THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[June i, 1891 . 
842 

to 1/7^ but this did not last more than a day 
or two and tho rate came down with a run to 
1/G| and down into the third week of November 
with slight checks now and then to 1/5|. As 
in the case of bar silver an improvement set in 
at this point and when November closed the rate 
had risen to 1/6|. It dropped away again in the 
first week of December but in the middle of tho 
month jumped up to 1/6J. In the third week it 
again fell but was rising from 1/6J when the 
year closed. 
CACKLING OF HENS. 
I have recently published the following letter in t e 
Field-, but not having so far received any answer o 
the question which it presents, I should like to repub- 
lish it in your columns, in order to ascertain whether 
any ornithologists to whom I have not already applied 
may have any information to give upon the subject. 
GEOUGE J, KOMiNES. 
Christ Church, Oxford, March 28th. 
Caclding of the liens of Jungle Fowl. 
“ Can any of your readers inform me whether or not 
the hens of the wild jungle fowl (Gallus hanlciva) 
cackle after laying their eega, in the manner of th ir 
domesticated descendan's P I cannot find any lit r- 
ature uuon the subject ; but if wild hens do cackle in 
the jungle, surely somebody mu.st have beard them. 
Mr. A. P. Bartlett inform.s me that, when confined in 
shrubberies of the Zoological Gardens, they do not 
cackle ; and, therefore, if nobody has ever heard them 
do so in a state of nature, we may fairly infer that the 
instinct is a product of domestifioation. If this should 
turn out to be the case, it would be a somewhat re- 
markable fact, and would, moreover, lead to the further 
question whether there are anv parts of the world 
where domesticated poultry do not cackle.” — Nature. 
^ 
NOTES ON PEODUCE AND FINANCE. 
{H. and C. Mail, April 10th.) 
The PnoDnoE Maekets.— T he accumulation of pro- 
duce during the recess has resulted in extensive public 
sales, no le.'S than eighty-five being held on the 7th 
iust. The markets have, on the whole, exhibited a 
quiet tone, and prices in several important instances 
show a slight decline. 
Tannin in Tea. — The best analytical methods of 
examining the quality of tea have been devised in Ens— 
eia. A well-known authority upon this subject 
nt Si. Petersburg is P- Maltseheffsky, who ha.s 
from time to time contributed many papers deal- 
ing with the chemistry of tea to the Russian Pharma- 
ceutical Journal. A new method of determining tan- 
nin, recently proposed by him, i.s based upon the ac- 
tion of normal copper acetate. Analyses of about four- 
teen samples of the teas most commonly met with on 
the Eussiaii markets were made by Maltseheffsky, and 
gave the following interesting figures .—-Tannin varied 
from C IO to 1108 per cent. ; wa*-er, 5 59 to 12'48 ; ash, 
3T1 to 9-25 ; aqueous extract, 17'3 to 39'4 ; caffeine. 
Hit) to 2-88. 
European Coefee. — According to the Moniteur In- 
dastricl, a Bpocics of coffee which flourishes well in 
sandy soils is now being cultivated in the neighbour- 
hood of the town of AschoUshansen, in Bivaria, and 
the cultivation appears to ho simple and attended with 
success. Tho seeds ate sown m the spring; in tho 
month of Ju'y tho plant commence to bloom, the 
flewers, being of a skv-ldue colour ; tho fruit ripens 
a month later, and is' pale yellow, grea'ly resembling 
in appoarsnoo the coif' o which comes from Bourbon 
Island. The aroma is C imparahle to that of the finest 
foroign-growu coffee. The taste is very pleasant, but 
filiglilly more bitter ihan coffee usudly is. No ejmcial 
earc is needed in cultivating tli's variety of cofleo pi mt, 
and many families in tho district named HOW grow 
ull their otvn coffee. 
THE GEAMA-EAKSHAKA SAMAGAMA'S 
AGEI-HOETICULTUEAL ANI) INDUS- 
TEIAL EXHIBITION. 
The following are the principal prize-lakers at this 
Village Exhibition: — 
Pafdy, H. F. L. Dharmaratne; Kurakan, [^8 Perera 
Weerasinghe ; Dhall, L S. Cabara! ; Indian corn, L S. 
Cabaral; Cattle, L. F. Caharal ; Milch Cow, D. S. 
Jayatilleke; Buffaloes, A. L. Perera ; She Buffaloe.s, 
P. S. Fernando; Bull, D. W. Appubamy; Milch Cow, 
Sinnappu; Fruits — Oranges, D. P. C. G. Appubamy; 
Pineapple, L. Alwis; Lime, H. Martelis Perera; 
Plantains — Kolikuttu, Sarah Alwis; Sour do, D. E. K 
Appubamy ; Bed do, D. J. Weerakoon; Ash do, M. S.' 
Dias ; Vegetables— Greeu Chilly, R. A . Perera ; Brin- 
jals, W. S. Perera; Beans, Don Alpanis ; Long Beans, 
D. L Fernando; Suake Gourd, W. S. t'erera; Kari- 
wila, D. 0, Amerasinghe; Water Pumpkins, J. P. 
Fernando; Bandakba, W. T. Dias; Cucumbers, M. H. 
Perera ; Yams — Dehiala, H. S. Fernando ; Koudol, P. 8. 
Fernando; Arrowroot, D. K. Appubamy; Sugarcane 
Black, K. A. Perera ; Pepper, Bastian Fernando ; 
Ginger, G. K. Appubamy; Betel, R. A. Perera; Art- 
work (Wood), T. J. Fernando; Iron, K. J. Naide; 
Gold and Silver, K. Marsal ; Copper and Brass, B. R. 
Dias; Brick and Tiles, M. Sinno; Pottery, J. J. Fer- 
nando; Mats &c., P. Justina Perera; Coir, K. Ai.go 
Haul} ; Need'e Work, D. S Amerasinghe; Caiigrapby, 
T. J. seph Fernando; Special Prizes — Mode: Steam 
Engine, D. James Wimalasurendre ; Ebony Work, Babun 
Hamj ; Plumbago, D. George Samaratimge ; Elk, 
S. D. S. Guuawardene; Flowers, J. P. Abraham; Paper 
board writing desk, G. Dia.s; Fans, Rani'agf Don Philip; 
Mangoes, D. Weerakoii; M. M. Pulle ; Pumpkin, J. 
Simon; Oocoa, D. C. Amerasinghe; Cotton, Bandara ; 
Cinnamon, R. Issae Fernando. Silver medal for ipecial 
service during 1890, Mr. M. Hendr'ck Perera. 
The prizes were distribi ted by Mr. George Wall who 
was presented with an address. The Hons. J.J. Grinliu- 
ton and A. de A. Seneviraliie were also present. In 
acknowledging an address Mr. Wall said he regarded 
the Society as a most useful and effective agency for 
advancing the moral and material condition of tho 
people. On behalf of the Society he offered their 
thanks to the Government for its encouragement by 
giving pass-books with small deposits in the Savings 
Bank to exhibitors. 
n^ i 
A GREAT WANT OF THE DAY ; A 
BOARD OE AGRICULTURE FOR CEYLON. 
The general education now imparted is cried down 
and technical education i.s cried up as the means of 
enabling the people at large to find work and wealth, 
independent as well as in ex less, of what the Govern- 
ment provides through its public service. The advocates 
of technical education are not explicit in their state- 
ments as the particular branches of practical 
knowledge may with advanlage be taken up by 
our youth. It would be id'e to expect such arts as 
painting, sculpture and architecture and such manu- 
factures as th making of matches and paper to pay 
in Oeylon. Dr.Daly suggests such industries as pottery, 
sugar cane cultivation, boat-building, bee-farming, 
improved fiahiug and fish-curing and poultry-rearing. 
In the first four of these industries we have no faith ; 
the last three are capable of being greatly improved, 
and therefore deserve encouragement; but are they 
likely to meet the requirements and satisfy the aspira- 
tions of the thousands whom Dr. Daly describes as 
being born every year in the country without having 
before them the simplest aims of their lives ? 
We think that the prosperity of this island 
should rest, as its sure and permanent basis, on 
agriculture, which, under proper direction, yield- 
ing adequate resnltF, will attract and occupy all 
who complain of want of employment. If the sons 
of the soil could do for its plains and lowlands 
what European sojourners are doing so success- 
fully for its hills and uplands, Ceylon would, of a 
