28 
Ti^E TROPICAL AQRiCULTURIST. 
[March r, 1892. 
Geologists have proved that the diamond minef 
of South Afrioa are situated iu vents 0 
ohimnejs, varying from about 70 feet to 1,500 ft. 
in diameter, and descending vertically through the 
sohistB which form the ordinary strata of the dis- 
trict. These vents are filled up with fragments 
of silioated and magnesian rocks, in which the 
diamonds are scattered, and before the diggings 
began each was capped by a hillock, or " kopje." 
They are 17 in number, and run in a straight line 
about 120 miles. — Fiji Times. 
The Tea Crop of 1892 : Mit. H. K. Rutherford's 
Estimate. — Of all the estimates of the current 
year's tea crop from Ceylon that have yet appeared, 
ours (80,000,000 lb.) is the lowest. But Mr. Rutherford 
makes his estimate lower still. Writing to us by 
this mail he says : — " With regard to the estimate 
of crop for the year 1892, I will^not venture to predict 
more than 74 millions. Last year upset everyone's 
calculation, and it therefore makes it more difficult 
to estimate what the present year will do." This 
opinion thoroughly coincides with that which have 
repeatedly expressed, namely, that last year's figures 
form no reliable guide. The total output was abnor- 
mally large, and, as there is no reason to suppose 
that the current season will be so peculiarly favor- 
able to the abundant growth of leaf, the actual 
increase show over the figures for last season is not 
likely to be large. We think 80 millions is an out- 
side estimate. — Local "Times." 
Coconut Tlanting. — During some years past, owing 
to the excessive and prolonged droughts killing large 
numbers of trees in several estates, the prospects of 
coconut pisntiug in the peninsula were very gloomy 
indeed ; and the prophets of evil to whom the proposed 
railway to Jaffna was at best a wild and visionary 
project unworthy of their support, boldly foretold and 
stoutly maintained that, in view of th<3 severe crisis 
through which the estates were then passing, it wuuld 
be idle to rely on them for any appreciable item in 
the calculations made of the probable trafiio avuilablo 
for the proposed iine. The planters however have now 
good reason to take heart, thanks to the aboormally 
copious aod constant rains we have had durint} the 
last three months ; and I have it on the best authoritv 
some of the planters themselves, ihat the year 1892 
has dawntd on them with excellent prospects. The 
oui-turn of copperah during tbe first half of the pre- 
sent year will doubtless be exceptionally large and 
such as to make up, in great part, for any loss they 
have sustained during the trying period ot recurring 
droughts to which I have briefly referred. — Co/;, Jafi'na 
"Patriot." 
Output of Tea this Season. — A planter of many 
years' experience in Ambagamuwa writes to say : — 
' I think your estimate of our total export of tea 
this year high — though it is tbe lowest of any 
yet given. I very much doubt if the crop of 1892 
will much exceed that of 1891, which was much 
increased by the extraordinary rush of leaf during 
the first six months of the year. It was further 
aggravated by shortness of labour, which compelled 
many to pluck very heavily, for it was a case of letting 
it go or making it into tea^ This resulted in large 
quantities of inferior tea being placed upon the 
market. This year we are better ofi: for coolies, 
and, after the weather we have bad, it is doubtful 
if we shall have the same rush of flush again, cesirly 
every estate going in for finer plucking, which, will 
result in a decrease in quantity of from one-third to 
nearly half. This, I fancy, will nearly balance the 
increase for tbe year and keep the output about the 
name. I know one place — a sample of many others — 
which gave over 400 lb. per acre last year and only 
plucked medium, but which, with finer plucking, 
only expcotfl this year to make 270 lb per acre."— 
Local " Times." 
TiiK Indian jiicn (Ufiv. — 'I he (lovcrnmcnt of India, 
Ilovenuo and Agri(:ultural Department, have isHUed 
the following second g(!iu:ral nicniorandum on the rice 
crop in Hcngal, Lower I'.nrma, and Madras for the 
Bcasoii JHlU-'.)2: -Tlie following Htatemont gives the 
corrected figuica of arcu, audcr tlio crop iii the three 
chief rice-growing provinces, compares them with the 
normal and past year's acreage, and indicates the 
estimated outturn in annas : — 
Province. 
Acreage. 
Estlmateil out- 
Average. J890-91. 1891-92. turn in annas. 
Bengal - 3!t,o77,00U 32,846,000 31,254,000 gi 
Madras - 4,5.59,000 4,S82,000 4,414 000 lo" 
Burma - 3,519,000 3,916,000 4.107,000 12 to 18 
Total - 42,655,000 41,344,000 39,775,000 
In Bengal the unfavourable character of the rainfall 
m the months of July, August, September, and October 
occasioned a considerable deficiency both in the area 
and in the outturn of the winter crop, to about G 
annas of an average crop. In the deltas and on the 
west coast of Madras the crops are fair, but else- 
where they are estimated at only half the average 
In Burma, notwithstanding a decrease of area since 
the report published on 22nd October last, the con- 
dition of the crop is satisfactory, and it is estimated 
that there will be available for expoi-t about 1,030,534 
tons of cleaned rice including the amounts required 
for Upper Burma. 
OocFfE AS A Baeometer. — A Portuguese has 
made a startling discovery that every time a man 
drinks a cup of coffee with the usual seasoning of 
sugar he drinks — a barometer. " Ah 1" you sigh," in 
self commiseration, no wonder the coffee I drank 
last night kept me awake until four this morning." 
But wait ; it is not a joke. Hear what Dr. 
Sauvegron says on the subject. If sugar be cast 
into the coffee without stirring or agitating the cup, 
the bubbles of air contained in the sugar rise to the top 
of the liquid, and it is this that converts 
a cup of coffee into a barometer. If the 
bubbles form a foaming mass, keeping well to 
the centre of the cup, we have the indication 
of fair weather ; if, on the ooatracy, the foam 
directs itself to the edge of the oup and remains 
turning like a ring, it is a sign of rain ; it stationary, 
not large in the centre, it indicates variable weather ; 
if it all moves, without separating, to one point 
near the edge of the cup, another indication of 
rain. Dr. Souvegron affirms that all these indications 
were confirmed with a holosteric barometer and 
another of mercury. " We have not yet mada 
the experiment," says our Portuguese reporter, 
" but hope to, the Fates consenting." He adds 
that in order for the phenomena to be reliable the 
Qoffee must be pure. — Phamaceutical Era. 
OoE Tea Telegram.— We think our telegram from 
Messrs. Wilson, Smithett & Co., this week is more 
hopeful, or at all events less despondent, than was the 
last one. The market is quiet, but prices remain steady. 
The average is low, and the trade are evidently waiting 
to learn the total exports for the month of January, 
which they will do loday fiom several sources. The 
informadon thus supplied to them is likely to cause 
some surprise, we expect, seeing that the figures are 
some 4,91 0,000 lb., a quantity actually less than that 
shiirped during January, 1891. We believe this is the 
first time in the history of the tea enterprize of Ceylon 
that toe shipments of one nnonth have totalled less 
than the corresponding month of the previous year. It 
only bears out, however, what we have frequenq.ly in- 
sisted on, that the output last year was quite excep- 
tional, and that in all human possibility the ex-port of 
this season will exhibit but a small iaoreaee upon it. 
Tea is coming down from upcountry comparatively 
slowly, and we do not anticipate a heavy shipment in 
February. It will probably amount to 6,000,000 lb., at 
the outside. Tbis a very dilJerent result to what was 
anticipated. Tbe fact is that the long-oontinui d rain 
in December stopped flutihes and reduced the current 
month's shipments ; but, now we are getting warm 
weather, we anticipate that shipments during February 
will increase to something under G,000,000 lb. When 
these facts become known in the Lane, they may bring 
about a better tone in the market, for there does not 
seem to be any real warrant for the present low priceg. 
—Local "Times." *' 
