112 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTDRIST. [Aug. 1, 1902. 
TEA SALES. 
PUBLIC SALES OF TEA IN COLOMBO. 
DUEIN& THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30tH, 1902. 
Exchange 
Demand 
Avg. Drafts 
1901. 1902, 
C, d. 
Offered 
Sold 
Date. 
lb. 
Jan. 
3 
1,493,593 
>» 
8 
646,988 
15 
1,120132 
)» 
5> 
22 
1,375,393 
Feb. 
29 
930,113 
5 
)) 
12 
768,910 
•> 
29 
1,011,108 
Mar. 
26 
891,360 
5 
847,998 
j> 
i2 
839,768 
19 
1,176,128 
51 
25 
1,097,693 
April. 9 
1,697,525 
16 
1,223,215 
*} 
23 
1,015,491 
May 
30 
1,079,592 
7 
1,104,239 
14 
1,285,620 
i> 
21 
1,455,910 
j> 
28 
1,474,765 
iy 
Jane 
4 
1,623,104 
11 
1,318,660 
1} 
18 
1,472,731 
5) 
24 
1,170 659 
lb. 
1,020,013 
565,2ii8 
752,067 
l,050,(-i92 
600,060 
591,461 
651.783 
775,306 
680,597 
684,470 
685,(387 
941,572 
813,233 
1,535,020 
1,077,853 
799,986 
906 717 
818,091 
839,487 
1,01S.149 
833,098 
1,169,815 
953,845 
1,11;0,630 
740,607 
Avg. 
1902. 
c. 
34 
36 
34 
33 
32 
33 
34 
34 
3d 
36 
37 
36 
3.5 
36' 
37 
36 
36 
35 
34 
33 
31 
30 
30 
30 
30 
27 
31 
29 
27 
27 
30 
29 
29 
30 
34 
35 
36 
37 
39 
35 
33 
31 
32 
30 
29 
27 
31 
32 
32 
31 
1-32 
1-32 
1-32 
1-16 
1-16 
1-32 
1-16 
1-16 
1-32 
1-32 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/4 
1/3 31-32 
1/4 
1/3 31 32 
1/3 3X-32 
1/3 31-32 
1/3 15- 16 
1/3 15-16 
1/3 15-16 
1/3 15-16 
1/3 15 16 
1/3 15 16 
1/3 15 16 
Total 1 1 902 28,605,342 21,715,507 
Do 1901 26,620,270 19,872,871 
33 32 1/4 
PUBLIC SALES OF TEA IN LONDON. 
DUEING THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30rH, 1902. 
o Gow, Wilson 
Packages Packages 
•Offered. Sold. 
Date. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar, 
Apr. 
May 
June. 
2 
11,000 
9 
21,000 
16 
32,000 
24 
26,000 
30 
6 
27,000 
28,000 
13 
26,000 
20 
23,000 
27 
26,000 
6 
21,000 
13 
25,000 
20 
23,000 
27 
25,000 
27,000 
10 
17 
28,000 
24 
24,000 
1 
20,000 
28,000 
8 
1.5 
27,000 
29 
30,000 
6 
31,000 
12 
30,000 
19 
27,000 
27 
27,000 
9,000 
20,000 
29,000 
24,000 
25,ii00 
24,0(10 
23,000 
22,000 
•24,000 
20,000 
23,000 
21,000 
22,000 
25,000 
26,000 
19,000 
17,000 
25,000 
24,000 
25,000 
28,000 
28,000 
25 000 
23,000 
g « Average. 
i ' 
190- 
7 
fit 
6* 
]9"2. 1902. 
7i 7i 
n 
7 
7 
6^ 
?1 
' s 
"li. 
' 8 
0-J 
<i| 
6i 
6i 
6| 
6i 
6J 
6i 
71 
7i 
7i 
7 
7 
6| 
li 
7A 
7 
7 
7 
^ 
H 
6^ 
OA 
6i 
6 
63 
6i 
6| 
U 
6| 
7 
7i 
61 
6| 
6ii 
6* 
6^ 
6i 
6i 
DOES THE MOON INFLUENCE VEGETAL 
TION? 
In some countries, for example in the tropics, 
the bright moonlight is supoosed to sfcinialate the 
growth, and it is believed that wood cut when the 
moon is waning from the full is apt to rot, 
perhaps because it has then more sap, M 
Bassieres, in the " Revue des Cultures Coloniales," 
from expeiiraeiits made m Colonibia, finds that 
pha.ses of the moon do not seem to influence 
vegetation, but he asks for experiments to be made 
elsewhere in order to settle the question. — Globe. 
VACCINATION FOR PLAGUE, CHOLERA 
AND TYPHOID. 
A NEW PROCESS. 
MM Koux and Be.sredica have brought a new 
process of vaccination against plague, cholera, 
and typhoid before the Aeadeiwie des Sciences, 
Paris. Prevented serum injected into tlie blood 
of an animal only imnmuise.s it for a short time. 
Oil the other hand, if microbic bodies are injected, 
a longer immunisation is obtained but the ani nal 
does not feel well. M Besredka lias combined 
these two existing methods by injeding a mix- 
ture of serum and microbic matter. The re.sult is 
a prompt and lasting immunisation without 
discomfort to the animal. — Globe, June 13. 
oa 
Total 1 1902. ..613,000 551,000 7 7 
Do l'J01...646,000 583,000 
[The figures for Local Sales are compiled from the 
weekly circular of Messrs. Forbes & Walker, while 
those for London Sales are from the telegrams received 
weekly.J 
PERSIAN GULF PEARL FISHERY. 
The season of the pearl fishery has just 
cormnenced in the Gulf, and Koweit people 
are very busily engaged in sending their 
boats. Koweit sends about 350 boats annually 
to the pearl fishery. Bahrein sends about 
.500 boats. Cassimin Thani of El-RedaA, on 
the coast between Koweit and Bahrein, sends 
about 200 boats. There are besides those 
sent from Oman and the coast beyond. The 
pearl fishery commencs in the Gulf in June 
and finishes at the end of September. — M, 
Ma%l, July 2. 
ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION OF 
OYSTERS. 
Experiments of a somewhat remarkable 
character have recently been made at the John 
Hopkins University (U.S.A.) in the artificial pro- 
pagation of oysters, A single female oyster of 
average size " lays " about 16.000,000 eggs, while 
a large specimen will produce from 30,000,000 to 
40,000,000 egiiS. The eggs are microscopic in size 
and an ordinary tumbler will hold about 100,000 
e'^gs. Under natural conditions the eggs and milt 
are simply set free in the water of a river or bay 
and permitted to take their chances of coming 
together, v/hicti are so small that about one egg 
in a million is fertilised. The scientific manner 
is to open an oyster which is ready to spawn, 
and with the deep part of the shell downwards 
gently stroke, with an ordinary glass pipette, 
the upper surface away from the hinge.s, and 
should it be a female oyster it will pour out a 
fluid which will be full of eggs. In a tumbler 
of sea-water are placed a few drops of this 
liquid, to which is added a drop or two of this 
liquid similarly obtained from the male oyster, 
and fertilisation at once takes place. In about 
two hours afterwards all the eggs in the tumbler 
have been hatched, and in a few days' time they 
are ready to be placed in the water, and to 
attach themselves to some permanent object.— 
Chamber of Commerce Journal for June, 
