March i, 1898.) 
THE TROPICAL AGRICDLTURIST, 
6og 
are rapidly coming in for our “Directory”) will 
show a total not far, if at all, short of 400,000 
acres! Surely then, the interval between 
and the present year must cover much and 
varied experience which it would be well to 
bring into review. A comparison between 1885-7 
and 1895-7 if undertaken after the pattern we 
have indicated, should give ample scope to a 
practical and w’ell -informed Essayist who could 
perhaps tell us liow Tea Estate Expenditure has 
increased, is increasing and how it can and 
ought to be diminished. 
^ 
SHIPPING FRUIT. 
A scheme by a Colorado man is founded on tbs 
principle that dry, fresh air is far more beneficial to 
fruit in transit than is the moist and confined air of a 
refrigerator car. In the new car, ice is done away with. 
An immense metal funnel is attached to the engine of a 
train, just above the pilot, and from this funnel a pipe, 
about 1 foot in diameter, extends back to the frui .-car, 
resulting in an automatic draught of air flowing throitgh 
the car. This, it is claimed, makes a. perfect ventila- 
tion, and according to the dry-air theory, will preserve 
fruit for several days longer than the ice process.^ 
Queensland Agricultural Journal, January. 
AMOUNT OF BARBED WIRE REQUIRED 
FOR FENCES. 
The estimated number ot pounds of barbed wire 
required to fence the spaces or distances mentioned 
with one, two, or three lines of wire, based upon 
each pound of w>re measuring one rod (16i feet), is as 
under : — 
1 Line. 
2 Lines. 
3 Lini 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
1 square acre 
50| 
lOli 
152 
1 side of a sejuare 
acre 
12§ 
25J 
38 
1 square half-acre . . 
36 
72 
108 
1 square mile 
1,280 
2,564 
3,840 
1 side of a square 
mile . , . . 
320 
640 
960 
1 rod in length 
1 
2 
3 
100 rods in length . . 
100 
200 
300 
100 feet in length . . 
6 l-16th 12J 
18: 
-Queensland Agricultural Journal, S&'o.a&xy. 
THE PRODUCTION OF COCAINE. 
^ To B. and C.^ “ Druggist.” 
Dear Sir, — I have read with interest of the new 
enterprise encouraged in the Madras Presidency with 
regard to the cultivation of coca leaves for cocaine 
manufacture. 
There is, as a fact, quite sufficient supply for the 
demand of cocaine as it stands, but what I fear is 
that the present demand will not develop, but rather 
recede, because cocaine is produced synthetically at 
less money than the lowest yet known cost of cocaine. 
What is also a very important factor in the future 
of cocaine is that the synthetic cocaine, named euca- 
ine, has far less toxicity than cocaine. This fact, com- 
bined with equal efficiency, should make a Govern- 
ment department very cautious. I say so, because I 
notice that the sale of eucaine is fast increasing. — Yours 
very truly, 
Aug. Zimmeemann. 
9 and 10, St. Mary-at-Hill, London, E. C. , 
January 7th, 1898. 
[We gladly publish the above letter from Mr. 
Zimmermann, who is in an advantageous position for 
speaking on the sale of cocaine and eucaine. At the 
same time, it is only fair to point out that eucaine 
is a special product of Scheriugs, for which well- 
known bouse Mr. Zimmermann’s firm are agents. 
Independent observers, however, have declared that 
eucaine has certain advantages over cocaine. Schmidt 
says that it is less toxic than the lat'.a •. On tha other 
hand, he says that its local ansosthetic effect is inferior 
to that of cocaine (See B.&C D. “ Review of the Year ”) 
One well-known house has recently introduced to 
medicine a combination of bocaine and eucaine for 
the purpose of uniting the advantages and overcoming 
the disadvantages of each body.] 
DURIAN SEED. 
Our old friend, Dato Meldruin, writes from 
Johor Bharu, near Singapore, Jan. 25 : — 
I have sent per post (registered) to you some Durian 
seeds. They are of the finest sort, off a tree near 
the '■ Hall,” which I planted myself perhaps 25 
years ago. I wish you could only taste and try : 
the flavour is exquisite: Monsieur Soyer never concocted 
a custard to equal it — delicious is not the word— 
tres superior ? No 1 better than that— ‘indeed, the English 
language does not furnish an equivalent word to 
express the extreme delight and pleasurable satis- 
faction one derives from a full mouthful of this 
transcendent fruit— it is beautiful ! it is magnifique 1 ! 
it is “ ver good ”11! The odour— but no, I shall not 
allude to it — I have been to Cologne ! the “ goose 
dubs”!! and other salubrious places — yes, the less 
said regarding the odour, the better for weak or 
squeamish stomachs. Joking apart, the seeds I send 
are well worth careful planting and tendency. One 
branch of the tree broke with the weight of 40 young 
durians, causing weeping and wailing amongst our 
Malay servants, who always manage to secure their 
full share of the fruit. “ Durio Zibethinus.” The 
Durian should ripen on the tree ; and unless one gets 
a properly ripened one at first, dislike and perhaps a 
“ scunner ” is taken to this queen of fruits— ever 
afterwards. Only the finest seeds should be planted 
such as I have sent to you. John Crawford, f.r.s., 
in his “ Dictionary of the Indian Islands,” &c., gives 
some information regarding the Durian. 
HOW TO MEASURE AN ACRE. 
Farmers would often be glad to know the area of 
oddly-shaped fields without having recourse to a 
surveyor. The following may prove of some use 
Five yards wide by 988 yards long contains one acre ; 
10 yards wide by 484 yards long contains one acre ; 40 
yards wide by 121 yards long contains one acre 70 
yards wide by 69J yards long contains one acre ; 80 
yards wide by (iOi^ yards long contains one acre; 60 
feet wide by 72G feet long contains one acre ; 110 feet 
wide by 397 feet long contains one acre ; 130 feet wide 
by 363 feet long contains one acre ; 220 feet wide by 
1814 feet long contains one acre ; 440 feet wide by 99 
feet long contains one 3,c.re.— Queensland Agricultural 
Journal, January. 
CEYLON TEA IN RUSSIA: 
MR. T. N. CHRISTIE’S REPORT. 
The long and instructive Report which will 
be found on anotlier p.age is, by no means so 
encouraging as was anticipated. The difficulties 
in the way of spreading a taste for Ceylon tea 
in Russia are very considerable, wdiile no less 
are the obstacles to the promotion of trade. 
Mr. Christie goes fully into particulars bearin« 
on this department, .and the darker he draws the 
picture of official interference at every turn, of 
prohibitory duties, Ac., the more, of course, Mr. 
Rogivue and his W’ork stand out in relief but 
we are rather surprised Mi. Christie did not 
try to find out what other large tea de.alers 
Lipton for instance— were doing. Eighteen months 
ago we saw in the London City Road warehouse, a 
very consi derable cousignnieiit of tea ready for 
shipment to >St. Petersburg, and we were told that 
the progress ni.ade by the new Agency in Russia 
was most encouraging. Then again ‘ we .should 
have liked to .see a big Rii.ssi.an tea house— like the 
Popoli .s— sounded as to what they could do for Ceylon 
