108 
THE TEOPICAL 
AGRICULTUEIST. [Aug. 1, 1901 
CEYLON COCOA IN GERMANY. 
A HINT FROM MR. KENTON. 
Ceylon cocoa growers will feel grateful 
for the keen interest displayed in their 
interests by Mr. Ronton. Today through 
the courtesy of Mr. Philip Ave are en- 
abled to publish a hint which Mr. 
Renton sends to cocoa growers in Ceylon and 
which is specially applicable to those who 
export their produce to Germany. A valued 
correspondent with considerable knowledge of 
the subject gives us the following infor- 
mation of interest: — "The washing of cocoa 
and consequent removal of mucilage is pretty 
general in Ceylon, though there are, I un- 
derstaad, two or three estates where cocoa 
is not washed and mucilage is allowed to 
dry on the bean. I sent a saiuple of cocoa 
home some weeks ago, with mucilage 
dried on. Brokers reported " dark stained 
skin, good brownish break, well fermented 
and of even colour. .The dark stain on 
skin would prevent its sale on type. Bright 
fiery skin is preferred, and, if this can be 
obtained, coupled with 'break' same as 
sample, a fancy price might be secured." 
I do not suppose it is possible to get the 
bright appearance when the slimy mucilage 
is dried on the bean. Of coarse, if buyers 
generally began to realise that the "break" 
of the dark-skinned beans was always 
better, the fiery skin would cease to attract. 
Fiery skin has hitherto, I expect, generally 
indicated probable good "break.' Enclosed 
are 2 samples; A, washed, B, unwashed. The 
latter has suffered in the keeping somewhat 
but not a great deal." (To the unpractised 
eye at any r»te the washed beans look the 
most attractive.) What Germany wants, 
it is evident from the above, is not wanted 
at home. It would be interesting, however, 
and would save others experimenting, if 
some of those who export " unwashed " 
cocoa would give their opinion on the ex- 
tract sent by Mr. Renton. 
— ■ < » 
COMPRESSED TEA TRADE OF RUSSIA. 
Aecorrling to the Dutch Consul at Warsaw more 
than 53,000,000 kilogs of tea are annually imported 
by Russia, of whicli .34,400,000 kilogs consist of 
brick tea, 18,000,000 kilogs of black tea, 975,000 
kilogs of tablets, and 280,000 kilogs of green tea. 
A small quantity of yellow tea is also consumed, 
which, however, ia too insignificant to betaken into 
consideration. Green tea is rarely found in Russian 
households, and the great majority of Russians have 
never tasted it. 
TEA IN TABLETS. 
These tablets are manufactured with tea leaves 
of inferior quality. They are 130 millimetres long, 
40 wide, and 20 thick, and each tablet is divided 
into eiglit sections. The tablet weighs ^ lb (Russian) 
anil is enclosed in paper bearing the name of the 
manufacturer. For packing purposes tin-lined 
caH6s, each containing 126 Russian lb, are used, 
Tlie retail price at Mos3ow is 1 rouble 10 copecks 
per Russian lb (about 2-7d per English lb). All the 
tablets used at Warsaw bear the name of a firm at 
Hankow. 
CRICK TEA, 
Brick tea is also manufacturedatHaukow. There 
(ire two (jualitic", the first fjuality measuring 227 
millimetres long by 161 wide and 11 thick, and 
weighing Jkilogeach. Bricks of the second quality 
measure 287 by 183 by 22 millimetres, with an 
average weight of 1'160 kilogs. 
These bricks arepafked in wooden cases, holding 
from 216 to 240 lb (Russian). The retail price at 
Warsaw is 70 copecks per Russian lb (about Is 8d 
per English lb) for the first quality, and 60 copecks 
(Is 5d) for the second quality. 
Note.— Kilog=2-2 lb. M.i'i!imetre=-03937 inch. 
— Chambe>- of Commerce Journal. 
FARMING IN ORANGE RIVER COLONY. 
Bloemfontein. June 24.— Among the officials 
of the Orange River Colony Agricultural De- 
pa,rtment the opinion is held that it will be 
of the gravest importance for the success of 
this agricultural country that the class of 
intending settlers shall be most carefully 
selected, preference being given to real work- 
ing farmers and men with families who can 
till with their own hands and be indepen- 
dent of outside labour. To such settlers hirge 
incomes will undoubtedly accrue. Land for 
settlement purposes is being acquired each 
week, and it is expected that farming will 
quickly become one of the most important 
industries of the Orange River Colony. 
Hitherto nine-tenths of the milk produced 
has been wasted, but now every cow is pro- 
ducing, and half is being turned to account. 
With reference to the re-stocking of the 
colony with cattle, it has been found that 
more cattle are still in the country than was 
generally believed. If the supply, however, 
locally fails, it is thought tliat the competi- 
tion between oversea colonies will be so groat 
that prices cannot be exorbitant. - On account 
of the deaths among the young that occur 
in imi)orted s';ock the local supplies will be 
drawn upon as far as possible. At least halt 
the quantity required, abmit half a million, 
for re-stocking the Orange River Colony is 
now in sight. The majority ot the farmers 
Avill arrive on their farms in time for spring 
ploughing and sowing, and it seems likely 
that the country will not take a great time 
to recover its normal state. A large quantity 
of tobacco will be planted in all suitable 
districts in the coming season. Poultry clubs, 
under the presidency of Major Goold Adams, 
are being formed in most of the districts, as 
the importance of poultry for producing a 
rapid supply of food is realised. — London 
Times, June 28. 
Tea Over-production and the Londom 
Market.— A more feasible and desirable 
means of meeting the evil of larger supplies 
of tea being thrown on the London market 
at times than can secure fair prices, than 
any yet proposed, is an Indian and Ceylon 
Financial Combination of producers to enter 
the market as buyers and holders of tea 
whenever there is an over-supply. The ob- 
ject is to secure a more even distribution 
of the tea offering for sale, the purchases 
being made by the Combination to be re- 
offered at sales when the supply was less. 
We are assured on good authority that such 
a Combination is likely to be matured aii(^ 
got to work erelong. 
