6^2 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 1, 190U 
Association a« to the best remedy for an ad- 
mitted evil, which is contained in the letter he 
has addressed to us (see page 544). This letter 
will be read with the greatest possible interest 
both here and in Tndia, It proposes a heroic 
measure, and Mr. Rosling deserves a high 
degree of credit for coming forward at 
this juncture with what must be regarded 
as a self-denying ordinance. For, we think 
there will be no difference of opinion as to 
the greater part of any loss falling on 
the higher districts and estates if Mr. 
Rosling's proposal takes effect. In many 
of the older and lower districts, it is 
not too much to say that in a number 
of cases, not 10 but 20 per cent of the 
cultivated area might well be given a rest 
with advantage to the purse of the pro- 
Srietor ; while even with the present re- 
uced grade of prices, ten per cent less of 
plucking in the higher districts must mean 
a real loss in itself to owners. Still, there 
are cases where " the common good " calls 
for united action, and it is very commend- 
able that the Chairman of the Association 
should make himself the mouthpiece of the 
community and come forward with a pro- 
posal to deal with an admitted evil, which 
18 practicable and sufficient on the face of 
it, if only unanimity and a sense of honour 
in its support could be calculated on to 
prevail throughout the Tea Districts of India 
as well as of Ceylon. There lies the difficulty. 
Did the issue depend on Ceylon alone, Mr. 
Rosling could make quite sure at once of 
his 80— nay 90 - per cent. But how is it 
possible, in view of past experience, to expect 
any such result in the case of India ? Surely, 
a far simpler demand on the Indian tea 
garden owners was the call for subscriptions 
to the fund for winning new countries to the 
consumption of their teas. But although 
this has been pressed year after year in the 
most urgent fashion and by incontroversible 
arguments, have 80 per cent, of the owners 
been gathered in as supporters of the Fund ? 
We trow not. We doubt if one half, or at 
most 60 per cent, of the estate owners have 
responded ; and that would lead us to fear 
an even less proportion of responses to the 
present appeal. Nevertheless, we think it 
only reasonable and prudent that such an 
appeal should be made. If the failure be as 
we fear, in India, it will more and more show 
where the blame lies of doing nothing to pre- 
vent a crisis. First, Indian proprietors have 
never moved as they might and ought to 
secure the imposition of a Tea Cess after the 
pattern set in Ceylon. Secondly, they have 
failed to subscribe voluntarily to a Fund, 
the utility and advantage of which have 
been universally admitted ; and now, thirdly 
let us see what they have to say to Mr. 
Rosling's appeal? To bring it formally 
before the Calcutta Tea Association and the 
various district bodies throughout India, 
would it not be well tor the appeal to bear 
the imprimatur (as a passed Resolution, say) 
of the parent Planters' Association in 
Ceylon. Perhaps, this is Mr. Rosling's in- 
tention and tnat his letter in the first 
instance is put forward as a "feeler," to 
educe the opinions of representative men 
^Sffton^ the planters ? 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Mr. Saville- Kent's recent address at 
the Royal Colonial Institute in regard to 
Westralian Pearl Oysters and Pearl Shell 
and other Fisheries is given in full on an- 
other page, and makes good and interesting 
reading. We have a letter by this mail in re- 
fard to the Ceylon Pearl Fisheries from Mr, 
tanley Gardiner, the Naturalist from Cam- 
bridge University, who has done so much 
work in regard to coral reefs, etc., in the 
South Seas, Maldives, etc. It will appear in 
an early issue. 
Volatile Oils.— We have received with 
the compliments of the world-wide-known 
firm of Messrs. Schimmel & Co., Leipzig, a 
copy of a beautifully-printed, well-bound 
volume * on this subject. There are several 
maps indicating the pathways of commerce 
(grocery and spices especially) in ancient, 
middle age and modern times. There is also 
a map of Sicily and Calabria showing the 
Districts of Production of Orange, Lemon 
and Bergamot Essences in Southern Italy, 
Calabria and Sicily. There is a chapter on "the 
Oils of Ceylon (Cinnamon), oil of Cinnamon 
leaves and root " and of course the oils from 
grasses— citronella oil, etc. — are largely dealt 
with, a map of our Southern Province with 
the Citronella Oil Districts being given. 
• The Volatile Oils, by E. Gildemeister, Leipzig, 
and F. K. Hofimaa, Berlin, written under the auepices 
of the firm of Schimmel & Co., Leipzig. Authorized 
translation by Edward Kremers, Madison, Wig. 
With fonr maps and nnmerons illustrations. Mil- 
waukee, Pharmaceutical Review Publ. Co., 1900. 
The Sisal Industky in the Bahamas.— The Co- 
lonial Secretary of the Bahamas, reporting on the 
pita plant, or Agave sisalana of the Bahamas, says 
it is not identical wi'h the agave, or henegnen of 
Yucatan, though closely allied to it. The henegnen 
has long been known in various West Indian islands 
as the dagger plant, and has been used for hedges 
and by the country people for making rope for 
domestic use. The Bahamas plant is generally nn- 
known in the "West Indies. Six years ago it was 
imported to St. Eitts, and was planted in the island 
of Angnilla, where there were large areas pf waste 
land. It is not known when it was introduced to 
the Bahamas ; it is certain that it is not indige- 
nous there. It is superior to the Yucatan plant, 
and in the hands of Bahamas planters gives fibre 
of better quality and greater market valne, while 
possessing all the powers faeneguen to withstand 
drought, its hardihood, immense fecundity, and smaU 
demands on the labour and care of the grower. The 
name Sisal seems to be derived from the port in 
Yucatan from which henegnen was formerly ex- 
potted. The Bahamas plant ia of a darker green 
hue, and there are no thorns along the edges of 
the leaf, but in other respects it resembles the 
Yucatan variety. The most suitable land in the 
Bahamas is that called coppice land, which ia 
chiefly vegetable mould deposited over soft limestone 
on which the plant feeds largely. After four years' 
growth, or less in very favourable conditions thn 
leaves are fit for cutting. They weigh from 1 lb to 
2i lb, and are scraped by machines which take off 
all the vegetable matter, leaving only the fibre, 
which emerges white and clean and is hung oat 
across posts and rails to dry in the sun. When tho< 
roughly dried it is placed nnder pressure and packed 
in bales 350 lb to 501) lb in weight, and ia then 
ready for export. The quantity of the fibre exported 
last year from the Bahamas amounted to 1.358,682 
lb., valued at £16,942. There are about 14,400 acres 
nnder the plant, and factories for extracting tho 
