June i, 1891.] THE TROPICAL 
truth, be eminently prosperous and happy. But 
the natives are wanting iu knowledge, energy, and capi- 
tal and the Government should thereiore come to their 
aid. In a previous article the formation of a Board of 
Agriculture was suggested. This Board should super- 
sede the Central IrriRation Board, which consists of the 
Governor and two officiad and two uncffieial members. 
A Central Board of Agriculture with the Governor as 
president and a larger number of officials and unofficials 
intimately acquainted with the country and its wants, 
will do a great deal more good than the present Irriga- 
tion Board. Such a Board will not only diiect irriga- 
tion much better than has been hitherto done, but give 
a much needed impetus to agriculture which it is the 
object of irrigation to benefit. It is a pity thatliereto- 
fore the Government has simply contented itself with 
providing the people with water without showing them 
how it may be applied to the best advantage. Recogniz- 
ing the defects of the primitive and unscientific system 
of native agriculture, the Government has established 
a School of Agriculture in Colombo ; but the effect, on 
the population at largo, of the teaching in a solitary 
school can at best be slow and feeble. The need is 
therefore felt of personal interest being taken and 
direct encouragement being given by the Government 
in the matter of native agriculture which has hilherto 
received far less attention than other matters of minor 
importance. The Board suggested, with the Governor 
at its Lead and with branch boards in all tho provincial 
capitals, comprising: tho most prominent and well infor- 
med residents and presided over by the Government 
Agents will do much to rouse the dormant energies vf 
the people, to stimulate agriculture, to intrcduco new 
products and bring about a thorough change iu the 
method, and a vast increase in the extent and yield, of 
cultivation. It is to be hoped that, in the be.st interests 
of the people. His Excellency Sir Arthur Havelock 
will before long establish a strong Board of Agriculture 
to supersede the present Irrigation Board. — “ Jaffna 
Patriot.” 
[It is pleasant to see our persistent advocacy for 
the past ten years of the need of an Agricultural 
Board, bearing fruit. — E d. 7. A.] 
THE TARING OP CEYLON TEAS IN 
LONDON. 
We call the particular attention of tho trade 
and tho, so concerned in the metropolis, to the 
complaints recorded in our present issue, in re- 
ference to the Taring of Oeylon teas in the 
different London Docks. The wide discrepancies 
(and consequent serious loss) between the weights 
locally recorded and those reported from home 
in Account Sales, are attractiug special attention, 
and our correspondents only afford specimens of 
a number of complaints that are very prevalent 
in Oeylon just now. It is very likely that the 
Planters’ Association will be moved to take action 
and endeavour to get a more equitable system 
established. For, however long-continued and con- 
servative may be a trade practice, it it is found to 
work unfairly and injuriously to planting interests, 
it generally disappears or gets modified under 
the persistent pogging-away of Ceylon planters. 
Those concerned in “taring” Ceylon teas in 
tho London Docks had better look out, aud unless 
there is more care shown, may begin to set their 
house in order. 
o 
Zoological Society, March 17th. — Mr. W. F. 
Kirby gave an account of a small collection of 
Dragon-flies made by Mr. E. E. Green in Ceylon. 
The series contained examples of sixteen species, 
of which three appeared to be new to science. — • 
Nature. 
Zoological Gabdens, London, — The addition to 
the Zoological Society’s Gardens during the past 
week include a Purple-faced Monkey (SeinnojUtliecus 
/eucoprymnus) from Ceylon, presented by Mrs. Sut- 
ton Nature, April 1th. • 
AGRICULTURIST. 84^ 
TEA AND COFFEE SUBSTITUTES, 
[Continued from paye 780 ) 
VERBENACEi;. 
,58. Liptria citriodora, Kunth. — An unclershrub of 
South America, but cultivated in Bnrope. The 
dried leaves have been used as a substitute for tea 
as well as for flavouring creams and various other 
confections. 
.59. Lippia adoensis, Hochstetter. — An infusion 
of the whole plant is used on the Gambia, and it 
is said to possess febrifugal properties. It is known 
as Bonubor or Gambia tea. A sample obtained 
from the Colonial aud Indian Exhibition is contained 
in the Kew Museum. 
fiO. Lippia ruhiyinosa, Gill. — Under the name of 
Tornillo, this plant is common throughout Patagonia, 
where the Indians use the leaves to make an in- 
fusion like tea, which they regard as a stomachic, 
— they are also used for flavouring soups, stews, &c. 
61. Lantana piscudo-thea. — Tliis and several other 
species of Lantana are said to be used in Brazil as 
tea plants. 
iis 62. Stachi/tarphota' jamaicensis, Valil, — A tall grow- 
ing biennial, native of the West Indies and many 
parts of Tropical America, where the leaves are 
said to be largely used, not only for adulterating 
Chinese tea, but also for preparing a similar beverage. 
It is further stated that they were at one time 
imported into Austria under the name of Brazilian 
tea. They are said to have stimulant and febri- 
fugal properties. 
Labi AT/E. 
G2a. Jlonardadidyma, L. — A native of the United 
States, where the dried leaves are known as Oswego 
tea, and are used in infusion which emits a very 
grateful and refreshing odour, and is said to have 
similar properties to Camomile. There is a speci- 
men in the Kew collection. 
63. Sideritis theer.ans, Boissier and Heldreich, /S'. 
pdoponesiaca, Boiss. and Heldr., and /S'. Ita-seri, Boiss. 
and Heldr. — Under these names three species of 
Sideritis have been described as indigenous to Greece, 
the leaves and flower-stalks of which are gathered 
and sold by the harbalists as Greek tea. The in- 
fusion is said to be agreeably aromatic, with a 
resemblance to true tea. A specimen of S. theezans 
is contained in the Kew Museum. 
64. Salvia triloba, L. — Under the name of Athens 
tea, or Phaskomylia tea, the Greek herbalists gather 
this plant, dry it, and tie it in bundles, and sell it 
in the markets. Dr. Landerer say/s an infusion, or 
tea, made from it is drunk in all cases of chills, 
besides which, it is sold in the coffee-houses and 
confectionery shops. The herb is found in all tho 
poorer people’s houses, and on board ships, and 
Phaskomylia tea is generally drunk on cold days. 
Tlie plant is also kept on hand iu all coffee-houses, 
even as far as Odessa, and its infusion is a favourite 
beverage. In Odessa, a kind of punch with rum is 
made of it. A specimen is in the Kew collection. — J. 
R. .Jackson. — Gardeners Chronicle. 
Tea in the Wynaad. — The Englishman writes: — 
There appears to be some prospects of a general in- 
crease of tea cultivation in the Wjnaad. 'The fact 
that this District has been left so far behind in the 
race with Northern India aud Ceylon is attributed 
by a local apologist to the difficulty of establishing 
factories fertile treatment of the haf. It i.s proposed 
now to start a number of factories es joint stock 
cornpauies and work them on the Oeylon system, by 
which a fixed charge of say two annas per pound is 
allowed for wear and tear of machinery and profit to 
tho mamifaoturer, while a further charge is made 
for absolute cost of manufacture, packing, transport, 
eto., including liisuraLce and all home charges. The 
average price of tea per pound ruling in tho London 
market is calculated at the current rate of exhango, 
and the Planter obtains this sum, less the fixed charges 
of tho factory. By the adoption of this -system it is 
thought that the cultivation of tea may become pro- 
fitable on many small estates where tho treatment of 
tho leaf by hand is now out of the question as a com- 
' moroialuudertaking.-J/. ,V(uV. ^ 
