February 2, 1891.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
593 
THE EXTIEFATION OF DELETEEIOUS 
VEGETABLE GEOWTH. 
We had a call today (Jany. 20th) from Mr. K, I. 
Murchison, an Australian colonist, on bis way back 
from India, where he has snooessfully interested the 
authorities in a specific he has invented for the des- 
truction of deleterious vegetable growth. It is to be 
used freely for the extirpation of prickly pear and 
other troublesome growth in some parts of India. The 
specifio is described by those who have witnessed 
its effects as quite wonderful for its speedy des- 
truction of deleterious growths (vegetable) of any 
and every description from the biggest tree to the 
smallest grass. It has to be very carefully used, 
how’ever, being a deadly poison, and also that it 
does not come near plants or trees that are meant 
to be preserved. The specific is supplied by the 
maker in the form of a powder, but applied in a 
liquor form. Mr. Murchison, who goes on by the 
S. S. “ Valetta,’’ expeoia to send an agent to visit 
Ceylon shortly, when fuller particulars will be made 
available and experiments no doubt undertaken. 
4 ^ 
CEYLON STAPLE EXPORTS AND THEIE 
DISTRIBUTION. 
We call attention to the full and correct tabular 
statement given as a Supplement (page 592 6) today for 
our Staple Exports and their Distribution for a series 
of years. It is interesting to note in regard to tea, 
the increased proportion of our shipments diverted 
from the United Kingdom in 1890, thus, — 
1889. 1590. 
tb. lb. 
Tea to United Kingdom ... 32,510,747 43,750,912 
Do. other ports 1,537,338 3,141,042 
Total ... 31,048,085 46,901,554 
In 1889, the percentage diverted wfis 4 per cent ; in 
1890 it was close on 7 per cent of the total exports. 
Summing up the exports to the different ports 
representing the European Continent, we find as fol- 
lows : — 
1890 Increase 
lb. lb. 
92,839 38,090 
143,048 112 436 
2n4,9,-23 161 971 
2,659,901 1,439 807 
144,631 14.5,006 (deerse.) 
It is gratifying to see the largely increased ex- 
port in the case of shipments to Australasia arid 
Amrerioa respectively, and we hope fo see still 
greater progress made in 1891, while Russia 
should also take a big portion of our staple. The 
New Year has begun with heavy shipments and also 
with specially larges ales of tea in Colombo, so that 
with sales rising to half-a-million lb. of tea per week, 
we can now offer ample encouragement to Russian or 
other large buyers to establish themselves in 
Colombo. 
In regard to the distribution of our staples, the more 
notable facts are as follows : — the large share of our 
coffee taken by Australia which also figures for some 
cinnamon, coconut oil, coir and plumbago. America 
is a big customer for plumbago taking nearly as 
much as the United Kingdom and three times as 
much oitronella oil, also a largo quantity of 
coconut oil, some cinnamon, cocoa, coffee and 
cinchona bark. The Continent of Europe also 
takes large supplies of a variety of our products 
direct. 
1889 
lb. 
Tea for Continent of 
Europe direct 54,743 
For Africa and 
Mauritius.,.. 30,612 
For America ... 42,252 
For Australia 1,120,094 
For India 289,637 
THE AMSTERDAM CINCHONA MARKET. 
THE EIOHEST AND AVERAGE BARKS. 
The total quantity of cinchona hark offered by 
auction in Amsterdam in 1890 was 3,271,054 kilos,, 
an increase of 58 per cent upon the quantity offered 
in 1889 (2,073,921 kilos.), and fully 2 25 per cent upon 
1888 (1,435,647 kilos.) The followiog shows the com- 
position of the Java barks, which form practically the 
whole of the Amsterdam supply ? — 
1888. 1889. 1890. 
Kilos. Kilos. Kilos. 
From Government Planta- 
tion .. .. 353,423 369,703 350,576 
From Private Plantation ..1,082,224 1,690,898 2,920,478 
The average proportion in sulphate of quinine of the 
manufacturing barbs was in 1888, 4'20 per cent; in 
1889, 4T2 per cent; and in 1890, 4 per cent. The 
richest parcel of the year was offered for sale on June 
5th. It consisted of 13 bales Ledger stem bark, in 
broken quill, from the Government plantations, and 
analy.sed V) 42 per cent of quinine sulphate. Tlio Dutch 
broker who sends us theee particu'ars estimates the 
total quantity soM by .auction in London during the 
jear at about 5,000,000 kilos , averaging 24 per cent 
quinine sulphate, and being equal, therefore, to about 
3,938,000 oz. The total of barb sold in Amsterdam 
equalled (according to the published analysesj 121,420 
kilos, (about 4,250,000 oz.) sulphate of quinine. If these 
estimates are correct, the combined auction sale of bark 
in London and Amsterdam during 1890 have repre- 
sented 8,188,000 oz. quinine sulphate. — Chemist and 
Druggist. 
© - 
CINCHONA FROM JAVA. 
The exports of cinchona bark from Java during 
the period from July 1st to October 31st are by far 
the largest of euy corresponding section of the last 
five years. This i.s all the more noteworthy as the in- 
crease is entirely due to the enhanced production of 
the private plantations. The Government plantations, 
in fact have this year only exported about one-fourth 
of their average July-October shipments. The follow- 
ing are the figures : — 
July 1st t.o 
Oct. 31st. 1890 1889 1888. 1887 1886 
Govt.plantns. 
Amst. lb. 64,208 231,410 226,235 238,246 168,550 
Private plants. 
Amst. lb. 2.035,890 1,600,868 1,204,732 1,308,133 595,990 
Total ... 2,100.098 1,832,298 1,430 967 1,546,379 764,540 
— Chemist and Druggist. 

PLANTING NOTES IN 1891. 
(Concluded from page 570), 
SOILS— FORESTS IN COORQ AND IN CEYLON — SOIL POISON 
— INSECT PESTS AND INSECTICIDES— MANURES— TEE 
GREAT OBJECT OF TEA CULTIVATION. 
Soils. — I will first begin by quoting from on article 
entitled “ Forest Soils in “Coorg ” from the Indian 
lorester of Deo. 1882, signed “Ooorg (Tropical AgricuU 
unst, Vol. II. page 734). The following tacts regarding 
the forest soils in Coorg will be of interest; they some- 
what upset the generally' received theories as to 
formation of vegetable soil in forests : — 
" Coorg, ns will be seen by the map, is a little 
country occupying a small portion of the Western 
Ghauts, and jutting out a short distance in the Mysore 
plateau. The western slopes of the Ghauts are covered 
with dense lofty evegroen forests info which jungle 
fires never penetrate. On the east is a belt of deci- 
duous forest, varying from four to six miles in width, 
which have been constantly burnt through by jungle 
fires for time out of mind ; and indeed we may 
infer that this has been going on for centuries. Do 
not we all know that the natives of India always 
burn the forests on principle in order to get an 
