October i, 1888] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
227 
often caused by taking spirits on an empty stomaoh. 
At the midday meal light beer, aB Pilsener, or 
clarot and soda, are the most harmless kinds of 
stimulants suitablo to a planter's avocation. Bass's 
beer and pegs are rather heavy at this time of day. 
At dinner a glass of beer, or olaret, or whiBkey 
and soda, might be taken if required. I likewise 
do not see the harm of a mild peg after the work of 
the day is over and the sun well down but this 
is, often replaced with benefit by a glass of dry 
sherry and bitters. It is a bad symptom when one 
cannot faco breakfast in tho morning boforo going out, 
it means something wrong and is not natural. The 
interval between tho meals is a long one, during 
which time all the hardest work of tho day is 
done. It is a most deleterious habit to go out 
round tho work, if tho stomach is not well fortified ; 
with an empty one tho system is much more 
susceptible to malarious influences. In the plains 
many indulge in an afternoon nap, this has been 
blamod by some. I myself think the secret is not 
to go to sleep too soon after your food ; then I 
do not see the harm of indulging in half an hour's 
rest ; provided you wake up refreshed and not 
heavy with a nasty taste in your mouth. Gentle- 
men, a good deal rests with yourselves, though you 
are exposed to great vicissitudes of climate, yet with 
ordinary oare in your mode of living, taking change 
in time and not being too indulgent, you ought to 
enjoy good health. Take note of attaoks of fever. 
If you find they are coming too frequently, seek 
advioe in time and do not go on doctoring your- 
selves. 
PLANTING IN NETHEELANDS INDIA. 
(Translated for the Straits Times.) 
The Java Bode hails with satisfaction, the ex- 
tension of a British protectorate over North 
Borneo, Brunei, and Sarawak. A British occupa- 
tion, in its opinion, will prevont any difficulties 
like the Acheen ono from arising. Holland can- 
not do anything in the direction of a protector- 
ate. The trouble and burden of it will now be 
borne by another power, which is sure to make life 
and property - thero safe enough to admit of 
Netherlanders settling down to grow tobacco, or 
look out for some other means of gaining a fortune. 
Holland has too many irons in tho fire to admit 
of hur managing effectively tho Colonial possessions 
she holds. In the Netherlands portion of New 
Guinea, the Government officials do nothing moro 
than every now and then, giving a look round to 
see whether tho natives are content and in good 
case. They are never otherwise, interfered with. 
Many of tho inlands under the Netherlands 
Indian Government aro little known to the scientific 
world. To meet this want of knowledge, Dr. 
Baeelor, a young and wealthy German scientist, 
who has travelled through Egypt and Hither 
India as well as Ceylon and Further India, is now pur- 
sum,; investigation and research in them. Aftor 
vi mug Java, ho wont his way to tho Molucoas, and 
New Guinea. There, he was carrying on explorations 
by lust accounts. Dr. Baseler is provided with the 
choicest of instruments, and is ohiefly making ethno- 
graphical and anthropological inquiries, with tho 
aid of an excellent photographic apparatus. Being 
furnished with credentials by Professors Virchow 
and Dastiun, and letters of recommendation from 
■M Governor General, ho has met with every aid 
and help from tho local officials. 
A oorruupondont writing to the Surabaya Con- 
rant from Uuleling tho chief port in BfcU, reports 
that the ooffoo trade thore is steadily on tho iuoreaso. 
That article takes a prominont place among what is 
known as Straits Produce. The export of the berry 
has taken promising dimensions. The Chinese- 
owned steamers frequenting the port, profit the most 
by the opportunity. They usually leave it with full 
cargoes of that produce article. The steamers of the 
Netherlands India Steam Navigation Co. cannot com- 
pote with them, and often have to depart from Bule- 
ling with hardly any local cargo on board. Tho 
Chinese-owned-steamers manage to fill up with coffee, 
all the same. Tact and enterprise on the part of tho 
latter's agents, largely oontributo to their success. 
DOMESTIC COCONUT OIL. 
What is known as " Cuban " coconut oil is seldom 
seen in the Amoricau markets, but au article of domes- 
tic manufacture has taken its place and sells at a frac- 
tion under tho price of Ceylon oil. Coconuts unfit for 
other purposes aro taken to Now Jersey and converted 
into soap stock and fertilizing materials. The produc- 
tion of oil from this one source is claimed to average 
seventy-five tons per month, but it is questionable about 
rejected nuts being exclusively used, as the damaged 
emportations must be very extensive to produce such 
a quantity of soap stock. For some years, coconut oil 
has been made in Philadelphia and on the Pacific; coast 
but tho domestio article has not been an important 
factor in the market and never will be on account of 
tho superior quality of Oeylon and Cochin oils. Tho 
total production here is only a drop in the bucket com. 
pared to the importations, and consequently, is not 
a disturbing element. 
Strange as it may seem, Amerioan oil has beeu sent 
to Marseilles to bo used as a component part of French 
soaps, and operators are at a loss to account for it 
when the foreign oonsumers are more favourably situ- 
ated in regard to Indian supplies of raw materials. 
There can be no inducement from extremely low prices, 
as home manufacturers can dispose of their entire output 
at a good figure in this vicinity and no necessity exists 
for shipping abroad. The cause is probably to be found 
in the fact that a surplus was allowed to accumulate 
a few months since when stocks of foreign oil were 
large at this port and the movement slow. Holders 
no doubt concluded to send their supplies out 
of the country at an important concession rather thin 
pay storage and bear the market with their presence, 
but tho shipments are not of recent date. 
The traffic iu American oil is the result of efforts 
to utilize a waste material. It can never be made an 
industry of importance, the oil being merely a by. 
product in the manufacture of bakers' coconut or 
extracted from damaged nuts which would otherwieo 
bo worthless. — Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter. 
[Coconuts are very largely used in the United 
States by cooks and confectioners to produce dainty 
dishes, cakes, &C. — Ed.] 
CEYLON VS. CHINA AND INDIAN TEAS 
IN GLASGOW. 
In sending us the following communication, a 
well-known Ceylon planter writes : — 
"Here aro a fow remarks by a professional ten-taster, 
and perhaps you mny think them worthy of priuting. He 
aees ray Overland Observer, aud hence his remarks. Fri- 
vatoly his opinion is that we have still a denl to learu 
with regard to manufacture. Put ho admits that wo have 
a decided speciality iu tlavour in our Ceylou tens, and if 
our manufacture was up to India's standard, we would 
have uo difficulty iu topping Indian teas. I have re- 
pentodly oxplaiued to him that a great many of our 
plantations are at that stage, that it is almost impos- 
sible to do justico to curing. He very properly says 
that is nothing to the trade. Uur tea is put against India, 
China and Java teas, and which over comes out best 
in tbo liquor is tho best value. I ouly wish planters 
could seu tbo awful rubbish I see sometimes of a 
morning, and have no doubt they would at onc<> admit 
what my friend says that they have still a lot to learn 
as to ouring." 
