Feb.  i,  1893. J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
S25 
and  eventually,  after  some  discussion,  a resolution 
was  passed,  placing  on  record  this  view.  It  was 
also  decided  for  the  present  to  await  the  course  of 
events,  but  to  carefully  observe  the  position  taken 
up  by  the  newly-re-formed  Steam  Conference,  so 
that,  if  necessary,  tea  shippers  and  members  of  the 
Tea  Association  might  be  prepared  to  act  on  the 
defence.  Instructions  were  given  to  the  Secretary 
to  forward  a copy  of  the  resolution  to  the  associa- 
tion in  Calcutta  for  distribution  to  the  various 
agency  houses  and  others  interested. 
Cheap  Tea.— There  is  a strong  feeling  amongst  the 
leading  grocers  that  the  advertising  and  sale  of  cheap 
rubbish  called  tea  is  likely  to  prove  very  injurious 
to  the  tea  trade  generally  unless  it  is  checked.  One 
correspondent,  writing  on  the  subject,  says:  — “Form 
a union  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  a common  fund  to  be 
used  in  defraying  the  cost  of  inserting  an  advertise- 
ment in  every  journal  and  periodical  in  which  these 
misleading  advertisements  appear — such  announce- 
ments to  set  forth  the  danger  incurred  in  drinking 
low-priced  rubbish  as  advertised ; and  if  it  were 
vouched  by  some  high  medical  authority,  so  much  the 
better.  This  is  a matter  of  vital  importance  to  growers 
and  wholesale  dealers,  even  more  so  than  to  retailers. 
I say,  let  it  emanate  from  the  growers  and  whole- 
sale dealers’  associations  ; and,  whatever  remedk  s may 
be  proposed  for  what  is  no  longer  a personal  crisis, 
but  a trade  one,  the  first  antecedent  condition  to  be 
fulfilled  is  to  organise  the  trade  interest  into  one  com- 
paot  body,  because  otherwise  they  would  never  attain 
their  wishes,  but  end  where  they  had  begun.  Without 
this  we  can  get  no  nearer  the  desired  goal.  It  is 
imperative,  in  view  of  the  present  great  crisis,  for 
the  trade  to  form  itself  into  one  great  advertising 
union,  in  which  all  interested,  from  grower  to  petty 
retailer,  can  find  membership,  with  its  headquarters 
in  London.” 
Tea  in  Pebsia.— In  the  report  of  Consul-General 
Elias,  of  Meshed,  on  the  trade  of  Northern  Kliorasau 
the  following  reference  to  tea  in  Persia  occurs  : — 
" A larger  quantity  of  both  greeD  and  black  tea  was 
imported.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  green  tea  is  from 
Ohina  and  passes  on  to  Central  Asia.  The  Indian 
green  tea  is  considered  of  very  inferior  quality,  and 
is  used  only  by  the  Meehed  traders  to  mix  with  the 
Chinese  tea  they  despatch  to  Merv,  Bokhara,  &o. 
Nevertheless,  about  100,000  lb,  of  this  tea  were  im- 
ported iDto  Meshed  last  year.  In  Persia  black  tea  is 
almost  universally  diunk.  The  favourite  tea  now  is 
what  is  called  • telai,’  or  golden,  and  is  Assam  tea 
sent  from  Calcutta.  There  is  another  lea  also 
called  here  Indian  black  tea,  which  comes  from  Kangra 
via  Bomhay,  and  for  which  there  is  a good  demand.” 
“Home  Made”  Gebman  Coffee— Pity  the  poor 
coffee  planter!  Between  periodical  blight  and  adu'- 
teration  he  is  not  as  happy  as  he  might  be,  and  now 
bis  soul  is  to  be  vexed  by  German  manufacturers  of 
“home  made  coffee,”  in  whith  malt  plays  an  import- 
ant part.  The  malt  is  first  soaked  in  wa’er  at  40deg. 
C.,  and  dried  in  a coffee-roaster  until  the  grains 
assume  a glossy  brown  appearance.  It  is  then  sprin- 
kled with  hot  wafer  and  the  roasting  is  continued  until 
the  skin  of  the  malt  is  loosened.  A liquid  having 
the  aroma  of  coffee,  and  prepared  as  described  be- 
low, is  then  sprayed  info  the  roaster,  which  is  kept 
revolving;  when  the  spray  is  discontinued,  the  malt  is 
further  heated  until  it  beoomes  quite  dry.  'Ihe  roaster 
is  removed  from  the  fire  and  when  the  contents  have 
cooled  somewhat,  a little  cocoa-butter  or  some  similar 
fatty  matter  is  introduced,  Bnd  the  roaster  is  rotated 
until  the  “ malt  coffee”  has  become  covered  with  a 
very  thin  layer  of  grease.  The  coffee  liquid  above  al- 
luded to  is  made  hy  condensing  the  vapours  which  arise 
when  genuine  ccffee  is  being  roasted.  The  condensed 
liquid  is  concentrated  by  boiling,  and  neutralised  with 
a little  bicarbonate  of  soda.  Sufficient  sugar  is  then 
added  to  make  a syrup,  when  the  liquid  is  ready  for 
being  sprayed  into  the  roaster.  Instead  of  goiLg  to 
the  trouble  of  preparing  this  liquid,  the  manufacturers 
sometimes  use  extract  of  coffee  for  sprajing  into  the 
roaster.  The  finished  produot,  when  ground, is  said  to 
pe  a passable  coffee  substitute.- C.  Mail,  Dec.  23. 
RUBIES  IN  QUEENSLAND. 
Messrs.  H.  L.  Davis  & Co.  have  just  received 
the  first  ruby  ever  iound  in  Queensland.  The  gem 
was  discovered  at  Withersfield,  on  the  Central  Rail- 
way. Its  present  weight  is  fifteen  carats  ; it  is 
somewhat  flawed,  but  of  beautiful  colour,  and  it  is 
estimated  will  cut  into  a stone  of  from  four  to  five 
carats,  having  a value  of  something  like  £70.  Mr. 
Davis  has  no  doubt  that  there  are  other  rubies 
where  this  one  was  found. 
Concerning  the  discovery  Mr.  Davis  writes  : — 
“ The  recent  finding  of  a true  ruby  (red  sapphire) 
of  fifteen  carats  on  Richardson  and  Fisher’s  gem 
selection  at  Withersfield  adds  so  vastly  to  the  im- 
portance of  the  gem  districts  of  Central  Queensland 
that  I ask  permission  to  offer  through  your  columns 
a few  remarks  with  the  view  of  directing  attention 
to  the  possible  value  of  this  discovery.  Streeter 
in  ‘Precious  Stones  and  Gems’  describes  the  ruby  as 
‘ not  only  standing  in  the  very  foremost  class  of 
coloured  gems,  but  as  occupjfing  among  precious  stones 
in  general  a position  which  is  unquestionably 
supreme.  It  seems  probable  that  all  the  finest 
rubies  in  the  world  have  been  derived  either  directly 
or  indirectly  from  Upper  Burmah.  When  a perfect 
ruby  of  five  carats  is  brought  into  the  market  a sum 
will  be  offered  for  it  ten  times  the  price  given  for  a 
diamond  of  the  same  weight,  but  should  it  reach 
the  weight  of  ten  carats  it  would  be  almost  invalu- 
able.’ Of  late  years  the  value  of  rubies  has  teen 
greatly  augmented  by  failure  of  supply  from  the 
Burmah  mines,  but  the  rarity  as  compared  with 
diamonds  coupled  with  the  singular  beauty  of  this 
gem  when  of  pure  ‘pigeon  blood  ’ tint  has  always 
given  to  it  a special  value.  In  1875  two  rubies 
weighing  respectively  32  5/16  and  38  9/16  carats  were 
sold,  the  former  in  London  for  £10,000  (about  £330 
per  carat),  the  latter  in  France  for  £20,000  (about 
£500  per  carat).  The  Withersfield  ruby  (which  I shall 
be  very  pleased  to  exhibit  to  any  one  curious  in 
the  matter)  is  a hexagonal  crystal  weighing  fifteen 
carats.  It  is  somewhat  flawed,  has  a semi- 
opaque protuberance  on  the  base,  and  a decided 
blue  tint  at  one  corner  (defects  which  will  be 
removed  in  cutting),  and  should  furnish  ft  gem  of 
very  flue  cokur  weighing  from  three  to  four  carafe. 
It  may  be  confidently  affirmed  that  the  district  which 
has  produced  a ruby  ot  such  size  must  contain  many 
otherp,  and  will  ultimately  confirm  the  opinion  ex» 
press8ed  seme  months  ago  in  my  report  on  the 
Oriental  Qtm  Company’s  ground,  that  ‘ the  occurrence 
of  sma'l  rubies  in  the  finer  drift  obtained  indicated 
that  larger  specimens  would  be  met  with.’  The 
present  discovery  certainly  adds  vastly  to  the  value 
cf  all  gem-beariDg  ground  in  the  Withersfield  district, 
which,  in  the  event  of  large  rulies  being  found  in  only 
very  moderate  quantity,  would  equal,  if  not  exceed, 
in  value  the  celebrated  diamond  bearing  district  of 
South  Africa,  Referring  to  the  so-called  rubies  of 
South  Australia,  a parcel  of  these  gems  is  in  my 
possess  on,  and  axe  only  6piDels  of  very  smftll  value, 
soft,  and  readily  scratched  by  the  Withersfield  gem, 
which  may  claim  to  rank  as  the  first  moderate- 
sized true  ruby  ever  found  in  Australia.” — Queens - 
lander , Dec.  3rd. 
« 
THE  RICE-CROP  IN  INDIA. 
(Dated  Calcutta,  the  20th  December  1802.) 
An  average  full  crop  being  represented  by  16  annas. 
In  Bcnc/al  the  season  was  generally  favourable.  Ex- 
cept in  Bebar,  the  rain  at  the  end  of  October  and  the 
beginning  of  November  was  general  and  plentiful,  and 
the  extension  of  cultivation  is  ascribed  to  the  more 
favourable  season.  The  outturn  is  rather  under-,  than 
over-,  stated  at  14  aticas  : thirty-four  out  of  forty- 
fivo  districts  report  a better  crop  thaD  that  of  1891, 
five  districts  report  a crop  as  gcod,  and  only  fire  a 
worse  crop. 
In  Madras  the  area  under  crop  shows  an  increase  of 
12  per  cent  over  that  of  last  year.  Reports  as  to  con- 
dition and  probable  outturn  are  very  favqurable  for 
