July i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULT-^SIX U 
129 
FIBRE- YIELDING PLANTS. 
A modest announcement made by the Institute of 
Jamaica, that it will give two prizes of 201. and 15'. 
respectively, for any essay on the fibre-yielding plants 
of that island, accompanied by samples of fibre collected 
there, derives additional importance from a report 
which reaches us from Mauritius that a gentleman in 
the latter island has discovered an effectual and simple 
means — which he anticipates will also solve the difficult 
problem of extracting the fibre of ihe rheea or China- 
grass— of treating the aloe fibre, for which the Colony 
is famous. In the single industry of paper-making 
there is a vast field for the coneumptiou of largely- 
increased quantities of fibre. Attempts have been 
made from time to time to supplement the existing 
supplies of paper-making materials, and utilising 
banana fibre, young bamboo shoots, ramie or China-grass, 
and other tropical produce ; but there is great room for 
improvement in all that has hitherto been attempted, 
and in the introduction of new varieties of fibre. 
And it is not only for paper-making purposes that 
new fibres are wanted, but for the manufacture of 
various textile fabrics. As has been pointed out over 
and over again in these columns, the happy discovery 
of the value of the fibre produced by a particular 
species of aloe growing in Mauritius has helped to 
supply our shipping and our tishermen with ropes 
and lines almost indestructible in salt water. Care- 
fully conducted experiments, carried on in the coun- 
tries in which the fibres are grown, are far more 
likely to be successful than those made in England 
with material necessarily dry, probably injured, poss- 
ibly ruined, by the conditions of transit. The Mauritius 
aloe fibre, prepared in the island from the green 
plant, is a different product altogether from that 
manufactured in England from shrivelled specimens ; 
and by encouraging research in this respect our Co- 
lonies will be laying the foundation, not merely of 
new agricultural pursuits, but of new and thriving 
industries.— Colonies and India. 
COCONUT CULTIVATION. 
More important than any industry we have noticed 
is coconut cultivation. This occupies a very promin- 
ent place and its history is both interesting and 
instructive. More than half a century has gone by 
since the opening of the first estate in Jaffna. Of 
that hardy, enterprising race of planters who cleared 
jungles and opened up estates in parts infested with 
wild beasts and seldom frequented by man, there ia 
not one left to tell the etory of their trials and reverses 
or to enjoy the fruits of their toils and labors. Those 
who bore the heat and toil of the day have disap- 
peared from the scene and already two generations 
have been numbered with the past. The pioneers of 
coconut cultivation in the North have been succeeded 
by men vastly different from them. The most painful 
circumstance connected with this industry and which 
has often forced itself on our minds is that under 
an unwise system of agency leaving the management 
of estates solely in the hands of indifferent men on the 
spot, the original proprietors had been induced to 
part with their properties for a mere song, dissatisfied 
with the poor relurns derived. The scheme, such in 
truth it was, was cleverly worked and the result was 
that coconut property was under- valued or fell into 
disfavor and men who as agents or superintendents 
condemned the estates ultimately became the owners 
upon very .easy terms. We will not say anything more 
than that without a single exception all of them have 
amassed a large fortune and continue to prosper. One 
gentleman, however, escaped the effects of oil polioy and 
retained his property against good aud bad report, | 
sometimes leasing it out and sometimes managing it j 
at his own expense. He is Sir J. 1). Elphinstone, 
the Proprietor of Tattovankotty and Wavcrly estates. 
Not long ago both were offered only R3",0(lO 
but Mr. G. H. Elphinstone in charge, e n- 
vinced that coconut property was not such a 
a drug in the market in Jaffna sent out an experi- 
enced and trustworthy manager in the person of Mr. 
S. Ramanather to inspect, report upon, and work them. 
Well has he shewn himself deserving of his noble 
master's confidence ! With a long and varied planting 
experience, acquired under such Planters as Messrs. 
Elphinstone, Tytler, Bosanquet, and Leake, with a 
reputation unsullied even by the breath of scandal and 
remarkably industrious, he worked them for the last 
three years, shewing a large profit and fixed their value 
at K60,000. Under bis careful and intelligent manage- 
ment, such improvements were effected that higher offers 
were sent up. But it was resolved not to sell them for 
less than R60.000. We haTe just heard that they have 
been purchased for this figure by Mr. F. Mortimer. 
This circumstance redounds not a little to the credit of 
Mr. Ramanather who has effectually disproved the report 
set agoing by interested persons that Coconut plan- 
tation does not pay in Jaffna. From a study of the 
facts bearing on the subject, we have arrived at the 
conclusion that Coconut culture is most profitable. 
Our Coconut estates are situated in the District of 
Pachchellapallai. Leaving out of account the small 
Coconut gardens owned by natives, there are thirty 
Coconut estates covering in round figures 10,000 acrea. 
This number does not include "new clearings" which 
are now on the increase. All the 30 estates were 
opened up by Europeans. There are 650 men employed 
on thein in various capacities. The copperah derived 
from them at each season is reckoned by an experi- 
enced Planter at 3,000 candies, bringing R75,0U0at 
R25 per candy. Very often, however, as in last year, 
the price per candy goes so high as R38 or 40. Since 
January, a decline in the price of copperah ha* taken 
place, driving many out of the busiuess. There is 
not the shadow of a doubt that this business carefully 
conducted is a very remunerative one. — Jaffna Patriot. 
TEA TASTING. 
It is necessary for a tea-taster to have the three 
senses — sight, taste, and smell jointly exercised, to torm 
a correct judgment ; or, can ho dispense with any one 
of them, as for instance sight, add yet arrive at a 
correct conclusion ? 
We are of opinion that tea-taster cannot do justice 
to his profession, unless he possess the three senses 
above mentioned unimpaired. 
In valuing tea for the market, the chief character- 
istics which a tea-taster looks to, are — 
(1) its liquor. 
(2) , , infusion. 
(3) ,, leaf. 
(4) any distinctive characteristics it may possess. 
In deciding as to its intrinsic value, he has to con- 
sider the following qualities with regard to — 
(/) its liquor : whether strong, rasping, pungent, 
brisk, fiavoury, full, thick, malty, dark . or, wanting 
in strength, dull, insipid, thin, burnt, soft, etc. 
(«) its infusion : whether of bright or dull colour ; 
or mixed witli green, or any dark or burnt leaves ; 
over or under-fermented, etc. 
(Hi) its leaf : its make and appearance : whether black, 
wiry, even, regular, good, well twisted, flaky, bold, 
tippy ; or grey, brown, dusty, little or badly open 
twisted, irregular; wanting in tips, etc 
(/>) any distinctive characteristics it may possess : 
as e.g., its "no?e," i.e., the character of its aroma; 
whether of a strong, rich scent, or musty, burnt, 
highly fiyed, dull, etc 
In testing the qualities of a tea, therefore, the mind 
exercises the following faculties : — 
(i) the taste, (ii) the sight, (iii) the sight, (iv) the 
smell. 
