Pi±b\ I, 1895. J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
553 
THE AMSTERDAM CINCH* >N A -M \RK El\ 
Under date of January 5th, our Amsterdam corres- 
pondent writes : — Tire Cinchona-bark Miles, to be held 
111 Amsterdam on January '21th, will consist of ;J50 eases 
and 7, 7(11 bales, about 7U15 tons, divided as follows: — 
From Government plantations — 55 cases and 200 
bales, aoout 'Hh tons ; from private plantations— 301 
cases and 7.501 bales, about (181 -j tons. This quantity 
contains: — (if'J)rU(mmis' hark: Saccirubra — quills, 270 
cases ; broken quills and chips, 71 bales 71 cases ; 
root, 77 bales 15 cases. Of Ma.tti/ai ln, uuj hail : 
Jyedgeriana — broken quills and chips, 5,719 bales ; 
root, 7S2 bales; officinalis — broken quills and chips, 
17i> bales; root, 50 bales ; hybrid — broken quills an. I 
chips, 7ss:-> bales; root, ill bales. — Clivmlst and&rttyt/isl. 
■♦- — 
YVYNAAD PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
The year that has just closed, has been a most im- 
portant, one in planting annals, inasmuch as it has 
seen the formation of a United Planters' Associa- 
tion of Southern India, and the recognition by the 
Government of Madras of the political importance 
of the planting industry, by giving it a representa- 
tive on the Legislative Council. 
United Planteks' Association. — In future all cor- 
respondence on matters of general interest, such as 
the amendment of Acts, the imposition of export or 
import duties &c. will be carried on direct with Govern- 
ment by our able Secretary Mr. G. L. Yonge with all 
the weight of a united community at his back. 
Formerly, though we have united in sending in peti- 
tions, it has only been after considerable corres- 
pondence and delay, now, there will not only be a 
great saving of time, but a great access of strength to 
all our representations. 
Membehof Council. — A great deal has been written 
in the press as to the utility and the duties of a 
planting member of Council. In my own opinion 
though I am perfectly well aware of the advantages 
Conferred on us by the right of interpellation, I consi- 
der that the planting representative can do moregood by 
working quietly in the back ground than by any 
ostentatious use of this privilege. At any rate, I can 
state that all our affairs are receiving due attention 
at the hands of Government. 
Genkhal Subjects. — The draft of the Estates 
Labor Act is now under consideration. The Advo- 
cate General has been told to draft an Act for the 
compulsory registration of maistries. The amend- 
ments to the Colfee Stealing Act have again 
been submitted to the Government of India 
with a strong representation on the subject from 
the Government of Madras. The Government of 
India has also been approached with regard to 
putting an export duty on Oones and relieving chemi- 
cals imported for manuring purposes from an import 
duty. 
Fhkioiits. — Besides these matters of general in- 
terest, the United Association has been carrying on 
a considerable correspondence with the coast agents 
on tho subject of freights. We, as an individual Asso- 
ciation, refused to have anything to do with the 
matter and I cannot think that any good will result, 
The whole thing turns on the freights charged by the 
coalition, and tue obvious answer to those who object 
to these rates, is that they need not ship by coali- 
tion steamers. 
Local Aitaiks. — 'With regard to our own local 
affairs the first subject for congratulation is that we 
have now got a Collector who takes an intelligent 
interest in our industry and has already shewn his wish 
to be of service to us by giving us an opportunity of 
meeting him and of explaining our grievances. The 
enormous advantage that this is to us has been realised 
already. Grievances of but small interest to the offi- 
cial but of great importance to us, which have for 
years been treated with contemptuous neglect, not- 
withstanding our repeated representation, have 
all been rectified. For instance, stringent orders 
have been issued that there shall be no fur- 
ther illegal service of summons. The Treasuries, 
at last, give out small coin in ample quantitie s 
though, for years we have cried out for this with" 
out effect. The Collector himself has inspected and 
condemned bridges w r hich the Sub-Divisional Officer 
declared to be safe. Lastly, I am glad to say that 
he has taken into favorable consideration the prayer 
that we made to the Collector of Malabar in 1889 
that the Taluq head quarters should be moved from 
Manantoddy to Vayitri. All this is matter for 
congratulation but a still greater benefit has been 
conferred on us this year. I should say that 
never before within the memory of the oldest in- 
habitant of this district has there been so little coffee 
stolen as dining this crop season. This we owe 
entirely to the energy of our new Superintendent 
of Police. The whole country side has been patrol- 
led night aud day and several well-known receivers 
have found their occupation too full of risk for con- 
venience. 
In conclusion it is usual in this report to give a 
short summary of the condition and prospects of our 
agriculture. I said, at the commencement of my 
report that the past year had been a most important 
one in planting annals and I say now that the coming 
year will be a most important one in the annals of this 
district. Shipment of tea from the newly planted 
estates will soon be going home, and it remains to 
be seen if the valuations placed on trial samples 
sent by post, will be realized by these shipments. If 
however they should be, and we can show that we 
can put our tea on the London market for 5id per 
lb. and sell it there for an average of Is Id per lb. 
(which is the average of the valuations of the samples 
by post) there should very soon be increased plant- 
ing activity in the district, and I sincerely trust 
that this time next year the scheme which this 
Association advocated four years ago b ut which has 
since been allowed to drop, i.e. the system of small 
acreages and central factories may be revived and 
put into practice. Coffee prospects seem fairly good 
and a quantity of hybrids between the Arabian and 
Liberian varieties, which seem at any rate in their 
younger stages to defy " Hemileia," have been plan- 
ted out. 
In connection with the increased activity in tea 
planting, a dread seems to have arisen that there may 
be a scarcity of labour in the future. This seems a 
curious commentary on the statements of the National 
Congress orators, that we have been reading lately, 
i.e., that there are 50 millions in India starving for 
want of subsistence wages. If this be true, it seems 
an anomaly that we in India, close to a railway; 
should be offering a comparatively higher rate of 
wages than is given to the agricultural laborer in 
most countries of the world that is, wages half of 
which he can subsist on in comfort, and half of 
which he can save, and yet be unable to attract 
labourers in sufficient quantities. During the past 
year, three members of our Association have died 
and four new members have been elected. In con- 
clusion I beg to lay the accounts on the table and 
my resignation in your hands. If you wish it, I 
will carry on the work for one year more. 
(Signed.) Geokge Romilly. 
IMPARTING POTENCY TO TEA, 
(25,091) Tea. — Not being a chemist, I am unable 
to reply to your query as to the effect of lemon 
taken in tea on the human body, but the practical 
experience of tho Russians in its use, as generally 
understood, goes a long way as evidence in favourof 
its usefulness. That it imparts an agreeable potency 
to the insipid teas of the lower class of market quali- 
ties, there can be no question. Other articles may 
be used for the same purpose effectively, such as a 
leaf of the black currant, mint, and such herbs as 
were used in olden times for making a hot beverage 
before what may be described as the tea era. "YVe 
find mint occasionally in China teas when the use oi 
it is unskillfully manipulated, and also in Ccylons, 
aud some times other scented articles of doubtful 
origin. These experiments point to a want of piquancy 
and point which was not felt when green teas with 
scented-, were blended with black tea for common 
