415 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 18». 
To the Editor. 
ALL ABOUT RUBBER. 
Botanical Department, Trinidad, 
Sept. 22, 1899. 
Gentlemen,— Always the first in the field to 
collect and disseminate information likely to be 
of use to the planting interest, you have only 
acted up to your traditions in issiiinc " All about 
Rubber" 1899. The book is a perfect compendium 
of information on the rubber question, and affords 
ine my first look at the latest circular of the 
Ceylon Botanical Department, and of Mr. 
Parkin's Report. I have no time today to point 
remarks at length, but I may say that I am 
unable to follow some of the propositions of Messrs. 
Biffen and Parkin. 
1 cannot see where the evidence comes in, 
which makes the Oylon Castilloa a dillerent 
species to that in Trinidad. Surely it is possible 
to follow the recognised method of sending spe- 
cime»i8 to some large herbarium for identification, 
j-ather than to guess them different, to explain 
differences in the latex. I might as well >ie?lare 
the Heveas different because thdt of Ceylon has 
"no pronounced odour or taste," while our 
Hevea brasiliensis, is readily distinguished by a 
Strong odour of stale salttish ; as can tlie pie- 
pared Brazilian article. I cmnot reconcile Mr. 
Parkin's views on coagulation with my own. 
If coagulation is brought about by the "separat- 
ing of the proteid matter Jrom solution which 
entangles in its meshes the rubber particles so to 
form a clot," how is it that on analysis of rubber 
prepared by another method it "just showed a 
trace of nitrogen " only. The latex of Ceylon 
does not behave" like the latex Mr. Biffen 
describes, so it is made out to be a different 
species. " Cream left on" the surface of water, 
after all proteids are washed out, will coagulate 
aaturally, that is to say, it will be "brought 
into a mass" curdled, or solidified. "All about 
Rubber" should be in every Eubber-plantcr's 
hand, because it is right that they should be con- 
versant with the different views afloat, and the 
course of the various experiments. — I am, yours 
faithfully, J. HINCHLEY HART. 
CEYLON TEA IN CANADA. 
Montreal, Oct. 4, 
Peak Sirs,— Richmond is the Province of Quebec, 
in which province there is a population of one million 
five hunclred thousand souls, eighty per cent of these 
being French, who use almost exclusively China and 
Japan teas. "Salada," our own specialty, iabeing pushed 
on thip ground vigorously, and has been very kindly 
received by the English-speaking portion of the popu- 
lation, and we are gradually (th'ugh very gradually) 
getting some support from the French element. 
I'he paper above referred to will give you an idea 
of what we are doing in the way of advertising. 
This is only one of a series of seven subscription 
papers that have a large circulation throughout this 
province, and our red advertisment appears in each 
of them the same as copy sent you, and is an inno- 
vation in newspaper advertising and a striking one too. 
Besides these papers we are advertising in mnny 
others in this province, both by display advertise- 
ments and readers, together with an extensive dis- 
play of enameled window signs, and an almost lavish 
distribution of saniples. This good work is backed 
np by travelling representatives that are on the road 
continuously covering every town, villnge and hamlet. 
Some day we hope to have sncceeded in couvert- 
jng a large proportion of the French-speaking people 
to the use of the better and purer teas from yonr 
island in which we are mutually interested. Of course 
beyond this Province are the provinses of Nova Scotia, 
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape 
Breton ; all of these places we are doing a large and 
growing business in, and have lately opened up in 
Newfoundland. We shall feel obliged it yon will 
mention these advertisements in your next issue.— 
Yours very truly, 
GEO. MANN, Manager for Eastern Canada., 
The "Salada" Tea Co., 
[Planters in Ceylon will be glad to hear of 
the work that is being done to specialise their 
tea, more especially among the less easily con- 
vertible French-speaking population of the Doini- 
nion. The advertisen.ents are of a most striking 
and attractive nature.— Ed. T.A.] 
A COCONUT ANALYSIS. 
Colombo, Nov. 21. 
Dear Sir,— I beg to enclose report an analysis 
of a Coconut and shall be obliged if you will 
give it publicity in the columns of your paper.— 
Youns faithfully, A. BAUR. 
REPORT, 
Though there exist several analyses of parts of 
of the Coconut, no one seems to have undertaken 
the task of getting a complete analysis made 
with a view of ascertaining the actual demand 
made by the coconut upon the mineral consti- 
tuents of the soil. Yet this knowledge is of para- 
mount importance to those going in for manuring 
owing to the dilferent customs which prevail, either 
of exporting the whole or only part of the nut. 
I am glad therefore to have the oppo'-tunity 
of supplying those interested with a complete 
analysis executed by Dr. F. Bachofen, in charge 
of my Chemical Laboratory. Together with the 
analysis will be found a table showing the quan- 
tities of the more important constituents removed 
by 1,000 coconuts from the soil. A. BAUR. 
The Ceylon Manure Works, 
analysis of the coconut. 
Husk. Shell 
Kernel. 
Milk 
Total weight iu lb. 
2 702 
0-546 
0-875 
0593 
in % 
57-28 
11-59 
18-54 
12-53 
( Moisture in % 
G5-5t; 
15-20 
52-80 
I Dry matter in % 
34-44 
84-J-O 
47 20 
Pure ash in % 
1-63 
0-29 
079 
0*38 
Containing, viz.: — 
Silica Si 02 
8-22 
4-64 
1 31 
2 95 
Oxide of Iron <fe Alu 
minaFe2 03 A12 03 0 54 
1-39 
0-59 
trace 
Lime CaO 
4-14 
6-26 
3-10 
7-43 
Magnesia MgO 
2-19 
1-.S2 
1-98 
3-97 
Potash K2 0 
30-71 
45 01 
45-84 
8-62 
Soda Na2 0 
3-19 
15-42 
Potassium chloride KOI . . 
13 04 
41-69 
Sodium chloride 
NaCl 
45-95 
15-56 
5 01 
26-33. 
Phosphoric acid P2 05 192 
4-64 
20-33 
5-68 
Sulphuric acid So3 
3-13 
5'75 
8-79 
3-94 
100-00 
99-99 
99-99 
100-00 
** Containing total 
potash K2 O 30 71 45 03 54-05 34'54 
• Containing nitrogen N 0-137 0-100 0-504 .. 
Thus, of the more important ingredients of tiie 
soil, 1,000 nuts remove the following ; — 
in lb. Husk. Shell. Kernel. Milk. Total lb. 
Nitrogen N 3 7017 0 5460 4-4100 .. 8 6577 
Phosphoric 
acid P2 05 10-8456 0 0735 1 4053 0 1279 2-4523 
Pota h K2 O 13-5255 0 7127 3 7362 0 7783 18-7627 
Lime CaO 1-8234 0 0991 0-2143 0 1674 2-8043 
Sodium chlo- 
ride NaCl 20'2375 0-2464 0-3563 0'5431 91-4283 
