May  i,  1893.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST, 
though  no  fishing  had  been  allowed,  the  trout 
had  decreased  deplorably,  and  are  now  rarely  to 
be  seen,  exoept  in  November  and  December,  when 
they  ascend  the  stream  to  spawn. 
Unfortunately  it  is  beyond  all  doubt  that  few 
of  these,  if  any,  ever  return  to  the  lake.  It  is  impossi- 
ble effectually  to  protect  the  Btream  from  poaohers 
of  all  kinds,  and  it  is  hopeless  to  expect  the  lake 
and  stream  ever  to  become  stocked  with  trout  by 
natural  increase,  as  this  stream,  the  only  spawn- 
ing ground,  is  unsuitable  for  the  purpose.  But 
there  are  numerous  other  streams  which  ought  to 
have  a better  chance,  and,  as  for  Nuwara  Eliya 
lake  and  stream,  a very  small  amount  is  sufficient 
to  stook  it  annually  with  sufficient  trout  to  afford 
excellent  fishing. 
In  1892  I imported  10,000  ova  merely  to  obtain 
an  exaot  account  of  the  cost  of  fry  turned  out 
into  the  streams.  Half  the  ova  unfortunately 
proved  infertile,  and  of  the  remainder  only 
about  390  reached  an  age  when  they  could  take  oare 
of  themselves.  These  cost,  however,  under  B300 
and,  with  ordinary  luck,  three  or  four  times  the 
number  would  be  turned  out  for  the  same  amount, 
Ab  I was  dissatisfied  with  this  result  I imported 
another  lot  of  12,000  ova  this  year,  which  have 
hatched  well,  and  I hope  to  be  able  to  prove  that 
B400  per  annum  is  sufficient  to  provide  for  annually 
stocking  Nuwara  Eliya  lake  and  stream  with  trout 
enough  to  afford  excellent  Bport,  whether  they 
breed  looally  or  not.  Surely  there  are  enough  dis- 
oiples  of  Izaak  Walton  in  Ceylon  to  provide  the 
necessary  amount. 
In  future  the  only  funds  available  will  be  those 
realised  by  the  issue  of  licenses  to  fish,  and,  if  a 
sufficient  number  is  not  taken  out  to  enable  the 
Local  Board  to  import  ova  annually,  fishermen  will 
have  only  themselves  to  blame. 
Nuwara  Eliya.  GEORGE  M.  FOWLER. 
CEYON  TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
Sir, — Your  contemporary  of  the  “ Ceylon 
Times  ” makes  a solemn  appeal  in  the  following 
words  : — 
We  entreat  planters  to  remember  that  the  American 
Company  is  not  the  only  organisation  trying  to  sell 
Ceylon  tea  in  Amerioa,  and,  if  rnmour  is  to  be  trusted, 
more  than  one  other  syndicate  will  stortly  take  up 
the  work.  Why,  therefore,  should  they  be  placed  at 
an  unfair  disadvantage  with  the  Elwood  May  combi- 
nation by  the  teas  of  the  latter  alone  being  pnffed 
at  Chicago  ? 
Now,  sir,  I would  ask  where  is  the  evidence  that 
any  other  “Organization"  or  "Syndicate”  has 
spent  a oent  on  advertising  Ceylon  Tea  in 
Amerioa  ? 
I can  quite  believe,  however,  that  Lspton  or  a 
syndicate  may  desire  to  enter  now  on  a field 
whioh  Elwood  May  and  Pineo  and  others  of  the 
Company  have  prepared  for  them.  But  to  throw  E. 
May  over  at  this  time  would  be  the  shabbiest  thing 
ever  done  in  the  name  of  Ceylon  planters  is  the 
opinion  of— Yours  truly,  A TEA  PLANTER. 
The  Mahogany  Tree  is  found  to  thrive  at  Ban- 
galore, and  a plantation  haB  been  raised  there,  and 
handed  over  for  maintenance  to  the  Forest  Conser- 
vancy Department. — Indian  Agriculturist,  March  11 
Green  Teas. — We  call  attention  to  a paper  on 
this  subjeot  by  an  American  gentleman,  given  in  our 
Tropical  Agriculturist.  It  is  interesting  to  find  this 
authority  drawing  a wide  distinction  between 
“pure  green  teas”  and  the  “highly-coloured” 
(and  we  may  add  impure^  article  so  much  in  \ogue 
with  his  oountrymen. 
709 
CHEMISTRY  OF  TEA. 
At  a time  when  the  advantage  of  oalling  in 
“ science,”  in  the  person  of  an  Analytical  Chemist, 
to  the  aid  of  the  Ceylon  tea  planter  is  being  dis- 
cussed, it  is  well  to  call  attention  to  the  following 
notes  written  some  years  ago  by  Mr.  A.  J.  Dow- 
ling, Tea-planter,  of  Chittagong.  It  is  possible  that 
Some  of  his  remarks  may  prove  usefully  suggestive 
here  : — 
There  is  scarcely  an  industry  of  importance  that 
does  not  call  in  the  aid  of  the  analytical  chemist. 
There  are  laboratories  in  most  smelting,  deying 
bleaching,  mining  and  other  large  works,  but  tea 
ignores  the  chemist  entirely,  and  yet  it  is  an  artiole 
of  manufacture  whioh  gets,  perhaps  more  than  any 
other  price  for  quality.  An  anna  per  pound  more 
or  less  represents  a fair  profit  or  a serious  loss.  Tea 
is  at  present  entirely  dependent  on  the  Broker,  who, 
although  qualified  to  pass  an  opinion  on  the  appear- 
ance of  tbe  leaf,  the  color  of  the  outturn,  the  flavor 
and  the  strength,  never  ventures  a remark  as  to 
what  important  constituent  the  tea  is  deficient  in, 
or  of  what  objectionable  substance  it  has  an  excess. 
He  will  possibly  tell  you  that  your  defect  is  a dull 
outturn.  You  send  him  the  finest  outturn  be  oould 
wish  to  see,  and  he  reports  your  tea  “soft”  and 
“ wanting  in  quality.”  Tea  ia  not  manufactured  to 
be  looked  at,  but  to  be  consumed,  and  although  ap- 
pearance goes  some  way,  strength  and  body  will 
ever  command  most  attention,  and  what  we  want  to 
know  in  a Report  is  not  only  how  the  teaB  look 
and  how  they  taste,  but  of  what  they  should  have  a 
little  more,  and  of  what  they  would  be  the  better 
to  have  a little  less. 
From  the  moment  pressure  is  brought  to  bear  on 
tbe  succulent  leaves  in  the  Rolling  Machines  through 
the  silent  process  of  fermentation  or  coloring,  to  the 
time  when  the  fragrant  smelling  tea  leaves  the  fires, 
a variety  of  chemioal  changes  Occur  in  the  Dextrine, 
Glucose,  Gum,  the  Tannic,  Nitrogen,  Potash,  Am- 
monia, Chlorine  and  Sulphuric  Acids,  and  Essential 
Oil,  wbioh  are  found  in  the  extraot  or  “ Liquor.” 
Is  it  too  much  to  expect  that  in  the  course  ot  time 
to  the  monotonous  report  of  “ greyish,  fair  tip,  brisk 
little  flavor,”  may  be  added  the  more  desirable  in- 
formation of  “ fairly  gummy,  potash  2-13  per  cent 
only,  good  trace  of  Essential  Oil”?  We  oould  then 
with  our  knowledge  of  manures,  supply  after  a while 
the  lacking  Potash,  and  do  our  best  to  keep  up  the 
desired  proportion  of  Essential  Oil. 
Referring  to  “ Soils  and  Manures  ” for  the  constitu- 
ents of  tea  leaves  and  manufactured  tea,  1 add  the 
following  particulars  from  my  note-book  : — 
Acids  redden  blue  litmus  paper. 
Alkalies  or  bases  give  a blue  color  to  red  paper. 
Acids  and  Alkalies  have  thus  a kind  of  antagonistic 
funotioD,  and  neutralize  one  another. 
Acids  aotingon  bases  form  salts  which  commonly  have 
no  action  on  either  blue  or  red  litmus  paper. 
Theine gives  tea  its  bitter  taste — it  is  very  nitrogenous; 
although  a base,  it  does  not,  as  other  bases,  neturalizs 
an  acid.  It  does  not  exist  in  tbe  leaf  in  a free  state, 
but  as  Tannate  of  Theine. 
Tannin  gives  astringenoy  and  color  to  the  tea— it  is 
partially  destroyed  duiiDg  fermentation. 
Tan  consists  of  nitric  acid  and  resins.  It  can  be 
manufactured  from  niirio  acid  and  charooal.  A solu- 
tion of  Gelatin  gives  a white  flccculent  preepitate 
showing  tbe  tannin  in  tea,  and  ferric  aoid,  whioh 
oan  be  made  from  iron  filing’s  dissolved  in  warm  dilute 
nitrio  aoid,  gives  a blue-black  preoipitate. 
Certain  combinations  of  Tannin  absorb  oxygen  from 
tbe  air  and  turn  black,  and  all  substances  containing 
tannic  aoid  turn  black  when  brought  in  contact  with 
iron, 
