402 
THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[December i, 1890 
hardly affected. Cacao fermented and dried aa des- 
cribecl above is on the outside in the Criolo of a rich 
brown, and in the foraatero of a golden colour ; wliile 
in both when sectioned, the colour is warm, dark, a ruby 
red, and the flavour agreeable. I have never seen 
any cured cacao in Ceylon having, when sectioned, the 
rich cinnamon colour said to result from fermenta- 
tion carried out after Mr. Strickland’s method. To 
meet the requirements of some Continental markets, 
where a lighter colour both inside and out is 
desiderated, I am told that cacao is fermented 
for three days only. Our prepared cacao having 
no substance on it to sour or damp in wet 
weather fungus does not readily grow upon it. 
The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the 
proof of the value of an article is the price it com- 
mands in the market ; and as Ceylon cacao generally 
fetches the highest prices, I think we may fairly 
claim that our system is a rational one, and, if not 
superior, is equal to the best that is carried out by 
our Trinidad brother planters. 
❖ 
CEYLON TEA IN EUSSIA. 
THE NEW VICE-CONSOJ:. at ODESSA. 
Lieut, A. P. Murray, of the 1st Battalion Gordon 
Highlanders, has just been appointed Vice-Consul 
at Odessa. This is a peculiarly fitting appointment, 
Mr. Murray’s knowledge of the Bussian language 
being so good. The young clficer was much liked 
and esteemed while in Ceylon, and as everything 
connected with Eussia and its trading ports at 
this time reminds Ceylon folk of the chance of 
getting their tea more freely taken up, may not 
this appointment be of some advantage ? If Mr. 
Murray can say a good word, or use any influence, 
on behalf of Ceylon tea, we feel sure he will not 
refuse to do so. 
♦ 
“ HOP TEA.” 
Maidstone is in a state of pleasant exoitement 
because the hop-growers, who have been “ grubbing 
up ” hop-ground on account of German competition, 
have found a new market for the Ilumulus hipulus. 
All Kent is drinking hop tea. because in September 
all Kent lives almost literally on hops. Mr. Snel- 
ling, a well-known tea merchant of Easteheap, con- 
ceived the idea of making hop tea, and bought tons 
of hops before even the machinery had been laid 
down for converting the herbaceous twining plant into 
a product which, before it is mingled with the 
ordinary tea of commerce, looks like a cross between 
Bristol bird’s-eye tobacco and rough, strong Assam 
tea. Then Mr. Patrick EugenoMaegregor, who is one 
of the best known planters in Assam, was called in 
as export. He is now making hop lea in a factory 
on the Medway. We visited the factory, of which I 
send a view. There Mr. Maogregor was busy at work 
with the machinery which he was accustomed to use 
in Assam. The tea-rolling machine represented in 
our view of the inside of the factory is exactly that 
which is being exported to Assam and Ceylon by the 
dozen ; but it is the first tea-roller which has been 
used on English soil, and that is the first “ Sirocco ” 
drying machine (in which hops are being made into 
tea) which has ever been put into motion this side of 
Colombo. Now, more hop tea is ordered than the 
present machinery can turn out. The faculty has 
discovered that tho lupulin of the hop counteracts 
the excessive tannin of the ordinary tea. Is it cheap 
to produce ? No ; it costs about twice the price of 
excellent tea from India or China sold by auction in 
Mincing-lane. But a proportion of hop tea added to 
the tea of commerce — the propc rtion is the secret of 
Mr. Snelling and Mr. Maegregor — will make a drink 
which will cheer and not inebriate General Booth 
and Sir Wilfrid Lawson, especially if they are dys- 
peptic persons, and cannot drink finest new Pekoe 
with impunity. — P. M. Gazette, [The illustrations 
represented “ ‘India in Kent.’ A Tea-House on the 
Medway,’” and ‘‘ Inside the Factory ; Eoller and Dry- 
ing Machines.” — E d. T, A.] 
COFFEE IN BEAZIL. 
According to all accounts the blossoming is so 
abundant up country that the prospects are exception- 
ally good for an enormous coffee crop next year, both 
in the Pvio and Sfn Paulo districts. The season has 
thus far been most favourable, with just rain enough 
and a continuance of cool weather, to develop a strong 
and healthy blossom. With anything better than half 
a show, tho crop is sure to be a large one.— iifo Neu's. 
♦ 
NOTES FEOM EASTERN ENGLAND. 
(By an ex-Ceylon Planter.) 
Sept. 25lh. 
The gaij made amongst old friends at borne since 
I came home has been heavy, and the end of all 
flesh has been busy too, amongst those I knew in 
Ceylon since I left. A death announced (of a Euroiiean) 
in your columns when I first arrived in Ceylon was 
something to talk about ; now uoless personally known, 
little thought is given to it. A rev. friend came in 
lately. I had just laid the Observer down. “Oh!” he says: 
“ a foreign paper, I suppose.” “Yes,” I said, and 
handed it to him. After turning over the pages. “Bless 
me,” be says, “why it is quile interesting reading; it 
tells you something about the quinine, cinchona tree, 
coffee, tea, and many things which people know nothing 
of here,” I was amused at hearing such remarks ; Jt is 
strange what little is really known of our colonics in 
the eastern seas, in fact what interest is taken in them 
is confined to those who have friends or property 
there. But I must fay tea is making the name of 
Ceylon more familiar now even in the remotest 
country villages, and many dodges are used by uii- 
piincipled parties in dnbbing filthy stuff with the 
name of Ceylon tea, some advertised at Is 4d per 
lb ! and I saw a red handbill lately stuck into 
parcels of grocery, setting forth the goodness of the 
celebrated ‘ Mazawattce tea’ at 2s per lb. I wish I had 
kept it to enclose to you. I can assure you that 
‘ bluffing’ is not confined to America, it may be of 
Amd'ican growth, or raisin^, — but it takes very kindly 
to commercial soil in England as if it was of indigen- 
ous growth. It has been said that the weather is a 
standing topic of conversation in this country, it may 
well be BO with the present summer for an example. 
A fine summer day has been a rare experience since 
the end of May to tho beginning of this mouth, but 
IJ am bappy to say that (he farmers have bad on the 
whole a good harvest time, and more than average 
crops, but still they grumble there is something 
wrong somewhere. The ground game act and the duty 
off malt were to set all straight with this class, 
but I cannot learn that they are a cent the better for 
either. I have asked many questions of a variety of a 
people~from large end small occupiers to landlords 
and labourers^ — on the subject. Nothing but tlio rabbit 
gets a bad word, and he is not at all in the way on waste 
lands but affords sport which so many crave for. As to 
the hare, its fast disappearing is much deplored about 
here, it is get'.ing quite scarce, horses seem to have 
forgottsn what they are. They so rarely see one, for 
lately a farmer and bis wife were driving down a lane, 
wheua bare skipping across lire road so frightened the 
horse that be boite<(. Though overturned they for- 
tunately escaped serious injury. — I am sorry to find 
that the climate has now two, at least, strong com- 
petitors in engrossing conversation, viz , drunker ness 
and the unrest of the labouring classes. The former is 
fearfully prevalent and an awful curse. I cculd not have 
bsliev. d half what I have seen of it, had I read cf only; 
and the latter is an ominous dark cloud hanging threat- 
eningly over all, and I fear will end in much suffering 
ti the labouring dess. I sm glad to bear Ce; Ed is so 
fiouriskiug. Long may she continue ! 
