Jan.  2, 1893.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
47i 
analysis  of  various  tuberB  from  Mussoorie,  only 
obtained  from  6 4 to  107  per  oent.  This  showa  that 
the  Nilgiri  jalap  is  in  no  way  deteriorating.  The  price 
of  jalap  during  the  past  year  raDged  from  Is  to 
Is  9d,  while  the  cost  of  production  is  something  under 
3 annas  per  pound. 
Eucalyptus  ficifnlia  ( Scarlet  flowered  gum). — Seed 
of  this  elegant  Australian  tree  was  presented  by 
the  Hon.  J.  F.  Price.  The  seed  germinated  freely 
and  the  young  plants  are  growing  vigorously. 
[This  must  be  due  to  the  drier  olimate  ; as  the 
rain  at  between  5,000  and  6,000  feet  in  Dimbula 
seems  to  be  adverse  to  this  fine  tree.— Ed.  T.A .] 
Bluegum  oil • — During  the  last  two  years  the  demand 
for  this  oil  has  greatly  increased.  It  is  satisfactory 
to  be  able  to  state  that  the  manufacture  of  this  very 
useful  drug  has  been  taken  up  at  last  by  Mr.  S.  G. 
Wallace,  who  not  only  makes  it  on  a large  scale,  but 
also,  according  to  analysis  of  several  samples  by  Mr. 
Hooper,  of  very  excellent  quality  ; and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  he  will  receive  sufficient  encouragement 
to  continue  its  manufacture.  Mr.  W allace  makes  also 
many  other  preparations  from  the  indigenous  plants 
of  the  hills,  and  notably,  amongst  other  things,  oil  of 
Winter  Green,  from  the  leaves  of  Gaultheria  fragran- 
tiesissima. 
Consignment  of  seed  from  now  Zealand. — In  May 
1890  the  Commissary-General,  Madras,  brought  to  the 
notioe  of  Government  that  some  vegetables  raised 
in  the  Commissariat  gardens  at  Fort  White 
Chin  Hills,  Upper  Burma,  from  seed  obtained 
by  Conductor  Mills  from  New  Zealand  far  surpas.ed 
anything  raised  from  English,  or  Indian  seed,  and  he, 
the  Commissary-General,  suggested  that  a consignment 
should  be  obtained  for  experiment  in  these  gardens. 
In  G.O.,  No.  2863  of  10th  May  1890,  Revenue,  Govern- 
ment desired  that  an  indent  for  this  seed  should  be 
sent  in,  and  on  this  being  done,  Government  in  G.  O. 
No.  485  of  21st  June  1890,  Revenue,  ordered  that 
the  seed  should  be  obtained  direct  by  this  office. 
Messrs.  Hesketh  and  Aitkin,  Florists  and  Seedsmen, 
Auckland,  New  Zealand,  was  accordingly  written  to 
on  the  30th  June  1890.  and  they  despatched  the  seed, 
so  ordered,  on  the  23rd  September  1890.  Nearly  a 
year  passed  away,  however,  before  the  seeds  were 
received,  and  though  the  Agent  for  Government  Con- 
signments and  Messrs.  Arbuthnot  and  Co.,  Madras, 
Agents  for  the  Peninsular  end  Oriental  Line  of 
steamers,  were  addressed  on  the  subject,  no  trace  of 
the  package  could  be  obtained,  and  it  was  assumed  that 
it  had  either  miscarried,  or  was  altogether  lost.  Govern- 
mentin  G.O.,  No.  4521  of  17th  August  189l,Revenue,  de- 
sired that  Messrs.  Hesketh  and  Aitkin  should  be  written 
to  again.  Meanwhile,  on  the  31st  July  1891,  the 
Sydeny  Transfer  Company  wrote  to  say  that  the 
seeds  were  on  their  way  here,  and  that  the  delay  was 
due  to  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Company  having 
at  first  refused  to  carry  them,  but  afterwards  agreed 
to  do  so,  aud  the  Agent  for  Government  Consignments 
wrote  and  advised  that  he  had  cleared  the  case.  The 
seeds  arrived  here  on  the  21st  September  1891,  exactly 
a year  after  despatoh  from  New  Zealand,  and  when 
sown  in  these  gardens,  it  was  found  that  they  ger- 
minated freely,  and  that  the  plants  raised  produced 
vegetables  of  an  excellent  quality,  proving  that  the 
seed  had  beeu  carefully  harvested,  and  well  paoked. 
[A  very  unexpected  result,  surely. — Ed.  T.A. ] 
Botanical  Survey  of  the  Presidency  oalled  lot  in  G.O., 
No.  1988,  dated  21st  April  1891.  In  May  1891  he 
reported  that  he  was  in  communication  with  Drs. 
King  and  Trimen  on  the  sabjeot  and  expeoted  to  be 
able  to  submit  a reply  shortly,  but  in  his  statement 
of  unanswered  references  for  the  quarter  ending  31st 
Maroh  1892  he  has  informed  Government  that  he 
will  not  be  able  to  organize  a survey  during  the 
ourrent  year.  The  reasons  for  this  inability  have 
not  been  stated  and  the  matter  should  be  more  fully 
explained,  as  the  survey  haB  been  ordered  under 
instructions  from  the  Government  of  India  aud  should 
not  be  unnecessarily  delayed. 
[It  seems  probable  that  Dr.  Trimen’s  absence 
in  Britain  may,  to  some  extent  aooount  for  the 
delay. — Ed.  T.A. ] 
MAURITIUS  TEA. 
The  faot  is  reoorded  that  tea  of  very  good  quality 
has  be»?  grown  in  Mauritius,  and  a total  weight  of 
865  pounds  has  been  manufactured  sinoe  January  last. 
This,  it  is  true,  is  only  a small  beginning,  but  if  the 
island  produced  enly  sufficient  tea  for  its  own  con- 
sumption it  could  very  well  support  one  or  two  small 
estates  on  hilly  land  in  the  interior,  not  required  for 
other  cultivation.  A reoent  letter  from  the  Adminis- 
trator of  Mauritius  to  the  Colonial  Offioe  forwards 
oopy  of  a letter  which  I have  received  from  Mr.  Reg- 
nard,  ehairman  of  the  Experimental  Plantations  Com- 
mittee, enclosing  a report  from  Mr.  Corson  relative 
to  the  experiment  which  is  being  made  in  tea  planting 
in  the  colony.  A report  and  valuations  made  in  Cey- 
lon by  Messrs.  Somerville  & Co.  on  the  samples  of 
Mauritius  grown  teas  is  also  included.  The  experi- 
ments in  this  direction,  so  far  they  have  gone,  augur 
well  for  the  future  development  of  tea  planting  in  this 
colony,  and  I will  not  fail  to  keep  your  Lordship  in- 
formed of  the  progress  made  in  extending  this  new 
industry.  It  may  interest  your  Lordship  to  know  that 
during  the  reoent  hurrioane  these  plantations  did  not 
suffer  in  the  least. 
Messrs.  Somerville  and  Co.  report  as  follows. 
Orange  Pekoe...Loudon  value  2s.  Blackish.well  made  very 
tippy  broken  orange 
pekoe  leaf.  Liquor, 
strong,  dark,  fine 
quality. 
Do  Is  7d.  Blackish,  well  made  and 
twisted  orange  pekoe 
leaf.  Liquor,  strong, 
dark,  fine  quality. 
Is  8d.  Blaokish, well  made,  very 
Is  9d.  tippy  leafy,  broken  pek 
Liquor,  strong  dark, 
some  flavour  (quality 
fine). 
9s  Blackish  greyish,  small 
choppy  leaf,  little 
flakey.  Liquor,  strong, 
dark,  good  quality. 
P.S.— The  orange  pekoe  and  broken  pokoes  are  very  fine  in 
appearance. 
Broken  Pekoe.., 
No.  1 
Broken  Pekoe.., 
No.  2 
Do 
Do 
Pekoe  Souohong  Do 
—L.  and  O . Express,  Nov.  11. 
ALLYNUGGER  TEA  COMPANY,  LIMITED. 
Scrub  Exterminator — In  the  last  year’s  report  it  was 
remarked  that  the  material  which  went  under  this 
name  was  very  poisonons,  and  might  be  the  source  of 
much  danger  to  people  possessing  it,  and  also  to  oat- 
tle  grazing  where  it  had  been  used  for  the  destruction 
of  noxious  plants.  This  opinion  was  founded  on  Mr. 
Hooper’s  analysis  of  the  compound,  and  the  view  of 
the  dangerous  nature  of  the  compound  then  taken 
has  sinoe  been  justified  by  several  oases  of  poisoning 
whioh  have  taken  place  in  England. 
In  the  Government  order  on  the  report  it  is 
stated  : — 
In  last  year’s  review  the  Director  was  requested 
to  expedite  the  submission  of  his  proposals  for  a 
Registered  by  Sanderson,  Holland  and  Adkin,  46, 
Queen  Victoria-street,  E.C.,  with  a capital  of 
£120,000,  in  £10  shares  (5,000  £6  preference  and  7,000 
ordinary).  Objects : To  enter  into  and  carry  into, 
effect  an  agreement  with  Thomas  MoMeekin  to  pur- 
chase or  otherwise  obtain  grants  or  leases  from  Gov- 
ernment, and  to  purchase,  take  on  lease,  or  in  exchange 
hire  or  otherwise  acquire  from  any  company  or  com- 
panies, person  or  persons,  any  tea  or  other  estates  or 
lands,  real  or  personal  property  of  any  description 
situate  in  British  India  or  elsewhere  ; and  to  culti- 
vate tea  and  other  produce,  and  to  oarry  on  the 
business  of  cultivators  and  buyers  of  every  kind  of 
vegetable,  mineral  or  other  produce.  The  first  signa- 
tories are 
