THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Pbb. 1, 1904. 
eyed youngsters very soon get very expert 
in their efforts to locate them, and with 
persevering industry the numbers are easily 
reduced. When a field is treated amid 
surroundings more or less affected, the 
results are naturally less satisfactory, tor 
the insects raid over the sprayed border and 
immediately give trouble. To ensure success 
in operations, the whole affected area must 
be taken in hand, and when the directions 
are faithfully followed, the pest is soon 
eradicated and the stricken tea returns to 
healthy flushing, and again becomes remu- 
nerative. Spraying costs not more than K7 
per acre, and the cost of catching the insects, 
at the rate of a boy to five acres throughout 
the Indian season, comes to an additional 
R5 an acre. The " mosquito-blight," although 
not unknown in Ceylon, has not, we think, 
proved itself so terrible a pest as it has in 
India ; but it is possible that the want of 
the wintering which Indian tea enjoys, and 
which in part checks the pest and thus 
helps the planter —might tell here in favour 
of the blight if it were to get wholly out 
of hand, and was once firmly established in 
large areas. Now, however, that the results 
of Mr. Mann's experiments and methods are 
public, it makes the successful routing jf 
the enemy — should it become troublesome — 
within the reach of all, and reduces the 
risks of tea planting. The thorough manner 
in which the work undertaken has been 
done, and the elaborate details and illumina- 
tive plates which make up the brochure, and 
illustrate the various steps of the experi- 
ments give this new pamphlet a high 
practical value not only to the scientist but 
also to the everyday planter. It is as useful 
for Ceylon as it is for India, and this is not 
always the case with the Calcutta publications 
which treat of tea. 
MARKET FOR TEA IN TURKEY-TN ASI A. 
The Commercial Intelligence Bureau, iu co^' 
nection with which, Mr J Sevestre toured in 
India las* cold season, interviewing the leading 
merchants and the various Chambers of Com- 
merce, has sent us the following letter in connec- 
tion with its enquiries regarding the existence of a 
market in Tuikey-in-Asia regarding certain Indian 
exports : — 
With a view of finding openings Or markets for 
the extended sale of Indian produce, such as indigo, 
tea, jute bagging, etc., the Bureau has taken steps 
to ascertain the facilities which offer in Turkey-in- 
Asia, and is now in a position to place its sub- 
scribers in direct communication wilh reputable 
merchp.nts who have been specially recommended 
to the Bureau by the British Consular Authorities. 
In the matter of Indian tea we are advised: — 
" There is also a considerable consumption of 
this article, but of inferior quality, there being 
little demand for the belter qualities. If we had 
samples and prices we would submit them to 
customers, and we hope a fair consumption would 
result. There is a moderate introduction of all 
kinds of goods, but what is mist essential is to 
have a direct servic-i of s'eain-boata and to be 
able to have goods transported at a moderate rale. 
The only En<ilish Company which calls at this 
port is the Prince Lii,e. There are several other 
Companies which touch at the ports, Austrian, 
French, Russian and Italian, and now we have 
the German Deutsche Levant Line." 
Another firm writes :— 
" We are in a position to accept an agency on a 
5 per cent, commission basis, which should be 
covered by the merchants to whom you wish to 
introduce us. We consume yearly a considerable 
quantity of this product. We think we •ould do 
very well if we could compete with the tea offered 
by the Yavronian Isscoulian, Constantinople; 
therefore, will you kindly write to a firm in India 
to send us a trial shipmeni of 40 to 50 cases of 
medium quality tea, which could be so to all 
classes ? The duty upon all merchandise from 
abroad is 8 per cent with the exceptionlof agri- 
cultural implements. The steamers whcib call ati 
this port two or three times a month are the 
following:— Prince Line and Messageriea Maritimea 
'Eran<;iises.' " 
Another of our correspondents writes: — 
"We are very grateful towards HBMOonsul 
Lieutenant-Colonel Massy for his kind rectmmen- 
dation and also to your good selves for having the 
goodness to offer us an agency for several articles of 
Indian production. Although we are interested 
in the importation of sundry articles in this city, 
such as hardware, oils, mineral waters, etc., we 
have never tried tea ; thus in order to furnish 
you with the precise information you desire will, 
you kindly send us some samples of tea with the 
prices c. i. f, dock and custom dues, etc., being 
covered by purchasers ? By this means we will 
try to test the inclination of consumers as to prices, 
quality, and quantities, as we shall no doubt be 
able to find out their preference " 
We are further advised under date of 29th 
December, 1903 :— 
" We are sending you by today's post under 
separate cover, samples of Indian tea, which is con- 
sumed in this country; it comes in cases weighing 
30 okes, or approximately 80 to 83 lb. This quality 
is supplied by Dutch firms, and there is & consump* 
tion of nearly 3,000 lb. There is also another 
quality rather better than above which is sold in 
tin-boxes weighing about 5 kilos, bub the consump- 
tion of this quality is not so great. Will you be 
good enough to let us know your prices for the 
tea, and send samples that we may put thera on 
the market here, and be enabled to compete with 
other brands? As to our commission, we can 
arrange this with you on a scale variable with the 
consumption. If the consumption be great, com- 
mission will be smill but if medium you can 
reckon it upon a 5 per cent basis." — M Mail, 
Feb. 6. 
CEYLON PRECIOUS STONES. 
"The Mining of non-metallic minerals" 
was the subject of Mr. Bennett H Brough's 
Cantor lecture at the Society of Arts on Dec. 
14th, recorded in the Journal for Jan. 15th. 
We quote a few references to Ceylon gems 
in the lecture, taken from the Journal of 
the Society : — Small quantities of sapphires 
said the lecturer, are obtained from alluvial 
workings in Ceylon ; but the local gems pale 
beside the great Indian sapphire described 
bv Mr. G S Streeter originally weighing 225 
carats and worth £7,0u0 to £8,000. Owing to 
the great value of the ruby, other stones are 
frequently described as such in commerce, 
notably the deep red spinel or the pale rose 
