Feb. I, 1894.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
PLANTS AND SEEDS FOR EAST AFRICA. 
Mr. F. MiBBmaW, a German visitor who has 
an Agricultural Diploma and who has bepn agri- 
culturally engaged in Roumanis, is going lo East 
Africa to grow seeds and plants for dif tribution, 
and intends visiting Heneratgoda, Peradeniya and 
and soma plantations to leorn all he cm. We 
bespeak for him due attention. We have hyn 
telling Mr, Missmabl that we suspect he will find 
eoftee-planting on his own aocounl more prcflraMe 
than the starting of a garden with diversified 
plants, at this early stage in the development of 
German East Africa. But he assures us that 
there are more plantation Companies end a 
larger number oE individual planters engaged, than 
we are aware of. There can be no doubt that 
" coffee " is at present par excellence, the plant 
to cultivate for " profit " and quick returns in 
East Africa ; but it will be very interesting to 
watch how Mr. Missmahl suooeeda with his 
Nursery and Experiment il Garden. He should 
be subsidized by the Imperial German authoritifB. 
We are anxious to see the relations between 
Ceylon and all the Settlements in East Africa 
drawn closer and closer, and we hope the day is 
not far distant when we may have direct steamer 
communication between Zanzibar and Colombo. 
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, PERADENIYA. 
We have to acknowledge the rsoeipt of a copy of 
the "Fourth Edition" just published of Dr. 
Trimen's " Hand-Guido to the Royal Botanic 
Gardens, Peradeniya, with a Plan "—printed in very 
neat style at the Government Press. The pamphlet 
covers 40 pages including Regulations, Preface, In- 
troductory, Itinerary and Guide, Price List of 
Seeds, &o., and Selected Index. We quote the 
preface as follows : — 
PREFACE. 
This shors Descr'ptive Itiner»ry does not attempt 
to gi'e a full account of th^ Girdena, but has been 
drawti up in o der to a^si.t vi-itors— wiih the nid of 
th; PUu— in finding for tlvm elves the principal 
obiec g of in eraet in these extensive grounds. 
The rou'e given o»n be fi'l owed almost tbronghuut 
by carringed. It is of cour e not intended that it 
or any oiher p.rticular ccurse, should be neces- 
sarily taken ; nut in a single visit of limite'l 
durftiioQ it is probably the best that can be fol- 
low d. But to really see the Garden, eujoy its 
beauty and variety, and investigate its trf-anires the 
visitor ehould leave his carriage at tho gate and 
exniora the narrower roads end paths on foot. 
A Catnlogue, oon.aiuiMg cons derably more than 3,000 
Bpecies being the nscertained contents of (he Gardens 
at ihe' end of 1886 was publiahad in 1888. and can be 
obtained at the Lodge, price One Rupee. January 
1, 1894. 
THE TEA CHESTS OF THE FUTURE ; TAR- 
ING AND BULKING : AND SHIP STOW- 
AGE OF TEA CHESTS. 
If the report which has just arrived from Japan 
to the effect that some disease of a serious nature 
has alticked the trees which supply the timber 
for tea boxes, prove to be correct, a new interest 
will be given to the question of the tea box of the 
future We learn that one mercantile importing 
house, at least, has had such an advice from 
Japan, and that the supply of tea boxes thence 
ia expected to be affectud. In that caee, as well 
BB in view ot recent complainti of certain timber 
^•inUng the taa, wa may oxpeot inoreaeed attention 
6^ 
to be given to steel substitutes for which at 
present "Aorre tea chest" holds the field. We 
cannot help believing that heit we have the " tea 
chest of the future '': more particularly wb«n we 
learn from the Syndicate's agent, Mr. Poison, 
who has just returned to Oeylon (en route, after 
a short interval, to Calcutta) that his principals 
are sparing no expense in experiments towards 
further improvints in recdering the steel plates 
more flexible and in otherwise meeting the re- 
quirements of practical planters. When we mention 
that Sir Wm. ArroU has helped largely with his advice 
in respeet of the special treatment of the steel sheets, 
we may feel] sure that everything that technical 
irgenuity can devife on the Clyde will be tried 
to carry this Acme tea ohest manufacture to a 
great and lasting success. The latest departure 
ia the laying down of plant to turn out 20-lb. 
boxes, for which we learn large orders 
have already been booked and these are ex- 
pected to be exceptionally popular, Mr. Polsoa 
will be able to show samples before the 
end of the month, and we would suggest to him 
thor. to have a gathering of mercantile and 
planting gentlemen interested, and apply testa to 
ihe different boxes so as, if possible, to overcome 
prejudices still entertained as to these being sufiB- 
ciently safe (in respect of collisions) and tight 
to warrant their use for Ceylon tea in large 
quantities. The time is fast approaching when 
Ceylon planters will have to look into the present 
taring and bulking charges at home and it is 
very fairly anticipated that the use of steel ohesta 
should remove the ncctssity for anything mora 
than nominal charges, Mr. Poison is prepared 
to send upcountry a chest, filled with sand and saw- 
dust, as received from Glasgow, so that planters 
may see for themselves how these chests stand 
transport, and a sample can also be seen at this 
office as previously intimated. We have no 
interest to serve in thus discussing " the tea obest 
of the future " than the good of the tea planting 
community and we are ready to publish any expe- 
rienoe adverse to, as well as in favour o(, the me of 
the "Acme" tea chests. 
Complaints have of late reached us as to the 
dnm'iged condition in which no inconsiderable pro« 
portion of the timber chests in which tea is shipped 
from Ceylon reach the mother country. We have 
before referred to these complaints, and have 
raised the question as to how far it would ba 
possible to increase the strength of these ohesta 
without adding unduly to their weight and bulk. 
It has been suggested to us, however, that it is 
not improbable that the damage that has been 
complained of, may, in a great degree, be due to 
the means employed by shipmasters to obtain a 
close stowage of their cargoes. It is well-known hovr 
essential it h that this should be as effective as 
jioBsible. Any chance of the " working " of the dif- 
ferent items of which such cargoes are oompoEecI 
is an element of danger. If the least movement 
be permi ted, there ia always tho chance of a 
gradual settling down and of an ultimate shift- 
ing, such as has led in numerous instances to tha 
total loss of vessels. It is not to be wondered 
at, therefore, that those charged with tha 
responsibility of preparing ships for sea should 
resort to very powerful agencies for tho 
compression of their loading. Obief among such 
agencies is the employment of the Borew-jaok, 
Bu instrument of almost unlimited power. Tha 
precaution, we believe, is alw.iys taken, when 
working with this, to place boards so as to ensure 
that the pressure of the screw is applied ove 
ooaaidei-able areas and uot upon indiYidu*' 
