6o 
THE  tROPiCAL  AGRICULtURlS  T 
[July  I.  1855 
grumbled  the  youngster.  “ Foot  it  up,  young  man,” 
1 said  handing  him  my  pocket-book.  It  worked  out 
to  125,(^  lb.  per  acre ! I have  seen  a peppery  P.  D. 
in  a frightful  fume  over  a trifling  accident  which 
could  not  affect  either  crop  or  expenditure  by  the 
minutest  fraction  of  an  enth  : and  I believe  exag- 
geration unconsciously  finds  its  way  into  many  of  our 
forecasts.  Sure  it  is  that  I have  known  manv  up- 
right honourable  men  branded  as  scamps  and  liars 
only  because  they  were  led  away  by  a too  sanguine 
tern  perament. 
But  let  us  get  back  to  the  coffee.  Our  mistake 
in  Ceylon  has  been  to  bother  the  bush  too  much,  and 
not  to  worry  the  soil  enough.  In  regard  to  fruit 
bearers, 
Cultivation 
means  the  mamoty  far  more  than  the  pruning  knife  t 
and  this  is  a fact  too  often  ignored  or  overlooked.  By 
the  use  of  the  mamoty,  I mean  the  constant  work- 
ing of  the  soil : not  the  indiscriminate  shoving  in 
of  manure.  I have  known  Planters  die  prematurely 
from  too  free  use  of  stimulants.  Plants  also. 
IP est  cepas  comme  reht,  Mr.  Editor  ? 
LALANO 
is  the  curse  of  this  part  of  the  world.  To  dig  out 
“ twitch  ” or  “ cooch-grass  ” at  home  is  child's  play 
to  working  out  lalang  in  Malaya.  It  is  the  most 
ternicious  weed  that  was  spread  abroad  when  our 
rst  parents  were  hoofed  out  of  Eden.  It  means 
the  sweat  of  your  brow  ; and  no  error.* 
By  the  way,  if  it  is  true  that  the  human  form 
divine  has  been  improving  in  stature  and  comeliness 
generation  by  generation  and  century  by  century 
since  the  transformation  of  the  rib,  what  hideous 
apparitions  Adam  and  Eve  would  present  to  our 
latter-day  eves.  I can  only  imagine  them  as  Aztec 
Tom  Thumblets  without  a bath. 
It  is  rather  a come-down  when  you  have  fancied 
yourself  an  Isaiah  to  be  told  to  take  a back  seat 
with  Nahum  and  Ilabakkuk.  But  I have  to  do  so. 
I flattered  myself  that  I was  the  first  to  prophesy 
that  a few  more  years  would  see  the  greater  part  of 
Upper  Serdang  under  coffee.  Rude  shock  ! I am  told 
that  years  ago  a well-known  Dikoya  planter,  now 
opening  land  in  Province  Wellesley  and  Selangor, 
told  the  people  here  that  this  was  not  tobacco,  but 
coffee  land  : and  I have  before  me  a Deli  Courant  of 
July  1892  containing  a long  article  written  by  a 
Frenchman  prophes3'ing  the  future  of  coffee  in  this 
district.  I am  stronger  on  “language”  than  on 
languages : but  a friend  has  kindly  promised  to 
translate  the  Frenchman’s  article  for  you  ; and  you 
shall  have  it  later  on.  It  is  not  over  accurate,  but 
practical  readers  will  be  able  to  winnow  out  the 
chaff.  W.  TtiRiNo  Ma('kf,n:’i::. 
COFFEE  IN  PEKU. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  coffee  planters  in  the 
East  to  know  that  Peru,  which  has  for  many  years 
produced  coffee  that  has  been  absorbed  by  domestic 
consumption,  and  has  recently  appeared  as  an 
exporter  of  coffee,  is  now  likely  to  be  a considerable 
competitor  with  other  countries.  Coffee  planting 
began  and  coffee  is  still  cultivated  near  the  port  of 
Pacasmayo,  with  success.  But  although  the  cultiva- 
tion on  the  coast  could  be  somewhat  extended,  it 
must  always  remain  restricted,  as  there  are  only 
certain  favoured  localities  in  which  the  planter  can 
hope  for  a good  return.  In  other  districts  its  pro- 
gress is  considerable,  and  production  is  naturally 
stimulated  under  recent  quotations.— y>.  C. 
ntAFMPQQ  describing  a rcall 
ULnriNuUOi  genuine  Cure  for  Deafnesi 
Hinging  in  I'iais,  Ac.,  no  matter  liow  sexero  or  lojij 
-tanding,  will  be  sent  [lost  free.  — Artificial  Ea 
drums  ami  similar  appliances  entiridy  supersedec 
Address  THOMAS  KE.MI'E,  \’l<Toi!iA  Ciia.n 
ijKits,  19,  80UTHA.VIPT0N  Building.s,  11oluok> 
London 
I’LANTINt;  Ax\D  I’HODUUE. 
Thk  Law's  Delay,— At  last  the  judgment  of  the 
Judicial  Committee  of  the  Privy  Council  has  been 
given  in  the  well-known  tea  roller  case,  and  will  be 
found  in  another  column.  The  verdict  is  against 
Mr.  Jackson.  It  is  not  for  us  to  express  an  opinion 
on  the  merits  of  a case  which  has  occupied  tlie  at- 
tention of  so  many  legal  luminailes,  but  we  may 
express  sympathy  with  those  concerned.  The  diffi- 
culties which  beset  inventors  and  patentees  are  so 
many  and  so  perplexing  that  more  than  ordinary 
pluck  is  required  to  enable  a man  to  go  through  with 
the  work.  The  intricacies  of  the  patent  law,  the 
pitfalls  into  which  it  is  possible  for  the  most  careful 
to  stumble,  are  too  many  for  the  ordinary  mind,  and 
it  will  be  admitted  that  the  inventor  and  manufacturer 
of  machinery  is  well  entitled  to  the  profit  accruing 
to  his  labours  when  the  ti-ouble,  risks,  and  annoyance 
which  attend  him  are  considei-ed.  For  three  or  four 
years  this  case  has  dragged  on — decisions  have  been 
given  practically  neutralising  each  other,  and  now  comes 
the  final,  from  which  there  is  no  appeal,  and  the 
respondent  has  to  accept  the  situation  and  pay  the 
costs.  The  process  of  endeavouring  to  uphold  one's 
view  by  an  appeal  to  the  tedious  process  of  the  law 
courts  is  work  for  those  who  have  both  patience  and 
philosophy. 
Colombo  Commehcial  Company. — In  consequence  of 
the  judgment  in  the  tea  roller  action,  the  directors 
of  the  Colombo  Commercial  Companj’  have  decidpa 
to  pay  a bonus  of  five  per  cent  on  the  ordinary  shares. 
The  Russian  Mauket  eou  Tea. — Referring  to  the 
new  season's  China  teas,  the  (Iroeer  says:  “Although 
China  teas  do  not  exercise  the  same  sway  over  the 
London  market  that  they  did  years  ago,  owing  to 
their  position  having  been  undermined  by  the  suc- 
cessful introduction  and  growing  populai'itj'  of 
Indian  and  Ceylon  kinds,  they  nevertheless  enjoy  a 
high  reputation  among  Russian  consumers,  who  pre- 
fer them  to  anj"  other  teas  ; and,  as  is  proved  by 
statements  from  reliable  and  independent  sources, 
the  Muscovite  teamen  are  always  prepared  to  buy 
the  new  Monings  in  large  and  increasing  quantities, 
at  the  utmost  market  value,  regularly  as  the  seasons 
come  round.  Not  onlj-  is  this  the  case  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  season,  when  the  excitement  of  select- 
ing and  buying  the  teas  is  at  its  highest,  but  afterwards 
and  all  the  year  through,  so  long  as  they  have  orders 
to  execute ; and  purchases,  begun  at  Hankow  in  the 
spring,  often  go  on  and  are  completed  in  London 
during  the  following  autumn  and  winter.  These 
subsequent  dealings  in  the  article  take  the  shape 
of  exports  of  tea  from  this  port  to  Russia ; and 
as  evidence  of  the  preference  that  is  given  to 
China  growths  over  all  other  sorts  by  foreign  coun- 
tries, it  may  be  mentioned  that,  as  officially  returned, 
the  shipments  of  China  leaf  from  hence  to  the  Con- 
tinent and  elsewhere  during  the  first  four  mouths  of 
the  present  year  amounted  to  715,4291b.  out  of  a 
grand  total  of  9,3i!0,040  lb.  Ceylon  Ac.,  to  all  other 
places  not  specified.  Whilst  black-leaf  teas  are  taken 
off  our  market  by  Russian  purchasers  when  they  run 
short,  the  red-leaf  or  Foochow  descriptions  arc 
shipped  indirectly  to  Canada,  Germany,  and  other 
quarters  of  the  globe,  and  the  inquiries  from  shippers 
here,  as  a rule,  contribute  a deal  of  support  to  the 
market  for  China  tea  when  the  home  trade  are  dis- 
inclined to  operate.” 
The  Old  Stoby  Retold.— There  arc,  however, 
times  when  common  congou,  ruling  abnormally  cheap, 
and  pence  per  pound  under  the  rates  current  for  low- 
priced  Indian  and  Ceylon  teas,  attracts  the  atten- 
tion of  the  wholesale  dealers,  blenders,  and  purveyors 
of  packet  teas,  and  then  considerable  parcels  change 
hands  at  relatively  higher  prices.  The  reason  for  this 
transference  of  demand,  the  writer  in  the  (iroerr  goes 
on  to  say,  it  rendered  abundantly  clear  by  the  fact 
that  China  tea  for  tlie  purposes  of  blending  or  hold- 
ing over  keeps  its  strength  and  flavour  much  better 
and  longer  than  eitlier  Indian  or  Ceylon  kinds,  and 
and  on  that  account  some  persons  buy  enough  of 
their  favouiite  sort  to  last  them  all  the  year.  Thus 
it  is  that  new  China  teas  bought  on  the  easy  terms 
now  prevailing  arc  almost  sure  to  bo  worth  as 
much,  if  not  more,  in  six  or  eight  mouths' 
