Q20 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[May i, 1882. 
Asbestos, it has now been discovered, cian be turned 
to good account in the preparation of pant. We are 
told m Nature. : — " In a finely divided state, it is mixed 
with a fluid material, and is used in a similar manner 
to other paints. Unlike them, however, it is uninflam- 
mable, and not only so, but is capable of communicating 
this valuable attribute to such substances as it may be 
applied to." — Pioneer. 
The Indian Tea Association has compiled a return 
of the actual outturn of the tea districts for the 
last season, which tbey put down at 47,063,1941b. as 
compared with, 45,245,569 lb, for the previous season. 
This was divided amongst the different districts as 
follows :— Assam 24,390,732, Kachar and Silhet, 
13,903,016. Darjiling and Duars 7,403,293, Chittagong 
746,895, other districts 619,258. It is considered the 
total exports for the season will be about 47,500,000 
—and of this rather over 46,300,000 will be avail- 
able for Great Britain. — Madras Mail. 
Coffee Production during 18S1 has gone on 
steadily increasing, and there has been some im- 
provement in sugar production. As to the former, 
however, there are grave doubts as to the wisdom of 
increasing production at this time. There is already 
over-production throughout the world, and over two 
million bags of Brazilian coffee are now stored at the prin- 
cipal ports waiting for a market. And besides all this, the 
export business during the past year has been anything 
but satisfactory, the apparent losses being from twenty 
to twenty-five thousand contos. When liquidation 
comes we shall know where to locatethisloss. — RioNews. 
The trial shipment of Java black tea placed on 
the Melbourne Market, on 2nd Feb., was not a success. 
We quote the descriptions of the few lots which sold : — 
11 half-chesits Japan Oolong, olive black 
even twisted leaf, very strong rich pungent 
Oolong Is Ojd per lb in bond. 
48 half-chests Japan green teal 
48 do do do J 
even twisted green leaf, very pungent rich 
fresh young Hyson lid. 
13 cases (each 100 1-lb packets) Japan 
pekoe, handsome small even wiry black leaf 
very full rich ripe true mellow pekoe Is 3jd 
25 cases (each 18 5-lb boxes) Japan pekoe 
small even wiry black handsome leaf, pekoe 
tips, choicest full rich niellow.pekoe Is 3|d 
9 cases (each 30 5-lb boxes) Japan pekoe 
smalll even wiry black handsome leaf pekoe, 
tips very strong full rich mellow pekoe Is ljd 
8 half-chests Japan pekoe dust Japan 
pekoe sittings 5d 
The Japan Black Tea Company, the catalogue states, has been 
specially formed with the co-operation of the Japanese Govern- 
ment, for the purpose of growing, manufacturing, and packing 
teas suitable for the Australian markets. 
Slavery in Brazil.— We take the following from the 
Anglo- Brazilian 'J imcsoi January 8th. — " The Legisla. 
ture has continued the tax of 1,500 mils, on the registra- 
tion of slaves brought into the province, including those 
brought in under colour of mere contracts for hire. The 
tax on the transmission of slaves has been raised from 
30 mils, to 50 mils., but that on transfers to another 
municipality has been abolished. The tax of 1,000 
mils, on slave dealers has been continued. All these 
taxes go to emancipatory purposes. The municipal- 
ities have been authorized to impose 1,000 mils, to 
3,000 mils, annual tax, and exact security, besides, 
for 2,000 mils, on country stores and liquor shops 
away from settlements and State and provincial roads, 
as a check on the illicit trading with slaves which 
encourages the prevalent serious nuisance of theft by 
slaves. The Custom-house of Rio de Janeiro collected 
in 1881 from taxes on imports and exports 41,567,576 
mils, against 42,835,564 mils, in 1880 and 41,71 5,322 
mils, in 1879— viz., from imports 32,346,178 mils, 
against 33,314,931 mils, in 1880 and 31,903,964 mils, 
in 1879; and from exports, 9,221,437 mils, against 
9,520,628 mils, in 1880 and 9,801,323 rails, in 1879.— 
Brazil and River Plate Mail. 
Additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens.— 
A Toque monkey (Macacus pileatus) from Ceylon pre- 
sented by Mrs. Evans. 
Colonel Howard, (nephew of the great Quin- 
ologist) left Ceylon by the last French mail- 
steamer after a run through our planting districts 
and a good look at the cultivation of cinchona and 
other new products. He first visited the Pangwella 
and Doombara districts, and then as the guest of Mr. 
E. G. Harding, he saw cinchona (with which he was 
highly satisfied) in Dikoya, the Agras, Lindula, Uda- 
pussellawn and Maturatta. Colonel Howard (who is a 
director of a Nilgiri Plantation Company and largely 
interested in gold mines,) carried away a very favour- 
able impression of our planting industry and prospects 
in Ceylon. A merchant writes : — "Just a line to let 
you kuow that Colonel Howard kindly promised to 
write a letter giving us his ideas on cinchona cultiva- 
tion here, which we are to let you have for publica- 
tion. Meantime, you will be glad to know that he 
was most favourably impressed by what he saw in Ceylon, 
during his visit upcountry, and considers the success 
of this enterprize well assured." 
Indiarubber Trees in the Royal Botanic Garden, 
Ceylon. — The Gardeners' Chronicle for February 25th 
contains a very striking full page engraving of this 
group of trees accompanied by the following remarks : — 
Fictjs Elastica. — We owe to Dr. Trimen the op- 
portunity of figuring the remarkable group of india- 
rubber trees which bound one of the entrances to the 
Royal Botanic Garden at Peradeniya, Ceylon (fig. 38). 
The curious aerial roots, descending Banyan-fashion 
from the branches, and the bold, undulating buttresses 
which run along the ground, are very striking features, 
and must tend to prevent the trees from being over- 
thrown by hurricanes. We cannot hope, even with 
the resources of a Kew, to produce such growth in 
this country, but as the means of travelling increase 
the numbers of those privileged to witness such mar- 
vels increase likewise. The mode of formation of 
these buttresses and the reason are not generally 
understood, and would form a good subject for further 
investigation. They are not confined to figs, but oc- 
cur on many other tropical trees, as may be seen in 
several fine sections in the Wood Museum at Kew. 
A figure of these buttresses, taken from an isolated 
tree, was given at p. 681 of our volume for 1873, 
after a sketch by Captain Oliver. 
An American View of Manitoba. — Mr. Horatio Sey- 
mour, ex-Governor of New York, a gentleman whose 
position renders his utterances of more than ordinary 
value, has paid a visit to Manitoba, and has conveyed 
the result of his experience in the form of a letter to 
a friend. He declares, without fear of successful con- 
tradiction, that if Great Britain were to impose a tariff 
of 10 or 20 cents per bushel upon American wheat and 
grain, allowing Canadian wheat and other products to 
enter her ports free, she would bankrupt the farmers of 
the American north-west. He saw thousands of acres 
of wheat clearing 40 bushels to the acre and weighing 
63 lb. to 65 lb. to the bushel. People, he says, are 
crowding there rapidly, and towns are springing up as 
if by magic. The Great Canada Pacific Railway will be 
at Puget Sound before the North Pacific of the United 
States, and the distance to Liverpool will be 600 miles 
shorter that any American line which could convey Dakota 
wheat for shipment thither. The best steel roads are 
being placed on the road — 100 tons to the mile at 156 
per ton, whilst on the parallel American line, the North 
Pacific, the same rails cost about $70 — a difference of 
$1,400 in rails alone in favour of the Canada Pacific. Mr. 
Seymour is equally demonstrative on other points, and 
he has evidently been strongly impressed by bis visit. — 
Field. 
