most of the 
lstter have branch firms in London chiefly, it is of 
course well known there as well. 
I feci pretty certain that if our Consuls in England, 
aud the continent of Europe, were forbidden to grant 
their certificates to invoices of this spice (and any 
other Asiatic produce, for that matter), it would 
come down from its high horse pretty soon — reduce 
wild speculation ; actual consumption more than 
speculation would fix the price of it— a reasonable 
one. 
Singapore and Peuang are the principal pepper ex- 
porting places in the East (Padaug, in Sumatra, 
and Ports in Java export some), and only to satisfy 
speculation in Europe. I cannot see why not all of 
it should be exported directly to the United States 
instead of in this roundabout way by way of ports 
in England and Europe (keep the p.ofits at home). 
This, would give at the same time more employment 
to American vessels than they now have at wretched 
figures (with much loss of time), in view of the im- 
mense seafaring competition, steam and fail. 
To give a fair idea of the importance of the pep- 
pi# trade here,, in the country of production, and 
in other couutries in 1884 and 1885, I will quote 
the exports, first from the records of this consulate 
to the United States, and next from the colonial trade 
statistics to countries in Europe, taking Singapore 
first, and giviug only the value not the quantity. 
(The average value per picul for the two years was 
about '$18, Mexican.) 
To the United States from Singapore, as per de- 
clared exports in this consulate in 1884, $ 554,099 ; 
in 1885, $ 195,788 as per trade statistics. 
Couutries. 1884. 1885. 
Austria § 159,147 $ 224,918 
Frauce 185,203 149,247 
Germany 168,203 249,218 
Italy 13,127 274,783 
Russia 38,610 55,408 
United Kingdom 1,391,566 1,598,358 
As to Penang and declared exports thence to the 
United States, I have not at han 1 the figures from 
the consular agency for 1884 aud 1885, and only for 
the years ending September 30, 1885 and 1886 (sent 
with my first part of this report), and must, there- 
fore, quote from the colonial statistics, which, in this 
instance, I believe to be approximately correct, viz: 
From Penang. 
To 1884. 1885. 
United States $34,895 $59,303 
Austria ... ... 265 
France 19,984 33,616 
Germany 66,300 75,878 
Italy 18,786 8,260 
United Kingdom ... 1,209,199 1,612,352 
Holland does not appear in the pepper export 
statistics, because, no doubt, this spice was exported 
from her ports in Netherlands India to Holland direct, 
and I have no means of knowing how much. But 
the figures above shown speak for themselves. I think 
that Italy received less pepper in 1884 than she 
consumed, and much more iu 1885, and that some 
of the latter was probably shipped via Genoa to coun- 
tries north of Italy. I think that Russia is credited 
with less than sue consumed, and received supplies 
from British, Dutch, or Hanseatic German ports (as 
also the Scandinavian states, which are not mentioned 
at all in the statistics. ) Reviewing the exports, as 
above, to the United States aud to the United King- 
dom, we find that the former, with a population of 
about 60,000,01)0 received only $S44,088 i 61 worth, 
while the Uuited Kingdom, with about five-eighths 
to three-fourths of the former's population, received 
$ 5,811,475 worth for the same period, i. e., 1884 
and 1885. Now, I don't believe that one- half of 
that amount was consumed in the United Kingdom; 
but supposing it was, the question remains, " what 
became of the other half ?" Granted that some of 
