46 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
[Jut* 
NETHERLANDS NEWS. I 
Tramways— Coffee Companies— Mangosteen Shells, j 
(From the Straits Times.) 
Bulavia 10th May. — "In Java there is at present a 
rage for steam tramways. It is expected that the 
Bat.wia one will soon get its materials for construc- 
tion. Ia Japara three gentlemen have obtained the 
concession for laying a probably very remunerative 
line. It is also intended to apply for a steam train 
concession for a line between Surabaya and Grissee, 
and for another between Batavia and Tangerang." 
" At Surabaya, three coffee growing compani. s are 
in course of formation. There is good news from 
Samarang to the effect that along the north coast of 
•lava, opium smugglers are vainly looking for the 
contraband opium receiving vessels which have been 
obliged to keep away owing to better surveillance." — 
Batavia Dagblad. 
" Mangosteen shells. — Mr. G. Naeff, at Lochcm, has 
made a 'comiarative examination of mangosteen shells 
and oak bark, to determine the value of the former 
as tanning material in leather making. It appeared 
therefrom" that the mangosteen shells contain one sixth 
more tannin than oak bark, and that the value of 
the former may therefore be set at abo.it 7.50 guilders 
per 100 kilogrammes." 
AUSTRALIAN GRAPES FOR INDIA AND 
CEYLON. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MELBOURNE DAILY TELEGRAPH. 
^ir, — With reference to the efforts made, in con- 
nection with the grand Exhibition which has just 
closed, to promote a irade in fruit from the Austral- 
asian colonies to India and the East generally, you 
map perhaps allow me to state the result of a small 
experiment with grapes made at my instance. My 
order was given to Messrs. Law, Somner, and Co., 
of this city, and they confided its execution to Mr. 
Charles Pitt, of Adelaide, Mr. Withers, the obliging 
agent of the P. and 0. Company, having consented 
that the box should not only be placed in the ice- 
room of one of the company's steamers, but that it 
should be carried free of cost. In this liberality re- 
garding small trial consignments, Mr. Withers is emu- 
Fating the example set by Captain F. Bayley, the 
P. and 0. Company's agent at Galle. By last mail 
I heard of the arrival of the box containing about 
401b. of grapes, and superlatives are resorted to in 
order to describe the perfect condition in which the 
fruit had arrived, and its deliciousness. The time of 
transit was about twenty- five days from Adelaide to 
Colombo, but as not a single berry showed the slightest 
sign of injury or decay, there can be little doubt the 
fruit would have have retained its good condition for 
double the period. Of oourse, the fact that the box 
was carried in the ice-chamber of the steamer may have 
contributed largely to the favourable result, but, prob- 
ably fruit well-selected and well packed, as in this 
case, would carry well if merely placed in a cool 
part of the ship. In an account of a recent experi- 
ment where grapes were sent from Adelaide to London, 
1 observe that corkdust was the packing substance 
U3ed ; but in the case 'of the package to Ceylon, nije 
clean sawdust seems to have answered admirably. 
Such experiments as these show that, provided mode- 
rate freight can be arranged, a large trade in grapes 
from Australasia can be carried on. The fruit packed 
:u bunches, and not subjected to much land carriage 
(railways being geuerally available, both in India and 
Ceylon to render land transit as rapid and as little in- 
jurious as possible), must be greatly superior in fresh- 
ness and good condition generally to the Kabul fruits, 
packed one by one in small boxes, to which Mr. 
■lames luglis, Commissioner for India, referred in his 
valuable paper. The value of a plentiful and fairly cheap 
supply of so refreshing and and nutritious a fruit as grapes 
to Europeans residing in the hotter parts of India and 
East can scarcely be exaggerated. One of the most 
trying, and, if not checked in time, one of the most 
jatal affections to which Europeans are subject in the 
tropics, is what is popularly known as " sore mouth," 
from its prominent symptom. The tongue and mouth 
assume a pink colour, as the evidence of inflammation 
of the whole mucous membrane. This inflammation 
is periodically relieved by natural mean?, but cmtinues 
to recur, and if the disease does not end in acute 
dysenteiy, but becomes chronic, it wastes away the 
patient, much as phthisis does. One of the great 
remedies prescribed for this disease is " the grape 
cure." Patif nts are ordered to a vine region, and 
directed to make crapes their chief article of diet. 
The late Chief Justice of Ceylon (Sir Edward Creasy, 
author of "The Decisive Battles of the World") came 
to Australia on such an errand. Without under- 
valuing the benefits derived from a sea voyage, and 
the change, of scene and air. there can be no doubs 
that good ripe grapes possess large curative propertiet 
and probably their use as a common article of diet 
in the tropics would act as a preventive of the painful 
and depressing affection I have noticed. A full supply 
of grapes, therefore, would be a great boon to Europeans 
in India, Ceylon and the East generally ; while, if 
supplied at a fairly moderate price the millions 
of natives would also be large consumers. Let us 
hope that a large trade in this and other fruits which 
flourish, and can be grown tc any extent in these 
favourd lands of the south, may speedily spring up, 
to the mutual benefit of suppliers and receivers. If 
the experiments I have detailed, or any further efforts 
I can make, tend to such an end, I shall feel — and 
I am sure I can speak for the Indian Commissioners 
also — only too glad to believe that a part from the 
direct duties of my position, my visit to Melbourne 
has resulted in some good. I may add that, thanks 
to the liberality of the P. and 0. Company, trial 
specimens of Messrs. Swallow and Ariell's Hour and 
meat discuits (supplied without charge) went by last 
steamer to Ceylon, and that choice apples from the 
Melbourne Hoi ticultural Society's Gardens are to go 
forward on Tuesday next, one box for the Governor 
of the colony, and one for the Editor of the Observer 
to distribute and notice. — I am, etc., 
A. M. Ferguson, 
Commissoner for Ceylon. 
LOW-COUNTRY PRODUCTS: GENERAL REPORT. 
Wfather— Cacao and Crickets— Liberian Cor fee 
and Blossom— Cinchona— Fiji Cotton— Gardex 
Stuff, &c. 
Western Province, 7th June 1881. 
The weather during May has hen very satisfact- 
ory our ^longest spell without rain being only- 
eight days. On the last day of the month the mon- 
soon opened very mildly, and up to date very little 
rain has fallen, but some has fallen every day. The 
weather, at present, is rapid alternation of sunshine 
and cloud, with an occasional short sharp shower — 
nothing could be better for growth. All the culti- 
vated plants are thriving, but the weeds best of all. 
Tiife crickets have disappeared for the season, and 
I have been able to estimate the loss of plants, which I 
find much less than I expected. I think now the 
supplies will not need, to be much more than 
The cut [plants amounted to about 34%, but with 
the fine growing weather a good deal more than one 
half of them are growing anew. We may expect 
that the weaker ones will be attackeel again, as some 
of those put out two years ago have been cut four 
