602 
rHP TROPICAL AQRIOULTURIST. | February i, i8q*. 
the most of every available acre for the cultivation of 
Liberian. I have heard several discussions on the sub- 
jects of grafting and inarching, and I know that here, 
grafted and inarched plants of Arabics and Liberian 
have been procured from Bangalore for the purpose of 
studying the process carefully, bat frotn what 1 can 
gather, it is not generally regarded as likely to be of 
much use, the argument agaiust it being, that it is the 
delicate tbin leaves of the coffee Arabica which are 
susceptible to disease, and that merely graftiog cannot 
alter their texture, or thicken them sufficiently to en- 
able them to resist the germs ; whilst grattiog Li- 
berian upon Arabica is ridiculous on the foce of it, for 
surely the Liberians own sturdy roots must be the 
most suitable for its well beiog. 
There is a good deal of talk about tea ; and I am 
verv glad to say, something a great deal more solid 
besides talk. Two well-known properties hereabouts 
are now being opened for tea, end reliable rumours 
hints at an Agricultural Company, with tea for its 
principal product, which is to be started before long. 
This will embrace some old abandoned estates, ae well 
as properties still in cultivation, all admirably situate ) 
for the pnrpose, and this should prove a good step 
in a new direction. There con be no doubt whatever 
as to the suitability of Wynaad for a tea-growing 
country, and its introduction, practically, should com- 
mence a new and prosperous era for us all. It does 
not take so long to come into bearing as Liberian, 
which is also an advantage, and so far such as has 
been grown here, has apparently been exempt from 
disease of any sort. An experienced Oeyloa planter 
lately gave it as his opioion that this district was 
in every way good for tea ; and expressed his surprisa 
that it had so long been a neglected string to our 
bow. I hope io my next to tell you more of what 
I am at present only at liberty to mention as a 
rumour. We are beginning to cry out for rain. There 
has been none since the middle of November, and 
the country has begun to dry up considerably, which 
naturally causes us some anxiety on account of our 
young plantings. There is a really fioe '.how of woo i 
for next year, and the spike just beginning to sproui is 
healthy enough, and we are acxious that it should not 
be forced by too early rains, so that we feel somewhat 
like the farmer who, hearing there were to be prayers 
for rain, suggested that the petitions should be ou 
account of the corn fields only, as he had not then got 
in all bis hay ! We want rain badly for the new 
clearings, and we do not want it at all yet a while 
for the spike. Starving cattle are being driven in 
already from Mysore, 'the price of grain is very high, 
and our Uanarese are becoming very humble, and evi- 
dently wish to remain as long as possible on tbe 
estates, instead of, as usual, longing to hurry off to 
their own country. 
By the way we have discovered a new and abomin- 
able poochee, which some one cheerfully suggests is 
to be the future plague of the Liberian. This ia 
^ beetle, about an ioch long, narrow, and grey in 
colour, shaded vyith black. It has very long antennes 
and as one writer described it, "a mouth like a h'e'e- 
phant, sir." Its particular talent is whittling. No 
American, however accomplished in that ntitional 
pastime, could beat our beetle. It will work in one 
night through a stem as thick is a man's wrist, cutting 
round and round with mathnmitical regularity and 
neatness, until so small a bit of wood remains that tbe 
branch breaks off. It is not particular as to the plant. 
(Jn three occasions I had fine crotons entirely 
destroyed, the main stem^ having been out thipough 
then the beetle wandered to the opposite side of, 
the garden aad out down the long, climb- 
ing stem of a boautiful Gloire de Dijon rose. His last 
{re*k wat caltitig through a thick old brAuoh of 
Bougainvillea. I hinted in vain for the culprit, and 
tried my best to the motive for such seemingly pur- 
puaeloHH mischief. I can quiy Bupp<mu that it is iu some 
way connected with the depositing of its eggs. Luter on 
a specimen was o»ugbt upon aiiuber estate, which I put 
under a finger ^lana for obHervation. It set ma to eat 
iii.oorikuh loaves (Eri/tlirina Indica) and it was absurd to 
fiee it go for a date etoue, and oliugiug round it oomiqeuoe 
wbitling. This did not last long, however, and by the 
next morning the beetle looked very sick indeed; and 
bad not made much progres upon his date stone, 
I wonder if any of your readers can give us some 
information about this beetle, especially as to its 
motive for felling shrubs in this uoconsider^te manner. 
I have heard of several cofiee robberies, but 
nothing very serious, and the police have undoubtedly 
been much more active this year than usual. There 
was one rather amusiug case some weeks ago, in which 
a gang of Punoiabs made a must determined attack 
upOQ the watchmen, returning three times, and being 
as often pluckily repulsed by the writer, wbo had come 
to the rescue. It ended by sendi g for the police 
who, however, failed to capture tbe would-be thieve*. 
These, no doubt, belonged to a well-known robber's 
village at the foot of the ghauts. 
Very high prices ure being offered for coffee, both 
p»rchment and cherry, by tbe various Coast firms, 
lil3-4 for parchmeut, and K8 4 for cherry per bushel 
being locally offered, so that all expenses of curing and 
cartige to the Coast are saved, and several of our 
planters have availed themselves of so convenient an 
opportunity of disposing of their crops, without the 
additional trouble and expense of home shipment. 
There are several new openings being maoe for cin- 
chona, which shows there is still hope felt for tbe future 
of this product, in spite of tbe miserable prices at 
present offered, which make it hardly worth while to 
harvest our bark. * * * 
I think we all very heartily congratulate our fortu- 
nate-brethren in Coorg, and rejoioe for them about 
their splendid crops, whilst we hope that we ourselves 
may rank amongst tha lucky oues next year, Floreat 
Coffea\ wherever it may be. — Times, Jan. 7th, 
♦ — - 
TEA IN VICTOEIA. 
From the review of trade and commerce for 1891, 
in the Melbourne Argus of Jan. 1st, we quote the 
notice of the tea trade. The record regarding 
Ceylon tea is similar to that from London, — increased 
import and consumption but quality and prices low. 
The beaeht of the increased consumption and tbe 
taste it must create will oome in followirg years. 
Tea. — Contrary to general antioip»tiou8 the trading 
results of the first half of 1891 were generally un- 
satisfactory, CHUsed mainly by the unexpected dis- 
covery of stocks in bond, which converted a pros- 
pectively bare into an over-snpphed market. The 
repeated errors in our Ciistoms department are beyond 
all reason, and have called forth tbe strongest con- 
demnation of its inefficiency from all branches of 
the tea trade. However, it is generally believed that 
the stocks are now correctly stated, and that is some* 
thing. The second half of the year has disclosed a 
rapid increase ia tbe demand for blended teas, and 
consequently increased sales of Indians and Ceylons, 
and a decreased sale of all China kinds. There has 
been throughout an absence of excitement, and hold> 
lags in first bands have contiaued almost nominal, 
which fact alone would have caused, in view of the 
small quantity of leaf now afloat and the stats of 
the vsrions exporting markets, speculative sales but 
for the necessary caution now being exercised in ail 
branches of trade in the present unsettled financial 
state of the minor monetary institutions of Victoria 
and adjoining colonies. The most marked change 
bas been the heavy increase in shipments from 
Colombo, the total from M«y to November being 
2,150,000 lb., as against 1,550,000 lb. for the same 
period last year. The greater bulk has, however, 
been of undesirable and inferior grades, and the re- 
sults to shippers unfatisfaotory. From Calcutta, for 
the same period, 'be fl ;ures aie respectively 3,750.000 
lb. against 8,480 COO., "Ud here again almost the whole 
bas consisted ot .imoner kinds, for which prices 
have throughout ruled well uuder cost, while for the 
few better sorts and fine teas competition has been 
sufficiently good to show covering rates. The very 
low range of values that has existed for blending 
kinds of Ceylon and Indian teas have so t'^r ftssisted 
