756 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[May  I,  1897. 
tested  it  analytically,  that  the  percentage  of  potash 
and  phosphates  in  this  white  ash  is  rather  less 
and,  if  so,  it  would  suggest  exhaustion  of  the  soil  in 
these  ingredients.  Auyhow  it  would  be  of  advant- 
age to  institute  some  comparative  determinations 
of  the  proportions  of  potash  and  phosphates  in  tea 
made  at  different  times  of  the  year  with  a view 
of  ascertaining  the  variation  caused  by  atmospheric 
influences  and  soil  exhaustion. 
“ From  the  specimens  of  leaves  opened  by  hot 
water,  it  would  appear  that  the  plucking  of  1896  is 
decidedly  coarser,  and  the  flavour  of  the  tea  is,  in 
my  opinion,  as  a consequence,  not  equal  to  that 
of  1887.” 
This  report  indicates  a direction  in  which  the 
Analytical  Chemist  should  be  able  to  help  the 
planter  as  to  the  constituents  wanting  in  his 
soil  which  would  ensure  a tea  approved  in  the 
market. 
^ 
CEYLON  TEA,  COFFEE  AND  COCONUT  OIL 
IN  AMERICA. 
American  papers  by  this  mail  have  a good 
deal  that  is  of  interest  to  Ceylon  producer.®.  In  the 
first  i)lace,  the  New  York  Grocer  of  the  3rd  March 
extends  the  following  cordial  welcome  to  our 
Commissioner  and  hearty  congratulations  on 
the  increased  business  in  Ceylon  teas  : - 
Mr.  William  Mackenzie,  the  Ceylon  Tea  Com- 
missioner, arrived  from  Loudon  by  the  steamer 
“ Lucania  ” a week  ago,  and  is  exceedingly  gratified 
at  the  great — in  fact,  wonderful — increase  in  the 
sale  of  Ceylon  and  Indian  teas  in  this  country. 
Direct  shipments  from  the  island  of  Ceylon  for  1897 
are  three  times  as  great  as  in  1896.  The  work  of 
Messrs.  Mackenzie  and  Blechyden  in  bringing 
machine-made  teas  to  the  notice  of  the  American 
Tjublic  has  been  so  wisely  directed  and  persistently 
pushed  that  we  do  not  wonder  that  these  teas  are 
bftcoming  popular  all  over  the  United  States,  es- 
pecially in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States. 
Next  we  may  give  the  weekly  report  on  tea 
as  follows  : — 
Invoice  business  continues  to  be  very  slow,  and 
the  general  tone  of  the  market  is  rather  easy  than 
otherwise.  There  has  been  a marked  increase  in 
the  direct  shipments  of  tea  from  India  and  Ceylon 
to  the  United  States.  The  exports  from  Ceylon  to 
America  from  January  1st  to  January  26th  were 
^,866  pounds,  against  10,415  pounds  for  same  time 
^*^The^  imports  of  tea  for  the  calendar  year  1896 
wore  83  9<^.317  pounds,  valued  at  ^10,749,889,  against 
in  1895 ' 97  083,061  pounds,  valued  at  $13,319,334.  It 
came  horn  the  following  countries; 
United  Kingdom 
British  North  America 
China  • • • • 
East  Indies  • • 
Japan  ••  . 
Other  Asia  and  Oceanica 
Other  countries 
1895— lb. 
3,696,192 
574,427 
51,458,868 
1,007,675 
39,914,508 
1,206,712 
24,669 
1896— lb. 
3,784,299 
664,354 
46,176,355 
1,448,808 
29,793,133 
2,143,874 
54,494 
Total.. 97,883,051  83,965,317 
Todav  at  noon  the  Montgomery  Auction  and  Gom- 
Ttiission  Company  will  sell  6,023  packages,  including 
263  packages  India  and  Ceylon  Pekoe— an  unusually 
attractive  assortment. 
Then  in  the  same  paper  we  find  a curious  out- 
burst aflecting  coflee 
“ Wicked  Jouunalism.” — In  the  last  issue  of  the 
American  Grocer  attention  was  called  to  the  extreme 
sensationalism  of  certain  newspapers.  Since  then 
we  have  had  a glaring  example  of  false— yes,  deli- 
heratelv  wicked — statements  calculated  to  foster 
nreiudice,  excite  hatred,  disrupt  society,  and  destroy 
the  integrity  and  powir  of  its  units.  The  New 
York  Journal  of  Saturday  last  makes  the  following 
statement  : — 
Cojfee. 
Total  output  of  coffee  (lb.) 650,000,000 
Amount  controlled  by  Coffee  Trust  (com- 
prising the  Arbuckle  Company,  of  this 
city  ; the  McLaughlin  Mills,  of  Chicago, 
and  the  Woolson  Spice  Company,  before 
the  latter  company  was  “ acquired  ” by 
the  Havemeyers)  (lb.) 495,000,000 
Profit  of  the  Trust  every  year  (at  Mr. 
Arbuckle’s  figures  of  1 cent  a pound)...,  $4,950,000 
Profit  of  the  Trust  every  year  (at  Mr.  Have- 
nieyer’s  figures  of  3 cents  a pound). , . , $14,850,000 
The  above  is  evidently  the  w'ork  of  one,  whose 
estimates  have  for  a purpose  been  made  deliber- 
ately false. 
Coffee. — There  never  have  been  a Coffee  Trust. 
The  Arbuckles  have  been  protected  by  United  States 
patents  and  trade  marks.  Their  distribution  has  not 
exceeded,  if  it  has  reached,  2,000  bags  per  day,  or 
95.000. 000  pounds  a year.  Their  importations  at 
New  York  in  1896  were  757,091  bags.  The  total 
imports  in  1896  were  630,(100,000  pounds,  and 
642.000,  (XX)  pounds  in  1895.  This  coffee  is  imported  in 
a raw  condition  and  loses  about  16  per  cent,  in 
roasting,  bringing  the  average  yearly  distribution 
for  two  years  down  to  534,000,(X)0  pounds,  distributed 
by  2,500  wholesale  grocers  and  220,000  retail  store- 
keepers. A profit  of  1 or  3 cents  per  pound  is  not 
extravagant,  especially  when  it  is  a fact  that  coffee 
has  been  declining  in  price  for  two  years,  and  has 
fallen  4 cents  per  pound  within  one  year. 
If  the  Journal  believes  that  trusts  are  against 
public  policy  it  v.ill  do  better  service  for  their  over- 
throw by  telling  the  truth,  and  thereby  commanding 
respect  for  its  statements. 
And  finally  in  an  Oil  Trade  Journal  there  is  a 
l)ara»raph  in  connection  with  “ Tariff  Revision  ” 
which  indicates  a possible  change  that  may  affect 
our  great  native  staple  : — 
Coconut  Oil. — B.  Percy  Keese,  Brooklyn ; “I  do 
not  know  if  your  attention  has  been  called  to  the 
article  of  coconut  oil  as  one  upon  which  a moderate 
duty  could  be  well  placed.  At  present  it  is  free. 
There  are  about  10,(XX)  tons  per  annum  imported.  It 
is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  white  soap,  taking 
the  place  of  cur  domestic  oils  and  greases,  for  the 
reason  that  it  has  the  capacity  for  holding  more 
water  in  the  manufacture.  It  is  a low-priced  artictle, 
being  only  about  5 cents  per  pound,  and  a duty  of 
4 cent  per  pound  would  practically  yield  $100,(X)0 
per  year.  It  w'Ould  not  curtail  the  importation  be 
particle,  and  therefore,  the  amount  would  nets  a 
again  to  the  revenue,  and  it  would  work  no  domestic 
upon  any  one,  but  would  protect  our  hardship 
greases  to  some  extent.  I assume,  of  course,  there 
will  be  a duty  imposed  on  tallow.” 
ECHOES  OF  SCIENCE. 
Chestnuts  are  an  important  article  of  food  in 
France,  more  especially  in  the  departments  of 
Archdeche,  Corsica,  and  Sardinia.  The  largest 
come  from  the  Pyrenees.  Roast  chestnuts  still 
hold  40  per  cent  of  water,  and  boiled  chestnuts  70 
per  cent,  but  dried  chesnuts  only  12  to  15  per  cent. 
These  contain  as  much  nitrogen  as  w'heat,  and  M. 
Ballaud,  in  a communication  to  the  Acacl6mie  des 
Sciences,  Paris,  think  they  might  be  used  as  a food 
for  the  Army, 
A horticulturist  of  Southern  France  states  that 
he  can  grow  black  and  white  grapes  from  the  same 
vine.  His  method  is  to  take  two  “ sarments,”  or 
branches,  one  giving  white,  the  other  black,  OTapes, 
and  rub  the  two  ends  together,  then  bind  them 
lightly,  before  planting  them  in  the  ground.  If 
this  is  carefully  done,  the  vine  will  ocar  white 
and  black,  and  even  piebald  grapes  (lialf  white, 
half-black)  at  the  same  time.— 
