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dried, in the shade or by artificial heat, to retain 
as far as possible their light green colour. The 
dried leaves should be packed for export in airtight 
cases to keep out moisture and to prevent fermen- 
tation. 
IT is estimated that, under good conditions, a yield 
of about 1,500 lbs. of dried leaf per acre per annum 
can be obtained. 
The drug cocaine is used in medicine, chiefly as a 
local anaesthetic. The plant is not grown in .this 
country to any extent, its cultivation being allowed 
only under licence. 
TEA. 
( Camellia Thea). 
The tea plant, indigenous to China, Japan and India, 
varies in height according to the variety, some of 
which, if left unpruned, may attain a height of 
from 30 to 40 feet. In cultivation, however, the 
plants are topped and kept as bushes. The dried 
leaf provides the tea of commerce. 
Tea is propagated from seed, which is sown in 
shaded nursery beds. After about 10 months the 
seedlings are ready for planting in the field. The 
distance of planting is from 4 to 5 ft. apart and 
the plants are topped about 18 months after trans- 
planting. 
The first picking of leaf commences in the third 
or fourth year, according to elevation, subsequent 
plucking taking place every 10 days. When the 
bushes cease to flush they are pruned back severely, 
