Dec.  2.  1895.]  the  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST.  38^ 
raugenients  for  the  planting  of  250,000  OiUciiudis 
trees,  while  other  planters  rushed  into  the  culture 
in  an  access  of  the  same  “cinchona-fever”  which 
broke  out  in  Java  two  years  later.  In  1869  there 
were  about  100  acres  of  laud  under  cinchona  in 
Ceylon,  in  1873  there  were  1,500,  and  in  1883  the 
industry  reached  its  maximum,  with  an  area  under 
cultivation  of  64,000  acres,  each  acre  being  sup- 
posed to  carry  an  average  of  1,000  trees. — Chemist  and 
JJrufjf/ist. 
TEA  ADULTERATION  IN  AMERICA. 
The  New  York  Freeman's  Journal  says: — 
The  importance  of  tea  as  a healthful,  refreshing 
and  invigorating  beverage  is  so  generally  recognized 
that  it  is  estimated  the  United  States  consumes  90 
million  pounds  annually.  While  probably  60  per  cent, 
of  this  possesses  the  qvralities  mentioned,  the  greater 
portion  of  the  remainder  is  unfit  for  consumption 
and  deleterious  to  health,  acting  as  a slow  poison, 
instead  of  a healthful  beverage.  The  trade  is  so  enor- 
mous that  there  is  a great  incentive  to  unscrupulous 
dealers  to  deal  in  cheaper  sorts  in  order  to  increase 
profits.  They  either  supply  inferior  grades,  increase 
the  weight  by  an  ingenious  treatment  with  plain  blue 
mud,  or  furnish  refuse  leaves  that  have  already  been 
used  in  the  kitchens  of  the  Chinese  families,  redyed 
and  colored  with  Prussian  blue  and  soapstone.  To 
such  an  exteirt  were  these  deceits  practiced  that  in 
1883  the  United  States  Government  appointed  tea 
inspectors  for  the  protection  of  tea  iirr porters.  These 
inspectors  examine  samples  of  every  cargo  that 
reaches  this  coirntry  and  certify  to  its  quality  before 
it  is  landed.  This  precaution  caused  a decided  im- 
provement in  most  of  the  tea  consumed  here,  but 
far  more  important  results  have  been  accomplished 
by  tbe  efforts  of  the  planters  and  importers  of 
Ceylon  and  India  teas.  The  advantages  of  these 
grades  are  now  so  well  understood  that  Great  Britain 
uses  several  times  as  much  of  them  as  of  the  quali- 
ties grovt'n  in  China  and  Japan,  while  thirty  years 
ago  90  per  cent,  of  the  tea  used  there  came  from 
China. 
NEWS  FROM  FIJI. 
(From  our  Correspondent.) 
Sept.  29th  1895. 
The  new  Sigatoka  Tobacco  Company  have 
experienced  great  dilHcnlty  this  .season  ow-ing 
to  tlie  number  of  caterpillars  which  have  retarded 
their  planting,  and  spoiled  a part  of  their  crop. 
The  native  labourers  have  also  been  giving 
trouble.  The  tobacco  1 hear  is  now  being 
harvested  and  the  experts  say  that  tobacco  as 
good  as  that  of  Sumatra  can  be  grown.  It  is 
sincerely  to  lie  hoped  for  the  Colony’s  sake 
that  this  will  turn  out  to  be  true. 
A large  Banana  Company  has  been  formed. 
The  Natlroga  natives  have  agreed  to  plant  up  500 
plants  each,  about  H acre.  Over  400  have  already 
signed  contracts  to  this  effect  and  200  more 
are  expected  to  do  so.  The  Company  agree  to 
buy  all  approved  bunches  of  8 hands  and  over  at  7d. 
a bunch,  if  the  natives  carry  out  their  part 
of  the  agreement  statisfactorily.  The  Com- 
pany Nvill  swamp  the  markets  with  Fiji  fruit 
and  should  be  able  to  under-sell  the  Queens- 
land and  New  Hebridles  planters.  I think  the 
Company  will  experience  great  difficulty  in 
keeping  the  natives  up  to  the  mark.  Two 
Sugar  Mills  owing  to  the  low  prices  will  be 
closed  at  the  end  of  the  present  season. 
The  Alpha  Tea  Estate  owing  to  hurricanes  and 
high  price  of  labour,  has  been  closed. 
We  have  had  a cold  winter  season  ; up  at  the 
Sanatarium  the  thermometer  went  dowui  to  43"'. 
I shall  most  probably  be  leaving  for  Ceylon  shoxtlyt 
—A.  J.  S. 
RAINFALL  IN  LACALLA,  MATALE 
NORTH-EAST. 
I am  euclosing  memo,  of  rainfall  for  October  from 
a group  of  estates  adjoining  one  another,  yet  with 
very  different  results  in  daily  and  month’s  totals. 
I believe  they  are  all  record  figures  for  this  district 
for  the  month  of  October,  which  is  always  considered 
a S.  W.  month — with  the  exception  of  a few  days 
about  the  20th,  all  the  rest  were  regular  N.  E.  rains  ; 
Although  our  neighbours  have  beaten  us  by  wches 
we  are  not  jealous  ! 
CkOUP  of  klSTATK.S,  LAGALLA  EAST  : 
Rainfall. 
B. 
L.G. 
H.W. 
M.G. 
Month  Date 
Rainfall 
Rainfall 
Rainfall 
Rainfall 
October  1 
•02 
•07 
•08 
2 
, , 
•04 
•04 
3 
■28 
, , 
, , 
4 
1-38 
•40 
•30 
5 
1T2 
*04 
6 
•18 
•22 
-.38 
7 
1-85 
1-30 
•30 
1-25 
8 
2-70 
2-55 
1-80 
3-15 
9 
3- 10 
2-00 
2-.30 
3-20 
10 
•02 
•15 
2-50 
•06 
11 
•60 
•40 
1-54 
1-10 
12 
1-20 
1-30 
, , 
1-05 
13 
1-12 
•80 
1 1 
2-90 
2-34 
•48 
3-25 
J5 
2.30 
2-iO 
I-OO 
16 
•22 
2-15 
2*22 
1-23 
17 
3-28 
2-50 
1 15 
1-40 
18 
•16 
•.50 
1-53 
•10 
19 
•05 
•67 
•18 
20 
•10 
21 
•42 
•02 
, , 
22 
2-12 
1-50 
•28 
1-15 
23 
3-85 
2-35 
•58 
1-50 
24 
1-08 
•93 
1-75 
1-00 
25 
1-33 
•64 
2-12 
•40 
26 
•18 
•15 
•58 
•05 
27 
•15 
•15 
28 
•10 
•09 
•52 
29 
2*12 
1-16 
•14 
3 
30 
1-60 
1-54 
•25 
1-53 
31 
1-55 
•20 
This  month 
34-74 
29-42 
25-29 
26-76 
Previously 
103-14 
60-74 
60-40 
59-60 
Total  for  10 
months 
137-88 
90-16 
85-69 
86-36 
COFFEE  IN  TAIPING,  STRAITS 
SETTLEMENT’S. 
(From  Mr.  Bowen's  Monthly  Report,  .5th  Oct.  1895.) 
Two  more  applications  by  Javanese  for  coffee 
land  were  received  during  the  mouth.  While 
on  a visit  to  Ulu  Selama  during  the  latter  part 
of  the  month  I went  to  see  the  Arabian  coffee 
gardens  of  Inche  Karrim  and  Haji  Abdul  Rahman. 
This  coffee  is  looking  well  and  the  older  plants  are 
bearing  heavily  ; Malays,  however,  will  not  recognise 
the  fact  that  to  grow  coffee  successfully  the  ground 
must  be  kept  quite  free  from  weeds,  etc. 
♦ 
A New  Coffee  Comp.vny. — The  Port  Dickson  Coffee 
Company  (Limited)  has  been  registered  by  Sanderson 
and  Co.,  40,  Queen  Victoria-street,  E.C.,  with  a capital 
of  £20,000  in  £1  shares.  Object,  to  acquire  a certain 
tract  of  forest  land  of  about  2,000  acres,  situate  in 
the  State  of  Sungei  Ujong,  in  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments, ,in  accordance  with  an  agreement  expressed 
to  be  made  between  D.  M.  Lumsden  of  the  one  part, 
and  this  company  of  the  other  part,  and  to  carry 
on  the  business  of  coffee  (and  other  products)  planters 
in  all  its  branches.  The  directors  are  D.  M.  Lumsden, 
R.  J.  Boyle,  A.  J.  M.  McLaughlan,  and  R.  B.  Major 
Qualification,  £500  shares.  Remuneration  to  be  fixed 
by^the  Company. — L.  and  C.  Express, 
