C40 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 1, 1899. 
THE EXPOKTS OF DESICCATED 
COCONUTS. 
Our attention lias been called to a curious 
mistake in the able and comprehensive Annual 
Report of the Planters' Association, which was 
adopted at tlie meeting the other <lay. When 
reading the paraf!;rapb, it struck us that the alleged 
decrease in tiie exports of desiccated coconuts 
last year, did not correspond with our own im- 
pression, and with our annual review of our 
exports. On turning to the official t-ible, wc find 
that so far from the quantity exported bein;; 
nearly a million lb. less than in 1897, last year 
shows .an increase of 980,082 lb. !— the (i^'ures 
being 13,040,5.34 tor 1898, and 12,054,4o-2 for the 
previous year, according to tlie Chamber of 
Commerce. 
OUK JUNGLE ''NILLU" PLANTS. 
Mr. Thomas Farr, writing from North Cove, 
Bogawantalawa, on Feb. ]8tii, says :—" I noticed 
in your January number of tlie Tropical Agricul- 
ttirist a repetition of one of the numerous 
'popular errors' of Ceylon, viz., a reference to 
the septennial flowering of the 'Nillu.' Now I 
liave seen the Nillu flower in diflerent ' Nillu 
districts' many times— in 1870, 18S2, and 1804 ail in 
the same Nillu district ; in 1875, 1887, and 1899 all 
in the same Nillu district. There are other 
flowerings, too, in other 'districts' and so far as 
an experience of 29 years goes, the interval be- 
tween each flowering in each 'di.«trict' is 12 years 
and not seven. I write of an elevation exceeding 
4,000 feet." — From Tennent we quote the fuUow- 
ing interesting reference, on which no doubt the 
popular idea is based, as to the '• Nillu" flower- 
ing in five, seven or nine years : — 
"There are said to be fourteen species of the 
Nilloo (Strohilantlies) in Ceylon. They form a com- 
plete undergrowth in the forest live or six feet in 
height, and sometimes extending for miles. When 
in bloom, their red and blue flowers are a singularly 
beautiful feature in the landscape, and are eagex'ly 
searched by the honey bees. Some species are said 
to flower only once iu five, seven or niue shears ; and 
after ripening their seed (hey die. This is one reason 
assigned for the sudden appearance of the rats, as 
invading the coffee estates, when deprived of their 
ordinary food by tlie decay of the nilloo. It has been 
observed that the jungle fowl, after feeding on the 
iiilloo, have their eyea so affected by it, as to be 
partially blinded, and permit themselves to be taken 
by the hand. Are the seeds of this plant narcotic like 
some of the Solanacew'} or do they cause dilation of 
the pupil, like those of the A tropa Belladonna? " 
•What has the Director of Botanic Gardens or 
any of his experienced lieutenants to say on the 
subject? We must refer to Dr. Tri'men's latest 
volume which is not at hand ,as we write. Never 
before in our 37 years in Ceylon have we been 
BO struck with -the variety of colouring in the 
"Nillu' flowers in the jungles around Nuwara 
Eliya as in the present season ; but we have 
never taken any note of the intervals between 
the flowering seasons for any particular locality 
as Mr. Farr has been able to do. We wish there 
Avere colonists in every district of the islaud of 
Mr. Farr's stamp, ready to make and note 
observations on matters of scientific and general 
interest, occurring around them. 
Since writing the above we iiave been able to 
refer to Dr. Ti inien's ''Flora," and we quote \\ h«t lie 
says below: we had no idea when we ma'e ilie 
preceding remarks on Mr. Fair's letter, that he w.'.s 
referred to as so good an authority by the late 
Dr. Trinieii himself : — 
" Que of the largest genera in our flor*, and of re 
markable interest. All the species but Ibiee p.ppi-ar 
to be endi^mix;, hut tbcy cannot be8.iid to I u 
exhaustively compared wiiii those of the - 
Hills, and we may probably l>av.s olbtr bi l. - ... . 
yet uadeterinined frum not bavinf; been met wilh 
in flower. Many cf the spt'cies which grow in Iho 
upper montane zonp aie icinarkabl^ for their gre»!a- 
rious occurrence in vast abundance and over larg<? 
areas. The principal oucs, especially coiiiinou, and 
together or separately forming unbrokt-n ebttits of 
nndergrowth iu the forests, Me S. vifcotuii, ag/jcniumi, 
ral'/cinus. and S{%erfsU, to which m\y be added less 
commonly /S'. IWi/Lri, anci,iti, .iniotliajitm, ttfl.tut, 
llooh'ri, luxiui, pidchen iiiiue, uud a few others. Theae 
live for several years witbont flowering, (jrouing clo»c 
together with straight erect steuie, which iu some reach 
a height of 8-10 ft., are quite woody, an t ncveral 
inches in diameter. A few flowers may here and there 
be found every year, but it is not until the plauta 
reach a certain age, apparently usually from 10- 13 
years, that the whole patch or at<'a bursts into 
simallaucous bloseomiiig. These patches or dielrictn 
are often of great txtenl, and the boundaries betwei-n 
those of different i ges are veiy coni-picnoiis, being as 
distinct as if artificially sown.* After this general 
and profuse flowering the whole patch begins to wither 
and lipen the seed — a process which takes several 
months or even a year (whence ripe Sfed is rarely 
found in herbariums), and then dies down. There 
is probably a patch to bs found floweriiig somewhere 
in the mountains every year. Tlie wood in bard but 
brittle, with a largfl pith, and mak(;s very good fuel, 
and the flowers ore often beautiful. The nmne ' Nelu 
is applied to the whole genus, and, indeed, is extended 
to include Acanthaceoe generally." 
Tennent must stand corrected by the more 
authentic information thus made available. 
MINOR PRODUCTS REPORT. 
Anxatto Seeds. — Good bright East Indian were 
bought in at dd to 41 per lb. and for a bag of first 
class sea-damaged Sjd was paid. 
Coca Leaves — Broken Iltianuco leaves sold with- 
without reserve at ud per lb, and for the best lot of 
another parcel 7?,d was bid and refused, 
CiiOTOX Seed slightly dearer, good medium Ceylon 
selling at 71s to 72^, and infeiiorat 56s, subject; 
for a parcel of fair Japanese 573 6d per ewt was 
bid and refused, the lot being bought in at 75a 
per cwt. 
Oir. CiTRoxELLA, — In auction a parcel of 3 drnras 
sold without reserve and with all faults at 4*3 
per lb, Privately business has been done in drums 
at lOJd to lid per lb, c. i. f., for January-April 
shipiTient. litis are quoted at Is OJd on the 
spot. 
LsMoxtiE.iss Oil — In auction good quality was 
bought in at 3d per oz. 
Yaxilla.— Quiet, with no buyers in auction, and 
for what few tins sold unchanged rates were paid. 
The following were among the prices paid : — 
Bourbon. — Common and part monldy, 4 to 4^ inch, 
17s was bid, and for oJ to 6 inch, IGs 6d per lb. 
Tahiti were all bought in. 
Hei/cJicUes.— Good chocolates 7J to 8| inch, were 
limited at 27s per lb, and for 7 to 7i inch (good 
bold). 21s was paid ; 6 to (U in, 19s 6d. 
Ceylon (poor and mouldy) did not sell. — Chemist and 
Drurjrjisl. 
* I am indebted for much information about the 
Nelus to Mr. T. Parr, of North Cave Estate, Boga- 
wantalawa, who, during a long residence in this high 
mountain region, has paid much attention to th^ 
natural features of the country. 
