568 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 2, 1903. 
and not rashly ap;ree to a proposal which 
will hardly benefit them in the slightest and 
may prove most harmful to our industry 
as a whole. 
As one making good teas myself, 1 consider 
any increase of the cess as a form of the 
worst "class legislation" because the proposers 
cannot show that it is for the good of the 
whole. Past experience shows us this cannot 
be the case. — Yours faithfully, 
INCOG. 
CEYLON EXPORTS OF COCONUT OIL 
TO INDIA, 
Colombo, Jan. 22. 
Dear Sir,— A few days ago, in an article 
on Exports for last year with comparisons 
with previous years, you enquired why 
Export of Coconut oil to India had dropped 
off so much, as that country used to be about 
the best customer of Ceylon. The reason, 
I understood, to be that an import duty 
was imposed ; which made this an unpaying 
business to the Chetties who were almost 
the sole exporters of oil from here to India, 
and so the business has nearly died out. — 
Yours faithfully, 
JAMES GIBSON. 
COMB HONEY IN COLOMBO. 
Colombo, Jan. 22. 
Dear Sir,— I send you a sample of comb 
honey from an improved bee-hive I am 
working.— I am. Sir, C. D. 
[We can testify that the comb is very 
well tilled with superior honey of good 
flavour.— Ed, T.A.I 
» ■ ■ — 
PLANTING NOTES, 
A Bacteeiological Institute in Siam.— It 
is stated in tlie Semaine Medicale that in order 
to give France a manifest proof of its friendly 
feeling, the Siamese Government has decided " to 
create at Bangkok a bacteriological institute to 
be under the exclusive direction of French phy- 
.sicians, and to institute forthwith in connexion 
■with the health department, a service of sanitary 
works, havingf at its head a French engineer, and 
reinforced by engineers, also French." — British 
and Colonial Druggist, Jan. 9. 
A Review of the Australian Tea Trade 
— during 1902 will be found in our daily 
of today. Traders there have had an adverse 
year and the causes which are named as having 
depressed the market, will be read with 
interest. " Colombo continues to be the 
main source of supply." the report states, 
although the imports this year are fully 
10 per cent less than last year. Ceylon too 
has gained ground over India in the past 
year, the quality of the latter's tea being 
disappointing. China teas are gradually 
dropping out. Notwithstanding the fact 
that stocks are very much reduced the out- 
look for the year i? characterised as poor. 
CARDAMOM CULTIVATION: THE CESS 
CIRCULAR. : 
The following is the letter that has been 
addressed to cardamom growers in Ceylon : — 
Rangalla, Jan. 12. 
Dear Sir,— A Sub-Committee (consisting of 
Messrs. J Westland, J A Spence, W Reeve 
Tatham and myself,) appointed by the Com- 
mittee of the Planters Association of Ceylon, 
to inquire into the best methods of pushing 
the sale of Cardamoms in foreign countries, 
recommend that the following circular be sent 
to all Cardamom growers with a view to 
ascertaining what support will be given. To 
enable the Committee to lay this matter be- 
fore the Planters Association Meeting to be 
held on 17th February, an early reply is 
requested. — iours faithfully. William Sin- 
clair, Chairman, Sub-Committee. 
Circular, 
That in view of the large extension in Cardamom 
Onltivation whereby the supply in the near future 
is likely to exceed the demand, it is most desirable 
that means should be adopted to make this product 
better known in foreign markets. To allow of this 
being done funds are necessary. It is therefore pro- 
posed that all cardamom growers be asked to sub- 
scribe 50 cents per cultivated acre, to form a fund 
for the purpose of pushing^nd making better known 
this product. 
(Signed) William Sinclair, J. Westland, J. A. 
Spence, W. Eeeve Tatham, Sub-Committee, 
A NEW RUBBER VINE. 
The U S Consul at Tegucigalpa (Honduras) has 
been informed of the discovery in the Pijo 
mountains of a vine growing in an uncultivated 
state which is said to produce rubber of excellent 
quality. The vines grow to 100 feet in length, 
varying in diameter from 4 in. to 2 feet, and they 
are said to belong to the African family of rubber 
vines. In Honduras, no one seems to know the 
name of the vine or the botanical family to which 
it belongs. The discoverer (Senor Davadi, Gov- 
ernor of the Department of Comyagua) regards it 
as superior in quality to the Para rubber of com- 
merce, and asserts that his convictions are borne 
out by the analyses made by American and Euro- 
pean chemists, 
The vine thrives at great altitudes as well as 
in the lower valley levels. Such luxuriance of 
growth has this plant attained that it is quite 
capable of being cut in commercial quantities. It 
may be quickly propagated in the rich soil of the. 
Department by means of seedlings, and the growth 
being so much faster than that of rubber trees,. 
Senor Davadi thinks the quantity of gum 
obtained would be large. The trees require six 
years' attention before sapping can begin. It has 
been praposed to form a company for the exploita- 
tion of rubber in the Yoro district, but though -the 
names of several prominent men have been con- 
nected with the enterprise, nothing hafe as yet 
been done to begin operations. — Commercial In- 
telligence, Jan. 10. 
