Nov. 1, 1902.] THE TROPICAL AGRICIJLTURIST. 
345 
€arit0pan'bcnce. 
To the Editor. 
AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION: A 
CORRECTION. 
Imperial Agviculturiil Department for the 
West Indies, Barhados, 21st August, 1902. 
Dear Sir,— In the I'ropical Afjricultiirist 
for July 1902, p. 11, just to hand, I notice 
an original article on the " Preparation of 
Commercial Papain" with wood-cuts is re- 
produced from the "Agricultural News", 
tiie fortnightly review of this Department, 
without an acknowledgment as to the source 
whence it was obtained. I am always de- 
lighted when information, in respect of 
tropical products, published by this Depart- 
ment, is reprinted elsewhere ; but, in the 
instance I have referred to, it deals rather 
hardly upon us as the article is, as far as 
I am aware, the first which has appeared 
exactly describing the preparation of papain 
on a commercial scale based on the experience 
of many years. 1 am quite sure it is due to an 
oversight and tliat it only requires to be 
brought under your notice to be put right.* 
1 am glad to say tliat the publications of 
this Department are being largely appreciated 
in these Colonies. Last year we distributed 
about 50,000 copies of Bulletins, Pamphlets, 
and Leaflets amongst all classes of the com- 
munity. 
I heartily congratulate you on the com- 
pletion of the Twenty-fifth t Volume of the 
Tropical Agnculturist.—Y onrs truly, 
D. MORRIS, 
•'CEYLON TEA CHESTS AND TEAS 
FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET." 
Foochow, China, Sept. 15. 
Dear Sib, — Our attention has been called 
to a letter dated Montreal, 12th March last, 
which appeared in the Correspondence 
columns of your paper dated the 30th July, 
in which the writer stated that the interests 
of the Ceylon Planter are seriously endan- 
gered by the use of " pine boxes " whether 
from China or Japan, and goes on to say 
that such wood can have no other effect, 
but to injure the teas packed in it. He also 
implies that in order to land the teas in good 
condition it is necessary to pack them in 
packages made in Japan from Momi wood. 
Tlie reason for this opinion is not hard to 
discover when we see that the writer is " A 
Japanese Tea importer in Montreal." 
We wish to refute the statement that ill- 
effects to the tea will be brought about owing 
to the use of "China Pine" boxes. To all 
those who know tea it is a recognised fact 
that if there is one tea more than another 
which is susceptible to damage from smell 
it is China tea, and yet, in spite of that 
fact, all these teas have in the past and 
are now being packed in boxes made from 
* We regret extremely the carelessness of a fore- 
man printer in the matter.— Ed. T.A, 
+ Not qaite:|ifthe 2Ut ia our last— attaiuing our 
majority t— Ed. T.A. 
the so-called "China Pine" ! ! ! In addition 
to this, all the boxes used for the packing 
of the extremely delicate teas of Formosa 
are made in this Port of Foochow from the 
very wood which "Merchant" so censures 
as a packing material. 
As tea box makers we are fully alive to 
the fact that wood smelling of resin is not 
at all suited to the requirements of the tea 
exporter, but so-called "China Pine" does 
not .«mell of resin or anything else, hut is 
a clean wood of attractive appearance and 
great toughness and, on account of this latter 
quality, is superior to the Momi. 
We maintain and can prove by actual re- 
sults that the " China Pine " package will 
land its contents in Montreal or any other 
place free from taint (due to the box wood 
used) in better condition than will the Momi 
package, and that in addition to this the 
Planter will be able to reduce his expenditure 
for packing material. 
We do not follow "Merchant" 's argument 
when he says that the writer, (A Japa- 
nese Tea Importer in Montreal) should 
know best what suits the trade ! ! We 
think that the latter is prejudiced in favour 
of the produce of Japan, for reasons best 
known to himself, and is doing his best to 
help forward Japanese interests at the ex- 
pense of the Ceylon planter. We are con- 
vinced that if once •' China Pine " packages 
were used by " A Japanese Tea Importer" 
he would find that his teas were delivered 
on the consuming market free from all 
resinous taint and that the packages carried 
their contents better than any other 
package yet placed on the market. Asking 
you to be good enough to insert this re- 
ply. — We are, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
FOOCHOW SAW MILLS, Co., DODWELL 
& Co. Ltd., per E J MOSS, General Manager. 
THE FIRST SNIPE OF THE SEASON. 
Sir,— Mr. A. W. Gray reported the first 
snipe of the season on 7th September. 1 recall 
one shot at Wilson's Bungalow some years ago 
on Sept'jinber 1st. Can this be beaten ? Please 
reproduce the following lines to cheer up 
SOME OF US. 
THE FIRST SNIPE. 
Oh say to the sportsman what sound inoie exciting 
In the cool grey of morning, or shadows of eve 
Tnan the chirp of the snips from the rice swamp, in- 
viting 
Pursuit, which it scarcely can wish to receive ! 
Above the rank sedges, to note the gay twitting, 
To fill up our cartridges, qaakiog with fear, 
Lest Brown hearing too, be before us in greeting 
Tlie first snipe of the ye.ir ! 
We shout to our Boy, and we bid him be ready, 
At first glimmer of dawn with a basket of "prog," 
And to hunt coolies up who are knowing and steady 
At beating up game in each promising bog ; 
And we speak with affection, and anxious directing 
Bidding mongrel pups, our instructions revere, 
And tell them most wouderful legends respecting 
The first snipe of the year. 
By daybreak we've donned our most ancient of 
trousers, 
Boots and coat only fit for an old clothes man's 
sack. 
We whistle the " rommiea " and " Bullies " ana 
"Towsers" 
Ih£vt form our remarkable nondescript pack. 
