S64 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1903. 
constituent of most fruits. The acid has 
been found in grapes, apples, plums, oranges, 
and cherries. The fact that salicylic acid 
exists normally in fruits is of interest in 
connection with the use of salicylic acid as 
a preservative in jams." 
Chief chemist D. A. Wiley, of the United 
States Agricultural Department, is said to 
be now carrying on experiments in Wash- 
ington as to the physiological effects of 
salicylic acid used as a preservative in food 
substances. The cost of salicylic acid at the 
Colombo Apothecaries Co. 's stores is R3"o0 per 
lb. 1 lb. should to be ample for 10,000 lb. of 
tea. As a preservative for leaf prior to 
rolling, salicylic acid has, however, been 
found to be useless, and it would be inter- 
esting if some one could explain why this 
should be the case. H . M. M. 
THE CULTIVATION OF RHEA LOCALLY. 
AN OFFER TO GOVERNMENT AND THE REPLY. 
Mr D Edwards Kadclylfe, of 25 Birchingtori 
Koad, West Harupstead, London, N.w., has ad- 
dressed to the Home Office a long communication 
(which was duly sent to the local Government 
last month) "calling attention to the possibilities 
of Kamie (Rhea), which," he says, "undoubtedly 
ia the Textile of the future." He goes at length 
into the matter showing that the plant can easily 
be cultivated in any part of the globe. He points 
out that a vast trade witn Europe would be 
specially welcome as a rival to cotton and would 
do much to prevent the corner in cotton so easily 
worked by American Capitalists." Mr Radclyffe 
urges Government to take up the industry or to 
encourage capitalists to do so by giving out grants 
of land, and putting up and assisting towards the 
erectionot decortication or degumming stations. 
He offers to supply all information desired on the 
subject and even offers his services to Government 
on the principle ''no cure no pay," content to 
take his remuneration in share of profit. U E the 
Governor referred this to the Director of the Royal 
Botanic Gardens, and Mr Radclyffe has been in- 
formed in accordance with the following 
REPORT :— 
The Hon the Colonial Secretary. 
There are undoubtedly great possibilities before 
Rhea, which in many respects is one of the best of 
all fibres. The difificulties in the way of its 
expansion are commercial rather than agricultural. 
2. Rhea has for many years been grown at 
Peradeniya in small trial plots, and planters 
have experimented with it. but though it grows 
well, it requires a very regular rainfall and much 
manure, while the price obtained is uiiremunera- 
tive. It is possible that by the use of degumming 
machines locally (which has not hitherto been 
done) a better result might be obtained, but 
most people here are agreed that there is little 
prospect of success before the industry in Ceylon 
at present. 
3. The Chief Commercial obsta;les to the success 
of Rhea are the facts that the great existing 
fibre industries of Cotton, wool, jute &c. are op- 
posed to it, and that the mercerised cotton now 
.SI) common competes with Rhea on its own ground, 
giving a similar silky lustre to the goods made of it. 
4. I do not think that under present conditions 
it is worth the while of Government to do more 
than keep a plot of Rhea going at Peradeniya in 
case of a demand springing up, but later on it 
might be worth while to import machinery and 
try it on a large scale at the Experimental 
Station. 
(Signed). JOHN C WlLLls, Director R B G., 
Peradeniya, 27th August, 1903, 
THE RUSSIAN DUTY ON CEYLON AND 
INDIAN TEA. 
RAISED FROM 31i TO 33 ROUBLES 
PER POOD. 
London, Sept. 9. 
Russia has raised the duty on Cevlon and 
Indian Teas imported through the European 
Frontier or Black Sea from 31^ roubles per 
pood [a pood being 36 pounds] to 33. The duty 
on Chinese Teas is not raised, but fresh 
regulations are instituted to ascertain the 
origin and places cf despatch. — (By Telegraph ) 
INDIAN LABOUR IN THE FEDERATED 
MALAY STATES. 
(Extracts from the 1902 Beport,— Supplement to 
the " PaJiang Gazette," Sept. 1.) 
Office of Protector of Labour, F.M.S.,— Seremban, 
25th May, 1903. 
INDENTURED LABOURERS, 
On some of the indentured-labour-employing 
sugar estates provision is made for looking after 
children whilst parents are absent at work. The 
children are gratuitously fed ; the result is satis- 
factory and much appreciated. The vital statistics 
are more favourable than in preceding years, 
owing. I am of opinion, largely to the "Rice- 
Ticket System" — really a system of rations. The 
larger percentage of coolies whose indentures have 
expired an i who remain on the estates show a hap- 
pier relation between employer and employed. 
Sugar estates are almost exclusively employers of 
indentured labourers at present. The few remaining 
in Government employ in Perak were iu good 
condition and sjjirits when visited by me on 17th 
and 18th May 1902. 
The death-rate of the indentured immigrants 
(87.6 per mille according to Statement of Indian 
Immigration Agent, Perak) is higher than that of 
the whole Indian population (56.15 per mille in 
Perak). Indentured immigrants' death-rate, ex- 
clusive of cholera deat hs on Robana and Nova 
Scotia estates — now happily at an end — I hope 
would have been 75.8 per mille. The indentured 
Indian immigrant before leaving Negapatam 
undergoes a stringent medical examination, and no 
effort must be wantinj; on the part of the Govern- 
ment and the employer to reduce the death-rate 
during the period of his indenture to the normal 
death-rate of the Federated Malay States. 
I should consider it abnormally big amongst 
our specially selected men when it exceeds 35 per 
1,000. At the same time it will be noted that the 
largest percentage of death is from bowel 
complaints. Iu many cases this may be caused 
by the continuous change of diet — rice as against 
the more astrint;ent millets in the labourer's 
homes and the difference in the water. The 
water of the Indian coolie districts is extremely 
nauseous to those who are accustomed to the 
water in our fine rivers and constantly-runaing 
