Oct. 1, 1900 ] THE TROPICAL AaRICULTtJRIST. 
245 
PRODUCP] AND PLAJS'TING. 
Russian Customs Tariff on Peoducb. — The Board 
ef Trade have ruceived, through the Foreign Office, 
a copy of a Russian Impei ial Ukase, dated July 21, 
staticg that the Russian Government have decided to 
increase temporarily tho duties on articles comprised 
in certain sections of the Russian Customs tariS on 
their importatioQ into Russia from European coun- 
tiies. The conventional t-trilt's existing in conformity 
with the treaties between Russia and other States 
will not be affected by the present Ukase, vJiich was 
to come into force from July 23 (August 5) — i.e., the 
date of its promulgation. In the list of articles liable 
to increase there is no mention of tea, but there is 
an increase of 5C per cent upon roasted coffee, cocoa, 
and spices, an increase of 30 per cent npon raw 
coffee, and 20 per cent npon ground ooooa. 
The Tea Trade of Cant.-.n. — An interesting report 
on the trade of Canton for the year 1899 by Mr. 
Scott, the British Consul, has just been issued through 
the Foreign Cffiee. In his report Mr. Scott says : 
" The returns of tea given in the Customs returns 
convey no idea of the real quantities exported. In the 
case of tea, the information is positively misleading, 
as the iigures show an actual decrease, while I am 
informed that there was really an increase of about 
1,000,000 lb. as compar*d with 1898, which year, how- 
ever, was the worst year, as regards the quantity 
exported, on record. Tiie total amount exported to 
LondoQ is stated to have been ,5,250,000 lb. This was all 
junk-borne to Hongkong far transhipment. The 
1,130,21-1 lb. which appear in the Customs returns 
was none of it destined for the United Kingdom, 
practically the whole being consumed in China itself. 
The improvement in the trade last year is held to be 
temporary only, the whole course of the trade having 
a downward tendency year by year, and is gradually 
but siirely diminishiug. The requirements for the 
1900 season are said to be only 4,000,000 lb. The result 
of the trade ia 1899 is said to have been profitable 
to tho producer, and more ground has been put under 
cultivation, but the increased quantity thus produced 
will all be required for consumption on the spot and 
for export to other parts of China." — Hoineand Colonial 
3Iail, Aug. 24. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
American Maize in the Punjab.— A trial is 
to be made in the Punjab as well as in other parts 
of India of samples of Ameiican maize recently 
receiveil from the Pev. H Winsor, Secretary to 
the American Board of Commissioner.s for Foreign 
Missions — Pioneer. 
A "Tka Cess" for India.— Mr. G. L. 
Acwox'th, Chairman of the United Planters' 
Association of Southern India, alleges that 
the planters are not so mitch to blame as 
the Indian Government for the non-estab- 
lishraent of a "Cess" on tea (for adver- 
tising- purposes) such a.s is so successfully 
collected and utilised in Ceylon. If that lie 
the ease, we think it would be well if the 
Viceroy were approached, and if this could 
bo done thi'ough the Ceylon Government 
or His Excellency Sir West Ridgeway 
personally, a successful issue might be an- 
ticipated. If the Planters' Association pre- 
pared a brief statement of how the Cess 
has been woilied in Ceylon and what has 
been done w t'l the money, ;xnd requested 
our Government to lay it before the chief 
Indian authorities— or the Viceroy himself 
—with the hope that a similar Cess (as 
prayed for by the Indian planters ?) might 
be sanctioned for India, we cannot see how 
a refusal could be given. 
OOLYILLEA Eacemosa.— This is one of the 
most beautiful trees we have received from Mada- 
gascar, and like the Fiamboyant (Poinciana 
regia) it belongs to the great Legu i.inosoe Order. 
It was introduced into this country many years 
ago, and is almost naturalised here." It attains to 
aheiglitof some forty feet ; has beautiful fern- 
like foliage, not unlike that of P. Regia. When 
in tlawer, as it is now, it is a granrt' object with 
its long racemes of glowing orange-scarlet flowers, 
rising irom the upper axils of the leaves. From 
two to five racemes, about fourteen inches long, 
come out at each terminal axil. When properly 
grown and a little care taken of it, the tree grows 
in.to a handsome shai)e. Itis easy of culture, and 
is^ propagated from seed, which 'it bears freely. 
The tree is well worth a place in any garden. 
— Indian Gardenincj and Planting, Sept. 6. 
The "Plumbago" Puzzle.— A correspond- 
ent to our contemporary puts the mystery 
surrounding the plumbago trade "in a 
nutshell," when he says :— 
" Whatever the cause v/as for the rise beginning 
in 1897, and going on till nearly end or middle of 
1899, the fact must remain that people wanted plum- 
bago for specific purposes, and not to lay it down on 
the chance of it being useful some day. Whatever 
the stuff 13 used for, it must be— one would think 
—for the class of things whose manufacture or out- 
turn IS expanding and not contracting, and yet we 
see 242,000 cwt. selling at vastly inferior prices in 
1900 to 400,000 cwt. in 1899 (export to 30th August 
for the two years)." 
To say that the desire to lay in stocks, 
caused the great rush and increase in priced 
notwithstanding 50 per cent more of ship- 
(ments) during 1899, is absurd on the face of 
it ; while increased activity in armaments 
seems only a partial explanation. 
Rubbishy Teas in the Colombo Market. 
—We, have repeatedly urged self-respecting 
tea planters-the vast body of the community 
in fact— to take action through their Asso- 
ciation with reference to stuff v/hich is a 
disgrace to the name of "tea" put up for 
sale in the local market. Again and ao-ain 
has such "Ceylon tea" been condemned as 
"unht for human food" at the Melbourne 
Customs ; and thougli London is not so strict 
there can be no doubt of the Injury done 
to our good name from such shipments. 
We are glad to see that Mr. F. P. Street 
is supporting our view of the need of a 
paid "expert" at the local Customs to stop 
the export of trash, such as is never seen 
from even China or .Java. Surely factory 
sweepings or spoilt tea, if they have to be 
sold at all (in place of being put in the 
manure heap) can be disposed of to coolies 
or tambies? Here is an extract from Mr 
Street's latest circular :— 
" Quality.— Generally the selection has not been 
good, catalogues containing a large proportion of 
tea more or less .spoilt in manufacture. Many of 
these rubbishy teas can only bring discredit on 
the industry, as the worst get into native buyers' 
hands, who sell them, at large profits, in our 
HajDOur to pa,ssengers calling here. Quotations 
of from 10 CO 20 cents must leave loss to the estate. 
We desire to draw the 'Thirty Committee "s 
attention to this subject, as it is an evil that I'la-^ 
existed for many years. It seems rather absurd 
that planters should require protection against 
themselves, but that such protection is needed, 
in the interests of the industry, is manifest to 
everyone connected with the trade," 
