July 2, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
with pernicious liqcor?, must contribute to lessen its 
virtues. Notwithstanding all this the frenzy for this 
Asiatic infusion has now become almost universal 
iu the northern parts of Europe. But it cannot be 
denied that since its first introduction, it has con- 
tributed more to the sobriety of the nation thau the 
severest laws and most eloquent harangues of Ohiistian 
orators, or the best treatises of morality." 
I have just seen a Tea named ' Dulcernoua.' I 
suppo30 it is to called, b;ing intended to be drunk 
in every Dulce Dortium. 
A. M. Ferguson. 
BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN BORNEO. 
One of the most interesting papers read before 
the Royal Horticultural Society was that delivered 
by Mr. F. W. Burbridge, M. a., ourator of the I 
Royal Botanio Gardens, Dublin. He prefaced hia j 
remarks with a graceful allusicn to the extensive 
social, political and commercial work wbioh the 
late Sir James Brooke, better known aa Raja of 
Sarawak, accomplished in Borneo. Sir Hugh Low 
was the first, however, to investigate the flora 
of West Borneo and to commence the introduction 
of plants which were new to science. It was in 
1877 lh<U Mr. Burbidge and Mr. Poter Veitch 
were sent out by a Chelsea firm to make botanical 
collection, more particularly ia referenoe to the 
discovery of new species of "pitcher-plants" 
known to exist in great varieties and numbers in 
certain parts of that country. Beforo starting, 
Mr. Burbidge received a pleasantly irank descrip- 
tion of the inhabitants of Borneo from the 
botanical traveller, Mr. Thomas L:>bb, who had 
visited the place a quarter of a century before, 
and who described the natives as an unmitigated 
lot of thieves and liars. Mr, Burbride gave some 
highly entertaining accounts of the difficulties of 
travel in that remote country where suoh luxuries 
as vehicles were practically unknown, and, for 
the matter of that, impracticable. It took his 
party six days lo travel a distance of 18 miles. 
He succeeded in bringing home no less than fifty 
new speoies of ferns, besides several new pitcher- 
plants and orohids. Mr. Burbidge was enthusias- 
tic over the number of fine orchide— notably one 
with flowers with a Bpike exactly resembling a 
lily of the valley— and rhoiodendrens still oo be 
introduced into English gardens. The opportu- 
nities for bo;anioal exploration are yearly beooming 
so many that doubtless even Borneo will soon be 
exhausted of its rarities. The paper was attentively 
followed by a large audience, and the author received 
a hearty vote of thanks, — 0. Mail, April 27. 
VANILLA IN TAHITI. 
The cei t'vatton of vanilla has received a goed deal of 
attention lately from our official repn sentatives 
abroad. The British Consul in Tahiti (Poly, es a) has 
just sent home an exhaustive report on the culture 
ot the pUnt iu his district, from which we tike 
the followii'g passages: — 
The cultivation e f vanilla has been carried on in the 
Jslmd of Tahiti for several years, but is limned to a 
few distii ts only, that of Papara Bupply morn than 
half of quantity sent into the marks' . The nitive 
rnode of culture ie, as a rule, simply to p an the 
oui'-iiK's of the vine uneier the shade of treef, and 
then to leave them to grow and twiue round tupports 
be h si they tan. Sta je. though not dense, is neces- 
sary l> ensure a successful crop of beans. About 
one year from 'ho time of plaotirg the vine com- 
mences to flower, and tho iLOOulalioD, which then 
takes place, must be carefully attended t i ; ih:s is 
»neially caitied. out by womeu and children whose 
light hands are best suited for the delioate opera- 
tion. In from six to tine months from the time 
of inoculation the bean will be ripe for picking and 
curing. The method of curing is to keep the beans 
alternately indoors rolled in cloths, and outdoors 
during the day spread on mats exposed to the sun, 
for periods of three or four days at a time, until 
they are dried and ready for tho market, but many 
native planters now dry their vanilla in boxi s with 
glass covers. At the Temarua plantation, whioh is 
under foreign management, great attention is paid 
to trimmiDg tho plauts, and keeping the ground clear 
from weeds, and the vines are tr*i. ed on wi -l!-se'ected 
supports invariably cirefully attened to. 
The boxes used for curing the beans are made of 
hard wood with glaEs covers, and measure 6 by 4 
by 2 feet in depth, The-y are usually filled three- 
quarters full, tbe beans bcirg p'aced on a blanket in 
the bottom of eaoh box ana covered with a double 
thickness of blanket at tbe top. Tbe glass lids are 
then put on, and the boxes expesed to the sun for 
about fifteen days, when the beans are generally 
fouud to be sufficiently sw.a'ad to admit of their 
removal to the drying-house, which is co structed 
of corrugated iron, and contains thre3 fores of wire 
shelves. The beans ere laid on the top tier first, 
and are then moved to the second and third in sue 
ces-ion as they gradually dry, and remain on the latter 
until they are perfectly dry and fie f'.r the market. 
The Temarua plantation consists of aiout 51 acres. 
The annual expenses with an experience i foreman 
receiving 200?. per annum, emonut to about 40(M. 
Tie cop varies from 90 to 260 lb. per acre per year. 
An average of 175 lb. at the medium price of 4s per 
lb. leav-'S a very fair piofit. 
The Tahiti vanilla is inferior f> that of Maxico, 
Bourbon, aud M*uritiu-, anet the drawback is not 
improved by the careless manner in which the 
native, aud even the European, dries and tigs his 
bundles ot beans f.r export. The lollowiug figures 
show the exports of vauil.a from Tahiti duriug ibe 
last ten years: — 
1883. 1834. 1885. 1886. 1887. 
Weight, lb. ... 2,726 5,454 4,919 8,403 7,610 
Value, £ ... 818 1,636 1,475 2,522 3,044 
1888, 1889. 1890. 1891. 1892. 
Weight, lb. ...12,569 8,789 15,882 24,585 25,560 
Value, £ ... 5,028 1,758 3,258 7,466 4,418 
— Chemist and Drue/gist. 
STANDARD TEA COMPANY OF CEYLON s 
ON COFFEE Ai\ T D TEA CULTIVATION. 
The third annual meeiiugof this company was held 
at the offices, 25, FencUurch Sireet, on Tuesday, 1st 
May. Tue directors present were : Mr. Alex. Brooke 
(iii tbeehair), Mr. Peier M.ir, Mr. Rjbe.t Kay Sum- 
ticworth ana Mr. Norman \V. Grieve. Among those 
preterit were Mr. A. E. Wright, Mr. George Johnston, 
Mr. H. L Stables. Mr. E. Forma i, Mr. Wilson Mr. 
Capper and Mr. Robert J. Cnippin Jail. 
1'ne Secretary road the notice calling the mea.iug. 
The report and accounts were tike , as read. 
The Chaiuman said thai it was a pluasure lor the 
directors t, recommend tor a ihird time a dividend 
eqeial to 10 per cent, p * auuum. Exchange had 
been tavourable, avenging lor the oornpauy la 3 7-32d. 
The Imliau Governujent had bem as.-ayiog to - im- 
prove' exchange undeterred by tbe example of the 
United Sates Government and the MJeoas troubles 
c -us. quint ihereou in that coun .ry; out tho Calcutta 
offioi.il. i-o far apparently had done little good or 
harm. Cjffee as ssen in the ieport had continued to 
contribute substuntiilly to profi s. There were received 
iroru all the estates in 1893 723 cwt, includiug 77 
cwi Irom Gordon, tbe newest acquisition, aud not in 
U92 accouuts. Exclujiug G r.lou coffee, ihecompanv 
had in 1893 616 cut against 1892 530 cwt. L.st yearal- 
lu.iion was msdetohopds e.tertiiued by sjoje iu Ceylou 
of benefiting tte.r cliee by planting among is grevil.eaj 
as shade treej. Thi> was brought home to turn (the 
oUairniau^ when, visiting in February the LiJdtsaal^ 
