August i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
18S1. 
Tons. 
r.s4,c 
48 066 
And it is confidently urged by the writers of this 
circular that this reduction in the stock will cause 
prices to rise at least to the level of last year. 
Looking broadly at the question it seems a contra- 
diction to say that the production of collet; in 1SS1-H2 
will be 21,000 tous larger than in 1880-81 and yet 
that stocks will decrease during the next 8 months 
72,000 tons. Yet this is what in fact the Havre 
brokers say. They estimate the production of the 
year 1881-82 at 575,000 tons or 47,910 tons per month, 
but for the first 8 mouths of this year they say the 
supply will be only 317,000 tons or at the rate of 
39,625 tons per month. We know of course that the 
8 months, from the 1st May to 3 1st. December, are 
the months of small supply, but if the whole year 
is to be 575,000 tons it would follow that the supply 
for the last four months would be at the rate of 
64,500 tons per month, and the prospect of such a 
supply would certainly counteract the effect of any 
reduction in the stocks on the 31st December. 
Looking now at the estimates of the Havre brokers 
for the consumption of Europe and America we find 
the following figures giveu : — 
1879. 18S0. 
Tons. Tons. 
Consumption Europe and 
America 575,000 569,000 
Average per month ... -17,01a 47,410 
It will be remembered that their estimate of the pro- 
duction of the woild was : — 
18S0-81. 1881-82. 
554,000" tons ... 575,000 tons 
Average per month ... 40,106 ,, ... -17,916 ,, 
But it would seem as if on the face of it these 
estimates could not be right, for if the production of 
1880-81 was only at the rate of 40,160 tons per month, 
while the consumption of 1880 was at the rate of 
47,416 tons per month, how is it that the stocks in 
Europe and America have increased totheunprecedented 
figure at which they now stand? The explanation 
may be that stocks in second-hands are exceptionally 
small now as compared with previous jeirs. 
However, we think it right to remind our readers 
that | as we pointed out in our last circular] in a 
calculation like the one referred to above, if the pro- 
duction be under estimated and the consumption over 
estimated, ever so little, the result differs very largely 
from a calculation with a contrary bias, and hence 
the danger of such calculations. 
It is very remarkable that in the Havre brokers' 
circular, hardly any reference is made to the present 
low range of prices. 
The fact that prices of coffee are now considerably 
lower than they have been for a number of years, 
is by far the most favorable thing that c;in be said 
of the present position of the article ; elaborate cal- 
culations of the probable consumption and pro 
of coffee made upon the basis of estimates, fo 
it must be admitted the information a9 regnrd 
figur s for past years is somewhat uncertain, whilst 
the present low prices and the many direct and in- 
direct effects which they produce are overlooked, nnd 
among the latter, we may instance the Ion:: delay 
that always takes place before a planter or native 
grower of coffee can be induced to sell at cveu a 
■lightly lower price. 
The production of coffee for 188I-S2 is estimated at 
675,000 tons, or at the rate of more than 11,000 tons 
a week. D the producers therefore hold back their coffee 
but one month longer than unnl, it will n- ■luce stocks 
ill Europe and America 18,000 tons I And wo know 
instances of coffee now being retained in the countries 
of production owing to the present unremunerative 
prices which in former years would have been shipped 
a month or two ago. 
The effect of low prices on consumers by stimulat- 
ing I heir purchases tor stocks have been too often 
47 
pointed out to need repetition here, and we therefore 
conclude by repeating the opinion expressed in our 
previous circular, that at present low prices coffee is 
a safe investment. 
action 
which 
actual 
INOXYDISED Iron.— The problem of protecting tha 
surface of iron from rust by chemical means has 
recently received another solution. The methods by 
which this object has been previously effected, other 
than by that of painting, arc two — namely, by the 
application of superheated etcam, as in the BarlT 
process — and of heated air, as in the Bower pro- 
cess. The new process, which has been devised 
by Mr. Ward, consists in the combined application 
of silicates and heat, and is termed the "inoxydising" 
process. This is the basis of several subsequent pro- 
cesses for ornamenting the surfuec of the metal. 
The inoxydising process consists in coating the cast 
or wrought iron objects with a silicate composition, 
which is applied either by means of a brush or by- 
dipping the iron in a l ath of the solution. The 
coating quickly dries upon the objects, which are 
then passed through a furnace heated according to 
the nature of the articles under treatment. The 
silicate composition is thus fused and absorbed into 
the pores of the metal, becoming homogeneous with 
it. Upon coo'ing the artioles ireated are found to 
be covered with a dull black coating, which, it is 
ftated, is found not to suffer change from long ex- 
posure to the atmosphere, nor to disintegrate or 
separate from the surfaces to which it has become 
applied. The ornamentation is effected by coating 
and furnacing the articles by the combination of 
the silicate composition with vitrid'able colours. By 
this means smooth polished surfaces are produced 
upon the iron, which present superior and more 
durable results than those obtainable by ordinary 
painting and varnishing. — Glasgow Paper. 
The Colombo Public Sal", oj' Cinchona Bark to-day, 
(25th June) by Messrs. Robinson & Dunlop, wa9 at- 
tended by the usual buyers and went off quietly. There 
was less competition than at the previous one, but on the 
whole prices obtained were satisfac'ory. The following 
were the lots offered : — 
sold at 
Lot 1.— 360 1b. Succirubra Root Bark ■) -, mSi7 . 
Lr,t 2.— 6801b. do Stem pieces j - ll00 '4 
Lot 3.- -122 lb. do Twigs 0T8 
Lot 4. — 342 1b. Officinalis Stem pieces 1 n .-- 
Lot 5.— 40 lb. do Root J - u 00 
The above bark is grown from trees of about four 
year old, at an average elevation of 4,200 feet. Analysis 
by Mr. M. Cochran, of the Stem and Root Succiru- 
bra, Lts 1 and 2, shews 1 '7S average yield of Sul- 
phate of Quinine. Total Alkaloids 4'86. Driage 11*55. 
Lot 6.— 1"<> lb. Succi: ubra Quill-, bought in at R0 72.1 
Lot7.— 112 1b. do do sold at K 0 50 
Lot 8. — 1081b. do Stem Chips, bought in at R0T.21 
Lot 9. -1,0.54 lb. do Tw igs, sold at R0'28" 
From trees grown on Uiekarton Estate, Maskeliva. 
Elevation 4,300 ft. 
Lot 10.-2,610 lb. Mixed Succirubra and OfltcinalU Stem 
Pieces, bought in at R0 62' 
Lot 11.— 513 lb. Mixed Succirubra and Officinalis Stem 
Tw igs sold at R0 19 
Lot 12.— 153 lb. do nnd Officinalis stem sold 
at K0 <i2J 
Lot 13.— 118 lb. do do Branch and Stem. 
sold at H0-50 
Lot 14 — 52 lb. Gavatenne Succirubra Stem, sold at Ko 12 
The above lots (11 excepted) are from treos 4 years 
old, grown on Agra watte, Carolina ( Ambagamnwa) wig- 
ton (Diinbnla), Hennewelle and lloonoocotmi (Kotmale) 
Average elevation 4000 ft. Analysis by Mr, A. O. l>i\.'i< 
of t ho mixed stem pieces shows L"16 yield of Sulphate o( 
Quinine- Total Alkaloids .'( '.'?. Driage 415. 
