386 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIS P. 
[Dec. r, 1897. 
We cannot believe that crops of ratnie would 
not interfere with the crops on coconut palms ; 
for, tlie roots of the latter spread out a great 
deal from the parent tree. 
Kegarding Calotropis Gifjantea or Wara, a 
planter writes from the Gampola district:— 
“I am very much interested in all about Fibres, 
and, on reading in Observer yesterday about the 
‘Calotropis Gigantea, the Wara,’ I sent out 
and got some of it, and send you by same post 
a packet containing the leaf and flower, also a 
small sample of the fibre. The latter seems to 
be very fine, and, if it doesn’t set the ships on 
fire, like the New Zealand flax did, we should be 
able to ship it in large quantities, if machinery 
to clean it properly, and labor for growing and 
harvesting it, can be got. If it could be cultivated 
on road-sides and all vacancies in the tea supplied 
■with it, I fancy the coolies would be glad to 
cut and bark it for the sake of the sticks on 
lowcountry estates, where fuel is so scarce. It 
would be a valuable perquisite for Ramsamy as 
well as an additional revenue for the estates. 
You might kindly show it to some of your 
friends, and I will be glad to know if I have 
hit on the right plant. It seems to answer to 
Dr. Tri'uen’s description of it.” 
We have not the slightest doubt that our friend 
is right : we recognise the flower, and an intelli- 
gent Sinhalese in our office pronounces it to be 
the “Wara.” We must now await Mr. Mac- 
Donald’s report on the allied fibre at Bombay ; but 
meantime oiir friend cannot do wrong in going 
on with its cultivation, and as he says, on 
lowcountry estates, it ought to be very useful. 
THE AMSTERDAM CINCHONA-AUCTIONS. 
The cinchona-auctions to be held at Amsterdam 
on November 4th will consist of .5,691 bales and 
437 cases. The stock in first hand, including the 
above quantity, now consists of 2,049 packages Gov- 
ernment and 5,778 private bark. The market is 
very firm . — Chemist and Druggist, Oct. 16. 

THE ADULTERATION OF COCOA. 
At the Isle of Wight Petty Sessions ^ last week, 
Edward Henry Guess, grocer, of Shanklin, was sum- 
moned for violating the Food and Drugs Act. Divi- 
Bional-Sergeant King, said that on August 24, he 
visited defendant’s premises at High-street, Shanklin, 
and purchased three-quarters of a pound of loose 
cocoa, he %vas served by a lad in the shop. The 
analyst’s certificate showed that it contained 16 
per cent, only of cocoa, with 24 per cent of 
sugar, and 42 per cent, of arrowroot. Mr. Drew 
for the defendant submitted that he had no case 
to answer as the buyer vas not prejudiced, be- 
ing served with loose cocoa, and was told by defen- 
dant that it was not pure.— The Chairman : There 
is 84 per cent, of adulteration, there is a case to 
go on with. — Mr. Drew said that it was known that 
pQfQ cocoa could only be had at 3s. 6d. per pound. 
What was sold as loose cocoa was a wholesome mix- 
ture of cocoa, arrowroot, and sugar.— The Chairman 
said it was a bad case of adulteration, and fined the 
defendant £4 and 19s. 6d. costs, or in default a 
month’s imprisonment. 
Arthur Nobbs, grocer’s assistant to Messrs. Perry 
and Co., of Ventnor, was similarly summoned.— The 
analyst’s certificate in this case showed that there 
was 8 per cent, of cocoa 68 per cent, of sugar, and 
24 per cent, of arrowroot.— Mr. Drew who defended, 
repeated his defence in the case previously mentioned, 
and urged that the mixture was not sold as pure 
cocoa. He asked that a nominal fine should be in- 
tlicted “-The Chairman said that this case was rather 
worse than the last, as the purchase contained only 
8 per cent, of cocoa. Defendant would be fined £4 
and 19s. 6d. costs. The Court thought that the de- 
fendant’s employer should pay the fine, as the master 
was real'y the responsible person. — Mr. Drew said 
the master was away from home at the time. — Gio- 
cers' Journal, Oct. 9. 
♦ 
THE NEW COFFEE CROP, B.C. AFRICA 
The present crop is estimated at 450 tons, which 
we believe is a low estimate. The quality, so far 
as we can gather, is on the whole excellent, so that 
in spite of the heavy Brazil crops good prices should 
be obtained. As was to be expected, the transport 
difficulty is again acute and many are the signs for 
the much talked of railway. Even on the river the 
A.L.C. has as much as it can do to keep its stores clear. 
In such circumstances we think they would consult the 
interests of the planters if they were to pass on some 
of the crop to the other companies, as it is essential to 
get the coffee out of the country as soon as possible. 
Mr. Morkei’s carts are being kept busy and no doubt 
he sees that he could add to their number with 
advantage. Now that our roads are being so vastly 
improved, there is no reason why the present trans- 
port congestion should not be greatly relieved by ox 
waggons. Judging by the fast rate of progress of 
the railway scheme since its inception, we will 
have to depend on human carriage and ox-waggons 
for some years to come. 'The transport difficulty is, 
however, a healthy sign from one point of view, as 
it shows we have something to export. Let it press 
heavier and heavier every year and the railway is 
sure to come. It is too soon to prophesy as to 
next year’s crop until the blossom showers have 
fallen, but so far as we have heard a healthy 
spike is showing up. Unfortunately at Mlanje some 
apprehension is felt on account of the locusts which 
have congregated in great numbers and it is feared 
may destroy the blossom as soon as it opens. — 
Central African Planter. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Ramie Culivation.— The last -words of Mr. 
J. M. Macdonald, before lie leaves Ceylon this time, 
appear in our columns in the form of a letter 
■wilt ten in reply to the communication from Mr. 
Rosling. \Ve shall loliow with interest the 
further experiments that are now about to be 
made. 
The Present Prospect of Tea Planting in 
Fiji. — This is the title of an article from the Fiji 
Times which ive quote on page 379. It gives 
an account of the two principal estates in 
the islands, one being “Alpha” which was 
under the management of Mr. A. J. Stephen wdio 
is now in Ceylon, and the other, Wainunu. The 
labour supply seems to be one of the great 
difficulties there as well as here and liberal con- 
ce.ssions by Government are stated to be urgently 
necessary if the industry is to be carried on. 
Camphor in Australia.— The camphor flora, 
it is well-known, grows very freely in these 
colonies. The increasing demand for camphor for 
use ill explosives and in the manufacture ofcellu* 
loid gives greater importance than ever to this 
commodity. The Japanese commenced to prepare 
it by distilling the leaves and branches of the 
tiees instead of destroying only full-grown trees 
for the purpose. It seems to be worth while to 
ascertain if the shrub growing in the warmer 
climates will bear cutting sufficiently well to 
yield an adequate return of camphor when dis- 
tilled , — Chemist and Druggist. 
