172 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sept,  r,  i8g6. 
“THE  INDIGENOUS  DRUGS  OF  INDIA.” 
We  have  received  from  Messrs.  Tliacker,  Spink  & 
Co.^  of  Calcutta  a copy  of  the  second  edition, 
revised  and  entirely  re-written,  of  “ Tlie  Indi- 
geiious  Drugs  of  India,”  by  Kanny  Lall  Dey, 
Rai  Bahadur,  c.r.E.,  f.c.S.,  Tlie  first  edition 
of  this  work  was  published  in  18(i7  ; and  as  the 
author  still  survives,  and  continues  to  actively 
engage  in  scientific  pursuits,  with  the  assistance  of 
Mr.  Wni.  Mair,  A.P.S.,  he  has  here  brought 
together  the  results  of  nearly  thirty  years’  ad- 
ditional investigations  and  discoveries,  and  has  em- 
bodied them  ill  tliis  new  edition  of  a book  which 
is  of  great  practical  value  for  all  engaged  in 
planting  as  well  as  for  medical  men.  Among 
other  plants  succinctly  dealt  with  we  may  men- 
tion tea,  coftee,  cinchona,  coconut,  palmyra,  areca, 
cinnamon,  coca,  "inger,  cardamom,  plantain, 
pepper,  »!tc.  As  a specimen  of  the  style  of  the 
work  we  quote  the  following  on  tea:  — 
CAMELLIA  THEIFEKA. 
THE  TEA  PLANT. 
Vern. — huh — Chha,  Chai. 
A native  of  China  (natural  order  Temstncmiacece). 
The  tea  plant,  as  grown  in  the  hill  districts  of  India, 
constitutes  a very  large  proportion  of  the  tea  sup- 
ply of  the  world.  It  is  of  little  interest  medicinally 
except  that  the  dried  Leaves  (as  well  as  the  seeds  of 
Cojf’ea  arahica,  q.  v.)  are  the  source  of  the  crystalline 
principle — Caffeine,  also  called  Theine  and  (fmranine, 
obtained  by  sublimation  of  an  extract  made  by 
aqueous  infusion  and  evaporation,  astringent  and 
colouring  matters  having  been  previously  removed. 
It  might  be  very  profitably  manufactured  in  India 
from  tea  dust.  The  average  yield  is  3 to  4 per  cent. 
An  infusion  of  tea  Seeds  was  lately  suggested  by 
Hooper  as  a remedy  for  insect  blights. 
The  sseds  contain  about  30  per  cent,  of  fixed  Oil, 
somewhat  resembling  olive  oil. 
Medicinal  uses. — Tea  is  seldom  used  medicinally 
per  se,  except  as  a stimulant  in  strong  infusion  or  as 
an  astringent  lotion  on  account  of  the  tannin  it  con- 
tains. Caffeine  and  Caffeine  Citrate  are  extensively 
used  in  modern  practice  and  are  of  great  value  in 
migraine,  hemicrauia,  neuralgia  and  similar  nervous 
affections.  Like  a strong  infusion  of  tea  caffeine  is 
stimulant,  causing  wakefulness.  It  has  also  diuretic 
properties.  Physiologically  the  infusion  of  tea  or 
coffee  arrests  the  molecular  change  thereby  instituting 
nervous  force. 
The  book  contains  a portrait  of  the  author,  a 
memoir  of  whom  is  given  by  Mr.  Mair.  J)r. 
George  Watt  contributes  a iireface. 
THE  CLUNES  ESTATES  CO.  OF 
CEYLON,  LIMITED. 
REPORT  OF  THE  DIRECTORS. 
The  directors  now  have  pleasure  in  submitting  to 
the  shareholders  a duly  audited  statement  of  the 
accounts  of  the  Company  for  the  year  ending  30th 
June,  1896. 
The  result  of  the  year’s  work,  after  making  ample 
provision  for  depreciation  of  buildings  and  machi- 
nery, shews  a nett  profit  amounting  to  R.50,811'69. 
An  interim  dividend  of  7 per  cent  having  been 
paid  on  25th  February  last,  absorbing  1123,100.00, 
the  balance  now  available  for  distribution  is  R27,711'69' 
The  directors  recommend  the  payment  of  a final 
dividend  of  8 per  cent  making  15  per  cent  for  the 
year,  and  that  the  balance  of  Rl,311'69  be  carried 
forward. 
The  crop  secured  amounted  to  345,670  lb.  of  tea, 
being  53,427  lb.  in  excess  of  last  year.  The  nett 
average  sale  price  was  40' 13  cents  per  lb.,  whilst  the 
cost  laid  down  in  Colombo  was  23'37  cents  per  lb. 
The  difference  in  average  price  realized  this  year, 
as  compared  with  last,  about  six  cents  per  lb.,  is 
mainly  attributable  to  a lower  level  of  sterling 
values  and  a higher  range  of  exchange. 
The  Directors  have  considered  it  advisable  to 
make  a more  liberal  allowance  for  Depreciation 
this  year — it  will  be  noted  that  the  sum  set  aside 
under  this  head  is  R4,525  73,  against  Rl, 38094 
last  year. 
During  the  year  under  review  Mr.  Dove,  the 
Superintendent,  was  forced  to  leave  the  Island  on 
account  of  his  health,  and  the  Directors,  in  con- 
sideration of  past  services,  paid  his  passage  to 
Europe  and  also  allowed  him  six  months’  half  pay, 
amounting  in  all  to  R2.190.  The  Estates  are  now 
in  charge  of  Mr.  R.  O.  Steward  on  Clunes  and  Mr.  R. 
I.  Mackenzie  on  Erracht  division.  The  Directors 
are  pleased  to  be  able  to  report  that  all  the  work 
is  being  carried  out  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  Mr. 
S.  L.  Harries,  the  Visting  Agent. 
The  Estimated  crop  tor  the  1896-97  season  is 
375,000  1b.  tea  on  an  expenditure  of  R78  210'00.  The 
Capital  0 itlay  not  included  in  the  above  is  estimated 
at  R9’960  for  additions  to  Buildings  and  Machi- 
nery and  for  the  planting  next  season  of  another  50 
acres  of  Erracht  Estate. 
Mr.  Donald  Cameron  having  left  the  Island,  on 
the  invitation  of  the  remaining  Directors  Mr.  S. 
L.  Harries  consented  to  fill  the  vacancy.  In  terms 
of  the  Articles  of  Association,  Mr.  Wm. 
Forsythe  now  retires  from  the  Board,  but  is  eligible 
for  re-election. 
The  appointment  of  an  Auditor  for  the  current 
year  will  rest  with  the  meeting. 
♦ 
CAMPHOR  LEAF  OIL. 
The  demand  for  a catch  crop  to  be  raised  by  Tea, 
Coffee  and  Indigo  Planters  is  of  so  frequent  recur- 
rence that  it  may  be  of  interest  to  republish  a paper 
recently  written  by  Mr.  David  Hooper  of  Madras  on 
the  subject  of  the  Camphor  Laurel  Tree.  The  chief 
interest  in  Mr.  Hooper’s  chemical  investigations 
doubtless  centres  on  the  fact  that  he  has  shown  that 
a fairly  large  supply  of  camphor  may  be  obtained 
from  an  oil  distilled  from  the  leaves.  Hitherto  it 
has  been  supposed  that  in  order  that  India  might 
participate  in  the  world’s  supply  of  Camphor,  it  was 
necessary  to  plant  extensive  avenues  or  forests  and 
to  leave  the  ti'ees  for  50  or  100  years  before  look- 
ing for  any  return.  Obviously  an  entarprise  on  a 
large  scale  of  that  natui-e  could  alone  be  seriously 
entertained  by  Government,  and  little  progress  has 
accordingly  been  made,  though  it  has  been  demon- 
strated that  the  plant  can  grow  almost  anywhere 
in  India.  The  tiee  is  an  exceedingly  elegant  one,  and 
where  avenues  are  required  might  with  advantage  be 
planted  more  frequently  than  has  been  the 
case  hitherto.  The  magnitude  of  the  Indian 
import  traffic  in  camphor  should,  however,  in 
itself  be  sufficient  inducement  to  justify  the  occupa- 
tion of  useless  land  by  such  trees  even  were  half 
a century  necessary  before  they  could  be  expected 
to  give  any  return.  But  if  Mr.  Hooper’s  discoveries 
be  regarded  as  manifesting  a possible  new  direction, 
returns  might  be  looked  for  within  so  short  a period 
as  to  give  the  Camphor  Laurel  Tree  a position  in 
the  planting  world  it  has  not  hitherto  enjoyed. 
Mr  Hooper,  it  will  be  seen,  has  been  able  to  obtain 
Camphor  in  fairly  large  abundance  from  the  oil  dis- 
tilled from  the  leaves. 
It  may  be  as  well  to  here  briefly  indicate  the  bo- 
tanical sources  of  the  chief  forms  of  Camphor  met 
with  in  commerce  in  order  to  point  out  more  clearly 
the  particular  plant  to  which  reference  is  made  in 
Mr.  Hooper’s  paper.  There  are  at  least  three  plants 
known  to  afford  camphor : — 
1st. — Chinese  (Formosa)  and  Jaran  Camphor. — 
This  is  obtained  from  Cinnamomiim  Camphora — the 
Camphor  Laurel  Tree. 
It  is  the  Common  Camphor  of  modern  commerce 
though  not  the.  article  of  historic  fame.  The  tree 
is  a very  slow  grower  and  for  perhaps  half  a century 
would  not  very  possibly  attain  greater  dimensions 
than  that  of  an  elegant  large  bush. 
The  Japan  Camphor  is  generally  preferred  to  the 
Chinese  as  it  is,  as  a rule,  purer.  It  is  prepared  by 
boiling  chips  of  the  wood  similar  to  the  method 
pursued  in  India  in  the  manufacture  of  Cutch.  It 
comes  into  India  in  its  crude  state  and  a fairly 
large  industry  exists  in  refining  it,  chiefly  at  Bombay, 
