December i, 1S90.] 
461 
THT TROf=»!CAL AGRICULTURIST. 
o 
To the Editor. 
ENEMIES OF COFFEE AND EEMEDIES. 
London, Oct. 24th. 
Dear Sir, — Following my letter to you of last 
mail on the subject of the application of solution 
of sulphate of copper to our cofiec trees for exter- 
mination of the pests by which trees are beset, I 
now write to enclose copy of a letter I have re- 
ceived from Messrs. W. and A. Gilbey, the large 
wine merchants here, giving interesting and valu- 
able information concerning the subject in question, 
and I am yours faithfully, 
for THOMAS DICKSON, 
W. G. Smith. 
Oxford Street, London, W., Oct. 20th. 
Thomas Dickson, Esq , Managing-Director, The Scot- 
tish Trust and Losn Co- of Ceylon. 
Dear Sir, — In rejily to your letter of 16th inst. 
on our estate in the Medoc we use a .solution of 
sulphate of copper for the purpose of destroying the 
mildew or white fungus which forms on the under- 
side of the leaves of the vines. It is not appliol to 
the roots but solely to the leaves. Other preparations 
are applied to the roots for the purpose of combating 
the Ptijlloxera, which however is an entirely differ- 
ent pest. The method of app'jing the solution of 
sulphate of coppor was formerly to sprinkle it over 
the vines by means of a broom, but a more effective 
way is to use a force pump fitted with a fine rose. 
A shower of solution is allowed to fall on the upper 
surface of the leaves which gradually spreads over the 
whole surface of the plant. The solution is pre* 
pared in the following manner : — Difsolve 4 lb. sul- 
phate of copper in 3 gallons of warm water. Slake 
2 lb. of quick lime, and when cold put the lime 
into the solution of copper. Add to the whole 
20 gallons of water and stir up well. (Pass the 
lime through'sieve to separate grave), etc., which might 
choke the syringe used for distributing.) This mixture 
is called Bouille Bordelaise and is prepared sometimes 
with cold water, and recently we learn that the addi- 
tion of 1 lb. of molasses has been found to be an im- 
provement. For vines about 30 gallons per acre are 
used for the first treatment say, in June, and 40 to 50 
gallons for the second treatment 4 or 5 weeks later. Be- 
fore distributing the liquid should always be well stir- 
red. Sulphate of copper is dangerous to human life 
and consequently all experiments must be made with 
care. Applied to the vine in the manner indicated we 
find that tho wine ii not affected, but it is quite pos- 
sible that the coffee berry might retain a percentage 
of the copper if strong solutions are used. A weak 
solution only is always applied when tho leaves are 
yeuug and tender. No solution should bo applied for 
two or three weeks before the crop is gathered. If 
we can give you any further information on the subject 
we shall be happy to do so on hearing from you, or 
our friend Mens. Skawineki of Lesparre would no doubt 
give you full details as to prices of materials, syringes, 
etc., if you communicate with him. His full address is; — 
Mens. Theo. Skawinski, 
(Soci^te Medooain) 
72, Bue Jean Jacques Rousseau, 
Lesparre, France. 
— Wo are, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
(Signed) W. & A. Gilbey, 
Tea Exports from Japan have this year been very 
large, amounting (according to native papers), up 
to the 15th ult., from Kobe and Yokohama to, 
6,700,000 catties — the largest total reported in the 
history of the porta. From Yokohama alone the 
export exceeded 6,383,000 oattiea.—C/ii/tii Mail, 
INDIAN TEA EXPORTS. 
Indian Tea Association, Calcutta, Nov. 15th. 
Dear Sirs, — The General Committee have the 
pleasure to hand you their usual Monthly Return of 
shipments of tea from Calcutta, and also a Return 
of Exports of Ceylon Tea for four years up to the 
23rd October 1890. 
Exports of Indian Tea From Calcutta. 
Exports to Great Britain in 
Oct. 
Exports to Great Britain 
from 1st May to 31st 
Oct. 
Exports to Australia and 
New Zealand in Oct. ... 
Exports to Aiustralia and 
New Zealand from 1st 
May ta 31.st Oct. 
Exports to America in 
Oct. 
Exports to America from 
1st May to 31st Oct. ... 
Exports to, other places in 
Oct. 
Exports to other places 
from 1st May to 31st 
Oct. 
Total Exports from 1st 
May to 3Ist Oct. 
1890 
lb. 
1889 
lb. 
1888 
Ib. 
15,544,159 
14.8-54, .5.53 
12,907,076 
55,959,110 
55,669,073 
52,992,558 
109,972 
149,148 
446,734 
2,703,418 
1,956,540 
1,791,298 
10,810 
13,200 
906 
72,882 
104,017 
64,025 
145,450 
B4.514 
40,157 
671,733 
1,110,148 
638,587 
59,407,442 
58,84.5,803 
55,386,463 
— Yours faithfully, S. E. J. CLARKE, Seoretary. 
MR. JCHN HUGHES AND CEYLCN TEA 
ANALYSES. 
London, E. C., Nov. 7th. 
Gentlemen, — Just a few lines to direct your 
attention to sn interesting lecture on tea by Mr. 
Richard Bannister published in the Journal of the 
Society of Arts of Cctober 31st which I believe you 
regularly receive. 
After a review cf the rise and progress of the 
tea industry generally in China, India and Ceylon, 
there are some practical remarks on tea making, 
and tea analyses. 
Only two complete analyses however are given, 
which is a matter of regret, inasmuch as these 
show considerable difference in the proportions of 
Tannin and Cellulose (Woody Fibre). Thus a sam- 
ple of Congou gave 16'40 per cent of Tannin as 
against 27’14 in a sample of young Hyson — while 
the Cellulose was 34-00 in the former and only 25 90 
per cent in the latter. 
There are soma 19 samples of Ceylon Tea reported 
upon by Dr. Paul, who however only examined them 
as regards the amount of moisture and Theine which 
they contained, and in which the variation was very 
small and therefore of little practical importance. 
The highest Theine was 4-54 per cent in a sample 
from Nahalma estate, and the lowest 3'22 in some 
Calsay Pekoe Souchong. 
When we consider that Theine is an aloaloid 
which has very little flavour, though possessing 
powerful medioinal properties, it will be at once 
understood that a difference of 1 per cent cannot 
possibly influence the tea taster in his valuation 
of different samples for market purposes, and that 
any attempt to estimate the probable commercial 
value from the percentage of Theine found by 
analysis would be quite useless. From the two 
complete analyses mentioned above, however, there 
does appear to be a great variation in the pro- 
portion of Tannin which from my now experience, 
I am inclined to regard as the constituent which 
influences the strength of tea infusions more than 
any other, while we may regard (he jurthJy an^ 
