iio 
TME tropical AaRiCtJLTtjRiST. [Aug. 1, 1901 
HolLand and Ifc.aly exceeding her figures very 
appreciably, While the fallicg-of£ in the 
spice business of the Lane has been un- 
questionable—at any rate, it has not kept 
pace with the enoiTOOus increase in our 
production of Cinnamon during the last 20 
to 30 years— London still remains the distri- 
buting centre for the best growths of the 
Island. If there has been a deterioration 
of the market, it has been in regard to 
the volume of the business transacted, and 
not to the quality of the spice offered for 
sale. Indeed, we doubt if greater care has 
ever been taken in the preparation of 
Cinnamon, a higher rate of wages ever 
paid for manufacture, or a finer quality of 
Cinnamon ever exported than in recent 
years. And all the leading estates in the 
Kadirane and Ja-ela districts continue to 
ship their produce direct to London and 
avoid local sales. The explanation is to be 
JEound in the prices paid. As the Chamber 
of Commerce Price Cui-rent shows, it is 
seldom that much more than 50 cents per 
lb. is paid for Nos. 1 and 2 locally, while Thirds 
and Fourths are about 10 cents less. The 
two finest qualities in London average 70 
to 80 cents net to the exporter. Though 
London has lost much of its glory with 
Cinnamon, it yet remains the only market 
for the spice ; and for the best con- 
fectionery and for incense in churcW worship 
Spain, Italy and France draw their choicest 
supplies from London. 
The Sale Lists we published last Tuesday 
week, bear out the above statement. Firsts 
having ranged at the sale held on the 25th 
May between Is 4d and Is 8d, Seconds 
Is 3d and Is 6d, Thirds Is Id and Is 4d, 
and Fourths 7d and lid per )b. The old 
favourite marks maintained their lead — 
A. S. Gr. P. (Golua Pokuna, belonging to the 
Smith family), F. S. VV. S. and F. S. K. 
(Wester Seaton and Kimbulapitiya, owned 
by the Schraders), though, at this sale we 
miss the Kajapakse brands which once 
occupied one of the first three places. The 
finest bx'ands, labelled "worked,'' amounted 
to only 127 bales or one-sixth of the offerings ; 
but they were all cleared at the above 
prices. The remaming 490 bales were " un- 
worked," which are generally made up of 
marks which do not go in for fine quilling, 
and for these the demand was rather slack 
and what was sold changed hands at a 
decline of about Id a lb. The quantity 
offered, 617 bales, though small, having 
regard to our total outturn which is between 
2,500 and ,2,7.50 bales a year, was in excess 
both of the offerings in February last, when 
58i bales were brought to the hammer, and 
of the quantity catalogued for the May sales 
last year, 433 bales. It is no wonder then 
that competition was poor ; and yet our 
exports continue to grow ! This year, up 
to J5th Instant we sent off 80,000 to 130,000 lb, 
more quills than for the corresponding period 
of the last two years, and of chips (1,211,000 
lb.) almost double the quantity. If better 
prices are sought, there should be a restric- 
tion in output ; but of that WQ have little 
KUBBER IN MADEAS. 
From the annual Report of the Agri-Horttcul ■ 
tnral Society of Madras, we \eaLrn—Landolphia 
florida. — This fine West African climber has 
been a feature of the Nursery Gardens, i(s pro- 
fusion of white flowers borne in large bunches 
being very beautiful. A few plants were obtained 
early in the year by layering. Later in the year 
a branch was pulled out from the mass of can£;led 
growth and about 50 layers were made from it. 
A number of cuttings have been put down, but 
at present it is impossible to say if they will 
succeed or not. A few fruits were developed 
this year for the first time in Madras and it is 
hoped that these will come to maturity. If (hey 
do, we can look forward to the plant establishing 
itself in Madras. 
« 
VANILLA CULTIVATION IN COORG. 
Sidapur, June 22, — This product promises to 
be prosperous. Mr. R R Kaundinya, a planter 
in South Coorg, has been successful — after much 
trouble and great perseverance — in pro'lucing pods 
for which he got excellent prices. He has in- 
vented a new method for curing the beans and 
has applied for a patent. — M Mail, June 24. 
CEAEA RUBBER IN NICARAGUA. 
So much attention has of recent years been given 
to the cultivation of rubber at various pointa in Central 
America that the native rubber of the region, Castilloa 
elastica, ia quite commonly regarded as the only 
species susceptible of cultivation in the country. In 
Nicaragua, the conditions exacted for its growth — 
hot, humid atmosphere, and a moist, thongh well- 
drained, soil—limit its avtifioial culture as well as its 
natural growth, practically to the Atlantic coast 
region. In view of the popular belief that this region 
ia Nicaragua'a robber district par excellence, and the 
consequent neglect of rubber cultare in other fertile 
portions of the country, it is interesting to note that 
at La Paz, in the district of Leon, wlaere precisely 
opposite conditions of climate prevail to what are 
needed for "Central America" rubber — i.e., Casti- 
loa elastica — another species, indigenous to Brazil, 
the " Ceara " of commerce (Manihot glaziovii) is being 
successfully planted. The climate at La Paz ia hot 
and dry and the soil of volcanic origin, retaininfS 
moisture during drought to within a few inches of 
the surface. Temperature averages from 80 deg. to 
over 100 deg. F. During periods of drought, there 
is but little or no condensation of dew. In February 
1902, "La Victoria" plantation was busy clearing 
a tract of about 300 acres from timber, vines and 
underbrush. Towards the end of May, after the first 
rains, planting of seeds in the open was begun. In 
June they had all sprouted, and in November of the 
saiue year the plantation boasted several trees as tall 
as 12 ft. This remarkable growth seems to obviate 
the necessity of nursery cultivation, the only cave 
needed being to clean, and keep clear from all weeds, 
the seedlings till they are about 20 in. in height. — 
U. S. Consular Report — India-Bubher Journal, May 25. 
» 
DiPHTHEEiA Pastilles. —It is annonnced from 
Palis, according to the Apoth- Ztg., that Dr. 
Maitin of the Pasteur Institute has succeeded in 
embodying the diphtheria serum into a solid 
pastille which is said to be more effective in 
combating the disease than the licj^iiid anti-toxiui 
—S, md 0, Druggist, i5wG 5, 
