October i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
323 
INDIAN TEA. 
TO THE EDITOR Or "THE LONDON TIMES. " 
Sir, — Apropos of tho remarks on the subject of 
Indian tea in your leader of to-day, it may interest 
your readers to learn that since 1800, when the im- 
ports of Indian tea first readied 1,000,000 lb., the 
growth of the trade has been rapid and continuous. 
At, the end of the first decade, in 1870, the quantity 
imported was 13,000,000 1b., while last year, at the 
close of the second decade, the imports were 45,000,000 
11)., of the estimated value of £3,000 000. The area 
of land now under plant is over 200,000 acres, repre- 
senting an investment of British capital to the extent 
of £15,000,000, and giving employment to a popula- 
tion of over a quarter of a million souls, The 
crop of lea this year is not likely to be less than 
50,000,000 lb. 
India, as you remarked, can grow "far better tea" 
than China can, and as tho public learn this fact, 
thay will not be content with inferior sort?, even 
when bleuded with Indian, but will insist on having 
pure Indian tea. 
Tho lea plant, as you are aware, is acknowledged 
to be of Indian origin, and is indigenous to Upper 
Assam, from whence in byegone ages it must have 
been introduced into .China. — I am, Sir, your obdt. 
servant, Ernest Tyh, Secretary. 
Indian Tea Districts Association, St. Mary's- 
ohambers, St. Mary-axe, July 27. 
' SUGAR PLANTING IN QUEENSLAND AND FIJI. 
Owing to causes which are easily explained, the 
development of the sugar industry, bnth in Northern 
Queensland and in Fiji, received a check last year. 
A* regards the former, the exceptional severity of the 
frosts of last winter destroyed many acres of cane, 
and also seriously affected the results of the crush- 
ing, which showed a falling-off in the quantity of 
sugar produced of 3,150 tons as compared with the 
yield of the preceding season, aud this notwith- 
standing that there was an increase of 3,326' acres 
under crop as compared with 1879- SO This some- 
what discouraging result does not appear to have 
affected the enterprise, of the planters, for there is 
reason to believe that during the present year a still 
larger ana will bo placed undor cultivation, parti- 
cularly along the banks of the Johnstone River in 
tho Far North, and in the Buudaberg district. The 
acting chief inspector of distilleries in Queensland 
also reports that mauy of the old established planta- 
tions are extending their cultivation fields, which is 
itself a satisfactory indication of the payable nature 
of tho industry. Mackay still remains the chief pro- 
ducing district, nearly one-half of the total acreage 
uuder crop being situated there. The quantity of 
sugar exported was upwards of 4,200 tons less than 
that of the preceding year, but. with that exception, 
it wis still considerably higher than tint of any other 
year during the decade. When it is borne in mind 
that 10 years ago the export only amounted to LJ 
tons, it. is something to be proud of t.> bo able to 
point to an export tiado of even 7,721 tons. The 
export of rum shows a corresponding decrease, hav- 
ing fallen lnat season to (58.7D2 gallons. In tho rivul 
sugar producing colony of Fiji, the export of sugar 
was also considerably less than in 1S7D, although its 
value exceeded that of 1878 by £5,27;). This is at- 
tributed to the want of sufficient manufaeturi' power, 
but this difficulty is now being mot by tho erection, 
of now mills in several centres of the industry. Wo 
are also glad to notice that, in both Queensland and 
Fiji, other articles of tropica] agriculture are being 
successfully introduced. Much attention is being pod 
to the cultivation of tho coffee berry, especially in 
Fiji, where the industry aroma destined to become a 
source of national prosperity. — Australasian, 
INDIA-RUBBER IN HONDURAS. 
(From the American Exporter,) 
Mr. Floyd B. Wilson, a member of the New York 
bar, left here in the last steamer for Phi lad' lphia, 
carrying with him some very valuable concessions 
from this government upon which he proposes to organ- 
ize a company in New York. His principal object 
is to ga'her and prepare for market the silk grass 
(pitu), which grows wild and covers immense tiacts 
of land in this country. His attention, as well as 
that of others, has also been attracted to the tuno tree 
which produces a gum about "half and half" india- 
rubber aud gutta-percha. 
The forests of Honduras are full of it, and there 
is no doubt about its soon becoming an important 
article of commerce. The tree is almost exactly like 
the caoutchouc, for which it is often mistaken. 
The milk coagulates by heat and changes into a 
mass resembling curd, which becomes hard by washing 
it in cold water. When immersed for a few minutes 
in water above 150° it becomes plastic and can be 
moulded into atiy shape, which it retains on cooling. 
I believe this beautiful gum is worthy of being investi- 
gated by American manufacturers, and for their b; ne- 
fifc I will copy from a letter which I have received 
from a gentleman in Nicaragua on the subject : — 
"Capo Gracios a Dios, June 12, 1881. — # * * 
I am buying tuno, a gum intermediary between 
rubber and gutta percha. The English trade receives 
it in large quantities under the name of "Bilita" 
gum, from the west coast of Africa. That identical 
gum is commou to all the Central American Republics, 
as also to a large p>vrt of South America. The 
trees producing it are confined within a certain dis- 
tance of the Atlantic coast, climate and altitude above 
the sea level influencing its production. The best 
markets thus far are England and Germany, wdiere 
it is used in certain proportions in the manufacture 
of submarine cables and for other insulating purposes. 
I shipped one lot of 4,000 pounds last tall to the 
United States, but as yet I have received no returns. 
I understand that the manufacturers do not know 
what it is, and are unwilling 'o give it a trial. Gener- 
ally the consignees of a new article are not disposed 
to take the necessary trouble to introduce it to the 
trade. As they only receive a small commission, they 
are not willing to spend money for advertising in 
I scientific and commercial newspapers. In your otiicial 
capacity you can benefit the manufacturers of the 
United States, if you can induce some of the papers 
having a lurge circulation to publish articles on the 
subject. I am about going to New York with another 
lot of balata gum, aud shall make an effort to induce 
some manufacturers to try it. On my return here in 
September next I may be better posted." 
The writer of the above letter is a stranger tome, 
but I believe that he is quite correct in his estimate 
of the value of the tuno or balata gum, and I do not 
hesitate to indorse his ideas and suggestions. I shall 
bo pleased to send specimens for analysis and experi- 
ments to any chemist or manufacturer who may wish 
to give it a trial. Either the milk or hard gum can 
be sent. The supply of rubber and guttaperoha is 
constantly decreasing, as tho natives kill tho trees to 
obtain the milk ; if in the balata gum a substitute 
should be found for either or both of tho others, its 
value to the arts would bo immense. I hope that 
somebody will soon give this matter the attention which 
its importance merits. 
WRINKLES FOR |TE V FLANTERS. 
(From tho Indian Tea Gazette, 20th August 1881.) 
Dear Sir, — Colorinj Pan*. — *' Shiny" should try 
putting on his pans a coating of dissolved sal ammoniac 
nausadariu tho bazar). An application of this will 
