March 1, 1901 .J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
619 
above, places it beyond the reach of the masses, 
while tlie use of the fortner is confined to the-well- 
to-do. As for producinji tea on any commercial scale 
with the wage rate nilinjiso high, that is out of the 
question, although the tea plant, grown as an ex- 
f>ei:iment, has been successful enougli. The deve- 
opnient of East Alrica is proceeding at as rapid 
a rate as Australia in 1850-51, so those lirst in the 
field ouglit to establish atirm business. 
The tea trade with Fiji proper would be of a 
limited character ; but as the coolie vessels subse- 
quently go to the Soutii Pacific ports to load for 
Europe, we have in these an as yet untouched 
market, while not far north there are thousands 
of labourers employed on the western terminus of 
the Nicaragua Canal in the Gulf of Panama. 
These small markets are bound to expand into 
large ones, offering better facilities for introducing 
a novelty than those already occupied by es- 
tablisiied rivals ; not that we suggest any relax- 
ation of efforts in Europe or Americ i, but merely 
ask that nlaces at present considered of minor 
importance should receive a fair share of atten- 
tion.— 7. P. G., Feb. 9. 
MEASUEING KAINFALLS. 
THE WORK OF 3,500 AMATEUR SCIENTISTS. 
In every district, in every county, of the British 
Isles there are amateur scientists who take 
measurements of every fall of snow or shower of rain 
that occurs. This work is of immense interest, 
directly or indirectly, to all classes of the com- 
munity. ^It is controlled by the Kainfali Organiza- 
tion. Yesterday Mr. Sowerby Wallis, who has 
made it his duty to receive the reports of these 
systematic observations and record them, gave an 
account of the work to an "Express" representative. 
"Forty years ago," he began, " my predecessor, 
Mr. Symous, commenced to study the rainfall of 
the British Isles, and found that there was very 
little knowledge on the subject, and even that was 
in a chaotic condition. In 1861 he wrote to all 
the observers, of whom he was awarp, for 
records for the year 1860, with the result 
that 168 were sent in, and afterwards pub- 
lished. This gave a stimulus to observers, 
with the result that their number now exceed 
3,500. The subject has been studied scientilically 
for the purposes of water supply, flood prevention, 
drainage, and river conservancy. The great 
majority of the observers are amateur scientists 
among doctors and clergymen. A large number, 
too, are maintained by the engineers of corpora- 
tions and water companies." As a rule the work 
is done thoroughly. But that the observers are 
sometimes slack the following stories will show : — 
" A Scotsman religiously kept his gauge out in his 
front garden during the daytime, but always took it 
in at night. His reason for this was that he was 
afraid it might be stolen. Another time a country 
paraoD, instead of sending in the record, posted the 
amoant of the previous Sunday's collection." 
HOW IT IS DONE, 
" How is the rainfall measured ? By a gauge 
costing from 12s 6d to £3 3s. For use in ordin- 
ary localities we recommend the Snowdon pattern. 
This consists of a copper or galvanised iron 
cylinder 15in. deep and 5iu. in diameter, and 
containing a funnel and jar. Every week or 
pionth the jar is emptied and measurecl in tube 
which is divided into I-lOOths of an inch. Snow, 
of course, has to be first melted. The gauge is 
placed on a level piece of ground at a distance 
from shrubs, trees, walls, and buildings. Read- 
ings are taken at 9 a.m." "Knowledge of rain- 
fall," continued Mr. Wallis, " is ot the greatest 
importance to the country." All water is rain-water, 
whether it be stored in tanks, water-butts, wells, 
springs, or rivers. Wiien a town wants an increased 
water-supply the first thing to look for is a district 
where there is a heavy annual rainfall. That in- 
formation we supply. Again, to agriculturists 
trustworthy statistics as to the annual rainfall in 
a country is of the utmost value. To river conserv- 
ators figures showing the time it takes for a fall 
of rain over a given area to run ofl allow pre- 
cautions against floods, such as the opening of 
locks and sluices, to be taken. 
"In France the various parts of the great rivers are 
in telegraphic communication with one another. A 
heavy rainfall in the upper reaches, with its neces- 
sary consequences, is known at once lower down. 
With such a system on the Thames a great deal 
of destruction of property during storms would be 
avoided." 
The work of the Rainfall Organisation is purely 
voluntary. The money derived from the sale of 
" British Kaintall," which is a general summary 
and epitome of the year's work, supplies the neces- 
sary funds. Mr. Wallis calculates that he spends 
at least six weeks every year in giving evidence be- 
fore water committees and inquiries. His work is 
therefore recognised. At every Parlian:entary In- 
quiry or Commission dealing with water questions, 
since theiOuke of Richmond's famous Commission, 
Mr. Wallis and the late Mr. Symons have given 
evidence. Among the " observers" have been three 
Speakers of the House of Commons ; the Dukes of 
Wellington, Westminster, and Argyll ; Lord Ad- 
dington, the late Mr. W H Smith, and many mem- 
bers of Parliament. — Daily Express, J an. ID. 
Our Botanic Gardens and Vegetation. 
— The special feature of February's issue of 
our Tropical Arfricultiirist is the Report by 
the accomplished scientist and botanist. Dr. 
Treub, head of the Buitenzorg Botanical 
Gardens, etc., in Java, on his visit to Ceylon 
and its Botanic Gardens over two years ago. 
It was published in Dutch and translated 
for us, the first portion by Mr. Advocate 
de Vos of Galle, and the rest by Mr. Donald 
Ferguson of Croydon. We regret the delay 
in giving the translation to the readers of the 
T.A., but the concluding portion will appear 
in the March issue. Dr. Treub's observations 
are full of interest for their realistic freshness, 
and for a stranger he makes singularly few 
blunders. He accounts for Java, with only 
double the area, having eight times the popu- 
lation of Ceylon, by the dry if not thirsty 
climate over the larger portion of our island 
and the comparatively poor soil. He shows us 
how superior is the Javanese system of rice 
cultivation to that of the Sinhalese; he is 
delighted with the contrast between patanas 
and forest ; does justice to the work of 
Thwaites and Trimen ; as also to the energy 
of Ceylon jjlanters, and generally writes a 
very appreciative notice, at Jejist so far Rg 
Part I goes, 
