323 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[is^ov. 1, 1900. 
toes during the summer and autumn seasons, but long 
laths were laid over the pit to traiu the plauts on. The 
cow manure, of course, sfiorded a stimulant tor the 
yoang plants. I have seen the advantage of coal 
ashes for Tomatoes mentioned in the Journal of 
Horticulture by, I think, Mr. Iggulden, and the tes- 
timony I give may tend to increase their use. 
"Were another cane in point needed to prove the 
efficacy of coal ashes, I may instance that by an ama- 
teur grower of Zonal Felagroniums, and whose success 
vfas remarkable with plauts grown in l-inch pots. 
The plants were grown iu pure turfy loam, with per- 
haps a little leaf mould added ; but nothing in the 
shape of manure was given afterwards, simply pure 
water. The roots, however, iu due course penetrated 
through the bottom of the pots, and then completely 
per meatod the layer of coal ashes, spread over the. 
staging up which the plants were arranged.— W. G 
— Journal of Horticulture and Cottage Gardr.ner 
Sept. 6. 
INDIAN COMPANIES. 
A very reliable London authoriLy has 
favoured us with the following comparative 
statement show^ing the falling-otf in profits per 
mature acre of tea in a number of the Indian 
Tea Companies daring the past nine years, 
We have added the third column, and totals 
showing the 
actual decrease 
Companies. 
Protits per acr 
e. 
Decrease. 
1890. 
1899. 
M. 
s, d. 
s. 
d. 
£. 
B. 
d 
Assam 
2 
12 8 
1 
15 
9 
0 
16 
11 
Assam Frontier 
10 
3 1 
5 
13 
9 
4 
9 
7 
Altareekhat 
.. 3 
17 3 
1 
17 
4 
1 
14 
11 
Borakai 
.. 3 
13 6 
1 
7 
0 
2 
5 
6 
Brahmapootra 
.. 11 
11 6 
4 
8 
0 
7 
3 
6 
British Indian 
.. 3 
13 6 
3 
4 
8 
0 
8 
10 
Darjeeling 
3 
8 2 
2 
13 
9 
0 
14 
5 
Dejoo 
.. 4 
4 1 
3 
9 
0 
0 
15 
1 
Dooars 
.. 5 
10 7 
3 
6 
0 
2 
4 
7 
Doom Dooma 
.. 10 
13 8 
9 
6 
0 
1 
7 
8 
Indian of Cachar. . 9 
18 3 
4 
1 
0 
5 
17 
3 
Jhanzie 
.. 4 
0 11 
1 
8 
9 
2 
12 
2 
Jokai 
.. 6 
16 1 
3 
7 
4 
3 
8 
9 
Jorehant 
.. 2 
6 0 
1 
17 
5 
0 
8 
7 
Lebong 
.. 4 
6 3 
3 
18 
3 
0 
8 
0 
Majali 
... 3 
8 1 
1 
18 
9 
1 
9 
4 
irIoa.bund 
.. 9 
13 2 
2 
3 
6 
7 
9 
8 
Scottish Assam 
.. 0 
2 11 
1 
8 
7 
4 
14 
4 
Total 
..109 
18 11 
61 
4 
10 
48 
14 
1 
Or ci total 
decrease of 
about 
45 
per 
cent 1 
The Mantis at the Zoo.— The multi-coloured 
loeust, whicli was sent home from South Africa 
by one of the CI.V.'s, has unfortunately suc- 
cumbed in the Insect House of tlie Zoo, but its 
place has been taken by a specimen of that 
curious insect known as the Mantis, whicli has 
also been broug;ht from the Triinsvaal. These 
insects, of which there are several varieties, have, 
in consequence of the grotesque attitudes which 
they adopt, siven rise to no end ot superstitious 
Ideas, Moufiet stating, in regard to the Praying 
Mantis, so named from the prayerful po.sition of 
the fore-legs, that " so divine a creature is this 
esteemed that, if a childe ask the way to such 
a place, she will stretch out one of her feet, and 
show him the right way, and seldom or never 
misses." Like the mole cricket, these insects are 
Very voracious and cannibalistic, and if kept 
tojiether will fight to the death. One variety, of 
a beautiful creen colour, i.s held in much venera- 
tion by certain African tribes, and another re- 
pembles fragments ol >vith?ie'^ aWk^.—PdH^ 
ANTI-TAN NIC TEA INFUSEK. 
An informal meeting of the shareholt ers of the 
Anti-Taimic Tea lufuser Syndicate, Ltd., was 
held yesterday at 98-99, High Holborn.— The Chair- 
man (Mr. F S D Scott) explained that he had 
called the shareholders together on itccouut of 
certain articles which had appeared in a London 
newspaper. He contended that the concern had 
been absolutely undermined by Mr. Marshall, 
who was the patentee and manager of the syndi- 
cate, and in support of his contention he read 
extracts from ^arious letter.s written by that 
};entleman while he was in the employ of the 
syndicate.— Mr. Marshall admitted that he was 
tiie author of the letters, and stated amid much 
laughter tliat his supigestion that the correspond- 
ence should be burnt was made because he did 
not desire that the letters should be kept iu 
existence. After a lengthy discussion it was 
resolved that an ordinary general meetine- of the 
syndicate should )je called at as early a date as 
possible for the presentation of the report and 
accounts, and for the appointment of directors. — 
Mr. Ashworth and Mr. Sampson were nominated 
as directors on the understanding that in the 
meantime they should investigate matters and 
report tothe ordinary meeting. — Financial Timrs. 
MR. JACKSON'S TEA MACHINERY. 
A KEW PATENT CLIP-ACTION TEA BREAKER AND 
EQUALISER. 
We noticed a short time since the ' catalogue o£ 
Mr. Jackson's tea-preparing machinery, manufactured 
by Messrs. Marshall and Co., Limited, of Gains- 
borough, who, by the way, at the Paris Exhibition 
have just been awarded the Grand Prix in Class 35 
for portable, vertical, horizontal, and compound 
engines, steam road-rollers, and thrashing machines 
and the gold medal in Class 19 for coupled compound 
engine with Marshall's patent trip-gear. Since the 
publication of the catalogue of tea machinery, Mr. 
Jackson has introduced a patent clip-action tea 
breaking and equalising machines, for which he claims 
special excellence, the points of advantage being the 
following : — 
Simplicity and low first cost for great amount »f 
work performed. Small space occupied, and small 
power required. No discolouring of teas. 
B venness of samples produced and freedom from dust. 
Safety device for stopping machine automatically 
when an obstruction gets in between cutting rollers. 
A very important feature. 
It is also claimed that there are no sharp edges 
to get gulled, and no wire mesh to get torn or 
knocked out of pitch. Positive feeding action of rollers 
and no complicated feeding apparatus. 
This machine is, we believe, the outcome of a 
series of careful experiments to ascertain the right 
class of cutting edges necessary for an all round 
apparatus suitable for ti-eating loth itiiassorted tea 
as it comes from the drier ; also for reducing and 
equalising large Pekoe, Souchong and Congou. 
We understand that recent reports from users con- 
firm the suitability of the machine for a variety of 
work without iu any way having to adjust or change 
the cutting rollers. 
The machine is of high-class construction, Messrs. 
Marshall's name being a guarantee of this. The wear- 
ing parts are few, and the -wheel gearing ia cut from 
the solid cast iron by svecial tools so as to ensure 
smoothness of running, and to avoid noise. 
The cutting rollers are made up of discs pf 
special iron ; the teeth can be sharpened aa 
they wear, or turned round on the shafts, so as 
to present a fresh cnUing edge iq \la% Biaterifti 
... J 
