254 
THE TROPICAL AGEIOULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1902, 
Government Analyst, Trinidad.— We 
have from time to time noticed and quoted 
the good work done by Professor Carmody. 
F.L.c, F C.S., in Trinidad. We have now 
secured a copy of his annual report for 
1901-2 showing in detail the work done. Of 
samples analysed the number was 2,210 against 
1,747 in the previous year. Not only agri- 
cultural and industrial„ but Customs, criminal 
and miscellaneous samples are detailed. 
Altogether a notable record of work- 
The Coconut Crab. — The following paragraph 
occurs in Nature, 24th J uly :— 
To the Notes from the Leyden Museum Dr K Horat 
contributes some remarks on the habits of the coco- 
nut-erab, based upon observations made on captive 
specimens at Batavia and living examples near Bantam 
by Mr C P Sluiter. Eecently some doubts have been 
expressed aa to whether it is in the habit of ascending 
palm-trees. Mr Sluiter has, however, seen these 
crabs climb to the top of mangrove-trees and palms 
fully 60 feet in height. What they did when at the 
top he was unable to ascertain, but from observations 
made on captive specimens, he considers it probable 
that they were engaged in openiug young coconuts 
and devouring their contents. Whether they have 
the power of opening ripe coconuts could not be deter- 
mined, the specimens under observation merely fum- 
bling such as were given them without attempting to 
penetrate the shell. 
Can any one tell us of crabs being found on 
coconut palms in Ceylon? Tliey are not once 
mentioned iu our Manual of the Coconut palm. 
Infused Tea Leaves as Manure for 
Roses.— In the proceedings of the Agri-Horticul- 
tural Society of India, which we publish in another 
colurnn, will Le found an enquiry from Messrs. 
Andrew Yule and Company, the Indian Tea Ex- 
pansion Commissioners, as to whether infused tea 
leaves make a good manure for roses. It may be 
well to state the case fully for the benefit of our 
readers, The leaves of the tea plant, when plucked 
for the manufacture of the tea of commerce, are 
first withered or wilted, then passed through a 
rolling machine by which the cells in the leaves 
are broken up. This mass is then " fermented," 
and lastly dried by hot air in the cea dryers. The 
infusion of the tea in boiling water liberates the 
theine, or active principle, a large proportion of 
the tannic acid, and the essential oil. Ifc is these 
organic substances that go to form the infusion 
of tea which we value so much. The organic 
matter, i.e., the tissues, as well as some of the 
mineral constituents of the leaf, are left, and it is 
this that Messrs. A. Yule and Company wish to 
utilise as manure for rose bushes. If the infused 
leaves are treated in the same way as other leaves 
for the production of leaf- mould, i e., by rotting, 
there is no reason why they should nob make a 
good manure for roses or any other plants. But 
to apply the infused leaves, ivithout putting them 
through the process of decomposition, would be to 
court disaster for the rose bushes. If Messrs. A. 
Yule and Company desire to realise some revenue 
from the infused tea leaves, they Jihould sell to 
native nurserymen, or " charawallahs," or to any 
one else who arows roses and garden plants. 
There is, however, one purpose for which infused 
tea leaves are largely used at home, and that is, 
for cleaning carpets in dwelling houses. The 
damp leaves gather up the dust, and thus render 
the housemaid's work easy.— /wdiaw Gardening 
and Planting, 
Manure for Roses.— Artificial manures, say 
a German contemporary, if properly chosen and 
applied, are the most useful, as by their use 
vigorous growth and fine flowers are obtained. 
Raw bone-meal, in point of usefulness, is preferable 
to manures containing phosphoric acid ; but the 
manure most to be recommended is potash, and two 
dressings afforded during the summer have all the 
favourable results which one can desire from a 
manure.— Indian Gardening and Planting, 
Aug. 21. 
Tea in Ceylon in 1802.— We are indebted 
to an upcountry correspondent for the 
following "cutting" from the London 
Observer of July 27th, 1902, reproducing 
what appeared in the same paper, one 
hundred years earlier or in July 1802: — 
" A late attempt has been made by a naturalist 
of eminence to cultivate the tea plant in the island 
of Ceylon, but notwithstanding almost all the 
trees, plants and fiowers of this part of the globe 
seem collected there the experiment has totally 
failed." 
The second attempt made with tea was 
well-nigh 50 years later by the Messrs. Worraa 
on Condegalle, also without success. 
Economic Products in Trinidad.- Mr J L 
Hart, Superintendent of the Trinidad Botanical 
Gardens, in his annual report for the year end- 
ing March 31st, 1902, states that ginger can be 
very successfully cultivated in Trinidad, as the 
plant grows well and rhizomes are of excellent 
size. A plot devoted to this product yielded at 
the rate often tons per acre of the undried rhizomes. 
Kola grows fairly well, bub as it takes some 
years to come into bearing no results have yet 
been obtained. A plot of turmeric has yielded 
at the rate of two tons per acre of green 
tubers. Cloves are found very difiiculb to rear 
through tha early stages, bub grow well when 
established. The section devoted to black pepper 
has made fair progress, but the plants have nob 
yet reached their fruiting stage. The camphor- 
tree grows rapidly in Trinidad, bub never attains a 
large size. Camphor and camphor oil, both of good 
quality, have been produced, and it is intended to 
grow a plot with a viev/ to testing the feasibility 
of growing ib on a commercial scale. — Chemist aria 
Drugc/ist, August 2. 
The late Mr. Oliver Collett. — A^aiure 
of July 31st has the following:— 
Natural science in Ceylon has sustained a severe 
loss by the untimely death of Mr. Oliver Collett, 
F.R.M.S., who, while carrying on actively his 
vocation as a tea planter, found time for excellent 
original work both in the field and laboratory. 
He devoted himself especially to the Mollusca ; 
and a genus and several species of land shells bear 
his name. As a member of the Ceylon branch of 
the Royal Asiatic Society he contributed various 
papers on zoological questions. He also brought 
his scientific knowledge to bear on some economic 
questions in connection with the cultivation of 
tea, and was much esteemed by his fellow plan- 
ters, being at the time of his death Chairman of 
the local Planters' Association. Mr. Collett, who 
was thirty-five years of age, possessed a very at- 
tractive personality, and many, both at home and 
in Ceylon, who were brought into contact with 
him by common interests, deplore the loss of a 
charming friend and an enthusiastic naturalist. 
He died on June 13bh, somewhat suddenlyi at 
Colombo from an attack of dysentery. 
