892 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April i, 1882. 
cotton in each district it seems that the total yield in 
Fasli 1290 was more than that iu Fasli 1289, b:it, 
owing to the fall in prices, the value of the cotton 
produced was less. The average yield per acre for the 
whole Presidency was 41 lb. which is less than the 
average of the two preceding years by one lb. The 
exports of cotton by sea to places beyond the 
Presidency amounted to 365,887 cwts. valued at 
R92, 19,371, against 509,889 cwts. worth 111,34,81,370, 
in Fasli 12S9. The exports in every district have 
fallen off considerably as compared with the preceding 
year. The decrease is due to the failure of the crop 
in some districts owing to an unfavorable season, to 
a reduction of tbe price of cotton in the European 
markets, to diminished demand from foreign coun- 
tries, which are stated to have drawn supplies to a 
great extent from Africa, and to the increased re- 
quirements of the local mills. The collector of Madras 
says that it is also due to Bellary cotton being sent 
to Bombay instead of to Madras for shipment. The 
export to Ceylon in Fasli 1290 was 41 lb., valued at 
RIO, as against 1 cwt. in Fasli 1289, valued at E46. 
The report further states that "the imports of col ton 
by sea were trifling. There is no accurate inform- 
ation in regardjto the exportation and importation of 
cotton by land from and to this Presidency." We 
make some further extracts from the report: — "The 
number of weavers as reported by collectors was 
340,401 against 413,271 in Fasli 1289." "The three 
cotton mills k referred to in last year's report con- 
tinued to work throughout the fasli under review. 
The total quantity of cotton consumed by them 
amounted to 5,452,8891b, or 338,334 1b. more than 
in last year. These mills turn out only twists of 
Count No. 20 and lower numbers. The collector re- 
ports that a Spinning Company is in process of form- 
ation at Bellary." "On the Saidapet Government 
Farm about 16 acres of land were cultivated with 
New Orleans cotton in 1879-80, and the crop was 
harvested in 1880 81. The yield per acre varied from 
363 lb. down to 159 lb. of seed cotton, but this was 
in addition to a cereal crop produced on the same 
land in lines between the rows of cotton plants. 
Some modifications were introduced in the method of 
cropping land with cotton and a cereal crop, which 
are likely to lead to good results, chiefly by enabling 
the land under cotton to be kept more thoroughly 
tilled." 
CABINET AND OTHER HARD WOODS. 
We have received Messrs. F. Latinne & Fils' Circulur, 
dated Paris, 1st Jany. 1882, which states that " the past 
ye«r has been one of considerable falling-off in supplies 
throughout Europe. The principal English markets 
have been irregularly supplied with the necessary staple 
fur consumers of cabinet and other hard woods, whilst 
the continental marts, when taken together, denote a 
palpable insufficiency, and only in walnut has there 
been a marked advance in supply," They also say 
that " importers are not, as yet, showinn sufficient 
attention to the requirements of some of these centres 
of consumption in the disposal of their ventures." 
We quote the following regarding special kinds of 
woods : — 
Satinwoou. — Arrivals of good large and medium sized 
logs, good quality St. Domingo, have been extraordinarily 
scarce throughout tbe year, and, fur the small imports of 
anything appro icbing this category, very high prices were 
commanded. The supply in Havre has been of generally 
interior wood from St. Domingo and Porto Plata, and one 
lot fr m (. eylon. Figured and sound plain wood obtained 
remarkably goed prices, while poor wood is difficult to real- 
ize. Elsewhere on the Continent direct shipments have 
been comparatively nil; a few logs arrived in Marseilles 
and Hamburg. The British markets have had several small i 
lots gold at good prices, Some parcels of East India hava ' 
been sold in London at high figures, but prices are at 
present, lower; a lot has been sent to Marseilles Of other 
descriptions no comment is necessary ; little has been done 
on the Continent 
Ebony.— Several transactions have taken placo during the 
year in Madagascar, at prices satisfactory to importers. 
On the Continent demand has not been so brisk for o her 
sorts, although a comparatively fair trade has been done. 
A few parcels of Macass r have been negociated. Of the 
large imports from Calabar, a great portion has been 
sold, to arrive for Havre. 
Lignum Vitje.— During the greater portion of the year, 
good thin sap wood of certain dimensions was in great 
request at extreme prices. This fact induced importers 
to send forward supplies in large quantities, and their 
shipments, arriving almost simultaneously, have fioo Jed 
almost every market. Superior wood of large sizes is in 
universal request at good rates. 
Teakwood. — A fair business has been done for Belgium. 
Tui-ipwoOD. — Little has been done during the year. Fine 
wood is in very good demand in France. Bullet Tree, 
Cocus Wo«d, Cocobola Wood, Beef Woo i, Myall Wood, 
Letter Wood, Olive Wood, King Wood, Zebra Wood, 
Zericote Wood, Persimmon Wood, Cornelian Wood, Mexican 
Ebony or Hard Wood. 
" THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. " 
(Communicated. ) 
The numbers issued month by month increase in 
usefulness. In the January number we have our quotum 
re our chief productions as well as suggestions for 
the products which are yet to play a prominent part 
in Ceylon. A most interesting notice appears on Mr. 
Darwin re earth-worms and soil, and of still greater 
interest to a large proportion of planters are the 
reports of Colonel Beddome on cinchona planting in India 
and Ceylon. Far too much pains is spent in bewildering 
the planter with words of perplexity. All we want 
and all the world requires for keeping in check its 
various fevers is a febrifuge. There has been and will 
be a still greater diversity of opinion re what is 
Ledger and Pata de Gallinazo and a whole host of 
others yet unnamed. In many cases the offspring of 
well-known trees are adapting themselves more and 
more to the soil and climatic conditions and depart- 
ing in many respects from the parent plants, this 
coupled in some caBes with hybridization, that to 
judge of a plant by its appearance as to the 
yield of alkaloid is nearly the same thing as judg- 
ing the character of a man by his outward appear- 
ance. Perfectly matterless the name : we want well- 
known cinchona trees, adapted to various altitudes, 
which are good quinine yielders, which have been fully 
established, and propagate that. If it is over a 3 
per cent bark all well and good, if it becomes 10 per 
cent so much the better. Ceylon has yet much to do 
in the way of cinchona bark. Let us hope that before 
long the curing, shipping and agents' charges will be 
utilised in Colombo for making the quinine and other 
alkaloids. 
On p. 604 an article occurs on tanning. There are 
numerous plants already in Ceylon which could be 
turned to account, such, for instance, as the patana 
oak, and further we have large districts now treeless, 
where a little forestry might be turned to account. 
If it pays in Britain (see article on 629), surely it 
ought lo pay here. 
On 622 we have a notice re Mr. Karslake'e pro- 
cess of barking cinchona trees. It would be a great 
benefit if tbe matter was set at rest as to w hether slips 
left upon trees have not del eriorated in value. This part 
concludes with further notices on Hemilnn vastatrix. 
In the February number we are again reminded 
of the Forestry branch, and suggestions are given 
for tbe introduction of a useful timber, the toon tree 
for tea boxes, a large number of which will soon be 
required, considering the good sales effected in Aus- 
