Feb. 1, 1904.J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
529 
AMERICAN TEA CULTUKE. 
ANNUAL REPORT BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRI- 
CULTURE REPORTS PROGRESS. 
In his annual report, signed Nov. 28, 1903, Hon. 
James Wilson, Secretary of Aoricultme, says of 
tea growing in the U. S. : — 
"During the year the work on growing tea has been 
continued at Suuamerville, S C, and anew st^ation has 
been put in operation at Pierce, Tex. At Snrtimerville 
further worls has been carried on in the testing of new 
varieties, new machinery and new factory methods. 
The work at this point has now reached a state where 
more attention can be s[iven to the improvement of 
the teas after being harvested. To this end a number 
of physiological and chemical studies have been made 
of the product at different stages with a view to im- 
proving methods of curing and increasing the flavours 
and aromas of the teas. The new methods and appa- 
ratus introduced by Dr Charles U Shepard, and used 
in the manufacture of green teas, have proved most 
satisfactory. Experiments have been carried on quite 
Bucoessfully in the preparation of tea tablets, These 
tablets are prepared in a special machine of great 
power, the result being a firm, polished product which 
readily falls apart in boiling water. Improvements 
have been made in the matter of polishing and fiuish- 
ing the teas, all of which will add value to the American 
product. Despite the fact that the season has been 
a very unsatisfactory one for a number of reasons, 
the yield of tea will probably approximate 9,000 pounds, 
or about what was raised last year. A favourable 
season would have given a much larger production. 
At Pierce, Tex., co-operative arrangements have been 
made with Mr A F Borden, who has placed at the 
disposal of the Department a large tract of Imd suita- 
ble for t6£i growirg, and has arranged to provide 
buildirgs and a portion of the labour. The Department 
has an experienced man located at this station and is 
making preparations to put out at least 50 acres of tea 
the present autumn. It is planned to set out at Pierce 
at least 100 acres and extend the plantation as the 
funds permit. The labour question plays an important 
part in this work, but it is believed that conditions are 
such in Southern Texas that proper labour can be 
secured without difficulty, .altogether, the tea inves- 
tigations are in quite a satisfactory condition." — Tea 
and Coffee Trade Jovrnal. 
♦ 
THE EARTH OIL OF BUR.\IA. 
Much confidence is placed in the ability of 
Uiirnia to add to her present rate of production. 
Some of the Burma oil is consuiued in Burma, but 
the greater portion is conveyed in special steameis 
from Itangoon to Calcutta. It is relatively a 
cheaper oil than Russian oil, which has by its own 
comparative cheapness displaced AmeiicRn oil to a 
considerable extent. It is officially calculated 
that the total area of llie oil bearing tract in 
Upper Burma is 234 square miles. Concessions for 
working about one-thud of this area have been 
granted by the Government, the royalty being no 
more than 8 annas per 40 gallons. As compared 
with the productiveness of the United States and 
the Caucasus, the yield in Burma is on a small 
scale ; but it is large enough to encourage the hope 
that ere very long India will be made by Burma 
practically independent of Foreign sources of supply. 
The consumption of "eartli oil" is rapidly increas- 
ing throughout India, for the habit of using it for 
illuminating purposes is soon acqniied when once 
the article is made available at a moderate price 
in the bazaars. The money spent; upon ic is 
found to go farther, or to give quioker and better 
results thau does the same amount when expended 
upon vegetable oil. More often than not coconut 
oil, for example, does little more than make dark- 
ness visible ; whereas a small quantity of petro- 
leum snflices to she I light in and impart brightness 
to, the nicanest dwelling.— il/. Mail, Jan 8. 
« 
THE CARDAMOM COMMirTEE. 
Minutes of proceedings of a meeting of the 
Cardamom Committee of the Planters' Association 
of Ceylon hell at the Vicloria Commemoration 
Buildings on Friday, 8th December at 1 p.nij 
Statement of accounts was submitted, showing 
receipts K2,059 18 and expenditure Rl,322-87, 
leaving a h ilance of R736'31. After consideration 
of correspoutlence and connected papers and data 
the followiiig resolutions were passed : — I. That Mr 
J A Spence be thanked for his services and report 
from Australia. 11. That the cardamom growers 
be once more api)8aled to for a contribution of 50 
cents per cultivated acre to enable the Committee 
CO carry on the woik for 1904. The Cardamom 
Committee reports that out of 10,000 acres under 
cardamom cultivation only some 4,000 acres have 
sent in subscriptions amounting to R2,059, out of 
this fund Ul,322 have been expended in sending 
out samples to various onntries and the St Louis 
Exhibition and in paying for special reports from 
the Continent, The Committee still has to face 
the cost of advertising at St. Louis Exhibition 
and would v.'ish to still further extend the sending 
out of samples to other parts of the v/orld. In 
view of the very small amount now in hand for 
above purposes the Committee is of opinion that 
the work cannot be carried on unless complete 
support is given by all the cardimom growers in 
Ceylon. To date considerable success in the shape 
of special export orders have attended the Com- 
mittee's efforts and it would be a pity to have to 
abandon the woik on the eve of success. The 
estates, which stibscribed, are as follows;— Nicholoya 
estate K18, Kabragalla estate l-;28, Relugas estate 
R4, Knuckles Group R35*50, Duckwari estate 
R47'50, Kirinietiya estate R15, Gowerakelle estate 
R6, Gallantenne estate KSI SO, Pitaratmalie estate 
R5, Ne^v Peacock estate Rl6'50, Galaha Ceylon 
Tea Estates and Agency Co., Limited R325, 
Lauderdale estate R25, t'oolbawn estate R3'50, 
Kobonelia estate R304-50, Winchtield Park estate 
RlOO, Yataderia estate H5, Mousakande and Door- 
oomadella estates R50, Elkaduwa estate R28, 
Kandaloya estate R65, Rangalla estate R70, 
Woodside estate RlOO, Delta and Midlands estates 
B52, Angrowella estate K33, Kensington and 
Forest Hill estates R40, Ulswater estate R70, 
Riversdale estate R15, Nawanagalia estate R80, 
Ferndale estate R13 50, J Hunter Ri2. H H 
KirbyR4, RJ Trimen RlO-50, R Burke R221, 
U H Williams R5, E H E Geddes R15, C M F 
Ross R5, Karagahatenne estate R150. The other 
receipt is for R20'18 being proceeds of cardamom 
sold. 
•» 
DEJOO VALLEY TEA ESTATE SOLD : 
PURCHASED FOR RllO.OOO. 
Calcutta, Jan. 9. 
Dejoo Valley tea estate was sold yesterday- 
fur RllO.OOO, the purchaser being Mr. R DQ 
Thomas of Messrs. J Thomas and Co. 
