FebrIjArV 2, 1891.] 
THt TROPiCAL AGRICULTURIST. 
butter, aa well as any of their other substitutes.”-; 
The November part contains an article on the Liberian 
Coffee, introduced to Kew in 1872, and distributed 
into commerce by Mr- Bull shortly afterwards. On 
July 22nd 1876, p. 101, Mr. Hiern favoured us with 
an article on the subject, to accompany a woodcut 
illustration taken partly from a plant in Mr. Bulls 
nursery, partly from wild specimens. It was hoped 
that the West African Coffee would prove more robust, 
and better able to withstand the attacks of fungus 
(Hemileia). At first, however, these expectations 
seemed likely to be disappointed but now vro learn 
the tide of opinion in the planting world has set in 
favouring the Liberian Coffee, and various extracts 
in support of that opinion are given in the number 
before us. The African Cola-nut (Cola acuminata) is 
the subject of the next article, which comprises^ a 
brief summary of what is known on the natural his- 
tory and properties of this valuable tree. The nuts 
contain caffein and theobromine, and their consump- 
tion is stated, on good authority, to enable the natives 
to undergo great exertions with relatively little fatigue. 
The bitter Cola, also alluded to in the Bulletin, is 
quite a different thing. A figure of the fruit was given 
in the Journal of Botany for 1875, by Dr. Masters, 
and the plant was subsequently described under the 
name Garcinia Kola by Heckel, who had had over- 
looked what had been previously published. The fruits 
in question have a bitter taste, and are probably 
destitute of the special virtues of the true Cols.— 
Qardeners' Chronicle, Nov. 22ud. 
TEA ON THE NEILGIIERRIS 
After Coffee, Tea is to the European planter the 
most important industry on the Neilgherries. It was 
introduced in the year 1835, but made little progress 
until after 1860. At first it had to endure the same 
drawbacks that planting in Assam had, aiir., unskilled 
labour for cultivation and manufacture and inexperienced 
supervision; on the other hand, it had some advantages, 
such as choice of land, cheap labour and manure, and 
high prices for well-manufactured produce. As manu- 
facture improved so did demand with the usual result 
over production for local consumption. The excess 
produced was sent to the London market with vari- 
able success. Either Neilgherrie Tea did not retain its 
flavour in England or planters did not receive justice in 
that quarter, and the latter ia suggested by the fact that 
consumers, to whom expense was a secondary considera- 
tion, and who used the better classes of Neilgherrie 
Teas, preferred getting them from the estate direct 
to using what they termed “ the high-priced flavourless 
Tea” that they obtained from grocers in England- 
As Tea keeps better in large quantities, as sent in 
chests to the London market, than in small boxes, as 
sent to private purchasers, the Neilgherrie planter is 
at a loss to understand why the passing of his Teas 
through the usual business channels should result iu 
their being classed low and realising little more than 
“dust" of other Teas. It must be admitted that 
Neilgherrie Tea is not strong like Assam, and that it is 
not at all useful for mixing with tasteless China 
Teas, but it is a good high class drinkable Tea 
by itself ; especially iu India, where it keeps 
with care for a considerable time. The Neilgherrie 
planter has something yet to learn, since it 
appears that his Tea does not reach the English 
market in good condition in lead lined chests, while 
those of other districts do so. 
A few estates have obtained high prices, such as five 
and ten shillings per pound, notably Brooklands and 
Glendalo, but these prices were for fancy Teas, and 
did not represent the ordinary manufacture for com. 
meroial purposes. Lately Kodaunad obtained high 
prices for a largo consignment; and if thi.s continues, 
it will be a new departure on the Neilgheries, and 
help to solve the most diffloult problem the Neil- 
gherrie planter has to deal with, and prove con- 
clusively to the mo'.t sceptical that climate is not 
the drawback to the district’s Teas realizing good 
paying prices in the Louiion market. 
When tea planting was rushed lands were planted 
up that should not have been. The plant being hardy 
grows almost anywhere, and is not easy to eradicate, 
the small pieces of root left after a tree is dug out often 
start into new trees even iu poor soil. Notwithstand- 
ing its hardiness and good growth as a tree, it does not 
grow so fast as iu vvarmer climates with more rainfall ; 
so that the production is not equal to that of Assam or 
the favourable Oeylon districts, and it would no doubt 
have been abandoned ere this only that its fine flavour 
obtained for it a large sale in India ; this, together with 
cheap labour aud a good climate, has been in its 
favour, and it is probable that the demand for 
it in England would increase considerably if it 
could be supplied to consumers in as good con- 
dition as it is to the consumers in India. It 
may be that the passage of Neilgherrie tea through 
the Customs Department, when it is turned out 
to be weighed and bulked, and handled in a very 
different way to what it is in the factory, is too 
much for its delicate flavour, bat which the stronger 
Assams, Ceyions, and Travancores can probably stand. 
This seems to be the point where combination among 
planters may turn a poorly paying industry into a 
highly remunerative oae. 
The Tea produced in Southern India is not enough 
to appreciably affect the general prices in England. 
The imports of China Tea into England have fallen 
considerably, but have been amply replaced by increased 
supplies from India and Oeylon, in both of which 
countries there is land yet available, and more than 
enough to produce any demand that may be made 
from England. The annual increase in supply is quite 
equal to the increase in consumption as well as to 
the deficiency in supply from Chiua : so that the 
prospects of a general rise iu prices are not promis- 
ing for the industry. Great efforts are being made 
to introduce Indian aud Oeylon Teas into America 
and llussia, but satisfactory efforts are not being 
made to inoreaso consumption in India. Consumption 
is increasing amongst the natives slowly but surely, 
and if it .amounted to half a pound per head at the 
present rate of production, not a pound of tea would 
be available for Euglaud, where consumption is about 
6J lb. per head of population. It will require a very 
small consumption per head iu India to absorb all the 
increase that takes place annually. A trial is at pre- 
sent being made in Bengal. Perhaps a scheme some- 
thing like the following might be more suc- 
cessful. Every estate in India to supply to 
a syndicate at least one per cent, of its produce 
( will aggregate about 1,000,0001b. ) at cost 
price, or a little under it, say, an average tea 
for As. 5 per lb. delivered in the con.sumiug district ; 
the syndicate to add on 20 per oont. to cover ex- 
penses and profit, and to pay for the Tea supplied 
at the end of the year. For this consideration the 
syndicate to undertake to distribute the teas over the 
whole country, but in such manner as will not inter- 
fere with present important tea dealers, and in, or 
convenient to every hospital at the prices fixed, say. 
As. 3 per half lb. packet and As- 1-6 per quarter lb. 
packet. The teas to bo supplied iu such packets and 
properly labelled by the estates with full directions in 
the vernaculars for preparing the beverage. 
No estate can lose much by such a scheme, while 
it may result in a very large iucrease in consun.ption 
of tea aud a reduced consumption of alcohol. It should 
not be impossible to induce the women of India to 
indulge in tea who have no national bavura,ge.—India>i 
Planters’ Gazette. 
Sale of Ceylon Tobacco in London.' — Messrs. 
Grant, Chambers A Go. sold by auction on 
11th Deo. 1890, 143 bales Ceylon loaf tobacco, 
mark N.K., all of which realized 4d per lb. 
Tobacco-growing in Germ.any. — Last year’s crop 
of tobacco in Germany has proved so remunerative 
that the extent of land under this plant has been 
increased by upwards of 100,000 acres,— L. fl/uif, 
