Nov. ], 1899.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
309 
of the American newspapers are publishing informa- 
tion, says the Pall Mall Gar.ette, in respect to tho 
increase in the popularity of the commodity which 
should gladden the hearts of the planters and cause 
Mincing Lane no little satisfaction. '' The phenomenal 
increase in Ceylon and India tea has become very 
striking," is the somewhat tautological comment of 
one journal. The change of attitude on the part of 
the American public dates, it seems, from the 
time of the World's Pair, before which the ladian 
teas were practically unknown. Each year has shown 
a decided iicrease in consumption over the preceding 
period. No figures are given in support of the con- 
tentions, but we suppose that the statements them- 
•elves are deserving of some weight. The astute 
American mind is now considering whether or not 
tea can be produced in the United States. The con- 
clusion arrived at is that there are several States 
where the climatic conditions are favourable, but that 
the cost of labour is too high. There is some hope, 
however, that the raising of tea in certain of the newly- 
acquired possessions of the United States will be at- 
tempted. Of course, the consumption of tea cannot be 
allowed to eome under consideration without the 
inevitable reference to the Anglo-Saxon brotherhood. 
" What a contrast there is between that tea party," 
said one well-known merchant referring to the ac- 
ceptance of a present of tea by Admiral Dewey at 
Colombo, " and the other one in Boston harbour ! How 
indicative of the change of sentiment between two 
peoples 1 " Well, if the United States consumers will 
only buy enough, we can assure them that our Indian 
fjlanters will be very grateful, and will show not a 
ittle enthusiasm on the subject of the Anglo-Saxon 
alliance. 
The Tea Trade of Formosa. — In the Consular re- 
port on the trade of Formosa the reference to tea 
is full, although it resembles official reports from other 
parts of the Far East in that it points to no improve- 
ment in the tea trade generally, 
South Indian Pl.^nters in Council.— The planters 
of Southern India seem animated with a spirit of en- 
terprise. Those of them who grow coffee desire to 
know all about the latest and best machinery for 
curing the product, and it is a pity that they cannot 
find the necessary machinery here without looking 
to the United States for it. 
Cinnamon. — The supply at the periodical sales on 
Monday, the 28th ult., was extremely light, indeed far 
too scanty for the prevailing demand, and the 960 bales 
Ceylon put forward went off briskly at a further ad- 
vance in value. The greatest improvement was seen 
in first and second sorts, which were Id to 2d per 
lb dearer, and even the inferior qualities, that were 
less eagerly competed for, brought id to Id better 
prices than were established at the auctions in May 
last, viz. : Firsts, fine and superior garden cinnamon 
at is 4d to Is 7d, common to good at lOd to Is 2§d ; 
seconds, tine and finest plantation at Is 4d to Is 7d, 
ordinary to good at 7d to Is; thirds, best at Is Id 
to la 5d, low woody to fair at SJd to lid ; fourths, from 
5d up to Is Id ; and broken (in five boxes) at 7|d to 
8d per lb. — Borne and Colonial Mail, Sept. 8. 
COCHIN MARKET. 
C.N. Oil. — The market reopened this week 
with our last quotation, but with an incieasina; 
deniand mainly from Bombay, prices advanced 
and a good business has been done at K89 to 
R89/8 per cnndy for prompt and E91 for one 
month forward delivery. The European firms 
have also brought a few parcels of good white 
oil at K88/12 net per candy. |Market closes to- 
day firm at R90 per candy. The latest quota- 
tions from Bombay were R4/6 to R4/7 per niaund 
of 28 lb., and Rangoon R58 per 100 visses equal 
to 365 lb. 
Coir Yarn.— A good business is passing with 
Europe on c.i.f. terms for forward shipment. 
Supplies arriving from the interior meet with 
a good deniand both fiom shippers as well as 
dealers at piiees ranging R30/55 per candy 
according to quality. 
Rope Yarn. — This yam is largely enquired 
for both from Europe and Indian ports. A good 
business is reported. We quote today, dry 
yarn fine color and make R34/42 and" candy 
baled weight. 
Coir Fibre.— A few parcels of common fibre 
arrived during the week, and changed hands at 
R27/28 per cancij. Good bright fibre is worth 
today K34 per candy. — Cochin Argus, Sept. 23. 
RUBBER- ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL, 
Artificial Production of India-Rubher. 
— The artificial production of india-rubber has 
long been a fascinating problem for chemists. 
i.)r. Tilden has now succeeded in producing it in 
small quantities, although its commercial 
production does not at present seem very near 
realisation. A hydrocarbon known as isoprene 
was discovered years ago by Greville Williams 
amongst the products of the destructive distilla- 
tion of india-rubber, and in 1884 i)r. Tilden 
obtained it by the action of moderate heat on 
turpentine. Some isoprene, which was made by 
Dr. Tilden in the course of his researches in 
terpenes, was preserved, and on examining these 
he was surprised to find tlie contents of the bottles 
completely changed, and in place of a limpid, 
colorless liquid the bottles contained a dense 
syrup, in which floated several large masses of a 
yellowish solid. This, on examination, turned 
out to be india-rubber, exhibiting all the charac- 
teristic reactions of that body with solvents and 
also its power of combining with sulphur to form 
a tough elastic body. The change from isoprene 
to india-rubber is extremely slow, taking several 
years to complete, and so far, Dr. Tilden' says 
that although he has tried everything he can think 
of, all attempts to hasten the action liave resulted 
in the production of a body known as colopliene 
a thick, sticky oil, quite useless for all purposes 
to which india-rubber is applied. 
Barren Rubber Trees.— From a recent oflScial 
report we learn that tiie cultivation of rubber in 
Madras has proved a practical failure, as, curiously 
enough, although the trees grow splendidly, they 
refuse to yield or even produce rubber. The Ceara 
rubber tree was experimentally planted in several 
localities in Southern India, and from the way 
in which the trees grew it was hoped tiiat in 
due time large quantities of the juice would be 
secreted and an export trade spring up. Un- 
fortunately these hopes have not been realised 
since it has been found that the trees refuse to 
" bleed " at all when the bark is cut, or do so 
in such .small quantity that it does not pay 
expenses of cultivation. Mr. Hooper, who has 
made a microscopic examination of tlie inner 
bark, finds that while the laticiferous vessels or 
caoutchouc ducts are not absent they are un- 
developed and scantily distributed in the bark 
This unfortunate result is attributed by Mr'. 
Hooper to the fact that the climatic conditions 
or soil are not suitable for encouraging the 
secretion of rubber in the trees. 
Rubber of the Soudan.— Whilst on the sub- 
ject of rubber, it is of interest to learn from the 
recently-issued report ot Sir William Garstin on 
the subject of the Soudan, that on the Wkite 
