490 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST, [Jan. 1, 1901. 
Clianibeis of Commeice and otiier bodies con- 
cerned with trade in various parts of the British 
Empire. Trusting' tliat you will view favorably 
the action that my Association has taken in the 
liope of bringirji; a veiy important subject under 
discussion,- — I am, dear sir, yours faithfully,- 
HARRY OKMEROD, Secretary. 
Madras, 11th Nov. 1900. 
Dear SiR,^ — At the annual meeting of thifs Associa- 
tion on 8t August, 1900, the following resolution was 
unanimously adopted : — 
" That considering the critical condition of the tea 
and coffee industries, this Association do communi- 
cate with the Indian Tea Association, the Csylon 
Planters' Association, the Indian Chambers of Com- 
merce and the leading lirms of merchants and 
brokers interested in tea and cffee, etc., in this 
country and in England and her colonies with a 
view to ascertaining whether a movement in favour 
of a commercial combination of Great Britain and 
her Colonies and India against the world (which 
would by a system of differential duties afford some 
protection to British-grown products and manufac- 
tures) would receive support." 
This resolution may be said to have resulted 
chiefly from the recent revision of the French 
Tariff in regard to Imports of produce from {inier- 
alia) India, and the British Colonies and Depend- 
encies, You are doiibtlesa aware that the French 
Parliament, as an act of reprisal against Brazil, 
voted recently a law doubling the duties on coffee, 
tea, and spices imported from countries not having 
Treaties of Commerce with France or not enjoying 
Most Favoured Nation Treatment, amr.ng which 
are India, the British Colonies and Dependencies 
(with the exception of Canada). The French and 
braziliaus have made up their quarrel, but the French 
Tariff law, which was really directed against Brazil, 
still subsists. There appears to be reasonable 
ground for hope that it will not be put into force, 
but if it should, the consequence would be, — to use 
the words of the "Economist'' — that the prohibitory 
tariff for Colonial produce would only be applied 
to countries, British Colonies among others, for 
which it was not intended. 
Although it is possible that the French Govern- 
ment may be induced to reconsider the action re- 
ferred to, yet what has been already done serves 
as an unmistakable warning of the grave risk to 
which British trade is at present exposed, and the 
burdens, it may at any time be called upon to bear. 
It is felt that there is a strong and growing feel- 
ing in England and her Dependencies and Colonies, 
in favour of what may be termed an Imperial Fiscal 
Federation for the protection of British interests as 
against those of the rest of the world. The Asso- 
ciation is desirous of eliciting your views on the 
subject, to co-operate for the purpose of submitting 
memorials to the Home Government and other 
Governments concerned, and would be glad of your 
advice as to the precise form such memorials should 
take. 
If you have already made any move in the direc- 
tion indicated, a copy of your proceedings would be 
welcome. — I am, dear sir, yours faithfirlly, 
H. FEROIVAL HODSON, Chairman. 
Harry Ormerod, Secretary. 
GOURAMI FISH AND ITS SUCCESSFUL 
CULTURE IN CEYLON: 
Galle, iDec, 1. 
DiiAfi Sir,— I wrote an account some time 
ago of the various attempts that have been 
made to introduce Goiirami into Ceylon, but 
I do not recollect stating that they would 
only thrive at sea level. I think that they 
would probably do well up to 1,000 feet in 
^^his climate, 
Nuwara Eliya has been proved to be too 
cold, as a large consigmnent of liealthy fish 
died during the first; night in their new 
quarters. This happened in 189^ or 1894. 
Of the five fish which arrived last year, 
three died, mainly, I think, for want of suit- 
able food. Though they fed greedily, they 
fell off in condition, and eventually died ; 
while the two survivors, when turned out 
into a small pond where they could find their 
own food, throve well. I brought these two 
down to Galle, where, I believe, they are 
still flourishing. I have written to Mauritius 
for a further supply; but have had no reply 
yet. I hope that other atteinjits will be made 
to introduce this tish ; but it is important that 
a suitable pond, well protected, and free from 
other fish, should be ready to receive the 
new arrivals. The difficulty in finding such 
a pond in Colombo is greater than would 
be imagined, and the best way would be to 
construct one specially for the purpose.— I am, 
sir, yonrs faithfully 
GEORGE M. FOWLER. 
HOW TO CHECK OVERPRODUCTION 
AND SECURE QUALITY OF TEAS 
—A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION. 
The Laboratory, Hyde Pai'k Corner, 
Colombo, Dec 7. 
Dear Sir,— Might I suggest the following 
partial remedy to minimise the prese/(Y pro- 
duction, and improve the general quality of 
the tea coming into the market. It has been 
long known, and proved, that the young 
shoots after a medium or heavy pruning 
contain little material in their sap to pro- 
duce a good liquor, and this is perhaps equally 
the case even when manui'e has been applied, 
especially if of a forcing character. 
By leaving these shoots nn plucked for a 
few extra weeks and then cutting back, the 
bush would have a much better chance of 
forming good wood and root grown and the 
temporary loss of leaf would be made up 
by the steadier flushes of better quality 
plucked at a later stage. As pruning is being 
carried out practically during every month 
of the year, there must be a constant sup- 
ply of this immature leaf going both to the 
local and home markets, which can but do 
harm to the name of Cevlon tea.— Yours 
faithfully, M. KELAVAY BAMBER, 
CASSAVA AND ITS POISON. 
Dear Sir, — It would njijiear that the " poison- 
ous " variety of caesava is harmless enough — and 
is in fact the better of the two— if properly 
treated. Dr. Alfred Nieholls, in his text book of 
Tropical Agricultiue, says '"sweet cassava may be 
used as a vegetable without ]neparation : but 
bitter cassava contains juice of a very poisonous 
nature. This poisonous juice, in which there is 
much hydrocyanic or Prussic Acid is fortunately 
dissipated by heat, and so the bitter cassava is 
commonly cultivated as it gives much larger 
returns than the sweet kind." 
The same author goes on to show tiiat there is a 
use even for the " poison," for he says, " The 
poisonous juice of the tubers of the bitter variety 
v£ tlie cassava plant should uot be thrown away. 
