July i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AORICULTURIST. 
41 
PLANT GOOD COTTON SEED. 
The intelligent farmer has of It n noticed in his fields 
of cotton some plants much larger than tbers 
containing a larger number of well-formed bolls, and 
with fibre whiter, more Bilk 3 ', and better in quality 
than on any other plant in the field. If ho would 
select I'rom this plant the bolls that are the largest, 
the finest and most perfeclly matured ; and, after gin- 
ning the cotton, carefully select the seed, rejecting 
all that are blasted or imperfectly shaped ; and then 
carefully protect them to prevent fermentation or be- 
coming in any manner damaged until the next planting 
season, the first important step would be taken. There 
is no chance in this matter, if we follow closely the laws 
by which nature performs her perfect work. The 
cotton seeds that have thus been carefully collected 
from the first plant must bo placed in the best prepared 
soil, under the best conditions, and well cultivated. 
No cotton of an inferior grade must be planted in the 
immediate neighbourhood. In fact, it docs not pay to 
cultivate inferior cotton, and it is best to send all such 
seeds to tho oil mills. When blooms of low grade cotton 
open, insects and winds will soon transport the pollen 
from them to the pistils of the selected 
variety, and the germs w’ill become depreciated by 
such inferior fertilization. There are a numlet of 
insects that visit the flowers of the cotton plant for 
the nectar they contain, and in the effort to reach the 
base of the flower, where tho nectar i.s found, their 
bodies become covered with pollen that is trans- 
ferred to the stigma where they come in contact 
with pistils of other flowers. It is readily seen there- 
fore, that if plants of an inferior grade are growing 
and blooming in the immediate neighbourhood of the 
selected varieties, tho insects will soon convey tho 
pollen from tho inferior to the superior plant, and 
the seed that will be produced will contain n germ 
with qualities of tho iuferior plant. This work of 
the insects might explain, to some extent, why it is 
that improved seeds in a few years degenerate so 
badly. If the selection of the seed is repeated from 
year to year, and no inferior cotton planted near 
enough to vitiate with its pollen by means of insects 
or wind, and if season, s are favorable, there seems to 
be no reason why practically perfect plants may not 
be produced , — Alabama Exi^erimental Station Bulletin. 
^ 
SUGAR FROM COTTONSEED. 
The latest reported discovery in connection with 
cottonseed comes from Germany, w’here, it is said 
a process has been discovered for extracting sugar 
from cotton seed meal. The sugar is of a very superior 
grade, but cannot be sold in competition with the 
ordinary article. It is said to be inclined to ferment 
or sour, and, hence, better in use for preserving 
fruits. It i.s said to be fifteen times sweeter than cane 
sugar, and twenty times more so than sugar made of 
beets. — Tradesman. 
♦ 
TEA AT FOOCHOW. 
(From the Daihj Echo.) 
We learn that prices for the new crop are much 
lower upcountry. Leaf is being offered freely at 
9,000 to 12,000 cash per picul. 
First crop teas have arrived in large quantities from 
the different districts, and we understand it is the 
intention of some of the tea hongs to send their 
musters out on tho 10th instant. 
Our readers will no doubt remember that, some time 
ago, wo made mention of the intention of a few up- 
oountry teamen to establish a 'Tea warehouse at this 
port in order to euablo them to sell their teas direct 
to foreigners. Tho scheme w'aa not entirely abandoned ; 
hut owing to the heavy losses tho proniotors sustained 
last year it has riimainod in abeyance. From wbat 
we now learn, this scheme, which by the way has 
come again under consideration, is to be on tho co- 
operative principle ; and, amongst other novedties in 
6 
the werkirg of it, the services of a foreign tea taster 
are to be engaged. It is calculated that if this project 
becomes an accomplished fact, te.as will pass into the 
bands of foreign buyers at a far lower cost. The 
charges of tea hong,'!, the commissions to middlemen, 
and other heavy expenses tl.ey have had to meet are 
said to be enormous, and there would be a 
saving to the buyers to this extent, or to tho 
greater part of it at least. It is calculated that 
as much as two millions of dollars were paid, one 
way and another, to these middlemen every tea season ! 
'Though the promoters fully expected that the new 
scheme will meet with strong opporition at first from 
the existing old fashioued tea hongs, wo see no reason 
why, under good management, it should not be .suc- 
cessful. Foreign merchants will certainly hail any 
change that is !o carry with it a lower co.st of tea. 
The arrangeraonts between the 'Tea Guild and each 
firm of merchants with regard to weighing and tho 
general conduct of the trade of the port, as well as 
the compact between the 'Tea Guild and the Chamber 
of Oornmeice seem to have worked so well that it 
is difficult at tho first blush, to see how this new 
co-operative tociety is to woi k separately to the sal is- 
factiou of all concerned. It is true that an indepen- 
dent agreement could be made between this new Society 
and the merchants and Chamber of Commerce on the 
same lines as that in force with tho Tea Guild. But 
we are touching on a, point not included in the scheme ; 
the promoters intend, we understand, to work quito 
unbound by any rules or regulations. Whether they 
will be strong enough to act q'lito independently and 
whether such freedom of action would meet the ap- 
proval of foreign buyers remains to be seen. That 
the tea hongs have fattened at Uio expense of tho 
teamen ever since tho trade commenced is certain; 
and it is equally certain that if the services of these 
middle men could be dispensed with, the cost of tea 
would to a great extent be lessened. 
TEA IN FORMOSA. 
Mr, Playfair’s report contains some interesting com- 
ments on tho course and prospects of the tea trade, 
which has formed so important a feature in Formosan 
commerce. The inception of tea planting in Formosa 
w.as, it is well known, due to the energy of an Eng- 
lish merchant, Mr. Dodd, who started the industry 
in the island. The thing has passed, by inexorable 
competition, into Ohiuese hands ; hnt a certain con- 
tinuance of the good tradition which he inaugurated 
has maintained for Formosa teas an exceptional charac- 
ter that had fecured them so far, against the disasters 
that have overtaken the trade on the. mainland. The 
export from Tamsni, last year, showed, however, a 
decrease of .'ifiO.OOO lb. and the result seems due to the 
.same causes which are so largely responsible for tho 
misfortunes of the China trade. 
Ti e teas of the island arc, wo are told, rapidly losing 
their distinctive cbai'acter, owing to the reckless com- 
petition amongst Chinese buyers for the Amoy Market, 
and the careless preparation and fraudulent admixture 
by them of the teas after they come into their hands 
from tho growers. This has told its tale on 
the consuming markets, and a lower basis of price 
than has over been known before has been rstablished, 
while the cou.^umption shows a very marked decrease. 
With the yearly increasing competition from India, 
Japan, Ceylon, and Java, each of which countries foe. 
ters its tea trade, while China does nothing for it, 
but rather taxes it beyond its endurance, the ground 
that Fi'rmosa has lost on tho consuming markets is 
unlikely over to be mide tip ; and in the opinion of 
those most competent to judge, flio days of the trade 
arc numbered, unless steps are taken by tho Chinese 
themselves in tho direction of radical reform. Under 
these, circumstances it is gratifying lo note that his 
Excelleiu-y tho Governor 1ms, in conjunction with a 
foreign niorchant, procured the services of an ex- 
prionced planter from hulin, who is to establish 
a model tra farm, and endeavour to show the 
pioplo the advantages cf the proper cultivatiou 
