THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. i, 1895. 
less, whereas the Indiarubbcr and gutta percha mixed 
with a certain proportion of Almadina remained per- 
fectly sound and with full elastic properties. I was 
determined that this Almadina should be introduced, 
and to do so I got an apparatus and some tons of 
Almadina, I melted it and added a considerable 
quantity of water to it and further some tannic acid. 
This was well stirred and it took up a large quantity 
of water. When the mass was sufficiently kneaded 
St was put into bags and allowed to cool, then it 
was sent down to some large India Rubber Works, 
and the proprietor was so pleased with it that he offered 
to take any quantity at Is (3d to Is lOd per lb. This 
rubber, we knew, had a quantity of water in it, 
therefore we made allowance in charging the weight 
when it was handed to the railway of at least 20 per 
cent. As I had gained the point I desired, of 
practical manufacturers on a large scale to admit its 
great value, I then met them and told them that I 
could no longer continue to manufacture thie 
and that I was prepared, if they gave me a sufficient 
order for the raw material* to give them all the in- 
formation. I further explained to them what I had 
had to go through to convince them ; suffice it to say 
that they gave the order, and when the foreman beard 
how he had been victimized he resented it very much 
and did all he could not to use this rubber for some 
time to come, until his place was handed over to 
another man who thoroughly understood the valuable 
properties of Almadina. The consequence was that a 
very much higher class of goods was turned out of 
these works and large contracts made ; this shows 
how difficult it is to overcome prejudices. 
Another gum also produced by being boiled was 
CHICLE GUM. 
This comes from Mexico, and is known to Americans 
as the base for their chewing gum. Small pieces were 
prepared for those who desired to experiment with it, 
put many of the members were afraid of upsetting the 
good that they had derived from the club i 
and so many of them missed tasting it. I thought 
that there were valuable properties other than the 
amusement afforded by chewing in this product, and 
I sent it to one of my friends, who is certainly one of 
the most advanced men in the rubber trade, and I 
explained to him the most simple manner of testing 
it, viz., chewing it ; he did so, and he wrote mo back 
saying that be was delighted with the material and 
begged me to secure him a quantity, at any rate for 
experiment and if it went down to a certain price to 
put his name down for the first supplies. This gum 
is also found a very great advantage in plaster 
making and pills. 
I may add in conclusion that there are many other 
gums which I believe will advantageously yield to the 
treatment of cutting down the boughs and boiling them 
in water, finally extracting the rubber as the mass 
cools. I have sent a request to several places where 
the rubber trees are growing wild suggesting that this 
plan should be tried. 
TEA PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION 
The following circular lias been issued by the 
well-known Mincing Lane Firm of Brokers : — 
As the time of year has come when it is 
possible to obtain accurate data upon which to base 
an opinion respecting the future of the market, we beg 
to submit the following for your consideration : — 
The total Imported from India, according to the latest 
information received, is likely to be about 115 million 
lb. — 1 million lb. more than last season. 
Assuming that Consumption continues to show the 
average rate of increase of the past six months — the 
total for the season will be 120 million lb. 
Of Ceylon the total import will probably be about 
75 million lb., and the Consumption about 77 millions, 
taking the figures of the last six months as the basis. 
Of China and Java the Supply should be about 45 
*. At 6d per lb. which was free from water. 
million lb., and the Consumption about 43 millions 
These figures tabulated show: — 
Supply Consumption in- 
cluding Exports. 
Indian .. 115 millions .. 120 millions 
Ceylon .. 75 „ .. 77 „ 
China and Java 45 ,, . . 43 ,, 
Total for 1894-95 235 millioiiB 
IV) millions 
Total for 1893-94 
was .. 243| millions .. 240* millions 
It therefore appears that the supplies of British 
grown tea will be 7 millions less than our requirements 
without any allowance for possible increase in t lie 
total deliveries of tea, or any prospect of the defici- 
ency being supplied from China. 
As regards the movement of the Indian crop, we 
have already received 0i millions more than last 
season, leaving .11 less to come forward ; while 
the quantity passed through the Auctions is about 
4 millions more than last year, leaving some 3 mil- 
lions less to sell than there were a year ago. 
The Stock of Indian in I ond is •>{ millions hea- 
vier, and the Trade arc now well supplied. Of other 
kinds the Stocks are 3} millions lighter. 
The position of Ceylon tea is somewhat different 
that of Indian, as the Stock is now at a low point, 
where it will remain until the end of January, when 
imports will probably become larger than the monthly 
rate of consumption. 
China tea seems to be no longer a material factor 
in the calculation ; for it is obvious that the Home 
Trade will only resume tin- use of it when Indian 
and Ceylon teas "for price" reach a prohibitive 
level : and there is the contingency of a demand 
for Export reducing the (mall existing stock of 
Congou. 
As regards the position of prices— the curt cut range 
of value, though maintained at a satisfactory level 
for the commoner kinds, is unquestionably low for 
the finer qualities, due it would seem to their earlier 
and rapid shipment. 
Taking a broad view of the situation — there is 
reason to look for a healthy market when the bearing 
of the figures we have set forth upon the prospects 
of the future becomes more widely recognized, and 
the buyers feel the relief of smaller Public Sales. — 
Yours faithfully, Wsi. Jab. & Hv. THOMPSON. 
38, Mincing Lane, Gth December, 1894. 
COCONUTS. 
. It is reported tiiat Dr. Morris has been telling 
an audience that " though the coconut has to 
all appearance only one cell in the llower, the 
ovary contains three cells, two of which are sup- 
pressed in the process of growth. But anyone 
can see that the outer shell is in three divisions, 
and that there are always three eyes, two of 
which are ' blind.' In the walls of the two divi- 
sions of the shell in which the blind eyes are 
placed are to be found the suppressed einbrovs. 
A three-celled nut has recently been presented 
to the Kew Museum ; apparently no one knows 
of another in existence. It does not often fall to 
the fortune of the lover of coconuts to find a 
beautiful pearl inside one instead of milk ; but 
such cases have occurred. These pearls are 
white, and resemble oyster pearls in being 
fomposed almost wholly of carbonate of lime." 
— Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardener. 
Expokts. — So we are not really to send more tea 
to the U.K. than we did last year. We are all 
anxious to see what the P.A. will estimate for 1895. 
They certainly over-estimated 1894 crop. So much 
depends on weather that no one ought to prophesy 
unless he knows. — Cor, 
