Jan. r, 1895.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
49S 
1893. A request from one of the large London firms of 
Tea brokers for a copy of these papers induced me to 
have them printed in pamphlet form, and if any planters 
will write me, I shall be pleased to send them a copy. 
_ You will recollect that in that paper I drew atten- 
tion to the fact of the amount of the soluble ash in 
made tea agreeing with the market price in London, 
also that the chief mineral constituent in the soluble 
ash was potash, and lastly that it naturally followed 
that the richness of the soil in potash would, largely in- 
fluence the economical and continued production of tea. 
Subsequently when reviewing Mr. Bamber's inter- 
esting book I drew special attention to the variation 
in the proportions of potash present in tea soils quoted 
in the book. The potash in the 27 analyses varied 
from 2'50 in a soil from Darjeeling to '13 in a soil from 
Jorehat, Assam in which Mr. Bamber remarked that 
tea did not flourish. 
These remarks appear to have attracted the notice 
of Ceylon planters, for several soils from the island 
have since been submitted to me for analysis, and 
I am still engaged in the examination of others. 
By way of illustrating the importance of potash as 
an essential constituent of luxuriant foliage and in 
promoting the rapid growth of young wood, I took the 
opportunity during my tour in Scotland last Septem- 
ber, to select some 10 specimens of the stones picked 
up during my walk from the Landing Pier on Loch 
Ness to the famous Falls oj Foyers which are sur- 
rounded by a most luxuriant growth of trees whose 
foliage exhibited that peculiar dark green appearance 
which ia always indicative of a naturally rich soil. 
The results of these stone analyses are very interest- 
ing and show upwards of six (6) per cent of potash in 
some of them.— Yours faithfully, JOHN HUGHES. 
Aberdeen — Lecture on " Tea Culture." — A most 
interesting lecture on " Tea Culture " was given in 
the Schoolroom of St. James's Episcopal Church last 
night by Mr. James Peter, who has had 25 years' 
experience of tea planting in Silket, Assam, and who 
is about to again leave Aberdeen for India. Bev. 
A. M. Mackay presided, and introduced Mr. Peter 
to the fairly large audience present. At the outset 
of his remarks, Mr. Peter explained the various kinds 
of seeds, and gave a short description of the soil 
and situation best adapted for the successful growth 
of tea. He went on to give a minute and lucid ac- 
count of the gradual manufacture of tea, dealing with 
the preparation of nurseries, the lining out of the 
tea, the transplanting, the tipping, and the process 
of rolling. In regard to the nurseries he remarked 
that the making of successful nurseries was a promi- 
nent feature in tea culture, and commanded the 
closest attention of the planter. Following his des- 
cription of the tipping of the tea, he observed that 
it was often stated and advertised that the first crop 
of tea was the very finest, but as a matter of fact 
it was always the very worst — (laughter). Mr. Peter 
afterwards touched, in an interesting and racy manner, 
on the occupation of Europeans connected with tea 
planting. lie 1 1 1 . ■ 1 1 L i < > n > J 1110-t of the amusements 
and iorms of recreation in which they engaged, and 
concluded with a description of their domestic life. In 
speaking of the " coolies,'' he ridiculed the impression 
tliat existed on some minds that the '•coolies'' were 
badly treated. In India, at any rate the " coolie " was 
as well off as any English labourer. At the close of the 
lecture a short but very interesting discussion took 
place. One gentleman asked if a sea voyage would do 
tea any harm. In Russia the people could get much 
better tea than could bo got in England, and he 
thought that might be accounted for by tho fact that 
the tea was sent overland. Mr. Peter assured his 
questioner that the reason was not because the tea 
was sent overland, but simply because the people of 
Russia were willing to pay for it — (laughter). A sea 
voyage would not do tea the slightest harm, but the 
people of this country would not pay for the same 
tea as the Russians — (laughter). On the motion of 
Mr. Win, Smith, harbour engineer, a hearty vote of 
thanks was accorded to Mr. Peter.— -Aberdeen Free 
Frew, 
VARIOUS PLANTING NOTES. 
Tea-Growing in Southern Russia.— We at- 
tract attention to the extract on page 498. Messrs. 
Popoll' visited Abbotsford (Ceylon) some years ago, 
and saw all the processes of tea culture and manu- 
facture ; but they then indicated the likelihood of 
a large demand for Ceylon tea, not a rival culture. 
However, even though protected by a heavy 
duty, we do not think much tea can be grown 
profitably in Russia. 
South Africa.— An Interesting Visitor to 
Ceylon at present is Mr. Davies-Allen, a prominent 
Soutli African Colonist, who arrived at Galle on 
the 5th instant by the ss. "Clan MacKinnon" from 
Natal, accompanied by his wife (who is a sister 
of Mr. H. A. Tipple of the Kalutara district) 
on a brief visit to the island. Mr. Davies-Allen 
has to be back for the opening of the Cape Parlia- 
ment in April ; but be finds it is much easier to get 
here than to find a ready means back to South 
Africa from Ceylon. It is a great pity, it seems to 
us, that a direct trade and steamer line can- 
not be established both ways between India and 
Ceylon and South Africa. It will come by and 
bye; but so far, Natal coal (which is excellent) is 
about the cmly thing we could take in quantity, 
while, although Cape Colony takes two steamer 
loads of China tea yearly, Natal is ambitious 
enough to suppose that she is capable of supplying 
all the ' ' tea " requirements of South Africa ere-long. 
Our visitor has been giving us very interesting in- 
formation respecting political, social and material 
affairs in South Africa. He quite looks forward 
to the Grand Federation which he believes Mr. 
Cecil Rhodes has in view, and the latter is now 
likely to command not only the direct railway 
from the Cape northwards (already 1,100 
miles long with 400 more under construction) ; but 
also the Delagoa Bay, Mozambique, and if it 
should be formed, the Swaziland-Aniatonga railway. 
Mr. Davies-Allen informs us that the gold out' 
put has exceeded the anticipated 2 million 
ounces ; while it is bound to increase greatly 
now, owing to deep mine workings having been 
commenced for the first time. Mr. Rhodes is 
determined to carry the "imperial" interest right 
through Africa, along with his telegraph wire 
to Cairo ; and meantime he has assumed a pre- 
ponderating control over British Central Africa, 
for which State, Mr. Commissioner Johnston is likely 
to indent on India during his approaching visit 
for 10,000 coolies. Mr. Johnston's ambition is 
to grow tea as well as coffee in Nyassaland ; 
we hope, if he visits Ceylon, that we can con- 
vince him of the futility of starting an enter- 
prise for the extension of which India and Ceylon 
have such facilities. — Meantime we trust Mr. 
and Mrs. Davies-Allen will have a very pleasant 
stay in the island, seeing Kandy, Nuwara Eliya 
and especially our "Buried Cities" — in view 
of the fact that South Africa is bringing to 
the front "buried cities" among its many deve- 
lopments ! 
n F A FM F QQ ^ n essay describing a really 
ULMrilLOOi genuine Cure for Deafness, 
Ringing in Ears, tX:c., no matter how severe or long- 
standing, will be sent post free.— Artificial Ear- 
drums and similar appliances. entirely superseded. 
Address THOMAS KEMl'E, VICTORIA Cham- 
bers, 19, Southampton' Buildings, IIoluorn, 
London, 
