28 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[March i, 1892. 
QuoLoaiiiTB have proved that the diamond minef 
of South Afrioa are situated in veuts o 
ohioiueja, varying from about 70 feet to 1,500 ft. 
in diameter, and descending vertically through the 
schiets which form the ordinary strata of the dia- 
triot. These vents are tilled up with fragments 
of ailicated and magnesian rooks, in which the 
diamonue are scattered, and before the diggings 
began each was capped by a hillook, or “ kopje." 
They are 17 in number, and run in a straight line 
about 120 miles. — Fiji Tima. 
Tun Tka Chop of 1892 : Mb. H. E. IIotheiuhbu's 
E sTtMATK. — Of all the eatiinates of the current 
year's tea crop from Ceylon that have yet appeared, 
oiira (80,(XKI,00<I lb.) is the lowest. But Mr. Itutherford 
makes his estimate lower still. Writing to ue by 
this mail he says " With regard to the estimate 
of crop for the year- 1892, I will.uot venture to predict 
more than 74 millions. Last year upset everyone's 
calculation, and it therefore makes it more difficult 
to estimate what the present year will do." This 
opinion thoroughly coincides with that which liavo 
repeatedly expressed, namely, that last year's figiu'es 
form no reliable guide. The total outjmt was abnor- 
mally large, and, as there is no reason to suppose 
that the current season will bo so peculiarly favor- 
able to the abundant growth of leaf, the actual 
increase show over the figures for last season is not 
likely to be largo. We think 80 millions is an out- 
side estiniate.— T/ocal “Times. " 
Coconut I’lantino. — D uring some years past, owing 
to the oxoesaivo and prolonged droughts killiug large 
numbers of trees iu several estates, the prospects of 
coconnt planting in the peninsula were very gloomy 
indeed ; and the prophets of evil te whom the proposed 
railway to Jafifoa was at best a wild and visionary 
project unworthy of their support, boldly foretold and 
stoutly maintained that, in view of Iba severe crisis 
through which the estates Were then passing, it would 
be idle to relv on them for any appreciable item in 
the calciilatioiiB made of the probable traffic avsilablo 
for the proposed line. The planters however bavo now 
good reason to tako heart, thanks to the abnormally 
copious and couataut rains we have had during the 
last three mouths ; and I have it on the best autlrnritv 
some of the planters themselves, ihat the year 1892 
baa dawned on them with excellent prospects. The 
out-turn of copperuh during the first half of the pre- 
sent year will doubtliss be exceptionally large and 
such as to make up, in great part, for any loss they 
have sustained during the trying period ol recurring 
droughts to which I have brielly referred.— Cor,,, falfna 
•T’atriol.” , , , 
Output op Tka this Sbason.— A planter of many 
years* experience hi Ambagamuwa writes to say ; — 
‘ I think your estimate of our total export ol tea 
this year high — tliongh it is the lowest of any 
yet given. I very much doubt if the crop of 1892 
will much exceed that of 1891, which was much 
increased by the extraordinary riisb of loaf during 
tho first six months of the year. It was further 
aggravated by shortness of labour, which compelled 
many to plnok very heavily, for it was a ease of le tting 
it go or making it into tea. This resulted iu large 
quantities of inferior tea being plsced upon the 
market. This year we are belter off for coolies, 
and, after the weather we have had, it is doubtful 
it we shall bavo the same rash of fiesh again, nearly 
every estate going iu for finer plucking, which, will 
result in a decrease in quantity of from one-third to 
nearly half. This, I fancy, will nearly balance the 
increase for the year and keep the output about the 
same. I know one place — a sample of many others — 
wbioh gave over 490 lb. per acre last year and only 
plucked medium, but which, with finer plucking, 
only expects this year to make 270 lb per acre."— 
Local •* Times." 
Tiik Inpian Hick Crop.— T he Government of India, 
Revenue and Agricultural Department, have issiieil 
the following second general meiiioraiiduni on the rice 
crop in Bengal, liower Burma, and Madras for the 
eoason 1891 -92 : Tho following statement gives the 
cotrected figuies of area tuidur the crop iu tho three 
chief rioe-growing provinces, compares thorn with the 
normal and past year's acreage, and indicates tlie 
estimated ouUui'u in annas ; — 
Acreage. 
Province. ISstlmatrvl out- 
Avcrjigc. 1P90-1)1. 1831-93. turn lu annas. 
Bengal - ;!.i,.’,77,ouii .13, s is, coo :(l,2S4,ooo of 
Madra.- - .|,6fl3,UU0 4,S82,00u 4,414,000 10 
llurma - 0,519,000 3,91«.OOU 4.107,000 12 to 18 
Tolal - 42,066,000 41,344,000 .SO, 775, 000 
In Bengal tho nnfavonrablo character of the rainfall 
in tho months of .July, .August, Septomber, and October 
occasioned a considorable dciicieuoy both iu tho area 
and in tho outturn of the winter crop, to about (5 
annas of an average crop. In tho deltas and on the 
west coast of Madras the crops avo fair, but else- 
where they are estimated at only half tho average. 
In Burma, notwithstanding a decrease of area since 
the report published on 22nd October last, tho con- 
dition of tho crop is satisfactory, and it is estimated 
that there will he available for export about 1,030,.')34 
tons of cleaned rice including the amomita required 
for Upper Burma. 
OouFFB AS A BAHOMETEn. — A Portuguese has 
made a startling discovery that every time a man 
drinks a cup oi eofles with the nsunl spasoning ol 
sugar he drinks — a barometer. " Ah 1" you sigh, in 
self commiseration, no wonder the ooffee I drank 
last night kept me awake until four this morning." 
But wait ; it is not a joke. Hear what Dr. 
Sauvegron says on tho subject. If sugar be oast 
into the coffee without stirring or agitating the cup, 
the bubbles ol air contained in the sugar rise to the top 
of the liquid, and it is this that converts 
a cup ol ooffee into a barometer. It the 
bubbles form a foaming mass, keeping well to 
the centre of the cup, we have the indioation 
of fair weather ; if, on the contrary, tho foam 
directs itself to tho edge of the oup and remains 
turning like a ring, it is a sign of rain ; if stationary, 
not large in the centre, it iudioates variable weather ; 
if it all moves, without separating, to one point 
near the edge of the oup, another indioation of 
rain. Dr. Souvegron affirms that all these indications 
were confirmed with a holosteric burumeter and 
another of mercury. “ Wo have not yet mads 
the experiment,” says our Portuguese reporter, 
“ but hope to, the Fates consenting.” Ho adds 
that iu order for the phenomena to bo reliable tbe 
ooffee must be puTD.—Pliamaceutical Era. 
OoB Tka Telburaki. — W e think ourtob-gram from 
Messrs. Wilson, Smithett & Oo., this week is more 
hopeful, or at all eveute less despondent, than was the 
Iasi one. The market is quiet, but prices remain steady. 
The average is low, and the trade are evidently waiting 
to learn tlie total exports for the month of Jannary, 
which they will do K^ay from several sources. The 
informaiion thus supplied to them is likely to cause 
some surprisH, we expect, seeing that the figures are 
some 4,1)10,000 lb., a quantity actually lest than that 
thipped during JanitaTy,l%Q\. We bt lievc this is the 
first time in tlie history of the ten enterprize o) Oejlon 
that the shipments of one month have totalled less 
than the corresponding month of the previous year. It 
only bears oat. however, what wo have Ireq ienTly in- 
sieled on, that tho output last year was quite excep- 
tional, and tliat in all tinman possibility the export of 
this sensoii will exhibit but a small increase upon it. 
Tea is coming down from npoountry compar -lively 
slowly, and we do not anticipate a heavy shipment in 
February. It will probably amount to 8,000,0110 lb., at 
the outside. Ttiis a very different result to what was 
anticipated. Tbe fact is that the long-oontinurd tain 
iu December stopped flushes and reduced the enrront 
month's shipmeuts ; but, now wc are getting warm 
weather, we auticipatu that shipments during February 
will inoceuse to somuihing under 0,000,0c0 lb. When 
these laots beomnn known in the Lane, they may bring 
about a better tune in the market, for there does not 
seem to be any teal warrant for the present low prices, 
— Looal “ Times." 
