Tumbeki.-This word, under a multitude of forms, is the common name in several Eastern languages (Bengali, Hindustani, Telugu, Sunda, Javanese, Malayan, Persian, Guzerati, Deccan) for ordinary tobacco. But in Asia Minor, it is applied to a narcotic leaf which is spoken of as dis tinct from tobacco, and is separately classified in the Consular Returns. Botanical authorities are at variance as to the plant which affords it, some attributing it to a Lobelia, while others consider it a kind of tobacco. The latter appears to be the more correct supposition. The flower resembles the tobacco in being trumpet-shaped ; the leaf is broader, larger, and rounder than that of the tobacco raised in Turkey, and is also wrinkled like the inner leaf of the cabbage. The plant is raised from seed in nurseries, and when it has 4 or 5 leaves, is planted out in April in the prepared field, and watered sparingly. It is " set " in a day or two, and is then hoed occasionally to free it from weeds. After inflorescence, and when the plant is sufficiently "cooked," it is cut down, or pulled up bodily, and re-set in the ground till the leaves are wilted. These leaves are dried, and, after exposure to the dew, are pressed heavily, when they undergo a kind of fermentation which develops the aroma. It is exceedingly narcotic : so much so, that it is usually steeped in water before use, and placed in the pipe (a narghild or water-pipe) while still wet. The exports of this article (the produce of Persia) from the port of Trebizond are considerable :-In 1877, they were 13,342 bales (of 1 cwt.), value 106,7361., to Turkey ; in 1878, 11,571 bales, 92,5681., to Turkey ; in 1879, 9659 bales, 77,272/., to Turkey, and 866 bales, 69281., to Greece. Aleppo, in 1878, sent 4 tons, value 320/., to Turkey, and 11 tons, 8801., to Egypt. The exports of the article, the produce of the interior of Persia, from Resht to Russia, were valued at 5000/. in 1877, and 38461. in 1878.
NUTS (Fa., Noix ; GER., Nfisse).
The term " nuts " as applied commercially embraces a good many vegetable products which do not strictly belong to nuts botanically so-called. The chief nuts of commerce are the following.
Areca- or Betel-nut.—This is the fruit of the areca palm (Al eca Catechu), which is culti vated in the Malay Archipelago, the warmer parts of the Indian Peninsula, Ceylon, Indo-China, the Philippines. and some of the Pacific Islands. It thrives in high regions, and at a distance from the sea ; begius to bear fruit after 5 years, and is productive for 25 years. It flowers in April-May, and the nuts ripen in October ; those most esteemed are gathered before they are quite ripe. A fruitful palm is said to produce 850 nuts annually, but the average may be taken at 300; the mean annual yield of a plantation is 10,000 lb. of nuts an acre. The fruit is a drupe, about the size of a hen's egg ; it does not fall when ripe. There are many varieties of the palm. The nuts are dense and ponderous, and very difficult to break or cut. When freshly broken, they have a weak cheesy odour, and a slightly astringent flavour. In the green state, before they are rips, the nuts are pounded up and chewed with the betel pepper or kava-kava, for the narcotic effects produced (see Drugs—Kava-kava ; Narcotics—Ava); this is by far the largest and most important use of the nuts. Their quality depends upon the natural appearance when cut, indicating the amount of
astringent matter contaiued in them. If the white or medullary portion which intersects the red astringent part be small, and has assumed a bluish tint, and if the astringent part be red, the nut is considered good ; but if the medullary portion is in excess, the nut is more mature, possesses less astringency, and is inferior. The astringent properties of the nut are made use of in dyeing and tanning (see Tannin—Catechu). The exterior of the nut affords a fibrous material (see Fibrous Substances—Areca Catechu). The nut itself has medicinal uses (sea Drugs—Amea-nut). The ashes of the nut are used in making tooth-powders, but possess no advantage over other vegetable charcoals. The toughness of the nuts enables them to be used for articles of turnery, but their smallness confines this use within narrow limits. The Eastern trade in these nuts is very large. The exports from Ceylon in 1878 were 101,777 cwt., value 92,869/. ; in 1875, of the total export of 94,567 cwt., 86,446 cwt. went to India. In 1872-3, Madras exported 43,958 cwt. of the nuts, and 2 millions of the entire fruit, to Bombay. Penang exports some 3000 tons annually ; and Sumatra, 4000-5000 tons. The Chinese port of Shanghai, in 1879, imported 1700 pietas (of 134 lb.) from foreign countries, and 11,548i piculs from Hong Kong and Chinese ports; the re-exports left only 1455 pietas for local consumption. Kiungehow exported 335i piculs, value 4501., in 1879.
Boma- or Booma-nut.—This nut much resembles an almond in shape and size, the fruit itself, with the fleshy covering, being about as large as a walnut. It is probably the fruit of a species of Vitex. It is a native of E. Central Africa, and is cultivated abundantly near the Victoria Falls ; it is found also in the Shire Valley, but is said not to extend farther south than Lake Ngami. An oil is copiously afforded by it (see Oils—Boma).
Brazil- Castanha-, or Parg-nut.—The Brazil nuts of commerce, called castanhas in Brazil, are the produce of Bertholletia excelsa. The tree is a native of Guiana, Venezuela, and Brazil ; it forms large forests on the banks of the Amazon and Rio Negro, and about Esmeraldas on the Orinoco. A large number of the nuts come from the rivers Tocantins, Xingtv, Trotnbetas, and Curti. The tree grows on low, rich terra firme, never on the flood-plains. The fruit is nearly round, and about 6 in. in diameter, with an extremely hard shell about in. thick, containing 18-24 eeeda, which constitute the commercial nuts. When the fruits ripen, they fall from the trees, and are gathered into heaps by troops of Indiana, who visit the forests at this aeason for the purpose. They are then split open with an axe, and the seeds are taken out, sun-dried, and packed in baskets for transport to Para, in native canoes. They constitute a large article of export, some 90,000 bush., value over 35,0001., leaving Para every year. Aa they do not keep well in the Brazilian climate, they are shipped as soon as possible, largely to England and the United States, a few to France, Portugal, and Germany. They form a pleasant edible fruit, and yield an abundance of oil (see Oils—Castanha).