THE TKOPICA'L 
AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 1, 1901. 
imitations lack certain defects, characteristic o£ 
genuine rubies — certain vacuums, whose outlioes are 
much more indistinct that those of the air bubbles 
in imitations. Fine emeralds have similar characteristic 
defects, such as enclosures of liquids and curious 
dentrites. Sapphires also show peculiar netlike forma- 
tions. — Journa of the 'Society of A rts, for August 23, 
CHESNUT CULTIVATION IN FRANCE. 
The work of growing chestnuts and preparing 
them for the Jmarket is extensively carried on in 
rrance, and Lyons is the centre of this industry. 
Many varieties of chestnuts are grown in a number of 
Departments, and are called ' Marrcns ' and ' Cha- 
taignes.' The latter is the smaller and the less 
desirable of the two. The marron is culiivated only 
by grafting, while the chataigne grows wild. Among 
the different varieties are the following : — ' Chataignes 
dea Bois ' (wild chestnutsj, small but of little 
savour ; ' Chataignes Ordinaires, a little larger and 
taller than the former; ihe -Yellow Spring,' early 
and very productive ; ' Exalade,' the best of all ; 
the ' Pealoue,' a large, good eating fruit. The best 
marrons are those known as ' Marrons de Lyon,' 
of which the fruit is large and almost round , the 
shell is thin and the epiderm light ; the ' Dauphi- 
noise,' the ' Great Eed,' the ' Great Green,' the 
' Partalonne,' Ihe ' Pelagrine,' the ' Marron d'Aubray,' 
the ' Marron d'Agen,' and the ' Marron du Luc. 
In the Department of the Correze the favourite mar- 
rons are the ' Early Black,' the ' Early Red,' the 
' Early May,' the ' Hnmineaux,' the ' Humineanx 
Rouge,' the Matronne ' and the ' Correze.' In some 
parts of France in what are called the schist 
lands, chestnuts from a very important article of daily 
food. They are boiled, (pulverised, and eaten like 
mashed potatoes. In every city, and nearly every 
village, during the autumn and winter, they are 
sold in doorways and at street corners fresh from 
large roasting pans. The chestnut occupies a con- 
spicuous place in confectionery. Every confectioner 
buys them and prepares them. There are large 
establishments all over Fiance where chestnuts are 
prepared. According to the United States Consul 
at Lyons, the principal one in that city employs from 
200 to 250 hands, chiefly girls and women. In this 
establishment over 25,000,000 lb. of chestnuts are 
dealt with annually. In the preparation, the nuts 
are first peeled and then boiled in clear water, when 
the second skin is removed. They are then placed 
in a syrup highly perfumed with Mexican vanilla. It 
is said that this vanilla retains the perfume better 
than other kinds. The fruit is left three days in the 
syrup, and then set to drain. Afterwards it is treated 
to a thin coating of vanilla packed in boxes and 
shipped. The work of preparing chestnuts for the 
market goes on night and day for three or four months 
of the year, while the fruit is in condition. During 
the rest of the year the establishment is engaged 
in preserving other fruits. Chestnuts are grown in 
Limousin, Perigord, Cevennes, Alpes, Isere, Pyre- 
nees Ardeche, var, Auvergne, Sarthe, and in Corsica. 
The wood of the chestnut tree is considered 
Valuable for many purposes. It is strong and tena- 
cious, and may be subjected for years to the 
influence of air, wind or water without decaying. 
In some places the trees are cultivated solely for 
the wood. It burns well and produces a great heat, 
but is considered dangerous as fuel on account of 
its tendency to throw out sparks. It makes excellent 
charcoal. The wood finds many uses in France, the 
smaller branches for hoops, bread tally sticks (short 
pieces containing a number of notches which mark 
the number of loaves of bread sold to a customer^, 
lattice work, small baskets, supports for vines, 
ladders, !k.o. The tree flowers in Blay and June, 
and requires no special care in its cultivation on 
account of its hardy character. It flourishes in 
gravelly soil or shale. A calcareous soil ia fatal tg 
its growth. In msny parts of France the treeg 
have Deen planted on hill sides, and it is eaid that 
losses from inundations have greatly decreased in the 
Cevennes since thete trees have been planted *on 
the mountain slopes there — Journal of ihe Society of 
Arts, August 30. 
COPRA AND COCONUT OIL IN THE 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
On account of numerous inquiries from the 
Unitfid States in rej^ard to copra, coconut oil, 
poonae and also an f.Uied substance, vegetable 
tallow. Consul O F Williams submits the following 
report : 
Copra.— During the calendar year 1900 there 
was imported into the Straits Settlements 
93,074,933 1-3 pourids of copra, the import value of 
which was $4,455,489 Mexican. Of this, Bali 
Island sent aliout 24 per cent. : Natunas 17 
per cent. ; Dutch Borneo, 16 per cent. ; Celebes, 
11 per cent.; the Netherlands Archipelago, 7 per 
cent. ; Sulu, 7 per cent., and Johore 6 per cent. 
During the same year tiiere was exported 
91,160,026 2-3 tjounds of copra, valued at 
§4,416 937 Mexican (§2.102,462), The following 
couiitries received the greater part: Russia .39 per 
cent ; France, 32 per cent. ; Italy, 10 per cent. ; 
Spain, 5 per cent, ; Germany, 4 per cent. ; Austria, 
3 per cent. ; and Belgium, 2 per cent. About one- 
lourth of 1 per cent, went to the United States. 
Coconut Oil. — Of coconut oil there was im- 
ported during 1900 10,105,733 1-3 pounds, the im- 
port value of which was §1,011,679 Mexican 
§381,599'. About 97 per cent ot the oil came from 
Ceylon. During l900cocouut oil was exported to 
the amount of 14,740,533 1-3 pounds, the export 
value of which was §1,500,910 Mexican (§714,433). 
— Oil Paint and Drug Reporter. Aug. 19. 
♦ 
INDIAN TEAS FOR ODESSA : 
COLOMBO AND SINGAPORE AS PORTS 
FOR TRANSHIPMENT. 
Our special telegram from Calcutta shows 
us that the Indian Tea Association are 
keenly on the alert as to the merits of 
Colombo and Singapore respectively as ports 
of transhipment. Misled by information 
which we believe appeared in the local 
"Times", Messrs. Aitken, Spence & Co., 
quoted freight from Calcutta to Singapore 
at R25 per ton, whereas it should be only 
half that amount or the same as to Colombo. 
The comparison therefore runs : — 
Via Colombo. 
Freight from Calcutta .. R12 50 
Transhipment charges ... R 4 00 
Freight to Odessa at 30s say R22*50 
Total .. R39-00 
Via Singapore. 
Freight from Calcutta .. R12'50 
Transhipment charges ... R I'oO 
Freight to Odessa ... R22-50 
Total ... R36 50 
Doubt may well be felt as to whether tran* 
shipment charges at Singapore can really be 
less than half those prevailing here or RlJ 
against R4 for Colombo ? Then, there are 
chances, we uuderstaijd, of freight beiog got 
