THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 79^ 
May I, 1891.] 
NOTES ON PRODUCE AND EINANCE. 
Amebican Taste in Tea.— The Philadelphia corre' 
Bpondeut of the Grocer apropos of tea Choap- 
nesB, not quality, is the maiu consideratiou. It is 
inooEoprehensible — the taste of the American for the 
bitter, acrid-flavoured Japan tea. More than half the 
quantity used comes from Japan. We need not look 
for an increased consumption here until importers 
bring higher grades of tea, and that will not be done 
until the retail dealers know more atout tea than they 
now do, and until some pains are taken to educate 
consumers up to an appreciation of body and flavour. 
That Ebmahkable Tea.— As a climax to the adver- 
tisement obtained by the Mazawatte Tea Company over 
their purchase of tea at £12 10s 6d per lb., the company 
invited a number of people to taste the tea on Tuesday. 
That the infusion of these precious leaves produced a 
liquid of delicate flavour it is needless to say, but it is 
equally true that the palate of au expert is required 
in order to properly appreciate the beauties of this 
most expensive of luxuries. It is only necessary to 
say that some of those present declared that the parcel 
of tea was cheap at the price which was paid for it. 
The Mazawattee Company have refused to part with 
their purchase on any consideration. 
Ceylon Cocoa. — The chairman of the Ceylon Land 
and Produce Company, writing on the subject of 
Ceylon cocoa, says “It is curious to note that since 
the year 1887 the price of good red Trinidad cocoa has 
boon gradually declining, from 78s. and 89s. to 66a. and 
72s. per cwt., whereas that from Ceylon has been 
gradually rising from 70s. and 80s. in 1887 to 100s. and 
133s. 6d. per cwt. for good red at present. There is no 
doubt that the beautiful pale chocolate colour it pos- 
sesses, and its fine mild flavour have been the two prin- 
cipal factors in its being so much appreciated, and its 
taking theplaoe which the Caracas variety held at one 
time. With regard to the extension of this product iu 
Ceylon, you are, of course, aware that there is only a 
limited area where it can be grown successfully ; fur- 
thermore, it takes from seven to ten years to come into 
full bearing, so that the present possessors of cccoa 
estates are very fortunate in getting the current very 
high prices, and which are likely to rule for some time 
to come. My company keeps up nearly 1,000 acres.” 
Mtssrs. Frys, of Bristol, have made a speciality of 
Ceylon cocoa, manufacturing from it a fine quality of 
ohooolate and chocolate creams. Specimens were ex- 
hibited at the Health Exbibitiou. — H. & 0. Mail. 
Vegetable Pkoducts in Malaga. — In a 
report of the British Consul at Malaga, dated 
October 13, 1890, it is stated that the Cork, or Cork- 
wood, as it is generally termed in commerce, which 
is produced in the province of Malaga, and more espe- 
cially in the districts of Cortes and Oaucia, in the hill 
country of Eonda, is perhaps the finest and the best 
in the world, and is, therefore, eagerly sought and 
paid for at high prices. The Cork is stripped off the 
trees every ten years, that being the time required 
for it to attain the thickness sufficient for the purposes 
to which it is destined. Last year’s production was 
a short one, as the turn for strippixrg fell to only 
a limited number of the plantations. The Vice-Con- 
sul at Garruelia says that attention has been paid in 
that district to the growing of scent-producing plants, 
and some plantations of the lemon- scented Geranium 
have been made successfully in Vera and in the 
Cabrera hills, where an experimental establishment for 
the extraction of the essential oils has been put up. 
The climate is specially suited to the growing of such 
plants aa those just mentioned, as well as Heliotrope, 
Gardenia, Lavender, &c., and wherever irrigation can 
be obtained, very large profits can be made in this 
way. Rosemary, Thyme, and a kind of Lavender 
(Lavandula Sttechas) grow wild upon the hills in 
considerable quantities. The Eucalyptus has been 
introduced for some years, and grows with marvel- 
Ions rapidity wherever it can obtain moisture. It j,j 
sufficiently matured for uso iu timbering mines 
seven years, and if successive plantations of sevg,j 
sections, say, were made each year, they would be„in 
to yield largo returns from year to year after 
first seven.— ChronkU- 
A Cheap Complete Fertilizer. — A mixture of 
acid phosphate, coilon setil meal, and kainic will 
make a complete ferlibzer and of mcdeiale cost, if used 
in the following proportions to form a ton : 
1,200 pounds acid phosphate. 
600 pouuus Cotton seed meal. 
200 pounds kainit. 
The acid phosphate should ruu 11 per cent, available 
phosphoric acid, ihe kainit should contain 12 per cent, 
polasti, and the meal should coniaiu 8 to 9 per cent, 
ammonia. This mixture will yield 8 per cent, of 
phosphoric acid, 1.98 per cent, of potash and 1.08 per 
ceut. of ammonia, which is but a little lower then the 
average commeiCi.il fertilizer selling for ®25 and $30 
per ton. The ingredients and mixing of the formula 
should cost not more than $19 per ton, and pos- 
sibly less, if the ingredients are carefully purhased. 
You may have to mash up some lumps in ttie kainit, 
hut, both acid phosphate and meal are always in lino 
condition lor mixing. By mixing with hoes on a smooth 
floor the whole may be rapiuly and easily mixed. — H 
B. Batilo. North Carolina ’ Experimental Station 
Raleigh . — Florida Agriculturist. 
White JPeppeb fob Black.— We mentioned some 
time ago that a patent had. been applied for for 
oonveriing black pepper into while. The inventor 
is a Mr. Dunderdale, of Liverpool. The process 
requires a special apparatus, but, apart from that, 
the way in which it is done is this :— A liquor of 
soda ash is made — 10 lb. to 1 cwt. of pepper. The 
pepper is stirred about in the hot alkaline liquor 
and loft to stand until, on trying a sample, ft is 
found that the colouring matter is dissolved off, 
or neatly so. The liquor which is of au almost 
inky-black colour, is now ruu off, and can be 
utilised for dyeing purposes. To the partially-bleaohed 
pepper is added a solution consisting ol 84 lb. of 
chloride of lime to 250 gallons of water. When 
the seed has been sufficitmly bleached this solu- 
tion is tun off and Iresh water passed through to 
wash the pepper, after which the latter can be 
taken out and dried. It then closely resembles 
ordinary white pepper. '1 he coloured solution, alter 
being allowed to stand to remove all dirt, is 
decanted and treated with hydrochloric acid to 
precipitate the colouring matter, which may be sold 
lor dyeing purposes, [We take this Irom Disco- 
very, which seems to be unaware that black and 
while pepper are Irom the same plant.] —Chemist 
and Druggist. 
Government Reservations.- It will be seen by the 
report ol the proceedings of the Committee of the 
Ceylon Plantera’ AbSuoiaLion that the planters of other 
elistncts are endeavouring to obtain Irom Government 
the seme conoesslous as regards reserves along the 
streams parsing through their estates that have been 
accorded to the planters of Uuapus-e lawe. An admis- 
sion of failure in the object tor which these strips of 
laud were reserved having virtually being made m the 
one Case, it may be supposed there will be but, little 
difficulty met witn in the case of Ambagamiiwa- We 
are uuner the impression, however, tlmt the reserva- 
tions 111 the one disu-ict differs Irom thoi-e iu the 
other to a considerab.e exieuc. In Uoapusstllawa there 
was a reseivation on botli siiles of the tavalam lead 
that runs tlirough the estates fur mile-; then tliere 
was a reservat.oii al ng the cart roeci ; and re.serva- 
tious along the course of streams. These < iffereut 
rcbervatious intersected the estates ana inteisected 
each other in all eirections, and proved (xtremviy 
vexatious to evirybody ami the decision of the Go- 
veinmeuc to abow them to be purchased by the esu to 
proprietor.- has proved very satistuctorv. We are not 
aware ol any such network of result a ions iu Aiuba- 
gaiiiuwa, hut do nut fur a moment doubt that those 
a.oog the steams are iu their way as vexatious as 
thoso ill Udapuseiawa; but ibe planter.s have not 
quUe so s„icng a plea for their acquisition. That 
nicy are utterly useless lor the putporo lor which 
they are made we concede, but whether the Gov, ru- 
ment will regard it in that light is quite a drllereiit 
matter. — Local ■; Times.” 
