Dec.  I,  1896.1 
THE  TROPICAL 
AGRICUi;rQRIST. 
389 
the  heart,  ami  many  chronic  nervous  ailments 
are  produced  bj''  excessive  tea-drinking.  AVhen 
tea  is  badly  pre])aied,  so  that  it  contains  an 
excess  of  tannic  acid,  the  injurious  effects  are 
greatly  increased— digestion  is  seriously  delayed, 
the  gastric  juice  partially  decomposed,  and  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  stomach  so  altered  as 
to  seriously  interfere  with  the  absorption  of  fooil. 
Tea  is  not  often  adulterated  nowadays,  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  Customs  ollicials  being  largely  res- 
ponsible for  this  satisfactory  state  of  affairs. 
Someiimes  exhausted  leaves  are  faced  and  adde<l 
to  genuine  tea,  but  the  practice  is  very  uncommon 
indeed.  Perhaps  the  most  serious  evil  connected 
with  tea-drinking  is  the  increasing  demand  for 
the  strongly  ilavoured  teas  which  are  grown  on 
virgin  soils  without  the  most  careful  cultivation. 
These  varieties  of  teas  are  usually  very  rich  in 
organic  acids,  which  may  be  regarded  as 
the  objectionable  constituents  of  the  popular 
beverage  ; but  a very  simple  test  for  tannic 
acid  will  show  the  intelligent  individual  which 
of  two  samples  of  tea  contains  the  less 
place  an  equal  weight  of  the  teas  to  be  tested  into 
two  earthenware  teapots,  and  pour  into  each  an 
equal  volume  of  boiling  water  ; allow  to  stand  for 
three  minutes,  and  then  pour  out  into  two  tall 
glass  jars  an  equal  small  quantity  of  each  liquor. 
To  each  jar  add  an  equal  velume  of  a solution  of 
ferric  chloride  (chloride  of  iron),  and  dilute  wit  li 
equal  quantities  of  water.  The  solution  which 
gives  the  strongest  greenish  hue  contains  the 
largest  quantity  of  tannic  acid.  [Dr.  (loodfellow 
here  demonstrated  tliis  simple  test.]  Another 
evil  connected  with  tea-drinking  is  the  grow- 
ing custom  to  make  a cup  of  tea  and  a little  light 
cereal  fcod,  like  biscuits,  &c.,  lake  the  place  of  a 
good  meal.  Provided  that  plenty  of  food  be  taken 
there  can  be  no  objection  to  a ciip  of  projierly 
prepaied  lea,  but  it  should  not  be  taken  before  the 
meal,  as  the  edge  is  thus  taken  off  the  appetite. 
In  conclusion,  the  cheering  qualities  of  good  tea 
deserve<!ly  jdace  it  above  all  temperance  beverrges 
and  stiimil  Lilts  ; but  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fla- 
grant cup  practise  moderation,  see  that  the  te.a 
itself  is  of  good  quality,  and  exercise  a little  com- 
mon .sense  in  its  preparation.” — H.  and  G.  Mail, 
Oct.  16. 
WYNAAD  PLANTERS’  ASSOCIATION. 
At  a recent  meeting  there  were  present : — Messrs. 
Abbott,  DeFcnblanque,  Mackinlay,  J.  S.  Malcolm, 
J.  S.  Nicolla,  E.  K.  Walker,  H.  Waddington,  end 
B.  Malcolm,  Acting  Hon.  Secretary.  Mr.  Walker  in 
the  Chair. 
The  Aciing  Hon.  Secretary  read  a statement,  the 
substance  ot  which  has  already  appeared  in  the  papers, 
of  the  Eeception  of  the  Deputation  from  this  A &o- 
ciatiou  by  H.  E.  the  Governor.  The  Aseociation  re- 
corded with  great  satisfaction  the  way  in  which  its 
Deputation  had  been  received  by  His  Excellency  and 
was  especially  glad  to  hear  that  His  Excellency  had 
stated  that  it  it  were  necessary  that  the  Grant  to- 
wards the  upkeep  of  the  main  road  should  bo  some- 
what supplemented.  He  did  not  think  there  would 
be  any  dittculty  about  the  matter. 
Read  letier  from  Mr.  Sandeisou  to  Secietary  L P A. 
regaiciu'.  the  cci.ditions  under  wliich  coffee  is  wcrked 
in  the  I’Oii  of  L ndcn ; and  the  steps  taken  by  a 
Committee  on  behalf  ot  the  t'ade,  with  the  lesnlt- 
ing  improvements  for  future  working  of  this  Product 
recorded  with  satisfacticn. 
Libeiuan  Coffee. — A discussion  ensued  regarding 
curing  charges  on  Liberian  coffee.  It  was  resi  Ived 
that  the  Honory  Secretary  be  instructed  to  address 
the  coast  firms,  pointing  out  that  a large  acreage  of 
Liberian  coffee  is  now  coming  into  bearing;  and 
that  while  this  Association  is  fully  aware  of  the 
necessity  of  obtaining  special  pulpers,  it  would  point 
out  that  there  will  always  be  some  25  per  cent  of 
this  crop  sent  down  in  dry  cherry  for  treatment  orr 
the  coast.  That  this  Association  views  with  alarm 
the  large  rise  in  curing  charges.  It  trusts  that  it 
is  only  a temporary  measure ; and  will  be  glad  Zo 
learn  what  stepis  the  firms  are  taking  for  the  effi- 
cient treatment  of  this  coffee. 
KOLA-PLANTING. 
Within  the  last  two  months  several  important 
planters  from  Brazil,  Ecuador,  and  British  Guiana 
have  visited  London,  and  made  inquiries  about 
the  advisability  of  starting  kola-plantations.  These 
p'lanters  mainly  take  up  their  European  head- 
quarters in  Paris,  and  in  that  City  they  have  made 
experiments  with  kola  preparations.  One  of  them,  a 
Brazilian,  afterwards  also  made  inquiries  in  Germany 
and  the  United  States.  He  was  told  that  London 
was  the  centre  of  the  kola  trade,  and  finally  went 
there.  Not  being  able  to  obtain  any  information 
from  the  wholesale  chocolate-makers,  he  went  to  Kew, 
and  also  to  Messrs.  Christy  & Co.,  of  Lime  Street, 
where  he  secured  half  a ton  of  kola-nuts  for  seed. 
Kola,  said  this  Brazilian,  was  a most  economic  crop 
for  the  planter.  Those  with  whom  he  had  talked 
about  the  matter  in  Europe  had  mostly  asked  him 
to  ship  the  nuts,  surrounded  by  leaves,  in  straw 
baskets,  exactly  as  they  have  been  packed  in  Africa  for 
centuries.  Mr.  Thos.  Christy,  when  I called  upon  him 
the  other  day,  was  enthusiastic  about  this  Brazilian, 
and  fuither  told  me  that  he  had  also  had  visits 
recently  from  an  Ecuadorian  and  a British  Guiana 
planter,  both  of  whom  want  to  start  kola-planting. 
The  planter  from  Ecuador  went  to  Germany  and 
New  York  where  he  learned  that  there  was  a large 
demand  for  fresh,  kola-nuts,  that  it  was  an  easy, 
clean  article  for  a planter,  and  that  the  tree  grew 
at  a low  elevation.  Then,  coming  to  London,  he 
pursued  his  investigations  and  purchased  plants  from 
Messrs.  Chiisty  & Co.  Kola,  he  said,  is  sure  to  be 
taken  up  largely  by  planters,  because  no  prepara- 
tion, such  as  the  fermenting  of  cocoa,  or  the  fer- 
menting, husking  and  drying  of  coffee,  is  neces.sary. 
It  runs  no  risk  of  being  spoiled  on  its  way  to  the 
coast,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  is  a crop  that 
will  become  as  popular  in  South  America  as  it  is 
in  Africa. 
The  British  Guiana  planter’s  experience  is  almost 
i entical.  and  shows  that  there  is  a movement  in 
favour  of  the  introduction  of  kola  on  plantations  in 
various  parts  of  South  America. 
The  great  obstacle  to  the  popularising  of  kola  has 
hitherto  been  the  want  of  a palatable  preparation 
which  might  be  taken  as  a breakfast  beverage  by 
the  million.  Mr.  Christy  assured  me  that  his  “ neo- 
kola’’  fills  this  gap,  and  that  it  is  in  a great  measure 
due  to  their  conviction  that  the  popularisation  of 
kola  on  cocoa,  tea  and  coffee  lines  is  imminent  that 
these  South  American  planters  are  disposed  to  take 
up  kola-growirg — Cheimsl  and  Druggini, 
COFFEE  PLANTING  IN  LAGOS. 
The  curator  of  the  botanic  station  gives  an  ac- 
count in  tlie  Kew  Bulletin  of  the  progres.s  made 
witli  coffee  planting  in  Ligos.  He  says  coffee 
planting  is  being  energetically  extended  in  West 
Africa.  This  part  of  the  world  is  the  home  of  more 
than  one  species  yielding  commercial  coffee.  Chief 
amoiu^st  these  is  the  Liberian  coffee  which  thrives 
at  sea  level.  This  has  long  been  grown  in  the  native 
stale  of  Liberia. 
Seeds  of  Liberian  coffee  were  received  at  Kew  in 
1872  from  a small  plantation  on  the  Secoom  River 
near  Accra  on  the  Gold  Coast.  “ The  jilants 
rai.sed  from  these  seeds  at  Kew  were  the  first  grown 
in  this  country.  In  1874  and  1876  larger  supplies 
of  seed  were  obtained  direct  from  Liberia,  through 
the  kind  agency  of  Mr.  James  Irvine,  of  the  firm 
