in 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Dec. 2, 1901. 
Mr T H Holland,* in a most valuable memoir, 
describes 'a group of Arcliosau Hypersilie'uc 
llocks in Peninsular India' under the name of 
the Oharnockite Series, and states that members 
of it occur in Ceylon. Some stress is laid by iVIr 
Holland on the presence of the rhombic pyroxene. 
So tar as my work goes, it lends to sliow tiiat 
hypersthene is not distinctive of the Ceylon rocks. 
I have not, in fact, found the indubitable niineral 
at all (though it has been recorded by Mr A K 
Coomara Swaniy), but a monoclinic pyroxene with 
the pleochroisom of hypersfchene does occur. 
The preceding observations show that the 
series of igneous rocks studied are closely relateil 
one to the other, and have arisen tiuough the 
variation of a single magma. This variation, in 
places, has resulted in a well-marked dilt'irentia- 
tion into acid and basic parts which, by subsequent 
intermingling, have produced a banded gneiss. 
Further the evidence brought forward indicates 
that these rocks are younger than the crystalline 
limestone and are intrusive into it. 
In conclusion, I wish to express my indebted- 
ness to Prof. Bonney, D So F li S, for valuable 
suggestions and help during the preparation of 
this paper. 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
On the subject of "Teas of Low Grade" the 
Groeer, says : " ' Keep your tea customers together,' 
an old grocer used to say, ' and other goods v.ill 
virtually sell themselves. People who come to buy 
good tea,' he would add brightly, ' stop to buy other 
things, and the net all-round profit is satisfactory.' 
Many grocers are now acting on that advice, and are 
working energetically to keep their tea customers 
together. Moral suasion, taking the form perhaps of 
a little personal homily, is net a neglected method. 
It tickles the ears of consumers, so to speak ; 
whilst in nu'uerous cases printer's ink is largely 
employed. Daring the winter season a number of 
persons drink more tea ; consequently they become, 
in a sense, more important to their grocer, and, iine a 
wise man, he is handling them accordingly. He keeps 
in touch with them, telling them what is good, giving 
small samples and excellent advice. One of our 
subscribers, addressing his tea patrons, states that 
' recent exhaustive experiments by an eminent physi- 
cian have demonstrated the value of pure, high-class 
tea as a stimulant and dietetic . . , Many low-class and 
adulterated mixtures of so-called teas are placed on 
the market by large advertising firms, and it behoves 
every householder to view with considerable suspicion 
brands retailed at prices which, with the cost entailed 
in advertising them, render it impossible to give any- 
thing like value for money.' It is also pointed out 
that teas of low grade ' contain an excess of tannin 
and other ingredients injurious to the nerves and irri- 
tating to the alimentary canal.' Harping on the same 
theme whilst eager to keep their tea customers to- 
gether and attract ifresh buyers, another firm of 
grocers describe how they have established a reputation 
for the sale of good tea. ' We watch,' they write, 'what 
other jjeople are doing ; v/e personally sample 
all the advertised and unadvertised teas in the town, 
and do not rest until we have beaten or at least 
equalled them ; thusour blends are the concentra- 
tion of years of study and skill.' It will be perceived 
that, so far as tea is concerned, the education of con- 
sumers is now taken in hand with some degree 
of confidence ; and Vi'e are glad to notice that 
they are being warned otf low-grade stuff. 
That article does not give much satisfaction to the 
buyer ; it is not really economical in use since it does 
» Jden, iJeol, ^urvi Judia, vol j^xviii (1900) p, 119, 
not ' go far' whilst retailers get little profit or credit 
from the sale of an inferior commodity. Their 
present action by way o£ pushing fiaer qualities, is 
worthy of hearty commendation. It is pretty sure to 
be successful in the long run." 
While efforts have lately been made and with 
success, to improve the condition of the tea market 
by restrictins< production in ludia and Ceylou, 
there is apparently the prospect that tea cultiva- 
tion in Natal will tend to expand. In the latest 
report of the Commissioner for Agriculture ia Natal 
it is estimated that the yield for the year ended 
June 30 last was 3,OUO,buO lb. in contrast with. 
1,800,0110 lb. in the preceding twelve months and 
1.0UO,000 lb. in 1899. Something like 500 acres more 
land have been planted in tea in the Colony since 
1899, and it is expected that within two years the 
yield will reach 2,000,000 lb. while the hope is 
expressed that it will shortly be increased so much 
as to supply the whole requirements of South Africa. 
—H & C Mmil, Nov. 1. 
CULTIVATION OF THE OYSTER- 
SHELL. 
Geraldton, Nov. 6 —Some years ago, at the 
instance of Messrs, Broadliurst, M'NeiU and Co , 
the Covernmeat of the day sent Mr Saville-Kent 
to inspect; the waters of the Abrolhos with a 
view to the cultivation there of the Nor'-W^est 
coast variety of mother o'-pearl shell. This expert 
reported in favour of the experiment, and some of 
the Nor'-West pearl oysters were deposited in the 
shoal waters of the Pelsart lagoon. Mr. Broad- 
hurst, while recently visiting the islands, had as 
company the Rev. P U Henn, who was . ollecting 
couebological specimens for the Sydney Museum. 
This gentleman picked up a young live m.o.p. 
shell, and Mr. Broadhurst .sent the speciinen away 
for expert examination and it has been pronounced, 
true Nor'- West shell, "Meleagrina margarici ferae, 
and identical with those planted by Mr. Saville- 
Kent. There are doubtless many " others three 
by this time, and the above discovery tends to show 
that the Nor'-West shell will tlnive ia the 
Abrolhos waters.— Perth (W A) Herald. 
PLANTING NOTES, 
The Clove Crop at Pmba.— News from 
Pemba states that the clove crop which pro- 
mised to he a very good one this year, is practi- 
cally at an_end, there being nothing left on the 
trees. The Liabour Bareau which was established 
by the Zanzibar Government a few months ago 
has rendered great services to the Sister Island 
where Mr. Commissioner Farler who had charc'e 
of the movement at Chaki-Chake has been able 
to help many a planter to collect cloves whicli 
otherwise might have been lost. —The Gazette 
Oct. 30, * 
Pruvian Rubbr Synd, Ld. (71,664).— Regd — 
Oct, 23, with capital £1,500 in £1 shares to acquire 
any estates, lands, plantations, premises, ptc. in 
Peru or any part of the world, and to carry on'the 
business of cultivators, collectors, and manufac- 
turers of and dealers in India rubber, gums, coffee 
cocoa, rice, grain, tobacco, spirits, gold| silver' 
copper, tin, timber, wood, hides, skins, ivory, etc' 
No initial public issue. Registered without arts of 
association by Waterlow Brothers and Layton Ld 
Birchin Lan§, E C, -^Investor a' Gmrdiari 
