3»6 
THE  TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Nov.  2,  1896. 
a second  substance,  it  was  evaporated  to  dryness, 
a dark-coloured  sticky  residue  being  thus  obtained. 
^yhen  boiled  with  dilute  alkalis,  and  aqueous  solu- 
tion of  this  product  darkened  somewhat  in  colour, 
but  did  not  yield  the  characteristic  blue  tint  formed 
when  cyanomaclurin  is  thus  treated.  In  a similar 
manner  to  the  latter,  however,  it  was  decomposed 
by  boiling  dilute  acids  with  formation  of  a red-brown 
precipitate,  and  evidently  consisted  of  a substance 
not  hitherto  known  to  exist  in  old  fustic.  It  gives 
no  precipitate  with  lead  acetate  solution,  and  is 
therefore  distinct  from  the  tannic  acid  which  accord- 
ing to  Lowe  {Freseuiiis  Zeitschrift  fii,-  Anahjtische 
Chemie,  14,  127),  is  present  in  this  dye-stuff  in  con- 
junction with  morin  and  maclurin.  This  substance 
will  be  submitted  to  examination. 
DYEIXG  PEOPEUTIES. 
As  was  to  be  expected  from  the  results  of  its  che- 
mical examination,  jack-wood  dyes  shades  very 
similar  to  those  of  old  fustic,  that  is,  olive-yellow  with 
chromium,  dull  yellow  with  aluminium,  and  a brighter 
yellow  with  tin  mordant.  The  results  obtained, 
however,  are  somewhat  disappointing  when  it  is 
considered  that  its  sole  colouring  matter  is  morin,  for 
this  by  itself  dyes  fine  bright  shades,  whereas  those 
yielded  by  the  wood  are  duller  in  comparison.  This 
must  be  accounted  for  as  due  to  the  brown  decom- 
osition  products  of  cyanomaclurin  which  are  pro- 
ably  formed  to  a slight  extent  during  the  dye- 
ing operation,  and  also  exist  in  the  free  state  in  the 
dye  stuff  itself. 
Experiments  showed  that  the  sample  of  jack-wood 
here  examined  contained  only  about  one-third  of  the 
colouring  matter  of  old  fustic.  It  is,  however,  pro- 
bable that  this  represents  a poor  quality,  for  that 
brought  originally  from  Ceylon  by  Mr.  Ingleby  was 
found  equal  to  old  fustic  in  dyeing  power. 
« 
- TEA  rHOSl‘EC:TS. 
To  THE  EmxoK,  “Indian  Planteus’  Gazette.’’ 
Sir, — It  must  be  reassuring  to  all  those  interested 
in  Indian  tea  to  have  road  in  your  issue  of  5th 
instant,  the  bright  prospects  held  out  for  this  pro- 
duct. In  these  iiessimistic  times  not  a few  of  our 
older  planters  look  askance  and  gravely  shake  their 
heads  at  the  pending  ruin  shortly  to  overtake  the 
industry.  And  now  that  so  many  mammoth  gardens 
are  being  opened  out,  the  anticipated  catastrophe 
cannot  be  delayed  much  longer.  “ What,”  they  say, 
“ can  be  done  with  all  this  tea  ? Where  can  people 
be  found  to  drink  it  ? And  where  can  markets  be 
secured  to  relieve  us  of  these  extra  million  pounds  ?” 
However,  Mr.  Editor,  as  these  ill-omened  prophe- 
sies have  filled  the  air  for  well  nigh  twenty  years, 
they  can,  like  the  witches  in  Macbeth,  only  affect 
those  of  gloomy  and  dark  imagination,  those  whose 
judgment  is  swayed  by  a despondent  phantasy,  and 
now  that  “Capital’s”  letter  has  appeared  in  your 
columns,  these  wiseacres  must  feel  not  a little  dis- 
concerted at  this  gleam  of  hope  and  sunshine  thrown 
out  to  encourage  a vast  and  growing  industry. 
Had  we  no  faith  in  British  energy  and  no  con- 
fidence in  the  rising  importance  of  India  as  a field 
for  commercial  enterprise,  we  could  not  at  this 
moment  proudly  look  back  at  the  marvellous  deve- 
lopment which  has  taken  place  in  this  industry 
during  the  last  decade.  From  occupying  a place  of 
mere  secondary  importance,  Indian  tea  has  advanced 
with  leaps  and  bounds  and  is  now  recognised  as 
one  of  the  prime  factors  in  the  export  trade  of  the 
Empire  and,  if  according  to  “Capital,”  within  the 
next  four  years  by  “ using  the  most  energetic  and 
prompt  measures,”  it  is  possible  to  create  a demand 
for  Indian  and  Ceylon  teas  to  the  extent  of  over 
one  thousand  million  pounds,  then  it  is  sale. to  pre- 
dict that  tea  is  yet  a long  w'ay  off  from  even  the 
zenith  of  its  greatness. 
VVe  all  note  with  interest  the  active  measures  now 
being  taken  in  opening  out  the  American  market 
and  the  satisfactory  results  obtained  by  Mr.  Blechyn- 
den’a  exertions  in  that  quarter.  But  at  the  same 
time,  the  Association  ought  to  bear  in  mind  that 
America  is  not  the  only  market  in  the  world  that 
has  to  be  opened  out  for  our  teas.  Attention  ought 
to  be  drawn  to  Russia,  Persia,  Turkey  and  Central 
Asia  with  all  their  teeming  millions  of  people.  Why 
should  not  agencies  and  depots  be  established  in 
these  countries  ? Why  should  these  people  be  denied 
the  luxury  of  kuowing  what  it  is  to  driuk  a good 
cup  of  Indian  tea  ? Let  them  but  acquire  the  taste 
for  our  soothing  beverage  and  they  will  find  that  life 
is  well  worth  living.  Besides,  the  continued  use  of 
our  teas,  will  soon  convince  them  that  the  Indian 
leaf  has  got  properties  peculiar  to  itself  and  cannot 
be  surpassed  or  even  equalled  by  that  of  any  other 
country. 
Prompt  action  ought  at  once  to  be  taken  to  se- 
cure these  outlets  for  our  trade  and  every  garden 
ought  to  contribute  its  share  in  helping  to  forward 
the  works.  Were  the  necessary  funds  forthcoming 
there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  securing  first  class 
men  with  a business  capacity  and  knowledge  suitable 
for  advancing  the  interests  of  Indian  teas  in  those 
centres  now  referred  to.  A Planter. 
— Indian  Planters'  Gazette,  Sept.  19. 
-• 
THE  NEW  LONDON  TEA  MARKET 
(LIMITED.) 
A wiiuling-u()  order  having  been  made  against 
this  company  on  July  29th  last,  the  creditors  and 
contributories  met  yesterday  before  Mr.  A.  S. 
Cully,  Assistant  Official  Receiver,  at  the  Board 
of  Trade  offices,  Carey-street,  Linc.oln’s-inn,  for 
the  purpose  of  appointing  a liquidator.  The  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  company  were  of 
a somewhat  peculiar  nature. 
Having  disposed  of  the  proofs,  the  Chairman 
said  that  approximate  accounts  had  been  furnished 
showing  liabilities  .€ti,429,  of  which  .€3,82o  were 
unsecured,  with  a.s.sets  TIO.  The  deficiency  as 
regards  contributories  was  returned  at  .115,161. 
The  company  was  incoi'iiorated  on  October  14, 
1892,  with  a nominal  capital  of  ±’5,UU0,  divided 
into  2,250  proprietors’  shares  of  £2  each,  and  500 
deferred  shares  of  £1  each.  It  was  formed  for 
the  purjiose  of  buying  and  selling  tea  on  com- 
mission. The  jiromoter  of  the  company  -was  Mr. 
W.  B.  Neale,  who  entered  into  an  agreement 
with  the  majority  of  the  signatories  whereby  he 
was  appointed  managing  agent  of  the  company 
for  ten  years  at  a salary  of  £300  per  annum. 
Under  the  articles  of  association  Mr.  Neale  was 
entitled  to  exercise  alone  all  the  powers  conferred 
on  the  directors.  The  agreement  also  provided 
that  the  consideration  of  the  services  rendered  by 
him  in  connexion  with  the  formation  of  the 
company,  the  latter  were  to  pay  him  £875,  to 
be  satisfied  by  the  issue  of  250  iuo])rietors’  shares 
fully-paid  up,  and  500  deferred  shares  credited 
with  15s  paid.  The  company  started  operations 
with  a paid-up  cajiital  of  .£60,  the  working 
capital  being  provided  by  an  advance  of  cash  on 
deposit  to  the  extent  of  £300.  Mr.  Neale  acted 
as  managing  agent  down  to  March  31,  1894,  ex- 
ercising sole  control  over  the  affairs  of  the 
company.  On  April  2 following  his  office  was 
terminated  by  the  appointment  of  a board  of  dir- 
ectors. The  accounts  apjicared  to  have  been  very 
imperfectly  kejit  while  Mr.  Neale  acted  as 
managing  agent,  and  when  the  board  of  directors 
was  ajipointed  the  company’s  jiosition  was  not 
disclosed.  A statement  jnepared  in  October, 
1894,  showed  that  a deficiency  of  .£998  existed 
in  March  jireviously.  'I'lie  Comiiany’s  operations 
from  March,  1894,  to  December  31  following 
ai>i)carcd  from  accounts  jircsentcd  to  the  share- 
holders on  Aiiril  30,  1895,  to  have  resulted  in  a 
loss  of  £7(5.  The  imrchases  of  tea  for  that  perioi,^ 
