April 1, 1902.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 673 
THE "TEA CESS" AND HOW TO 
WORK IT. 
A Manager, who was at one time for "doub- 
ling the Cess." writes on the 6th March:— "You 
have put the Cess matter plainly and fairly in 
your leader of the 4th and, barring your 
insistence that we should do nothing if 
India doesn't create a Cess, I am quite at 
one with you. We cannot in any way com- 
p.d India to tax herself though she looks 
like doing it of her own free will at pre- 
sent ; but if her scheme should fall through 
as per usual, are we to cease our efforts 
here ? I maintain we must push our ow n 
teas for all we are %vorth with or without 
the co-operation of India and that our funds 
should be mainly used in subsidising 'green 
teas' as suggested in my first letter which, 
if I remember rightly, originated all this 
Paris, Feb. 11.— For tiiose who dread the den- 
tist's chair, even under the protection of laughing 
gas, a description is given by Dr d'Arsonval, of 
the Academy of Sciences, of a new use for elec- 
tricity as an anarschetic. '1 he tooth must fust be 
covered with a plastic substance, whicii the dentists 
use for taking moulds of the teeth. Tlien comes 
a layer of [dumbago, and the whole is coated 
with a paste made with salt water. One electric 
pole is then attached to the tooth, and the other 
is held in the hand by the patient. The current 
is turned on, and produces the most complete 
local anathesia, lasting ten minutes. An interest- 
ing account was also read of Gautier's experiments 
at the Constantine Hospital with the subcutaneous 
injection of methylarseniate of soda for malaria, 
A few centigrammes, injected daily, entirely 
checked the disease in several cases wliere strong 
doses of quinine had proved powerless after as 
much as twomonths' treatment.— Mornuig Leader. 
A jSEW CINCHONA DIRECTOR AT OOTY. 
Mr. George Roinilly, the well-known planter of 
iMeppadi, Wynaad, has been appointed officiating 
Director of Government Cinchona Plantations, 
Ootacamund, vice Mr. W M Standen who has 
proceeded on leave.— Mail, March 12. 
TOBACCO CULIVATION. 
We know that many of our readers have 
been much interested in the information 
we were the first to publish, touching the 
opinion of a tobacco expert on the suffl- 
ciency of the leaf grown in the island, if only 
it can be properly cured. Mr. A Macdougall 
Gibson's opinion has come as a surprise to 
those who have long been taught to believe 
in the radical inferiority of Jaffna tobacco ; 
and if his view, supported by experience 
extending over a score of years with tobacco 
in the Bast, stands the test of --i. searching 
experiment, there must follow a perfect 
revolution in the tobacco trade of the island. 
As we have noted before, Mr. Gibson holds 
that it is the curing, and not the leaf, that 
is at fault ; and if his method should pro- 
duce a leaf smokable by those used to 
Indian, Cuban and other acceptable brands, 
a great fillip will be given to the cultiva- 
tion of tobacco by classes other than the 
Japanese. As evidence that there is money 
in the weed, we quote as follows : — 
On the subject of Tobacco-growing in Burmali, 
from the report of the Department of Agriculture, 
just is-5ue<l :— " The most successful result was 
obtained in Yandoon, Thongwa distriec. One pound 
of seed on the bank of the Irrawaddy produced 
3,650 lb. of tobacco on 3'15 acres. In this sub- 
division the cultivation of tobacco is assuming im- 
portant diHieusious and efforts are being made to 
cure the tobacco. 'Ihe Havana leaf is apparently 
not so appreciated as the Virginia. The price, 
however, obtained was hiffhe'' than that for tobacco 
grown from local seed. In Bilin, Thanton district, 
half a pound of seed gave 125 viss, valued at Kl 
per viss. A small success w;is obtained in Monan- 
auk Faingkyon. In Myitkyina 1,060 lb. of tobacco 
were obtained from about 1 lb. of seed and valued 
at R167. In other districts the e.xperiraents were 
generally a failure. Taze township seems suitable 
lor its cultivation, and iu Shvvebo and in Ramree 
township, Kyarikpyu and Kathedaung township, 
Akyab, some degree of success was attained. 
Generally, the experiments have failed from a bad 
selection of soil, or carelessness at the time of 
sowing and planting. The experinients were as 
a rule ct ducted on alluvial soil and there seems 
no doubt that the Havana or Virginia tobacco will 
grow as well as the local variety if it is properly 
cared for. Where it has been extensively success- 
ful the leaf is considered of better favour and tex- 
ture than the local variety, and fetciies a higher 
price." 
THE CEYLON PLUMBAGO EXPORTERS, 
" COMBINE." 
' GROUSING ' IN THE LONDON 
MARKET. 
From our earliest days we have come to 
look upon Ceylon as one of tlie most beautiful 
and magnificent places under the sun. Not 
only in school but also in church its praises 
have been sung, for who of us does not 
know that charming hymn — 
" What though the ppicy breezes, 
Blow soft on Ceylon's Isle, 
Though every prospecc pleases, 
And only mau is vile." 
In ancient times and at the present moment 
the "spice isle" has been regarded as a 
coveted spot, and writers of genius have been 
wont to identify it as the " Paradise Lost," 
full of beauty and untold wealth. No wonder, 
therefore, that many people have become ac- 
customed to regard it as an ideal place in 
which even the " vile man " is a negligeable 
quantity. But those few among us who have 
had to do with the less poetical side of the 
beautiful island, who have had dealings in its 
produce, spicy and otherwise, and who have 
become acquainted with its Native commer- 
cial community, have lost a great deal of the 
original admiration and enthusiasm for that 
wonderful isle. In fact there are many, we 
are inclined to believe, who wish they had 
never heard the name, for although lovely, 
picturesque and fertile, it is also a land of 
great surprises. Its population, mixed as it 
is, is more shrewd and more cunning than 
any other dark race or tribe in India. They 
have long recognized that unity is strength 
and have freq.uently spiamg upon us mor^ 
