320 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, i88u 
book' under tho heading 'Sieves,' the following 
specification : ' The bottom is of perforated metal with 
rouud holes from §ths to £.' 'As a rule, the holes 
should be so small «b to hinder the smallest cherry 
from passing through, but wide enough to admit the 
largest parchment bean.' A 'sieve' with holes of 
such dimensions would hardly admit any bean grown 
on this estate. I enclose half-a-dozen parchment beans 
chosen indiscriminately, from an inspection of which 
you will notice that their average dimensions are 
about from \ an inch to gtbs of an inch in length, and 
from §tbs of an iuch to $ an inch in breadth. The 
Ordinance prohibiting the importation into the Colony 
of seeds and plants has been repealed. I should take 
it kindly if you would submit this letter to the editor 
of the Ceylon Observer, in case he should like to pub- 
lish it." 
The sample of Fiji parchment sent is certainly a 
very good one, equal to our very largest Ceylon 
beans of Coffea Arabica. 
SOUTH AFRICA. 
In Paraguay the preparing of Indigo from the 
Eupotorium tinctorium is a large industry. The plant 
would grow in Natal. — P. E. Advertiser. 
There is an Orangery in this division which is 
expected to yield 250,000 oranges this season ; 50,000 
have already been sold with a pecuniary result 
which beats sheep and ostrich farming hollow. — East 
London Despatch. 
Ostrich Farming. — The Cape Argus gives a wail for 
the decrease of the ostrich industry in the Colony. 
It sajs : That ostrich farming in this colony has seen 
the best of its days is pretty generally understood, 
South America will soon be competing with us, and 
in Australia the industry is already established. We 
learn from the Colonies and India that on an ostrich 
farm on the River Murray (New South Wales) there 
are fifty-six birds, which, with two or three excep- 
tions, are in excellent health, and in a thriving con- 
dition. — Natal Mercury. 
THE DATE COFFEE COMPANY. 
A correspondent writes: — "I cannot think why you 
have not given the benefit of the analysis in Truth of the 
affairs ot the Date Coffee Company. You will find it in 
the paper for 14th July. If true, the superlatively happy 
state of affairs made out by the chairman at the yearly 
meetir.g is a delusion and a snare, to enable the wire- 
pullers to carry on their little game a little longer." 
We thank our correspondent for the hint. The ex- 
tract is as follows : — 
" This remarkable Company has issued its report. 
According to its balance-sheet the assets consist of debts 
to the amount of £20,201, machinery and plant which 
has cost £3,789, and about £4,500 in cash. Who the 
debtors are that owe it £20,201 is not stated. It has 
'sold' date coffee for £2,111, and its current ex- 
penses have been £5,433. Some of the items are curious. 
Thus, advertising figures for £1,665, printing and 
stationery for £215, law charges for £497, and directors' 
remuneration for £500 — that is to say, these four items 
alone onsiderably exceed the gross returns on sales. 
The directors, however, ' are sanguine that when the 
make amounts to forty tons per week: the original 
estimate of their engineer will be realized, and the 
Company earn 100 per cent on its capital.' When 
this does occur I will engage to drink date coffee 
for my breakfast. I do not think that I can iu more 
precise terms express my utter disbelief in the prob- 
ability of the Company ever earning 100 per cent, 
by inducing the public to adopt a beverage composed 
of an infusion of ground date stones, and to play at 
believing that it is coffee. So far as I can make out 
the balance-sheet, almost all the capital ha9 already [ 
gone into the pockets of the promoters. The shart- 
capital seems to be £34,000, and the debenture capital 
to be £6,340. Against this, the patent rights are 
set down for £2,400, royalty compounded £30,000, 
and preliminary expenses £2,926, thus leaving a balance 
of £5,014 for the Company. The payment of £32,400 
for the right to grind date stones, the side of this 
right to a German Company for £50,000, and 
the fact that the £5 shares of the Date Company 
were actually quoted at 45, are the most singular 
instances of the success of unblushing impudence that 
have occurred during the present rage for Company- 
mongering." 
Cheap Gum for Labels.— Extract from the Scientific 
American : — Postage Stamp Mucilage. Gum dextrine 
2 parts; wster, 5 parts; acetic acid, 1 part ; dissolve 
by aid of heat, and add 1 part of spirits of wine. — 
/. T. Gazette. 
Agriculture for Educated Ceylonese. — Enjoying 
the pleasures of a country life just now, and taking an 
active interest in the working of this place, I wish 
mo>e of my countrymen would take to agriculture. 
There a^e obstacles arising from want of capital, 
but unfortunately those who have the means seem 
to prefer a town life and Government employ- 
ment to independence, and an active healthful life. 
Your Tropical Agriculturist is a most useful publica- 
tion, and is simply invaluable to those who would 
keep abreast of the times in matters agricultural at a 
minimum of cost. — Cor. 
Cattle-breeding at the Saidapet Farm. — The ex- 
periments now bfing carried on at the Saidape r Farm, 
Madras, with cattle-breeding with stock imported from 
Aden, seem to be succeeding. The satisfactory results 
that have attended the importation of Aden cattle 
into Madras have induced the Board of Revenue to 
sanction a further Outlay of R1.200 for the purchase 
of fresh stock for the Saidapet Farm. The bulls that 
are now to be ordered " should," the Superintendent 
of Government Farms says, " not be over five years 
of age, should be docile, and of a good shape ; the 
cows should be young and by preference, rearing their 
first calves ; and that they should undoubtedly be good 
milkers and docile ; the whole of the stock to be in 
perfect health." — Pioneer. 
Liberian Coffee. — Friend Edward S. Morris, mer- 
chant, Philadelphia, whose advertisment appears 
in our columns with satisfactory English references, 
is very anxious to become the agent for Ceylon 
Liberian Coffe.e in America. We believe he has ex- 
ceptionally good opportunities for disposing of such 
produce. He writes to us as follows : — 
Established 1855. Appointed Commissioner tor Liberia 
to the U. S. Centennial Exposition, 1876. J. J. Hoberts, 
President. 
Philadelphia, July 7th, 1881. Edward S. Morris, No. 6, 
South Merrick St , opposite New City Hall. 
Mr. J. Ferguson, Colombo, Ceylon. 
Dear StR, — Many thanks, my kind friend, for the copy 
of " Liberian coffee, its hist ry and its cultivation." I value 
of very much, as it so substantially confirms all my claims 
for this coffee as made by me in 1862-3, to the people 
Ot Liberia. It is a pleasure always, to feel we have not made a 
mistake in our calling.. As I cannot, get enough Liberia 
coffee properly cultivated and cleaned to supply my nice 
and very particular Centennial customers, I am more 
than willing to introduce Liberia Ceylon ; and I know it 
will take wi h them. Indeed, I shall leave nothing undone 
to identify myself with Liberia Ceylon, as I have with 
Liberia, the only coffee I ever sold. I have custoirers 
throughout the U. S., and I know how to reach them. 
—Yours truly, Edward S. Morris. 
We would recommend ■ consignments to be made' to% 
Mr. Morris. 
