566 
THE TROPICAL 
AaRlCULTtiRIST. [^ek 2, 1901 
Linn., the '* common sweet basil," producea a 
" yellowish green volatile oil li^liter than water, 
which, on being Icept, solidifies into a crys^ 
talline camphor, isomeric with turpentine 
camphor," {Gmelin's Ilnndbook, xiv., 359). The 
seeds of this specief are widely used in the 
east as a medicine, and tlieir properties " are said 
to be demulcent, stimulant, diuretic and diaphore- 
tic." " The juice of the leaves mixed with ginger 
and black pepper is given in the cold stages of 
intermittent fever." The leaves, like those of 
thyme, are used as a reasoning in cooking. Another 
Indian species, 0. sanctum, Linn., the '* sacred 
basil," is the most sacred plant in the Hindu reli- 
gion, and is consequently widely cultivated. 
In " Notes on the Medicinal Plants of 
Liberia,^' Mr E M Holmes records that when 
chewed or rubbed, the leaves of O. viride 
give off a strong odour of lemon thyme, 
and mentions that Dr Kobevts, of Liberia, 
entirely substituted the use of the plant for that 
of quinine in cases of fever of all kinds, giving lb 
in the form of an infusion. 
There is thus a good deal of evidence that 
0. viride is a plant of considerable curative value, 
especially in cases of fever, bub the question that 
interests a large number of people in West Africa 
is whether it is equally efficacious as a preventa- 
tive, Does it really repel the mosquito which acts 
as the intermediary in conveying the malarial 
hcematozoon from man to man ? Further experi- 
ment on this point is needed, but there is at least 
some indication that in this easily cultivated plant 
man has another weapon with which to fight 
malaria. A. E. Shipley. 
Christ's College, Cambridge. 
—Nature, Jan. It 
NORTH BORNEO. 
(From the North Borneo Herald, Dec. 16.) 
Fuel.— It has been proposed that when coal is 
exhausted, the eucalyptus should Jbe cultivated 
for fuel. In hot countries the gum-tree can supply 
20 tons of fire- wood per acre a year. To this end 
the cultivation of the eucalyptus tree which grows 
to a great height and affords plenty of shade, should 
be introduced and encouraged in British North 
Borneo where the climate is eminently suitable 
for the purpose. 
Borneo Tobacco.— Tobacco from our young 
colony of North Borneo, the Pall Mall is glad to 
see, is holding its own, and up to the end of last 
month, 15,885 bales of the 1901 crop were Sold in 
Amsterdam at an average of 90 cents per half- kilo, 
while the average of the Sumatra crop was only 
seven cents more. On the other hand, however, 
the highest price obtained for Borneo was 181 cents 
which compares very favourably with 135 cents for 
the best Sumatra leaf. "El Mandano " is an 
excellent cigar made from leaf grown on the 
Bongon estate of the New London Borneo Tobacco 
Company (Limited), which has produced some of 
the best" tobacco raised in the colony since the 
cultivation of the fragrant weed was introduced. 
The East Coast, — The following is from a 
most interesting account of His Excellency's tour 
of the above territory :— I came away very 
satisfied with all I saw and confident of the future 
prosperity of this part of the Territory. The 
tobacco estate belonging to Mr. Kortmann at 
Tawao is closed, but Mr Arensma's Company on 
the Segama i.'j ia full awing, I visited every estate 
and was very hospitably entertained. The number 
of fields planted is 625 and the average yield over 
9i pikuls. If prices approximating those of 1902 
are obtained there will be great jubilation in 
Darvel Bay. As it is every one is very contented. 
I visited Mr Phillip's coal workings at Serudong 
and was greatly pleased. He has cut along a seam 
ot coal for J 37' and its width is 3' 4". Mi Phillips 
has traced a tramway line for about 2,000 yards 
to the tidg,l river and, if the coal is in payable 
quantity, it could be transported in lighters to' 
Sandakan where a wharf in deep water, could be 
erected at inconsiderable expense and where the 
coal would always find a ready market. I believe 
there is tin in Tawao and I know now that there is 
coal at Serudong. If therefore, the British Borneo 
Syndicate expends in those places some of the 
money it is bound to lay out in prospecting 
the territory, there is every hope that a bright 
future lies before the East Coast. 
TEA IN AUSTRALIA IN 1902, 
The year 1902 has been unsatisfactory for 
traders in this article. The removal of the duty 
by the Federal Government found dealers with 
more or less heavy duty paid stocks, on which 
a loss of 3d per lb. had to be faced. In 
addition, there was an impression amongst the 
trade that financial necessities would induce the 
Government to try and reverse the decision of 
Parliament, and in anticipation thereof large 
sales were effected at high prices. Tea, how- 
ever, remains free of duty, and it has taken 
many months to get rid of these surplus stocks on 
a market which has been continuously adverse to 
all holders. 
A further adverse element was the unexpected 
action of the Federal Government in condemn- 
ing on a purely chemical analysis (which was 
part of the Customs Act) certain teas imported 
from India and Ceylon, because they contained 
a limited portion of ash in excess of the academi- 
cal standard laid down by the act, although the 
tea extract they contained was largely in excess 
of the standard, and by the analysis they are 
admittedly " fit for human consumption." The 
contention of the trade is that reasonable notice 
should have been given to importers viz., time to 
advise their agents in the Far East, and that it 
is impossible to know whether teas comply with 
the act until their arrival in the States and 
analysis here. On these grounds permission has 
been requested to reship the teas in question. 
It is now hoped that the Government will 
amend the clause relating to tea in the Customs 
Act — on the lines of the American Customs Acd 
— which thoroughly protects the public without 
harshness to the trade. Over-importation during 
the past two years, due to tariff speculations, 
also contributed to depress tiie maiket, so that 
during the greater part of the year complaints 
were heard amongst all sections of the trade. 
For the past few months, however, imports have 
been restricted, and stocks are now getting into 
a more healthy position. 
Colombo continues to be the main source of 
supply. Imports, however, will be fully 10 per 
cent less than last year. Prices in Colombo have 
risen considerably, owing to the London market 
recognising the strong statistical position of tea 
generally, and this market will, doubtless, follow 
