I'HE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
March  i,  1897.] 
631 
leaves  receatly  transmitted  by  you  for  examination 
have  been  referred  to  the  Curator  of  Botany  in  the 
National  Museum.  He  has  submitted  them  to 
Mr.  Ellis  of  Newfield,  New  Jersey,  who  states  that  the 
disease,  which  has  alfected  the  trees,  is  not  caused 
by  the  fungus  Hemeleia  Vastatrix,  but  by  the 
growth  to  which  the  name  of  Utilbum  Flavidum 
(Cooke)  has  been  given.  This,  I am  told,  is  quite 
widespread.  Mr.  Ellis  has  in  lus  collection  speci- 
mens of  the  same  fungoid  giowth  from  Costa  Kica, 
Jamaica  and  Venezuela,  inasmuch  as  no  ex- 
periments have  been  made  in  this  direction  no 
remedies  can  be  suggested. — Yours  Respectfully, 
G.  Brown  Goode,  Assistant  Secretary. 
(2,683,)  (True  copy  W.  J.  F.) 
A great  deal  has  been  written  and  said  about 
the  large  jirotits  attending  the  cultivation  of 
coffee,  wlien  all  the  natural  conditions  and 
requirements  of  the  coffee  tree  unite  in  certain 
favored  places,  and  make  it  produce  its  greatest 
and  best.  This  is  justly  true  ; but  there  are 
many  dubious  roads,  whicli  are  said  to  lead 
there  and  pitfalls  and  precipices  where  the  nn- 
crrltured  can  slip  and  fall.  Such  a warning  1 
herewith  hold  out  to  the  unthinking  in  hope 
it  may  lead  to  some  benelicial  result.  I ques- 
tion if  anyone  knows  that  the  jrest  Stilbum 
Flavidum  is  exercising  its  powers,  and  aiding 
to  consummate  the  extinction  of  the  coffee  in- 
dustry of  Soconusco  and  Guatemala.  Bub  it  is 
nevertheless  true  as  the  letter  I quote  amply  proves. 
This  disease  is  almost  entirely  conlined  to  the 
district  I ha\e  named.  Nowhere  throughout 
the  state  of  Oaxaca  have  I observed  any  in- 
dications of  the  pest.  I have  travelled  over  a 
large  belt  of  coffee  country  here  and  have 
failed  to  notice  the  slightest  indications.  Con- 
sidering therefore  that  there  is  an  absence  of 
the  pest  in  this  great  and  famous  state — further 
that  we  are  removed  from  the  scene  of  its 
ravages,  fuPy  150  leagues,  with  nothing  in  the 
way  of  connecting  links  to  transmit  the  plague — 
it  accordingly  behoves  the  Government  to  pro- 
tect as  much  as  possible  the  industry  here  which 
still  remains  unblemished  in  all  its  vigor  and 
robustness. 
I shall  now  conclude  this  present  paper,  wish- 
ing yon  and  all  my  old  Ceylon  friends  a very 
happy  New  Year. — Yours  truly, 
W.  J.  FORSYTH 
THE  VENESTA  TEA  CHEST. 
STARTING  OF  A LOCAL  AGENCY. 
The  Patent  Veneer  and  Metal  Case  Co.,  Ld.,  of 
London  are  introducing  their  “Venesta”  tea 
chest  into  the  island.  Mr.  A.  S.  Penny,  a repre- 
sentative of  the  linn,  ai  rived  here  by  the  P.  & 
O.  ss.  “Sumatra”  over  a fortnight  ago  and  ar- 
rangements have  been  concluded  to  turn  out 
chests  to  supply  local  requirements,  the  agents 
being  Messrs.  Walker,  Sons  & Co.,  Ld.  Mr. 
Penny  gave  a demonstra' ion  in  putting  together 
the  tea  chests  at  the  office  of  Me.ssrs.  Walker’s 
today,  and  was  good  enough  to  supply  inforina- 
ti  n to  a representative  of  the  Observer.  A 
standard  size  will  be  ob.served  in  full,  half,  and 
quarter  chests.  The  large  chests  will  be  24  by  19 
by  19  ill  outside  measurement^  5 cubic  feet  for 
freight,  and  8,123  ciiuic  inches  inside;  and  on  an 
average  of  73  95  culiic  indies  to  a lb,  ot  tea,  will 
hold  110  lb.  of  tea  each.  'The  chest  will  weigh  about 
128  lb.  wi  th  lead,  nails,  ami  everything,  and  10 
chests  wiU  go  to  a ton,  shipping.  A half-chest  will 
be 20  by  16  by  16  to  hold  (50  lb.  of  tea,  the  weight 
of  the  chest  being  12  lb.;  and  quarter  chest 
will  be  13  by  12  by  12,  holding  21  lb.  tea,  and 
weighing  only  6 lb.  The  method  of  })utting  the 
boxes  together  is  simple,  and  a bo.x  can  be  built 
up,  lead-lined  and  ready  for  i)acking  tea  within 
a few  minutes.  'The  four  .sides  of  tlie  chests  are 
])laced  in  line,  a gauge  (wire  rod)  put  between 
to  give  a certain  space  and  then  fasteners  of 
annealed  steel  are  driven  in  and  the  points  beaten 
in.  One  sheet  of  lead,  the  length  of  the  four 
sides  is  next  placed,  wooden  batons  placed  at  top 
and  bottom  and  fastened  down.  'The  remaining 
unfastened  side  of  the  chest  is  then  secured. 
About  an  inch  or  so  of  lead  remains  above  the 
batons.  A sheet  for  the  bottom  is  placed  and 
folded  with  the  lead  already  fixed  down,  and  the 
board  is  then  ])laced  in  i>osiiion  ami  fastened, 
thin,  and  is  made  up  ot  three  sheets  116th  of 
an  inch  thick  each,  and  pasted  together,  the 
grain  running  transversely,  giving  ihe  boards 
great  strength  with  lightne.ss  ; and  an  emptj^ 
chest  will  liear  the  .weight  of  a man,  the  thin 
plank  only  bending.  The  boxes  are  quite  a new 
iilea  and  only  about  the  end  of  last  year,  were 
introduced  into  England.  'The  Mariatvatta  Tea 
Co.,  London,  are  -.;sing  the  “ \'enesta  ” chests 
largely  fur  their  Foreign  and  (.'olonial  trade; 
and  many  large  estates  in  India  are  using  the 
chests,  Me.ssrs.  William.son,  Magor  &,  Co.,  being 
agents  at  Calcutta.  An  agency  has  also  been 
opened  in  the  Persian  Gulf,  the  boxes  being 
used  there  for  the  date  trade.  Agencies  are 
also  opened  in  Australia  and  Newv  Zealand.  Mr. 
Penny  has  already  secured  several  orders  from 
upcountry  estates,  and  he  will  be  leaving  ne.xt 
Saturday  for  Mariawatte,  East  Holyrood, 
Glenlyon,  Waverley  and  other  estates.  Mr. 
Rutherford  has  placed  an  order  for  very 
nearly  4,000  chests.  Machinery  has  already  been 
put  down  to  turn  out  10,0(10  chests  a month, 
and  it  is  intended  to  enlarge  the  work  accord- 
ing to  requirements. 
Besides  tea  chests  “ venesta  ” can  also  be  sup- 
plied in  large  sheets  for  constructing,  lining  or 
partitioning  tea  factories,  stores  ami  bungalovs, 
and  being  %vater-proof  and  an  e.xcellent  non- 
conductor of  heat,  it  is  believed  it  can  be 
applied  advantageously.  In  fact  it  can  be  put 
to  a variety  of  uses  and  we  were  shown  travel- 
ling boxes,  and  hat  cases  made  of  the  material 
very  strong,  light  and  neat  in  appearance.  In 
London  we  are  told  that  small  express  wagons 
used  by  provision  dealers  are  being  built,  one  sheet 
being  used  for  each  large  jiauel.  Small  bric-a 
brae,  trays  and  such  like  are  also  turned  out 
with  advantage. 
The  firm  is  at  present  experimenting  in  turning 
out  corrugated  roofing  and  expect  to  be  able  to 
supply  rooting  for  estate  stores,  etc.  Mr,  Penny 
believes  that  it  is  likely  the  Admiralty  may  use 
the  venesta  planks  for  fittings  and  light  work. 
A great  saving  is  effected  in  freight  and  ilock 
charges,  etc.,  by  the  venesta  chests,  because  more 
tea  goes  home  under  the  same  measurement,  and 
the  dies  ts  being  very  much  lighter  than  other 
chests  more  tea  goes  home  under  the  same  dock 
scale.  A saving  is  also  effected  in  carriage  to 
estates  the  shooks  measuring  ami  weighing  less 
than  others  ; and  there  is  a saving  also  in  the 
number  of  boxes  used  because  22  venc.-ta  boxes 
contain  as  much  tea  as  24  other  boxes  of  same 
external  disnensions.  Nails  and  .'<older  not  being 
required  a saving  in  ihatdiiection  is  likewi.se  effect- 
ed. ilm  ing  the  aftenioon  today,  Mr.  Pcnnyg."vea 
demonstration  in  the  stores  at  Me.ssrs.  Walkers 
before  a number  of  those  interested  in  the  tea 
trade.  Mr.  Scovell,  planter,  was  one  of  the  visitors. 
