October i, 1890..I 
279 
THE TRdPiCAt AQ^I^LTumST, 
No lieartwood, annual rings not distinct. Pores small 
and moderate-sized, uniformly distributed, often sub- 
divided or in short radial lines. Medullary rays mo- 
derately broad and broad, the distance between two 
rays generally greater than the transverse diameter of 
the pores. Medullary rays very prominent on a radial 
section, giving the wood a handsome mottled ap- 
pearance. 
Mendis gave 49 lb. as the weight of the Ceylon 
wood but that of Mysore is given at 67. Gamble 
adds : — 
The wood is durable under water, end is used for 
well-work ; also for agricultural implements, building 
and furniture. 
The bark is used for tanning and in medicine; chips 
of the wood are said to clear muddy water. The fruit 
is the Bmblic Myrobolam, and is used as a medicine, 
for dyeing, tanning, and for food and preserves. It 
gives a gum, which is not used. 

PLANTING IN NETHEELANDS INDIA. 
In East Java, this year’s coffee crop has turned out 
poorly but prices rule high. The Zocomotief mentions 
a firm at Samarang which last year drew sixty thou- 
sand piculs from its estates, but which expects only 
112,000 piculs this year. In Bast Java, the tobacco crop 
also shows bad signs. 
The Batavia Nieuwsblad says that the Netherlands 
India Government has decided upon issuing Java tea 
to the army there. Similarly, the Government has 
tried to depend as much as possible on local resources 
in the supply line, but the Home autboritiesi invariably 
thwarrt these good intentions by giving preference to 
articles from the Netherlands. This eepecally seems to 
be a failing of the Colonial Office. 
The Locomotief, in noticing the expansion of planting 
enterprise in Netherlands Bast Borneo, wonders why 
tobacco should be such a favourite in that line of busi- 
ness. It deems that a commercial company with a few 
handy steamboats and convenient trading stations on 
the coast could carry on a profitable barter trade in 
local produce. Pulo Laut, a coal island in the neigh- 
bourhood, would prove useful in supplying fuel. — 
Straits Times, Aug. 27th, 
♦ 
THE CHANDPOEE TEA COMPANY. 
The Ohandpore Tea Company, Limited, has just been 
registered, with a capital of £32,000 in £10 shares. 
Its object is to acquire, on such terms as may be agreed 
upon, the Chandpore and Begum Khan Tea Estates, 
situate respectively in the district of Sylhet and pro- 
vince of Assam, with all lands appertaining thereto, 
and the goodwill, property, and assets of the business 
partnerships carried on by the respective proprietors 
thereof in connection therewith as the same stood on 
January let 1890, as going concerns, and to carry on and 
work the same estates. The first subscribers, who take 
one share each, are: — S. Cochrane, 20, Threadneedle 
Street, E. C. ; Major-Gen. W. M. Campbell, Junior 
United Service Club ; W. Shaw, 16, Exchange Square, 
Glasgow; J. E. Pedler, 9, Mincing Lane. E.U. ; O. 
Steel, 34, Old Broad Street, B. C.; J. S. Fraser, 34, 
Old Broad Street, E. 0.; C. Sanderson, 46, Queen 
Victoria Street, E. C. There shall not be less than 
two nor more than five directors. The first are William 
Maxwell Campbell, William Shaw, J. R. Pedler, and 
Samuel Cochrane. Qualifications, £500. Remunera- 
tion, £50, divisible, provided that the fee payable to 
each director shall not exceed £2 2s. each for each 
meeting attended.—//, and C. Mail, 
« 
EAMIE AS FOOD FOR SILKWORMS. 
(Boelmieria nivea, H. K.) 
We were lately surprised to find that silkworms 
fed on rasuariiias. Another surprise is the state- 
ment, which we quote from the Kew Bulletin, for 
August, that the leaves of the rhea plant form 
suitable food for the silk-yielding insects : — 
It now appears that the leaves of the Ramie plant 
may be used as a food for silkworms, in the same 
way as those of the mulberry and Osage orange 
(Madura aurantiaca). All three plants belong to the 
same natural order Urtieacecp., and there should be 
no reason why they should not be found equally 
suitable. The following account of the use of Ramie 
leaves for feeding silkworms in the United States was 
communicated to the Foreign Office by Mr. A. de G. 
de Fonblanque, H. B. M.’s Consul at New Orleans : — 
“ A discovery has been made by a lady in Columbia, 
S. 0., that may have a marked effect upon two great 
industries. For a number of seasons this lady has 
amused herself by feeding silkworms and sending a 
few pounds of cocoons to the Women’s Society for 
the encouragement of the Silk Industry in Phila- 
delphia. The extraordinary warmtn of this winter 
caused the eggs to hatch far in advance of the season, 
and as the young leaves of the mulberry and the 
Osage orange had not put forth, our amateur was at 
a loss what to do. An account adds : 
“ ‘ Seeing that the foliage of the Ramie in a neigh- 
bouring field was putting out, she gathered some 
and put the worms upon it. They fed ravenously, 
and she kept up the supply until the Osage orange 
leaves appeared. Then she divided her worms equally, 
feeding one set with Ramie, the other with Osage 
orange. She kept the cocoons separate and sent 
them to Philadelphia. The experts there were as- 
tonished at the size of those spun by the Ramie 
eaters, and wrote to the lady to know what she had 
done to secure them. They were not only larger, but 
the silk was finer.’ ” 
“ If further experiments should prove that Ramie 
leaves can be depended upon for silkworms’ food, then 
a great impetus will be given to the production of this 
valuable article in the Boutb, while it will add to the 
profits of those who raise that plant for its fibre.” 
CEYLON CACAO. 
(Theohroma Cacao, L.) 
The following article is from the Kelt) Bulletin 
of August. It will be seen that although the pro- 
duction of- cacao in Ceylon is limited its quality 
is of the very highest : — 
The cacao industry, until of late years, has been 
chiefly confined to the tropical parts of America, 
Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, the United States of 
Colombia, Brazil, and the Guianas, being the chief 
producers of cacao on the mainland, while Trinidad 
and Grenada have taken the lead amongst the islands 
of the West Indian Archipelago. The species of Theo. 
hroma yielding commercial cacao are natives of Central 
and South America, and it is but natural to find that 
the largest areas under cultivation are situated near 
those regions. Plants of cacao were introduced at an 
early period to the East Indies, and they are now 
found under cultivation in most tropical countries. 
Until quite recently, however, the best qualities (as 
also the largest quantities) of commercial cacao were 
obtained fram tropical America. The celebrated cacao 
of Venezuela, known as Caracas Cacao, the choice 
cacao of Soconusco, in Mexico, and the selected sorts 
of Trinidad Cacao were believed to be unapproachable 
for quality and flavour. It appears now, however, that 
even the best produce of tropical America does not 
reach the high standard which has been attained by 
Ceylon Cacao. In a recent letter received from Mr. 
J . H. Hart, i\L.s., Superintendent of the Botanical Gar- 
dens, Trinidad, he states : “ For several mails I have 
noted in the Public Ledger th& increasing prices obtained 
for Ceylon Cacao in comparison with that obtained for 
the best Trinidad Cacao. In the Account Sales dated 
the 29th March it is shown that Ceylon Cacao is 
actually worth more by 24s Cd per cwt. than the best 
Trinidad marks. Tho difference between the inferior 
marks is greater still.” In view of these facts the 
planters in Trinidad and elsewhere are keenly dis- 
cussing the merits of Ceylon cacao, and seekijig for 
the causes which have led to the production of an 
article so superior to anything produced before. It 
is true that the quantity of cacao produced in Ceylon 
is relatively very small. In 1889 Ceylon produced only 
