—___—_-
A SNIPE JHIL IN THE MONSOON,
A Jhil in the rains, a trout=stream in winter,
or a hunting country in summer, all conjure up
visions: of sports that has been. And yet, to the
lover of solitude and the haunts of wildfowl,
a quief evening in the rains on some familiar
stretch of water is full of intérest.
6 With a lingering look at my guns, lying in snug
‘ and oily slumber, I wended my way to a tavourite
jhil. Forgetting for the moment the swéltering
heat, blotting out visions of flighting ducks and
crowding snipe that came before the mind at sight
of the wellknown spot, I untied my boat and pad-
died out. Many a time had the little craft crept
out on a brisk cold morning when the ducks lay
thick and quacking loudly at the disturber of
their early toilets, and the mists hung low ‘over
the still dark reeds. ‘Many a time had it re
turned. low, in the water, with its. load of
those same. ducks,, as the morniag sun dis-
persed. the fog. .Now alas! guantwm matatus
aballo,, Here was my familiar little jhil a
veritable inland sea. In vain; I tried to locate
the. oldicold-weather land-marks. Gone was:the
island, where the snipe were wont to jostle one
another, the island that, like the jam in a child’s
tartlet, was ever kept as a final bonne-bouche, when
the long-bills had been driven from the rushy mar-
gins, Gone too the spit of mud and reeds, whence,
when too lazy to wade, [ had. slain (and missed)
many a wily pintail or gadwallas, with nervous
outstretched. neck, he hastily negotiated «the
dreaded spot. . The little jhil of yore was masquer-
ading asa full blown lake, and one. felt aggrieved
and lost, as at meeting an old friend in some pre-
posterous disguise.
Paddling gently out over the now wide waters, I
moored. my craft to a clump of narkul reeds in
mid-ocean. Our arrival raised violent indignation
among.a small colony of warblers, who gave vent
to their wrath with many twitteringsand ayoressive
cocking of tails, Soon, however, our silence and
evident. desire for peace, reassured these agitated
little warviors. Auger gave place to consumitg
curiosity, and a dozen little beedy eyes. examined
the intruders from every, pointiof view. Finally
voting us harmless lunatics, the colony returned
to its business, leaving a sentinel to watch: the
enemy, 1 GP PS
As the disturbance of our arrival subsides
as peace and silence are restored, one by one ithe
denizens of the reedy forest steal, forth to greet
the sinking sun.. A stately spot-bill duck ‘sails
into the open, and, cautiously surveys the outlook.
In her wake comes a scuttling brood of fluffy, bust-
ling little ducklings babbling, splashing, and play-
ing. hide, and seek through the reedstems. ‘The lean
and. handsome old lady eyes me suspiciously, and
imperceptibly edges her brood away to a:sater dis.
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
[Nov. 9, 1908.
tance, cautious though unalarmed. A bunch of
cotton-teal peep carefully on to the stage, aud hail
the -setting sun with much gabbling, preening, aud
suppressed. conversation, Half-a-dozen dabeuicks
foliow, bobbiug and diving, shaking tbe water
from their, nervous little heads, as they raise aad
flatter their absurd little wings in sheer joyousuess
of life. Last of all giants among. pigmies, a pair of
blacked-back geese sail majestically on vhe scene.
The nukta, or knob, on the nose of the male,
abnormally swollen at this time of the year, gives
him an appearance of ferocity, and distinction
absurdly at variance with his amorous gyrations
around the slender pezeon of his gracetui little
spouse. Gradually my stage; becomes crowded,
and all down the long line of, reeds.a bustling,
splashing, diving assemblage of bird life comes
forth to stretch and breath the open evening air
before settling to the nightly search for food.
Suddenly all is wild commotion. Frantic beating
of wings, furious hissing and quacking, and a
helter-skelter rush for cover, while all.down the
line the water is beaten high in spray..An
ominous rush of wings from behind,.a flash, of a
dark body through the air, and, ,with a hard
‘“‘smack,” a peregrine strikes his prey, A poor wee
duckling goes up in those cruel, claws, quacking
pitifuliy and feebly. From comedy to tragedy and
with the climax the stage is cleared. Lirury a
bolt from the blue, and a brutalend. I am sett
with the feeling of having wituessed a borrible
crime,’ But anon the players reappear (for kizmet
rules the lives of fowl as of men), and the play
once moce starts in lighter vein. -y}5
The sun has dipped, but what glory he has left,
Creeping over the water comes a piok glows,
bright and concentrated as lime-Jight,, Lhe reed:
stems grow luminous, the water shimmers, with
opalescent tints, the green line of rice away, on
the margin gleams with a. vivid briliiance has
almost pains theeye, the irridesceat backs ‘of the
cobton-teal, and. the speculation the wings of, the
spot bills, catch the glow, and transturm ‘the
owners into birds of paradise, Slowly the yision
melts into one, of surpassing . loyeliuess. . Surely
this. is the glorious refulgence of some - Dayine
Presence, the light that never» was on;.Jand
or sea. Beautitul. it is with a. heavenly
beauty, yet isthere something of awe in thap
marvellous glow,, something that) makes ene
glance involuntarily rouad, as though the source
of the wonder were near at hand, Brighter and
more intense it grows, till the eye itseif seems
filled, with pink and. gold, As the climax: 1s
reached there falls asolemo hush on the, earth.
The spell lasts but a moment, the splendour
rapid'y and palpably gives way to the greyvof
coming night, Silently the spirit sighs an uncon-
scious breath of thanktulness for the manifestations
of its Creator. iw aoresias
. The play is done, As the boat glides noiselessly
from its shelter .of reeds, a hasty ) seabtering
follows among the fowl. Cotton-teal flitter. away,
with repeated cries of ‘‘ with-witherick ? that
grow fainter as they pass | away, across the
water into the gathering gloom. Whistling teal
rise in ungainly and uncertain flight, and whistle
themselves, with’ many aimless warns ‘out of range
of the dimly remembered, boat... A sarus and) lis
wife, after many bobs and, curtseys, trumpet
themselves into the dusk, thelr heavy .wing-buats
dying away in the distance as they pass to their
beloved ploughland, where the worms now lie
Nov. 2, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
thick and luscious on the surface. Overhead
white cattle-egreis, at this season decked io
orange neck piumes, pass, in Wavering lines,
sileut like ghosvs, to thelr roost. Bats dart, like
swallows aluuy the surface of the water, at tne
myriads of insects boru of the night. As I tie up
the voat, tar across tie dark waters steels the
pitiiut cry of the ygoygle-eyed plover, weird
harbinger of night, ‘* pict-ti-wee’’ pibt-Ui-wee,” a
sOnud thab brings to tue mind, more vividiy than
ajmust any ole: marsh cry, cold winter nights
thub have gone and that are yet to come.
..Polo is good, and racquets, and billiards, and
bndge, but let no man dream that an evening off,
in the company of waterfowl on a jhil, in the
wondrous alter-glow of a monsoon suuset, 1s
wasted.— Pioneer,
ee
CEYLON PRODUCE IN LONDON.
Salisbury Square, Fleet Sc., Loudon, & U,
September Yth, 1903.
DEAR SIRS,—Attached to this letter are two cir-
Culars issued dealing with the last cardamon and
robber sales, ‘hese circular reports have been .
issuedto meet an expressed demand, In the last
cardamom sales, ou of 74% cases of Ceylon Mysore
Gardainvms offered, iuily four hunured passed
througu our hands. ue market was so worked
that without any excepilun the planter owners
must feel very satished with vhe results in
Cvuluparison Wivu several other sales. We ask
wrowers of produce in Ceylou to consult us at
ail times With reference to produce, and the in-
formaviun will be ygiveu in a frank and open
manuer. Lf we cousider it advisabie to seli in
Ueyion we shail say so, but in any case a careful
report aud valuatiun will be given of any sample,
Rusver is, so wo speak, new to Veylon, but the
quality of shipnients which have cume alung to this
Wwarkeo Within Lone past year or twe leaves little
to be desired, 1m faco we nave heard it expressed
by buyers that 1b is too good. Or course we need
haidiy say that the remark was as fovlish as 1b
ls. absurd, wuu tbe prvof of this tes in the
faco of the splendid price which is being
paid 10 Comparison wit rubber previously hold-
lug the higu ptice record. We have sent out
direciiy aud iudivectiy copies uf that vaiuaole
book * Ail avuouu Hubver”’ published by your-
seives, aud we are confident that all iuterested
1i 1uvuer Should aud ought Co possess a cupy ol
this Gavefui study. Lue vuty fauic to be found. is
bs Cheapuess aiid We ailmuso Liluk 1f you Were to
dvuuvie tue plice you wouid douvie tue saie. We
meutlun this fav, a8 Pranters ia VUeyivu have
Writteu home to Hugland to ctheir Loudva repren-
seuvatives asking if 1t is poszibie to obtain a good
work oa rubber aud rubber cultivation, aud
lO one or two instances we have bad repead
orders irom the same source.x—We are, dear
‘Sus, yours taithfulily—JOHN HADDON & UCO,,
Proprisvor, WALTER HADDON,
————
BENGAL GOVERNMENN CINCHONA PLAN-
TALION AND FAULURY.
The 40th annual report has just been made by
Major v Prain, 1,M.s, P.auuiug during the lasv year
&b tic Muusong piaitatlion Nas Ol been as success-
ful ascould be wished. -Tuere was a failing water-
supply ab the Musenglines which necessitated
AGRICULTURIST. 325
early planting, and the result was a very high
proportio. of casualties. Hour-year-old ciuchonas
were inauured with bouemeal, 1U maunuds per acre ;
this manure being slow in 1ts action Libtle difference
is yev apparent iu the Coudition of the trees, Lue
crop taken during the year was 203,4Uo lv of dry
bark 3 165,803 ib, trom Muugho, aud 37,597 Ilo.
from sittung. Lis crop was Cumposed of 120,294 ib
Leadgeriana, 3,396 \v, Suceirubra, and 79,715 1b,
ot Hybrid No J, across between Succirubra aud
officals. Cousiderable improvements Lave been
eifected in the factory in arrangemedts and
method of working, aud several additions have
been made to the factory plant. Lhe raw
material worked up duriug whe year was 390,043}
lb bark, which provided 10,U1U Ib. 12 02. of sulphate
of quiniue, the average yleid belug 2°56 per ceut.
The total cost of makioy 3,424 iv. of cinchous
tebrifuge was K18,260°12, or K5°55 per |b.
The issues ol suiplate vf quinlue for the year
amounteu to 9,793 lb 30z, a decrease of- 1,213 1b,
13 oz. as compared with 1900-19U1. - ‘This uecrease
is accounted tor by the fact that the Jail Depart-
ment required 1,500 ib. less: for convers.ou m0
pice-packets, ‘lune demand by Governmeut viticers
iu. dispensaries, &e., on Lhe other hand, 1ucreased
by 391 ib. 9 oz, Lune issues of cinchona feurituge
for the year amounted to 3,670 Ib. 4 0z,, adecrease
as Collpared with the previous year or 135 iu, 12
doz, his decrease is explained by the Huctuating
character of the demanus Oa the part ef meddicai
depots. his ueficit was to some exveul Counters
balanced by an indent for 3V0 Jb. cinchona febrituge
by the Priucipal Veverinary Officer, South Africa.
Judged by the only cestaiu test—the demand by
the public geuerally—the belief in the reliability
of tebrifage as a remedy for malaria remains
unchauged,
eee
LIQUID FUEL,
(To the Editor, Madras Mail,)
S1r,—I nave been using liquid fueifor a Horasby:
Ackroyd oil cugiu: wivu success, except on suce
occasivus when small quantities of water have
been tound practically mixed with the tiquid fuel
(a thing thavb never occurred when using Kerosene
oil), wuen the engine slows ab once and sumetimes
stops nearly dead, Lf any one wili teli me of any
piactical way in which to separate the oil and
water 1, and probably others too, wiil be under an
Obligation, 1 have uried pouring off the oil gently
after the water has been allowed to sink. to the
bouttum, bat directly the drum is tipped up oc
the oil disturbed in any way the water seems to
mix with the oil I have also tried skimming, but
this 1s a tedious job and in avoiding tuking up
any water a considerable perceutage of oil is lost.
Auother detriment to using liquid tuelseems that
atter the engine has run abouu 48 hours a tube,
apparently of carbon, torms round the spray hoies
aud a cake of the same substance forms opposite
to it 18 the vaporiser.
—M. hail. OrL ENGINE.
Sir,—In reply to the letter sigued ‘‘Oil,Engine”’
in yuur last issue, L beg Lo suggest, his, wyiog
Well’s Out Cisteru, a simpie. filver, which I save
fouud, most. useful, L have que im datiy use for
filsering impure machine oil, Ltcest, roughly, £5,
landed 1n Madras. [ts capacity is six galluns, bao
larger and smaller filters are procuravle, Dirty
$26
oil, that is, oil that has been used, placed in a
reservoir at the topis ‘‘syphoaed” ito a lower
receptacle and then filters through a wool pad into
a third chamber, whence it cai be drawn off by
a brass tap, fitted to the filter,
Madras. PERFECTLY CLEAN.
THE TROPICAL
——EE SSS
RUBBIR,
PRESERVATION OF, AFRICAN RUBBER FORESTS.
—The reckless exhaustiou of rubber in the British
colonies of Lagos aud Gold Coast, in West Africa,
suggested to che authorities of Southern Nigeria,
in 1900, to form a forestry, department, she first
work of which was to deal wit the preservation
of the extensive rubber forests-in the Benin terri-
jtories. . Regulations ‘were drawn up for enforces
Inent by. the forestry luspector, resurictung the ex-
traction of rubber to Certain seasons and: certain
methods; beside which the natives were in-
strucved, through their head men, in the import-
anee of preserving the rubber trees, | Certain
forest, reserves have. been declared, in which the
gathering of rubber is prohibited between Fek.
15th to May 3lsb in each year, and its exportation
betweeen March lst and May 31st, and ib appears
that this rule—certainly wit regard to exporta-
tion—is capable oi being enforced.
Root KUBBER AND K#PLANTING.—After the
harvesting of a potato crop there are no more
potatoes to be had from the same field without
first planting a new crop. The same condition
applies to the so-called ‘‘rcot rubber,” of which
so much has.come out of Africa, It is true that the
reots of the rubber plants in nu way resembie pota-
toes: in. shape, but otherwise the comparison holds
good, As an authority quoted on another page
says :—‘‘ The surface, alter the natives have col-
lected their ruober, resembles-an orchard or
meadow which has been upturned by a grub-seek-
ing hog,” It is not probable that the natives
will do any replanting, since so many years would
be required tor a new growth of this peculiar
rubber $~ hence the more ot the product markeved,
the sooner will the supply become extinct.—
India Rubber World.
a | eae eel
ON {EXTERMINATING ANTS.
wane (To the Editor of the * Sydney Herald.’ )
t Sir,—In your issue of Wednesday there was a letter
from ‘‘H MS” onthe subjeci of ants, andas 1 have
had several trials at their extermination you may
perhaps allow me to give my experience. Some 20 -
years ago, when I bought the house in which I now
live, the ground was infested with many nests of the
( SMALL BLACK ANT
and one next of the sugar ant. ‘In the garden,
amongst other trees, there was ‘a nectarine, which
during the first two years was covered with black
aphis, the result being that the leayes'were curled up
and no fruit was produced. I observed that there
was 4 continual stream of small black ants ascending
and descending the trunk, and having read Sir John
Lubbook’s account of his researches on the habits of
a British ant that carried the eggs of an aphis which
lives in the daisy (Bellis perennis) into their nests,
kept them during the winter, and in spring carried
them out to the daisy plants, it’ oocurred to me that
there was some connection between the stream of
ant Graftic and the diseased, aphis-infested condition of
AGRICULTURIST.
the tree. Ia winter I therefore smoothed the bark
of the tree stem, with a spokeshave for a width of
bin. or 7in., aud .ubbed this space with chalk. I knew
beforehand that a ring marked with chalk absolutely
prevents ants from climbing an upright post or the
leg ofa table. and if they are above it and descend
they only get tothe ground by falling off, seemingly
losing their foothoid, but, further, a ring chaik
mark on a flat surface is often not passed by ants
any more than the finger streak drawn across their
track, as mentioned by ‘‘HMS.” It seems prob-
able that they leave a scent of formic acid as they
travel, and that this is neutralised by the chalk,
which forms formiate of calcinm and carbon dioxide,
But to returnto my tree, the chalk ring on which was
renewed from time to time as it fell or was washed
off, that year there was not au aphis or black leaf on it,
and there has not been trom that day to this, and the
chalking has not been renewed since, as L have got the
ants exterminated, As to the extermination of the
black ant, I asked a friend much taken up with bees as
to how long a bee lived, and he told me that their lives
varied from four or five months to a couple of. years.
If flowers and honey were plentiful they got worn out
and their wings broken in the shorter time, whilst in
bad seasons they lasted longer, in fact they worked
themselves to d_ath. On this { based a scheme of black
(Nov, 2, 1903.
* pnt extermination, and every day watered the ground
round each nest and stampeu it hard, so that the ants’
time was so taken up in repaizing damages that they
had none to provide food and bring up pups, and they
were done to death ina short time. sor years there
has not been a black ant about the place, and there ©
has scarcely been an aphis or a coccus on any plant,
but last year a small colony of black ants established
itself under a brick edging to a footpath, and a cycad
a couple of yards trom the nesi is infested with coccus,
whilst ants are travelling all over it.
THE SUGAR ANTS
required a different treatment, as they had their nest
deep down in some rubbie, which was turied over, and
the opening was through tunis, 1 found tbat they were
particulariy active afver 4 p.m., when they came out
10 numbers, and then I killed them with two trowels,
letting them run over one, and crushing them with the
other, ‘Lhey are so full ot formic avid that the air
smelt of it, the trowels were brightened by corrosion,
and the grass was killed by their dead bodies. I notice
that. ‘* H.M.S.”’ writes of suunding che legs of tables,
&c., in water, but any fluid oil is much effectual, as
the trachea (breathing pores of insects) are stopped
up by it, and, further, 1t does not evaporate as water
does. A chalked ring is equally effectual if renewed
from time to time. A goud meihod which I have
‘also used since, as it takes less time, is to lay some
bones with a little meat on them in their way, and
‘these are soon covered with ants, when they are
dipped into'a bucket of hot water for a second, and
then replaced, A mutton shank tied to a string with
which to handleit is convenient. Your correspondent
also writes of Vet
THE BULL-ANT,
more commonly known as bulljoe, as being so quarrel-
some that only a, few can live together. They are
certainly very vicious, bat I doubt that they are
quarrelsome with one another, and they are certainly
the most cowardly of any of the ant tribe tiat I
know, scuitling off on encounteriug another ant one
quarter of thelr own size. They live few in a nest, in
which they have large cells 18 to 24 inches below ‘the
suiface, and their sting, which they use on very
slight provocation, produces a scarlet, inflamed patch
as large as acrown piece, if on a fleshy part, which
is painful for days. I, when a new chum, took hoid
‘of one on a@ treo in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne, some
37 years ago, but haveaiways used a pair of metal
‘pliers since then, Lastly, I come to
Nev. 2, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
THE WHITE ANT, ~
which is the greatest trouble of all, as it does damage
in a wholesale way. Other ants are mere petty
pilferers so far as a house is concerned, though their
aphis and scale breeding practices do infinite harm
in gardens and orchards, harm which does not seem
to be recognised so far by the owners, but the white
anteats up a house or other valuable property, kills
trees, and sometimes eats a patch of potatoes. I
remember a case where they destroyed the shingles
on the roof of a miner’s cottage in 18 months,
and half the rest of the place as_ well.
As to exterminating the white ant, I would
like to give my experience. Some 15 years ago
I bought a weutherboard cottage’ at Mittagong,
which I had not seen for a couple of months,
when it was in good condition, I went there to see
ebout making some additions, and when lying in bed
I conld hear a continued rasping sound, and in the
morning found that the pine lining for 3 feet wide and
20 teet in length, had been eaten by white ants, a
mere paperlike shell covered by paint being left. I at
once got some blue oil, the heavy residual oil from
making kerosine, and got a lad with a watering can
to sprinkle and saturate the ground inside and outside
the brick foundation. This was not very expensive,
as the oil was then only worth about 4d per gallon,
and some 40 gallons sufficed. There was not a white
ant in the place in two days, and there has not been
one for 14 years, and the eaten boards are still un-
touched. I had observed that the whiteant must have
access to fresh water; the quantity they require is
probably very small, but they must have it or they
die, and blue oil cuts off the water supply. This ex-
periment I have repeated in numerons cases, and the
result has always been similar. Many people bave
used blue oil, but they painted the beams and spoiled
the floors, doing little good. What is wanted is to
saturate the foundation soil, and then wood is safe.
It is vrobable that a liberal application of common
salt, the commoner the better, as this contains chlo-
ride of magnesium, to the soil on which a house is
built wonld have the same effect. I obseryed over
30 years ago in the islands in the Hunter above
Newoastle that there were two classes of dead (ring-
barked) ftrees—first, those which were eaten by
white ants, end those which were not. First, trees
which had grown on ground never flooded by salt
water, and in which more or less fresh water could
be found; second, trees growing on ground which
was occasionally, as at spring tides, flooded by
salt water, and in these I never found a white ant.
The way of a victorious general is not found in
killing a large number of the enemy, but in cutting
off his supplies of food and ammunition, and provid-
ing for bis own men, which, by the way, is just what
the British War Office has not done in the past,
according to reports. So it is with the gardener and
orchardist, Their enemy is the ants, who have no
eight hours day, no Sundays, no half-holidays or
whole holidays, who work when work can be done,
and then rest or die, and there are always more
than enough to take their places. There is no
decrease of birth-rate in their case. The fruit and
vegetable growers of New South Wales have a dif-
ficnlt row to hoe. They have many difficulties
to contend against, and ants stand well to the
front. Another is Loranthus, which is invading
orchards everywhere, andis also increasing in bush
trees.—I am, &c., WILL. A. DIXON.
Mr E T Webb, Bathurst, writes :—‘ Having read
the interesting article on the above in your issue
of the 2nd, [think it might interest your readers to
know that
ALL KINDS OF ANTS CAN BE EASILY EXTER-
MINATED
by the use of carbon bisulphide. Pour from one to three
teaspoonfuls down their holes and then set it alight.
It will not only kiil the ants, but destsoys their
eggs. A very largs ant bed will take about six
‘tothe 7.A. representative, as worth noting,
AGRICULTURIST. 327
ounces, Fut some down every hole before light-
ing. Care must be taken in the use of the carbon,
as itis very inflammable. Another method is to miz
arsenic with sugar, or something sweet, and put it
where they can get it. After some time they will
disappear. This I have only tried once, on sugar
ants, where I could not use the carbon, andI found
it answer ; but, in my opinion, there is nothing that
does the work so quickly or effectively as the carbon.’
THE DELFT HORSE ESTABLISHMENT,
CAUSE OF THE HORSE DISEASE
DISCOVERED.
Dr. Wiliey, F.R.S., returned} to. Colombo
recently in the ss, ‘‘ Lady Havelock ” from Jaffna,
where he has been inspecting the Horse Kstab-
lishment at Delft and Tvanativu) in connection
with the outbreaks of disease among the stock
there.
This establishment was prospering except for
the fact that year after year during the months
of August, September and October a mysterious
disease broke out emong certain animals, and the
horses were dying off in spite of all precautions
that were taken. In the Administration Report
for 1901 sent ir by Mr R W LIevers, C.M.G, then
Government Agent at Jaffna, an interesting para.
graph concerning this mysterious horse sickness
appeared, andin an interview at the Colombo
Museum. Dr. Willey pointed out this reference
Con-
cerning the progress at the Delft Horse Establish-
ment he states :—‘t The only drawback has
been. an excessive mortality which has
arisen in two ways :—(1) Aucmia and ‘‘ po-
verty ” among the young foals on Delft arising
from ‘‘ties ;” (2) the mortality on Iranativu among
apparently healthy ft young horses, the cause
of which we have been unable to ascertain. During
the months ofAugustito October we have lost about
25 per cent of the stock.” Further in the report
he states ** The mortality in Iranativu is. still
unexplained. Last year Mr Sturgess found the
ponies suffered internally from parasitic worms,
and we attributed the death to this cause,
The disease disappeared by treatment, but
although © the water-holes were carefully
cleaned and fenced, the same ~ mortality
occurred at the same time. One of the finest celts
was seen, apparently quite well, in the morning
by the Stock Inspector, who was on the island,
and was found rolling on the ground in the even
ing, and died before any treatment could be
applied. The occurrence of some poisouous plant at
this time of the year seems to be indicated, and
a botanical examination of the island becomes very
necessary. It is noticeable that there is no
mortality among the cattle, sheep, or goats, which
graze freely over theisland at this time, nor does
it appear in Delft.”
Last year the Stock Inspector said he picked out
a certain seaweed from a sick horse’s mouth, but
this weed was only found with one horse although
several were ill at the time. This weed was
sent to the Colombo Museum and also to Pera-
deniya, but was found to be apparently harmless,
Ona collecting visit to the district. in July Dr.
Willey incidentally looked into the matter and
collected some of this special seaweed, but as ib
was stated that it was harmless then and not
poisonous until later. he .went* recently to
thoroughly investigate the matter,
THE TROPICAL
, THE POISONOUS SEAWEED,
The poisonous seaweed is a very common alga,
found extensively not only around the coasts of
Ceylon but also in European and British waters.
It is a bright green filimentous aiga, forming
great mats, and looks like a thick mass of coarse
green hairs. Itis of various shades of green and
darker brown or black when the spores are. pre-
sent, and Dr Willey showed samples of it in
his study, some preserved in spirits, some dry as
it is founc on the shore. Dr Willey has not yet
determined its «scientific appellation, ‘but’ the
native name for it here is ‘‘Mukkara pasi.” During
the blowing ‘of the South West Monsoon masses
of this sea-weed. are cast up on the shore
in certain parts of the island and particularly,
it seems} on Iranativu. é
.Some‘of this weed Dr. Willey offered to a
horse,’ but it refused to eat it; but when concealed
in ‘grass it ate it readily and immediately
showed the symptoms of disease expected,
thus showing that the horse _ instinct-
ivély knew it to be poison. When the - weed
isicast up! on the shore it frequently gets mixed
and entangled with another seaweed, rather
similar in appearance though’ coarser, —specimens
of whichoDr, ‘Willey also showed us—and which
is perfectly wholesome, and ' then the ‘animals,
evidently rob detecting the presence of the poiso-
nous alga, ‘devour it.
ee Theiresult' of eating this mukkara past is’ a
violent bowel complaint, and taken in the initial
stages iti is cured by castor oil treatment, The
weéd has inot yet been properly analysed to’ as-
certain “what particular poison is contained in the
plant»cells, but this will’ be carefully done at the
Museuimj‘and Dr. Willey will- before long make
his report to Government on his investigation,
ait
mes
PLUMBAGO MINING IN CEYLON.
“Mr T Hutchings, now in Colombo, has
been in Ceylon ‘for the last four years,
engaged in mining for plumbago in _ the
Kalutara district. He is a practical miner of 36 years’
experiénce and has been in Johannesburg for a period
of 15 years as foreman of the Salisbury and Jubilee
mribes where he worked a shaft of 5,000 feet, the deep-
est;he.ever woiked on, In Ceylon his, deepest shaft
was only,125feet.and,he says that mining in Oeylon,
aa it.is. done now; is. quite in itsinfancy and there is
much room,for improvement. The native system of
mining is only a surface one, they go, a little in to
the ground and then commences tunnelling while in
mostinstances the deeper the shaft the better is the
formation of the veins and success is sure to be met
with if the Ceylon pits are worked deeper than they
are now,
rlumbagoare left. in the rocks below and only a few
feet of the surface searched, Mr Hutchings having left
his pit which changed hands and has not. yet decided
whether he will stay inCeylon or return to South Africa
where prospects are more rosy. « a
oan ; ~
CEYLON CROWS IN SELANGOR.
Kuala, Lumpur,—The imported crows
from, Ceylon. have ‘made their appear-
ance, here. Over 4) of them~ were seen in
search of a.-place where they could roost.
Once they are here, ‘it: may safely be assumed
that: they .come to. stay, and this town -is
large enough forthe execution of their scaveng-
ing characteristics.—Penang Gazette. 0° |
ar
At‘ present the good veins, which yield .
AGRICULTURIST. [Noy. 2, 1903,
SAMPLE SEEDS TO HAND.
We learn on enquiry that she Peradeniya
authorities have just received a 5s packet of
Ocymum viride, the “mosquito” plant, from Messrs.
H Cannell & Son, Swanley. England, and.on
epening the packet iv was foued that it eontained
the large quantity of 8 minute seeds! Foor of
these have been sent to Hikvala, and-the other
four sown at Peradeniya. If success is attained
in raising plants, it is probable that the charge
will be R5 each for them. The native ocymum
sanctum (Maduru tala of the Sinhalese) or
ocymum gratissimum, is said to be probably quite
as effectual as ocymum viride.
————
PLANTING NOTES.
CoTTON-GROWING EXPERIMENTS.—The Govern-
ment experiments in cotton have so far been of
little value in Tirhoot, the area Sown ‘being far
too small and the drought having killed off a lot
of the young plant, but at Arrowah in Chupra
Mr J McGregor is, we are told, putting down
several acres in Egyptian and other, sorts of
cotton and from his experiments some yaluable
data may be obtainable. next year.—IJndian
Planters’ Gazette, BES
INDIAN BOTANICAL GARDENS.—The Re-
port (1902), on the Botanical Gardens, Saharanpur
and Mussoorie, is again very satisfactory both as
regards finances and the. work. accomplished.
Fair crops were obtained from the fruit trees,
and the distribution. of fruit and food plants
showed a considerable increase in number ‘over
the previous ‘year. There was a° very fair
demand for young plants of agave sisalata (the
Sisal Hemp), and every plant raised was dis-
posed of, to the number of 15,000. The cash
receipts of the two Gardens was R27,312, while
the expenditure was R25,821 ; the total revenue
was K31,500—leaving a profit im favour of. the
gardens of R5,679. ;
Liming SoILs.—Clay soils, when wet by rains
are not porous enough to allow- the water to
pass through them with sufficient rapidity. In
consequence they become water-logged, and the
air which, is necessary for the healthful deve-
lopment of plant roots within the soil is’ excluded.
In dry times such soils take readily. Liming is an
effective preventive or remedy for all of these
conditions. Upon certain loamy soils containing
considerable clay, liming often renders the sur-
face ‘more friable and less liable to form a
crust upon drying. The improvement of drainage
brought about by l'ming is one of the most effective
means of preventing surface washing... When
heavy rains occur on -limed soils the water sinks
into the soil instead of rushing over the surface.
Soils which are composed’ of siliceous’ sand ‘are
frequently benefited by being ‘réndered more
compact by liming. On such soils carbunate of
lime is preferable to air or water slacked lime,
owing to the caustic nature of the latter, and the
best) material to employ where it is obtainable-is a
clay marl containing afair amount of carbonate of
lime. The clay as well asthe lime tends to mate-
rially improve the physical condition of the soil.
It, should also be the aim to increase the amount) of
organic matter in such soils; by the use of muck
and stable.manures,jor by the occasional ploughing
under ;of a green crop or of sward.—Journal: of
Horticulture, s« { \ico son iliw. gf
Nov. 2, 1903.]
PLANTING FIBRE.
The Rev. A. Andrew writes from Chinleput :—
The extraction of plantain fibre in South India
promises to become a profitable industry. Enquiries
as to how to extract it have reached me from various
quarters, showing the interest that is now being
awakened to the value of the once discarded plantain
stem after the previous fruit has been cutoff. It used
to be thrown on the rubbish heap as utterly worth-
less. Butit is different now, since cultivators have
begun to realise how much they were losing by their
former wasteful practice. The fibre can be made into
ropes, or woveD, Ibelieve, into cloth. At the Melrosa-
puram Agricultural School, near here, the fibre is being
extracted and made into ropes. It may be interesting
to some to learn something of the nature of the fibre
which is being extracted. A few days ago a piece of
rope was sent to me from the above school. Another
piece of rope was sent to me by the Deputy Superin-
tendent of the Chingleput Reformatory School—this
was made of hemp in Calcutta. These two ropes were
tested by me to ascertain their breaking tension
strength. The following is the result :—
Plantain fibre rope. Hemp rope.
length 122 yards 14 yards
Thickness, 5-16ths of an inch 9-32nds of an inch
Weight, 83 pallams, or 6 lbs
102 ozs, ae
Breaking tension 230 lbs 2 ozs
Price, R. 1 per viss, or 3 lbs
2 ozs Ts Sea Rl-4.0 yer viss.
Tt will thus be seen that the hemp rope is somewhat
stronger, but is 20 per cent, higher inprice. The
strain which the plantain fibre bore is remarkable,
and it shows that plantain fibre rope is about as good
for all practical purposes as the hemp rope. Its
durability and powers to resist wear and tear have yet
to be put to the test, however. My impression is that
a fibre which can bear such a high tension will be
found to be durable. This fibre has a white, glossy
appearance, andthe ropes made from it have a very
attractive look. Each plantain stemcan produce on an
average about 4 ozs. of fibre, and 600 plants can be
grown on anacre, Hach acre will therefore produce
160 Ib. or 48 viss, of fibre. This at Ri per viss will
give R48 per acre. A boy on 2 annas wages a day
can extract fibre from five stems. An acre will give
him work for 120 days, and this will cost R15. The
charge for spinning the fibre into ropes by hand is
about 6 annas aviss, And hence it will take R18 for
wages fora man to spin the fibre got from an acre.
This could be done much cheaper by 2 spinning
machine and in a shorter time, The hand process
takes 120days for an acre. Ifthe expenses incurred
in extracting and spinning the fibre be deducted, the
sum of R15 will be got as profit from an acre of
plantain cultivation, This amount of clear profit
isas much as the average value of all food-crops
grownin South India, per acre, and is a distinct adai-
tion to the income derived from the plantain
fruit and shoots. Besides, the refuse from the stems
when the fibre is being extracted, the leaves, and every
other thing connected with the plantain, are returned
to the soil as manure. Only the fruit and the fibre,
with some of the tender leaves and the tender heart,
are taken andsold. Nothing is lost in this process,
Tn addition to the saving and profit got from the
fibre produced by an acre of plantains, two hands are
employed for 120 days each, thus providing two new
occupations. Plantain gardens, if managed as they
ought to be, can be very profitable, and become a
constant source of income while they are under culti-
vation. Turmeric takes about a year to reach maturity,
and so does sugarcane; but once a plantain garden be
gins to bear fruit the fruit on all the trees does no
mature at one and the same time. Some bunches
appear before the others, and hence there is a constant
maturing of bunches one after the other going on.
eel7es are sold as they reavh the stage when they
10 pallams or 124 ozs
286 Ibs
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
329
can be cut fom the tree, In this way money ia
constantly coming into the hands of the cultivator,
which is very gratifying to him. It is not so with
other products of the soil, Plantains are universally
used: for curry, and hence there is a constant de,
mand for green fruit from plantain gardens,—/, Mail,
Sept, 28.
—
IRRIGATION IN CEYLON.
INTERVIEW WITH AN OLD RESIDENT,
SOME HINTS FOR QUEENSLAND.
Comparatively little is known in Australia con-
cerning theisland of Ceylou, beyond the immediate
surroundings of Colombo, familiarised to us by
the visits of tourists travelling to and from Europe,
Most of us know of the beauties of the southern
part of the island ; aud we have heard of the heroic
struggle of the planters who met the entire
destructicn of coffee, their main dependence, by
establishing the growth of tea, till then almost
unknown in the island, But how many of us rea-
lise that it has an area.representing about five-
sixths of that of Ireland, and a population almost
equal to that of the Australian Commonwealth ?
Yet such is the case, and the exceeding interest
attaching to this bright particular star in the crown
of the British monarch has been brought vividly
home to those who, during the past few weeks
have had the pleasure of intercourse with Mr, R
Ww Tevers, CMG, of the Ceylon Civil Service, who
is just now on a visit to Australia for the benefit
of his health. Mr, levers has spent some thirty
years in the service, his chief work having been
as Government Agent in the North Central pro-
vince. He was also for a time acting Colonial
Secretary, which in a Crown colony means, of
course, a great deal more than with us, Mr. levers,
during his visit to Queensland, has employed him-
self in collecting information concerning the tick
pest and other topics which may have a bearing
on histuture work. He explains that ticks are
prevalent in Ceylon, though happily redwater is un-
-knowa ; but ke is impressed with the value of dipp-
ing a3 a means of preventing that anaemia and tick
worry which are so destructive to the well-being
of tick-infested cattle, and the Queensland Govern-
ment have afforded him every help in prosecuting
his inquiries, so that he has now obtained all he
requires on the subject. He has also investigated,
as far as possible, the question of drought-resisting
grasses and shrubs, and will carry with him
practically all that is known here upon a subject
of such vital importance, Seeds also have been
freely supplied to him of any plants likely to be
of service, and during a visit, which he paid on
Saturday last to the Government Agricultural
College, at Gatton, he expressed himself as ex-
tremely grateful for the attention and help so
freely bestowed upon him during his stay in Queens-
land. As an expression of this feeling, Mr Ievers
devoted some little time to a conversation with a
representative of the ‘fCourier” who happened
also to be visiting the college on the day, and to
an explanation of certain matters in which he
thinks the experience of Ceylon may possibly prove
of service here. It may be added that he is greatly
pleased with what he bas seen of this country,
and believes that its possibilities under a proper
system of development, are almost unlimited, He
thinks, however, as many Queenslanders do also,
that irrigation is the great key needed to unlock
the problem of settlement of productiveness in this
great continent,
330
IRRIGATION IN CEYLON.
We are so accustomed to think of Ceylon as a
tropical and mountainous country with heavy and
frequent rainfall, that it will be information to
most people to learn that in the northern. half of
the island there are large tracts of country where
the life of the natives is practically dependent
upon irrigation. Such has evidently been the
case in centuries past, judging from the countless
remains of iriigation works now being discovered
and restored amongst the dense forests which
constitute the north central division of the island,
These works date back—many of them—before
the commencement of the Christian era, to a
time when Ceylon was ruled by its\own Kings,
and when probably the whole island was densely
populated and cultivated with an intensity up-
known to our European races. But from 700 to
1,200 AD, waves of invasion swept over the
country from India, and the natives were
gradually driven to the southward into the hills,
the invaders usurping their place on the plains of
the north but unable to -establish themselves in
the centre. Through continuous warfare, and
the consequent insecurity, these central areas
became a waste, the tropical forest—ever ready to
regain its hold where the hand of man relaxes its
way—quickly grew up over the deserted villages
and fields, filled up the irrigation trenches which
had been kept open with laborious cave, over-ran
the dams and tanks of the industrious natives, and
threw its dense mantle over all the works of man.
Now once more, under the great Pax Britannica,
under the fostering and directing care of the
British resident and the British engineer, the
forest is being driven back, dams are being re-
stored, watercourses reopened, and happy, busy,
thoughtful humanity takes once more the place
of nature red in tooth and claw. Moreover the
railways are being pushed out into these reclaimed
territories, so that'im a noble and beneficent sense
it may be said that what we have we hold, not by
force ef arms so much as by the double ribbon of
steel, which was Ruskin’s abomination, but which
counts for so much today in security against
famine and in the charm and variety of twentieth
century life even in the remoter regions of the
world. Insuch work accomplished in India, in
Ceylon, in Egypt, indeed in every quarter of the
globe, Britain’ will send down thé ages her
proudest monument of Empire.
wid Bis A LESSON FOR QUEENSLAND.
But what has all this todo with us in Queens-
land? may be naturally asked. Mr Tevers thinks
it hasa great deal to do with us; for he holds
that in the system of numerous small dams con-
serving the water in creeks, and depressions .
throughout the country, we have the possibility
of irrigating areas which, though not sufficient
to keep alive our immense flocks and herds
in time of drought, may yet enable us to
preserve the more valuable portions.of our stock,
and protect considerable areas from actual devasta-
tion. Mr. Ievers is not unmirndful of the dif-
ference beliween Queensland and Ceylon in the
cost of labour; but whilst this may influence the
character of the work to be undertaken, he
believes that what has been done there can also
be done here, though perhaps in a different way.
It is pointed out that in Ceylon wherever a
small watercourse exists acheap earthen dam is
thrown across it, by means of which a body of
water can be held back for irrigation and cattle
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST,
(Nov. 2, 1908.
supply purposes. No piling or stonework is em-
ployed in the dam itself. but the earth is dumped
into the site of the dam from either side, and
allowed to gradually consolidate, the face being
kept atthe natural batter of 2 ft. to one. Numerous
dams of this character are vuilt, some indeed
being of very large size. The one safeguard re-
quired is that the spill-way, or by-wash as it
would be called here, is of sufficient capacity to
prevent the water ever reaching the top of the
dam. A large by-wash is provided at either end
of the dam in the natural ground, and these
channels are protected with stonés or boards, so
that they wili nop wash out with the rush of
water in seasons of heavy rain, What frightens
people in works of this kind, says Mr, Levers, is
the enormous cost of the sluices, which require
skilled labour in construction and erection, and
highly skilled labour, too, becanse if the sluice
leaks, the whole work is destroyed. In Ceylon
this difficulty is overcome in the smaller dams in
avery simple way. By means of a box and
‘core’ of suitable pattern, concrete pipes are
made in short sections, and tapering at one end,
so that they can be connected by simply fitting
the simall end of one into the large end of
another. In addition to this a square block
of concrete is moulded with horizontal and
vertical bore, corresponding with the size of the
pipe. ‘The block is laid in the bed of the water-
course inside the dam, and connected on the one
hand with a line of pipes running out through the
bottom of the dam to the irrigation channels, and
on the other hand with a column of pipes rising
above the level of the water inside the dam.
Thus we have an L-shaped sluice, of which the
concrete block forms the elbow. The vertical
column of pipes is protected by upright posts. No
valves are used, for when water is required. all that
is needed is to remove a section of the perpendi-
cular series of pipes, and leb the water in, This
also admits of adjustment to the varying levels of
the water, and is at the same time a simple mode
of shutting off the water altogether, as nothing —
more is needed than to bring the top of the pipes
above the water level by simply adding additional
lengths. In alarge dam there are provided a
number of these sluices. The diameter of the pipes
varies from six inches to eighteen inches at the
top. It remains but to distribute the water over
the fields, and this is done by means of contour
channels in thesoil. Mr Ievers considers that the
timber dam of America, which is in reality a weir,
would be cheaper in Australia, where good timber
is comparatively plentiful and Jabour dear ; but
from what he has seen and heard of Queens-
land, he is quite convinced that great relief from
drought is obtainable by this means and without
any excessive outlay.
It ig interesting to learn that some of these
earthen dams in Ceylon are really of an extensive
character. One of the ancient constructions of this
kind which has been restored is at the confluence of
three streams, and is six miles across, having a
maximum height in the centre of 70ft., and so wide
as to accommodate three teams abreast. This
work throws the water back for a distance of
five miles, and feeds, an irrigation canal fifty
four miles in length, distributing water to numerous
villages on either side. This great work was cons-
tructed by a native king in 340 A.D. But it is not.
such gigantic works that Queensland needs. It is
rather to realise what was the object of the ancient.
Noy. 2, 1903] THE TROPICAL
Sinhalese—that every drop of rainfall should be
utilised before it reaches the sea.—Brisbane
Courier. ;
7
HORSE-BREEDING ESTABLISHMENT,
DELFT AND IRANATIVU. -
Full particulars of the establishment will doubt-
less appear in the Government -Agent’s report.
I visited the islands in January, and again in
October, and carried out the necessary work with
reference to branding, castration, shippipg, &c.
Len colts were operated upon, all successfully.
Owing to the scanty pasture heavy loss occurred
amongst the foais during the year, the mothers
not having sufficient milk forthem. This was due
first to drought, and then to floods which covered
up a great deal of the pasture and only subsided
at the close of the year. Another reason for the
scanty pasture is the enormous number of cattle,
goats, and sheep on the island. Several thousands
died of starvation during the year. There are too
many for the pasture ; their extremely small size
(some of them not much larger than sheep dogs)
indicates the difficulty there is in getting
enough to eat. Butchers taken up from
Colombo to buy cattle and establish a trade
laughed at the cattle and declined to buy any.
Any one who knows anything at all of stock
raising must have been very amused in reading the
various accounts published of the hardships en-
countered on Delft by the presence of the handful
of poniesin comparison to the number of catile.
The figures given speak for themselves. It was
stated that there were 14,000. cattle, 8,000 sheep
and goats, and 250 buffaloes on 10,000 acres ot
grazing land, if my memory is correct. The graz-
ing land is in parts coral rock, swampy areas in
which the principal pasture is a kind of moss,
areas of recently cultivated land, and areas of
good (or what is ealled good) pasture. The grass
is the fine grass commonin Ceylon, but is very
thin, and I have never seen it in sufficient abun-
dance to cover one’s bootsole, It is said 14,000
cattle, 8,000 sheep and goats, 250 buffaioes, and
78horses are kept on this available 10,000 acres
of grazing land. The best pasture in the world
would not carry them, much less a pasture subject
to drought for half the year. The harse establish-
ment on Delft numbers in all 78, including mares,
stallions, and foals; the presence of these is said
to bea great hardship to the people, eating all the
besb pasture from their stock. There is no restric-
tion as to pasture or water, and horses, cattle, &c.,
roam over the sameland. WhileI was at work
in the horse kraal on che borse plains hundreds of
cattle were grazing outside the walls and around
my camp all day. A parallel case would be for a
man to have one horse grazing on Galle Face and
another man a hundred cattle, the latter accusing
the owner of the horse of inflicting hardship upon
him by taking all the best pasture. On Iranativu
vhe case is different; the owners reduced their
cattle and goats as advised, with the result that
there is a plenty of pasture for all—ankle deep—
and all the animals are in excellent condition,
Showing how much interesy is taken in the
cattle on Delft, itis nearly impossible to geta
pair of bulls to pull a cart, and having obtained
them yery few can be driven, being absolutely
untrained. I do notthink there is a single pair
of trained cart bulls on the island. In travelling
about the island acart is pulled by coolies, and
one generally walks,
AGRICULTURIST. 331
PARASITES.—The ponies and cattle are pestered
by ticks and flies; the ticks are successfully com-
bated ou the young foals by periodical dressing
with a mixture of Stockholm tar, sulphur, and oil;
on the older horses it is difficult to do anything to
prevent the worry of flies. I collected specimens
of the two common flies and forwarded them to Mr
Green, Government Hutomologist, who reported as
follows:—The large fly is Hippobosca muculata
(Leach), a blood-sucker, and has strong, sharp,
irritant claws, does not lay egys, the larval stage
being passed in the ovaries ot the parent, and finally
extruded as pupa, which hatches out as a fly. There
is no external larval existance. ‘The small fly was
new, and was sent by Mr Green to Mr EE Austin
of the British Museum, who reported that it is
a species of Lyperosia (Fam, Muscide), and in all
probability new, siuce as far as he was aware, no
species of Lyperosia has yet been described trom
the Oriental region. The specimen forwarded being
very near to Lyperosiz minuta (Beggi) from
Somaliland, but appears tobe distinet. In England
Lyperosia irritans, with its allies Hamatobia
stumulans (Mg.) and Stomoays calycritans (4.),
is a common plague of cattle and horses in the
fields in summer. At the horse show held in
Colombo in August the first prize for country-bred
ponies was awarded to a Delft pony, ‘* Rajah,” the
property of Sir F Burdett, Bart, A.D-C.—Adminis
tration Report.
—_—
THE CEYLON MODEL FARM,
The tarm started in January, and has been
successfully worked during the year by Mr P Sama-
ranayaka, the manager resident on the farm, who
has worked throughout the year to make the
farm a success, if
Stock CATTLE:—At first some Scina cattle
were sent to the farm frora the Government Dairy.
They suffered from the drought considerably and
did not thrive. and were all returned, except six
calves. It was then decided to purchase native
cows and cross them with a Scind bull. Nineteen
native cows were purchased and put on the farm.
These so tar have done well, and should come into
profit in 1903.
SHEEP AND GOATS,—Eleven native ewes and
eleven lambs and three New Zealand ewes were
purchased. Some were put toa half-bred Austra-
lian ram and others to a good native ram.
During the year nine lambs were boru, three
males and six females. The former will be sold,
and the latter remain in the herd for breeding
purposes.
So far the sheep have been successful, and would
have been more so had there not been such pro-
longed droughts during the year.
Five goats were purchased ia Scind, but have not
turned out successtul, as they could not stand the
climate. They became affected with a form of
giddiness and rheumatism and three died. Four
kids were born, of which two died,
GARDEN PrRoDUCE.—As an adjunct to the farm
avegetable garden was started, and the following
were cultivated experimentally on a small scale,
with success. Lettuce, radishes, horse radish,
vegetable marrow, spinach, yams of different
kinds, luffa (of two kinds), snake gourd, water
gourd, beans, melon, brinjal, and pumpkins. They
were sold locally; the amount realised will ke
seen in the statement annexed.
332 THE TROPICAL
The following have been planted on a more
extensive scale :—Chillies, pineapples (both Mauri-
tius and Kew), plaintains (of different varieties),
and manioca, ‘The area planted with these is
about 14 acre. They are of a more permanent
nature, and should begin to give a profitable yield
in 1903.
GRrass.—About 4 acres of land is under Mauritius
grass for the cattle on the farm, and any in excess
of requirements is sold. The grazing land of the
farm 1s provided by the golf links.
MODEL FARM INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.—The
amount derived by sale of vegetable, grass, and
sheep is R322’43, Revenue from lands leased to
Golf Club, Messrs W H Davies & Co., Colombo
Commercial Company, Limited, Municipal Coun-
cil, and small cultivators of grass is R4,756:50;
total R5,078:93: The expenditure, including rent
paid to the Hon, the Government Agent, Manager’s
commission, purchase of stock, implements, and
cost of a sheep shed, amounts to R3,490°08, leaving
a balance of R1,588°87. Of the expenditure R1,350
has been paid to the Hon. the Government Agent
as rent, R766°02 has been spent on stock, imple-
ments, and shed. Credit may therefore be taken
for R3,704°87 as profit, and actual expenses of the
farm to R1,374:56, Statements of receipts and ex-
penditure and stock on hand are annexed.
G. W. STURGESS, M.R, C. Vv, S., Government
Veterinary Surgeon.
—Administration Report.
———E—
PRODUCE AND PLANTING.
While the Oonsuls at the Treaty Ports of China
inform us that
THE AWAKENING OF THE CHINESE TEA GROWER
to the needs of foreign markets is as far off as ever,
there area few prophets on this side who are still
hopeful, Not long since one of these made it known
that, ‘With a sufficient capital which would be re-
productive, I would undertake to double the present
trade in China tea in a few years, to the great benefit
of the Chinese, and also to the health and temperance
of tea drinkers who would consume China tea if they
could get it, But,’ he added, no doubt with regret,
‘meanwhile the trade persist in ignoring it.” This
may be very obstinate policy on the part of “the
trade,’”’ but they evidently have good reason for this
wayward course. ‘'easfrom India and Ceylon have
secured such a firm hold on the trade and on con-
sumers that without the expenditure of a large sum
of money it is not quite clear how the China tea
trade isto be successfully rehabilitated, notwithstand-
ing that those interested are never tired of telling us
“that the day will come,” &c.
If we may judge by a recent circular from Messrs
Smith, Baker and Co., of Yokohama,
, J THE JAPANESE TEA MAN
is not quite awake to the competition of Indian and
Ceylon growers. The firm mentioned say : “Judging
from the present talk among native tea men they
seem to takeabout the same languid interest in the
local tea market from nowto the end of the season
that the habitual ‘fan-tan’ player does after three-
quarters of the cash in the game hasbeen withdrawn,
thatis, they seem to know just how it is coming out.
They say today for instance, that there will be only
seventeen days more picking (the growers having
agreed to stop picking September 1), and the narrower
the margin of production becomes the more confident
they feel of their ability to take care of the present
stock and probable addition, and, in consequence, signs
of weakuess on the part of holders are nowhere apparent
fo buyers for export. When we explain to them with
* of native cloths.
AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 2, 1903.
t Gi AKO}
painful particularity the inroads Ceylon and India teas -
are making in the American and Oanada trade for
cheap Japans they miss the point entirely, and ask
childlike and blandiy if it is not possible for them to
import some of the cheap Ceylons for home consump-
tion in Japan! ‘These Mongolians is improvin’.’
Will an export of 42,000,000 [b from Japan cover the
requirements of America and Canada for this season ?’’
Tea exported during the current season to August 11
has been 22,461,148 lb, of which 5,551,555 lb were for
New York, via Pacific Ocean, and 3,480,963 lb ui the
Suez Canal; 3,551,963 ib for San Francisco, 10,550,863
lb for Chicago, and 2,228,623 lb in Canada, ‘The total
one year ago at this time was 19,244,527 lb,
Since Russia has taken possession of the Central
Asian territories she has developed the cultivation of
cotton in a remarkable degree. Central Asia now
produces annually about 100,000 tons of
COTTON,
which, although insufficient to make the Russian
cotton industry entirely independent of the United
States for cotton for manufacturing purposes, is a
great stepin that direction. The ** Revue Generale
des Questions Economiques” mentions an incident
which may lead to a revolution in this branch of
industry, viz., that a Russian engineer M Scheyveline
has discovered a process by which the fibre of flax and
hemp can be transformed into a substance similar to
cotton by being treated with the residuum of naphtha.
This causes the fibre to decompose, and to acquire the
appearance and qualities of cotton. This substance
can then be worked with cotton-spinning machinery,
and the manufactured article has all the qualities of
cotton tissues. No preparation of the flax is necessary ;
the plant can be used just as it is pulled out of the
ground. The inventor does, not intend taking out a
patent for his discovery ; on the contrary, he offers to
make his system known to all who ask. This dis-
covery is of great importance to Russia. The area
planted with flax in 1900 was about 4% millions of
acre, which produced about 490,000 tons, and this
quantity, treated with the new process, would enable
Russia to dispense with American cotton. In a few
weeks the British Cotton-growing Association will
establish its headquarters at the Equitable Buildings,
St. Ann Street, Manchester. The association has
interested itself in the question of impreving the quality
and increasing the growth of cotton in India,
Although the reports from the association are neces-
sarily indeterminate, they appear to give on the
whole good reason for hope. As regards West Africa
Mr Hotfman, the expert at Lagos, expects that at
feast three orfour thousand bales will be grown this
year, and as the natives are beginning to take up the
matter of cotton growing with the keenest interest,
this comparatively small beginning is sufficiently
encouraging, From Sierra leone Mr Neely writes in
a very encouraging strain, and though the result of the
attempt to grow from American seed is doubtful, he
has the best hopes of the future of native cotton,
which is believed to be equal, if not superior, to
middling American. Cotton is indigenous to the
country, and has long been grown for the manufacture
Among the other fields for the
activities of the association may be mentioned South-
ern Nigeria, whére various experimental patches under
the direction of Mr Prince are reported to be doing
very well, and the West Indian Islands, in which it is
expected that next season a very large area will be
planted.”
The prospects are encouraging, whether we regard
the West Indies (with their 3,670 acres already planted),
the West Coast of Africa, Hastern and Central Africa,
or Rhodesia ; and there is no reason to doubt but that
Americans would soon have the opportunity they at
present sigh for, of consuming all their home-grown
supply, if the possibilities of the regions we have
named were exploited, as they would be, under the
stimulus of preferential treatment in our markets.—
H, and C, Mail, Sept. 18. j
THE TROPICAL
PEARL FORMATION IN, §THE CEYLON
PHARL J OYSTER.
DR. HERDMAN’S PAPERS AT THE
BRITISH ASSOCIATION.
A paper on “Pearl-Formation in the Ceylon
Pearl-Oyster,” contributed by Professor Herdiman
F RS, and Mr James Hornell, and read before the
British Association on Sept. 16th, stated that they
had had two cruises of several weeks each amongst
the pearl-oyster banks in the Gulf of Manaar,
and had had the experience of the three con-
sectivive inspections of March and November,
1902, and Mareh 1903, and also the successful
fishery of 1903, from which to draw conclusions,
Many hundreds of oysters had been examined,
and large numbers ot pearls had been decalcified.
As aresult of this werk they had come to the
conclusion that there were several distinct causes
that led to the production of pearls in the Ceylon
pearl ‘‘oyster” ;-—-(1) Some pearls or pearly ex-
crescences on the interior of the shell were due to
the irritation caused by Olione, Leucodore, and
other boring animals ; (2) minute grains of sand
and other inorganic particles only formed the
nuclei of pearls under exceptional circumstances.
Probably 1t was only when the shell was injured—
e.g, by the breaking of the ‘‘ears,” thus
enabling sand to gepto the interior—that such
particles supplied theirritation that gave rise to
pearl=formation ; (3) many pearls were found in
the muscles, especially at the lavator and pallial
insertions, aud these were formed around minute
calcareous concretions, the ‘‘calcospherules ”
which were produced in the tissues and formed
centres of irritation; (4) most of the fine pearls
found free in the body ot the Ceylon oyster con-
tained the remains of Platylelminthian parasites,
so that the stimulation which ied to the tormation
of an ‘‘ Orient ”’ pearl was, as had been suggested
by various writers in the past, due to the pre-
sence of a minute parasitic worm. In all cases,
whatever its nucleus might be, the pearl, like the
nacre, was deposited by an epithelial layer, These
pearls might be conveniently classified as (1.)
Aimpullar-pearls, where the nucleus and resulting
pearl lay 1m a pouch orampulla of the ectoderm
projecting into the mantle; ({1.) Muscleepearls,
tormed around calcospherules near the insertions
of muscles; and (ILL.) Cyst-pearls, formed
around encysted parasites, ‘Lhe parasite in the
case of the majority of the cyst-pearls of Ceylon
was the larva of a Cestode which appeared to
be new and would be described under the name
Tetrarhyochus unionifactor. The younger larval
stages had been found free-swimming in the Gulf
of Manaar, und on the gills of the oyster; later
stages were common iu the liver, mantle, and
gills, and a more advanced condition was found
in the File-fishes, Balistes mitis and 8B
stellatus which fed upon the oysters, The
sexually mature Cestode had not yet been found,
but it might be expected to occur either in one
of the large Eilasmobranchs (such as Trygon
narnak), which abounded on the pearl-banks, or
in one of the smaller cetaceans which might also
feed upon such fishes as Balistes.
Protessor Herdman also discoursed on “A
Phosphorescence Phenomenon in the Indian
Ocean.” He described how, during his recent ex-
pedition to Ceylon, as they lay at anchor in the
Gulf of Manaar, on March 1éth, 1902, about 9 p,m.,
phe sea was seen to be dotted with bright phos-
Nov: 2, 1903.)
AGRICULTURIST. 388
phorescent lights of considerable size singly placed
at some distance apart. These for over an hour
continued to glow with a pulsating appearance in
harmony—all shining brightly at thesamie moment,
and then all flickering out together, to reappear
simultaneously a few seconds later. On going
out ab once witha net, a sample of the plankton
was obtained, but it wasnot certain that any of
the pulsating forms had been caught. The pather-
ing contained Sagitta (very many) Appendicularia,
Copepoda, several common species, and Sapphirhina
sinuicanda, Pontella fera, Calocalanus pavo,
andsome smaller forms, along with half-a dozen
1 in. long Heteronereids of a reddish-brown colour.
The light was thought to be probably due to the
last-named, but the matter, however, could nob
be definitely ascertained at the time, and the abovs
explanation was only suggested. London Times,
Sept. 17.
Mr. J LOMAS, on September 14th, in a paper on
‘ Polyzoa as Rockecementing Urganisms,’ described
the composition and formation of ab ut 20 samples
of ‘caleretes,’ which were among the specimens of
sea-bottoms recently brought from the Gulf of
Manaar by Professor Herdman. They were broken
off by pearl-divers froin the parent masses, which
formed rocky platforms, locally called ‘paars,’ in
many parts of the gulf. They all occurred in
shallow water at depths varying from 24 to 10
fathoms. The majority of the specimens were
sandstones cemented by carbonate of lime, bub
occasionally compact limestones, sometimes phos-
phatic, and coral rock were brought to the surface.
All the stones were thickly encrusted with polyzoa
nullipores, wormtubes, sponges, and other marine
organisms. While the importance of nullipores as
agents in binding grains of sand had been recog-
nised, the work of polyzoa su readily broke up and
lost their structural characters that it was only
when very recent samples were at hand that criteria
could be obtained determining their former
presence. Mr Lomas thea described in detail the
geological and zoological formation of these ‘cal-
cretes,’ determined by examination of thin slices
or sections of the calerete with recent colonies on
the outside.—London Times, Sept. 15.
COTTON GROWING IN THE WEST INDIES,
MEETING AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE.
A conterence was held yesterday at the Colonial
Ottice to consider the question of che development
of cotton growing in tue West Indies. ‘Lhe Duke
of Marlborough, Under Secretary tor the Colonies,
presided. The :ollowing Golonial represertatives
were vresent :—Sir F Hodgson, Barbadoes ; Sir
Gerala Strickland, Leeward Islands; Sir C Knollys,
Trinidad; Sir Robert Llewellyn, Windward Islands;
Mr Ashmore, British Guiana, together with My,
Lucas and Mr. Pearson of the Colonial Office ;
Mr Dobree, chairman of the Colonial Bank ; ana
Sir Alfred Jones, president ; and Mr J C Atkins,
secretary, representing the British Cotton Growing
Association, Cotton growing in the West Indies
is being taken up very energetically, and there
is every prospect of a prosperous industry being
established in the various istands, The Governors
are doing all in their power to encourage the move-
ment, and substantial assistance has been rendered
by the British Cotton Growing Association who,
in addition to giving a large sum to be dis-
tributed in prizes, have provided machinery for,
334 THE TROPICAL
preparing the cotton and are also sending out agents
to see to the proper treatment and marketing of
theerop, Thescheme was fully discussed yesterday,
and arrangements were made for making advances
to smal] growers where required. As alreaay an-
nounced in The Times, Sir Daniel Morris, Imperial
Director of Avriculture for the West Indies, is '
proceeding to the United States, accompanied by
Mr Boveil, of Baxrbadoes, to study the methods in
vogue there for growing and marketing cotton.
The sea island variety of cotton grows well in
the West Indies and several lots already received
in England have fetched high and remunerative
prices, and there is every probability that before
long a large and profitable industry will be esta-
blished,
The Chairman stated ‘that thé movement, both
in the West Indies and in other parts of the
Empire, met with the most cordial approval and
would receive every possible support from the
Government whilst the Colonial Secretary took
a very great personal interest in the matter
“ The Duke of Marlborough promised Sir Alfred
Jones that he would attend the next meeting of
the association in Manchester early in October.—
London Limes Sept. 17.
————<—»————__—
TEA FROM JAMAICA.
Sir Alfred Jones, K.C\M.G., stated toa Daaly
Mail representative in Liverpool yesterday that
his experiments in Jamaica had. showed excellent
prospects of tea growing on the island. In a shorb
time tea of good blend will be added to the exports
of Jamaica. Mr. R Dawson, an expert, selected
the warm, temperate slopes of the Biue Mountains,
at an altitude ot some 4,000 feet, as being an ideal
place for the growth and cultivation of tea.
Lhere isample water power to work the machinery.
From experiments it has been proved that the
Chinese varieties grow luxuriantly, but there are
still better prospects for the Assam and Ceylon
hybrids.—Daily Mail, Sept, 19.
a
BANANA HEMP FROM GERMAN EAST
AFRICA,
It is reported from German East Africa. that
recently in the interior, in the Uluguru moun-
tains, a species of banana has been found in
great numbers, the inside bark of which has been
recognised by experts as very valuable as Manila
hemp. There is said to be room enough for un-
bounded plantations of the new industrial material,
—L. & C. Express, Sept. 18.
—__—_______
AGRICULTURE IN SIERRA LEONE,
In a recent report on Sierra Leone, issued by the
Colonial Office, it is stated that agriculture, in its —
enerally accepted sense, is not carried out in that
olony or Protectorate. Generally speaking, it may
be said to be confined to the growing of such crops as
vice, cassava, and maize. The soil is fertile, and there
‘are millions of acres of land that might be made
productive, but the natural indolence of the people is
aH almost insuperable bar to the extension of agri-
culture, and as long as their easily satisfied wants are
met under present conditions, it will be difficult to
overcome their inertness and to persuade them to take
‘up agriculture on a larger and lucrative scale. Small
‘quantities of sweet potatoes and yams are also grown,
aidinsome parts ginger is cultivated to a limited ex-
tent, Efforts are being made to encourage and extend
AGRICULTURIST.
THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON,
and an American cotton expert has been sent out,
under the auspices of the British Cotton Growing
Association, for this purpose. At present a certain
amount of cotton is cultivated in those parts of the
Protectorate where the manufacture of native cloth is
carried on. The plant is indigenous to the courtry,
and its cultivation is of the most primitive kind, the
seed being sown broadcast over the land on which
cassava or rice has been planted. The native plant
is perennial, and the quality and stapleare good. A
sample which was recently sent to England was quoted
at 53d per lb. The cotton expert is of opinion that
much might be done to improve both the quality and
~ the staple by proper methods of cultivation and by a
careful selection of seed. He is now engaged in the
Sherbro district in carrying out experiments with a
view of determining this. Every encouragement is
being given to the people to induce them to take up
the industry, and the Government ha3 agreed to
accept cotton in lieu of cash in the payment of the
house tax. Oonsignments of cotton will also be carried
by rail free of freight.—Board of Trade Journal, Sept 17.
———$_
SERICULTURE IN ORISSA.
The native Chiefs of Orissa, says the Englishman,
are setting an excellent example to others by intro-
ducing sericulture among their tenantry. The
Maharaja of Mourbhang was the first to set the ball
rolling. The Maharaja of Keonjhor followed suit,
and we understand others are also alive to the ad-
vantages of silkworm rearing. At Baripada thou-
sands of mulberry trees are being propagated ina
nursery, The trees will be distributed among
the peasantry next June‘and July. The shrub
mulberry of Bengal has also been introduced, and
three crops of cocoons have been already reared
successfully, and a uumber of local raiyats trained.
The plan on which the Maharaja is proceeding
is an excellent one. For the first four or five
years while the mulberry trees are growing, the
silkworms will be reared in small plantations of
Bengal mulberry at Baripada and a number of
outstations for the purpose of training the raiyats.
When the thousands of mulberry trees are full
grown allover theState, hundredsof cultivators will
be also ready to make use of the leaves for the
purpose of rearing silkworms. The Maharaja
intends buying up the cocoons from his tenants
and spinning them to raw silk in a central factory.
The Maharaja has employed one of the best
sericulturists of the country to look after the
enterprise and although at the initial stage of
the industry it cannot possibly yield any profit,
the measures adopted promise a final success. At
Keonjhor mulberry planting will be commenced
in a few days.—Pioneer Oct. 5.
—————
INDIAN COOLIES FOR REUNION,
Another competitor in the Indian Cooly —
Emigration field may possibly be seen shortly.
We learn from the
(Paris) that a determined effort is about
to be made to reintroduce Indian Cooly
Emigration to Réunion, where planters and
employers are in a desperate state owing to
a want of labour.. The British Government
stopped emigration to Réunion many years
ago because the coolies were badly treated ;
but in 1897 a new Convention was drawa
up, permitting emigration though under
conditions which the French Colonists say
are “impossible.” It is now sought to have
the Convention modified and: it ‘is hoped
in Paris to effect this.—M, Mail, Oct, 1.
(Nov. 2 1908.
Quinzaine Coloniale —
'
Noy. 2, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
JAVA RUBBER EXTRACTION FROM
TWIGS &c.
The Java Bode points out that the increasing
demand for twigs, branches, and leaves from gutta
“trees for the extraction of that stuff is doing harm.
The young gutta trees hitherto spared in the jungle
from their not being old enough to yield the real
article, arenow getting stripped of their-leaves
and twigs for the other form ot extraction. The
result is too often the death of the trees. —Straits
Times, Oct. 5.
———--— —
B, CG. A. EXPORT VALUATION ASSESS
MENT ON TEA.
ONE SHILLING PER POUND.
The Board of Trade have received a copy of the
British Gentral Africa Gazette under date of 30ch
June last, which contains a notice to the effect
that on and after the Ist July, 1903, the export
valuation assessment on tea will, until further
notice, be Is per pound.—Board of Trade Journal,
Sept. 17,
; ——_———_ —
PARA RUBBER IN THE STRAITS.
Mura, Sept. 26.—The Government seems deter-
mined to encourage the cultivation of Para. This
is very prudent. With a view to supplying the
gardeners in the districts with the seeds by and by,
1,000 young plants have now been planted all along
the roadside in town, well feneed in. That this
move will, in due course, be beneficial to the
reyenue of the State goes without saying, inase
much as thesoilis highly favourable to the growth
of rubbers. Already many land-holders up-country
are growing Para extensively.—straits Times.
eet
PLANTING IN KALUTARA,
RUBBER CLEARINGS,—Clearings are being made
for rubber, as much as the cramped space in
the district allows, and on St. George’s Group,
fifty acres of forest land at Bopitiya were burned
on the 9th Ovt., and twenty-five on the 10th, under
the supervision of the Superintendent of Ambe-
tenne Estate. For the opening up of more arable
lands for the plantation of rubber, -Kalutara
looks to the Railway, on the construction of
which the prosperity of the planting district
depends to a considerable extent.
ey
PLANTING IN NEGRI SEMBILAN.
Only three applications for agricultural land,
in Negri Sembilan, during 1902, for 50 acres and
over, were received. Mr Rowland was granted
100 acres at Perhentian Tinggi for the collection
of getah taban. Messrs Cumming and Bugai’s
application for 50 acres at Kuala Sawah for millet
cultivation was approved. An application for 50
acres ai Kuala Sawah for cotton cultivation was
also approved,
ns
PLANTING NOTES,
A PECULIAR FooD PRODUCT FROM BALUCHIs-
TAN—is reported to have recently been brought to
official notice. It is the pollen of Tipha angus.
tifolia or elephant grass, the yellow powder being
used as flour and for bread-making in Sind and
Bombay.—M. Mail.
AGRICULTURIST, 335
An UNUSOALLY LARGE SPECIMEN oF RED
CaApPsicuM—was shown tous today. It weichs ex-
actly 8 oz. and has been grown at the Tea Gardens
where vegetable cultivation has been recently
started under the direction of Mr A B Stephens
Acting Superintendent, Government Gardens,
Taiping.—Perak Pioneer,
RUBBER—Sselling privately at 5 shillings—
shows how firm the market for this
product isat home. Wetrnst that the rubber
canker, upon which—as a _ contemporary
takes upon itself to make public—Mr.
Carruthers is now reporting, will not he
found to be affecting the product at all
seriously.
A RusBsBer Risk.—The U. S. Consul-general
at Cobourg states that a circular has recently been
issued by the India-rubber Manufacturers’ Associa-
tion announcing an advance of ten per cent on the
price of manufactured goods owing to the rise
in the price of raw rubber, He advises mann-
facturers to be careful in dealing with this article,
as there is every prospect of the price of 1900 ($1-01
per lb) being exceeded in the near future.—Chemist
and, Druggist.
TAMARIND AVENUES.—Ihe avenues of the
Salem District are a legacy which the old Maramut
Department left to posterity, We are sorry to
note a large fall in the income from these avenues
which amounted to only R33,787 for last year
against R44,992 in the previous year. This is
explained to have been due to the low bids at the
sales of the avenue produce on account of tlie
scanty yield of tamarind.—Indian Engineering,
A NEw RUBBER CoMPANY.—‘‘ Mountford Rub-
ber Co., Ltd.” (78,498).—Registered September 4
with capital £500, in £1 shares, to carry on the
business ot manutacturers of and dealers in India
rubber, gutta percha, fibre, leather belting,
leather, canvas, asbestos, waterproofing, ebonite
and vulcanised goods, ete, No initial public
issue. The number of dealers is not to be less
than 2 nor more than 5; the subscribers are tv
appoint the first. Registered by Waterlow Bros.
and Layton, Limited, Birechin Lane, E.C.—Jn-
vestors’ Guardian. °
THE Next PRIZE COMPETITION FOR TEA
MANUFACTURERS.—After the award in Messrs.
Geo. Steuart & Company’s prize essay com-
petition, alittle breathing-space will be wanted.
But as soon as a new subject is required the
P. A. Committee, having now received a
stimulus, would do well to consider Mr. John
Hughes’ even more practical (or commercial 2)
suggestion for a prize —i.e.,for the highest aver-
age price of tea sold in Colombo. In a letter
elsewhere he takes a planting contributor to
task for misreading his previous proposal
contained in his letter of July 10th (published
July 27th.) It may be suggested that with a
system of commissions on profits, such a prize
would be a small additional incitement to
careful manufacture? It isnot every superin
tendent, however, who gets commissions based
on the prices his charge obtains, and in the
proposed prize both superintendent and assist-
ante (if any), in each case, should have their
snare.
mart
336 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
PRODUCE IN ZANZIBAR.—The clove crop does not
promise to be very plentiful this season. Reports
from Pemba are bad and most of the -Zanzibar
plantations bid fair to have a very thorough rest
after last year’s record crop. Zanzibar and Pemba
copra will soon be able to hold its own against the
produce of Chole which has hitherto been much
superior to anything these islands could put on the
market. The result of this improvement is that
Zanzibar copra has gone up in price. Chillies
have also improved greatly and the abnormal de-
mand in Europe this year, resulting in very excep-
tional prices, has been bravely met by Zanzibar
with a finer quality than we had been in the habit
of shipping.—Zanzibar Gazette, Sept. 16.
Eprste Founal.—The Royal Horticultural
Society recently held a special show of Fungi at
Westminster, ahd a lecture on the subject was
delivered by Dr Cooke. ‘If the mystery of culti
vating edible Fungi,” said Dr Cooke, ‘‘ could be
discovered, we should be able to cultivate many
species.’’ He himself had eaten eighty species, all
more or less wholesome. The cultivated Mush-
room (Agaricus campestris) is a most widely spread
species. It is found in Siberia, Northern India,
Mongolia, Ceylon, Nerth and South America,
South Africa, Oceana, Tasmania, and everywhere,
indeed, if a suitable climate exists. Ib is recognised
as good for food in a number of countries. The
Chinese, he remarked, cultivate a number of
species of Fungi, but it is not known whether this
is included.—Journal of Horticulture, Sept. 17.
Is FrsrE Dust MANURE?—In discussing this
subject in his last communication our Marawila
correspondent stated that a well-known planter of
Negombo was reported to have given it as his
opinion that fibre dust was a manure. His
authority for that statement was one of our con-
temporaries,—he believes, the ‘‘ Standard.” What
gave the colour of truth to this assertion, was the
laboured arguments of the learned Solicitor-General,
that fibre dust was not manure. The planter
referred to writes:—‘‘I gave it as my opinion
unhesitatingly, that fibre dust is of no manurial
value whatever, and that I had never used it, nor
known it used as such. I had, however, seen it
applied to light sandy soil, with beneficial results,
due—nobt to its possessing the constituents which
the soil requires in order to give crops—but to its
capacity for absorbing and conserving moisture and
ameliorating the mechanical condition of the soil,
I am glad to find you agree with me on these
points. Will you, therefore, do me the justice
to put this right in an early issue of the Observer?”
Our correspondent doessocheerfully. He adds:—
“It is so refreshing to find great minds in com-
plete agreement ! ”
ANtTs.—On the extract on Ants reproduced
elsewhere, Mr. E. EK. Green, for whose opinion,
we referred it to him, says it will no doubt
interest our readers, as it did him. But there
is room for doubt as to whether the writer has
correctly judged between cause and effect,
in some of his observations. For instance,
whether the absence of ants caused the dis-
appearance of aphis, or whether the disap-
pearance of aphis (from some other natural
cause) removed the source of attraction to the
ants, any direct observations, that may
throw light on the subject, will always be
valuable. Mr. Green does not think that the
elaborate theory about a chemical action set
(Nov: 2, 1903.
up by the passage of ants over chalk is :
necessary to account for their inability to
climb a post rubbed with that substance. The.
mechanical difficulty is quite sufficient.= The
dry powder gives way beneath their feet. If ~
the chalk is applied wet, in the form of
whitewash, it will not bar the passage of ants.
With regard to ‘‘ white ants” (termites),
kerosene is a well-known deterrent. Mr. Green
has not experimented with the crude oils; but
ordinary kerosene—as used for illuminating
purposes—is too costly and its effect teo
transient for extensive use as suggested.
Carbon bisulphide (at present unprocurable
in Ceylon) is—in his opinion—the best exter-
minant for all ants and termites, But, instead
of setting it alight, after pouring it into the
nests, Mr. Green blocks up all the Openings
with heated earth or clay, and leaves the
deadly gas to do its work. Being heavier
than air, it sinks into and pervades the
underground galleries, suffocating every occu-
pant. A local manufactory of carbon bisul-
phide would be a boon to the Island. 3
RAMIE FIBRE.,—I have had an interview
with Mr. Edwards Radcliffe. Mr. Radcliffe
has a machine set up in Kensington where
Ramie fibre is decorticated, the gum extracted
and the ribbon prepared for working up; but
his contention is that the waste could be as
easily removed from the fibre at the spot
of production by hand labour, as is indeed
done, I believe, in China. By following out
this method, freight would be about half
the cost it is at present and consequently
profits much larger. The samples Mr,
Radcliffe has to show fill several books and
are most interesting as indicating the
numerous articles which can be made out of
Rhea. He has specimens of table linen, dress
fabrics, threads of all colours ready for
weaving, cords for coarse and fine string
work such as hammock making etce.,
mantles for incandescent lamps, and
many other things too numerous to
mention, When his sons, who were, two
of them, C I V troopers in the South
African War, got their kits according to
Government requirements. Mr Radcliffe had
khaki suits made in addition for each of
them of ramie cloth which they wore all
through the war instead of the regulation
suits in their knapsacks. The ramie khaki
stood the test of the Campaign so well that
whereas all the other troopers came back
almost in rags, the suils worn by these young
‘men, though stained and splashed with mud,
were still perfectly serviceable and respect-
able, The truth is that the stoutness of
materials made from ramie is likely to be an
objection tc it as a fabric. It apparently
wears too well ever to be a fashionable article:
but for military purposes, or for workmen’s
clothes, it seems just the right stuff. Some
of the samples Mr Radcliffe showed me were
from rhea grown in England, near Wellington,
Salop, so that evidently the plant flourishes
in all sorts of climates. His letters to the
papers here are exciting attention now in
various quarters, and the day Isaw him, he
was arranging for an interview with a repre-
sentative of ‘ Commercial Intelligence,”—
London Cor.
Noy. 2, 1903.] THE TROPICAL
CEYLON GAME PROTECTION SOCIETY,
MEETING OF THE HAPUTALE BRANCH.
The Annual General Meeting of this branch was
held at Haputale Resthouse on Saturday, 3rd Octo-
ber, There was a poor attendance. Mr CS Burns
was elected Chairman.
THE REPORT.
The Hon. SECRETARY presented his Annual Re-
port as follows :—
Since we last met the Government have come to
what, for the present atall events, we must regard as
a final decision on the question of shooting on the
hills, This decision is, as you probably know—first,
that shooting sambur over an elevation of 4,000 feet is
forbidden, over dogs, everywhere, whether the country
is ever visited by aknifing pack or not; second,
the licenses to stalk anywhere over 4,000 feet are to
be issued by the Government Agents to all fit and
proper persons ; and third, that red deer may be shot
over dogs, by license-holders in the open season, at
any elevation. This is, as you are aware, a very big
concession from what has been the rule for the last
four years, but I submit that it does not go far
enough, Why it should be illegal’ to shoot sambur
over hounds where no rezistered pack ever hunts and
where stalking is impracticable, I fail to understand.
It is clearly not because it is considered unsports
manlike, ag some of the men who have been most
energetic in getting the law imposed, find it very
sporting to bring their packs down below 4,000 feet and
shoot sambur and spotted deer over them there. The
Hon. the Colonial Secretary writes that it is imposed
“yurely in the interests of sport and to prevent the
extermination of game.” I fear it may have rather the
opposite effact. Superintendents who are not allowed
to shoot elk themselves are not likely to risk making
their coolies dissatisfied by being too energetic in
stopping their hunting, and it is from these cooly
gangs that the only danger of extermination arises.
However, one of the great objections to the old rule
was that it conferred an entire monopoly of the sport
over the enormous area of country over 4,000 feet
on those very few men who had the spare time to
run a knifing pack. The concession of the right to
stalk anvwhere goes a long way to remove this com-
plaint. In addition to those who have not the spare
time to run a knifing pack, there are a very large
number of sportsmen who object to knifing, owing to
the large proportion of does and immature stags,
whose slaughter this form of sport entails, and to these
sportsmen the concession of the right to stalk stags
should be acceptable. Those men who own red deer
packs will be pleased to see all the Uva patanas again
thrown open to their sport, alchough I must say that
the rule closing them has not been very carefully
observed. From this you will see, that though we may
not have got aJl we think we are entitled to, still the
agitation, for which this branch was mainly responsi-
ble, has secured some valuable concessions. No
doubt you have seenin the pape:s the draft of the
proposed new rules for the Society. I notice in them
there is no mention of the power of branches to spend
@ portion of their funds in their district, and I will
endeavour to get this inserted. I would also call your
attention to rule XI, by which members bind them-
selves to observe the existing Ordinances. By these
Ordinances a close season has been fixed for red deer,
bnt I understand that many of the leading members
of the Society ignore this altogether. Hither the rule
or the Ordinance will have to bealtered. A watchman
has been appointed temporarily for the country im-
. mediately below the Hapnutale estates. His salary is
paid, half by this branch and half by the Wellum-
wittia Hunt Club. Should he prove to be doing good
in stopping coolies hunting, I hope to give him
the permanent appointment, but subscriptions to the
brauch must improve or it will be difficult to-pay his
ages The parent Society still pays for a watchman
4
AGRICULTURIST, 337
in Lower Uva, and considering the claims of other
lowcountry districts for grants for watchers, I don’t
think we can ask for more,’’
Mr. A © FRASER referred to the subject of the
right of branches to spend a portion of their funds
on their districts, and a discussion followed,
The meeting unanimously expressed its opinion
that the old rule, whereby branches had a claim
to three-quarters of the local subscriptions, should
be inserted in the new rules, and the Hon, Secre-
tary was instructed to do his best to secure this.
They further expressed their opinion that the
Hon Secretaries of all branches should be ex-officio
members of the Working Committee of the Society
in order to render that body as far as possible in
touch with the general feeling of the Society.
THE DUTY ON CARTRIDGES,
Mr J MAr«Ks brought up the subject of Mr T @
Elliott’s letter to the lash meeting of the Parent
Society on the question of the duty on cartridges.
He particularly pointed out that an enormous
majority of imported cartridges were used on
feather and not on big game.
The opinion of the meeting, with one dissentient,
was that as the Society is presumed to be repre-
sentative of the leading sportsmen in the island,
the question of the cost of cartridges does concern
them, and in their opinion, Mr Elliott’s letter
deserved fuller consideration from the Parent
Society than it received.
The meeting then adjourned,
W. ORMISTON,
Hon. Secretary.
a a]
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
We have to inform our readers that from
the 1st January, 1904, Reuter’s. Telegram
Company, Limited, will take over the sole
Advertising Agency of this publication.
The ‘‘Tropical Agriculturist” can, in future, be
seen, advertisements fixed, and subscriptions
booked and all information obtained from
the following offices of Reuter’s Telegram
Company, Limited :—London, Manchesier,
Liverpool, Glasgow, Capetown, Durban,
Johannesburg, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth,
Hobart, Wellington, Auckland, Shanghai,
Honkong, Yokohama, Calcutta, Bombay,
Madras, Colombo, Rangoon, Singapore and
Batavia.
POSSESSIONS AND THE TEA
TRADE,
BRITISH
(Lo the Editor of the London “ Times.’’)
Stk,—On the 17th inst., in summarising the
contents of the Blue-book on “ British and Foreign
Trade and Industry,” you gave a condensed
statement of the sources of supply of eight leading
articles of food consumed in the United Kingdom,
A noteworthy feature in this statement is the
unique position of tea. While in the case of the
other seven articles British possessions supply
only from 4 per cent to 33 per cent. of the whole,
in the case of tea the porportion is close on 90
per cent, This has not always been so. In 1872,
when Messrs Keir, Dundas & Co., of Kandy, in
which firm [ was thea a partner, produced and
shipped to London the first consignment of tea
ever exported from Ceylon, the proportion of the
home consumption then contributed by British
possessions—i.¢., by India—was only 13 per cent.
" sOWD,
388 THE TROPICAL
Not less noteworthy are the conditions under
which this peaceful revolution has been achieved.
The British Government, a Government devoted
to free trade and to whom a tax on food is as an
accursed thing, has throughout selected tea for
exceptional taxation. For three years past tea, the
average price of which in bond has been about 7d.
per Ib., has been subjecb toa duty of 6d. per lb.
Indian and Ceylon planters can claim that they
have demonstrated the possibility, even under
adverse circumstances, of producing within the
limits of the Empire an adequate supply of one
necessary of life. An incidental result of their
efforts not to be overlooked has been that the
price of tea in bond has been reduced by about 60
per cent., so that the whole population has shared
with the Government in the fruits of our planters’
enterprise.— Yours faithfully,
WM. MARTIN LEAKE, Secretary.
The Ceylon Association in London, 61-62, Grace-
church-street, E.C., Sept. 21.
—London Times, Sept. 22.
——+.—___—_—_-
THE “VICTORIA REGIA” IN MADRAS.
AT THE AGRI-HORTICULTURAL GARDENS.
‘There is a fine specimen of the Victoria Regia
growing in a tank in the nursery gardens, This
gigentic aquatic plant was discovered by R H
Schomburgh in 1837, on the banks of the Berbice.
The flower.is sometimes as much as a foot in
diameter, with several hundred petals, passing in alter-
nate tints from pure white to rose and pink. It
passes through three distinct stages in the process of
expanding, with an interval of a day. between each
stage, and is almost equally beautifal during each of
these stages. When perfectly expanded it almost
immediately dies off. Whenit first opensit is white
with pink in the middle, which spreads over the whole
flower the more it advances in age. It is generally
found the nexé day of a_pink colour. As if to enhance
its.attractiveness, it is sweet-scented. The leaves are
from 3 to 6 ft. in diameter, resembling salvers, or
large round tea trays, and resting upon the water. The
upper surface of the leaf isof a bright green colour
while the lower is of a vivid ocimson; and presents a
complicated network of fibres, from which project a
very formidable array of thorns. Over 40 years ago
attempts were made to introduce this extraordinary
plant into Madras but without success, Lady Denison,
[motherof Mr AJ Denison of Colombo.—EHp, 7.A.]|
while here, planted the Victoria Regua in two separate
sheets of water in the People’s Park, but they did not
thrive long, and ultimately died, owingit is believed,
to the water in the Park being strongly impregnated
with salt. Beside the specimen in the Horticultural
Gardens, others have been successfully grown in
several private gardens, wz, at Guindy, at Rutland
Gate, Nungumbaukam, and at the Priory, Teynampett.
’ The plant is found not to exist, as a rule, more than
two years, when its place must be supplied by afresh
one raised fromseed. The seeds sre ssmetimes very
long in germinating. One instance is .ecorded of asead
germinating two years aud nine months after ii was
Ihave had seeds which have taken 15 months
to germinate.—/ Vail.
os
THE CONSOLIDATED Estates Co.—This
Company is in a much sounder condi-
tion, but the redemption of 5 per
ent of Debentures, at 103, prevents 2 dividend
being paid; over £1,050 also is carvied for.
ward, in order to provide for more liberal
manuring. The croplast year was 100,006 1b.
short and the estimate for 1903 advances
on it by 118,000 lb. <‘Other products” yielded
about £250 more than expected in 1902,
‘AGRICULTURIST.
[Nov. 2, 1903.
GUTTA PERCHA IN NEW GERMAN
GUINEA. © Wer
_ The Colonial Economie Committee of Berlin an-
nounces that the utility of the gutta-percha dis-
covered by the expedition which was undertaken
to New Guinea under the leadership of Herr
Schlechter has so far, been established that the
gutta-percha from the lowlying country may be
regarded as suitable for cable purposes asian ad-
mixture, and, if carefully obtained, be fit for cable
in a pure condition. Large quantities of gutta-
percha have been obtained from New Guinea, and
are at present being tested, the Secretary of State
for the Imperial Post Office having granted a large
sum of money for the purpose. It is proposed by
the Colonial Economic Committee to establish ar
gutta-percha enterprise for the education of the
native population of New Guinea in the cultivation |
of gutta-percha and its winning. This will take
the form of afresh expedition uncer Herr Schlechter
for a period of three years. Assistance will be
given by natives of Borneo and others familiar with
the question of rubber production.—Nature.
rs
SOLUBLE THA.
NOW ON SALE : APPRECIATED BY LORD
KITCHENER, AND AT SIMLA, -
We draw attention to the Sale of Soluble
Tea by the local Syndicate for which Messrs.
Crosfield Lampard & Co. are Agents. Two
sample 1 oz. bottles, which hold enough of the
tea powder extract to make 50. cups, have been
sent us for trial; and after experimenting we may
say thatthe tea produced is admirable in liquor an
flavour, while the compactness of the article should
ensure wide favour. The bottles sent us are well-
corked and encased in cardboard packets (2
inches by 1 square) on which appears the intima-
tion ‘‘ A pure soluble tea possessing all the’ best
properties of tea with a minimum amount of tan-
nin’’ and directions :—Pubt one small saltspoonful
ina cup, pour on water, add milk and sugar to
taste. aie:
The shares of the Company are now selling at,10
per cent premium and are likely to rise higher
as soon as the sale of Soluble Tea gets well started.
Tea men, of course, are very much against the new
fledgling ; but the points of advantage, detailed
in a little booklet sent out with every bottle sold,
are such as must commend it to the attention of
every one interested in a portable concentrated
beverage like this.
Already a supply has been sent for use in
Somaliland ; it is likely to make its way in Egypt;
and Lord Kitchener has been using it and has
expressed great appreciation of the article during
his Kashmir trip. At Simla it has given muca
satisfaction and we should not be surprised it the
Indian Military Commissariat Department indent
for large quantities. The Company have every
reason to be pleased with present prospects.
ree
THE RATWATTE COCOA CO., LTD.
THE REPORT.
Drrectors.—Messrs. Gordon Pyper, TO Huxley and .
A Collingwood Smuail. ,
In presenting a siatement of the accounts of ihe
Company for the year endsd 30th June, 1903, thie
Directors beg to congiatulate the Shiareholdera on the
Dividend-paying ste Whielt the Compaty ‘Has now
reached. The conditions attendant on the poduction
of crops were favourable to Oocoa, but adverse to Tea.
‘
Nov. 2 19984
The yield of Cocoa was good, 598 cwts. 3 qus, 15 1b.
having been secured and sold, part in London and
Part in Colombo, at an average rate of R37'83 per
owt. Last year’s crup was 4284 cwts., and realised
R37'56 per cwt. The Lea crop secured, including
14,069 lb. bought leaf, was 119,710ib., aud sold in
Cuoiombo at an average rate ot 30°63 cents per Ib.
luast year’s crop all told was 131,760 lb., and sold at
28°55 perlb, The Minor Products realised Rd82°37.
The total profit for the year is R27,05152. After
clearing off balanceat debit of Profit and Loss Ac-
count (R9,835°17) and paying interest on Mortgage and
Debentures, as well as placing R3,000 to a Debenture
Redemption Account, there remains a balance of
R6,699°36, which the Directors propose utilising in pay-
ing at 4 per cent Dividend on the paid-up Capital of the
Company, and carrying forward 1699°36 to next year.
Sixty Debentures have been paid off during the year.
The Estimates for the ensuing year are 550 cwts of
Cocoa and 155,000 lb of ‘éa to cost R50,580, in-
cluding expenditure on improvements and on minor
products. ‘he Cocoa-drying house will be enlarged
and remodelled during the coming year, as itis too
emall now in every way to deal with present crops.
A new Tea Koller also will have to be added to the
Factory Machinery. In terms of the Articles, Messrs
£ C Hauxley and A Collingwood Smail retire trom
the Directorate, but are eligible for re-election, ‘The
appointment of an Auditor for the current year rests
‘with the Meeting. ‘he following is a definition o!
the Company's property as at 30th June last :—
THE TROPICAL
Cocoa planted 1893 ae oe
Do 1894 aie col oe)
Do 1895 ae SaaS
Do 1898 Op e- 10
; v4, —— 223 acres
Tea planted 1890 (and Cocoa) eo 119
pares DOr: 1896- ais eejenee
Do- 1897 eo fe LOO
Do' 1898 3 Sau 2)
——318 acres
Total Cultivated arta
Jungle Xe te .. 180
Grass Ad ws A 3
Total ..724 acre
By order of the Directors,
Go. StrevarT & Co.,
Agents and Secretaries.
———————
PRODUCE AND PLANTING,
The report which gained currency last week
that Russia contemplated increasing the duty
on British-grown tea has now been confirmed.
THE IMPORT DUTY ON INDIAN AND CEYLON
teas imported into Russia by the Huropean
frontier and the Black sea is increased from 31
roubles 50 copecks per pood to 33 roubles, the im-
port duty on China teas remaiaing unchangei at
the former figure. The reasons for this increase
appear to be a wish to check the growing trade in
Indian tea, imports of which into Russia have,
we believe, reached 20 million pounds annually,
and is as yet in its infancy, and to encourage the
import of China tea by the Trans-Siberian Railway,
It may also be a little piece of retaliation for
India’s countervailing duties on bounty-fed sugar.
Russian buyers aren evidence both in Colombo
and Caleutta; and haye for years selected the best
tea they'can' get, particularly Darjeeling growth,
to satisfy the demand for good tea in their own
country, so that any vexatious increase in the duty
willsbe-a sérious matter, both in their own interest
AGRICULTURIST. 339
andin that of the tea-producing countries of India
and Ceylon. e
In a@ book entitled ‘* Tea Hints for Retailers,”
by John H Blake, Denver, Colo., the author is
of opinion that the China teas will be retired from
the markets of the worid through the overwhelming
and superior cotamerci al methods of their rivals,
which the Chinese inn ately are unable to take up.
The tea-growing experiments in South Carolina
are referred to and approved by the author, who
would go so far as 69 assist iv with proper tariff
consideration, which, 28 he thinks, would assuredly
bring into bloom a Valuable American industry
and at the same time compel, so far as demand
compelled it, the use of asuperior tea from abroad,
low grades beiug prevented from coming in on
account of the additional tax.
THIS IS THE WAY THEY PUFF JAPAN TEA IN
CHICAGO,
It appears in a small monthly called ‘‘ Gude
Thynges.” ‘‘ Tea time. The new Japan crop of
1903 has just come in. Isthere anything about
tea that is romantic to you? Anything away up
the Omar Khayyam scale, with orders of pome-
granates in Arabian Nights gardens? Yes? We
thought so, but—our tea, our new Japan tea of
this season’s harvesting, May we brew a sermo-
nette about tea—our tea? Ib won’t be unin-
teresting. I[t’sin, our new, fresh Japan tea. Now
tea, though a dried leaf, may almost be said to be
a dried flower.- ‘i‘he dried flower, exposed to the
air, must give back to the sunits subtle aroma.
So the dried leaf, so tea. Fresh tea, then, has
properties, that vanish in the open. So they who
buy tea in small quantities from our great chests
and canisters caunotd know tea in its fullest
value. But there is a way todo this. Buy teain
original packages of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100
pounds. Then you have tea direct from the
Japanese garden to the Chicago teapot, and
with a saving of 5 cents.or more apound. In
tea, as in other things, the choice is at the tip-
top. The tip of the plant and-its two or three
nearest leaves furnish the worid’s perfect tea,
Down the branoch are other larger and tougher
leaves, from which comes tea of inferior
delicacy, Blend some or all of these
leaves and you have all known market
varieties. We are great importers, as you knows
We do not take what comes; we direct what
shall come. Our Japan tea, just in, fired on porce-
lain plates, was first picked from gardens of our
own selection, and came tous by fast mail stea-
mers. The crop foc high-class Japan teas ran
about 33 per cent. short this year.”
It is said thab a watchmaker in Elpaso, Texas,
named Anderson, expects to make a
FORTUNE OUT OF A COFFEE TABLET
he has invented, and apon which he has been
experimenting for some time. He claims that he
has a perfect tablet made from the pure coffee
berry. No foreiga substance is used in the tablet,
and the inventor says that be has accomplished
something which bas baftled chemists for years.
He asserts that bythe use of his tablet a month’s
supply of Mocha and Java coffee can be carried
in one’s vest pocket, and the aroma and strength
of the compound are never lost. He claims, also,
that he removes the tannic acid of the berry,
which causes nervous people much trouble and is
one of the objections raised to coffee drinking.
The process ot coffee making is simplifed by
dropping a tablet into a cup of hot water.—A. and
C Mail.
340 THE TROPICAL
CASTILLOA. RUBBER FOR CEYLON.
We.are pleased to receive the letter from
Mr. Pearson, given elsewhere, and to give it
‘publication in our pages; it not only clears
Mr. Pearson (whom at the time ot publi-
cation we could hardly credit with having
written such ‘‘ nonsense”), but it also sets
Ceylon right, which is of more concern to
us. We have gone through the article in
question again, transposing the tables given
-by Drs. Trimen and Webb, and it then
reads, as Mr. Pearson remarks, consistently.
Mr, Pearson has one of the largest and most
advanced rubber plantations in Mexico, and
kindly sends us a few interesting particulars.
In the pastsix years, he states, f have raised
and planted over 400,000 trees, all castilloa.
Of these some 200,000 are four and five years
old, their development up to the present
being most satisfactory. Many have a girth
of from 25 to 30 inches with a height of from
28 to 30 feet, and hitherto all tapping has
been merely experimental but the results
obtained have been most encouraging both
in yield and quality. Samples were sent to
London at the beginning of the present year
tor which the price quoted by Lewis and
Peat was 3s 4d in Mebruary last. [ enclose a
small,;sample which it may interest you to
see as being the product of a tree 44 years
old.” The small piece of crude rubber sent
by Mr. Pearson appears to be an excellent
sample of good ciean rubber, and very
promising from a tree only 44 years old.
——_———
RUBBER-PLANTERS HOMEWARD.
BOUND.
Mr, Francis Pears, the well-known manager
and proprietor of Lanadron Hstate, Muar,
Johore, which has an acreage of 3,000,
800 acres being in Rubber and Coconuts,
and Mr, J. A. Macgregor, proprietor and
manager of Terentang and Gadut Estates,
Seramban, Negri Sembilan (1,850 acres—of
which 901s Liberian Coffee and a good deal
move in Kubber) are homeward-bound on the
Japanese liner ‘Kamakura Maru,” They
were anxious to visit Ceylon Rubver
Estates and had hoped to run down
to Kalutata and back before the vessel
left; but had not sufficient time at their
disposal, Mr. Macgregor, who has some of
the oldest rubber trees—2) years oid, some 7
feet in circumference—is a neighbour of Mr.
V R Wickwar, now in Ceylon, who manages
the Seremban, Ayer Angat and Ayer Silolo
Kstates in Seremban. Mr. Pears’ ttubber is
younger, about 4 years oid ; and he was hoping
to see some young Rubber trees in Ceylon for
comparison, beside examining the tapping
implements used. In the Straits a curved
gouge is the most common instrument, per-
mitting a thin strip of bark to be sliced and
a regular incision made along any length
required for tapping. ‘his mode appears to
be far more favoured now than the herring-
bone incisions which, once made, and tapped
from, leave that part of the bark surtace -
finished for the time being; whereas with
the gouge a deeper incision and fresh tapping
[Nov: 2, 190°
AGRICULTURIST.
may be made over the same area after a
short interval—according as the tree bears
it. Our visitors intend to visit Ceylon rubber
estates more fully on their way back.
MARINE LABORATORY AT GALLE,
H, E. THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT,
GALLE, Oct, 15,—Yesterday morning His-
Excellency the Governor, attended by Sir
Francis Burdett, extra A.D.C., paid a visit
to the Marine Laboratory, where he was
received by Mr James Hornell, and spent
some time lookingover the specimens sub-
mitted for examination. In addition to
the various specimens of the pearl oyster
at different stages of its growth, corals,
star fishes, &c., seen by the Hon. Mr. im
Thurn some time ago, Mr Hornell was able
to show His Hxcellency a number of inter-
esting specimens of the common bath
sponge optained from Trincomalee, and which
had been prepared by the rative method.
Mr Horneli explained that these sponges ure
of the ordinary commercial species, and as
this kind occurs naturally in quantity at
Trincomalee and in the shallows ot the Jafina
peninsula, in his opinion, an investigation
of the local characteristics of its life history
would, there is every reason to believe,
eventuate in the establishment of a flourish-
ing and lucrative sponge fishery in tne north,
What exists at present is wholiy unworthy
to be termed an industry; two or tkree
men merely add a trifle to their living by
occasionally gathering a few dozen sponges,
Mr Hornell further remarked that; in detach-
ing and curing, the methods employed are so
erude and careless as to irretrievably impair
the value of the article, judging by the
market requirements of Hurope and America,
Once the tife history of the sponge is made
out, there should be little trouble is orga-
nising sponge-shing On a proper basis—
protecting the sponges while immature,
regulating the time and manner of fishing,
or rather cutting, and by instructing the
fishermen in suitable methods of curing
and bleaching. Mr Horneil has been doing
good work since ‘his arrival in the - island
With Proiessor Herdinan, and we feel sure
that Sir West Kidgeway was much cheeed by
the success attending his researches and
experiments which His Hxcellency was instru-
mental in promoting. ;
MARINE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE NORTH.
Mr Hornell will not accompany Captain
Legge on his trip to the Pearl Banks this
week, but he purposes shortly leaving Galle
for Jatina and Mannoar to carry out an
important marine investigations in those
seas. He will make a stay of two months in
the North, : rf
‘ -— >
PLANTING NOTES,
THE USE OF CINNAMON AS A FLAVOUR FOR
TvA—is not uncommon in Swiszerland accord-
ing to- some writers, the spice being added to
Fe leaf before brewing the tea.—Z. P. Gazette,
cb. 10,
Nov. 2, 1903:] THE TROPICAL
Correspondence.
ae
To the Editor. .
CASTILLOA RUBBER FOR CEYLON.
Orizaba, Mexico, Aug, 27.
DEAR Sir,—Mr. Darley, a resident here, has
been good enough tosend me the Lropical Agri-
culturist for June last, in which you have ree
printed an article writuen by me ‘on the yield
of the Castilloa’’ which appeared in the April
number of Modern Mexico. Remarking on the
statements therein made, you say that you cannob
well understand what [ mean when I condemn
Ceylon as untit for growing Castilloa rubber, judg-
ing from the figures I quote, which are given, or
those furnished by Dr. ‘l'rimen.
In view of the~figures as they stand, I am sur-
prised at the moderation of your criticism ; but the
paragraph from the May number of Modern
Mexico, will show you that [ uid not write the
nonsense to which you very properly take excep-
tion. If you will now again review the article,
transposing the tables, that is to say putting Dr.
Trimen’s figures in the place of Dr. Weber's and
Dr Weber’s results at Panama in the place of the
table credited to Dr. Trimen, you wiil find that
the article is at least consistent in its remarks, I
also wrote that I believed that a biannual tap-
ping can with safety ve carried out, as Dr. Weber
also believes, In the article 1 am made to say
triennial ; an error I regret to see is also copied
in your reproduction. I wrote Modern Mexico
pointing out this blunder and you will see, by the
apologetic paragraph, that I am now made to
say biennial ! 1 know by fermer bitter experience
the eccentricities of native compositors, but in
the present case there is no such excuse, as Modern
Mexico is set up and published in New York.
With regard to my remark that the ‘* Castilloa’
cannot be profitably grown in Ceylon it is
founded entirely on what I have been told
by several former residents whose statements
appeayed to be confirmed by the tables given by
Dr. ‘Lrimen. I shail oe pleased it the results
already obtained there prove my argument to be
based on false premises. It may be unnecessary to
trouble you with this letver as the article in
question is provably already forgotten, but, I think
ic Only just to myself that you should know that
it is the blundering of the publisher, and not I,
which is responsible for the statements which re-
duced my article to absolute nonsense.—I am, dear
Sir, yours very faithfully,
G. CULLEN PEARSON,
|The paragraph referred to runs as follows :—“‘ In
the articleon “Vhe Yield of the Castillea Tree’ in the
April issue of Modern Mexico, the tables showing
the results of tappiags of rubber trees by Mr. Weber
and Dr, Trimen were, through an unfortunate
error, transposed. The mistake was noticed before
the entire edition had been mailed, and a slip
making the correction was inserted in the re-
mainder. Many copies, however, having gone out-
without this correction, it is made herewith. Mr.
Pearson was also made to say: that a ‘ triennial’
tapping caa, with perfect safety, be carried out,’
whereas ib should have read ‘ biennial’ (biannual,)
—Modern Mewico tor May, 1903.—Ep. 7.A.]
AGRICULTURIST, $41
CEYLON RUBBER IN LONDON.
4s 84D PER LB,
London, Sept 4.
Dear Sir,—The following particulars of Ueylon-
grown Para Kubber sold at public sale here
today may interest your readers :—
Mark, Qaantity, Description, Price per lb,
Putupaula 3,cases Fine large biscuits
rather dark 43 7d
do 2case Good scrap 8s 6d
do 1 do Fair do 38
Doranakandel do =‘ Fiue pale biscuits 4s 74d
Elston 1 do do 4s 83d
J HV, in
estatemark2 do do 48 7d
Fine Para at 4s 34d per lb. Market very firm,
—Yours faithfully, LEWIs & PEAT,
TEA-PRUNING IN INDIA,
DEAR Sir, —In connection with tea pruning, my
new boss from Assam believes in cutting back
frequently, so I am giving him a practical illustra-
tion. Last year I manured one acre with oil cake
(four maunds castor) in July, and it gave 4%
maunds tea against 24 from the unmanured parts
up to December. This year lagain gave it eight
maunds of Sirgovjea cake, and cuf down half of
the bushes to 12 inches, Up to date we have losv
about 14 maunds of tea, and 1 shall have a record
of how much has been lost this year and the
record can be kept easily for three or four years,
This wiil show the actual loss by cutting down,
and I am convinced that in four years the uncut tea
will look as well and give more tea than that which
was cub back,—Yours faithfully, a
LEASE OF CROWN LAND FOR
EXPERIMENTAL CULYLVATION.
Central Province, Sept. 14.
Sir,—Mr. H. Storey will be a brave and
venturous man if he accepts the conditions
laid down by Government for the lease of
the 600 acres of land in the North-Central
Province. [ will take the ‘‘ Conditions” in
the order they come in the Government
Gazette of Friday, the 4th inst.
‘*Ist.—The rent to be fifty cents per acre
perannoum.” Thisis fair if the period of time
is extended, say at the very least, to twenty-
five years.
**2nd.—The lease of the land to be for six
years with the option of purchase at R10
per acre at the end of that period.” I will
take the product coconuts: one whole year
will pass before plants can be put into the
lJand. Five years afterwards he will be com-
pelled either to pay R10 per acre for the
whole of the block or give it over as it
stands, buildings and all toGovernment, and
that before he has received one cent of return
for six years’ rent and all the money spent
on the land opened. 2
**3rd.—Coconuts, rubber and fruit only
can be planted on the land leased,” Why
bar cotton, ramie, aloe, sapan wood, ground
nuts, kolloo, gram, &e, ?
“4th,—No timber above 2 feet in circum:
ference to be felled, and any valuabie timber
under that size felled to be paid for at Gov-
‘erament rates,” Has Mr. Storey read tis
—
4
- delinquents.
348 THE TROPICAL
clause seriously? Trees 2 feet in circum-
ference means 8 inches in diameter. about
the size of a post we generally cut for the
centre of our Cooly Lines, and certainly that
size is wanted for centre posts for bunga-
-lows. Then what about timber ‘‘ under that
size”?! Why Mr. Storey will have to call
the Forester every time he wants a pole of
any kind! All this is very important, but
nothing as compared to the fact that if he
carries out conditions in clause 4, he can grow
“nothing on the soil. If every tree 8 inches in
diameter and over are to be left standing,
what will grow under them? Certainly coco-
nuts will not. They must have thoroughly
cleared land till they are in full bearing.
Rubber may grow in small uncleared chena
land, but I doubt if it will grow under
high trees 8 inches in diameter and over. As
for fruit trees, &c., there is not a fruit tree
that I know of in Ceylon that will grow and
bear under a forest shade. -
The thing is an utter farce and can’t be
worked. With the worry and trouble about
' the timber, and the expense of clearing land
’ with numerous trees standing, and the Forester
at one’s heeis, and miserable sickly products
“trying to grow under ‘shade, the whole
thing will be an utter failure, I hear from
good authority that the natives are with-
drawing from the lands under the nunierous
tanks in the North-Central and Northern Pro-
vince because Government is too exacting.
It is a big venture on the part of Mr.
Storey to spend his money so far away
from the centre of business. He has the
climate to contend with, as well as labour
and other small items too numerous to men-
tion. As an encouragement to him, and to
Others, who will follow him and buy up
land, if he is only successful, Government
should sell him the block asit stands timber
and ‘all for R10 per acre, to be paid in in-
stalments—say, one rupee an acre per year
for. ten years, binding him to clear so much
of the land yearly.— Yours faithfully,
SAS ET
GAME AND FISH PROTECTION.
Abbotsford, Sept. 18th.
- DEAR Siz,—I am probably rushing into
print as per usual without due consideration
or cause, as all kind friends will say ; but
* can any sportsman resist ii?—seeing how keen
Messrs. Greene and Fyers are over the
‘protection of game and the fining of ‘all
Men in their position can do
ever so much for sport of every description,
so I hope I may be excused for publicly
calling on them to take our trout under
their wing. The Rajah Patna streai,
stocked some years ago for breeding pur-
poses, was entirely swept by, it’ was said,
coolies employed by the Forest Department
for the supply of firewood to the Railway.
Anyhow the stream was cleared out’; but, as
an attempt has been made-to stock ‘it''once
more, may I. ask these gentlemen to help’ us
to protect it? Portions of the’ Ambawella
Oya, L believe, havé been tampered with
- more than once as I have done’ the ‘stocking ‘otal 1309, 263,"
-of that stream for yeas, and thereford'ought or an intrease of 350. per cent in 3 years"9"
r ; ‘ hy pe i Jee Oehi'ss L (Ena d Gvi— cuts 5p oes t
AGRICULTURISR. (Nov. 2 1908.
to know where fish should be. But, bless you,
they are conspicuous by their. absence in the
best out-of-the-way jungly sections of theriver.
{ have heard a weird” tale of sackfuls of
trout having been brought down from the
Horton Plains by platelaying railway coolies.
It is an undoubted fact thata deal of dyna-
mite disappeared just at that time, but—as
my good triend Thomas Farr says—it’s all
“tommy rot.” I, of course, humbly but not
over-quietly, accept his dictum. He tells
me old age and otters account for the dis-
appearance of a lot of well-marked big fish
“up yonder, but I cannot swallow that. ©
’ LT hope our A.G.A. will refuse all licenses for
hunting sambur in this neighbourhood in
future. Durais of sorts, dogs of sorts, Lee-
Enfields, blunderbusses, ‘vittu-catties ‘and
niggers innumerable. make it positively too
dangerous to even indulge in a stroll round
‘the. garden of a Sunday morning.—Yours
truly, JOHN FRASER.
~
ee
INCREASED THA DUTY IN RUSSIA,
THE COLONIAL OFFICE APPROACHED. .
Kandy, Oct. 6.
DEAR S1rR,—I enclose herein copy of corre-
spondence received from Mr. Leake b2tween
the Ceylon Association in London and
Downing Street, on the subject of Increased
Duty on Indian and Ceylon Teas imposed
by the Russian Government, for the informa. _
tion of all. interested.—Yours panos
CEYLON ASSOCIATION IN LONDON.
(Copy.) . 61 and 62 Gracechurch Street,
London, E, C., 14th Sept,, 1903.
Sir,—I am instructed to invite your attention
to the announcement that the Russian Government
has, by a recent ‘Ordinance, increased ‘the duty on
Indian and Ceylon Teas imported by the European
Frontier or the Black Sea by 13 roubles per‘pood
equivalent to about 1 J/8 per pound.’ From ‘this
increased duty China and Japan Teas will, ‘it
seems, be free.
+ The total import of Tea of all growths into
Russia is about 126,000,000 lb annually, of. which
about 50,000,000 lb is imported by the European
Frontier and the Black Sea. ees:
The following comparative figures for the years
1899 and 1902 show how rapidly Indian and
Ceylon Teas have been displacing rival growths lin
this latter portion’ of the trade when! on even
terms,
1899, 1902,
Ceyion Tza shipped direct x :
from Colombo 3,949,740 11,727,068
do re-exported from
London 1,587,286 3,647,807
, 5,537,026 15,374,875
Inpran TEA shipped direct = Nara
from OUalentta and ;
Chittagong 44,811 4,001,423
do . re-ezported from oF SHY
London 727,252 2,886,445
772,063 6,887,868
Total British-grown Tea 6,309,089 22,262;743
HILHE MB —
TOL UI Sse
Nov. 2, 1903.) “HE TROPICAL
The larger part of the imports as above into
Russia, however, still come from China: and it is
to be feared that further progress with our Teas
may be checked by the differential tax now im-
posed on them.
I am to suggest that the facts be submitted
to the Foreign Office in the hope that represen-
tation may be made to the Russian Government
on the subject.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your
obedient servant,
(Signed) Wm. MARTIN LEAKE, Secretary,
The Right Hon. J Chamberlain, M.P., Colonial
Office, S.W.
Downing Street, 17th Sept., 1903.
Sir, —I am directed by Mr Secretary Chamber-
lain to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 14th inst., on the subject ot the surtax recently
imposed by the Russian Government on Tea im-
ported from India or Ceylon, and to inform you
that the matter is receiving the attention of His
Majesty’s Government.—I am, Sir, your obedient
servant, ; (Signed) C. P. Lucas.
The Secretary to the Ceylon Association in
London.
ee
QUEENSLAND BANANAS, COLOMBO
‘ GROWN.
Colombo Stock Garden, Oct. 9th.
DEAR Sir,—! send you some fruits of a
variety of Queensland bananas growing here.
The size °of the fruits is not their only re
commendation, as you will, I think, find them
mealy and of good flavour. The bunch was of
fair size and consisted of some 150 fruits.—
Yours, etc., C. DRIEBERG,
Supt., School Gardens.
[The bananas are excellent, both in quality
and flavour, beside being the fattest we have
ever seen.—ED. 7.A
TELUGU COOLIES FOR CEYLON.
THE ERRO2 OF HIGHER WAGES.
S1rk,—There is a good deal of interesting read-
ing in the proceedings of the Matale Planters’
Association meeting of the 29th of August ; and,‘as
far as Mr. Westland’s Telugu coolies scheme is
concerned, all planters in Ceylon will thank him
for what he has done, and for sending his son over
to bring some of the new labourers as sample ana
proof that they are available.
One error, in my humble opinion, Mr. Westland
has committed in offering these new people higher
wages than we give our old hands. At least the
Planters’ Association of Ceylon should have been
consulted. Before they were engaged they asked
what pay they were to get—why not have told
them they would receive the same as our old
coolies? If they refused, some arrangement for
something extra for regular work and good con-
duct could be conceded after due consideration by
the Association ; but I would give nothing that
we could not give ab the same time to our
old coolies. Mr. Westland, ina previous speech—
or letter, I forget whieh—said we had already
raised the rate of wages I think not. Certainly
not for the Jast 42 years! We paid our coffee-
store coolies extra, that is from their pay of 33
te 35 cents and 40 cents, and we do the same in
our tea factories, Field labourers do not complain.
They know if their turn comes to get work in the
factory their pay will be raised.
AGRICULTURIST, 348
Vv
I will consider this extra wage to the Teluon
cooly in another light. Gangs are sent to the field
from parade to different works—to cut holes, say.
Will our coolies continue to be satisfied with
33 cents to do the same task as the Telugu cooly
who gets 40 cents? I feel very certain there will
be great complaints and some fine morning, when
a big flush is on, we would have the Tamil kan-
ganies coming to parade to say none of their
coolies will come to work because the Telugu
coolies received far better pay for the same work.
Again, as regards the kanganis’ pay: Mr.
Westland would pay 40cents per day wage for
every 15 coolies, and pay no head money. I think
this is a mistake. The head money encourages
kanganis to bring their coolies to work, The
Telugu kangani would get his 40 cents whether
there were 15 or 7 coolies? I will suppose one
or two are down with fever, and some others say
they are not quite fit; a few come to work and
the boss gets his 40 cents.
I say : pay the Tamil and the Telugu the same
wage and pay both extra for extra work. For
years I give a ‘‘tundu ” for extra work to men
and women every evening. I believe Mr. West-
land’s idea of 2 cents per day as a saying fund
would do well with our coolies. It would en-
courage them to come to work more regularly,
—Yours &e. A. H. T.
MR. WESTLAND’S TELUGU COOLY
FIGURES.
Dooroomadella, Oct. 14th.
Sir,—In reply to the para re Telugu
Coolies, in Monday’s Observer of the 107
coolies brought over from India to this
estate, two died on the estate, one is in
the Matale Hospital, 92 have left and 12
remain. They made no complaint of the
work, pay, lines or food, but said they
could not stand the wind and rain, of which
we had more than usual during the past
quarter,—Yours, etc.,
JAMES WESTLAND.
TELUGU COOLIES IN CEYLON: HOW
TO WORK THEM.
Lindula, Oct, 14th.
Str,—Did Mr. Westland expect any other
result than that his Telugus would bolt ?
Of course, the other coolies and their kan.
ganis would drive them away. It has
happened up here before, and the mistake
was then found out. Bring Telugus over-
if you like—in hundreds, and they will work
and stop if they are given a chance. In
small numbers hand them over to the
existiag head kanganis who, drawing their
head pay, will not only take over and be
answerable for their debts, but nurse them.
But to think any small gang of 80 people
could hold their own against hordes of
inimical Tamils is too much. Higher wages
and promises would not keep them. I have
individual Telugu coolies and women working
vnder me in gangs as ordinary coolies,
and first-class labourers they are. I would
today take over a hundred of them with
pleasure, but [. should hand them over to
be looked after by one of their own colour
}
|
it
|
844
and establish them as the ordinary labourer
is on the estate, be he Tamil, Sinhalese,
Arcot, or Telugu. No distinctive marks,
higher pay, etc.—but just a common garden
cooly and no more. ‘This result, I suppose
will throw back the deliberation on labour
of the P.A. another decade, and local crimping
will triumph.—Yours truly, ACT.
P, S.—Get the labour into the country.
Mr. Westland’s coolies won’t leave. They
will go on to other estates only, but not
as units at 40 cents.—F.
Come
CEYLON RUBBER COMPANIES.
THREE PROMISING PIONEERS.
The SerembanCompany, from the prospectus
of which we quote fully elsewhere has
been floated, we understand, entirely by
Ceylon capital. It is doubtful if there are
any Straits men in it. This is practically
the first Rubber Company of its kind and
will no doubt form a basis on which many
ether Companies may come out; but the
special claim of the Seremban is that it is a
‘* going concern.”’ The capital was well over-
subscribed before the application list had
been open 3 days. The first Rubber Com-
pany floated as a going concern is worthy
of special remark; no doubt this Company
marks a new era as far as the investing
public are concerned.
Elsewhere we quote also full particulars of
the Southern Ceylon Rubber Company which
is to work the recently purchased Udugama
estate. Mr. Harrison’s report and valuation
shows that the Tea at present-is worth nearly
half the whole property ; but whereas there
are as yet only 2,000 Para Rubber trees on the
land, it is proposed to open as many as 1,500
acres in this product, and—on the completion
of this—yet further extensions will be taken
in hand:—Yet another Rubber Company is
announced. This is to acquire the Selangor
“Golconda” estate (the acreage, not
“average” of which’ the Straits Directory
gave as 987—100 being already in Para
Rubber and _ coconuts.) The prominent
Ceylon names in the directorship showed—in
yeta third instance—how strong is the local
taith, among some of the shrewdest of our
planting proprietors in the future of that
product —still somewhat young in public
not ce—Para Rubber.
THE GOLCONDA ESTATE RUBBER
COMPANY, LTD.
Application for the Incorporation of the above
Company, under the provisions of the Ceylon Joint
Stock Companies’ Ordinance, has been made by
Messrs FJ and G de Saram on behalf of the Com-
pany. The primary object of the Company is to
purchase the Goleonda estate situated in the Dis-
trict of Klany, Selangor, in the Malay Peninsula
and comprising 970 acres, for 90,000. The
nominal capital of the Company is R300,000, divi-
ded into 3,000 shares of R100 each. The memo-
randum and articles of Association of the Company
are published in the Gazette, the subscribers
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Noy. 2, 1903.
being: —The Hon J N Campbell, Mr W D Bosan-
quet and Mrs Elinor Bosanquet, Messrs John Inch,
¥ J Healing, and J E B Baillie-Hamilton and Mrs
Margaret A Inch. The first Directors of the Com-
pany will be Mr W D Bosanquet, Mr John Inch
and the Hon Mr J N Campbell,
ee
“ A MANUAL OF FOREST ENGINEERING.”
AN INDIAN GOVERNMENT WORK.
This work by C, Gilbert Rogers, Fellow of
Cooper’s Hill, Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Imperial Forest Service of India, is intended chiefly
for Forest Officers of India, but including as it
does a wealth of practical information useful for
agriculturists in the tropics it should be found of
greabp use to planters generally, especially such
as are engaged in more or less pioneering work
and have to rely on themselves and local labour
for the laying out of estates and improvement
of the same.
The manual isin three volumes ; Vol. I. includes
Building Materials and Building Construction ;
Vol. II, Road-making and Bridges; Vol. III,
Transport of Timber; Wells; Construction ot
Embankments and Water-channels, River Train-
ing Works; and Demarcation of Forests. The
manual should prove of much service to foresters
everywhere, while the first two volumes -are
almost equally useful to planters—the language
and terms employed and the numerous illustrations
and diagrams enabling even a tyro to under-
stand and carry out his work. A forest officer
or planter in many places has to carry out his wozk
with the simplest and crudest appliances, and
generally with local materials only, and this
manual is especially useful to such men. As the
author states—the use of technical terms has been
avoided as far as possible, and an attempt made
to render the manual intelligible ‘to those who
have had no special training in engineering.
The scope of the work is certainly very wide.
The manual is published at the Government
Printing Office, Calcutta, price R4, or six shillings,
and is well worth investing in, i
PLANTING NOTES.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE J". A.
AND CEYLON DiIRECTORY.—M. Hm. Labussiére,
Consular Agent for France, has been directed
by ‘‘ Monsieur le Directeur de l’Office Na-
tional du Commerce Exterieur de la France”
to acknowledge the receipt, on behalf of the
Minister of the Commerce, of the complete
collection of the Tropical Agriculturist and of
the two copies of the “ Ceylon Directory”
which had been sent to him for transmission
to the French Government, ‘in March last.
M. Labussiére adds :—“ It pleases me at the
same time, you will understand it easily, to
convey to you His Excellency’s very warm
thanks. These very interesting publications
haye been transferred to the Library of the
Ministry of Agriculture (Office des ren=
seignements agricoles), where they will be
consulted with very great benefit by the
Planters of France.”
Nov: 2, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. B45
TO THE PLANTING WORLD.
Seeds & Plants of Commercial Products.
Hevea Brasiliensis.—Orders being booked for the coming crop August-September delivery
1903, booking necessary betore the end of April, quantities of 100,000 and over at special low rates. Plants
ayailable all the year round, 100,000 and over at special low rates. A leading Rubber planter in Sumatra,
who purchased 5U,00U seeds in 1899, and 100,000 in 1900, writes us, under date 15th November, 1900 :—‘‘ I
received your letéer of 20th October, from which I learn that you added another case of 5,000 seeds to replace
the loss, &c. Iam satisfied hereby, and even after this adding I am satisfied by the whole delivery of this
year.’’ Special offer, post free on application.
Castilloa Siastica.—True superior variety cultivated in Mexico, seeds from specially reserved
old untapped trees. Orders booked for October-November delivery 1903, immediate booking necessary ;
large quantities on special terms; Plants in Wardian cases.
A foreign firm of Planters writes under date 11th October, 1901 :—‘‘ We beg to enquire whether you
would procure us 100,000 Castilloa seeds, in which month we might expect them, and what would be the
average price.’ Special offer, post free on application. ;
Manihot Glaziovii:—Seeds and Plants available all the year round, 100,000 and over at special
low rates, A Mexican planter in sending an order for this seed wrote on the 22nd August, 1900 :—‘‘If they
arrive fresh and germinate easily [may send you larger orders, as they are for high ground where the
Castilloa does not thrive.”’
“tae Ficus Elastica.—Seeds available in May-June; booking necessary before the end of March
also plants. ‘ ‘
Mimusops Globosa (Balata) wood of the tree is much sought for buildings, fruits sweet like a plum
and eaten, oil from seeds, said to yield as much as 45 lbs. of dry rubber per tree per annum, the milk is
drunk and when diluted with water used as cow’s milk, grow from-sea-level up to 2,000 feet, orders being
booked for seeds and plants, price on application. : :
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon superior variety).—New crop of seed in April to June;
booking necessary before the end of February, also plants. shed
Coffee Arabica-Liberian Hybrid.—A highly recommended leaf-disease resisting hardy new
variety of Coffee (cross between Arabian and Liberian). New crop March-April ; immediate booking necessary.
A foreign Agricultural Department writes dating 9th September, 1901:—‘‘ Please accept our order
for 175 lbs. of Tea seed and for 2,000 Coffee beans. In regard to Coffee seed I would say that this will be the
first importation made by this department, and we will leave the selection of the varieties to be sent to
your judgment.”’
OUR DESCRIPTIVE PRICE LISTS.
The following six Descriptive Price Lists are now being forwarded with Circulars and special ofier
of Seeds and Plants of Rubber and other Economic Products :—
1. Tropical Seeds and Plants of Commercial Products, enlarged edition for 1902-1903.
2. Seeds and Plants of Shade, Timber, Wind-Belts, Fuel and Ornamental Trees, ‘Trees for Road-
sides, Parks, Open Spaces, Pasture Lands, Avenues, Hedges, and for planting among crops (Lea, Coifee,
Cacao, Cardamoms, &c.)
3. Seeds and Plants of Tropical Fruit Trees including Mango grafts.
4, Bulbs, Tubers and Yams.
5, Orchids—Ceylon and Indian. ;
6. Seeds and Plants of Palms, Calamus, Pandanus, Cycads, Tree and other Ferns, Crotons,
Roses, Dracinas, Shrubs and Creepers,
Special Arrangements made with foreign Governments, Botanical and Agricultural Depart-
ments, Planters and others for supplying seeds and plants of Commercial Products in larger quantities.
“ Soura Arrica.”—The great authority on South African affairs of 25th March, 1899, ae a
« An interesting Catalogue reaches us from the Hast. It is issued by Wruiam BRoTHERS, ea raed
Merchants of Henaratgoda, Ceylon, and schedules all the useful and beautiful plants which wi a Net
tropical and semi-tropical regions. We fancy Messrs. Williams should do good business, for mae ‘ae
great Powers have grabbed all the waste places of the earth, they must turn to and prove peers Se
worth the grabbing. We recommend the great Powers and Concessionaries under them to go to
Brothers.”
Agents in London ;—Mussrs. P. W. WOOLLEY & Co., 90, Lower Thames Street.
Agent in Colombo, Ceylon ;—E. B. CREASY, Esq.
Agent in British Central Africa :-—T. H. LLOYD, Esq., Blantyre.
Telegraphic Address : J. P. WILLIAM & BROTHERS:
Wint1am, Henaratrgopa, Crynon. Tropical Seed Merchants,
Liber's, AI, and A.B.C. Codes used. HEN
346 THE TROPICAL
LABOUR ON CHYLON ESTATHS:
A LABOUR LEAGUE SCHEME.
_ | PLANNED BY MR. D. J. MACGREGOR.
' (Read before the Maskeliya Planters’ Assocvation,)
© 1, -Ifis needless to dilate on the acute stage the
- Labour Question has assumed. That is apparent io all.
There are too few coolies in the island for estate
requirements, and they are not coming in from the
‘Coust a8 they weréin the habit of doing. The existing
mode of. recruiting ia the island—one planter out-
bidding another for coolies—is most disastrous and
the cause of.the enormous increase in advances, and,
if persisted) in, will only result in pushing them
higner still. '
2. Some writers to the papers advocate legislation
in. this crisis, but I think is would be a great mistake
to meddle with the Labour Ordinance as it now is.
‘Our present difficulties have been brought upon us by
ourselves, through local recruiting, and we must en-
‘deavour to overcome them the best way we can. If
ail the Proprietors of Hstates and the Managers of
Companies and Agents were to combine and stop the
issue of all local; advances after a given time, the
~coolies would remain on the estates on which they are
“at present jJocated, for the simple reason that they
would get no advances from any other estate, and
work o..their advances on the estate on which they
“happened to be employed. This may appear at first
sight a drastic remedy, but severe diseases require
“ desperate remedies. Were this scheme adopted all over
‘the “planting districts simultaneously the local
“labour difficulty would besoived. It would be to the
advantage of every estate in the island to join this
: scheme); but'asperiect unanimity cannot be expected,
if 80 per cent join, the scheme would be quite work-
_ able, as the remaining 20 per cent could only absorb
pa limited amount of labour, and they will soon be
. glutted with the heavily indebted gangs.
38, On certain estates the advances per cooly appear
“in the estate books as low as 5 or 10 rapees ; but this
“4s ‘no criterion of the indebtedness of the cooly, as we
all are aware, when a tundu from such an
estate is presented showing 20 to 50 rupees a head,
On these estates the Head Kangani provides and
_ finances the labour supply. He is influential if not
wealthy. He has large powersiand is in good repute
with tae chetties and money-lenders, because he
promptly meets his liabilities; and to enablehim to do
-'thig he has only to ask, the Superintendent of the
_estate to hand over to him one or two months of the
Check Roll’ balance pay, and itis done, The ‘Super-
intendent of such an estate would probably object to
the scheme proposed. Such estates, however, are the
exception and not the rule.
_ Each migration from one estate to another for
‘hiphér advances represents a sericus loss ‘to the
coolies, but this does not distress them. Has not the
- Purai given’ big advance on jwhich they will all fare
luxuriously—more especially the Kangani-—until the
time comes for another move ? And so it will go on so
- long as there isa way of postponing the day of reckon- _
ing indefinitely.
Bona Fipe Coast Apvances.—So far I have only
dealt with coolies in the Island and local advances.
But thelabour difficulty will never be solved unless
every estate recruits from the coast’; and the only’
way to do this is through the Kanganis.. ‘Lhe reports
of the Agents employed on the ‘‘Westland” scheme
and of the other recruiting Agents are useful, and
indicate the districts from which labour may be pro-
cured ;but recruiting by Huropean Agents will not
work, and willend as such schemes have ended in the
past. Labour ean be procured from ‘the | existing
sources, principally Drichinopoly and Madura Dis-
tricts, and if local recruiting comes to a sodden end,
the Kanganis willat once revert to recruiting from
the’ Coast, as was their wont, We are simply cutting
our own throats by recruiting locally, and ruuning up
advances to an unrecoverable limit, ‘The Kanganis
AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 2, 1903.
have no incentive torecruit from the Coast,
Thev find it easier to recruit locally,
They can read the labour barometer as correctly as
we can and are perfectly aware that scarcity of
labour, which is now chronic, meéaus increased local
advances! Not only that, but we have .now to subsi-
dise them to retain the labour already on the-estates.
No advances to recruit locally should be issued.
Advances should be bona-fide coas/ advances to recruit
from the coast of India, The kangani. to whom the
money is advanced,should sign an agreement to procure
a certain number of coolies for a certain sum of money,
say one cooly for R10 or R15 within a certain time,
in failure of which 9 per cent. interest should be
charged, If an agreement of this sort is properly
drawn up, stamped and witnessed, a kangani who
fails to procure the coolies, or to return the mouey,,
is liable to be prosecuted criminally for a breach of
contract—as the money was paid for the special purpose
of procuring labour, and nothing else; whereas the
existing system of pro-notes between the Superinten-
dents and kanganis is merely an acknowledgment for
money due, failure to pay which is a matter for civil
action only. And it says agreat dealforthem that
they seldom repudiate or attempt to evade payment of
their debts. c
How to Recover Apvancnus.—Should this scheme
be adopted the labour force may be looked on as per-
manent as there will be no moving about from one
estate to another. The advances can be recovered
little by little, extending overseveral years, from the
kanganis’ head money alone.
Take an estate employing 200 coolies, and advances
at R25 each —R5,000. Of these 150 should turn out to
work daily=3,750 per month, which at5 cents head
money (2 cts. head kangani and 3 cts sub-kanganis)
=R187'50 per month—or R2,250 per annum. Then there
would be caddy and other outside debts which
must not be repudiated. These would probably come to
R5,100 which with the estate advances amount to
R6,500. In three years the above sum would be paid
off from the head money alone. Over and above the
head money there would be the weeding contracts
which could be paid to the kanganis for subsis«
tence money. But would it be necessary to clear
off all the advances in 3 years? No one would
object to have R10 to R15 per cooly outstanding
always, Under this scheme it would be necessary
to pay monthly, and into the coolies’ hands. By
doing so they would know exactly how they stand
from month, to month, and have the means to buy
necessaries without getting into further debt to the
kangani or caddy-keepers. The kanganis . could
recover the money due to them by the coolies in
monthly instalments of Kl or 50 cents, as was the
custom beforé the tundu system came ‘into exis-
tence, or the practice which now prevails of handing
over to the kangani one or two months of the
check-roll balance pay whenever ‘he demands it.
Aud for the protection of the coolies, each payment
to the kangany could be entered in the check:roll in
a colamn for that purpose. One month of the
kanganis’ head money could be credited to the
estate advance account and one month paid towards
caddy and outside debts alternately.
7. Tunpus.—If a kangani or cooly demands his
tundu it cannot be refused whether he ia in debt or
not. We all know that a kangani before asking
for his tundu, has.decided on the estate to which he is
going, and has already made his arrangements with
the head kangamy or some other kangani of that
estate for the payment of his debt. Members of
this confederation would have nothing to do with
a kangani presenting a tnndu showing any money
due to the estate from which it was issued, If the
kangani or cooly is.free and. has no debt, it is
quite a different matter, and he would be at liberty to
be employed wherever he pleases. He would hold
his discharge note. free of débt, and any member of
the confederation would he perfectly justified in tak-
ing him .on if he go desired. (See note A~exemptions),
we
Nov. 2, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
8, Rutes.—If the Planters’ Association were to take
up. the scheme, itssuccess would be assured, for with-
out their patronage it could not be carried
through, The rules for its working would be very simple
and theseshould be drawn up by a Committee appointed
by the Parent Association. Hach District Association
should keep a register of all the members of the
confederation.
9. PrenaLry.—Any member accused of a breach
of the rales would be tried by the Confederation
Committee; andif found guilty,his name is to be posted
up as a defaulter in all the P. A. Rooms of the
different districts in the island.
Conciusion.—This is the whole scheme and I think
it is workable if it cam be carried through, It is all
fair and square, It places the interests of all the
parties coacernedon s firmer and sounder footing
than they are on at present. It would cause conster-
nation at first amongst the kanganis to find the
usual Goor for renewed and inexhaustible credit closed
against them, but they would soon fali in with the
changed and inevitable situation.
Norte A. Exemprrons.—As the non-federates would
have the run of all the confederate estates to recruit
fron, it would be quite in order on the part of the
confederates to recruit from the non-confederates.
Also it may happen that. a confederate B. was short
handed and another confederate C. had more labour
than he could employ. -In such a case it would be to
the advantage of B. to. take on O’s surplus labour
0) payment of their debts: both would be mutually
benefited and the transaction would not constitute a
breach of rules. 1t might and probably would happen
that coolies on one estate would wish to join their
relations on another estate.
Such cases would beexempt—provided always that the
Superintendent of the estate, on which the coolies who
wish to leave are employed, consents to discharge
them, This would hold good also in cases of coolies
_ leaving to be married on other estates.
DISCUSSION,
The termination of the reading was followed
with applause, in the midst of which Mr C P
Hayes remarked:—I should say the first thing
that would happen would be that the kangani will
so bankrupt and we will stand avery good chance
of losing all our coolies.
Me DJ MacGrecor:—I should think not. We
would only lose the kangani. If the unexpected
happens, and the kangani loses the money due to
him by his coolies getting scattered, the kangani
would leave the estate and very probably he would
not be employed anywhere else.
Mr C B Haves:—And the Superintendent may
get thesack.
Mr MacGrecor:—Very probably. (Laughter.)
Mr C H Hoop:—Do I understand that it is
proposed to form a New Labour Federation? Ifso,
we had better wait perhaps’ till the old one is
‘ finished with and dissolved.
Mr D J MacGrecor:—Yes. A new Labour
Scheme is what I propose. But there need not be
any hurry about it. We can wait till February,
The CHATRMAN expressed scepticism as to join-
ing hands effectively in any scheme whatever.
The penalty suggested would not be of the
slightest use
Mr MacGrucgor referred to public opision.
The OHAIRMAN said it would do for men of
standing, but never meet the cases of black sbeep.
Mr MacGreGgor—on being asked—said he only
wanted his scheme published at present, in order
‘to give all planters an opportunity of considering
it,—This was minuted,
AGRICULTURIST. 347
THE FERNLANDS TEA COMPANY.
THE REPORT.
THE CHAIRMAN moved, seconded by Mr F W
A Perr that the report and accounts as published
be adopted.—Carried.
The report is. as follows :—
Dreectors:—Messrs. K Ei Green, EF W A Pett, H.
Egan and @ H Alston, Estate Superintendent:—Mr,
HL Egan.
AcREAGE :—Fernlands.—Tea in full bearing. 219
acres, Grass and Jungle 52 acres.—Total estate 271
acres, Hton.—Tea in full bearing 164 acres, Carda-
moms 20 acres, Cardamoms in partial bearing 20 acres,
Grass, Jungle and Scrub 46 acres.—Total estate 250
aores. Grand total 521 acres.
The Directors have pleasure in laying before the
Shareholders the Accounts for the Season ending 30th
of June, last. The Crop amounted to 169,971 lb ofitea
realising a net average of 45°47 cents per lb as against
Crop last season of 162,248 lb, net average 44:40 cents.
4,182 lb Cardamoms were secured and sold at a net
average of 91 cents per lb. The Profit on the year’s
working‘amonnted to R26,928'89, equal to 9°76 per cent
on the paid up Capital of the Company, to which has to
be added the sum of R2,155:44, brought forward from
last season’s working, less R537°79, short realised ;on
the estimated value of Crops unsold on 30th of June,
1902, making a total of R28,546°54, at credit of Profit
and Loss Account, An Interim Dividend of 2 percent
was paid on the 18th of February last, absorbing
R5,500, and the Directors now recommend the trans-
fer to Depreciation Account of the sum of R2,500, and
the payment of a Final Dividend of 6 per cent, making
8 per cent for the year, leaving a balance to be carried
forward to the current season’s working account of
R4,046'54. The estimates for the current season are
165,000 1b of tea and 5,000 1b of Cardamoms on an
expenditure on working account of R58.864, while
R5,000 will be expended on Capital Account for the
erection of a new Oil Engine on Fernlands Estate. In
terms of the Articles of Association Mr EE Green now
retires from the office of Director, but is eligible for
re-election. The appointment of an Auditor -will rest
with the meeting. By order of the Directors,
WHITIALL & Co., Agents and Secretaries.
\ oo
THE CONSOLIDATED ESTATES. COM-
PANY, LIMITED.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT,
To be submitted to the Shareholders at the
General Meeting, to be held at 34, Great St. Helens,
E.C , on Wednesday, October, 17th, 1903, at 11°30 a.m.
The General Managers have the pleasure to submit
their Twelfth Annual Report and balance sheet,
together with statement of accounts for the crop year
ending 30th June, 1903,
The Profit and Loss account shows # balance (includ-
ing £582 8s 5d brought forward from last year) of
£7,539 185 2d, after paying Interest on the Debentures,
and an Interim Dividend of 4 per cent. on the Pre-
ferred Shares. :
Out of this sum the General Managers propose—
To pay a Balance Dividend of 4 per cent.
on the Preferred Shares, making 8 per
cext. for the whole year; which will
absorb Sey | -- £1,560 00
*'fo set aside for redemption of 5 per
cent. of the Debentures at 103 2,472 00
To pay a Dividend of 5 per cent. on the
Ordinary Shares -- 1,950 00
To place to Reserve Fand eh 500 00
Carrying forward the Balance, viz:— 1,057 18 2
s cm
£7,539 18 2
* By the Articles of Association it is provided that
no Dividend can be paid on the Ordinary Shares
in avy one year unless five per cent of the Deben-
tures have been redeemed for that year,
348
The following shows the result of the year’s
working, viz. :—
; - New PRoceeps or Crop.
Btn Bue 3 8. d.
1,630,537 lb. Tea at an :
_average net price of 5'96d!
per lb, realised 40,531.10 2
Oocoa, Cardamoms, Cin-
chona Bark, and Cinna- ;
mon (part estimated).. 1,446 16 2
Interest on Account 179 19 6
-—— 42,158 5 10
EXPENDITURE ON EsTATES,
Messrs George Steuart
& Co.’s drafts—R435,010
at an average of 1/4 13-32
er rupee £29,722 4 8
Add Balance of
Coast Advances 17 43
—— 29,739 8 11
Bonus to Superintendents—
R7,850 at 1/4 3-32 526 8 0
30,265 16 11
Profit on Crop Account £11,892 8 11
The General Munagers are glad to report that
the results of last season’s working are the best
for several years, notwithstanding the heavy shortage
in the quantity of tea harvested.
With exception of the first three months of the
season the weather in Oeylon was unfavourable for
the growth of tea, with theresult that the falling off
in the crops, a8 compared with last year, amounted to
nearly 100,000 lb the actual figures being 1,630,537 lb
against 1,726,241 lb for last seacon. Fortunately, how-
ever, owing to the reduced supply both from India and
Ceylon, values have been much better, the average
net price realised for the Tea having been 5°96d this
season, against about 5°50d last year and about 5'31d
the year before. Exchange has remained almost
stationary the average price of the Rupee for three
months’ drafts having been 1/4 138-32, against
' 1/4 23-64 The sterling cost of the Tea hus beeu a
little higher than that for last year owing to the short
crop, as a small crop costs more to produce, relativély,
than a large one, the actual figures having been
about 44d ‘per Ib for 1902-3, against 4 1-16 for 1901-2.
THE PRODUCTS OTHER THAN TEA,
which were estimated at £1,000 to £1,200, have
actually realised £1,446 16s 2d the excess being
mainly due to the fact that more Cinchona was har-
vested than had been estimated for. This, however,
cannot be expected to continue, as the supply of bark
.from the old trees is gradually becoming exhausted,
and the General Managers, in view of this, have
again thought it desirable to carry £500 of the proceeds
‘to credit of the Reserve Fund. The other extraneous
products have realised about the amount expected,
and continue to do well. The acreage of the Company's
Estates is unchanged, but all the Tea recently planted
is now in partial bearing, and the acreage in full —
-bearing has materially
increased. The following are
the figures :— ;
S 3 4 Bisse,
e g é Seeker)
ical a Grea teh 5 SISSC S
= stag SF. &
ct A SB §e of das 2
ca ] [ay RAN lS! % 45
3 KS} wo AS Fn BES G
5 »e a8 am 2S soe 3
Zi re File ieee =
Wattegodde Dimbula 800 25 Nil 70 895
Hoonoocotua Kotmale 5844 15 52 1104 762
Vallagalla . 7Kalutara 585 32 25 58 700
Ellagalla = Matale 231 9 15 190 445
Rotland 8? AHewaheta 4492 69 17 1272 663
Warriagalla Nilambe 4294 874 150 601 1,261
Sorana Kalutara 500 45 75 1388 758
tTotal 83,5723 2824 334 1,295}* 5,484
* Of which more than 300 acres are planted with
Cardamoms, Cocoa, Cinnamon and Cinchona.
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Nov: 2, 1903.
Last year’s Estimate of Expenditure on Capital
Account was £800 to £900, but shortly after the
Estimates had been framed it was found necessary to
have an oil engine installed at the Rutland Factory,
owing to the scarcity and dearness of fuel, This in-
stallation (which is working well) anda few minor
expenses have inoreased the actual expenditure on
Capital Account to £1,251 12s, which has been charged,
as usual, to the Factory and Extension Account. The
only expenditure actually provided for in the estimate
for next season on Capital Account amounts to
between £300 and £400, but there are several other
works at present under discussion, which, if decided
on, would increase this expenditure to £800 to £1,000.
The Estimates of Orop and Expenditure for next sea-
son have, as usual, been very carefully prepared by
the Superintendents of the various Estates, in ‘con-
sultation withthe Ceylon Agents. In view of theshort
returns last year the estimated crops have been pnt
Sown at very moderate figures, and the General Mana-
ed have every hopethat, with normal weather, they
may be exceeded.
EXPENDITURE, CROP,
Wattegodde R 108,870 owe of 400,000lb tea
Hoonoocotua 79,464 oe s00 280,000 ,, 4,
Ellagalla 31,283. ee 110,000 ,, ,,
Tallagalla 67,675 Sc os 245,000 ,, ,,
Warriagalla 70,502 55 ee 260,000 ,, ,,
Rutland 59,020) 4 a2. wise 200,000 ,, ,;
Sorana 66,684 ae ee 263,500 ,, 4.
Total R483,498 at 1/42—£32,988, 1,748,500 ,, .,
Also about 15,000 lb of Ginchona from Ratland,
10,000 1b Cardamoms, and 15 cwts. Oocoa, 50 bushels
pe pper,6 cwt. Arecas, from Warriagaila, and 1,300
7b. Cinnamon from Sorana ; the valne of the whole
of such products being estimated at about £1,000 to
£1,200.
The reports from all the estates continue to be
quite satisfactory, and there appears to be at present
no serious blight nor pest of any kind likely to inter-
fere with the favourable growth of the erzps. The
Shareholders will notice that it is proposed to carry
forward rather a larger balance than usual. This is
due to the fact that the Company's Ceylon Agents
have strongly urged a more liberal application of
manure during the coming season than has been
allowed during the past two years. This will result in
considerable additional expense, but will no doubt
prove most beneficial to the land and lead to better
crops, ARBUTHNOT, LATHAM & Co.
General Managers.
34, Great St. Helen’s, EC.,
29th Sept. 1903
—$—<—————
NEW RUBBER COMPANIES.
THE SOUTHERN CEYLON TEA AND
RUBBER COMPANY, LTD.
[EXTRACTS FROM THE PROSPECTUS. |
Authorised capital R1,000,000. Provisional Directors:
' Phe Hon Mr J N Campbell, the Hon Mr WH Figz:
L T Boustead, Hsq (to join after allotment). Bankers ;
The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China,
Solicitors: Messrs Julius and Creasy. Agents and Sec-
retarves: Messrs Whittall & Co.
It is proposed to form a Company under the above
name for the purpose of acquiring and developing a
block of over 7,000 acres of land in the Southern
Province of Ceylon in Para Rubber and other products,
about 480 acres being already cultivated in Tea. The
property is freehold, the original grant being direct
from Government, Beside the Tea and sundry mino-
products such as Coconuts, Arecanuts and Mangol
steens, &c. which are bringing in a small annuar
income, there are about 2,000 Para Rubber Trees (5
years old) on the property. It was the growth of
these and the large extent of fine undulating forest
_ on a probable output of 1,250,000 lb of Tea.
Nov. 2, 1903.)
_ which led the vendor to purchase the property from
the late proprietors, after having it reported on and
valued by Mr R W Harrison of Culloden, From a
perusal of Mr Harrison’s report, a copy of which
accompanies this prospectus, it will be noted that the
Rubber is considered equal in growth to that in the
Kalutara District, and Mr Harrison also thinks well,
of the prospects of the Tea if properly cultivated.
The objects which the promoters of the Company have
in view are to develop the Estate as rapidly as pos-
sible in Rubber and to bring the Tea and minor pro-
ductsinto a thorough state of cultivation. For the
property as it stands including the Tea and other
products, also a well equipped Factory the vendor is
prepared to accept R290,000, and it is estimated that
a further eum of R310,000, will suffice for opening and
bringing into bearing
1,500 ACRES OF PARA RUBBER,
The total amount of Capital necessary therefore for
the above scheme is R600,000, and it is expected that
this sum will cover all flotation, preliminary, and
management expenses, upkeep for 6 years and
the erection of a suitable building for drying and
curing the Rubber Crop. It is contemplated that
on the completion of the planting of the 1,500 acres
above referred to further extensions should be
taken in hand. The profits from the tea during
the next 2 years may not be very considerable
as thecostof production will be rendered somewhat
high by the outlay necessary for manuring, thorough
draining of the Tea Estate and for redeeming such
abandoned Tea as may be deemed advisable. Addi-
tional labor both Tamil and Sinhalese will be
introduced for the purpose, and the crop, which at
a moderate estimate has been placed at 120,000 lb
Tea in 1904, should, with the assistance of manure
and a labor force sufficient for plucking it, be in-
creased to about 200,000 lb about 3 years later. Mr.
Harrison’s Report is considered to justify these
expectations. The
GREEN TEA
manufactured on the property has,for some time past
realised very satisfactory prices, as much as 39 cents
having been obtained in some instances. In estimating
profits however it is considered advisable to anticipate
a much lower figure than hitherto obtained. As
regards possible profit from
TEA
between ist January next and 31st December, 1910,
it is difficult to speak with any degree of certainty
owing to market fluctuations, but it would appear
not unreasonable to expect 6 to 8 cents per lb pron
t is
estimated that the old. Rubber and the Arecanuts,
&c., will possibly yield an income of from R15/17,000
over the same period. There are very few data to
go on to help to frame any reliable estimate of the
yield from
RUBBER
trees oyer 10 years of age, but it is generally con-
ceded that an estimate of 35 to 40 lb per acre in
the 6th year, rising to 150 lb per acrein the 10th
year is on the safe side. The cost per acre for
cultivation, management, &c., should not exceed R30
per acre; and 50 cents per lb of Rubber for collecting,
curing, &c., is considered a liberal estimate. At
present Ceylon Rubber is selling at over 4s 6d per
lb in London, and over R3 locally and even allowing
for an eventual drop of Rl per lb in the market,
there still remains a very handsome profit, All ex-
tensions and upkeep of Rubber not in bearing will
be debited to Capital Account but the upkeep
of the Tea acreage, minor products and of each
year’s Rubber Clearings as they come into bearing
will be debited to Profit and Loss Account, and the
surplus on sales will be available for distribution to
the Shareholders. It should be mentioned that there
is a sair promise of
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
349
PLUMBAGO
being found on the property as there is a great
deal of this mineral throughout the District, and this
may prove a considerable sourze of income; but this
has not be taken into consideration in appraising
the value of the Estate. The only contract in existence
in connection with the property to be acquired, apart
from the contract with the vendor, is that of the
sale of the crop from the minor products before
mentioned, which has been sold up to end of March,
1904, and proceeds received by the late proprietors.
Pending the registration of the Company the services
of a first class Superintendent and the necessary
Assistants will be engaged, a survey made of the
proposed extensions, and everything put in train so
that felling may be started on lst December, 1903.
Colombo, 20th September, 1903.
MR. R W HARRISON'S REPORT ON THE PROPERTY
REFERRED TO,
This property is situated in the Udugama District
of the Southern Province 16 miles from Galle, and
lies between two Government cart roads leading to
Udugama, The property is said to consist of :—
Tea with Factory, Lines, Small :
Bungalow 35 “oe oo 480 Acres
Abandoned Tea, Minor Products,
Reserve Land, (Jungle fern, swamps) .. 6,858 _,,
7,338 Acres.
About 100 acres of tea, the block nearest the Factory,
is good and would give large returns if it were
cultivated. Over all the rest of the tea there are a
great many vacancies, but the whole of the 480 acres
is good enough to cultivate and with careful treat-
ment and systematic manuring, the present yield of
about 200 lb per acre, could be easily doubled in the
next two years. Some of the abandoned tea might
be reclaimed. All the tea land has been badly opened
in the first instance and has been much neglected
subsequently. Before cultivation could be adopted on
ailarge scale it would be necessary to drain the whole
place ; at present there is very great loss of soil from
wash. In my estimate of the value of the teal have
allowed for the money, which would have to be spent in
redraining and general improvements. The Factory
which is situated about a mile from the nearest tea, is
Ir sufficient capacity to deal with double the presen}
foop and is amply equipped with Machinery at present,
aoough probably another drier and sifter will be
required later on. The motive power is a vortex
turbine. The growth of the few Rubbers there are on
the place is distinctly good, and compares very favour-
ably with trees of the same age in other districts, I
have no hesitation in saying that a very large extent
of the reserve land is well suited for the cultivation of
this product. Out of the 6,604 acres of reserve on the
Maminadola block, I estimate that there are 1,000
acres of fern land, on which [ place no value at all;
the greater part of the remainder, with the exception
of some of the steeper ridges, which are more or less
wind blown, issuitablefor Rubber. There are a great
many Arecanut trees on the Ginedomini and Saumarez
blocks, which are at present leased for R450 per an-
num ; with a small expenditure in clearing them of
jungle growth, the crop might be doubled.
My valuation is as follows :— R.
Tea with Factory, &c. 480 Acres 115,000:00
Minor Products 5,000:00
Reserve land and abandoned tea 6,858
acres Jess 1,000 acres useless fern land
at R30 per acre 5,858 acres 175,74000,
295,740:00
At this figure the purchase of this property should
be a sound investment either toa Company or Capitalist
desirous of developing the whole property or to a private
individual, who might open to a certain extent and sell
off what he does not want. The value of land suitable
for Rubber is certain to increase very much in the
=
"850 THE TROPICAL
course of the next few years; even now, on the Kalu-
tara side, the Government upset price is R40 per
acre, In developing this property the labour question
will be a difficult matter ; the resident Sinhalese popu-
lation is not large and there are few Tamils in the
District at present. (Signed) R W HARRISON,
Culloden, Aug. 11th, 1903. ‘i
—_—_
THE SEREMBAN ESTATE RUBBER CO.,
LIMITED.
[PXTRACTS FROM THE PROSPECTUS. |
Authorised capital R1,000,000. Provisienal Directors:
Edward § Grigson, Esq.; W 8 T Saunders, Heq.; Hon
Mr WH Figg. Bankers; The National Bank of India,
Limited. Solicitors : Messrs Julius & Creasy, Colombo.
Agents and Sercretaries Messrs Whittall & Co.
Nhe object of this Company is to purchase the
Seremban Hatate, situated in the state of Negri Sem-
bilan of the Federated Malay States from the present
holders—Messrs # S Grigson, WS T Saunders, W H
Figg, L Davidson, D R Marshall, V R Wickwar and the
representatives of the late D Cameron and the late E D
Harrison—and to further develop the cultivation of
Para-Rubber and other products, for whichthe climate
and land is eminently suitable. The Jand is held under
Government Leases for 999 years, at a quit rent of
80 dollar cents per acre per annum for 2,840 Acres.
50. ~~~—s do do do 652 do
Total
3,492 Acres,
~ Exceptional transport facilities are afforded on the
property. A good cart road passes through the culti-
vated area to Seremban, the Capital of the State (a
distance of 4 miles): Port Dickson is only 24 miles
from Seremban, with which it is connected by a
Railway. Another? metalled cart road recently con-
structed passes through the Eastern and Southern
Divisions of the Estate. The Southern extension of
the- Federated Malay States Railway now under
construction affords direct communication with
Seremban and passes through two miles of the
property. Arrangements can most probably be
made with Government for asiding for Estate purposes.
It will be noted that in spite of the exceptionally
favourable situation the quit rent payable is only 30 cts.
per acre per annum for over #tha of the area leased. No
land similarly situated is now available and the present
quit rent fixed by Government is $1 per acre with a
possibility of an increase. The cultivated area con-
- gists of 470 acres, anda further 50 acres will be added
by the end of the year, Originally 420 aores (four fields
of 105.acres each) were planted with Liberian Coffee,
later, in 1898, this area was planted throughout with
Para Rubber 20 ft. by 20 ft., and again with the last
three years was quincunxed, since when eight acres
have been acquired by the Government for Railway
purposes, At present the
: CENSUS OF RUBBER TREES.
stands approximately :—40.000 trees 53 years on Ist
January, 1904. 10,000 trees 3% years on Ist January,
1904. 30,000 trees 24 years on Ist January, 1904. The -
new clearing will give an additional 20,000 trees,
selected plants being im readiness for immediate
planting. It is generally admitted that the growth of
Para Rubber in the Malay States is much quicker and
finer than in Ceylon, and returns should be proportions
ately larger, but in estimating probable receipts o
Rubber, figures have been based on results obtained
here. In calculating the probable cost of cultivation
and tapping at Rl per pound of Rubber produced,
local figures have again been followed to some extent.
~The rate fixed upon may be considered somewhat
excessive when the trees are 8 yeaxs old and upwards,
but there will always be a number of: younger trees
* eoming’ into’ bearing for which provision must be
made," and any saving that may be effected on the
* working will be a set off against further depreciation
“fn the value of the produce. Small quantities | of
AGRICULTURIST, [Nov. 2, 1908,
Rubber from this Estate have recently been sold in
the Colombo market realising a nett average of R300
per pound including scrap. The greater part of the
Coffee originally planted still exists and a Crop of
500 piculs is estimated for 1904 after which it is not
expected that there will be any substantial revenne
from this source. The property is to be purchased
as from Ist January 1904 for R450,000 valued as
follows :— ;
412 Acres Rubber and Coffee
100 do New Clearings
2,980 do Forest oe
3,492 Acres R450,000°00
It is intended to open up the available forest as
rapidly as possible, 200 acres to be undertaken in
1904, _ The Estimated cost of clearing and planting
with Rubber is $40 (say R60:00) per acre, The further
outlay on Capital Account for 1904 would be about
$6,500 (say R10,000°00) to provide suitable accommoda.-
tion for curing the increasing quantities of Rubber,
and advances for establishing an efficient Labour Force.
It is admittedly difficult to frame an Estimate of the
PROBABLE PROFITS FROM RUBBER CUTIVATION,
but judging by the great and increasing demand
for qualities of Rubber, such as the Company’s pro-
perty will produce, and taking into consideration the
fact that supplies cannot largely increase for some
time to come, a profit.of R1°75 per Ib for the first three
years should be well within the limits of reasonable
ike tt From 1907 onwards the nett profits are
calculated at R150 per Ib only, and the greatly
increased returns which by that time may be lookey
for from the younger parts of the Estate should fuld
compensate for any shrinkage in valve, while the
Crops thereafter will go on steadily improving as the
trees advance in age, Calculating on the above basis
the figures, for 512 acres now in cultivation, work
out as follows :—
} R360,600-00
..B 89,400:00
Estimated Net Profit per Net
Crop Ib. lb @ R. Profit R.
1904 -. 20,000 1°75 35,000
1905 .. 34,000 1°75 59,500
1906 -- 40,000 175 70,000
1907 -- 60,000 150 90,000
1908 -« 80,000 150 120,000
1909 90,000 1°50 © 135,000
In addition to these profits it is believed that there
will be a fair return from the Coffee in 1904. The
Company have a most valuable asset in the large
reserve of very fine land which the estate possesses
and profits should grow into very big figures as the
New Clearings come into bearing. It may be men-
tioned that the Rubber which comes from the’ in-
digenous sources in Para itself, and which represents
so large a proportion of the world’s supply cannot
compete with Cultivated Rubber in the matter of cost,
the Export Duty alone being 23 per cent, and charges
naturally increase as Forests more remote are tapped.
If therefore prices fall, it must affect the main source
of supply before the cultivated area is touched,
TIN
has been found, and it is being profitably worked in
the near neighbourhood of Seremban, and the Com-
pany has the option of dealing with its mineral
resources, should opportunities offer. It may also
be added that the Jungle, owing to its proximity to
town, is becoming yearly of more value for timber and
firewood. There are good connections of Labour on
the Estate, and Mr Wickwar, the Manager, does
not apprehend difficulty in increasing the force
as required, The opening of new land is done largely
by the natives of the Straits Settlements, Tamil
labourers being employed on the general working of
the Estate.
Reports by Mr Wilson Wood and the late E D
Harrison may befseen. Owing to the deaths of Donald
Oameron and E D Harrison, two of the Proprietors
of Seremban Estate, it is impossible now to state
yt Ue
Nov. 2, 1903] THE TROPICAL
the dates at which their shares in the property can be
transferred to the Company, but steps are being taken
for obtaining probate of the Wills and the Kxecutors
have agreed that their shares in the property shall
be transferred as from lst January 1904,
Colombo, 10th October, 1903. |
ee
AN AMERICAN AGRICULTUKIST FOR
INDIA.
Among the passengers arriving in the ss
** Orontes” (Oct. 19th,) was Mr. E. Norton, who
after some years in the United States is
proceeding to India to start as an agricul-
turist. Mr. Norton has had _ considerable
experience in America, and also spent four
years at Corneli University studying agricul-
tural science. He will start at Dhond, Poona,
in connection with the American Orphanage
there, and try what can be done with poultry-
farming, horticulture, fruit and vegetable
growing etc. If Dhond is nota promising
centre Mr. Norton will try elsewhere, and
hopes to go in tor dairy-farming and cattle
breeding, provided he can get a sufficient and
permanent supply oi fodder. He has devices
tor a number of economical implements and
cultivators, which he hopes to induce the
natives to use, these being economical and
more effective than their own primitive im-
plements. Simple windmills tor irrigation
purposes are also in Mr. Norton’s programme,
and we wish him success in his enterprise.
a
PRODUCK AND PLANTING.
Toe Russian Oonsul-General in Goadon, Baron
Ungern Sternberg, denies that
YHE INCREASHD RUSSIAN TEA DUTY
is retaliatory:in intention, or his avy relation to the
pugar Convention, His explanations are that Indian
and Ceylon teas are imported into Russia only in very
small quantities. Russia is-very anxious to encourage
the Trans-Siberian Railway, and at the same time
foster the town of Dalny, which at present, it may be
explained, exists only in the shape of stone and lime,
and, so far from wishing to retaliate against Great
Britain, she only desires to admit by a quicker route
an article which has recently grown greatly in favour
in thecountry. “ Russia,’ said the Baron, ‘* only uses
Indian and Ceylon teas for blending with Chinese teas
‘because a better flavour is produced. Beside,’ he
added ** Russia wants a little money. That is ail that.
it amounts to.’’ Whisis the official explanation of
Russia's action, but the conclusion is inevitable that
the increased duty is retaliatory in intention and will
be retaliatory in effect. Only teas re-exported from
Great Britain or sent into Russia via the Huropean
frontier and the Black Sea will be subject to the
Increased duty. ‘Teas going over the ‘Trans-
Siberian Railway are subject to inorease, and
the import duty on China teas is not changed.
Ohina, tea, in fact, obtains a preference over
British-grown teas, and the latter are subjected
to ao iimpost amounting, roughly, to £100,000 a year,
unless British exporters consent to use the Trans-
Siberian Kaliway. It is impossible to say as yet what
the effyct of uhe new duty will be, but it isa significant
fact that since 1901 the exports of Indian and Ceylon
tes to Russia bave grown considerably, In 1901 the
quantity oi Indian ; tea exported direct from Oaleut
wod
388
A NEW TEA-BUYING FIRM IN COLOMBO.
FOR BUSINESS WITH TURKEY.
Russian tea businesses have been added to
in Colombo one by one; but we do not recall
any case hitherto of a firm opening at this
very central market for tea business with
Turkey—and Turkey only, Mr. M. Landau,
who has been in Colombo about six weeks,
and has been accommodated so far with the
Oriental Boat Company, until he secures a
suitable office in the Fort, has been making
preparations to get to work. He is a member
of the, well-known firm of M. Landau and
Sons, and has himself been stationed in
Shanghai for four years where the firm
handled about 10,0001b, of tea monthly. Mr.
Landau, who has come here with his family
to settle down for good, has not yet been
buying in the local market; but hopes to
commence before very long. He says there
is considerable fondness for Ceylon tea in
the Turkish dominions, and good prospects
of its extension. ‘The present high prices
in Colombo, however, are not quite to our
visitor’s liking and it is the lower grades that
will most probably suit Turkish requirements.
The exports to Turkey up to October 17th this
‘year are 21,5881b. as against 30,608 lb. in
1902. Next year should see these figures
largely increased. M. Landau is a Swiss by
birth, hailing from Geneva, but it is 20
years since he saw his native country. We
wish him all success in Ceylon.
———_ - —____—____—_
THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA.
INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH THE
REV. J C HARRIS OF JOHANNESBURG,
CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN THE NEW COLONIES
—THE LABOUR QUESTION—FUTURE PRO-
SPECTS, FOR SETTLERS AND OTHERS—
LORD MILNER AND THE NEW COLONIAL
SECRETARY.
The Rev, J C Harris of Johannesburg,
who has been 12 years in South Africa, has
kindly accorded our representative an inter-
view on affairs in that country.
‘‘How is the country settling?” was the
first question, *
“Things are settling down wonderfully,
considering the great upheaval. As far as
the Transvaal is concerned, the problem with
most has not been settling down, but
“settling up.” Pre-war debts, and wav-
time loans, rents for houses and shops
which could not be occupied, over-due bills,
deferred interest, &c., these and similar
matters have kept the lawyers busy. But
now matters are heing re-adjusted and
people are getting on their feet again, The
pericd since the declaration of Peace, has,
however, been a very trying time. Business
has been slow, the railways have heen
cramped by military requirements and
money has heen very ‘‘tight.” Of course
all these difficulties would have vanished
before a ‘‘boom,” but for various reasons
the long-expected boom has not come off.”
THE WANT OF LABOUR,
“Why not?”
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
i | Dic. uF 1903.
“The chief reason is lack of labour, Many
of the mines are still closed down, while
the richer and larger ones which are work-
ing are some of them employing less than
half the “boys” they want, and conse-
quently the ‘‘out put” is kept down, and
development is retarded. The Labour Pro-
blem is the crux of the whole question.
The mines must have native labour, and
the Kaffirs do not seem to be ayailable. A
special Commission has now recommended
the importation of Chinese Jabour, under
certain restricticns. That report was practi-
cally a foregone conclusion from the first.”
‘““Was there much opposition to the in-
troduction of Chinese ?” :
** Yes, a very strong section of the commu-
nity, including many of the tradesmen,
and I suppose all Australasians most
fiercely opposed it. They contend that this ~
is only a dadge of the capitalist houses
to make higher dividends; that Kaffirs
can be got; that the capitalists have res
fused to accept Kaffir Jabour when
offered, and have “choked off” the Kaffirs
by reducing their pay. And they point to
the curse of the Chinaman in Australia and
New Zealand. Some of the men have talked
wildly about shooting the Chinese if they
come. ‘Isit for this we fought, they ask ?
‘Did we suffer and did our kinsmen die,
to hand this country over to the Jewish
Speculator and the Heathen Chinee?’” |
CHANGE IN FEELING TOWARDS CHINESE,
‘* And the other side?”
“Well, the other side contends that the
country’s progress is being retarded, that the
Mines are idle, all because we cannot get
labour. They urge that with proper legisla-
tion the Chinese peril can be averted or
reduced to a minimum. Six months or so
ago, Johannesburg was almost solid anti-
Asiatic, but the growing dulness of trade
consequent on the Jeadness of the Share-
market, peoduced a wonderful change. And
if trade is bad, and money slack, other con-
siderations disappear. Most men do nct come .
to the Transvaal for Health, or Religion,
but for Money, and most of the mine owners
and mineworkers alike would get labour
from the Lottomless Pit, if they could and
if they felt it would make things ‘* boom.”
THE FUTURE.
‘*But what of the future of the country ?”
“J fear that consideration does not enter
very much into the minds of very many of the
British people there. Patriotism pales before
Pocket, because only a small proportion of
the people mean to stay in the country. As
soon as they have ‘‘made their pile” they
mean to clear out. I speak, of course, of the
mass ofthe miners in the Transvaal. Indeed,
at present they are not to be blamed; for the
cost of living is so great that a married man —
cannot live there unless he has a big salary. —
You can quite see the political peril which
faces us. Not alone from Bond _ intrigue,
nor chiefly from the lingering enmities of the —
war, but chiefly our menace lies in the lack
of public spirit and the political inertness of -
the British themselves.”
“ And the Dutch?” OS ie
“This does not apply to them in the same
——————
Dec. 1, 1903. THE TROPICAL
degree. They are there to stay. It is to
them “Ons Land”—Our Land. There they
were born, there they have bled and there
they will die: More, they are politically solid.
There are, I admit, minor splits caused by
the natural hatred of the no-surrender party
of the “Hands Uppers” and the National
Scouts. But, I believe, a few vears will wipe
that out, or greatly modify it. The Dutch
are one party ; the British are not. Cliques,
uud Unions, Guilds and Leagues wrangle
and curse each other, so that you can never
count heads among the English, with any
certainty of party-reckoning as you would
among the Afrikander or Dutch.
LORD MILNER'S REMAINING WORK.
“How do you think the Transvaal will re-
gard the recent refusal of Lord Milner to leave
S. Africa?’
‘© T believe that the British section through-
out S. Africa will rejoice. In spite of an
attempt to undermine his work, and vilify
his name and tie his hands, S. Africa
believes in Milner, and trusis him. It would
be the basest ingratitude were it otherwise,”
“But there seems to be strong feeling against
Milner?”
“Yes, but among whom? Some of the
irreconcilable Dutch and the rebels hate
him, of course. A burglar hates the Police-
man who runs him in, and an intriguer hates
the keen diplomat who sees through his
humbug. Then again we have a number of
new arrivals—men who have just come to the
country hoping to veap the crop of the War
in big fortunes. Many of these have no
knowledge of the long and weary struggle
of the past seven years, They do not know
how splendidly, how keenly, Milner has fought
for British interests, and how he _ has
checkmated the wily schemers who plotted
the elimination of the British factor from
S. African Politics. Such folk, of course,
readily lend themselves to the ‘‘ bazaar-talk,”
as you would call it, of the canteens, or the
vapourings of the Daily News, But I assure
you that the real South African, the man who
has read his History and helped to make it,
would consider it nothing short of a calamity
were Milner removed just yet. Besides, that
is the great aim of the Africander Bond—the
Merriman-Sauer, Pro-Rebel Party in the
Cape Colony, Their hope is that a change
of Government at Westminster may result
in a recall of Lord Milner, and so cause a
reversion of policy. That isthe old, old game,
the far and fatal precedent which for the
past half-century has cursed 8. Africa. On
the other hand, we, I mean the British, feel
that the surest and safest way to weld the
races and establish a safe peace, is to retain
the present policy and lift South Africa out
of the cock-pit of miserable party issues.”
THE RACIAL CHANGE.
‘You speak of British vs. Dutch. Is the
Racial change very distinct?”
“JT fear it is. And for the present itis, per-
haps, inevitable, Men, wio have been through
a bitter war, cannot throw off the entail of
it at once. And, largely owing to the dia-
bolical lying of some of the pro-Boer press
as to the Concentration Camps and ‘‘ Methods
of Barbarism,” inany of the Dutch women
AGRICULTURIST. 389
cherish enmities where they should feel
gratitude, It is the cruel irony of things,
that the very men who, in England, shout, for
party purposes, about race hatred in S. Africa,
have done most to arouse and perpetuate
that very evil. And yet. [ believe that, as a
rule, our new fellow-subjects mean to “play
the game.” They are, of course, sore at the
loss of their country, and one cannot ex-
pect them to be eager to sing ‘Rule
Brittania ;” but on all sides one finds a very
hopeful desire to forget, to let the past
die, and to join hands in a common citizen-
ship. Perhaps Delarey is the finest type of
Dutchman we have. If only the wretched
party-mongers at home would leave us alone,
and mischievous place-hunters could be put
down, we would soon work out our political
salvation.”
BRITISH POLITICAL CHANGES AND SOUTH
AFRICA,
“How do you think the changes in the home
Cabinet will affect you ?”
“ Not in the least. The Hon. Alfred Lyttle-
ton, the new Colonial Secretary, though
comparatively unknown to the crowd, is, of
all men, probably the most likely to secure
continuity of pclicy tor S. Africa. He has
been an eager student of S. African affairs,
and has been, since Lord Windsor’s retires
ment, Chairman of the Imperial 8. African
Association, a Society which has done much
for British interest in S. Africa. He is a
strong man, and will make his mark.”
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
“When are you likely to get Responsible
Government in the Transvaal ?”
“T do not know. I donot think we are ripe
for it yet, nor are we likely to be for some
time. We have so many divergent and
powerful interests at work, that, in my
opinion, we need the strong hand of an im-
partial Power to prevent one party or the
other from wrecking theship. Mr. Chamber-
lain put the situation tersely in one of his
speeches when in Johannesburg. Said he in
effect :—
‘« Weare quite ready, almost eager to relinquish
our hold on the reins of Government, but we want
some guarantee that you will not be exchanging
Government by Downing Street, for Government
by Park Lane.”
Our present Legislative Council is some-
what on similar lines to your own. It is half
official and half nominated by the High
Commissioner. On the whole the Council
is representative of the various interests :—
Mining, Commercial, Labour, &c. As the
result of the first Sessions work we had a
batch of Laws which were strikingly pro-
gressive from the point of view of the
Social Reformer—a Liquor Law, which
abolishes Barmaids and gives the right of
Local Option, a new Morality Law, and a
Sunday Ordinance securing a weekly Day
of Rest for the miners. Another good thing
is the abolition of Sweepstakes,”
OPENINGS FOR SETTLERS,
‘And what openings are there for young
men in the Transvaal ? ”
**T would not advise any one to go to the
Transvaal just yet ‘ton spec” unless he is a very
capable artisan, or miner, or has money
390 THE TROPICAL
enough to wait. There ave many men out
of work, but most of the out-of-works are
either ‘‘ bummers ” or men who can “turn
their hands to anything !” A good carpenter
is fairly sure of work, and will earn 22s6d a
day—about R17. If he is unmarried, or can
leave his wife elsewhere, he can do well. But
if he hasto rent a house and keepa family in
Johannesburg he will havea hard struggle.
House rents are enormous, and are not likely
to grow less for some time, Ifear. A small
four-roomed house, built of corrugated iron,
will cost from £10 to £12 10sa month rent.
A Kaffir house-boy demands £3 10s to £4.
Food and clothing are not as dear in
proportion, but runto about 50 per cent
above English costs. For a married man,
I should say, the purchasing value of a
sovereign on the Rand is about 1ls—as com-
pared, that is, with England. But for the
single man, with push and grit, who is
really capable, and who can keep straight,
there will be many opportunities. Men who
drink and play the fool, will go to the devil
double-quick there.”
** And the climate ?”
“Perfect. The grandest climate in the world.
Johannesburg is 6,000 feet above sea-level,
just like your Nuwara Eliya, and the air is
clear and bracing. The dust is a serious
drawback, but in time will probably get better
as we get better roads.”
THE OLD—AND THE COMING—DAYS,
“* And the good old days ?”
“We prefer to forget them if we can. I
knew Kruger and Reitz and the other Boer
leaders. Some of them are back. Mr.
Smuts, who was State Attorney, and was
said to be leader of the Young Burgher War
Party, is now practising in Pretoria. He is
a keen, clever man. Kruger is gone, and
Leyds. The latter was the ‘‘ Professor
Moriarty ” of the Transvaal and—more than
any other man—brewed the war, ‘The cancer
is not quite cut out yet. There is mischief
stirring in Cape Colony, but if the Progres-
sives can carry the next elections there, we
shall hope for co-ordination among the South
African States, and soon, I trust, Federation.”
“Then you have faith in the future of South
Africa ?”
“Of the Transvaal—certainly, almost un-
limited. In Johannesburg there are enor=
mous piles of buildings going up. Plots of
ground in the main street which 15 years
ago cost £40, now bring £40,000. Now that.
we have clean Government, the old flag,
justice, and the discipline of the war behind
us, I believe the next few years will see the
‘Transvaal taking a forefront place among
the Younger Peoples which are the pride and
the hope oi the Old Mother ot Nations,”
—
COTTON-GROWING IN WEST AFRICA,
A member of the Lagos Legislature who has justi
arrived from West Africa has giveu Reuter’s Liverpool
representative a most encouraging account of the
cotton growing prospects in that colony. Sir William
Macgregor, the Governor, is taking up the matter in
the most energetic manner. Recently Sir William
visited the Hinterland centres and addressed the chiefs
and natives on the importance of cotton-growing,
AGRICULTURIST. [Dre. 1, 1908.
Subsequently his Excellency had numerous requests
for seed to start the industry. Many tons were distri-
buted, and now an extensive area is under cultivation.
There are many thousands of acres in the vicinity of
the newly-constructed railway which are avilable for
cotton growing, and this land, it is expected, will at no
distant date be fields of growing cotton. During the
American civil war and also at the time of the notable
cotton famine Lagos produced large quantities of
cotton, and at present there were many parts of the
colony where the residue of this cotton is growing wild.
This cotton, which is described as ‘‘native cotton,” is
of fine quality. Reuter’s informant held the view that
in years to come Africa would be able to grow all the
cotton which the Einglish manufacturers could require,
and still have a surplus for exportation. The natives
were being stimulated by the fact that such leading
commercial menas Sir Alfred Jones and others in
England were energeticaliy taking up the subject. At
present, in order to encourage cotton growing, the
Lagos Railway was eonveying the new crop to the
coast free of charge, and Elder, Dempster’s steamers
were carrying it to Hugland without charging freight,
and a cablegram received this week in Liverpool from
Lagos said that the natives were taking up the growing
with energy andeyen enthusiasm.—London Times.
=e Se ee
THE TEA TRADE DURING THE YEAR
, 1902-3.
Sir,—To some members of the tea world the
cheerful view we took last yearof the outlook
nay have seemed somewhatoptimistic, The event
has, however, justified the opinion we then ex-
pressed that ‘‘the prospects of the trade, which had
been very depressing a yearago, are brighter.”
This year, to quote Lord Curzon, we ‘‘seem to see
a silver lining in the dark cloud which has hovered
so long over the tea industry.” The silver lining is
the fact that consumption has at last overtaken
production. This improvement isdue to three main.
causes :—First, lessened production ; secondly, the
manufacture of green tea instead of black ; thirdly,
the most important of all, the exploitation of new
markets for British=grown teas. The lessened pro-
duction was owing partly to climate causes, partly
to the labour difficulty, partly to finer plucking,
and partly to the fact that much less land has come
into bearing during the last two years than during
the previous three. The manufacture of green tea
has been taken up so vigorously that
CEYLON
estimates to displace black tea during the current
year tothe extent of 12,0/0,000 1b, The manu-
facture is also carried on with great success in
India, though not to the same extent as in Ceylon.
The opening up of new markets is, however, the —
chief cause of the improved outlook. This course
we have advocated by letters to the Press, and have ~
endeavoured to help forward for a lon
time past, It is now generally recognise
as the only way to enable the industry to pre-
serve its prosperity, the only way, in fact. for —
the planter to preserve his existence. Great efforts
are being made to push the sale of British-grown —
tea in countries where until lately it was —
almost unknowa, notably in India itself. The —
endeavour to popularise the drinking of Indian tea
among the natives of India, which was the princi- —
pal subject of a letter, ‘‘ Indian Tea for the —
Indians,” which we wrote to The Times a year —
ago, has been vigorously carried on, The rt
———————~—SCO—— COO
Dre. 1, 1903.)
INDIAN TEA MARKETS EXPANSION COMMISSION
continues its work, with the satisfactory result
that tea is becoming popular amoug the poorer
classes and that there is an increasing demand for
good tea throughout the country, as the consumer
is being educated to like sound tea, and therefore
refuses the rubbish sold by the irresponsible native
hawker. The report of the two years’ work of the
Commission is extremely interesting. The princi-
pal method adopted for inducing the natives to
drink tea, as we explained last year, is the sale of
packets ofdry tea and of cups of brewed tea at
one pice Watt each The sale of the packets and
cups increased enormously during the first 18
months of the Commission’s operations. During
the last six months the sale slightly decreased,
but not because tea was not growing in favour.
On the contrary, the decrease was due to the fact
that many small traders, after selling packets for
a time, ask for the saine class of tea in bulk and
retail it, Whisshows that the habit of tea drink-
ing has taken root. The Commission took ade
vantage of the opportunity affurded by the im-
mense assemblage of persons of all ranks and
many nations at the Delhi Durbar, to bring Indian
tea prominently forward. Depéts were opened
in several of the camps and in the city,
where very large quantities of tea were sold.
It was also hawked about the streets. At
the restaurants in the Fine Arts Exhibition
and the Polo Club nothing but pure Indian tea
was sold, In addition tothe work done by the
Commission, a similar system is being carried out
in the city of Madras and in other parts o/ South
India, In Madras hawkers go round with kettles
of prepared tea morning and evening, aud supply
the native population at a picea cup. They also
visit the officials in the various public offices dur-
ing tiffia time. The sales of brewed tea and of
tea in packets are going upevery month, These
efforts of private enterprise are now assisted by
what is known as the tea cess, which is a voluntary
tax of of a pie (equivalent to 1-48 of a penny)
levied ou every pound of tea exported from India.
The money thus raised is devoted to exploiting
new markets tor Indian tea.
Turning to the consideration in detail of the
world’s consumption of British-grown tea outside
the land ofits production during the year 1902 3,
we find that the United Kingdom is still the largest
customer, Australia, America, and Russia follow-
ing in order, The uncertainty as to the duty on
tea in the United Kingdom naturally greatly
affected the trade during the earlier part of the
year; no more tea was imported than was
absolutely necessary. It does not appear, how-
ever, that less tea was drunk, There was already
a large quantity in the country, which supplied
the deficit. Ono May 31, 1903, this stock was
12,000,000 lb less than on the same date in 1902.
‘The consumption per head has notdeclined. As the
lessened production is owing greatly to finer pluck-
ing, the diminution of supply has been chiefly of
low-priced teas. It is impossible now to supply
good tea at as cheap a rate as heretofore. Tea
is not really dearer, as the higher-priced tees go
a great deal farther than the so-called cheap
ones. Consumers are beginning to realise that
a pound of 2s tea makes twice as many cups as
a pound at 1s 4d, and that the higher the price
paid the smaller is the proportion absorbed by
the tax and the larger the proportion really
spent in tea, Those persons who insist on haying
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 391
low-priced tea may find they are using what has
been rejected by foreign markets.
AUSTRALIA
has taken rather less tea during the last two
years than during previous years, owing, doubtless,
to the depression in trade caused by droughts
Until lately
AMERICA
has been a coffee-drinking country, and of the
small quantity of tea she consumed the black
came almost entirely from China and the green
from Japan. Now tea is becoming popular, and
imports of British-grown tea have risen in a few
years neaily 100 per cent. Two ciubs in New
York make a feature of afternoon tea. Men who
drink it are not laughed at, even by their enemies.
There are very few villages, no matter how small,
where it is not possible to get good tea. These
changes are owing almost entirely to the enter-
prise of certain tea-producing firms in India and
Ceylon. The utmost pains, assisted by wonderful
machinery, are devoted to preparing tea, parti-
cularly green tea, for the American market.
Green tea has always been more drunk in America
than black. Therefore Ceylon planters have taken
up the manufacture of green tea, and turn out
blends equal to the best Japanese production.
As it is found that the same kind of tea does
not suit all parts, samples of wacer from all the
great cities in North America are sent out and
tea is manufactured to suit them. The sale of the
tea is also vigorously pushed by good advertising
and by demonstrations. Both in the United States
and in Canada people are learving that a pound
of British growa tea produces two or three Limes
as much beverage asa pound of China or Japan
tea, and also that the strong Indiau and Ceylon
teas are as sustaining as coffee, which the weaker
growths from China and Japan are not, The
removal, in January, of the 10 cent (Sd.) tax on
bea doubtless increased the demand in the United
tates.
EXPORTS TO RUSSIA
of Indian tea have more than doubled during the
year. The Russian Government has lately in-
creased the duty on British grown teas, leaving
the duty on China tea uncharged. The intention
doubtless is to check the growing trade in Indian
tea, and encourage the importof Chinese tea by
the new Trans-Siberian Railway. It is quite
certain, however, that the Russian merchant,’
who is a very business-like man, will buy the
tea he prefers wherever he can get it cheapest. If
he finds that Indian tea suits bis purpose best,
Indian tea be will have. Russia consumes more
liquid tea per head than any other country ; bub
the people take it very weak, generally making
five brews from one spoonful of cry leaf, This facet
makes Indian tea very valuable to the Russian
blender, as no other growth will bear so
much watering. A proposal is under con-
sideration to use the Trans Siberian line
for the purpose of importing British grown
tea, which will be sent from Calcutta, via Shanghai,
to Port Dalni (Arthur), and thence to Moseow, so
that instead of retarding our trade with Russia
the new railway may help it, If Indian and Ceylon
planters will study the Russian market, they may
feel sure of securing a very valuable and increasing
trade with that country.
Tea drinking is also gaining ground in
a
“902 THE TROPICAL
TURKEY IN ASIA.
The Bitish Vice Consul at Alana says that
thousands of Circassians drink tea, though he
himseif considers. hare is no drinkabie tea Lo be
had in Tu key. Wa4at there is comes from Russia,
and though very inferior commands a very high
price.
EXPORTS TO WESTH#RN EUROPE
are steadily increasing. Afiernvon tea is rapidly
becoming au instiituvion in Paris. Iu Rome, also,
English tea rcoms have been opened, Ceylon tea
is sold in over 1,3UU shops in Switzerland and in
many towns in the south of France. in Germany,
Austria, and Seandinwia consumption isincreasing.
The above remarks show that the demand for
British-grown tea is steadily growing, and that
the prospects of the trade are better than they
have been for some time past. There is every
yeason to hope that the improvement will continue,
Very. little land will come into bearing during the
next few years, so that, unless planters revert to
the fatal system of coarse piucking, consumption
and production will be fairly balanced. We may
hope that the ‘‘silver lining” will shine more
and more brightly till at last the ‘‘dark cloud”
will entirely disappear.—Yours faithtuliy,
BRooKksk, BOND, & Co., LTD.
17 and 18, St. Dunstan’s-hill, E.C., Oct. 1.
—London Times.
SS
LORD AMPTHILL AND ANAMALAI
PLyNTERS.
In pursuance of his policy of endeavouring to
get to the root of local “ grievances” by informal
discussion with the persons immediately affected,
in preference to hearing them set torth in a
formal address, His Excellency the Governor
during his recent visit t, the Anamalai Hills
met several of the Pianters at the Mouica
Bungalow on the 13th instant, and had a long
and interesting talk with themabout their pro-
spects and wants. The Planters were represented,
by Messrs Windle, Marsh, Walsh, Congreve
Dunean, Watt and several others. They seemed
to be very hopeful and confiuent of the succcss
of their newly developed District. Messrs Finlay,
Muir and Co. are putting up expensive buildings
and machinery ; the Monica estate is employing
Sinhalese workmen to build a tea factory ; while
one of the Planters has constructed at considerable
_¢ost a wooden bungalow in the style of a Swiss
ehalét. Several estates have been opened up and
cultivation has already made a considerable ad-
vance. In 1902-03, 74 tons of coffee were
harvested, as against 104 tons in 1901-02, and
the crops now on the trees are estimated at
136 tons. Cardamoms are expected to yield
34,500 1b. this year; last year the yield was 18,515
ib, This year’s crop of tea is estimated at 50,000
ib,, and the following crop at 150,000 lb. All this
looks like development and prosperity, and if
better times are in store for cofiee, the Anamalai
District, with its newly planted soil and favourable
climate, ought todo well. The first and principal
request put forward by the Planters was that
CERTAIN BRANCH ROADS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED,
This request was preferred in an Address to
His Excellency at Coimbatore last year; and His
Excellency, while promising to give his attention
to the subject, which was undoubtediy important
from the point of view of the expansion of planting,
_ seems
AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1903.
pointed out that the construction of the Ghaut
road had cost a great deal more than was originally
anticipated, and expressed a fear that ib might not -
be possibile to provide money for the construction
of braneh roads as fast as the Pianters wished. The
branch roads more particularly asked for on the
present occasion were :— ;
1. A bandy road from Peralai to Monica, a distance
of 7 miles, to serve Putheutotam estate (400 acres
under cultivation), Stanmore (795 acres under culti-
vation) and Castlecroft (285 acres ander cultivation).
2. A bridle-path from Stanmore to where the
Serabundera bridle-path now stops, a distance of
4 miles, This would serve Serabundera, which has
100 acres under cultivation and is 4 miles from the
Ghaut Road.
3. The conversion into a bandy road of the exist-
ing bridle-path from Monica to Karangamnodi, &
distance of 4 miles. This would serve the Karan-
gamudi Hstate, which has 400 acres under cultivation
andis4 miles from the Ghaut Road, and «leo enable
culiivation in two other blocks to be extended.
Mr de Winton, C1I,B., Chief Engineer, who was
also present at the interview, thought that the
roads and bridle paths could be made for about
R35,000. Wis Excellency could not give any
definite promise that these roads would be con-
structed by Government, but proposed to consider
the request carefully on his return to Madras,
and expressed a hope that it might be found
possible to meet the Planters’ wishes in the matter,
The question of the maintenance of the Ghaut
Road was then discussed. The Planters were
anxious that it should be maintained by the
P. W. D, asthe District Board has not the re-
quisite funds to spare for the purpose. His
Excellency promised to refer the point to the
Departments concerned for consideration. The next
poiut raised was the
REVISION OF THE TERMS OF THE LEASES,
so as to enable Planters to cut and trade
freely in the timber growing on their
lands. His Excellency considered such a request
quite inadmissible, asalso the next one, that the
Section of the leases which prohibits Planters from
trading in minor forest produce should be expunged,
lt appears to be true enough that the Kaders (local
hill tribe) trespass on the estates and commit thefp
of minor produce: but the point was fully con-
sidered at the time the lenses were drawn up, and
the Section was deliberately inserted in pursuance
of a promise by Government to the jungle folk,
The last request m de was
THAT RUBBER MIGHT BE INCLUDED
in the schedule of plantation products. This
reasonable. Rubber is not indigenous
on these hills,
vated by several of the Planters. No hardship
would, therefore, be caused to the Kaders by its
being classified as a plantation product. The
Conference ended with some discussion about the
applicability of the Planters’ Labour Act to the
circumstances of the Anamalais.—27. Mail, Sor
—o——————— :
RUBBER GROWING IN SEYCHELLES,
SEYCHELLEs.—In his report for 1902 Mr Dupont,
Curator of the Botanic Station, writes as follows :—
Para Rupser,—A good contribution of Para Rubber
seeds was sent by me whilst in Ceylonin September
last. A tin of 2,000 freshly§gathered seeds, dipped in
a solution of copper sulphate for the Sdestruction of
fungi, and sprinkled with crystals of naphthaline,
but has been imported and culti- — i
Deg, 4, 1963.) THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 393
arrived in such good condition that not less than 1,700
plants were distributed and sold at 10c. a piece two
months later, These seedlings are growing well every-
where in Seychelles, and it seems that there is no
lant that is better adepted tothe climate, soil, and
abour supply of this colony. The seeds are easily
availible in Ceylon, where planti: g an acre does not
cost more thin R7. All vall-ys, ravines, river banks,
and especially the numerous marshy lands, which
amount to several thousands of acres in all the S-y-
chelles J-lands, should be planted without delay. The
rice of Paya Rubber is rising every day, reaching 4s 4d
in Ceylon, whilst the cost of tapping is as low as 4éc,
in that colony, where an acre produces 200 lb at least,
Oast1nL0oa Rupper.—Seeds were sent twice by men
from Ceylon, but both consignments miscarried and
reached Seychelles only four months after the date of
shipping. Only a fewseeds brought by me on my
return from the Hast have succeeded and are now being
distributed. Afew plants be/ded out at the Botanio
Station, on Capucin Crown land, and on some private
estates, are doing very well.
West African Rubber (Funtumia elastica) and Assam
rubber (Ficus elastica) have also been introduced, the
former from the Gold Coast and the latter from Java.
Gutta-percha.—Seeds and plants of the following
varieties of gutta-percha have been successfully intro-
duced ;—1. Pals qium gutta (best variety). 2. Dichopsis
obovata, 3. Palaginm Treubii. 4, Payenia Leerii.
The plants have stood the long transit from Java very
well, and some of them have been distributed already.
—I. R, Journal.
Wa ee
‘*TEAS OF CEYLON GROW IN FAVOUR.”
«Pp. C. LARKIN, THE TEA KING OF
AMERICA,” SAYS THEY WILL OUST
THE. CHINESE AND JAPANESE
PRODUCT.”
‘* Overthe tea cups” is when gossip is exchanged
bat ‘fin the teacups” was the topic of gossip
which a “Herald” reporter proposed to the commer-
cial leader who is known as the ‘** Tea King of
America.” This gentleman, Mr P C Larkin, who
is making his semi-annual tour of the United
States in the interests of che Salada Tea Company,
is now registered at the Hotel Touraine, accom-
panied by Mr. James A McGuane, New York
manager of the company. j
Discussing the trade conditions between this
countiy and the eastern fea producing nations, the
‘*Tea King” related a number of facts of interest
not only to. business men, but to all users of the
cheerful beverage. ;
**Last year the consumption of tea in America,”
said he, ‘‘ amounted to 100,000,000 pounds, ‘The
important feature of the trade was the remarkable
progress in the introduction of Ceylon and India
tea, of which there was consumed in this country
last year 27,000,000 pounds,
*‘These teas have been brought to the notice
of the American tea drinker only during the past
few years, but so rapid has been the g:owth of their
use that ib is easy to see that eventually the teas
of China and Japan will disappear entirely, as
in England.”
When asked for the reason of this rapid growth
in the use of Ceylon and India tea, Mr Larkin
replied ;
‘There are several reasons, One is that the
Salada Tea Company packs all its tea in sealed
lead packets, thereby delivering the tea fresh
from the tea garden tothe teacup. Another point
is the purity of teas from Ceylon and India, as
| absolutely no artificial colouring or adulteration is
permitted, whereas it is well known that teas
from China and Japan are largely cole ured with
Prussian blue, gypsum, and soapstone,
‘Tt is interesting to know that tea is not indi-
genous to China, but was undoubtedly taken there
from India, where tea is found throughout the
jungles. In Chinait is never found except ina
culiivated state. Tea was not cultivated in
India and Ceylon for the market until about
40 years ago, when an experimenter cul-
tivated the shrub and shipped a_ small
quantity to London, Finding that he got four
or five times the price that was paid for the best
China growth, his experiment has resulted in the
production of over 250,000,000 pounds of Ceylon
and India tea annually,
‘*T’o show you how rapidly this tea has displaced
China growths, I might say that some years ago
China shipped annually to Great Britain 160,000.000
pounds, Last year this amount had dwindled to
13,000,000 pounds, and yet the consumption of tea
in England has nearly doubled.” , >
When. asked if Americans can really be called
great tea drinkers, the tea king said :
‘¢ English speaking people are practically the
only consumers of tea. Australia leads with seven
to eight pounds consumed per capital each year,
Eng!aud comes next with six pounds, Canada five
pounds, United States 14 pounds, Russia less than
three-quarters pound and various European coune
tries ) ot named practizally none,
‘© Tea can be yrown nearly everywhere,” said Mr
Larkin, when asked of the feasibility of great tea
plantations in the new eastern possessions of the
United States, ‘‘ but the quality demanded re-
stricts the area of production to peculiar combina-
tions of soil and climate. Another requisite which
we have to advantage in Ceylon and Indiais cheap
and steadfast labour. We must be able to depend
upon sufficient labour whenever we want it or the
tea leaves would be spoiled in a very short time.
‘“* We believe that with the advent of Ceylon
and India teas inthe United States the consump-
tion per capital will increase rapidly, as it has doue
in England and elsewhere. This because the teas
are much more dcliciuus and very much more
healthful.
“©The Ceylon and Indian Governments are going
to spend a large sum in. erecting a magnificent
bungalow atthe St, Louis exposition, where Salada
Tea Company representatives will be glad to receive
their friends.” —Boston Herald.
INTERCHANGE OF BRITISH PLANTS.
There is one sort of trade, if it may be so called,
within the British Empire which has not waited
for fiscal or any other artificial inducements to
become firmly established, It is related in the
official report on the administration of Seychelles
last year that the curator of the Botanic Station
had ‘‘personally conducted” himself to Java,
Ceylon, and other lands in the tropical belt, to
ascertain what plants there growing could be
hopefully experimented with in his own little
colony. This process is going on in most parts ot
the Empire; there is constant exchange between
them of plants and animals, Of course, many of
these emigrants refuse to become acclimatised in
their new homes, but in numerous instances,
brilliant snecess attends the endeavour, Aus-
tralia, for example, is indebted to the process for
her finest fruit and salmon, both being derived
394 THE TROPICAL
from importations, while English horses, cattle,
and sheep have founded illustrious families in all
the leading evlonies possessing congenial climates.
On the other hand, the gracious bird which figures
so largeiy ir the British menn at Christmas came
originally, like the proud peacock, from the Hast.
It seems, moreover, that English hothouse pines
and grapes beat their foreign »ncestors hollow for
quality; and in the Scilly Isles, some of the
pareissus growers are said to be hopeful of accli-
matising the Lanana at Treseo, — Globe,
ee Se .
THE PRICE OF RUBBER.
4s 4p In NOVEMBER-DECE UBER.
During thelasteight months the price of Para
rubber has advanced Is per lb,and to allaccounts
in an active market. Starting in the beginning
of the year at 8s 8d, a quick rise to 3s 11d took
place, and followed by a rapid fall to 33 4d ;
since then, with the exception of a period of
stagnation in April, May, and June, the rise
has been continuous. At the present time
of writing the manufacturers and merchants
are asking if we are going to have a recur-
rence of the high price of January in 1900,
when Para sold at 4s 93d. We would that it
were possible -the India Rubber Journal,
remarks—t) give any indication of how
the price will go in the present state of
affairs. With the market in the present con-
dition, it is impossible tosay. Last year we
ventured to make a prediction which, as it
turned out, was fulfilled. Personally, at the
time we believed that our informant had
studied the subject so closely as to be able,
at least so far as anyone is able, to say what
course matters would take. We have been
favoured with another of his opinions on
the subject, and, with all due reserve, and
without asking «ny reader to take it for more
than it is worth, we give it here. It is his
opinion that Para will rise in the course of
the next few weeks to 4s 8d, but that it will
not touch higher figures this year. The prob.
ability is that during November and De-
cember it will drop to the neighbourhood
of 4s 4d.
CASSAVA CULTIVATION,
(To ihe Editor of the London ‘' Times.”)
85, London-road, Forest-hill.
Sir,—I am glad to be in a position to afford another
illustration of the remarkable activity and resourceful-
ness manifested by the United States Department of
Agriculture other than the instances adduced by your
“ Occasional Correspondent ’’ in your issue of today,
under the heading ‘‘ New Products for American Irri-
gated Lands.” T'wo years ago I introduced to the
island of Jamaica from the Republic of Colombia a
few cuttings each of some 30 varieties of cassava
(Manihot utilissima), all of which are new to the West’
Indies. I propagated these until I had a stock of
many thousands of stems, which yield numerous cutt-
ings for planting purposes. Tho tubers of 17 of these
varieties were analysed by the Jamaican Government
Chemist with remarkable results. Thus, eight of the
varieties contain from 33°30 to 36°50 per cent. of
starch; and al) the varieties (the tubers constitute an
important article of foodtor man and animals) con-
tain an average of only one-sixth of the poisonous
roperty—hydrocyanic acid—which characterises the
inds grown in the West Indies. These precious non-
poisonous varieties were offered forsale to the public
AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1903.
of Jamaica. Only the Government Botanic Garden
purchased one or two cuttings of each variety 1 there-
upon communicated with the Agricultural Department
at Washington, That department immediately des-
pstched the professor in charge of the sub-tropical
experimertal grounds in the south of Florida to report
on my collection; thus the entire collection of stems
were disposed of and transferred to Florida. In
recent years strenuous efforts have been made to
establish cassava cultivation, one or two of the West
India varieties, on a great commercial scale, and more
than one factory for the production of starch, glucose,
&0., have successfully embarked on this project. More-
over, the farmers of Florida have discovered that the
tubers are of the greatest value for feeding stock. It
is interesting to note that prior to the shipment of
the stems to Florida I despatched to the Governmenta
of Bombay and Punjab, in accordance with instruc-
tions, sets of cuttings of these valuable varieties, also
a set to the Imperial Department of Agriculture for
the West Indies,’ I have ths honour to be, Sir, your
obedient servant, Rosert THOMSON,
ee a
RAINBOW TROUT OVA FOR CEYLUN.,
LARGE IMPORTATION FOR 1904.
Nuwara Eliya, Oct. 27th.
Authoritative information regarding the impor-
tation of consignments of sixty-thousand
rainbow trout ova during 19:4 for the Ceylon
Fishing Club is to the effect that the order will
he divided between the Earl of Denbigh’s and the
Wyresdale hatcheries. Three consignments of
twenty-thousand each will be imported, the first
consignment ‘of which is expected to arrive in
Hebruary ; the two others will follow within a
tortnight or so of each other.—By telegraph.
$$ >—______.
SCIENTIFIC. NOTES,
In the Rivistad Italia, Mr Italo Giglioli,
Director of the Agricultural Station at Rome,
deals vith certain agricultural questions affecting
the South of Italy. After reviewing the principal
vegetable products now produced by Italy the
author suggests, as possible outlets for fresh
enterprise, the cultivation of (1) the camphor
plant (Laurus camphora); (2) the insecticide
Pyrethrum cinerariaefoliwm ; and (3) the india-
rubber plant (P%cus elastica). The author sees
no reason why the production of india-rubber in
Italy should not be a success.—Natwre.. i
PLANTING NOTES,
ELEPHANT-CATCHING OPERATIONS IN MADRAS
—uring the forest year ending the 30th June, —
1993, were confined to North and South Malabar, —
Fifteen elephants were captured, of which two
died and one was shot. One of the deaths oc-
curred in the pit itself, the animal having broken
its neck-by its fall: the other elephant is reported —
to have died of strangulation during the night
after its capture. The elephant that was shob
(a tusker) was too old to be trained and it is said
that it was found quite impossible to release ~
him from the pit. Beside the elephants captured —
in the pits, a young female calf was caught in
the forest when found wandering about alone. —
This animal is said to be weak as the result of —
starvation, Of the remaining eight elephants,
two, captured in South Malabar, were sold |
auction and the others are reported to be in goc
health.—Madras Mail. ‘ce
TE NR A REM
the book
“m other lands, will have pages
‘of. being conducive to thoucht.
Dre. 1,11963, }
;A NEW TEXT, BOOK ON THA.
The new text book *‘ Indian Tea ,its Culture
and Manufacture” by Mr. Claud Bald, which
has just been issued from the press of Messrs.
Thacker, Spink &°Co., Calcutta, [and is
On’ sale at this ' office] is a well got
up volume. The printing is clear; the illus-
trations excellent; the arrangement’ good ;
‘and there is a copious index which is always
a comfort. Whe author’s aim is’ to present
the budding Indian tea planter with a trade
handbook, which may be referred to with
confidence in cases of difficulty—a light to
lighten his darkness, in fact—and he further
hopes that even such exalted people, as Dir-
ectors, Managing Agents, &c, may find it
useful as a book of reference ‘with regard
to the various operations in field and fac-
tory.” he anshor makes no claim to ori-
ginality, deprecates criticism on minor points,
on the plea that ‘‘it is impossible for all
to think alike” on the best methods for the
cultivation and manufacture of tea; has
evidently drawn much on his personal ex-
perience; and is prepared to advise’ on a
very wide range of subjects. The table of
‘contents indicates that the author is quite
an admirable Crichton in planting matters
for besides the ordinary A.B.C. of planting
‘routine, common to tea planting all over
the world, there are special chapters on
' Landslips,; Restoration of Deteriorated areas,
Forestry, some Indications of Quality, Build-
ings, Machinery, Railways and Tramways,
Accounts ; and—last of all—The Cooly. With-
‘out including the appendix and index, there
are but-276" pages into which to cram the
information deemed desirable, and that what
‘is’ given should be scrappy is natural enough.
Spite of the extensive survey which is taken,
is parochial after all. | ‘‘ Indian
Tea” is its title, and Indian tea is its theme.
Much—very much—of what is said has no
imterest or bearing save for Indian tea
planters, and those who cultivate the shrub
to skip.
Névertheless it is impossible to read the book
* without profit, for however foreign much of
‘the matter may be, and only adapted for a
Special environment it has the good quality
We may
wonder at the ways of Indian tea men, and
question their methods; but here and there
“Wrinkles” may be picked uj}, and our own
system improved on. When Ceylon is
referred to, we at times get news. The
Draining on Ceylon tea estates is thus des-
eribed :—*'The drains running at intervals
~aeross the hill with catch pits at switable distances
» for gathering silt,
this being periodically
‘eleared out and carried back to the land”!
The chapter on Pruning is naturally read
with avidity. We are not yet in possession of
the prize-essays which are to register the
highewater mark of the colony’s present
“knowledge, and give confidence and light
“to those planters who have hitherto
‘followed the rule of thumb without
‘having any good reason to give for their
pe shaibs In the absence of these en-
lightening documents, Mr. Claud Bald’s
“manifesto forthe time being takes’ its place,
and he has much to say on the matter.
50
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
395
We confess, however, to be somewhat stag-
gered at his. theory of pruning. ‘‘The
primary object of Pruning,” he says, ‘is to
change the form which the plant would
naturally take, and so turn it into a low
bush instead of a tree ”! The Indian scientific
tea authorities, Sir G. Watt and Mr. H. A.
Mann, cannot have been studied when a
crude dictum of this kind was given to the
world. The primary object of pruning is
really to keep the tree in an abnormal coa-
dition, producing a continuous leaf crop, and
preventing the bearing of flowers and fruit
which is the natural consummation of a
plant’s life, That, we take it, is the common
sense view of the thing, and has_ besides
received the suffrages of science. An author,
however, may be quite wrong in his theory,
yot get good results worthy of noting trom
his practical work ; and in the chapter on
Pruning from Mr, SBald’s pen, much may
be learned. It is pleasing to see that while
our, author givesin his adhesion to the desir-
ability of the individual bush treatment—so
muchjinsisted on hy the Indian scientific teaex-
perts, yet he knows its utter impracticabilty,
and discards itasunworkable. When discussing
the height a tea tree should be topped when
it is cut down forthe first time, how the
stem should be treated, and the side branches
trimmed he adds this further advice :—‘‘ The
wounds’’—knife: wounds, we presume—‘'should
be sligbtly slanting and facing the north,
or onthe side remote from the direct rays
of the sun”'! Now that is a fine. cryptic
sentence. We have said before that Mr,
Balds book was one conducive. to thought,
and in the face of the above who can deny
il, We know we have wrestled. with the
enigma and tried to wring from this dark
saying a meaning of some kind, but we
have failed, and pass it on, more in sorrow
than in anger, to our planting readers!
What can the thing mean, and why face
the north? The north has. long been a
region of mystery and influence. Sir Thomas
Browne, we know, combated in his ‘* Vulgar
Errers.” the belief that a corpse always
floated with its head towards the north,
and we have. met and heard of people whose
rules for healthy living included sleeping
with their heads toward the north; but
the one was a superstition, and the. other
the fancy of an eccentric. How to prune
“slightly slanting and facing the north” ig
a puzzle we give up. Although Mr. Claud
Bald’s book may not be likely to take a place
among the scientific authorities on tea
culture, to which men of all lands _ will
confidently appeal, it has a niche of its own
lower down, and in away as useful. .We
can recommend it to the notice of planters
for this humbler service, and as a work
containing much varied and valuable
information,
(a
RUBBER PLANTING IN THE MALAY
STATES.
AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW.
The cultivation of rubber in the Federated
Malay States is of sueh growing importance and
of considerable interest to Ceylon planters ‘and
others financially interested in rubber production,
396 THE TROPICAL
that some notes on the state of the industry ia
the States will prove useful to our readers, Mr
MS Parry, the Hon. Secretary of the Federated
Stares U P A, and Me H Tunnicliffe, a well-
known planter in the Negri Sembilan who has given
much attention to rubber cultivation there, we
interviewed recently in Colombo, and some
interesting information was elicited.
THE AREA UNDER RUBBER.
‘Mhe area in the States under Parw rubber was
‘16,000 acres on the Ist April 1903; part of this
acreage was planted entirely with rubber, but
art is mixed plantations ; among coffee chiefly.
When returns were made last April it was
thought unadvisable to publish the number of
trees in cultivation as these in some cases were
inaccurately returned, so the acreage only
was published; next April Mr W W Bailey,
who is now Chairman of the F. M. States
P A, hopes that the full returns of acre-
age, number of trees, ages ete., will be cor-
rectly returned and be available for publication.
The average age of trees now is from 3 to 4 years,
though there are plantations up to six and seven
years old, and a large number of younger trees,
as planting is still going on vigorously.
The price of land in the Federated States has
recently gonenp 100 per cent; and the price now
is from 50 cents to 1 dollar per acre, with a
premium of 1 dollar to 1:50, though this rise was
in opposition to the recommendation of the U P A.
Government’s opinion was that it should obtain a
share of the planter’s future profits.
d “THER KLANG AND UPCOUNTRY LAND.
The varieties cultivated are Para and Rambong;
this latter kind, the Ficus Elastica, does well in
the Negri Sembilan, and in the Klang land is far
preferable to Para. The Klang is the heavy, un-
drained, deep soil by the coast and is excellent
for coffee, but not so suitable for rubber as the
upcountry districts, as the roots cannot get suff-
cient grip in the soft soil and the sea winds fre-
quently blow down the trees'; also white ants are
very troublesome there. In connection with this
Mr. Parry thinks the Ceylon planters and others
who irvested in Mr. Wickwar’s upcountry estate
are to be congratulated, this land being far pre-
ferable to the Klang. Certain upcountry planters,
Mr. Tunnicliffe informed us, having been asked
to float their estates as companies gave the
rejoinder that when they had got a good
thing why should they give it away by floatire.
The planters there evidently have faith in the
future of the Malay States rubber industry ; amd,
indeed, the fact that Ceylon men will invest in
the rival country speaks volumes,
PLANTING AND TAPPING,
As yet rubber planting in the Malay States
is only in its infancy, in the experiment
stage ; and what is being done inthe way of
tapping is quite experimental. All the
planters there are pleased to know that Ceylon
men acknowledge that their rubber is 2 years
ahead of Ceylon trees in both girth and growth ;
this is in a great measure due to the better
soil conditions there. There is great diversity of
opinion among planters as to the best distance
apart for planting, and the minimum distance
advocated by the States planters is 20x20 fb.
On some estates planting at asmaller distance is
done, but this is to the after-detriment of the
trees, or necessitates ‘‘ cutting out.” The great
objection to cutting out is the resulting dead
wood that is left, and this is an attraction to
AGRICULTURIST. (Dxc. 1, 1903.
white ants. This is the only pest of any sorb
that the Malay planters have; elephants in
some parts do great damage, and cattle are
very partial to Ficus leaves; of canker there
is none. Tapping is so far not carried out
except as quite an experiment. Mr. Tunnicliffe
has tapped six-year-old trees and got a splendid
yield of latex and good dry rubber, and main-
tains that it is not to the detriment of those
particular trees, (that is /icus), but, of course,
this remains to be seen. Opinions on the age
of tapping differ greatly, and not only age, but
girth and growth ot the tree must be taken
into consideration. His opinion is that too eariy
tapping, as earried out in places in Ceylon, is
not advisable; the older the tree and the
stronger it is, the more latex it yields, and also
the higher is the percentage of rubber in the latex.
Mr. Tunnicliffe was the first States planter to
send home a sample of Rambong biscuit rubber,
which was of very fine quality, but he
had not yet heard the value of it priced by the
London buyers.
ANALYSIS OF THE LATEX.
Considerable stress is to be laid on the impor-
tance of the composition of the latex, and this is
a matter which should be taken up thoroughly
by Ceylon men. It is of importance, said Mr.
Parry, to clean the rubbe: efficiently, not merely
from dirt, ete, but chemically clean, free from
albumen, and the cleaning of albumen from the
rubber makes a great difference in its marketable
value. The less albumen in the rubber. the
emailer are the chances of mildew forming. Mr
Bargess, the Government analyst at Singapore,
also regards the analysis of the latex of first
importance; he is of opinion that people at home
in buying shares will be Jargely influeaced by
analysis shown of the estate’s rubber. _ f
THE LABOUR QUESTION. i
The question of iabour will be the difficulty i
the Malay States, though at present it is felt only
in parts; in Selangor the planters are well off
for labourers. If, said Mr. Tunnicliffe, you have
a good healthy estate, near the railway, and
town, and good kanganis, you will get labour ;
otherwise it will be very difficult. Government
is making efforts to import labour, Tamils and
Javanese, The latter, Mr Parry does not think
will be successful, and the Dutch are likely to
put obstacles in the way which will prohibit
many Javanese from going over to. the Malay
States. Chinese labourers are fairly satisfactory on
weeding-contracts, etc, but not on day wages,
Tamils are not good as rubber-tappers, but the
Bandjanese from North Java are good at this work.
For recruits the average cost is about 14°50 to
15 dollars per head with a good Kangani; butin —
Negri Sembilan the cost is much higher, and Go- —
vernment pays as high as 48 dollars. The high ©
wages paid by Government, and the making of the —
new railways are taking away the planters,
labourers. A great deal of crimping by sub- —
contractors and small contractors for the railways
and the Government works is going on. Govern y
ment is trying tostop the crimping, for the small —
contracior does no recruiting work butsimply crimps —
labourers from estates. Planters who have lost —
labourers may go down the railways, where
laying of the lines is in process and point out to the
officials the various labourers from their own
estates, these are immediately returned to
estates and not taken on under Govern
again; but few planters care to ge to the t
Duc. 1, 1903.)
and waste of time that sueh a method incurs, A
trial was made by Government of having a central
recruiting Agent in India, but thisdid not prove
satisfactory, and now the authorities have reverted
to the old system of recruiting by Azents in India.
Both Mr Parry and Mr Tunnicliffe are confident
that there is a great future for the rubber industry
in the Federated Malay States, especially in the
upcountry districts where soil and climatic condt-
tions are most favourable ; and when the exporta-
tion of rubber begins properly, the Malay rubber,
which will be of a fine clean quality, will fetch
high prices in the home market.
LS
CEYLON PLANTS FOR THE GOVERNOR
OF FIJI,
The Botanical Gardens have sent per
the ‘‘ Ranadi” 12 cases of plants in glass-
cases to H E the Governor of Fiji. The
Heneratgoda Garden has also sent by the
same vessel for Messrs Power and Kankine
of Fiji a case of plants containing bananas,
&c. The names of the plants are not known
as they were put inside glass cases. They
were all sent under the chare of the Captain
of the vessel. Messrs E Creasy were
responsible for getting the plants shipped.
ee
INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION,
October 13th.—Letters dated 3rd, 11th, 18th and
24th September from the Secretary, Indian Tea
Association, London, having been previously circulated,
were brought up :—
Tue Lovistana PurcHass Exposirion.—In the letter
of 24th September it was stated that the Secretary
to the Royal Oommission for the St. Louis Exposition
had applied for space in the Department of Agri-
culture and had promised to provide India with the
Recessary space for her Exhibit. This official had
also promised to do all in his power to assist in
romoting the success of the Indian Exhibit and to
ocate it in a convenient position, so that all the
Colonial Exhibits might be in close proximity to
each other,—Application had also been made to the
Director of Concessions, St. Louis, for a suitable site
for erecting a Tea House in proximity to that to
be built for Ceylon and also for the privilege of
selling tea on similar terms to those given to Ceylon,
—Negotiations were also proceeding with Mr. R.
Blechynden, who acted as Commissioner for the Indian
Tea Exhibic at the Chicago Exhibit in 183, regarding
ferms for similar services in connection with the
Association’s Hxhibit at St. Louis.
PRoposED MANUFACTURE IN INnp14 or “Oonone” Tas,
—With the letter of ilth September were forwarded
thres samples of Formosa Oolongs which it was
stated had been yecently sold in the London market
@t ls lid, 23 244 and 23 444 per pound respectively,
The Brokers, Messrs. Stenning, Inskipp & Co., advised
the making of only smaill quantities of this class
of tea for trial shipments so that experience might
be gained in the manufacture.—The samples referred
to were too small to admit of their distribution amon
enquirers and the Seoretary was instructed to as
for larger samples,
Bartiso Iwporr Dury on Tua—In compliance with
@ requesh from the United Planters Association of
| Southern India, a copy of a Resolution passed at
| the last Annual Meeting of that body, drawing attention
| to the urgent need of a reduction in the British
‘Import Doty on Tea, had been forwarded to tho
i London Uommittee for such action as they might
a2 fit to take in connection therewith,—It was stated
fF atthe matter would receive due consideration, but
the political situation at the moment was not oppor-
ane for sending in a petition as the offise of
THE TROPICAL
AGRICULTURIST. 397
Obancellor of the Exchequer had just been vacated
by Mr. Ritchie. It was therefore very unlikely that
any change in the rate of duty would be made before
April next.—The Secretary was instructed to advise
the United Planters’ Association asoordingly, It
appeared to the General Committee that the matter
was certain to be taken up at Home in due course
as the tariff question was now so prominently before
the public. The London Committee were to be asked
to take the matter up in good time before the
introduction of the Budget.—J. 7. A. Minutes.—H. O,
Beae, Chairman, H. M, Haywoop, Acting Secretary,
——
PLANTING OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
IN RATNAPURA DISTRICT.
(Specially contributed.)
Bellwood.—The land I,have undertaken to
plant is not an ideal locality for a coconut
field. Ib is dense forest in the midst of dense
forest. The lay is sharply undulating, with
many steep faces, and some marshy bottoms.
There are here and there groups of boulders and
very large single ones covering much ground,
The soil is stony and coarsely gravelly, and
varies in fertility, according to depth which runs
from six inches to over a foot, We have planted
aboub 20 acres with coconuts, which have done,
on the whole, one better than I expected, bub
we have planted some on steep faces, that we
may find ib necessary to remove, and avoid plant-
ing such spots in future. Some of the two-year
old plants carry as many as 12 green leaves, bub
some have died froin starvation on the poorer parts.
Our chief dependance, however, for the much-
needed early return, was not on coconuts, but on
PLANTAINS,
We knew that this was a most voracious plant,
and that no soil at our disposal could long keep
it fruitful, but we believed in manure, and made
up our minds to cultivate high from thefirst. The
best soil was in the bottoms, especially the wet
deniyas, that is marshes that not only receive
all the superfluous rain, that falls on the
high ground, but there are springs all along
the borders between the wet aud the dry,
There is a heavy cover, of course, vegetation
of many kinds of grasses, shrubs and_ trailing
plants. The first of those deniyas I tackled
was about one-and-a-half acres, a long strip
averaging 100 feeb in width, with a perennial
stream entering at the head, and studded all
over with open gem pits about four feet deep.
The work to be done was a main drain 3 x 3
feet, border drains about 2 x 2, and cross drains
to carry the water from the borders in to the main ;
the rank vegetation cleared away ; the gem pits
filled in, and auniform perforce established. The
accomplishmens of all this work cost about R100,
but provided space for 500 plantain stocks, on
a soil specially rich in organie matter, but though
secured alike from surface flood, and subsoil
springs, continiuues to retain more moisture than
isdesirable. Wo began the plantain work in Apvil
1902, and have planted up-to-date between 700
and 800 stocks, sas plants and labour became
avoidable, and we propose to go on in the sama
way till all the other deniyaa are reclaimed,
and planted. They have been gradually coming
into truit, for the past six months, but the bunches
born on the first stem, are generally poor and
small, but we have had a few good buuches from
second stems. In the way of macnre, we propose
to give a basketful of cattle-shed dung, and a
pound of basic slag, for every bunch removed,
i
i
1
:
398
ve
We have been using bat guana with tolerable
success, we have the liberty of a large cave, in-
habited by thousands of those creatures, and we
pay Rz0 ver ton for collection. Of cattle manure
we have made about 100 cubie yards in twelve
months so that any profitable product, we can
otherwise succeed in growing. can be kept up to the
mark by means we already command, more anon,
THE TROPICAL
PLU iw)
§ 24th Oct.—I1b was a part of our original plan to
have alarge garden of vegetables, chiefly chillies,
as the most profitable proluct, but hitherto our
failure has been completed, we sowed the seed at
stake, with and without manure in beds. in the
6pen;-and under cover of ‘ roof, and under leaf
shade. Inthe wet-season fuw of the seeds germi-
nated, and thosefew, were promptly cut below the
seed leaves by crickets. It is clear, that however
favourable other conditions may be, chillies and
crickets cannot comfortably co-exist.
BRINJALS
were fairly successful when planted at the same
time, and on the same ground with plantains. On
a second trial, 500 plants were as good as thrown
away, as nothing else can succeed where plantains
have got possession of the soil, I had. on this
oceasion forgot an old’'maxim, that I fully ae-
eepted, and worked on many years ago, namely,
*““Never attempt to get two different crops off the
same land, at the same time.”
_BANDAKAY,
No insect enemies have attacked this plant here,
though it failed when tried without manure, with
20 1b. of cattle-shed manure to each plant, and
plenty of room, it grows to a great size and gives
a fruit over every leaf, and they are little affected
by the weather.
BEANS.
We have tried in great variety, but the most of
them yield nothing during our protracted wet season
but masses of leaf, and nearly all of them are
attacked by swarmsof small red ants, that as
soon as the flower falls, suck.the sap out of the
tender young pod, and destroy them, We have
only one kind that is fairly good in all weathers,
a@ ground bean whose chief enemy is snails, We
have other kinds that are more ornamental than
useful, that neither animal nor insect touches;
GOURDS, PUMPKINS, &c,
© Mhe protracted wet season is unfavourable to
all this family of plants, which grow to leaf
and not to fruit. The common yellow pumpkin
has ‘been an utter failure; the suake gourd is a.
breeding place for two species of nocturnal
‘moths, the grubs of which eat the tendrils and
young leaves, but the worst enemy is an insect
that makes the fruit itself its breeding ground,
IT have not spotted the parent, but the grubs are
small white worms, twenty or thirty of which
eat the heart out of the immature fruit in a
‘very short time, and latterly nob one ‘fruit
‘escaped, so that culture has been given up.
‘The: bottle-gourd is not attucked by any insect,
but it rots and falls) by excess of moisture.
“We have had no success with cucumbers and
melons, but kekiry does pretty weil. It has,
however, a special insect pest, in the form of
‘asmallred beetle which promptly appears, where
ever it issown. ‘ a
ta bids
AGRICULTURIST.
LAOUCIOAT HRT
THE PANAGULA RUBBER CO. LTD.,
Another Ceylon Rubber Company — has’ ‘been
formed under the above title, and its memorandum
and articles of association appear in lasy night’s'
Gazette.. The object:of the Company is to purs
chase a block: or blocks of land in the Kelani
Valley from thé Government and to plant the
same with rubber. The nominal capital of the
Company is’ -R500,000 divided ~ into R5,000
shares oi R100 each—the original issue of ‘shares
being R125,000, The firstsubseribers are Messrs
David» Kerr, AM. Forbes, A D Forbes, Robt..W
Kerr, C E Welldon; A W Gordon Graham and
S P Blackmore who take one share each ; while!
the first Directors shallebe Messrs C E Welldon,
D Kerr, and Gordon Graham. - The registered office
of the Company is to be established at Hatton.
a
A NEW HYDRO EXTRACTOR.
BY MR, DRUMMOND DEANE, »
Mr. H Drummond Deane’s Hydro-Extractor,.
which will shortly be advertised ;in our columns,
is of peg:tup, type and ‘built toistand the strain of
1,200 revolutions per minute, which speed is néees+
sary when.in use for, taking water of greea leaf.
for black tea manufacture, Kor. this purpose
several machines have .been sold ; and: among :re-
cent, testimonials, Mr H J Mounsey of Resekandy.
estates, Cachar,, has, jush, written. that ‘it’s a
perfect success’ for ‘ green teas’ of Japan type.
It is claimed to be,the most perfect machine on
the market and if is in use in most of the large
Indian concerns now making gréen tea, =
OF MR. DRUMMOND DEANE’S ‘STERILISER?
he can, at the moment, only say that it is designed
for making pure green teas of Chinese type with-
out steam and that the, patent, appiications
were. for)‘ straining leaf .under,pressure.’ | Three
Ceylon men, have lately applied for patents ‘on!
the sume lines, but’ Mr. Deane was :before them»;
his specifications are filed in both India -and’
Ceylon. This machine will be found most useful
in drought when‘ the ‘liquor’ gets brown owing
to hardness of leaf if made as ‘ Japans” by steam.
This reduces the value, but there is no objection
to darker liquor for Chinese greens. Of all this
we shall hear more details shortly, {t is clatme
that the Finishing and Panning machine patented
in India is. the best on the market, and as;\Mr
Judge, his partner, has: dropped: ‘ the pen *: of -a
journalis: for the post of Manager of the-Caleutta
Central Green’ Tea Factory, they ‘have every —
opportunity of testing their “work, Nwarly —
half the whole Indian green tea of ©
tliis’ season ‘after purchase in ~ Caleutta 4
has gone to the Central Factory to be finished. —
Of the Hydro, the large Friction Clutch Pulley for —
stopping. the machine and. the interchangeable —
basket receivers are some of its, best featuress: Mr —
Deane is just putting up one himself, chiefly for —
‘black tea’ in’ wet weather; :but ‘he will make —
some green teas shortly with’ his’ London’ Agents |
permission, : ; WARS OOF
05 pe : Dus 1D ER PAS
TEA PLANTING IN JAVA.—We draw atten-
tion to the interesting information contained —
in an interview elsewhere with two gentlemen, —
planters in Java, whoare at presenton a Visit —
to Ceylon, It is evidence of the enterprise of —
the Java planters: that ,they should’ s .
one of their number over to study~ Ceylo
plantations-and’ the methods of ‘eultiv tiork _
and manufacture in practice in this island, ©
9 t Y LOLs She JF COWS i lie PUG
; a” Cnibioe 102 - eham
[Dec. 1, 1903,
7
oda I
Dxc. 1, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
coe; ft owt ai POORLY
A VICTIM OF THE MOSQUITO
PLANT.
(From a Oorrespondent.)
Asllie here with my swollen face and aching
hands, I realise vividly why the fixed epithet
“fatal,” should be attached to curiosity. Ata
time when discussion waxed hot in the local Press
on the merits and demerits of the great Mosquito
Plant, or as scientists call it, Ocuomum viri lis,
my fates ordained that I should become the pi uw!
possessor of a fine young specimen. They were
only to be obtained from the Agri-Horticultural
Gardens'in Madras, and it was through the iis-
taken kindness of the Secretary that my fatal
curiosity was satisfied, and IT obtained my desir.
Ta due tims the plant arrived, At first it seemed
very ordinary and not unlike a glorified nettle ;
but it was treated with the care its rarity in
these parts seemed to call for, put under the special
protection of the malee, placed in a secluded part
of the garden, and carefully tended by myself.
Shortly afterwards I was laid up in bed for a few
days with a slig ht indisposition, and it struck me,
as [ was greatl y troubled with mosquitoes, that
it would be an excellent opportunity to try the
much-vaunted cvirtues of the plant. Ocimum
viridis was accordingly brought in with all due
ceremony, and installed on a small table by my
bedside. Then, remembering, or seeming to
yemember the accounts of how various cor-
yespondents had ‘crushed the leaves and
rubbed themselves over with them, much
fo the discomfiture of surrounding clouds of
mosquitoes, I snipped off a leaf, thoroughly
rubbed my face and hands with it and awaited
the result with confidence. The mosquitoes soon
discovered their apparently unprotected prey and
three or four Swooped downon me. They did not
appear to care for it much and left in a hurry,
but, to my amazement, shortly afterwards settled
on the plant itself, where they apparently browsed
with great content. This somewhat shook my
faith. As a further protection, therefore, I
crushed the stalk of the leaf and well rubbed the
juice of itin. The general result seemed success-
fal, as no mosquitoes molested me that night. I
then thought the incident closed and the virtue of
the plant proved. I found, however, that I had
reckoned without my plant, which now proceeded
to avenge itself with a leisurely vindictiveness
worthy of the reddest of Rel Indians, The first
indications of its malignity appeared next morn-
ing, ina slight rash under the eyes, but to which
little attention was paid; by evening, however,
these increased to fair-sized blisters, while more
spots showed themselves wherever the leaf and
stalk had been rubbed. All next day the rash
steadily increased and bezan to be very painful.
The Doctor was called in, but his treatment,
though mitigating the evil, was powerless to
arrest the venzeance of the plant, and for five
long days my hands, face and neck have been as
bail'y scalded. While lying waiting for things to
take a turn for the better, l have tiied in vain to
persuade my friends and the Doctor, in the inter-
ests of Science, to make experiments on them-
selves in order to find out whether it was the leaf
or the stalk that did the damage. For myself, I
am context to consider the efficacy of the plant,
asa mosquitofuge, sufficiently proved, but T am
‘pound ie ee I prefer the evil to the remedy.
—M, Mail. .
J ili |
AGRICULTURIST, 399
eT) ; Hh h-a (
GUTTA PERCHA OF PALAQUIUM
PETIOLA FROM CEYLON.
(Bulletin of the Imperval Institute—Supplement
to the Board of Trade Journal.)
These samples of gutta percha were — for-
warded for examination from Ceylon, It was
stated that the specimens had been co!lected
from one species of tree only, viz., Palaquium
petiolare, Engl., growing at Hinidoon Kanda,
Sonth-West Ceylon, and that the supply would
be almost unlimited, Three distinct samples,
prepared. by different methods, were submitted:—
(a) ‘20 balls, each prepared by rubbing the
latex in palm of hand, during: October, 1901,’
(6). © 1 ball prepared by rubbing in palm of hand
after the greater part of the water had been
driven off by slow heating for two hours, on 26th
October, 1901.”
(c) **Thin layers prepared by evaporation at
ordinary temperature of air. Exposed to air for
over three months.”
Description of the samples,
(a) The balls ranged from 1 to 2 inches in
diameter and had a smovth shining surface;
externally the colour varied from yellowish-white
to brown, but internally the freshly broken surface
was milk-white, turning yellowish-white on
exposure to the air; the fracture was smooth and
the balls were quite free from foreign vegetable
matter ; when whole they had no odour, but when
freshly broken aslight sour smell was noticed,
The balls were fairly hard and withstood a sharp
blow without fracture, but small pieces were
rather friable and showed no toughness;, the
material was easily reduced to coarse powder ina
mortar, On holding a piece in the hand it soft-
ened so thatit could be moulded, and on immer-
sion in hot water it became very sticky and
plastic ; after the latter treatment the mass took
some time to harden, and at the end of two
days it was still fairly flexible,
(6) The ball was about 2 inches in diameter and
was almost identical in appearance and properties
with sample (a). The only differences noticed were
that on standing exposed to the air it developed
a slight reddish tinge, which was afterwards lost
asit gradually darkened, and that after softening
in water it took longer to harden.
(c) This was an aggregated mass formed of
thin plates ofthe gutta which had adhered to-
gether ; these were dark brown in colour externally
but nearly white within. The plates were brittle,
breaking easily witha smooth fracture, ‘but
when held in the hand they softened so that they
could be bent without breaking, and finally could
be moulded in the fingers. In other respects it
resembled sample (a), but took longer to harden
after immersion in hot water.
Chemical Examination. —The three samples as
received had the following composition—
a €
Per cent. Per cent. Percent,
Moisture “ff 96 5°0 13
Resin tn pUae 63'6 680
Gutta ? oo 246 25'0 25'L
Dirt Pe 3°5 14 5°6
t —__ — —
Ash (included in dirt) 1°05 -0°65 125
For purposes ot comparison the porcentages of
eee
|
|
400
resin, gutta and dirt may be expressed on the
dry material as follows :—
a b ¢
EXER ESE Per cent. Percent. Percent.
3,. Resin 68'9 W2o2 68:9
Gutta ? Aral PA 26:3 25'5
9° Dirt i 83% 15 56
*These results show that the samples are very
uniform ’in composition, the only considerable
variation being in the’amount of insoluble matter
(dirt) present. Sample (6) which had been prepared
by heating contained the largest amount of resin,
but otherwise the different methods of preparation
had apparently little influence upon the composi-
tion of the product, It was clear from the physical
properties of the samples that the gutta percha is
of inferior quality, and this opinion was confirmed
by the large percentage of resinous substances
found on analysis... Moreover, the ‘‘ gutta”
obtained from it did not exhibit the characteristic
properties of the substance from true gutta
percha, being friable, devoid of strength, and
softening when heldin the fingers. In, tact no
true gutta was present in any of the samples,
Material such as this possesses no value for insul-
ating purposes, and the brokers to whom it was
submitted for commercial valuation stated that
it would only be worth about: 14d. per Ib.
Se eumdiiennecemmmmnem. “cmmeeeiememeanmemene
CEYLON. PEARL FISHERY.
A RICH HARVEST.
{ sSince the Dutch made way for the British in
Ceylon more than a hundred years ago, accord-
ing to the Report onthe Pearl Fishery of Ceylon
in 1903, the fishing on the north-west coast of
the Gulf of Manaar has brought in a net income
of over a million pounds sterling, From 1796,
the first year ot the British occupation of Ceylon,
to 1837 23 fishiugs took place ; between the years
1837 and 1855 none. From 1855 to 1891—except
from 1864 to 1873—there ‘has been a 10 yearly
fishing. The net average profit of each fishing
amounted to about £34,000. The smallest brought
£10,000, and the richest, that of 1891, £96,000.
At the last period ‘of ten years there: was no
fishing. The yearly reports on the condition of
the oyster-banks*stated that though there were
pleuty ‘of young oysters, none were fullgrown.
This backward state, as well as the dying-out and
disappearance of the pearl-oyster, could not, be
scientifically accounted for.
The Government, therefore, decided to invite
an expert, Professor W A Herdman, to Ceylon
in 1¥02, and to entrust to him this task. The
professor not only justified the
placed, in him, as was shown by the result of this
year’s. pearl-fishing, but he made at the same
time, and on the spot, valuable observations on
the sea fauna aud the life of the pearl oyster,
besides subjecting the bottom of the whole Gulf
of Manaar to an exhaustive biological examina-
tion, whereby he was enabled tn discover and
point out to Government the richest banks of
fullprown oysters. In consequence of the
favourable report of the expert'a pear!-fishing was
decided on, and the date fixed for February 23,
1903.. The weather prevented its being started
until March 2. It lasted till April 14, for 42
working days, Sundays and holidays excluded,
Some time before the beginning of the actual
operations extensive preparations were made in
arichikadai, a small convenient bay nearest to
‘THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
confidence
(Deo. 1, 1903.
the three banks to be fished. A town of huts,
large enough to accommodate 50,000 persons, was
built, a daily steamer service with Colombo was
started, a post and telegraph office established,
and the greatest attention was paid to drawing up
sanitary rules to protect the fishery from invasion
by an epidemic,
Thousands of divers, belonging to. every Oriental
nation, Berbers, Arabs, Persians, Burmans, people
from further and nearer India, arrived to join in
the fishing with the Sinhalese and Tamil divers,
From 120 to, 200 large boats, manned by 3,000 to
5,000 divers, start at daybreak every morning,
The greatest depth in which the divers work is
about 42 ft, They remain under water from 69 to
89 seconds, and during that time a skilful diver
will gather from 15 to 30 oysters. When the
boats havereturned and drawn upon the sands,
every pair of divers bring their day’s booty to
land, where, without counting, they make three
even divisions of it. The Government official
chooses two of these as the share of the State, while
the third belongs to the diving-pair, as their
earnings, on which they may make what profit
they can. Every evening the Government portion
is publicly auctioned off, a thousand shells at a
time, more than 25,000 men, mostly pearl-merchants,
attending the auction. Among these are a con-
siderable number of Europeans, On theeighth day
the Government had covered all its expenses in
connection witb the fishing, and could face the
rest of the time in perfect confidence of profit.
From March 27 the oysters began to show them-
selves poor in pearls, and many merchants,
foreseeing the end was near, left the market.
Then the camp gradually emptied. On April 14th
the Government decided, in view of the decrease
in the oyster catch and the daily results, to
declare this year’s fishing closed.
The fishery exceeded all the anticipations of
Government; as to profit, it was the second
richest, for a hundred years. It was favoured
by weather, and the longest but one as to working-
days. In 1881 the divers fished for 47 days.
According to the reports of the divers, millions
of young oysters swarm on the banks, a most
hopeful promise for the next fishing. The net
takings of Government this year amount to
R8,30,000, and this goes to inerease the revenue
of Ceylon, so that from the Government point of
view the fishing of 1903: was a profitable under-
taking, For the pearl-markets of the world, and
the mother-of-pearl industry, it was, however, of
little importance, as not a single one of the pearls
found was distinguished as to colour or size. A
few of the most valuable, about the size ot a
pepper-corn, brought a price of from R750 to
R1,000, but a higher rate than this was not heard
of. The oysters, though on an average rich in
pearls, held mostly small ones worth about R30
per carat, and a large proportion of seed-pearls,
which as pearls possess littleor no value, They
are chiefly used by well-to-do natives, who —
burn them for lime, as a substitute for real
lime, and mixing this with finely-chopped betel.
nut, smear it on a leaf and chew it as a luxury,
The total value of the oysters has not been
punished. but taking the Government share of —
8,30,000, as representing two-thirds of the whole,
it may be roundly. calculated at R12,00,000. In
comparison to the pearl oysters of Aden and the
Persian Gulf the shells of those in Ceylon, are
ooo of a bad colour, and quite inferior quality.—
Globe.
|
well
-perly. Very good results
Deo. 1, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
SUB-TROPICAL FRUITS IN CEYLON.
For some time past Mr A J Pearson of
Messrs. Brown & Co,, Colombo, has been im-
porting fruit trees from Australia with the object
of seeing how they succeed in Ceylon, and some
aececunt of his success with these will be of inter-
est especially to Upcountry readers in those dis-
tricts which are sufficiently elevated for
growing the various trees.
The different kinds which Mr Pearson has so
far tried include citrus fruits, peaches, necta-
rines, apricots, Japanese plums, figs and grapes.
Ic is of course, necessary to bring the young
trees over when they are dry and dormant, and in
the best possible condition for being lifted from
the scil and travelling. This period is
DURING THE AUSTRALIAN WINTER
and it isin the months of June and July that the
moving of the trees is accomplisied. After many
trials considerable experience has been gained, and
now Mr Pearson knows the right methods to be
adopted and the plants arrive in Ceylon generally
in perfect condition. Points in regard to proper
ventilation while travelling, and proper packing
material have had to be Jearned, and now speci-
ally constructed and ventilated travelling crates
have been made and suitable fibre material used
for packing.
CITRUS FRUITS,
including about a dozen varieties of oranges and
several kinds of lemion have been brought into Cey-
lon. Both oranges and lemons do well in the island.
Oranges, all of the yellow varieties, do very
where the climatic conditions suit them,
but in many parts the climate is too wet and
the fruit do not get sufficient sun to colour pro-
were obtained with
Washington navel oranges, except that the fruit
did not get the bright yellow colour so characteris-
tic of that variety. In certain parts of Ceylon
where the climate is dry, and there is plenty of
continued sunshine to colour the truit, oranges do
well. The growth of the tree and fruit is good
at Hatton, but they succeed better on the Uva
side, Lemons also do well, the Uva district being
best for them also. The trees are strong and
quick growers and fruit freely. When the
Jemons attain a certain size they are picked and
allowed to ripen and colour afterwards. Both
oranges and lemons have proved very satisfactory.
THE DECIDUOUS TREES,
The deciduous trees which Mr _ Pearson
has got over from Australia will not flourish
below an elevation of about 4,000 ft. Above
this they do fairly well, and are satisfactory
at Nuwara Eliya. All these deciduous trees
are greatly handicapped in Ceylon by the want
of a cold season. Deciduous trees require a
dormant resting season, in which they shea all their
leaves and the trees have a period of rest before
again bursting into leaf and undergoing the severe
tax of frnit-bearing. This cold dormant season is
wanting in Ceylon; on the higher elevations the
trees shed their leaves to a certain extent, but
before they are properly shed the new leaves begin
to appear. Amongst these deciduous trees are
apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and figs. Figs
are doing well, and it is only in the last two years
that these have been imported, Being very gross
feeders figs require a great amount of manure.
They grow well and begin to fruit very soon after
planting. Japanese plums are also a recent in-
AGRICULTURIST. 401
troduction, and they promise well. Peaches do
fairly well, especially at high elevations,
AUSTRALIAN GRAPE VINES.
Grape vines have heen introduced from Aus-
tralia, both purple and green Varieties. A good
number of them have been planted, but the same
trouble is found with them—they want a resting
season. Somecultivators have tried the method of
giving the vines a forced rest by artificial means.
The roots of the vine are exposed to the sun, and
thus the flow of sap is restrained and the plant stays
partially dormant. Jnthe drier Jaffna district the
grapes do well, but it is doubtful if they will
be much good elsewhere: they get good foliage
but do not fruit satisfactorily. Regarding the
EXPORT OF FRUIT FROM CEYLON
Mr. Pearson says that there is little use in
trying to export mangoes for the London market;
they are toosoft and will not stand the voyage
even if packed unripe; the mango is a fruit
which must be eaten at the right moment,—in the
morning it may be too hard to eat and by evening
almost too seft. Mr. Pearson is growing a number
of pines—having 4 an acre under cultivation in
Colombo—and will try exporting these to London,
sending only the larger and finer fruit; and it is
thought probable that these may stand the voyage
well. Sofar theintroduction of snb-tropical fruit
is fairly satisfactory, and we wish Mr Pearson
further success in the enterprise, which he is still
carrying on.
—
THE CEYLON FISHING CLUB.
INTERESTING PROPOSALS FOR. AC:
CLIMATISED TROUT.
HATCHERIES TO BE MOVED TO A COLDER SPOT,
We learn authoritatively that the decision
arrived at by the Managing Committee of the
Ceylon Fishing Club at the usual monthly
meeting held at the Hill Club on Saturday, the
24th October, in convection with the importation
of Brown Trout Ova for 1904, is by no: méans due
to the report that Brown. Trout were freely
breeding in the streams at Nuwara Bliya and
Horton Plains. Opinion with regard to the exact
breed of these fry in the streams at Nuwara Eliya
is much divided. A good many anglers assert
it is the Rainbow ‘Trout. Others say that it is
the Brown Trout, and now some of the Com-
mittee of the Fishing Club are of opinion that
the fry is a cross between the Rainbow and the
Brown. Mr John Cotton informed our represen-
tative that it was more than probable that the
latter was the case in the streams at Nuwara
Eliya, He thought it was impossible to definitely
tell what the fry were, unless they were isolated.
He thought that some of the fry should be
removed from the streams when they were
between 9 and 12 inches, and kept in some special
stream and watehed ; he thought that the stream
offered to the Fishing Ciub by Mr A W A Plaré
at the last general meeting would be a suitable
stream for experimenting purposes. The reaso
for not importing Brown Trout Ova next ye
is, we learn, that the Managing Committee
are assured that the water in. the present
haicheries is too hot for hatching out
Brown. Trout Ova; and for rearing the
fry. The _ percentage of returns from: Brown
Tront duriug the last two years—though satis-
factory as compared with India’s success—was b
no means what it should be. It is stated thab the
a.
B
402
Fishing Club areseriously contemplating theremoval
of, the. present ancient-looking sheds which are
greatly exposed to the sun up to the Pedvo Range
where the hatching out of the Brown Trout-oya
_and rearing of the fry would be possible owing to
the colder water at the higher elevation, and
the extra shade. The Ceylon Fishing Club, when
“they remove the hatcheries to the new site,
mean to doit on abig scale—as they will make
proyision for the breeding of trout during the
gpawning season—so as to secure their own ova
‘ for the supplying of streams Upcountry, beside
preserving ova, for shipment to India and other
tropical climates—where its success is bound to
give better results than ovaimported from Eng-
_Jand as the fry from the ova preserved in the new
hatcheries will be of a hardier type, peculiar only to
the tropics, and, therefore, better able to stand the
temperature of water which is not so cold as that
of the streams in England. The venture, if suc-
cessful, would mean a big income for the Ceylon
Fishing Club, beside reducing its present annual
expenditure greatly. Early this year we recorded
that the removal of the hatcheries from the present
site to one up Pedro was contemplated but that
ir could not be thought of for sometime owing
to the amount. of money which would be. involved
in its removal. The suggestion there was to
remove the hatcheries to the plateau on the summit
of false Pedro where any one of the three streams
could supply the water necessary for the hatcheries.
The objection there was to its being rather
out of the way, and it. would, therefore,
not’ be able to receive the constant and careful
attention of Messrs. E M de Couey Short and
H:D Elhart. It is now stated that the hatcheries,
when removed, will be toa site on the slope of the
road up Pedro, just above Keena House Hotel and
a little distance below the present xeservoir.
The object of the new selection is to turn such
quantities of water as may be required from
the Pedro-Oya stream, after the reservoir has
been served, into: the hatcheries. Here is an
abundance) of shade and a wealth of gigantic trees
at the spot.» All the cold necessary for the hatch-
ing of the ova and the rearing of the fry is ensured.
Ib would ‘also be within an easy distance for the
supervising of the ‘hatcheries, The importance of
the speedy construction of the new hatcheries is
one deserving of the’ attention of all members
iof the Ceylon Fishing Cluo. Given ‘success | it
- would mean the reduction of fees'and a Jarger
supply of trout to fish for. Acclimatised’ ova
must give good results. The streams. would
be more plentiful today, had there’ been’ some
means of protecting the large shoals of fry
observed by many towards the latter end of last
year—but now alas too few, as the young fry
were attacked vigorously by the older trout, It is
presumed that barely 4 of the fry bred in’ the
streaws at Nuwara Eliya passed into the size
required for the anglers’ rod.
& The stream offered by Mr Platé for experimenting
tothe Fishing Club runs from the Single Tree
Range dividing Mr John Hagenbeck’s land from
St Edward’s School. This property, it will be
semembered, was purchased late lust year by Mr
' John Hagenbeck ata fiscal sale ona writ taken
~ ‘out by the Apothecaries Company. Mr Piaté,
‘who'is & great angler, secured Mr Hagenbeck’s per-
mniésion2we are told—to offer the exclusive use of
the stream to the Ceylon Fishing Club,
THER TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
‘OO! ..!° Ard
[Dro. 1, 1963.
WHAT AMERICA DOES IN RICE AND TEA.
The United States Board of Agriculture is real
business, The United States imports great quan-
tities of rice. ‘But the Department thought more
could ve produced at home and it introduced and
distributed Japanese rice. The inipetus thusgiven
is shown by the fact that in 1901 the United States
grew 65,000 010 1b more rice than in 1900. Consider
the case of tea which is of more direct interest to
India. Indian and Ceylon tea—especially the
latter—is to be pushed at the St Louis Exposition.
The effort comes not amoment too soonas América
is thinking of growing her own tea. Several kinds
are produced already and experts bave; pronouneed
them to be very good. The profit has been estimated
at 30 o1 40 dollars;an acresand)a machine for the
manufacture of green tea has been perfected’ and
placed under the contro! of the Department. » The
United States imports 10, or 12 million. dollars’
worth of tea a year. It would take a long time
to, cultivate such a quantity, but the Seeretary of
the Board of Agriculture wrote two years ago that
‘there are thousands of acres of land and thou-
sands of idle hands that, might be made awailable
for this work, and our possibilities;in this field
should not be neglected.”—Madras Mail, Nov, 4.
Oe
PLANTING NOTES,
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CULTIVATION. IN
RATNAPURA.—A special article on the plant-
ing of fruits and vegetables in the Katnapura
district appears ,on. another , page. ‘the
land, brought under cultivation. was virgin
forest, and of the different, crops plantains
appeared to have done best. “The long. wet
season was much against! the success of the
vegetables, grown. but the article is well
worth perusal. a, tela
CARDAMOMS IN GERMANY,.— While little
has been heard of Mr. Spence’s work in
Australia, owing to the delay incurred. by
his illness, Cardamom-growers have today
something to go on with in the report to
hand from Mr. Renton.. But why hasit beén
ae from the public so long? ‘* Bremen
2nd June; Hamburg 13th June”—are the
dates given. The demand in Germany is
not extensive, but what there is is peculiarly
varied. In Brunswick and Hanover, one or —
two pounds a year are wanted by oilman-
store dealers. In Russia it is not large —
enough for the product to be pushed alone,
but information is tobe got from Columbo —
Russians. Hamburg is the leading centre sand —
indeed the hope of the Ceylon growers. But —
at present the Malabar product holds prefer.
ence. The remedy lies not—it is urged—in
artificial means. ‘Here we once more have ©
our views borne out, that to push a product —
properly you must ‘advertise, advertise, —
ADVERTISE: ‘That is what we have so Chet 4
urged in the case of America; and on the —
Continent there is not less need. Of course
the cost is great—but mainly by these means —
steadily and patiently pursued will tangible —
results’ come—as come they ‘must, unless —
there is any slackening--in’ their own good —
time. Cardamom sales in Colombo would be —
an innovation andthe “Chainber’s verdict —
will be awaited with interest. P
|
Dna, 1, 1903.) THE, TROPICAL
THE EXPERIMENT STATION PERADENIYA,
The Agricultural Committee meeting held
at the Bxperiment Station on Munday the 2nd
instant, was prolonged and of great im-
portance to the Planting community of
Ceylon. The most interesting announcement
to tea planters is that
GOVERNMENT HAVE SECURED SEPARATE
TWELVE£*ACRE PLOTS OF TEA
at Ambalangoda, Peradeniya, Dessford,
Haputale and Portswood for the purpose of
carrying out a thorough scheme of manurial
experiments over these representative parts
of the island. The experiments will last for
over three years. Government have allowed
free freight for all manures used and have
laced the work in the hands of Messrs
on ae Bamber and Herbert Wright. This
is an excellent undertaking and the tea
planters will await the publication of the
results with interest.
CACAO received a large amount of attention
and plots have been laid out on the Experi-
ment Station for the cultivation of several
varieties of Forastero and Nicaragua cacao.
New species of cacao are also being cultivated,
NEW MACHINERY FOR CACAO
was also introduced by Mr Willis. Some
machines were explained which can _ shell
20,000 cacao pods in an hour,
GREEN MANURES
for tea, cacao and coconuts were discussed
and a paper will probably soon be published
on the work which has already been dene at
the Experiment Station.
———_—_——_—
TEA PLANTING IN JAYA.
INTERESTING INTERVIEW.
Meeting two Java visilors to Ceylon, Messrs,
J G E G de Dieu Stierling and E H Evans
our representative was favoured with replies to
various questions on the subject of tea-planting
in Java. To hegin with, our representative asked,
Mr Evans—who speaks Euglish with great fluency
—acting as spokesman,
** What is precisely your mission to Ceylon?”
‘‘Mr Stierling comes on behalf of the Java
Planters’ Association to make a few weeks’ study
of conditions of tea-planting in Ceylon. It is pro-
bable that in. regard to field work and cultivation
we have very little to learn from Ceylon, but in
the factory and the processes of manufacture it
is more than probable you are ahead of us and
have something to teach us,”
‘* How many planters are there in Java?”
** Well, it is difficult tosay. You see, although
Jaya, is twice the size of Ceylon, tea is only
cultivated in the West—I cannot give the
exact area, but the output is about 35 million
Yb. (about a quarter of yours)—the East of
Java, which isniuch drier, being devoted mainly to
sugar, always wherever it will grow more paying
than tea, and also to coffee.” On reference to Mr
ry
Stierling, the number of planters was pub at
approximately 120,
“What is the acreage of your. estates ?”
ee
Well, my own estate is about 1,200 acres,
| Mr, Stierling’s somewhat larger. But someestates
in Java, runup to nearly 2,000 acres each. 2,000
‘is, however, the largest,”
‘ he i yields 2”
}
AGRICULTURIST: 403
‘‘Well, we are never really satisfied with anything
less than 700 lb. per acre. This is generally without
manuring. And as to manuring, the soil being
virgin soil, we should never think of beginning
it until the tea is from 15 to 20 years of age.”
‘‘ What are your elevations ?”’
““There is no tea above 5,000 feet. But then
there is nothing below 2,000. And ib must be
remembered that 2,000 in Java would be fully
equal in temperature and climate to 3,000
feet in Ceylon.”
‘¢ What is your labour 2?”
‘“* Practically all Javanese, and it is very fair
stuff. There are a large number of Malays in
Java, but they keep entirely to the coast.”
“ What is your market for tea? Do you have
any special Commissioner for pushing your teas
ia Europe ?”
“ Most of our tea, for the output is not a
large one compared with thatof India and Ceylon,
goes to Amsterdam. It is truethat a good deal
finds its way to London, for London buyers have
agents who buy regularly, every sale, at the
Dutch auctions and not long ago an abnormal
quantity was bought, to make up a shortage in
London; but some goes direct to the London
market, Mr, Stierling, for instance, sends all bis
teas there. As to pushing our teas, the buyers
do that in nearly every part of Europe. No, we
have no man specially set apart for the work.
No doubt it would provide a pleasant occupation
for one’s retirement! Perhaps Mr. Stierling, when
he gives up planting, will take up the work !”—
a suggestion which the genial veteran Dutch
planter—he has been 35 years in Java, but looks
as fresh and vigorous as a man of 30—greatly
enjoyed.
Our visitors go to Kandy and will thence. visit
various estates, both in the neighbourhood and in
higher districts, not omitting Haputale.
CARDAMOM COMMITTEE.
FURTHER INTERIM REPORT,
A meeting of the Cardamom Committee was
held on the 2nd November, 1903, at the Victoria
Commemoration Buildings, Kandy, at 1°30 p.m.
in the afternoon. A Statement of Accounts was
submitted showing receipts R1,909:18 againsb
expenditure R547°68, leaving a balance of R1,361°50
at date, After consideration of correspondence
and connected papers and data the following Reso-
lutions were passed :—
(I.) That the Chairman communieate with
Russian Merchants regarding introducing Carda-
moms into Russia direct.
(II.) That the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce
be communicated with to obtain the views of the
Chamber regarding the advisability of holding
regular public sales of Cardamoms,
(III.) That a Report by an Agent employed
by Mr Renton be onbtishelt> 8 pioye
([V.) That the Commissioner at St. Lonis
Exhibition besupplied with samples of Cardamom
of different grades up to the value of R500, if
required for distribution to the trade.
(V.) That Mr Renton be thanked for his letter
—The Cardamom Committee then adjourned, —
a
a ee ee
404
REPORT.
The Agent’s report referred to in the resolutions
is as follows :—
I now beg to give you the result of my enquiries
Into the cardamom trade in Germany.
From enquiries made at all the principal sausage
manufactories, as for instance, to mention only one
in Brunswick, I was informed that these manufactories
employ a very minimum quantity of this article ;
Spiced meat preparations are not nearly so much
in favour as formerly. In Gotha and the south you
may be able to do more. Enquiries made at the
oilmanstore-dealers in Brunswick and Hannover con-
vinced me of the truth of this statement, and, further,
I was assured, that pastry cooks, confectioners, bakers
and private families only use cardamoms in really
infinitesimal quantities. Here again I found this fact
confirmed by personal enquiries in the confectioners’
shops. ‘These respective businesses find ove or two
pounds more than enough in one year.
A. very important firm in Hannover referred me to
the large firms owning spice mills in Bremen, Ham-
burg, Leipsic, and Hanan, which certainly use the
largest quantity of cardamoms. But for these in-
ferior sorts suffice, as the less good or somewhat
damaged qualities only are ground up. The full per-
fect capsules are never milled. In Bremen I visited,
amongst others, the largest spice firm, who admitted
that their firm buy large quantities of cardamoms. They
get these f10m firms in Ceylon, who consign the goods to
Bremen. One of their principal places where they make
good sales is Russia, where spice is consumed in larger
quantities thanin Germany. But I do not consider it
advisable to work in Russia, unless you have trust-
worthy and direct representatives. Other represen-
tative firms in Bremen spoke in‘the same way so that,
as far as Bremen is concerned, the article is entirely in
‘the hands of the importers, who have their own mills,
‘who sell to dealers, who in their return supply the
retail with very minimum quantities. The demand
by the last is so small, it would not pay to supply
them direct; then the carriage on the small packets
of one or two pounds would only pay, if sent with
other goods.
The representatives in Bremen of——are in daily
touch with all the important houses, as they meet
always on the exchange, [I have asked them to make
more enquiries, obiain more precise information and
let me hear from them. _They themselves would not
be indisposed to take up the article themselves on
commission.
Hamburg is for cardamoms, as for all Colonial pro-
duce, by far tho largest market on the Continent.
The article is imported in very considerable quanti-
ties, as the statistics, which I obtained at the Bureau
for Trade and Commerce, show :—
Imports in 1900 ... 106,000 1b, 460,000 marks £23,000
. 1901 .. 64,800,, 280,000 ,,° £14,000
.. The returns for 1902 are not yet available, The
shortfall in 1901 is astounding. This must be a result
of the outturn of the crop for that year, and con- .
sequently the crop for the foliowing year must be all
the bigger. For cardamoms have never been so cheap
and depressed as at prosent, in consequence of large
offerings from so many quarters.
On the other hand, the consumption does not
appear to have decreased, though at the same time it
has not increased—as confirmed by the opinion of the
‘largest spice firm in Hamburg. This tirm buys 1,000
chests of 70 lb yearly, and principally cardamoms in
capsules, as the so-called cardamom. seed, finds less
employment. The first is ground with the skin» and
distribated in this way through second and third hands
to the consumers—by confectioners, pastry-cooks, and
private families insmall doses at a time. The quality
and prices' vary much; and what is remarkable is that
the fruit with the skin is often dearer than the’ pure
seed. Russia especially provides a large field for
disposal of the article, ‘Prices depend upon the
quality, and ron from 4to6 marks per kilo.
be preterzed to Ceylon
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Dre. 1, 1903.
Two large firms of spicé dealers in Hamburg, confirmed
the report that cardamoms are an important article
in the Hamburg trade, and are often sold 100 «chests
ata time. One buys generally at auction in Iondon:
he had just bought 200 chests' of 70 lb each. The
price at present fluctuates between 3 and 4 shillings
per |b. (?) all depending on quality. There are other
firms in Hamburg and Altona interested in cardamoma.
A London firm says it can buy 100 lb.-chests at 200,
220, 250, and 300 marks but these must’ be damaged or
inferior quality. They can sell in small quantities to
the consumers—the seed at 2°85; the better frait in
capsules at 5 marks per |lb.(?) This firm manufactures
special preparations for confectioners, etc., and car.
ries cardamoms and cinnamon as accessories to their
regular trade.
My private opinion is that it will be exceedingly
difficult to increase the consumption of cardamoms by
any outside or artificial means. The only possible way
would be to advertise in a large way, in order’ that
the article—which is known only by name in certain
circles—may awaken further interest and become
more enquired for. Cardamoms are a spice which
outside. of North Germany. are hardly know in the
traje, and it maybe possible, by suituble advertise-
ments, fo create a real increase in the consumption.
I cannot, though, conceal the fact that a very large
sum will be required, and that the returnin increased
tconsumption on the capital thus employed for adver
isement will be very slow in coming back.
Bremen 2nd June; Hamburg 13th June, 1903,
NEEDLE-LEAF TEAS.
It may be remembered that a prominent firm of
brokers expressed to us the opinion that no machinery
could imitate the hand-rolled Japan needle-leaf teas,
but some months back. our contemporary now learns,
Mr. A. H. Ayden, of Messrs. Whittall & Co.—having
known from his own experience the value of imitating
the basket-fired teas of Japan, and of an invention,
which would achieve this—began experiments which
have been continued ever since, ‘and with such en-
couraging results that samples are now before us of
Ceylon leaf, rolled lengthwise by a machine which
he has taken. adequate steps to patent both in
Ceylon and'in India. The wachine was made by
Messrs. Brown & Co., Ltd., at Hatton; and the
principal features of it are that an outer cylinder, with
blades, revolves slowly. in one direction, while an
inner cylinder, similarly fitted, rotates more rapidly
in an opposite direction. The leaf is thus constantly —
@» moving, with air freely circulating through it. It
is also twisted entirely in its length, and not rolled
in a mass as in the existing machines. It is cooled
in the process, and comes out at a lower tempera-
ture than it went in; and there is an exceptionally
small percentage of dust and fannings. ‘The machine
which has been experimented with takes 70 1b
of leaf, but it is expected that better results can
be obtained from machines taking 300 lb, and further
tests are to be made on this larger scale. The ~
finishing process now carried on in Colombo for
practically all the teas for the United States will —
also be used. There is a considerable saving of fuel,
and the machines, when put on the market, will be
obtainable at half the present price of black tea rollers.
ae eS LD he |
THE GANGAROOWA EXPERIMENTAL STA-
TION.—It is indeed satisfactory to note the
already good results in. connection: with
the Gangaroowa Station, The obtaining of
12-acre experimental tea plots in various
districts will, we have no. doubt, proye
exceedingly useful. This. new departure —
marks the. originality and earnestness: of —
the Ceylon authorities jin striking outon —
new lines. We also notice that improved —
cacao machinery is being ,introd pee a :
hope that good results will follow eac
department of the Peradeniya staff's enter-
prise. %
Dec. 1,.1903.]
“Correspondence,
wnat
Bho To the Editor.
THE CULTIVATION OF RAMIE FIBRE
25, Birchington Road, West Hampstead,
London, W.S., Oct. 7.
DrEAR $1R,—As you have published a letter
of September 10th, sent to me from your
Government, I hope you will, in all fairness,
publish my reply. I feel the misstatements
made by gentlemen, who have no commercial
experience or practical knowledge, but are
based on mere laboratory experiments, are
misleading and likely to do great harm. The
fact that Ramie is and can be used is de-
monstrated by the Chinese and Japanese—to
say nothing of many other states where it
is .worked in a primitive way by the natives
for clothing, fishing lines, nets, &c., &c. If
these peoples can use it, it stands to reason
with more advanced methods of obtaining the
fibre a very vast industry is possible. Here
in Kurope the manufacturers are keenly alive
to its merits and if only supplies were as-
sured any number of mills would be started
and you would do well to bring it before
the planters who certainly will be left be-
hind if such advice as is contained in the
reply you have published to my letter is
acted upon. For an assertion to go forth
that Rami is hogeless—because the manufac-
turers of cotton, jute, &c., oppose it—is feeble
in the extreme. Of course, it is. opposed as
it is a formidable rival. What new invention
Was not opposed? Tllinstanze Arkwright’s
loom; Electricity opposed by Gas. Incandescent
gas by even Gas Companies who now em-
brace it with delignt as a help to oppose
electric light and this is what will heppen
in the textile trades. Assoonas Ramie gets
a proper footing it will be taken up by the
miznutacturers with the same zest as is now
shown in opposing it. I could mention
many other instances such as railways,
steamships, ef hoc genus onine. All were op-
opposed and where are they today? Nowa
last remark as to the absurd fallacy that
‘mercurised cotton ousts Ramie. Asa matter
of fact it isa spurious lustre at best, some-
‘thing like the fleeting stimulant caused by
alcohol. It is potson to the cotton as alcohol
is to the invalid. A shower of rain will kill
‘any Mercurised cotton lustre, but the natural
lustre of Kamie lasts for years, than the
test of strength durability, &c. I have a
tunie worn by a trooper in S. African War
made of Ramie. It outwore three cotton
tunics and has life in it yet to outlast
one or two more. [£ must not trespass
longer ; but I do urge you, Sir, to do your
utmost to bring this lovely fibre Ramie, the
‘textile of the future, to the front and not
let your colony lag behind and lose the for-
tunes that are possible to pioneers.— Yours
| faithfully,
} dads y D. EDWARDS RADOLYFFE,
| alan sees rey
No, 18934,
| fh fais) 20, BR, W H, Loadon, Oct, 7,
Nis Excellency the Governor of Ceylon,
. THE TROPICAL
AGRICULTURIST: 405
Sir,—I beg to acknowledged a letter of Sept.
10, directed to be sent to me and signed A G
Clayton, for Colonial Secretary. Iam glad to see
Ramie has been grown for years at Peradeniya,
and that it grows well; but I am sorry to see ib is
only in an experimental way. Evidently it has only
been half-heartedly treated. This, I gather, as you
say price obtained is unremunerative, as the price
today here is £37 per ton. Such an assertion by the
planters is to say the least misleading. I gather
from a Ceylon paper it costs £7 93 to grow. Surely
the profit of £29, viz, difference between cost and
price 1b fetches here, is sufficient to pay freight
brokerage and leave a balance for the planter beyond
the dream of avarice. [don’t hesitate’ to say if
degumming stations were set up, even @ gueater
profit might be made. Not only would there be a
saving in freight, bub also the pilasse would fetch
a price that would pay handsomely for the outlay,
But a further profit would be made from the
by-products, gum and paper pulp. I must, therefore,
again urge upon you that the prospect of success is
assured if taken in hand properly. As proof of this I
refer you to the Chinese, Japanese and Formosan
trade in this article, As to your remarks respect-
ing the commercial difficulties, I see no obstacle
that cannot be overcome. Existing industries of
course oppose it—the most flattering proof of the
rivalry Ramie is considered to possess by the
textile industries. Ifit were an insignificant, worth-
less fibre, the manufacturers would not oppose it,
but treat it with contempt. That mercurised cotton
competes with Ramie on its own ground, is as
absurd as it is fallacious, To obtain a lustre cotton
is killed and the lustre is of so fleeting a nature it
is lost on the first shower of rain and entirely obliter-
ated in the wash. Whereas Ramie not only retains
its lustre, but if anything is improved by washing.
1 would therefore respectfully submit, you would
do well to go more carefully into the possibilities of
this fibre, as from what I gather of other Colonies
Ramie will be rapidly placed in the foremost rank
of our textiles—a position its many splendid quali-
ties entitles it to take. I would, therefore, submit
with all deference to the reports you have acted
on that Ramie és worth cultivating and will add
to the prosperity of your Colony.—{f am, Sir, your
obedient servant,
D, EDWARDS RADCLYFFE,
THE MANURIAL VALUE OF RAINWATER,
DEAR SrrR,—The value of rainwater as a manure
is full of interest ; and it is a subject on which
scientists might popularise information by the
publication of accurate analyses; I remember
reading somé time ago of investigations in India
which proved the superiority of canal-water over
well-water for irrigation purposes ; out, I fancy, a
great deal must depend on local cireumstances—
such as the situation of the well, the sources
whence the canal isfed, the soil, &. I always
thought the special value of rain-water was due
to the electricity with which it is echarged—the
analysis on stormy days showing more valuable in-
gredients than when rain fell without any electrical
disturbance. I was not aware—thoughk, now that
H.M.M, in your issue of the 20th has placed the
matter in black and white, I quite appreciate the
yeason for it—that the rain-water in towns could
contain so much more fertilising matter than In
the country; and,I fancy, many — agriculturists
shared my ignorance, London is, of course,
406 ‘THE. TROPICAL
quite ‘exceptional. Cannot our local scientists—
especially those connected with the Royal Botanic
‘Gardens—supply us with analyses of Colombo
and Kandy rain-water from time to time—taken
eaftera drought and during rainy weather, and
“compare them with the analyses of rain from
wifferend country districts? But what does
H.M.M. mean by a 3-inch fall of rain in London
egiving ‘‘ 22 gallons of water per acre per inch ” ?
Surely there is some mistake in the figures—
22,000 ? Then, four sentences lower down, what is
‘meant by the red earth helping the atmosphere ?
How ‘is it: done? GOIYA.
DEAR Sir,—You n2ed not bother about the
mauurial value of rain. This we have
already got'some 20 odd years ago. The
respective districts got the'rain analysed and
the ‘results are to be found in the records
of the P. A: It would be of much interest
if those records were te be published now.
Mr. Giles: Walker, I am sure, can put his
thumb on the day and date he got the Dkoya
©ain
ANALYSED.
DEAR Sirn,—‘‘ Goiya,”’ in your columns, is
vather out when he says that it was his
belief that the manurial value of rain:water
lay ‘in the electricity it contained. The
passage of electricity, through the atmosphere
during a thunderstorm, converts the nitrogen
of the atmosphere into ammonia, Rain, in
its passage through the air, washes out all
the impurities it contains—both gaseous
-or solid—in the form of very fine particles
of dust. These impurities are often of much
manurial value. It, therefore, stands to
reason that the rain-water, after a period
‘of drought, ‘is more beneficial to vegetation
than the rain that'falls AKTERWARDS.
i
?
ne a ee
NEED FOR LIBERAL CULTIVATION,
Wattegama,
DeAR SirR,—I have seen in the Ceylon
Observer ‘Howls from the Hills,’ signed
*Jackal’ with an artistic sketch of a jackal
below the signature. Mr. Storey has ably
defended Mr. Westland, and the latter ought
to have every planter’s sympathy and not
be howled at. From ‘Jackal’s’ description
‘of how Mr. Anderson pulled down Mr. West-
land at the last Matale P.A. meeting and the
‘artistic sketch of the animal, I can easily -
unearth the ‘Jackal.’ ‘Jackal’ could easily
have noticed the P.D. misprinted; ‘ pound
the cacao trunk,’ should have been cacao huss:
(printez’s error) when he read on. See Mr,
Cochran’s analysis of the cacao husk,
My object is to impress on proprietors
the cultivation of their estates from the
beginning, not to take out all they can get
from the very start and then sell their estates
for'a song, examples—Delgolle, Neeloola,
Sunnyside, &c.' The new proprietors full-well
‘know that there is money to be made from
these estates under amore liberal treatment,
‘just as I have worked up abandoned coffee
estates successfully with tea, cacao, &e. I
have given proof in the past of whatI can do,
89 treat the would be critics with contempt.
AGRICULTURINT, | fDBe..1, 1903,
I had Professor Preuss, of Berlin and German
East Africa, here accompanied by Aan Assistant
of the Peradeniya Gardens and took them all
over the estate on Friday last. They ex-
pressed themselves as highly pleased with all
they saw. lalsoshowed:them two cacao pods,
5-pounds each (sic), and the tree from. which
they were plucked, with more such unripe
pods on the tres; also all kinds of fruit
trees all over the estate. Inow send you the
two pods by train plucked on Wednesday
last for your inspection, &c. As 1 wish to
plant out the seed ona new clearing; I will
i you to send the pods back within ten
ays. ;
As regards rubber, I had ceara rubber at one
time, but could not make it pay ; so when para
rubber came to the front T'asked my ‘son, F.,
to make that plant one of his specialities.
Time has proved his success in tapping and
curing on Kepitigalla estate,
Where did our first coffee, cinchona, cacao
and tea plants come from? Hecho answers :
‘From the jungle.’ What did they live on?
Echo: ‘the decay of all‘leaves, twigs and fruit
around the tree.’ But you usually find in
these forests that there is a large variety of
trees in the jungle, so fruit trees are less
exposed to one kind of insects. Again
some insects and birds destroy other
insects. Then there ave also wild animals in
the jungles who eat the grass, fallen
fruit, and some who ttir up the soil to
look for worms &c., a proof that vegetable
‘manure, decayed or green, weeds, leaves and
fruit are all that is required for fruit-bearing
trees in the jungle. Unless you ‘wish to force
the trees ‘On estates to give more crop by
using artifical manures, the latver mixed with
decayed cattle or vegetable compost is no
doubt a great help to the trees.— Yours faith-
fully, JOSEPH HOLLOWAY.
RAMIE FIBRE FOR GAS MANTLES.
Colombo.
DEAR SiR,—It may interest you to learn
that ‘‘ramie fibre” is now ‘being largely —
used asthe basis of .Incandescent ‘Mantles —
in place of cotton, as the para on page
16 of the ‘‘ Journal of Gas Lighting ’’—sent
herewith—will show. In this direction alone,
the sale of ramie will be considerable, seeing
that incandescent lighting is ever ‘on the
increase and that there are in London alone,
a dozen large factories: engaged in- the —
manufacture of mantles.—Yours faithfully, —
‘W. W. TOWNSEND,
Acting Manager, Colombo Gas & Water.Co,
(Cutting.) i
It is suggested that, if ‘there is’a corner in —
anything in the incandescent trade in the near
futute, it will spring out of ramie. The demand —
for ramie mantles has grown enormously of late; —
and most large’ buyers are specifying ‘amie
mantles in their orders, The price of the material —
has risen; but ramie is not such a necessity that —
® corner in it could not be met by large pore
boycotting it (by using cotton mantles) ‘for’a —
sufficient. ‘time’to: break ‘down any attempt In —
that direction, » COSTS Rik BE EE
|
|
|
|
Dec. 1, 1903,] THE TROPICAL
THE EXPORT OF FRUIT FROM Vea
et. Bl.
DEAR Sir,—I have only just noticed Dr.
Bonavia’s letter re mangoes in the London
market which you quoted on 2lst inst. from
I. P. and Gardening of 20th September.
It will, perhaps, interest the writer to learn
that trials, such as he suggests, have been
made in Ceylon some years ago—the packages
being kept, in one of our hotter districts,
for 83 days unopened. Several kinds of
fruit were packed and with one exception
(due ‘to injury while being gathered) all were
jn perfect condition when examined. As
shipping agents here refuse to carry fruit to
Tiondon, no matter how carefully it is packed, -
lest it should taint the contents of tea chests,
(although coconut oil casks are freely ex-
orted) it will be necessary for fruit-growers
there to form an Association and subsidise
vessels which are independent of .tea cargo.
—Yours faithfully, Bb,
ILLIBERALLY CULTIVATED HSTATKHS
UNFORTUNATELY SELECTED EXAM-
PLES: “BOLTERS” TRAFFIC OCEN?TRKS,
Noy. 1.
DEAR Sir,—Mr. Joseph Holloway has been
quite unlucky in his choice of examples of
Gacao estates—Delgolla, Nella Oola and Sunny
Side—which ‘‘had been sold for a song
because the proprietors had not cultivated
their estates from the beginning, but taken
out all that they could get from the very
start” (vide ‘his letter in your issue of 28th
ult.) As I was an unhappy shareholder in
the Delgolla Company and have known un-
interruptedly the property since 1878, I can
assure Mr Holloway that little had been
tuken out of it. 200 acres criollo 6 years
old gave 800 cwts. in 1883 and the same 200
atres plus 100 acres criollo 6 years old gave
in 1884 400 cwts. The mysterious disease
that many planters attributed to Helopeltis
(wrongly I think) had set to work and
the trees never gave any more adequate crops.
Manuring was resorted to without avail. In
1887 coconuts were inter-planted and later
extended to new fields and the property is
now a very fine coconut estate worth double
the amount paid for it in 1900, for the Com-
pany sold out ata ruinous price owing to the
desire of a small majority of absentee share-
holders to realise. Nella Ooila never gave
any cacao crops worth mentioning. When
the estate was sold there were only 110 acres
of tea and some 80 acres of old cardamoms
which could not be cultivated at a profit.
Sunny Side had only 40 acres of cacao in
cultivation and 110 acres of tea, the latter
leaving but loss yearafter yearalthough manur-
ing had been resorted to for both products.
These properties were thus sold for quite dif-
ferent reasons than Mr. Holloway asserts. I
write en connaissance de cause as the two last
estates were in my charge for some time.
‘As for the good advice given about the
treatment of the cacao husks, I think that the
| Mnajority of Superintendents are very pleased
to have sufficient labour to pick and eure
their crop and are unable to spare labour
for the fastidious process of pounding the
kusks with lime. What an uncommonly
AGRICULTURIST. 407
lucky man Mr Tipple is who asserts—in the
sume issue—that **so long as the_ estate
manager is supported by his owner or owner’s
agent no loss has ever ensued on labour
advances ”—ever or scarcely ever? I wonder
how managers or proprietors would say as
much! ‘ Pro Bono Plantatorum” IJ wish to
report that Kandy, Katugastota and Pera-
deniya have become centres tor the traffic
of runaway coolies. Gangs are made by
Kanganis and presented with supposed native
tundus and advances obtained. Generally
within 6 weeks the new gang has disappeared.
Yours truly, AP ved P:
—__—___——_——_———_
PLANTING NOTES,
FRUIT-GROWING IN CEYLON.—Some inter
esting information concerning Mr. A J
Pearson’s experiments in introducing fruit
trees into Ceylon appears on another page.
Anything done to improve and further the
agricultural and horticultural interests of the
colony is deserving of thanks, and we wish
Mr. Pearson every success in the further
development and success of his enterprise.
With reference to the letter on fruit export
(page 5), our correspondent seems‘to think
it possible to do something in this’ line, It
is very improbable that mangoes will prove
worth exporting. but with such firm fruit
as pines it is different, and we shall await
the result of Mr. Pearson’s experiment with
this fruit with interest.
“A NOTE ON CULTIVATION.’—In the Sep-
tember number of the Agricultural Maguzine
appears ‘*A note on cultivation,” which is
defined as moving of the soil by hand or
power implements, during the life of the
crop. The writer makes a very curious
statement, and one which a coconut planter
of long experience tells us he has not heard
before: that there is an objection against
digging or ploughing land under coconut
cultivation, as the roots of the palm are
disturbed and broken thereby, The most
unenlightened Sinhalese, whenever he over-
comes his ingrained apathy, and cultivates
his land, undertakes tilling of the whole
surface of the ground, or only round his
trees, as the one and only agricultural
operation, He descants on the _ beneficial
effects of ‘ breaking the roots” of the
coconut tree. If you engage him to plough
your land, the beneficial effects of the
ploughing are measured by the number of
roots that are broken. The breaking up
and the consequent aération of the soil, are
unknown quantities to him. He knows only
of the benefits of the ‘breaking of
the roots.” Is the writer really “quite
correct when he states that ‘fin Ceylon, a
number of enlightened Planters, acting up
to- their convictions, have succeeded in over-
coming local prejudice against * cultivating’
coconut land.” ? Surely it is rare to find
instance of this so-called *flocal prejudice.”
Hverybody seems to be agreed that plough:
ing and root-breaking are beneficial operations
in coconut cultivation, especially where the
cooley are matted on the surface of sandy
soll,
ee
408
NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS AND USES.
[Mr P C MacMahon, of Woodside, Urugala,
wrote the following essay for circulation at the St.
Louis Exposition under the scheme appoved by the
Executive Committee: but, it haviug be:n rejected,
with regret, by the Cardamom Committee of the
P.A., as too long, Mr MacMahon sends it to us
for publication :—
Cardamoms of commerce are the cured fruit of
capsules with their seeds, of a plant knowa botani-
cally as Hlettaria Cardamomum Mat. Mrny kinds
more or less related to the above grow wilt in the
the higher mountain-forests of Oeylon, Southern
India, Cochin-China. Madagasear, and afew other
countries. Of the above-named species what is
known as the ‘ Mysore” variety is the kind
now almost entirely cultivated in Ceylon, Ibis
distinguished from some of the others by a more
robust habit, smooth glossy leaves, tall and erect
inflorescence, unfurrowed acd slightly-elongate
capsules. The plaat is of a bulbous nature and
in the laying out of a plantation two of its bulbs
with the whole of their lone stems, which some-
times reach to the length of 12 feet are planted
in ‘shallow holes, at the distance of 7ft. by 7ft. or
8ft. by 8ft. according to the fancy of the planter or
the nature of the soil he is bringing into cultiva-
tion, The stems are allowed to lie flat on tha
ground. Great care must be taken in choosing
soil, as only the richest loam of the primeval forests
will. successfully grow this product. The trees
of the latter must be thinned out, to afford the
plants sufficient light, and at the same time, exclude
the direct rays of the tropical sun. After two months
shoots appear above ground from the planted
bulbs, and as these grow and mature they in turn
throw out further shoots orstems, unotil at the end of
three years alarge clump of from 3to4 feet in
diameter is formed —infl »rese nce or racemes which
also rise from the bulo intermingling with the
stems orin sloping situations gracefully hanging
over. Theracemes are now covered for the whole
length with bracts from which spring the pretty
orchid like flowers of whitish colour with centre
pink markings. These flowers are great favourities
of the wild bees of the Island, whogather from
them a rich store of honey and wax, and, at the
same time freely bestow their humtaing services
in successfully fructifying same—the fruit buds of
which after three to four months’ growth changing
into ripe capsules. When arrived at this state they
are collected by the labours of the estate into bags
and carried to the curing factory, where they are
at first washed and for several days after bleached
and dried in the sun, care being taken to avoid dis- .
colouration either by rain or damp and at the
same time prevent as cuch as possible, by not too
great exposure, the capsules from bursting and
loosing their precious seeds. The next work is
clipping the dried stems of the capsules which
came off with them whea being plucked.This work
is done by women with small scissors, and is a slow
and delicate operation. After having been clipped
they are further bleached and dried, and then
sorted into different grades usually called Nos. 1,
2, 3, 4, ‘‘ splits,” and ‘* seeds,” after which they
ace packed in paper-lined boxes and despatched to
the metropolis of the island, Colombo, where they
are either sold locally for exporb to India or
shippedto England and the ‘continent’ for com-
mercial sale,
The usesand virtues of cardamoms have been
known to many of the Eastern nations from the
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Dac: 1, 1903.
earliest periods, and ‘so highly do the’ Hindoos
value them, that they have bestowed on the seeds
the political name of ‘ grains of paradise,” In
the receptions of the higher classes of this nation
among themselves sugar-coated cardamoms are
always presented to the guests, aud often on these
occasions the youthfal mother of the house, if there
happea to be such a one, handsor leads round for
‘inspection, what she in the intensity of her delight
loves to callher ‘‘sugar cardamom,” namely her
Jatest-born babe and favourite child. The consump-
tion of cardamoms by these people and the Burmese
is very great and must reach close on 1,000,000 Lbs,
annually. They use them extensively in cooking,
in the manufacture of confectionery, toilet, oils,
medicines, tooth-powders, and in masticating with
the betel leaf which is a kind of pepper: In England
and the other States of Europe they are also largely
used, and the export from India and Ceylon, Indo-
China to there totals now over another 1,000,000
lb. per year. ‘he principal uses which the home
countries apply them to are the manufacture of
cakes, confectionery, sausages, liquors, and in the
packing of fruit, fish, ete, ete. Inthe public bars
too, they are also coming info use, for dispelling
from the breath of the frequenters the nauseating
smell of tobacco and alcohol. In medicine and for
toilet purposes their use is legion, and far too
numerous to mention here. On the whole it may
be safely said that as a spice they are now the most
appreciated of any known to mankind, ‘This to
some extent is shown by the rapid extension of
cultivation in Ceylon—that island in 1883 exported
only 21,655 lb, while in 1902 it rose to 615,922 |b.
an this year it is expected to yield 759,000 Ib.
It is to be regretted that this ‘‘ giant republic”
so far this year has taken direct only 1,215 lb. By
the help of the better knowledge of the spice which
this great Exposition will afford its people, and the
fast rising commercial marine which the nation is
sending forth, it may safely be predicted that a
larger import of cardamoms and more reciprocity
of trade will soon spring up between it and *‘ little
Ceylon,” the Taprobane of the ancient Greeks and
‘* Pearl of India.” ;
TROUT-FISHING UP TO DATE,
Nowhere but in America would anyone have
been daring enough to attempt the packing of six
miles of excellent trout-fishing into 104 acres of
land. The Castalia Trous Ciub, of Cieveland,
Onio, according to V.C., have not merely at-
tempted this feat but have beea successful in their
attempt, Within the narrow limits at their
disposal they cut out of the solid limestone six
miles of winding channel, with cunning eddies and
seductive pools besprinkled along its course. The
clue possesses its own hatchery, and spawn 1s
obvained from sound parent-fish out of the stream
itself,— Westminster Budget, Oct 16, :
—_—_—_—o SO tea
TROUT FOR AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. -
The R.M.S. *' Ormuz” ‘brought: from Sydney
last week a consignment of young Rainbow trout
for some of our inland streams.
the voyage.
Duffield) has forwarded the trout to gentlemen
in different parts of the state with the object o!
eckine some of the rivers —Adelaide Observer,
ch. 24, ewan
Altogether 1,000 4
trout were shipped at Sydaey, but only 600survived —
The Inspector of Fisheries (Me'T
Dro, 1, 1903,] THE TROPICAL
KORALE THA ESTATE LIMITED,
REPORT OF THI DIRECTORS.
Submitted at the Seventh Annual Ordinary Ceneral
meeting of Shareholders, held at the Offices of the
Company, on Thursday, 22nd October, 1903, at 3 p.m.
* The Directors now submit the Report and Accounts
for the year ending 30th June, 1903, which hive been
daly audited. The net amount at Crelit of Profit and
Loss Account, after providing for General Expenses is
£1,463 13 10d; to which should be added the bilance
beought forward from 30th Jone, 1902 £113 123 6d—
Total £1,576 143 4d, Todispose of which it is pro-
osed to write off cost of improvements to Estates
£498 6s 7d; Directors’ Fees £150; and to carry for-
ward a balance of £928 83 9j—Total £1,576 14s dd,
Owing to excessive rainfall the crops on Riverside,
Glenloch, and Kuragastalawa fell short of estimates,
and the cost of working in consequence became
heavier, but the improvement in the price of tea which
has been maintained throughout the year has been to
some extent a compensation. Wewesse yicld has
increased, and as nearly all the tea planted since the
formation cf the Company is now yielding a return,
the Directors look forward to an increasing revenue
from this estate. Since the last Aunua Meeting che
Factory on Karagastalawa, containing at the time
several thousand pounds of tea, was destroyed by fire,
The Insurance affected fully covered all loss sustained,
and the Company is now in possession of a new
Factory equipped with up-to-date machinery and more
favourably situated than the old one. The Directors
do not recommend the payment of a dividend this year,
but think it advisable to strengthen the financiul
Peace of the Company by carrying forward the
alance of £928 839d after writing off £493 54 74, the
amount expended o1 improvements to the estate during
the current year. The Directors desire to record their
appreciation of the services of the Agents and Mana-
gers in Oeylon during the past year.—By Order of the
Board, H. C, Dow.tna, Secretary.
ACREAGE OF ESTATES.
Tea, Chena
Over 4Under4 and
years, years. Patna, Fuel. Forest. Total
8
Riverside 290 = 8 12 _ 390
Glenloch 1783 — 82 655 — 316
Karagastalawa 239 11 70 58 14 392
Wewesse 449 151 151 3 50 804
1,1563 - 162 391 128% 64 ~. 1,902
Expenditure on
Crop. Prodaction,
1901/1902 1902/1903 1902/1903
Exchange, 1/4 23-64,
Ib. lb. eerste
‘Riverside 143,416 115,870 2006 2 5
‘Glenloch 72,519 56,501 1,059 6 7
‘Karagastalawa 61,021 56,728 1,261 4 8
ewesae 112,330 144,973 3,110 12 11
di Cost of Average Net Return
“3 Production, Price in London, _ per
Licey 1902/1903 eee fees Acre,
re if d. : s d
serie 369 = 4-15 486 5:28 39g
xlenlach 4°53 4°49 n, mane 31
Karagastalawa5'23 5°33 } 26 a5 {516
ewesse 54.514 71 6°00 325
CENTRAL TEA COMPANY OF CEYLON,
oe LIMITED.
é6 REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
‘Snbmitted at the Highth Annual Ordinary General
Meeting of Shareholders held at 20, Eastcheap, H.C,,
on Monday, the 26th October, 1903.
~ The Directors beg to submit the General Balance
' Sheet and Profit and Loss Account for the year ending
30th Jane, 1903, duly audited,
j
|
AGRICULTURIST. 109
The net amount at Oredit of Profit and Loss
Account, inclading the balance brought forward at
30th June, 1902. and after providing for fene-
yal Expenses, Divectors’ Fees, Income Tax, &.,, ia
£2,725 19s 7d.
Deduct Preference Dividends
Income Tax) as follows :—
For the six months ending 3lst December, 1901 (raid
6th July, 1903) £614 133d, for thesix months ending
30th June, 1902 (paid 15th Sent., 1903) £644 19-34,
forthe six months ending 31st December, 1992 (paid
8th Oct., 1903) £644 1s 3d, for the six months ending
39th June, 1903 (paid 8th Oct., 1903) £614 1s 34,
Leaving to carry forward to next year a balance of
£149 143 7d,—Total £2,725 19s 7d.
During the past- year the Tea Market shewed con-
siderable improvement, and the Company’s: Tea sold
at nearly 1d per lb rise on the prices of the previous
season, The Directors are pleased to be able to
state that all arrears of dividend on the Preference
Shares haye been paid. The gross average price
realised for the Tea was 7.27d per lb as against 6.364
per lb last season, the rate of exchange being 1s 425.
64d ss against ls 4 2364d. The yieiad of Tea was
354 745 lb, being »n average of 391]b per acre, over a
plucking area of 908 acres. The Cardamom erop was
6.630 1b, gathered from 34 acres, and realised a gross
average of 12.76d per lb. Under QClanse No. 24 of the
Articles of Association, Mr H K-> Ratherford xetires
on this occasion from the Board, and being eligible,
offers himeelf for re-election. The Anditors, Messrs
Harper Brothers, Chartered Accountants, also retire
from office, and offer themselves for re-election,—By
order of the Board, Wu. JounstTon, Secretary.
since paid (less
THE SCOTTISH TRUST AND LOAN COM.
PANY OF CEYLON, LIMITED.
REPORT BY THE DIRECTORS,
of the Scottish Trust and Loan Company of Ceylon,
Limited, to the twenty-sixth Ordinary General Meeting
of Shareholders, held within the Company's Re-
gistered Office, No. 123, George Street, Edinburgh, on
Wednesday, the 28th day of October 1903, at 3.15 p.m.
The Directors present their twenty-sixth Report
being for the year to 3lst August 1903.
Crops and Prices.—The results of the past season
show an improvement on those of last year. The total
crop from the Company’s properties amounted to
738.144 lb. which is 86 1b. lessthan last season; but
While the average cost of production per lb. of made
tea has remained the came as last year, the average
price realised has improved from 639d. to 6’89d. per lb,
Factory Buildings and Machinery.—All these are in
a thorough state «f repair. An extension has been
made to the Sarnia Factory to provide additional
Withering space, andthe machinery in Alnwick and
Brookside Factories is b ing improved. The Cart Road
to the Annfield Factory has been completed, and the
last instalment on that account has been paid.
Accounts.—The balance at the credit of Profit and
Loss Account is, £5,047-13-4. And the Directors
propose to pay a Dividend at the rate of 74 per cent,
for the year, freeof Income Tax, of which 2} per cent,
was paid as an Interim Dividend at lst May 1903,
£3,375-0-0, leaving £1,672-13-4 to be carried forward to
next Account.
Mortgage held in Ceylon by the Company.—The only
remaining loan of the Company is now reduced to
£2,000.
Management.—The Directors have to record with
great regret the loss which the Company has sustained
by the death of Mr Bringloe, who had acted as Secre-
tary of the Company since 1889. In his place they
have appointed Mr J Maxtone Graham, C. A., who was
the late Mr Beagles Partner, and whois conversant
with the affairs of the Company,
410 THE | TROPICAL
e, The Divecters regret that Mr Herbert Anderson, who
latterly acted jin an advisory capacity at the London
Office, has resigned, His services have been of much
benefit to the Company.
Directorate—The Director retiring by rotation is Mr
James.Haldane, and he is eligible for re-election,
Auditors.—Messrs Moncreiff and Horsburgh, C.A.,
are eligible, and offer themselves for re-election.—By
order of the Board,
J.MAXTONE GRAHAM, Secretary.
Edinburgh, 20th Oct. 1903,
=
THE UKUWELA ESTATES CO., LTD,
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS,
Submitted to the Shareholders at the Fifth Annual
General Meeting, held at the Company's Office
at Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London?
E.C., on Tuesday, the 3rd day of November, 1903»
at 2 p.m. f
The Directors beg to submit herewith the accounts
of ‘the Company, and their Report for the year
‘ending 30th June, 1903, showing a balance at credit
of Trading account of £3,635 10s 1d. The balance
at credit of profit and loss, as per account over-
leaf, after payment of London charges, inclading
Tncome Tax, Depreciation of Machinery, Buildings, &c:,
the creation of a fund forthe redemptionof the De.
bentures, Debenture Interest for the year, and
Preference Dividend for six months to 3lst December,
1902, and Interim Dividend on the. ordinary shares
atthe rate of 10 per cent per. annum free of Income
Tax for a like period is £1,168 17s 9d which the
Directors propose to deal with as follows :—
Six months’ Dividend on the Six per cent Pre-
ference Shares to 30th June, 1903, £283 19s ; Balance
Dividend of Ten per cent free of Income Tax on
the ordinary:shares, making for year ended 30th
Juve, 1903, 15 per cent £755; Bonuses to Superin-
tendent and Secretary £40; Balance forwarded to
credit of new account £90 7s 9d. Total 1,168, 17s 9d.
G@ocoa'and other credits amount £653 13s 3d, as
compared with £441, 14s 10d for year ended 380th
June, 1902. The Trading account shows a working
expenditure £3,921 12s 5d, which includes the follow-
ing sums, viz.:—£279 18s 8d manuring 137 acres of
tea and £24 9s 6d oncapital account. The estimated
crop for year to 30th June, 19v4 is 305,000 lb. of
tea and 160 cwt of cocoa,
The undernoted table of figures will at a glance,
show the cost of production, prices realised, - ete,
osince the mception of the Company, and which your
Directors think will prove of interest and value to
the Shareholders.
Sig Vek
wed A 2 Gh Bala Ae 3
Fagieie oy 6: Sioa OB Atal: Be ohB
fed a 8 FAs iS Neate
Bee Som. 42 Aen gies aS 36 et ore
om 25 a) =F vn ra) 22 a= 3 Qe
S83 UB ome °6s0 @L a5 ed
a2 ad a Boots wie pesieeos Ohive
o? oS D 2 os cf o~ 6
mA a a Og G 2) iS)
1899 313. 290,239 927 287d 5:12d 74 63
1900 346. 273,510 790° 3°13d 502d 75: 85
1901 865° 305,336 836. 313d 429d 74 118
1902 379 308,683 814 279d 500d 74 162
1903 398 308-901 776 288d 5:43d Ts 194
a ee ea 3. Divi-
ca g a S) ee 5 a ® 3 BB dends
ao @ §CQ An 226 2 Paid,
io a POSES g o 9, "gC alien heer
a2 es S, " Dap a
ot @ (Qo. ans aM a 20
a7 o+D iS) amt iaife) 5
ee ee: a) FAR SS 2
GRBs Bold V6 SOurs PG ess Bow
poe be oO As < aH fy Oo
G..qg. 1b. (
AGRICULTURIST. (Dre, 1; 1903.
1899 0 2.25 .— + £% 7.0 »-—= + *£406.6% 5%
1900 1 017 £1198 3 6 0 1/423-64 2,373 6% Sk%
19011 21% 1°82! 3 04 1/4166491,519 — —
1902 2 621 1°06 °2 97 1/4 13-64. 3,009 6% 410% -
1908 2.225 1 09 2124 1/4 16-64 3,635 6% 115%
* For period from 4th May, 1899, to 30th June,
1899, only.
+ Free of Income Tax.
The present acreage of the estate is as follows :—
Tea in full bearing 398 acres, Young: Tea 6 aeres,
Cocoa in bearing 713 acres, Young Cocoa 24 aores,
Grass Land 7 acres, and Reserve Land available
for cultivation 76% acres. Total 5612 acres. aie
Mr H L Anley, Director, retires in accordance
with the Articles of Association, but being eligible,
offers himself for re-election. Messrs, Woodman,
Tulloch and Edds, the Auditors, retire but offer
themselves for re-election.—F. G. AmBRosE and J. P.
Bentugy AnLEy, Directors;T. W. PaLmer, Secy.
London,
THE KINIYRE TEA ESTATES COMPANY.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The Directors have the pleasure to present the
accounts for the twelve months ending June 30th, 1903.
The. estimated tea, crop for the season was 518,000
lb, but the quantity harvested was only 423,540 1b
as compared with 521,317 lb secured last year. This
heavy shortage was shared by all the Company’s
estates, as was the case in different degrees by, other
properties whose season covered’ the same period,
and may be attributed to unfavonrable weather. The -
short crop has caused an increase, in the) cost of
production, which works out at approximately 284
cents. The price realised for the tea shows an im-
provement, being about 1d a lb better than last year,
but this improved rate has not been sufficient to
counter-balance the shortage of crop. —
the net profit amounts to £2,792 63 9d, and, after
paying directors’ fees, etc., income tax, and commission
to superintendents, there remains a balance at profit
and loss account of £2,133 Is 5d, to which has to be
added £106 7s 1d brought forward from last year.
The board have paid, half-yearly as usual, the divi-
dends on the preference shares, amounting to £1,000.
They have written off for depreciation £250, and
they now recommend the payment of a dividend
of 2. per cent on the ordinary shares, absorbing £900,
and that £89 8s 6d be carried forward to next year,
The coast advances have. been added to during the
year to the extent of £84 18s 3d, and, the outstandings —
are certified by the respective superintendents as good
and recoverable. ae OF] Pais
The average yield of tea in full bearing was 489 Ib
er acre; the gross average price realised in London ~
was. 7°41d per.lb, and the average exchange 1s 4 29-64d —
per rupee.
to a crop of 495,000 lb, to cost 27:44 cents, per Ib,
Mr GA Talbot, a Director, retires on this occasion, —
“and, being eligible, offers himself for re-eléction.
Messrs Leake & Co,, the Auditors, offer themselves —
for re-election. < : 4
ACREAGE STATEMENT, Jie
Kintyre. Eltofts. Ayr. otal.
Aeres. Acres, Acres, Acres
Tea infull bearing .. 258 250 368 876
Forest well = ' 80) °° 883 684
Rubber Clearings cooo= = 85 + 35
Patana Scrub, Waste nehiocdstar! Goto eoiee
and Ravines © 080551 030% 10 rise oat 7
Total Estate». 288." 290: «1104p
7 Bettiodg ginb | (oh a0
ere
The estimates for the current season poing
Dre. 1, 1903.) THE TROPICAL
THE ASSOCIATED TEA ESTATES OF
CEYLON, LTD,
REPORT OF DIRECTORS AND ACCOUNTS ‘0
30TH JUNE, 1903.
Submitted at the Highth Annual General Meeting
of Shareholders, held at; Cinnon Street Hotel on
Wednesday, 28th October, at 12 o’clock noon.
The Directors beg to submit herewith the Accyunts
of the Company for the year ending 30th June 1903
showing a gross profit of £4,554 17s 9d, compared
with £3,629 11s 1d Jast yeer, in which Manuring
expenditure is not included. From this, a sum of
£380 13s 9d is written off against Buildings and
Machinery and Immature Caltivation, being one-
quarter of the amount outstanding. Against the
Manuring Acconnt the Directors have decided to set
£2,265 7s 11d, being the whole balance carried over
from last year, leaving a sum of £1,559 0s ldspent
during the year under review to be carried forward.
After allowing for sundry charges, interest on loans,
ete., there remains a credit balance of £607 9s 6d,
which after deducting the debit balance of #176 11s 2d
brought forward from last yenr’s Account, leaves a
credit balance of £430 18s 4d, which the Directors
propose to carry forward. The yield of Tea for the
year was as follows:—
1902-3, 1901-2.
lb. Ib.
Silverkandy 126,258 121,217
Chesterford 367.855 372,550
Horagoda «» 10,885 33,504
Doragalla «. 235,245 270,597
Totol .. 740,248 797,868
Excluding Horagoda, this shows a decrease of 35,006 lb
on the total yield of the previous year, and falls below
Superintendents’ estimates by 65,642 lb. The cost of
production per lb, f0 b Colombo, was as follows :—
1902-3, 1901-2.
So ns Bo 0
eee
Cy s
wd Boe es) ERS
HS El on baie) a gf ‘438
| > Vala eye ies
=} o YT. OD
GES 285 =. 882 992 3
Bee OO asin Clac s
BS Sug ra (ASO) cep ey
ww FS CHL “Fs oa s
°o4O 5 oA s 3 B
os as a oo? £52
Sa 88s mas 8
2 eae aa
St Best St 5a
wa ua Ko ua
Beco Oy (Nay (c2|tah felt cts.
Silverkandy ... 29°74 4°30 84:04 32°13 3°10 85:23
Chesterford ., 26°05 4:36 3041 24:27 2:39 26°66
Horagoda e- 268L 511 31:92 27:67 083 148-50
Doragalla ... 29°25 7:50 36°75 24:53 395 28°48
The average prices reduced to the London equi-
valents for purposes of comparison were :—
1902-3. 1901-2,
| : Gross ets. Gross. cts.
_ Silverkandy .. 882d or 47:64 8'18d or 43:94
Chesterford -» 621d or 84:26 573d or 29:19
Horagoda - 638d or 33°19 548d or 2766
| Doragalla +» 665d or 34:90 624d or 32:21
The total tea sold tor the year realised a gross
average of 679d per lb, and cost, sold in ;London,
531d, exclusive of manuring. The exchange for the
year averaged 1s 4 25.64d. The yield per acre was
| 419 1b over the fieldsin full bearing, The estimate
|} for the season 1903-4 is 805,000 lb against a crop of
| 729.358 lb for 1902-3. Sir Alexander Wilson, the
Director retircing by rotation, is eligible for re-
election, Mr J M Henderson, the Anditor to the Com-
| pany, retires, and offers himself for re-election. By
| Order of the Board,
Rowse WuHitE & Co., Secretaries,
| 4, Lloyds’ Avenue, Fenchurch Street, London, 4.C
ste Ootober, 1903,
at
AGRICULTURIST. 411
CENTRAL PROVINCE CEYLON TEA CO:
The Directors beg to submit to the shareholders the
audited accounts for the year ending 30th June 1903,
The total crop of tea from the estates for the past
season was 757,196 lb, against 803,315 lb of the pro-
ceeding year, being a decrease of 46,119Jb. About fifty
acres of tea were pruned down and allowed to grow up
without being cropped. It is being topped and will not
be plucked till January, which will give it about a year’s
rest. The result is said to be satisfactory, The total
sales, including bought tea, were 961,152 lb, averaging
5°76d per lb net, being 4°81d more than last year. Ag
regards cocoa, the crop amounted to 874 cwt; against
584 owt last year, the average price being 463 ld per
cwt, as against 493 5d. There were during the season
21 acres of tea not yet in full bearing. The rate of
exchange averaged 1s 4'24d per rupee, being a little
higher than last year, The net profit for the year
amount to £4,246 133 3d, after writing off £472 83 10d
from estates account for depreciation, which, with
£1,720 43 2d brought forward from last year, shows
a sum of £5,966 17s 5d to be dealt with. Of this
amount £1,500 has been applied to the payment of an
interim dividend at the rate of 6 per cent per annum
on the preference shares to 31st December, 1902. The
Directors now recommend a dividend at the rate of 6
per cent per annum on the preference shares to 30th
June, 1903, and a dividend of 2 per cent on the
ordinary shares, together absorbing £2,500, leaving
£1,966 173 5d tobe carried forward to next account,
Some ten acres of tea are being put out of cultivation
a3 being unremunerative. Mr H P Powell is the
Director retiring by rotation, and, being eligible, offers
himself for re-election,
London, October 22nd, 1903,
CAROLINA TEA COMPANY.
The Directcrs beg to submit the balance-shee
and profit and loss account for the {1lth] year
ending 30th June, 1903 :—
The nett profit, less interest paid on debentures,
£2,450, is £3,62417s 1d; The Directors have written
off the expenditure on additions to buildings and
machinery during the year £623 123 10d; and have
placed to the credit of extensions and depreciation
account. £1,200 03 Od == £1,823 12s 10d; Leaving
£1,801 4s 3d; Amount brought forward from last year
at credit of the ordinary shares £813 153 2d ; Making
a sum available for distribution of £2,614 193
5d, which it is proposed to appropriate as follows:—
To a dividend or the ordinary shares of 4 jper cent
(of which 2 per cent was paid on the 24th April, 1903)
£2,0000s 04; And to carry forward to the credit of
the ordinary shares the balance of £614 19s 5a.
The title ef the account which in previous years has
stood in the balance sheet as ‘* Reserve Fund” hag
been altered by the Directors to ‘‘ Extensions and
Depreciation account,” the sums added to this account
year by year having been invested in extending and
improving the properties.
‘The season, though suitable for cocoa, was unfavour-
able for yield of tea, and the crop secured is below
previous years, as shown in the following table :—
Tea from Tea from Cocoa from
Estates. Purchased Leaf. Estates.
lb. lb. owt,
1902-1903 .. 916,726 38,175 560
1901-1902 .. 957,954 47,827 574
1900-1901 .. 953,399 29,575 466
1899-1900 =... 1,131,383 43,195 414
1898-1899 .. 961,757 32,862 555
The cost of the tea crop was 4°73d. perlb free on
board Colombo, asagainst 4°39d. and 4:78d. for the
two previous seasons: the increased cost per lb was
due to the short crop, and the larger expenditure on
manuring. The average gross sale price of tea has
advanced to 7°24d per lb. from 699d in the preceding
season, and 6°34d in 1900-1901, the improved condition
419 THE TROPICAL
of the tea market and the successful manufacture cf
green tea for America contributing to this result. The
total area of land now under cultivation is 2,619 acres,
comprising :—Tea in full bearing 2,224 acres. Tea in
partial bearing 207 acres. Cocoa, coffee &c. 188 acres
equal to 2,619 acres. :
Out of the year’s profits the Directors have placed
the usual sum of £1,200 to extensions and depreciation
account, bringing the amount at the credit of that
account up to £12,000, and they have also paid the
sum of £623 12s 10d. being the capital account
expenditure during the season on buildings and
machinery. The estates are reported upon as being
in good condition. As foreshadowed in our last
report, a large sum has had to be expended on
manuring and the Directors have decided to revert
to fully as liberal a cultivation of the estates as was
done in past years.
Your Directors are fully satisfied with the work of
the staff inthe Company’s employ, and of the Agents
in London and in Colombo. Your Directors have
accepted with extreme regret the retirement of Mr
Cameron from the Board after much active and useful
work in the interest of the Company since its
formation. The Directors retiring by rotation are Mr
Hivelyn Heseltine ond Mr Wharram Megginson, who,
being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
London, October 8th 1903.
MATURATA TEA COMPANY.
The Directors herewith beg to submit their sixth
annual report and balance sheet for the year ending
30th June, 1903. :
After bringing forward the unappropriated balance
of £2,834 13s 8dfrom last year’s account, and after
payment of debenture interest and London charges
(Directors’ fees, &c,), the net amount at credit of profit
and loss account is £4,312 3s 10d.
An interim dividend of 3 per cent. has been paid on
the preference shares forthe half-year, amounting to
£120 0 0. And the final 3 per cent. was paid on
the preference shares on 30th June, making 6 per
cent. for the year, amounting to £120 0 0. An
interim dividend of 4 per cent. was paid on the ordi-
nary sharesin May last, absorbing £320 0 0. It is
proposed to pay a further dividend of 8 per cent, less
income tax, onthe ordinary share capital, making 12
per cent. for the year, and which will absorb £640 0 0.
Thus leaving to be carried forward to next yeara
balance of £3,112 3 10. Total £4,312 3 10.
The crop during the past year shows a decrease of
15,546 lb. compared with that of 1902. The average
price is 830d as against 8:17d for the previous year.
The falling-off in crop is owing to unfavourable
weather in Ceylon, and almost all estates have suffered
loss of crop from this cause.
Itisa matter of congratulation that the average
selling price of our tea shows anadvance, as the
general average of high-grown teasuch as ours marks a
distinct decline in this respect during the past season.
A further £500 of the debenture debt has, during the:
past year, been paid off, reducing the amount to
£5,500. In all, since the formation of the Company,
£2,500 of the debenture debt has been redeemed.
Mr George Alderson-Smith retires in a accordance
with the Articles of Association, and, being eligible,
offers himself for re-election as a Director,
THE GOOMERA (CEYLON) TEA ESTATES
COMPANY.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
The Directors beg to submit herewith their ninth
annual report and balance sheet for the year ending
30th June, 1903.
The accounts after paying debenture interest and
London expenses, show a profit of £188 3s 8d which
deducted from the debit balance of £1,771 5s 4d
_ Is 8d to be carried forward.
‘THE HORNSEY TEA ESTATES COMPANY,
AGRICULTURIST. (Dee. 1, 1903.
brought forward from last year, leaves a loss of £1,583
The total crop from the Company’s estates amoun-
ted to 241,858lb realising a net average of 5°83d per Ib
against 242,488lb harvested from the Company’s
peice the previous year, which realised a net average
of 6d.
The past season has not been a favourable one for
yield on most estates, and in consequence the
Goomera crop has proved very disappointing whilst
the tea has not shown the good flavour which
characterised it in the previous season, although the
plucking and manufacture were done with equal care,
Liberal cultivation has been consistently carried on
throughout the year.
The Manager of the Goomera estate had six months’
leave of absence to come to England on account of his
health, during the year.
The estimate for the new season is 170,000lb from
Goomera, and 95,000lb from Hunugalla, against a
crop of 132,661 1b from Goomera, and 84,039ib from
Hunugalla last year (exclusive of bought leaf).
Mr T C Owen retires in accordance with the
Articles of Association, and being eligible, offers
himself for re-election. ‘
LIMITED,
SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 1902—1903.
The Directors beg to submit to the Shareholders the
Report and Audited Accounts for the year closing 30th
June, 1903. The crop of tea has weighed out 163,530Ib.,
against last year’s of 168,749 Ib., or a decrease of 5,219
Ib., of made tea. The cost of production has been
27°44 cents, against last year 26°62 cents, or in sterl-
ing 44d. perlb. in Colombo, against 43d. per lb. last
year. The average selling price for the crop has been
42°35 cents, equivalent to a London price of 72d. per
Ib. gross, against 40 cents last year, or 73d. per lb.
groas. ‘I'he weather has been very adverse during the
past season all over Ceylon, but a higher price has
rather more than compensated for the smaller outturn,
and the profit Shows an increase of £158 193 2d. over
the corresponding period. The Directors are glad to
say that the tea keeps its excellent quality, andto
report that the Garden is in goodorder. The new
Factory is doing excellent work and has materially
reduced the cost of production. ;
The Audited Accounts show that, after paying Fixed
Charges and Prefreence Dividend for the twelve
months, there is sufficient to pay off the amount of
£136 16s 9G. outstanding at Preliminary Expenses —
Account, and to carry forward the smali Balance of _
£14 183 3d. to credit of next year. nto : - 3
The Directors desire to express their thanks to
Mr. W S T Saunders and to Messrs. EF Benham &
Co., the Colombo Agents, for the attention given to
the Company’s business during the year. In accor-
dance with Articles of Association Mr Walter S —
Sichel retires from the Board, and, being eligible, —
offers himself for re-election. The Auditors, Messrs, —
prnpleton, Fabian & Co., offer themselves for re-elec- 3
ion. :
Directors.—Cnartes A. Reiss’ anpD WaLteR S
SicHEL.—Secretary.—Anpin B, Toxins. a
THE LANSA PLANTATIONS COMPANY, LD.
Report presented at the twenty-third ordinary
Annual General Meeting of the Lanka Plantations —
Company, Limited, held at the office of the Company, —
on Wednesday, the 11th November, 1908; at twelve
o’clock noon precisely. aa
The Directors now submit their Report for t
twelve months ending 30th June last together with —
the balance sheet and accounts of the Company made
up to that date and duly audited. iG
18
Be
————<$
Due. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL
Twenty-three cwts, of Coffee were paren from the
Suckers referred to in Paragraph 2 of the last Report.
This is the last of the Coffee which has now been en-
tirely superseded by Tea. On Yattewatte the total
crop of Cocoa amounted to 998 cwts and realised
£2,547 58 7d, against 938 cwts last year, which realised
£2,417 1337d. The disease is reported to have been
less virulent, and at present prospects appear more
favourable. Of Cardamoms 479 |b were gathered
realising £10 88 6d. The growth of Para and Castillon
Rubber Trees on this estate is very promising, and the
planting is being extended. The Coconuts are «lso
growing well.
The total yield of Tea was 943,851 lb, plucked from
2,194 acres, being at the rate of 4301b per acre, and
realised £27,111 10s 6d the average being 6°90d per lb
net, Considering the generally unfavourable season
this must be considered satisfactory. Last year the
crop amounted to 934,650lb at an average price of
6°46d per Ibnet. On Thotulagalla the new factory has
been completed and fully equipped with machinery ;
the saving thereby effected is at present equal to fully
10 per cent on the Oapital cost, and when the Tea is
all in full bearing the saving will be much increased.
The cost has been charged to Suspense Account as well
as that ot an Oil Engine for Ampittiakande factory.
The average rate at which drafts were negotiated on
account of the season’s crops was 1/4 12-32 per Rupee
against 1/4 11-32 last year. The following statement
shows the approximate acreage and state of cultivation
of the Company’s Hatates on the 30th June last, as per
recent surveys.
al
7:
& &
Bs2's
qa
Eetate iH ae ¢
a nD Mm eo
¢ 3 8 # fo 53 5
eH 0 @ 608 HH
Ampittiakande 201. Sol Spa ci Seo tO eh)
Arnhall Ue 66° UO 460 PED eop 42Y
ata Hill PPD) 66. od oo 18s) Mon! SBI
ordyce, Garbawn Bye
Gonagalla & Paramatta } ELSE, sO a 135, 938
Rappahannock BYP on oo) ell §e00) (GO 62h
Rillamule GH 56 co) 06 BHB ee. 0)
Thotalagalla BOAMMecii eee OOM 556
Yattawatte oe “VoL ).. 95) 312) 821,240
*IJnterspered with Rub-
ber & Coconuts 2,391 751 16 135 992 513 4,798
The net profits for the past years amounted to
£5,359 63 7d, to which must be added the sum of
£377 163 9d, the balance brought forward from the
year 1901-2 making together £5,737 334d. Having
already piid a half-yearly interim dividend on the
Six per cent. Preference shares to the 3lst December,
1902, amounting (less income tax) to £413 83 9d, the
Directors recommend payment of the dividend on
these shares to 30th June last, requiring (less income
fax) £420 15s 9d, and having deducted £955 123 7d,
being one-tenth of the sums charged to Suspense
Account during the ten years ending 30th June, 1902,
they further recommend a dividend of 4s per Share
(free of Income Tax) being 2 per cent on the Ordinary
Shares,’ amounting to £3,000, carrying forward the
balance of £947 6s 3d to next account. Mr George
Allen, the Director, retiring on this occasion, being
eligible, offers himself for re-election. Messrs, Whin-
ney, Smith & Whinney who were appointed Anditors
in the place of Mr John Smith retired offer them-
selves for re-clection,—By Order of the Board,
CO. M. Roserrson, Secretary.
12, Feuchurch Street, London, E.0, 30th Oct,
AGRICULTURIST, 413
NOTES FROM OUR LONDON LETTER,
LONDON; Oct. 23.
Whyte today. He
tells me he has retired from _ the
Government service on pension, When he
lefL Uganda he was the oldest Civil Servant
in that territory, but his health is very
good, and, after ashort spell of rest in Scot-
land, he has undertaken fresh work in the
Tropics. Lhis time he is bound for Liberia
for which he sails from Southampton on
the 13th proximo. His services have been
secured by a Syndicate who having bought
a large concession in the State of Liberia,
intend to develope the
RUBBER TRADE,
The rubber chiefly grown in Liberia is the
climbing sort, of which, I believe, there are
three different Varieties. At present the
natives have hardly awakened to the value
of these creepers growing so luxuriantly round
their villages, and where the rubber is utilised
at all, it is simply collected in bulk, good,
bad and indifferent, and brought to market.
The object of the Syndicate is to alter all
that and teach the people which plant is the
best to cultivate and extract the rubber
from, and in general to develope the industry
as much as_ possible. My Whyte goes out
to make a report on the land, and advise
as to the variety of rubber which will be
most profitable to grow, and, as a large part
of the district round Liberia has been little
explored,and is practically an unknown land, so
far as the resources are concerned, he is likely
to have a good lot of travelling up and
down thecountry todo. But he seems very
fit and well, and is evidently looking for-
ward with pleasure to his new work. The
Syndicate have made him a very good
offer, I understand, so that between that and
his pension he may be considered a pros-
perous man. I suppose Mr. Whyte has been
well-nigh forty years in one tropical climate
or another, and I must say heis a capital
example of the work a man is capable of
under such circumstances. He has left Uganda
with the cacao plants he introduced now in
full bearing, with seed sufficient to be dis-
tributed over the entire district; the tea, he
planted, is doing well: coffee, cardamoms and
various varieties of spices have also been
introduced, and in fact he appears to have
found a wilderness and left a fruitful field.
His view on the best situation for the capital
of Uganda differs, I find, from the report of the
Medical Commission sent out to Elbedde ta
investigate into that question. ‘The Commis-
sion found that the sleeping sickness was
caused by infection carried by a fly of the
tsetse species, and that it seemed to be too
frequently met with in the present capital
tor Hlbedde to be recommended as the official
residence. They, therefore, suggest a place
about a hundred miles further inland, as
being healthier, and a more desirable place
for Europeans to live in. Mr. Whyte
does not agree with this at all. He
says he lived a good deal in Elbedde,
and never saw any reason to fear sleeping
sickness there more thanin other places. If
he was ever bitten by the tsetse, as he expecty
I met Mr. Alex.
=
———.—-
414 THE TROPICAL
he was, often enough, no ill consequences
followed, and—given proper care,—he says
people can live in as good health there, as
anywhere else in Uganda. He is of opinion,
on the other hand, that the removal of the
centre of operations away from the railway
line will bea retrograde step, and a serious
injury to the development of the country.
Mr Whyte sent all sorts of kind messages to
his old friends in Ceylon, and to the Observer.
He had come across Mr. G Greig and Mrs
Greig at Braemar, where he stayed for some
time with hissister, Mrs. Miller. So far as he
knows at present, he will be absent in
Liberia till June of next year. I heard also
recently of another old Ceylon Colonist,
MR. R. B, ARTHUR, ;
who, for some time, has been working as an
artist in London. He was, however,
when I heard of him, talking of giving up
his Studio, times not being fayourable to
pai nters at present. B. P.
SS
NEW MAKE OF COCONUT BUTTER
Mr. H. K. Rutherford’s Company, I under-
stand, expect shortly to put a new make of
coconut butter on the market. I saw a
sample at the offices in Hastcheap today —
which struck me as being a superior article
to the ordinary varieties of the commodity.
It was beautifully white, firm and clear, and
quite free of the rancid odour which is pre-
sent occasionally in coconut butter. For
cooking purposes, I should suppose it would
do equally as well as lard, and should com-
mend itself to vegetarians who object to fat
in that form. The Jews. I believe, are good
customers in vegetable fats.—London Cor.
en
A RECORD IN COPRA OUTPUT.
AT HUNUPITIYA MILLS,
We are interested to learn that Mr. CMB
Wilkins did a record year’s desiccating at the
Hunupitiya Mills, Negombo, for the year
ending 30th September in turning out over
1,250,000 1b. which is considered very good
for the number of machines used. Wiih the
extra machinery just putin, he is now able
to give an output of over 2,000,000 lb. per
annum and with the introduction of new
and up to date oil presses he hopes to get
the oil department started shortly and has
every hope of being able to cheapen his
desiccating by making the oil-mill engine
serve the desiccating factory as well on oil-
making days.
——————
PREPARATION OF RUBBER IN LAGOS.
A meeting of the committee of the African
trade section of the Liverpool Chamber of
Commerce was held recently in the board-
yoom of the chamber, Sir Alfred Jones,K C MG,
Chairman of the section, presiding, A letter was
received from the Lagos Stores., Ltd, suggesting
that the Lagos natives should be shown that
it was more profitable for them to bring their
rubber to market in a more finished condition
than was the case al present, and that they be
taught how thiscan be done, as in the neighi-
pouring French Colonies, Ib was resolved to
AGRICULTURIST. (Dec. 1, 1903.
offer prizes value £7 for the best exhibits of
prepared rubber at the Lagos Show, and this offer
was cabled out to the Governor, Sir William Mace-
gregor. In a subsequent commiunication the
suggestions made in the letter from the Lagos
Stores, Ltd, were transmitted to Sir William
acgregor.—Journal of Commerce.
SILK COTTON.
According to the Journal d Agriculture Tropicale, of
Paris, ten years ago there were only five plantations in
Java, wherezs at the present day there are fifty culti-
vating the kapokor silk-cotton tree as a secondary
product, and some even as the principal one. Thesalea
in Holland in 1901 were 35,615 bales, and at the end of
this year there was a stock in hand of 9,000. The
annual production in Cambodia is estimated at 60,000
kilogrammes, entirely consumed by the netive popula-
tion for stuffing sofas and beds. Production is less in
Cochin China, it might be augmented, as the tree is
remarkably vigorous.—L. Gazette.
a
NEW PEARL SUPPLY.
ACHIEVEMENT BY A FRENCHMAN.
Paris, Tuesday, Oct, 20.—An exceedingly intere
esting communication was madeto the Académie
des Sciences yesterday, when M. Raphael Dubois,
a professor attached to the University of Lyons,
informed that learned body that he had found a
means of acclimatising the pearl oyster and
reproducing pearls on the coast of France. Before
the assembled scientists M Dubois exhibited
several living specimens of the genuine pearl
oyster cultivated in the Mediterranean. The
pearls shown by the professor were of the species
known as Margaritisera Vulgaris (Jameson), which
is found in Ceylon waters, in the Persian Gulf,
and elsewhere. lt is also fourd on the coast of
Tunis ; but, while the proportion of pearls found
there is only one in from 1,200 to 1,500 oysters, M.
Dubois has succeeded in obtaining the remarkable
result of one inten. ‘Lhe professor’s pearls are of
a very small variety, but he is hopeful that in time
he will be able to obtain specimens of a larger
size. The importance of this discovery at the
present moment, when pearls are so much in
vogue, can hardly be over-estimated. One of the
pearls stolen from the Marquis of Anglesey lately
was valued at over £10,000; and it was remarked
that during her recent visit to Paris the Queen of
Italy showed a marked preference for pearls. It
is, of course, possible to manufacture artificial
pearls, but these soon lose their lustre, whereas
_ the pearls shown by Professor Dubois are genuine
and of fine quality,—Maid paper.
OD
PLANTING NOTES.
THE PEARL FisHERY [TeEMsS—quoted else- —
where— possess a retrospective interest. The —
Supplementary Estimates contain a vote for ~
R3,4382'97 for expenses over Mr. Dixon’s oyster:
washing experiment. : ;
THE MALAY STATES CorrFEE CoMPANY—see
the report elsewhere—shows improving pros-
pects, the crop obtaining 25 per cent more ~
revenue than was expected. There is there- —
fore a substantial ‘ carry forward’ of R2,958:37,
while the estimate in quantity of crop is —
7 per cent ahead of last year. opal
Duc. 1, 1903,] THE TROPICAL
DECLINE IN JAPANESE TEA CUL-
TIVATION.
According to M Bure, Consul-General of Belgium,
the tea trade of Japan is passing through a very
seyere crisis. In fact, Japanese tea is hardly exported
anywhere, except to the United States and Canada,
where it is threatened by Ceylon competition, There
are no large tea plantations in Japan. Agents buy
the tea from the small planters and sell the lot to
exporters, nsually Foreigners, at the free ports.
According to statistics, the number of families of
growers in 1895 was 737,000, and the cultivated area
of 50,500 chos (the chois equivalent to 2:45 acres),
and a production of 8,698,000 kwan (8:21b). At the
present day the number of families is only 586,000,
the cultivated area 49,200 chos, and production
7,643,000 kwan. Annual exports do not exceed 22,000
metric tons, valued at about £920,000, in which total
17,000 tons go to the United States, and over 4,000
to Canada and British America. Yet Japanese tea
is good.—Commercial Intelligence.
eee eed
MR. HORNELU’S PEARL FISHERY
COLLECTION.
EXHIBITION AT THE COLOMBO MUSEUM.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee held
in connection with the St, Louis Exhibition last
week, it was decided that Mr. Hornell’s marine
collection should be exhibited at the Colombo
Museum for a few days. The collection of exhi-
bits will leave Colombo for the Exhibition prob-
ably on the 26th instant, and till then the
public will have the opportunity of seeing some
very interesting specimens of pearl-fishery, free
of charge. The specimens, which are very com-
plete, show the whole life history of the pearl
oyster. They have been on view since yesterday and
large numbers have already availed themselves
of the opportunity. The specimens shew the
oyster in its different stages of develop-
ment up to the fully-formed oyster. Very
interesting are the specimens of the ‘‘ blister”
and ‘‘eyst” pearls. The ‘‘ blister” pearl is found in
* the shell of the oyster, while the ‘‘ cyst” pearl
is found in the body of the oyster. ‘Then there
were the valves showing the different formation
of pearls and blisters ; and oysters, in glass bottles,
showing the pearls in a fully-developed state.
The “ trigger” fish was also on view in a large
glass jar filled with water, and it may be of interest
to note that this fish harbours one stage of the
pearl-inducing parasite, There is a larye collection
of different kinds of coral, while a varied collection
of rocks found at the pearl banks is also exhibited,
Another large collection of marine shelis found
at the pearl banks, forms a very interesting part of
the exhibits, Some of them are really very
beautiful, and are well worth a place in a arawing
room, Then there are also on view ihe different
appliances required for a pearl fishery. These
help one exactly to form an idea and realise the
different processes gone through ata Pearl Fishery,
There are the pearl divers’ baskets, a large collec-
tious of nets,—one acirenlar net which is seven
yards in circumference. This net is taken over the
arm and dexterously thrown so that the net spreads
and the weighted circumference sinks to the
ground. Then by means of a rope attached to the
centre, the oet is drawn up and the weights drag
, along the ground till they collect. There is also
& fine collection of fishing exhibits, also to be sent
| tothe St. Louis Exhibition, These comprise mo-
_ dels of fishing nets from Chilaw, fishing rods,
AGRICULTURIST. 415
the different boats used for fishing, paddy
field fish traps, vsed also in rivers and lakes, and
various other fishing appliances. The collec-
tionis a very large and complete one. There
are some large pieces of bath sponges secured
from Trincomalee. These are native cured, but
resemble very closely the sponges whica come
out from abroad end are for sale at our shops.
A fine specimen of a star-fisb found in the pearl
banks is also on view.
MR. HORNELL’S PHOTOGRAPHS,
There is also on view a large number of photo-
graphs showing the oyster in its different stages
and the position in which the pearls are found.
Other photos include scenes in connection with the
last pearl fishery. They are all photographs
taken by Mr. Hornell at the spot and
afterwards enlarged. There is first the natural
appearance of the Ceylon pearl oyster, then the
pearl oyster shewing an area of shell repair,
which is denoted by alighter colour, at the right of
the picture. The Anatomy of the Ceylon pearl
oyster is interesting, The dissection of a pearl
oyster, furnishing an excellent example of a cyst
pearl in position in the ventral region and the
mantle, and the dissection of a pearl oyster
shewing a cyst pearl in position in the dorsal
region, give to the visitor a good insight into the
formation of the pearl in the oyster, A good
picture is that of the low water in ‘Trincomalee
Harbour with rocks covered with edible oysters
between tide marks and the living mushroom
corals often found associated with pearl oysters,
Other photos show the valuation, the sorting, the
searching by Tamils for blister pearls in shell
refuse, and other mementoes of the fishery.
THE TEA TRADE AND MR. CHAMBERe-
LALN’S PROPOSALS. ;
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT, )
Mr Chamberlain’s proposal to reduce the duty
on tea from 6d to 14d per Ib is of considerable
importance to the proprietors of tea estates in
India and Ceylon, ‘The question which is occupy-
ing the attention of planters at the present moment
is this. How will this affect us?
It has often keen argued that to abolish the duty
on tea would not be an advantage to India and
Ceylon, asit would encourage the importation of
China tea which is of inferior quality, but of which
there is supposed to be a vast quantity sufficient to
glut the London tea market. ‘Chis China tea is of
too low a quality to induce merchants to import it
with a duty of 6d alb to be paid. Will China tea,
therefore, be largely imported if the duty be
reduced to 1}d per lo? We believe that Indian
and Ceylon tea proprietors and planters need not
be alarmed on this ground,
There is such a vast difference in the care used
in cultivation, the plucking of the leat, the wither-
ing, the rolling by the best machinery, the ferment
ing, the firing, the sifting into different grades of
orange pekoe, broken pekoe, pekoe, souchong, &c.
—in fact, in the whole process in Ceylon—as_ com-
pared with the antiquated hand-made China
methods, that, apart from the natural qualities of
the leaf itself, Ceylon must of necessity produce a
much better tea, Only those who have lived ona
Ceylon tea estate can possibly realise the exceed-
ing care which is enforced. As a body the tea-
planters are a hardy, resourceful, intelligent
courageous body of men—all English, Scotch, or
Irish—and proud of the fact that there is no adul-
416
teration or trade trickery of any description what-
soever in their business. It may be asked who
will really get the benefit of the 44d reduction
in duty. As the British public has had to pay
the duty of 6d a Jb, sq will it get the benefit of
the reduction, but the tea industry will also as-
suredly benefit through an increased demand for
tea caused by its cheaper price. The present aver-
age price of all the Ceylon teas is abont 74d, to
which must be added 6d. a ib duty, thus bringing
the cost to ls 14d per Ib, If, in accordance with
Mr Chamberlain’s proposal, the cost be reduced
to 9d per lb, surely this will cause a fairly large
increase in the consumption of tea,
a lb for the retail dealer, it should then be possi-
ble for the public to purchase really good Jndian
and Ceylon tea for Is alb. The tea industry for
the past few years has been in a most unsatistac-
tory condition, and the heavy duty of 6d, which
is equal to an ad valorem duty of 80 per cent, has
been a severe handicap in checking consumption.
Well may planters say, as they have so often
said ‘‘ Here are we an English colony ia which
we have spent millions of money in opening tea
estates andin machinery for our factories, every
penny of it British capital, our industry not get-
ting 5 per cent interest, and still the old Mother
country imposes a duty of 80 per cent. ad valorem
on our tea. Why so much talk of free trade when
there has never been free trade for us? Free trade
is for the benefit of the Foreigner, not for loyal
colonists.” ‘The tea-planter’s life of today is very
different tothe palmy coffee days of 25 years ago.
The life of a planter in those days was a perfect
paradise compared with tea planting of today, when
the utmost and unceasing care is required and
the cost of working expenses has to be reduced to
the finest point of economy.
~ Tea is grown in Ceylon at sea level, and at
every elevation ranging up to 6,500 ft.; the higher
the elevation the more delicate is the flavour of
the leaf. Lucky are estate proprietors who have
properties at 5,000ft. elevation and upwards, be-
cause jungle land cannot now be purchased from
the Government at above that elevation. Twenty
years ago the Ceylon Government was warned that
if the mountain tops were denuded of jungle growth
it might seriously affect and cause a decrease of
the rainfall of the island, and in consequence of
this warning an Act was passed by the Ceylon
Legislative Council to stop the sale of all Crown
jungle land abt elevations of 5,000ft. and upwards,
It was a wise act undoubtedly.
There are no crop seasons in Ceylon as regards
tea, asthe trees go on ‘‘flushing” all the year
round, This, nodoubt, is in consequence of its
being an island haviag a hot, moist atmosphere. .~
Almost any climate may be had, from the hot,
moist heat of Colomboto the cold, frosty air of
Nuwara Eliya, whica is 6,200ft. above the sea
level. For beauty of scenery and richness of
vegetation Ceylon stands unrivalled and financially
it is thoroughly sound, This latter fact is in
some measure due to its highly paying State
railway, for which its rulers claim credit ; but it ig
perhaps doubtful statesmanship to run a railway
at high rates which give large immediate profits,
but which hamper commercial industries and
conduce to careless and expensive management,
Tea is of such absolute necessity to the work-
people of this country that Mr Chamberlain could
not have selected a more suitable article for
reduction of import duty. Ab the same time he is
doing only an act of justice toan industry which is
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST,
If we add 3d”
(Dre. 1, 1903.
entirely British and toa body of British subjects
who have during the past 20 years gone through
greater vicissitudes (owing to coffee leaf disease)
than almostany other colonists, We trust that
the British workman, the Indian and Ceylon
planters and proprietors andeven the poor Tamil
coolies whose wage is about 5d per day ot ten
hours, may all derive benefit by the lower cost
and consequent increased consumption of tea.
If, when prosperity does return, the planters
will avoid coarse plucking—which produces
inferior tea and which greatly increases the weight
of production and gluts the market—they may
reasonably look forward, nob to temporary, but
to permanent, cheery days should Mr Chamber-
lain’s proposal become an accomplished fact.—
London Times.
——————————
THE REFINING OF COCONUT OIL.
AND NEUTRALISING HOSTILE TARIFFS.
Mr. Brodrick, the Secretary of State for
India, speaking on 24th inst. at the Masonic
Hall, Guildford, on the fiscal question. ex-
pressed the upinion that much might be done
by Mr. Balfour’s policy of neutralising hostile
tariffs, He remarked :— :
Every day that I read official papers this neces-
sity is more brought home tome. TI took up a file
only yesterday—there is no secret about it—and in
it I saw a small instance which will come home to
all of us affecting one of our Colonies. A very
active industry had grown up inthe last three or
four years in Singapore in the refining of coconut
oil. Last year, or the year before, machinery was
put up at avery large cost ; work had been begun,
the export of a very large number of gallons had
already taken place, and a firm ab Portland
(Oregon), in the United States, was taking practi=
cally the whole of the product. What happened ?
In April of this year news arrived that the United
States, in the exercise of their undoubted right,
had put a tax of 60 per cent ad valorem on the im-
portation of coconut oil—so refined, Within three
months not only was that factory shut up, but the ~
very people at Portland who had been buying the
product so refined made an offer to buy the whole
machinery at half its cost, and to transfer it to the
United States. There is a Colonial industry, rising
legitimately, and equally legitimately extinguished,
by a policy which we do not desire to imitate, but
which we desire to prevent. (Cheers. )—Z. and C.
Hxpress.
a i
THE DEMAND FOR INDIAN LABOUR,
CEYLON RECRUITING IMPROVED:
Judging from two recent reports there is no
diminution in the demand for Indian labour, The
Seychelles have Jong discussed the importation of
coolies from Madras and the Secretary of State hag
now approved of a scheme for a five years’ agree:
ment with repatriation when it expires. An offer
was received from a steamship company to place a
special boat on the run if the emigrants numbered
over one hundred and forty, and the Seychelles
Government guaranteed to employ half that
number.
Wages for
and the matter is in abeyance.
in the Seychelles run from
estate labourers
R12 to R14, whilst carpenters, masons and bee ng
na
Ceylon the cry is again that Southern India does —
smiths can obtain from R25 to R60 a month.
But then the planters who had talked —
so much of the scarcity of labour hesitated —
Dre, 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL
not send as many men as the planters need.
Thisis largely attributed to the trouble which
arosein 1900 when 135,000 coolies made the jour-
ney, buf found the estates could not employ
them all. Many got into debt with the Kanganies
and are now afraid to return toCeylon. However,
from January to the end of July this year, 20,985
men arrived, which is an increase of over a thou-
sand upon the corresponding period of 1902 and
oints to an increase in activity. The system
by which Indian coolies are secured for the
Ceylon gardens has much improved of late years
and the comfort of the men is more studied.
To many, however, the idea of even a brief
sea trip is so terrifying that they will not
go, and the planters will probably have to
wait until the railway over Adam’s Bridge,
connecting the island with the mainland is built
before the necessary labour can be more easily
secured. In the Straits and the Malay States the
planters have agreed upon terms for the recruit-
ment of Statute labourers in India, but the fact
that the immigrants have to pay their own return
passage may deter many Indian covlies from
going so far away, even although the agreement
is to be for three years only.—-Zimes of India,
Nov, 12,
RUBBER CULTIVATION IN BURMA.
The efforts of Government to encourage rubber
cultivation in Burma are being attended with
a certain amount of success. A Burmese
Municipal Commissioner of Shwegyin has taken
up the cultivation there and the wife of a forest
officer has 4 large rubber plantation and recently
obtained about 100,000 plants from Ceylon.—
Pionzer, Nov. 14.
PEPPER PLANTING IN COORG.
PoLuizeTta, Nov. 12.—The pepper plantings in
these parts in some cases date back a few years,
but are mostly of more recent date. Itis to be
regretted that they were not planted years ago,
as & profit would now have been derived from them
which would not have been despised. Pepper was
looked askance at as it was supposed it did harm
to the coffee, but there are no indications of this
on any of the places on which it has been cultivated,
On ly in one case has the systematic cultivation of
the vine been carried out for a long time, so long
that the stems of the vines, at the foot are of the
thickness of a man’s forearm, and now is the owner
reaping the fruits of his prudence and foresight.
On one occasion he realised R5,000 for his pepper
crop, and the income from this source is almost all
pure profit, for, beyond planting the vines and
harvesting the crop, no special attention is paid
to them—the cultivation of the coffee sufficing for
them also.—M Mail, Nov. 17.
—— —<>——__ —_
BRITISH GREEN TEA IN AMERICA.
A NEW YORK VIEW,
The market here looks somewhat askance at the
large production this year of British green tea,
which gives promise of having an outturn of at
Jeast 11,000,000 pounds Ceylon and 4,000,(00
| pounds Indian. Most of this is destined for the
- American market, United States and Oanada,
As has been stated many times, the British tea
growers wish this market as an asset of theirs,
, and having too slowly succeeded with their black
AGRICULTURIST. 117
teas, have taken also to the manufacture of green
teas, which they have been told this market in-
sists on having in preference to black teas. They
even pay a bonus, amountiug to about one cent a
pound United States money, to the makers of
green tea. Jast year, the first of any that amoun-
ted to anything jn the manufacture of green tea,
about 3,000,900 pounds, were made, and this year
the increase is about 500 per cent, which is
enormous, in view of quantity produced last year
for the first time. The Indian makers are also
attracted to the green tea market this year. Per-
haps a special incentive for the large production
has been the searcity of the green teas last year,
when they brought high prices, and the British
greens came into notice as a desirable substitute.
But the situation has changed. As was to have
been expected, the barren market and the high
prices obtained has stimulated production, and as
is apt to result in such conditions, quality has
been sacrificed to quantity. We have now in the
market a great quantity of
UNDESIRABLE GREENS OF LOW GRADE,
which are not easily saleable, On the other
hand greens of superior grade are very scarce,
command high prices and are considered a
good investment to hold for still higher
prices, which they are thought certain to
bring as the season advances. There
is absolutely no substitute in sight. Some regret
is expressed that Ceylons or Indians have not
risen to the occasion. There is po tea here that
will match with higher grade greens so that ab
least they can be mixed without injuring the
appearance of the pot pourri, to say nothing of the
cup qualities. In the great abundance of the low
grade teas, ruling at times even cheaper than the
cheapest British greens, there naturally is nob
much eall for the British green teas as an emer-
gency, and these will have to sell entirely on their
merits. Of course they have acquired a good deal,
as goes the Indian expression, but it is to be
doubted ifit as yet equals by much the extent of
the production. The makers, too, should be
advised to put more cup quality in their teas. We
saw some the other day which looked fine in the
color in the cup, but was so weak in the body that
only an expert taste could diseover a tea flavour;
it was like so much hot water and was utterly
drowned when sugar and milk were’ added. Of
course, such weak tea suits some palates, but the
complaint here ia that the tea is too weak to be
desirable commercially. It would appear to us
that the makers have not been very thoroughly
advised or ifso favoured have not accepted the good
counsel proffered, and hence it happens that the
best plumsin the market cannot be did for.—The
Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, Oct 20.
—_-_>______——__
A FIND IN KULU : SAPPHIRE OR BERYL,
A tradey wh> has just come down from Zanskar.
writes the Kulu correspondent of the ‘“ Civil and
Military Gazette,’ says that the passes are free from
snow, what fell earlier in the month, having appa-
rently all melted; this trader also brings a story of
a fresh find of sapphires, his version being to the
effect that two marches beyond Zanskar there is a
small lake, surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs,
and that a Sahib, who had come with a permit from
the Maharajah, had examined three cliffs with his
glasses, and detected a large deposits of ‘‘ neelum ”
or sapphire in the face of one of the cliffs, the said
sapphires being only two feet long! and that two
natives who had attempted to olimb up to the sapphires
418
had lost their footing and were both killed, also that the
Sahib was coming back in spring to drain the lake and
make a path to the deposit. That a find of some kind.
has réally taken place, I had have little or no doubt
I happen to know who the Sahib in question is, and
also that he has a mineral concession from the Maha-
rajah, and in a letterI received fromhim some months
ago he told me he intended to search for corundrum
minerals in that direction during the past summer Still
the story has been greatly embellished, sapphir.es two
feet long are as mythical as the philosopher’s stone;
one a quarter of that size would be a giant among
corundrum gems; a deposit of that size is far more
likely to turn out massive blue beryl of very poor
water, as these large stones invariably are beryls run
toa great sizeat times. ‘the late Protessor Dan, in
his work on mineralogy, mentions an aquamarine in
the possession of Don Pedro of Brazil, as large as a
horse’s head, but unfortunately clear on one side
only, the other sides being opaque, and a Mining Engi-
neer of my acquaintance told me he had seen an even
larger specimen, found in Brazil some nine or ten
years ago.— B. Gazette, Nov. 12.
esse
A PEARL FOR £700.
According to the latest Northern Territory
files a pearl found on the local grounds two
or three months ago is reported to have been
sold to a Queensland pearlbuyer for £700 cash.
This pearl weighed 79 grains, and, with one
small exception,.was a fairly perfect gem.
A. recent visitor to Thursday Island bought
£900 worth of shells. The great majority of
them was purchased from Huropean boat-
owners.—Adelaide Register, Nov. 5.
a
PARAGUAY TEA: OR ‘MATE,
There comes from Paraguay to the ‘ Journal of
Tropical Medicine’ news of an apparently harm-
less beverage which is the sole stay and stimulant
of the working classes in Paraguay and _ the
Argentine Republic. Itis often knowa as Para-
guay tea or maté, and an attempt made to
introduce it into this country some years ago
failed because—as we may guess—there were more
potent competitors in the field. It is usually
drunk asa hot infusion, through a metal tube,
but may be taken like tea, with milk and sugar.
Workmen take it with them wherever they go and
sip it occasionally. Wood-cutters will work on
it for five orsix hours before breakfast, and the
writer declares that, taken at night, it makes
nursing, study, or what doctors call ‘ night work,
real pleasure. Analysis does not explain these
results, and lifelong and persistent use appears to.
have no evil consequences. This would be good
substitute for the numberless patent medicines
which supply alcohol to women, or even, in ab
least one familiar case, cocaine.—Chronicle,
—_____.@_—_—__—_.
PLANTING NOTES.
ANOTHER RUBBER PRODUCER.—A new rubber
producing creeper, called Rhynchodia Wallichii,
has been discovered in the Pegn district by Mr
Hearsey, Divisional Forest Director, Shwegyir
‘says the Commercial News, ’Frisco Oct. 8. This
creeper is found growing abundantly on low land
in light forests on’ both sides of the railway line
in the Nyaunglebin subdivision, but is liable to
destruction by potta soldiers,
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
_ exporting pineapples.
[Drc. 1, 1903.
RUBBER IN NEGRI SEMBILAN.—It is interest.
ing to note in connection with the progress made
by the Federated Malay States that quite re-
cently a Negri Sembilan estate of four hundred
acces of rubber sold for $300,000.—S F. Press.
Mr, ALEX. WHYTE.—News of this remark-
able agricultural scientist appears elsewhere.
After a brilliantly successful career in
Uganda, he is off on a special ‘ rubber”
mission to Uganda, which our London
correspondent fully describes elsewhere.
PLANTING PRODUCTS IN ZANZIBAR.—We are
glad to see that His Majesty’s Government have
decided to make the regulations abont adulter-
ation of produce binding on British subjects. The
attempts of the local authorities to improve the
quality of our products were greatly hampered by
the fact that they had no control over the Indian
middleman who is invariably the worst offender
in matters of this kind. The quality of chillies
and copra has considerably improved during the
last few months, and now that the Indians have
been made to understand that the adulteration of
produce is a punishable offence, there is no reason
why our copra should not be made to compete
favourably with the best produce of Ceylon and
other places.—Zanzibar Gazette.
TEA ComPANY NEWs.—We give elsewhere the
annual reports of Tea Companies. The
Central Tea Company disposes of over £2,500
but without paying a dividend on ordinary
shares and carries forward £150: this in
spite of a rise of 1d per Ib. in prices—an im-
provement on which the management partly
must be congratulated.—The Ukuwella pays
its interim at 10 per cent and shows, in 15 per
cent, a fine increase on 1902; its tea was nearly
4d per lb., and cocoa 239d per ewt., better.
The management are certainly doing well for
the shareholders, after five years’ work.—The
Scottish Trust and Loan Co. has yielded up
its solid 7; per cent and with sucia splendid
and well-managed estates as Brookside (Mr
G W Murray), Alnwick (Mr Andrew Polson
and Annfield (Mr R M Knight) the Com
pany should be paying its 10 per cent and
more before very long: nearly £1,700 is car-
ried forward this time.
PROPOSED CANNING OF PINEAPPLES.—Mr
Landau, the Swiss .sentleman who recently came
over to Ceylon to buy and export tea to Europe, has
come to the conclusion thata lucrative business can
also be carried on in Ceylon, in preserving and
The Ceylon pineapple, he
says, is excellently adapted for preservation just
as is the Mauritius variety ; and it is one of the
best on the market, and he hopes to start oper-
ations soon. Mr Landau has ecaleulated that he
could clear a profit of R1‘83 on each dozen tins of _
pineapple which he made in Colombo, and he ex-
pects to make at least 50 dozen tins a day, which
would bring him a profit of say R90 a day or £1,8°0
a year! Mr Landau has tried his hand at preserving
papau which he characterises as one of the most
valuable fruits in existence. The other day he a
made some papau jelly. Out of a papau three 1D,
in weight, with a proportionate amount of sugar, —
he says three lb of papau jelly can be made,
He also thinks of preserving the ‘unripe papa
in tins and also the jack fruit, oe
Duo, 1, 1903.j THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 419
| TO THE PLANTING WORLD.
Seeds & Plants ot Commercial Products.
Hevea Brasilienmsis.—Orders being booked for the coming crop August-September delivery
1903, booking necéssary bofore the end of April, quantities of 100,000 and over abt special low rates. Plants
available all the year round, 100,000 and over at special low rates. A leading Rubber planter in Sumatra,
who purchased 50,000 seeds in 1899, and 100,000 in 1900, writes us, under date 15th November, 1900 :—‘‘ I
received your letter of 20th October, from which I learn that you added anothez case of 5,090 seeds to replace
the loss, &c. Tam satisfied hereby, and even after this adding I am satisfied by the whole delivery of this
year.’’ Special offer, post free on application,
Castilloa Elastica.—True superior varicty cultivated in Mexico, seeds from specially reserved
old untapped trees. Orders booked for October-November delivery 1903, immediate booking necessary ;
large quantities on special terms; Plants in Wardian cases.
A foreign firm of Planters writes under date 11th October, 1901 :—‘‘ We beg to enquire whether you
would procure us 100,000 Castilloa seeds, in which month we might expect them, and what would be the
average price.” Special offer, post free on application.
Manihot Giaziovii:—Seeds and Plants available all the year round, 100,000 and over at special
low rates. A Mexican planter in sending an order for this seed wrote on the 22nd August, 1900 :—‘‘If they
arrive fresh and germinate easily Imay send you larger orders, as they ave for high ground where the
Castilloa does not thrive.”’
i Ficus EBlastica.—Sceds available in May-June; booking necessary before the end of March
also plants.
Mimusops Globosa (Balata) wood of the tree is much sought for buildings, fruits sweet like a plum
and eaten, oil from seeds, said to yield as much as 45 lbs. of dry rubber per tree per annum, the milk is
drunk and when diluted with water used as cow’s milk, grow from-sea-level up to 2,000 feet, orders being
booked for seeds and plants, price on application.
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon superior variety).—New crop of seed in April to June:
booking necessary before the end of February, also plants,
Coffee Arabica-Liberian Hybrid.—A highly recommended leaf-disease resisting hardy new
yariety of Coffee (cross between Arabian and Liberian). New crop March-April ; immediate booking necessary.
A foreign Agricultural Department writes dating 9th September, 1901:—‘‘ Please accept our order
for 175 lbs. of Tea sced and for 2,000 Coffee beans. In regard to Coffee seed I would say that this will be the
first importation made by this department, and we will leave the selection of the varieties to be sent to
your judgment.”
OUR DESCRIPTIVE PRICE LISTS.
_ The following six Descriptive Price Lists are now being forwarded with Circulars and special offer
of Seeds and Plants of Rubber and other Economic Products ;:—
j. ‘Tropical Seeds and Plants of Commerzial Products, enlarged edition for 1902-1903,
2. Sceds and Plants of Shade, Timber, Wind-Belts, Fuel and Ornamental Trees, Trees for Road-
sides, Parks, Open Spaces, Pasture Lands, Avenues, Hedges, and for planting among crops (Tea, Coffee,
Cacao, Cardamoms, &c.)
3. Seeds and Plants of Tropical Fruit Trees including Mango grafts,
4, Bulbs, Tubers and Yams.
5. Orchids—Ceylon and Indian.
6, Seeds and Plants of Palms, Calamus, Pandanus, Cycads, Tree and other Ferns, Crotong
Roses, Dracinas, Shrubs and Creepers. t
Special Arrangements made with foreign Governments, Botanical and Agricultural Depart.
ments, Planters and others for supplying seeds and plants of Commercial Products in larger quantities,
‘SoutH Arrica.”—The great authority on South African affairs of 25th March, 1899, says :—
** An interesting Catalogue reaches us from the {Hast, It is issued by Wizt1am Broruprs, Tropical Seed
Merchants of Henaratgoda, Ceylon, and schedules allthe useful and beautiful plants which jwill thrive in
tropical and semi-tropical regions. We fancy Messrs. Williams should do good business, for now that the
yeah Powers have grabbed all the waste places ofthe earth, thoy must turn to and prove that they wree
worth the grabbing. We recommend the great Powers and Concessionaries under them to go to William
' Brothers.”
Agents in London ;—Mussrs. P. W. WOOLLEY & Co., 90, Lower Thames Sireet.
Agent im Colombo, Ceylon ;—E. B. CREASY, Esq.
Agent in British Central Africa:—T. H. LLOYD, Esq., Blantyre.
Telegraphic Address ¢ J. P. WILLIAM & BROTHERS,
_ WILLIAM, HENARATGODA, CEYLON, Tropical Seed Merchants,
Liber’s, A.I. and A.B.C, Codes used. HENARATGODA, CEYLON
63
THE TROPICAL
Correspondence.
To the Editor.
490 |
—— el
THE SLAUGHTER OF BIRDS IN CEYLON
Croydon, 23rd Oct., 1903.
Srr,—I enclose a cutting from the Daily News
of the 19th, which I trust you will reproduce in
your columns; and I hope that the Ceylon Game
Protection Society will take steps to have a stop
put to this wanton destruction of bird-life in the
island. I noticed in one of your issues lately a
letter from a planter describing how when riding
along a certain road he had seen a ‘‘ vision of
blue,” which proved to be some hundreds of jays’
wings hung up to dry, the whole of which were
to be sold for a miserable five rupees. I do
earnestly hope that this abominable, murderous
traffic in birds, wings and bodies will be put an
end to.—Yours truly,
y + DONALD FERGUSON.
(Zatract.)
BIRD MILLINERY.
Never before, say the plumage brokers, has there
been so successful a season from their point of view,
the recent agitation only having had the effect of
increasing business, for prices are as high as ever.
Iu epite of the prohibition of bird slaughter in India—
which has been in force since the commencement of
this year—it is remarkable to note that at the laet
public auction, held at the London Commercial Sale
Rooms last Tuesday, over seventy-three of the pack-
ages offered came from Haet India and Ceylon, as
compared with thirty-five from China and thirty-
three from Brazil and other parts, It has come to
the knowledge of a Daily News representative that,
as a matter of fact, the Indian birds are still being
slaughtered as largely as ever. They are smuggled into
Ceylon for exportation abroad. The attention of the
authorities is drawn to this matter, The quantity of
Indian birds in the market is, however, plausibly ex-
plained by the brokers, who state that the vast con-
signments which have come forward were collected
before the restriction (dating from the lst of January!)
was put in force, and are in effeot practically old
stock, But, in spite of the prohibition, which should
increase the value of this ‘ old stock,’’ we do not
find that prices have gone up appreciably, which would
indubitably have been the casehad the supply really
ceased. In addition, however, itis found that an in-
creasing number of birds is being imported from
China and Japan and from South America the
plumage from the little paddy birds fe'ching from
twenty-five to thirtA shillings an ounce. 1+ is largely
used for fans. Ospreys arenot so plentiful as heretc-
fore, owing to the growing scarcity of the victims,
whilst parrots are being rapidly exte:minated. As a,
consequence they are going up in value for, whereas
formerly they were tobe bought for three half-pence
or two pence, sixpence farthing each is now fetched
by the same roseheat yariety. Whilet English seagulls
which are now so fashionable, fetch ten pence, the
Japanese kind—known as Albinoson account of their
pure whiteness of colour secured by their being bred
in the darkness—fetch as much as eighteenpence
apiece in the market. One thousand three hundred
and eighty-five Impeyan pheasant skins were also
offered for sale fetching from one and ninepence
to three and sixpence each together with over a
thousand female Birds of Paradise sold at sixteen
ehillings apiece, the green-breasted and long-tailed
variety fetching as much as £1 15s. Humming birds.
which find their principal market in Paris are ex-
ceedingly cheap at the present moment, Killed by
blow-pipes thoy are exported for sale at rates which
yary trom {hree farthings to twopence three farthings
AGRICULTURIST, (Duc. 1, 1903.
each bird. The short-tailed variety can be purchased
for a halfpenny, the ruby-coloured bird varying from a
penny to twopence three farthings whilst the blue
were priced at twopence. Crested pigeons largely
used in the mannfacture of aigrettes can just now be
had at three and fivepence and the little bronze
kingfisher from one and seven to two and twopence.
West India osprey skins in large supply sold, we
learn, at full prices. Jungle cocks found themselves in
fair demand at the last auction whilst many hundred
of jays aud owls were readily bought up for the
adornment of civilized womankind, It may be added
one of the largest wholesale dealers informed the
writer that he hadin stock a quantity of made-up
birds which sold exceedingly well.
ON THE SELECTION OF MANURHS,
London, H.C., Oct. 30.
DEAR Srr,—The particulars mentioned in
the following paragraph from the Globe of
October 28rd are of practical interest to tea
planters in India and Ceylon :—
Wine and milk tend to absorb the odours of sub-
stances near them. It is not so well-known that
grapes also take up odours in this way. The
Journal of the Society of Horticulture of Brussels
states that grapes at Geisenheim acquired an odour
of creosote, which persisted in the wine made from
them. A still more disagreeable case is that of
grapes which caught the oduurs of decomposing
offal from a slaughtering house. The smell of rote
ting seaweed gets into grapes and wine in some
parts of France. The seaweed is used as manure,
and the odour in this case appears to get into the
grapes by the roots of the vine,
In reporting on the manuring of tea during
the last few years, I have always discouraged
the direct application of strong offensive
materials, such as decomposing fish, bones,
flesh or blood, and as far back as 1878 when
I first visited Ceylon officially on behalf of
the Planters’ Association [ recommended that
steamed bone meal, which has a strong dis-
agreeable smell, should be mixed with acid
superphosphate in order to absorb and fix
the volatile ammonia always given off in a
hot damp climate when large quantities of
this useful manure are stored in a heap.
All decomposing animal matter should
indeed either be treated chemically, or made
into a compost with earth and a liltle lime
before being applied to the trees. The direct
application of such offensive materials is
calculated not only to affect the flavour of
the leaf, but also to attract the presence of
grub which, after feeding on the manure, will
probably attack the small rootlets of the
shrub. JOHN HUGHES,
Agricultural Analyst,
PROPOSED ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
‘ Colombo, 10th Nov.
Srr,—As some doubt seems to exist as
to the nature of the proposed scheme
for establishing Zoological Gardens in
Colombo, I think it may be as well to
acquaint your readers with the proposed de:
tails of same and to give a recapitulation of
what has been done in the past with a view
to the same object. In June 1899 my firm,
acting on behalf of certain persons interested
in the subject, approached _Government to
know if a site could be granted or leased for
Zoological Gardens and in August 1900 the
Dec. 1, 1903.] THE » TROPICAL
Colonial Secretary offered a site of 20 acres
behind Buller’s Road on terms to be subse-
quently communicatedy This site is still avails
able and is only one acre and a half less
than the area of the larger portion of the
Regent’s Park Zoo, exclusive of the block
beyond the RKegent’s Park Canal where
the Elephant house is situated. The lie
of the land is very suitable and has
been visited and approved by a former
Secretary of the Calcutta Zoo who
eensidered it much better than the site of
their Zoo. Tue idea then was to foem a
public company for the Zoo with two Governs
ment Officials permanently on the Board
and on application to the Legislative Council
for asubsidy, a committee was appointed by
the Governor to consider the question of
establishing Zoological Gardens in Colombo
and at a meeting of that committee held in
June 1902, I was asked to furnish a draft
prospectus of the company—which was done.
Since then the subject has been in abeyance
until last month when Dr. Willey, who has
started a small collection of animals at the
Colombo Musem, suggested as an alternative
to the Company that the Gardens should be
started and maintained by a Zoological
Society composed of Founders, Life Members
and Members—according to the amount of
their subscriptions to the Society. It is
understood that the Government will give
the land on certain favourable conditions.
At an interview Dr. Willey and [had with
the Lieut..Governor, it was promised that
R12,000 should be placed on the estimates for
1904s a preliminary step pending dicussion of
the schemes, Any oneinterested in thesubject
can see the draft prospectus of the com:
pany and the proposed scheme of member-
ship for the Society should they care to
call on me, and, it is hoped, if the vote
is carried, to obtain the sanction of
Government to one or other of the schemes
and at once to start the Gardens on a
small seale with the animals now at the
Museum and other animals in private col-
lections Colombo which have been promised
to the Zoo as well as some animals upcountry
which are also destined for the Zoo.
Directly the scheme is approved by
Government money will be collected for
shares in the Company, or as_ subscrip-
tions to the Society, as the case may be. The
situation of Colombo as acalling port for Asia
Africa and Australia gives great advantages
for the collecting of animals from these
countries. On the other hand it may be well
at first to confine the scope of the unders
taking to indigenous animals only. he
climate renders all costly heating apparatus
and a double set of houses for winter and
summer unnecessary. The Jarge number of
passengers calling here, with time on their
hands and not much to amuse them,
should furnish considerable gate money
which would go towards the cost of feed-
ing of the animals and general upkeep. It
the public will subscribe the money neces-
sary for erecting and enclosing the build-
ings on a proper scale there is no reason
why Ceylon should not have the cheapest
and best Zoological Gardens in the world.—
T am, Sir, yours obediently,
V. A. JULIUS,
AGRICULTURIST. 421
CARDAMOMS IN SWEDEN AND
NORWAY.
Rangala, Nov. 19.
Srr,—I enclose copy of a letter from Mr.
Renton and will be much obliged by your
publishing it.—-Yours faithfully,
WILLIAM SINCLAIR.
My Dear SINCLAIR,—1 wrote you last from
Hamburg, and have now returned from Skandi-
nayia. There is a good consumption of cardamoms
in Sweden and Norway, as the article is largely
used in the bread. You taste it in all the white
bread, The imports for consumption were last year
52,526 kilos = 1,156,672 lb
Norway .. 11,257 do = 247,654 lb
Denmark .. 39,336 Danishlb 432,696 lb English
The total population of the three countries is
only some 7+ million inhabitants, so they do well
and would do more if the duty was not so high,
In Sweden and Norway it is ls 13d per lb a $
kilo. Importers do not think the consumption
will increase. Within the last 10 years it has
yvrown about 10 per cent, more particularly in
Sweden. The importers and retailers made a big
profit on the article. It is sola somewhere about
33 to 43 perlb. In Norway I see the Customs
valuation of the article is Just over 63 per kilo ;
vhis includes duty.
All supplies are drawn from London and Ham-
burg, and dealers there make their profit on the
article. The biggest dealers in Sweden are now
buying freely, as they do not think they will go
lower and are stocking the article, as it is cheap.
I don’t think there is much chance of increasing
the consuniption, in these countries, but if the
publie could obtain the article cheaper, they would
probably waste more of it, if direcb exports were
made, The London and Hamburg dealers give the
Swedish importers three months credit.
Tbe Skandinavian importers are of the opinion
that the only way to raise prices is to limit the out-
put. Naturally they are pretty happy, as the public
so far has not shared much of the benefit of the drop
in prices. The Hamburg importers, whorn I also
interviewed, are strongly of opinion that there can
be no marked increase in consumption ; advertising
or a propaganda would in their opinion be of no
use. The only way to inerease the price is they say
to restrict output, s
The German custom figures puzzle me a little,
Duty paid to end of Augusb on
in 1903. in 1902,
46,200 kilos 45,100 kilos
Of which from
Sweden ..
in 1901,
38,200 kilos
British India 15,100 kilos 19,000 kilos 13,500 kilos
Ceylon 21,200 do 18,000 do 9,000 do
36,300 do 37,000 do 22,500 do
Where the balance of 9,900, 8,100 and 5,700 kilos
respectively came from is not explained. Can you
not do anything in England itself to increase the
consumption of the article by the Public, in say
eakes and pastry ?—Yours sincerely,
(Signed) J. H, RENTON,
SLAUGHTER OF WILD BIRDS FOR
SKINS,
Nov. 19.
DEAR Srr,—t was much interested in a
letter in your columns the other day by Mr
Donald Ferguson on the subject of the sale
of wild birds’ skins in England, His letter
422 THE TROPICAL
discloses a most lamentable state of affairs,
and calls emphatically upon this Society to use
every endeavour to puta stop to the slaugh-
ter of wild birds for their skins, in Ceylon
at any rate.
{know upon the best authority that His
Excellency the Lieut.-Governor would lend
all the assistance in his power to put a stop
to this nefarious trade, and I shall be ex-
tremely obliged if any of your outstation
correspondents would give me some informa-
tion on the subject or would put mein the
way of dealing with it.—I am, yours faith-
fully, THOS. FARR,
Hon. Secretary, G.P. Society,
ee eee eet
GOLD PROSPECTING. IN CHYLON.
( gatracts from the Report of GG Dixon, Esq.
to the Hon the Colonial Secretary, Colombo.)
Colombo,
Ceylon, May 19, 1903.
Sir,—I have the honour to report onthe gold
occurrences in Ceylon, I received instructions from
the Colonial Office to leave London on 25th April,
1902, for Ceylon and” to report myself at Colombo.
On arrival at Colombo on 21st May I wasrequested
to praceed at once to Horton Plains. I left Colombo
the following morning, and on arrival at Horton
Plains I received my instructions trom the Acting
Governor. J wasdirected to make an examination
ef the Island and report upon the quartz reefs and
the alluvial deposits. The object of the examina-
tion wasto determine whether the reefs, andthe
alluvial depesits, carried gold in sufficient quanti-
ties to pay. I was further instructed first to make a
general investigation, as the area was a large one, |
miles; the detailed work
some 24,000 square
to be carried out Jater, should the inform-
ation collected warrant further expenditure,
I first inspected the Malwana district, situated
about 30 miles north-east of Colombo. The gravel
deposits are situated between the north bank of the
Kelani river aud the south bank of the Matotuena
river, a tributary of the Kelani. The country here,
with the exception of a low rocky ridge, is very flat,
and at the time of my visit all the low-lying
country was under water, making it quite impossi-
ble to test the flats. over which I had to wade
knee deep in water. On the south side of the low
ridge, referred toabove, the gravel was within 1 foot
of the surface. Practically the whole of this gravel
deposit carries gold. Attempts have been made to
work the ground for this metal, but without success. .
The gold obtained by careful panning gave from 8d
to 114d per cubic yard. This is calculated per cubic
yard of gravel : no allowance is made for top soil,
which varies considerably. From this district I
went on to Avisawella to test the deposits in and
on the banks of the rivers Sitawaka and Getaheta,
Gold was found inthe gem bearing gravel in the
beds of the rivers, and in the gravel deposits on
the flats; the gravel averaged 9 inches. In the
Getaheta no gold was found beyond hal a mile
from its junction with the & tawaka. On he right.
bank of the Sitawaka rivernea the railway line
deposit of gravel was found 20 teet above the river;
several pannings produced one fin: -olour of gold:
this gravel is reported to carry gems. From
Pussellal visited the Wilderness of the Peak. The
country in the vicinity of the numerous rivers was
composed of boulders of gneiss and sonie quartz :
although the streams were carefully tested in
‘north to Hembarawa,
AGRICULTURIST. [Drc. 1, 1903,
likely-looking spots and wherever a deposit of
gravel presented itself, no gold was found. ‘
From the Wilderness of the Peak I returned to
Ratnapura. As the Kalu-ganga was low I decided
to put down a pit in the middle of the stream
to get some information of the class of gravel,
and also to test it for gold. The pit was sunk
to a depth of 10 feet in the gravel, The gold ob-
tained equalled one fine colour to every three or
four pans. At the same time that this was being
carried out pits were being sunk at different —
points on the Katugassella creek at the back of
the Residency, Having faund gold in a tributary
stream and in smaller quantities in the main
river, | decided to test the black sand at the
mouth of the Kalusganga to see if any fine gold
had been carried down to the sea. Numerous
. tests made in the river and along the coast for 5
miles gave no gold. At the mouths of all the
gold-bearing rivers on the west coast of New
Zealand fine particles of gold can be obtained
from the black sand of the seashore. Exploration
was then commenced in the Kandy District. The
hills showed no sign of gravel banks or terraces
and the small streams were barren. The stream
flowing from Kandy lake gave a colour or two
after repeated tests, and the gravel in the pits
inithe Peradeniya Gardens carried gold from the-
surface to a depth of 15 feet, this being the deepest
point which Icould reach without doing a con-
siderable amount of excavating. This gravel gave
from one to three fine colours per pan. The gravel
had nodoubt been deposited by the Mahaweli-
ganga in times past.
f tested creeks bet ween Peradeniya and Kadugan-
nawa, but without result. From Gampola I visited
Sinnapitiya estate, Matale, Dambulla, Kurune-
gala up the Northern Extension Railway as
far as Ambanpola, country roads to Pattalam
the coast road via Waimatavillu, Ponparippu,
Marichchikkaddi, Chilavaturai, and Mantai to
Attimoddai, Trincomalee, Habarana, Batticaloa
via Polonnaruwa, Mannanpitiya, Vakaneri, and
Valenekelli, up the Batticaloa-Lunugala road
as far as Ekriyankumbura, and from theré
crossed the Mahaweli-
ganga, Dankanda gapand Matale, which finished
this line of exploration [but witho xt result].
The next line taken was from Matale to Gampola
by train, and from there to Hambantota via Ram-
boda, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Bandarawela, Hapu-
tale, Koslanda, and Wellawaya.. From Gampola
to Nuwara Hliya the streams tested all proved
barren. At Nuwara Eliya the streams running
into the lake carried gold in small quantities.
Once over the divide, however, the strcams again
proved barren, and no gold was found between this
point and Hambantota. On my return from
Colombo I left Hambantota for Haputale via —
Timbulketiya, Madampe, Pelmadulla, and Hal- —
dummulla, I examined gravel in the gem pits on
the We ganga 25 feet below the surface, but could
not get a colour of gold.
From Haputale I went by train to Hatton, and
from this point J worked through the Laxapana
and Maskeliya districts, but withont finding any
gold or gravel in any quantity. I had hoped to
have followed the Kelani-ganga to the point
where it cuts its way through the main range, but
the bad weather prevented my doing so. I then
returned to Colombo. where I was laic up with an
attack of enteric fever, which I did not get over
until 30th January, On 9th February I left
for Galle, and from there visited the Morawak-
Dec. 1, 1903.] THE
korale, where [ marked several places where I
wished pits sunk to test the gravel, This work was
carried cut by the Inspector of Mines, Mr T G
Hunter, who was with me through the greater por-
tion ot my travels. The tests of the gravel gave a
few colours of gold per pan, but it was not present
in payable quantities. In giving values per cubic
yard refereuce was made to the gravel worked ;
to this in actual practice must be added, where the
flats are worked, the amount of top soil or over-
burden, in some cases amounting to over 20 feet.
In the creek beds and in the rivers this top soil
would not be met with, and in someof the minor
streams it is less than 10 feet. The present
general survey of the country has proved that
there are practically no gravel terraces, and that
the shallow deposits, which are worked by the
ligger in other countries, would not be sufliciently
remunerative or extensive. Had there been any
appreciable quantity of gold-bearing gravel in the
islaud, it is only reasonable to suppose that
during my journey of 3,041 miles, of which 1,078
miles was done on foot, that I should have found
some cf it. Hundreds of tests were madeas I worked
from point to point; in tact, wherever gravel was
found it was tested. The above refers to surface
work, and the facb must not belost sight of, that
we are as ignorant as ever as to what minerals
oceur in depth. I am therefore able to report
upon the shallow workings, river beds, &c., as
being unprofitable to work by the gold digging
system. By the dredging system I believe, if suit-
able places were secured, and the gold-saving ap-
pliances were modified to suit the conditions
necessary for saving both gems and gold, that the
undertaking, if properly managed, would pay.
~ From some hundreds of tests made of quartz from
reefs all over the country—for itis very abunaant
—I find that the highest values obtained were not
remunerative. The quartz reefs of this country
are dissimilar from any [ have yet met with ; they
-giveone the impression that they are not fissure
veins at ail, but simply a re-arrangement of the
quartz particles of gneiss. I do not think that
the gold which has been found in the gravels had
its origin in the gneiss, but in either a capping
rock which has long since been worn away, .or
possibly in a fold of Hornblende Schist, such as
occurs in the Kolar goldfield, Mysore, India, ff
my theory is correct, then wemust look for gold
produced from thas capping rock, notin the hills
buat deeply buried, If an old-time river-bed could
be found on the plains and explored, it would
elucidate this point, In places Jike the lake at
Nuwara Eliya, which must have been a swamp at
some time ; in the low eountiy where two or more
streams meet, and where there is little or no
seour as in Malwana; and at the junction of the
Sitawaka and Getaleta, the gold would settle ain.
remain for all time. There is no information to
be had on the subject of deep leads, as no boring
has yet been carried ont to prove the existence of
gold or other minerals in depth.—I am, &c.,
GEORGE G. Dixon.
THE MALAY
STATES COFFEE CO,,
THE REPORT.
Messrs, V A Julius, and E M Shattock.—Directors
The Directors beg to submit to the Shareholders
their report and accounts for the year ended March
31st, 1903. The crop was estimated at 650 piculs of
coffee, to shew surplus over expenditure of R916°83,
Vhe avtual results, however, were considerably more
favourable, the crop secured having been 671'81 piculs
LTD,
TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 423
coffee which realised (after deduction of curing charges)
the sam of R12,972'38, or with the proceeds of refuse
coffee, ete., sold, a total of R14,699°90, showing a profit
of R3,045'56 on working account, After payment of
establishment charges, etc., the balance at credit of
Profit and Loss Account is R2,958°37, which the Direc-
tors recommend should he carried forward to next
account. ‘The estimate of crop for the current year
is 700 piculs coffee on an expenditure (inclusive of
curing charges) of R15,685°00. So far no particulars
of sales of ine crop have been received, but it is hardly
likely that tbe price realised will be so favourable as
Jast year. Rubber continues to make extremely satis-
factory growth, andit is proposed to apply part of the
available funds to planting up a further area in this
product. Mr L T Boustead visited the property in
March last, end a copy of his report is appended here-
with, together with a few photographs of various parts
of the estate, which will doubtless be of interest to
Shareholders. Mr: HG Bois and Mr G W Suhren
retired from the board owing to their departure from
the island, and it will be necessary to elect two Direc-
tors in their place. An Auditor will also have to be
appointed for the current season,—By order of the
Directors, Len, Hepces & Co., Agents and Secretaries.
THE DUCKWARI (CEYLON) TEA PLANTA-
TION COMPANY, LIMITED.
REPORT BY TH DIRECTORS,
The Directors have pleasure in submitting the
accounts for the year ending June 30th, 1903. Including
the balance brought forward from last year, and after
writing off 10 per cent. depreciation in value of Machi-
nery and Buildings, the balance at credit of Profit and
Loss Acconut, subject to Income tax, is £2,863 12 1.
From this has to be deducted an Interim Dividend of
32 per cent.on Preference Shares (£420), and 2} per
cent. on Ordinary Shares (£200), paid on February
14th and February 21st, 1903 £620 0 0. Leaving
£2,243 12 1 which if is proposed to appropriate as
follows :—
(1) In payment of 7 per cent. in fnll on the Pre-
ference Shares £420 0 O. (2) In paymentof7 per
cent.in full on the Ordinary Shares £360 0 0. (8)
To carry forward balance to next year £1,463 12 1,
Total £2,243 12 1. The Directors, being desirous to
free the Company from their Debenture Bonds, have
resolved to set aside funds for this purpose, and hope
to materially reduce them during the current year.
The returns of Crop have been 302,530 lb. Tea and
17,355 Jb. Cardamoms, against 320,070 lb. Tea and
14,283 lb. Cardamoms in last season. The average
price obtained for the former is 6'12d per lb. and 14:04d
per lb, for the latter, against 5-48d per lb. and 17°66d
per lb, respectively for the previous twelve months.
The Estimates for the coming season are 310,000 Ib.
Tea and 10,000 lb. Cardamome, The Machinery and
Buildings are maintained in a good state of repair,
Mr Trovurpeck retires from the Direction by rotation,
and, being eligible, offers himself for re-election. Th
Auditors, Messrs Brown, FLemiInc & Murray also
retire. and offer themselves for re-appointment.
P. G. SPENCE, Chairman,
R. CROSS AITKEN, Secretary,
17, Philpot Lane, London, E. C , Nov. 1903.
DIGALLA CEYLON TEA ESTATE COMPANY,
~ LIMITED.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
to be submitted at the Seventh Annual Ordinary
General Meeting of Shareholders to be hele at 20,
Eastcheap, EC, on Wednesday, 18th November,
1903.
The Directors herewith submit the General Balance
Sheet and Profit and Loss Account for the year ending
30th June, 1903, duty audited,
The net amount at Credit of Profit and Loss Account,
after Beeidin eye General Expenses, Directors’ Fees,
Income Tax &c., is £1,297 5 9. Dividends on the
6 per cent, Perference Shares were paid for 1902/3 (less
a THE TROPICAL 'AGRICULTURIST.
Income Tax) ameunting to £340 10 0, It is proposed
to write off for Depreciation £710 VU 0. And to
carry fcrward to next yeara balance of £256 15 9.
Total £1,297 5 9.
The Hstate Crop has been 236,087 lb. as against
249,882 the previous year, and has realised gross 6.31d
perlb.as compared with 5‘884 las year, showing an
increase of .43d per lb. The Company’s property is
being planted with Pava rubber among the tea, with a
view to augmenting the profits of the Company in the
future. Under clause No. 24 ofthe Articles of Asso-
ciation, Mr G A Talbot retires on this occasion from
the Board, and being eligible offers himself for re-
election. The Auditors, Messrs Harper Brothers,
Chartered Accountants, also retire from office, and
offer themselves for re-election. By order of the Board,
Wm. JOHNSTON, Secretary.
London, 3rd November, 1903.
THE CEYLON AND INDIAN PLANVERS’
ASSOCIATION, LIMITED.
SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1902.1903.
The Directors beg to submit their repori and the
Audited Accounts for the year ending 30th June, 1903,
Tra.—The total yield has been 797,663 lb, against
last year 855,816 lb of made tea, or a decrease of
58,153 lb. Although the average cost has been some-
~what higher than last year owing to smaller
croys, a better market has more than compensated
for this, and the profit from the group of estates shows
an increase of £783 103 5d. The diminished yield
appears to be entirely due to adverse weather condi-
tions which have affected the whole of Ceyion. The
estates are all in good order, and are kept in a proper
state of cultivation, and will again yield more leaf
when conditions are favourable.
PuumpBaco.—The result of the year’s working ras
been satisfactory ; 35) tons have been mined during
the twelve months, The average sale price has been
R325 or £21 13s 4d net per ton, and the profit is £4,550
O03 6d against £1,520 183 6d last year.
TEA ANALYSIS OF YEAR'S WORKING.
ap mn
re Be) ® 2
BB ei 9 tb so cain ie fo
w Sey iste! else! am 3
Cone, Sep some S o
5 2Qn =) a eo Be Sy
SS mrisheynocsie Gutiens Cea ha
SB 08 fa Sy af Be
of a eS an of » &
Shoe = Se eS a o.
4 < 6) 1) A
27 52
Laxapana 1,021 806 21 Colombo 7‘21d 627d
445d
7 30°19
Maha Eliya 305 264 35 Colombo 46°38c 45°28
4°83d
30:08
St. Andrew’s 770 627 — Colombo 720d 6°21d
; 489d
Bl74
Kandaloya 1,006 586 4 Colombo 35°67¢ 34 67¢
5'08d
29°42
3,102 2,283 60 Colombo
4°64
a od es ‘= = ~2O-
oo ag Advi See oes
2m Zo © * 25, Ost
Cj oO oH Liaj
raya ae ae) S Ho =s=S oaee
oH FS a Bion 2a. 6) 4
Qe FS] A BN at caltet ital
4 OD & Q, oa g inp) Fs Bomsr)
at ° ree Be Oulis ges
2 $9 3S ee AS as
Ay a? en el ma
Laxapana £2 18 5 397 lb 320,295 346,650 344,500 26*09
Maha Eliya 4 5 0 463 lb 122,224 130,0C0 138,000 28:25
St Andrew’s 1 10 3 280 1b 175,276 215,000 210,000 27°38
Kandaloya 0 811 307 lb 179,868 185,000 185,000 29°88
——d
£2 1-1 349 |b 797,663 876,660 872,500
wee SO te er
[Dec. 1, 1903.
The accounts show that after paying Debe ;
Interest, Preference Dividend, and il freed Ween
there is a balance at credit of Profit and lLoas of
£4,275 183. 11d. The Directors recommend paying a
dividend on the ordinary share capital of 5 per cent
absorbing £2,000, writing off £556 5s. 6d, from new
machinery account and £816 13s. 11d. from extension
account, anc to carry forward a ‘credit balance of
£902 19s. 6d. to the new year. The Directors desire
to draw attention to the fact that, as shown in the
balance sheet, £6,400 of debenture Stock is deposited
against a loan from the Agents, and they will be glad
to receive applications for this amount from debenture
Stockholders, or Shareholders, so that the loan may be
paid off,
ANALYSIS OF COSTS F.0.B. COLOMBO.
m
a a E a
See tne:
2 z q ey
eB "3 : q
7 C7
4 =| n i=.|
Supsrintendence 2.98 3.06 3.50 36:
Visiting Fees a Soe = p)
House Coolies 32 27 36 40
Bungalows Al .07 8 08
Lines é -08 G7 22 63
Factories, &c. 45 15 33 38
Contingencies 38 39 49 ‘23
Fire Insurance 13 27 124 32
Cattle Sheds — Fass! 2 ‘09
Water Course 01 09 03 08
Supplying | RM i a
Roads, Drains, &c, 183 ao 46 '23
Weeding 3.15 2.32 469 4,77
I runing .79 -76 -98 1.40
Forking, &c. 23 10 15 ‘07
Cost of Manure 2.22 267 2.17 49
Application of Manure 258 89-87.) leq
Tools ll 14 13) ,05
Stoo 08 _ — “—
Plucking and Baskets 9.91 10.73 4
Manufacture, Packages, &c. 3,31 4.33 . a et
Transport to Colombo 127 1.26 149 1.95
Shipping Charges ; 76 — ci Recados
Machinery 2212 tone eet eh
Sundry .05 .24 03 06
Costs in Cents per Ib, 27.52. 30,19 30.08 31.74
The Directors desire to record their thanks
George Greig and Staff in Ceylon, also to tiene
Skrine & Co., Colombo, for the atfention given to the
Company’s business during the year, By the Articles
of Association Mr T'homas North Christie retires from
the Board, and, being eligible, offers himself for re-
election. The Auditors, Messrs, Singleton, Fabian &
ee one inea elves for re-election. CHigirs
. REIss EARLES BE’. Dickinson, Di y
B, Tomxins, Secretary. pi
51, Lime Street. London, 16th Oct., 1903,
_—_—_——
PRODUCE AND PLANTING.
CENTRAL AFRICAN TEa,
According to an official report: on the Briti :
tral Africa, Protectorate, the cultivation at te tee
been continued, and has received greater attention
It is, however, in an experimental stage, and the
tea produced varies greatly in quality. The quantity
produced is ouly small at present, The tea plantations
ere confined at present to the slopes of Mlapje
Mountain, situated in the south-east corner of the
Shire Highlands. Here the average rainfall is 107
inches, nearly double that of the rest of the Protec-
torate. The tea, when brewed, can scarcely be said
to reach the usual standard of ordinary tea; but in
this respect doubtless improvements will be made
At present the Mlanje tea would be useful for purposes
of blending with others, as it possesses a pleasant and
petit Mle ty ah Bey x ge OOS
, |
Dec. 1,.1903.|
characteristic taste of its own. The progress made by
the tea plants during the past year shows that there
is little difficulty in the successful cultivation of this
product on deep black soils at Zomba, The question
of the success of tea at Zomba is therefore not one of
cultivation, but depends on rainfall. It is only a very
limited area of the Protectorate that has a suitable
rainfall—that is, approaching 11 inches annually,
With an altitude of 3,000 ft above sea leyel, and an
annual normal rainfall of 50 inches, such as Zomba
obtains, and also the greater part of the Shire
Highlands, it is only from two such districts as South-
east Mlanje and North-west Nyassaland that tea may
ever be expected to become a successful commercial
product. The altitude of the latte: district is from
1,500 ft to 2,500 ft, and obtains an annual noxmal
rainfall of 76 inches.
BAD FOR HANKOW.
Indian and Ceylon tea growers are, by their per-
sistent efforts to capture the tea markets cf the world,
making things very unpleasant for their Chinese
rivals. The Hankow tea export continues to decline,
and it is officially reported that unless the native
growers improve their teas the trade will go over
entirely to lndia and Ceylon. It is pointed out that
the Siberian railway route, which was used for
tea during the year 1902 for the first time, can hardly
fail to work considerable change in the conduct of
the trade in Russia, enabling as it does supplies to be
placed on the consuming markets at a much earlier
date than before. During the season some 3,000,0001b
were forwarded by this means, which in former years
would have been sent via Odessa, It is also noted
that 23,056 piculs of tea dust were imported into
Hankow from Ceylon in 1902, and practically the
whole of this importation left the port mixed with
China dust, in the form of brick and tablet tea.
CONSUMPTION OF INDIAN THA 1N AMERICA,
The American Grocer makes the following interest-
ing remarks in the columy under the head of the tea :—
“Blended tea having a touch of British-grown tea
grows in favour much faster than straight Ceylon or
India. The imports of tea into all ports of the United
States for eight months ending August and the exports
were as follows: Imports, eight months, 50,355,96 lb;
exports, 4,011,207 lb; net imports, 46,344,754 lb; net
imports same time 1902, 47,084,254 lb. Of the 1903
imports, Japan furnished 23,559,824 lb, or about 48
per cent ; Chinese Empire 17,399,054 lb, or about 34
per cent; the balance 18 percent came from the
United Kingdom, British North America, aud the
Tiast Indies. It is evident that British-grown tea is
making good headway in finding a market in the
United States,” The New York correspondent of the
London Grocer, writing on this sabject says: ‘‘Lhe
sale of packet tea is growing, and as the cousuming
public come to understand that the came quantity of
Indian and Ceylon tea asof Japan or China will
make donble, if not thrice, the quantify of beverage
ihey will use them mors freely. Nine out of ten con-
sumers use just the same {quantity as they have been
accustomed to use of Formosa, Oolong, or Japan,
and the result is a heavier-bodied beverage than is
generally liked,”
CONSUMPTION OF TEA IN CANADA,
The population of Canada, according to tho last
census, was 6,338,883. The average consumption of
tea per head for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903,
was 3°1391b, the net tea consumed in Canada amount-
ing to 16,760.287 lb.
COCOA AND RUBBER FRDM THE GOLD COAST.
Last year cocoa of tha value of £94,944 was oxpor-
tedfrom the Gold Coastas compared with £42,837 in
1901, an increase of 121 per cent, and thereby hangs a
tale which is setforth in the annnal report of the
colony, This industry was founded in 1879 by a
native of Accra who brought some cocoa plants and
ods from’ Fernando Po, made a small plantation and
our years later, sold the cocoa pods in the neighbour.
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 42
ing villages. Tho first consignment of 12lb of cocoa,
was shipped to England in 1895 and realised £6 13, No
more cocoa was shipped until 1901 since when the
industry fostered by the Government which distributed
large quantities of cocoa seeds from the botanical
station ab Aburi, and atone period, shipped crops to
England for the native growers andalso by the Basel
Mission Stations has advanced with rapid strides fally
6,000,000 plants having been planted in one
district alone. The chief port of shipment is
Accra, which is now connected with market
towns in the districts in’ which the greater
portion of the cocoa exported is grown, by excellent
yoads. Now the Gold Coast gets practically as much
for its cocoa as for iis gold. With reference to rubber
it is pointed out that although 5 per cent more was
exported than in 1901, 15 per cent less value was
realised, The wholesale destruction of trees and vines
by the natives, due to the unskilful methods employed
by them in the extraction of the latex, and the low
prices now realised in Burope, are the factors which
have conduced to the decline of this once staple pro-
duct, An effort is being made to teach thej native
how to tep the trees and vines without injuring their
vitality or growth.—ZH and C Mail, Nov 6,
———__$_$__——_—_______.
TH CKYLON LAND AND PRODUCE
COMPANY, LIMITED.
REPORT,
Your Directors have the pleasure to submit the
Annexed Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet
for the Crop year ending 30th June, 1903, duly audited,
The amount at credit of Profit and Loss Account ig
£9,411 103, which, with the sum of £287 3s 11d, brought
forward from last year, leaves £9,698 133 11d to ba
distributed. On the 22nd July last an Interim
Dividend of 77 per cent on the Ordinary Shares, free
of Income Tax, and 3 per cent on the Preference
Shaves, less Tax, was paid, aud your Directors now
propose to pay on the 14th day of December, 1903,
the balance of the fixed Cumulative Dividend on the
Preference Shares (3 per cent), making 6 per cent,
for the year, less Tax, and 74 per cent on the
Ordinary Shares, making 15 per cent, for the year,
free of Income Vax; it is also proposed to transfer
£2,315 trom Profit and Loss Account to Reserve
Fund, increasing that account to £22500 and
carry forward the balance of 41,024 11s 7d, subject
to the Directors’ remuneration for the year under
review and to the payment of Income ‘Tax, etc.
Your Divectors have to report that the total Crop
of Tea from the Company’s Estates for the year
amounted to 1,038,584 lb, representing a shortage on
the Estimates of 50,441 ib; there were, however, in-
creases of 60,768 lb made from purchased leaf, and
of 122,457 lb made for others, the outturn aggregating
1,589,309 Ib, as compared with the provision made at
the commencement of the season for 1,457,025 lb, In
submitting their report your Directors are pleased
to record a further rise in the price of Tea, the
Company’s net average being 5°88 compared with
5*46d and 5'28d realised in the two preceding seasons,
The mean rate of exchange still remains the samo
viz, 1s 4§d, but freights have been again a little higher,
The policy of judiciously manuring both ‘Tea and
Cocoa has been persevered with, the sum of R28,378
(£1,936 4s 2d) having been spent on this account
in the course of the year under review, the whole of
which has been charged into Revenue Account, whilst
the estimates for the current financial period provide
for the treatment of about one thousand acres at a
cost of R35 per acre, 3,271 owt of Cocoa were secured,
being a substantial increase on the estimate of 2,680
ewt, and in this product also an improvement in
prices has to be reported. The campaign against
Cocoa canker closely engages the attention of the
Company’s Manager in Caylon, and efforts are con-
tinuously made to keep this disease well in hand Qu
426 THE TROPICAL
the lines recommended by the Government Mycologist,
no expense being spared in its treatment: your
Directors have no reason to alter their views—corro-
borated as they are by men qualified to form an
opinion—that canker can be kept down by care and at-
tention, and to better ensure this the staff on the North
Matale and Alloowiharie groups has been increased.
The census of Coconuts taken at the end of last June
gives a total of 61,042 trees, or say 803 acres at the
rate of 76 trees per acre. During the past few years
considerable attention has been given to the cultiva-
tion of what may be*termed minor products, the area
successfully planted with Pepper, Croton Seeds, Kola
Nuts, and—latterly—Rubber being of importance in
the aggregate. It has been decided to improve the
facilities for curing Cocoa, and the necessary work
was well forward at the time of last advices. No
decision has yet been arrived at respecting the pro-
posed Green Tea Factory on Alloowiharie. In
deference to the wishes expressed by some influential
Shareholders, your Directors have decided to acceles
rate the payment of the Preference Dividends,
whereby distributions will be made on these shares in
Januacy and July in respect of the year ending 30th
June, instead of in July and December, as has been
the custom for many years past. T’e#a.— When our last
report was issued quality was unattractive and prices
ruled low. Towards the middle of November, how-
ever, it became evident that the Indian crop would
be much less “than expected, and this, together with
moderate supplies from the Island, caused a gradual
improvement in the position, The commoner grades
have benefited most by the new condition, Pekoe
Souchongs being about 2d per lb. higher than at this
time in 1902, while a good demand was experienced
for the best teas on offer. Unfavourable weather in.
the Island did not allow of good quality being
manufactured generally during a great portion of the
period under review,- and those estates which were
favourably situated reaped the advantage. Latterly
flavour improved, and many of the arrivals were much
more attractive than before. Owing in agreat measure
to the increased manufacture of green tea, importa
from Colombo to the United Kingdom show a consider-
able decrease this season, and supplies recently have
been barely enough to meet trade requirements.
Deliveries from the London Bonded Warehouses from
1st January to 31st October were 79,741,000 lb. versus
85,642,000 lb in 1902, when the possibility of a rise in
Duty caused abnermal clearances, and imports durirg
the same period 79,551,000 lb and 88,164,000 1b respec-
tively. Outside quarters have continued to draw on
this market for a considerable portion of their supplies,
the total dispatched from London in the first nine
months of the year being :—
1903, 1902, 1901,
11,906,000 Ib 13,075,652 lb 13,305,000 lb
A decided increase is noticeable in direcs shipments
from Colombo to Canada and the United States, but
there is a slight falling off in those to the Continent,
partly attributable to the higher price of common tea.
To AUSTRALASIA.
1903. 1902. 1901.
15,179,000 lb 14,706,000 Ib 16,269,000 lb
To Russis,
9,519,000 Ib 10,479,000 lb 6,977,€00 lb
To AMSRICA.
9,356,000 lb 4,226,000 lb 2,692,000 lb
From ist January to 3st ult., 922,500 packages of
garden tea passed through the Mincing Lane Sale
Rooms, realising 74d. per lb, compared with 6d.
per Ik for 1,028300 packages, and 6%d. perlb for
1,053,000 packages in the corresponding ten months of
the two preceding years.
Cocos.—The market opened witha dull tone, and
prices very quickly shewed some slight decline, but
as arene recovered, and an active demand for
good and fine qualities prevailed to the end of April,
prices for_these descriptions thon showing an advance
AGRICULTURIST. (Dgc. 1, 1903.
of 78 8d per cwti from the lowest point. For the nex
four months the market was very dull and price
gradually dropped till an appreciable decline had
occurred, but in the last two months there has been
more general buying, and the loss in value has been
fully recovered, Superior guality is still in limited
supply, and commands high prices. It is a good
feature that deliveries of Ceylon Cocoa have more
than maintained the improvement to which attention
was called last year, and to the 25th October amounted
to 41,803 bags, against 39,822 bags in 1902, and
20,070 bags in 1901. his is the more satisfactory
when taken in connection with the statistics of all
kinds, which are as follows, viz. :—
IMPORTS TO 25TH OCTOBER.
1903. 1902. 1901,
170,034 bags 200,278 bags 195,012 bags
DELIVERIES TO 25TH OCTOBER.
.169,801 do 209,159 do 177,327 do
STOCKS 25TH OCTOBER.
61,929 do 68,523 do 93,011 Jo
Acrracres.—The following Statement shows the
ppproxinaase acreage of the Company’s Properties
at date :—
’
ms
S Cocoa. aes
gi SORE BA hoe,
Bobb nm 8 — Se 8
Name ofEstate. 32 fe B 8 $ wag $$
He 8 438 Of ESS G5
pn ©, f° Sc Ses =
loawitaeie
roup eo 214% 322 25) elt G 15 692:
Andangodde ; t 98
Estate .. 1764
1 |
|
|
—_
a
lor}
Fetteresso Est. 410
New Peradeniya
state «. 386 18 — — 50 5
North Matale i eigey
Group o. 407 733 10 8 3860 1595
Owella Estate — 108 110 — 939 ‘457
Rickarton Hist, 540 - =— _ 56 596
StrathislaGroup2593 167* 7 — 54 438%
Forest Land... — —- — — 430 430
2,393 1,848 152 2013 1,1832 5,278}
ee ed
1,500
t And Cocoa, * And Tea.
N.B.—In the absence of detailed Surveys these
figures, as mentioned above, are approximate only.
The Estimates for current year provide fer a
Crop of 1,106,200 1b, Tea from the Company’s Estates,
178,000 Ib from bought leaf, and 220,000 1b made for
others, a total of 1,504,200 lb compared with 1,589,809
Ib manufactured last year. The intake at date of
latest advices owing to adverse weather conditions
compares unfavourably with the Crop secured at the
same time in 1902. The Crop of Cocoa, is estimated
tobe 3,290 owts. Myr Alex. D Wilson by rotation,
retires, from the Directorate, but being eligible, offers
himself for re-election. Mr James B Laurie, the
Auditor, also retize, but he is eligible, and offers
himself for re-electioo,—By order of the Board, JAmus
W eae Se ee ED E Look, Secretary.
eadenha ouse, 101, Leadenhall Street. Lon
E.C.,12th Nov. 1903,” Rigas
SS
THE CoLOoMBO ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—Mr.
Julius’ exhaustive letter on this subject
elsewhere is of high public interest. Pro-
gressive as Ceylon is in so many ways, we
feel eurp ae local popu will not be slow
in eagerly taking up the cause of a Colo
Zoological Gardens, vero
i
|
f
Duc. 1, 1903. } THE TROPICAL
THE BURIAL OF TEA PRUNIGS :
Mr. KELWAY BAMBER’S ADDRESS.
(From the Proceedings of the Dimbula Planters’
Association, November 30th, 1903.)
Atarecent meeting of the Dimbula Planters’
Association, Mr. Kelway Bamber delivered an
~ address on the subject of the burial of the prunings
and the manuring of tea estates to secure a per-
manent improvement. The question of burying
prunings is one of considerable importance, and
Mr. Bamber’s advice should have considerable
weight among planters, and his address reproduced
below is well worth reading.
The question of the burial of prunings has lately
come into prominence in view of the fact that on
a few estates on whichit has been done, several
plants have died out. I have been to these
estates to see the results of the burial of prunings,
and find the cause is very easily explained, On the
fields where these bushes died the prunings had
been buried just before a very wet season—in fact,
in September, on the Uva side. There were then
three or four months of very wet weather, and the
prunings did not decompose, and the fungus in the
soil got.on to them, and killed one per cent of
the bushes during the following year. The holes
‘were immediately opened when it was discovered;
the prunings were taken out, and the holes filled
in, with the result that the disease entirely ceased.
I think it would be as well to briefly explain
WHY THE BURIAL OF PRUNINGS IS RECOMMENDED
and generally adopted in the island. A tew years
ago when I came to the island there was a great
‘deal of grey and brown blight prevalent in this
and most other districts, and it seemed essential
that something should be doneto prevent the
‘spread of these disease spores. Burning the
prunings was first suggested. To do this it was
necessary first of all to dry the prunings and then
carry them into ravines or to the nearest road and
burn them there. Before this could be done most
of the spores would naturally be spread over the
ground and, I think, as much harm is done in that
way as by leaving them on the surface. The only
other remedy is to bury the prunings, and I recom-
mended this to be done very largely, because in the
first instance when the prunings are not dry and
burial is done at once and well covered with
basic slag or lime there is very little risk of the
spores spreading on to the new leaves of the bushes,
THE DEFICIENCY OF HUMUS IN THE SOIL.
Another thing which made me recommend the
burial of prunings was the great deficiency of
humus in most'Ceylon soils. As far as I can see
on most estates there is no other possible source
of hwmus. Where jan estate is just below torest
there is a certain amount.of nillu, or in other cases
m@na grassisavailableas Awmus; but in Dimbula
there is no other source except by the burial of
prunings. As long as this is done, with care to
prevent the burial of big wood and so that only
green leaves and prunings are buried, little harm
‘ean result. When you open a hole you will notice
in nine cases out of ten a lot of white fungus, but
it is not necessarily the, fungus which causes
root disease.
BURYING REPLACES NITROGEN,
The burning of prunings would also mean a
very large loss of nitrogen to the soil—which
is one of the mosv expensive constituents to
64
AGRICULTURIST, 427
replace and, therefore, although you don’t
actually add anything to the soil by the
burying of the prunings you replace a large
amount of nitrogen, ina form in whichit can be
readily utilised by the bushes. Another thing that
made me decide to recommend the burial of prun-
ings was the generally hard and uncultivated
condition of the soil. It is very difficult to ensure
thorough cultivation without some such method as
the burying of prunings. I have examined
a large number of estates where ib has
been done, and have noticed {that the soil is
still in an absolutely friable condition. Beneath
the holes, the ground is as hard as it was
originally. It is almost impossible for tea to send
its roots freely into the earth unless it is eulti-
vated. Hence this was one of the reasons why I
recommended the burying of prunings. Another
reason was that when the organie matter is buried
it gives off a gas which dissolves in rain-
water and renders the mineral matter in the soil
available to the bushes. No artificial manure will
do this in the same way; but I would like to point
out that the burial of prunings cannot be consi-
dered an effective manuring. Ib is only recom-
mended as
A BASIS OF MANURING,
Anyone who has dug up prunings will notice how
many tea rootlets have grown into the holes, and
this shows what the tea plant requires to encourage
freer growth. It has been suggested and frequent-
ly carried out to apply the manure in these holes
when the root growth is fully formed there, and,
up to a certain extent, this is a very good method,
but it has been pointed out to me today that the
period should not exceed six or eight months after
the burial because the manures do not seem to
have the same effect on the crop. This is partly
due to the fact that the manure is placed too
deeply into these |holes, The succulent rootlets
are toomuch disturbed, andit becomes impossible
for them to absorb the manure until new rootlets
have been sent out; but if the manure is put in
ab an earlier ssage and not too deep, 1 think it is
still one of the best methods,
ALBIZZIA MOLUCCANA AND DADAPS,
Another method that has been suggested for
returning hwmnus to the soil is the growth of
Albizzia Moluccana and Dadaps among the tea.
I would like to point oub here a slight risk
run in planting Albizzias throughout tea estates.
I have noticed lately in several districts where
grevilleas have been cut down, and where the
stumps have died that several bushes have
been killed near them. I have examined
these, and find it was due to root disease
spreading from the dead root of the grevillea
on to the tea root and so killing it. If you have
noticed the albizzia roots you must see they spread
for several feet in either direction through the tea
and if you had to ent them down at any subsequent
date and kill them, I think, if the fungus was
already in the soil, there would be a very great
risk of ib getting in the dead roots and killing out
the adjoining bushes. If Albizzia could be pollarded
and could be kept alive by letting thesuckers grow,
I think there would not be so much risk; but I
am not quite certain they can be pollarded. One
or two gentlemen say they have seen good results :
but I have seentrees die when cut down. I myself
think the Dadap is the more likely tree to be of
benefib in this way, because at Peradeniya they
428 THE TROPICAL
have cub them down and pollarded them with very
beneficial results. It forms annually a green
mass of organic material which can be buried
as @ 3reen manure. Of course the reason the
Albizzia and Dadap are recommended is owing to
the property they have of obtaining nitrogen from
the air and not depending entirely upon the nitrogen
from the soil. This is due to the fact that they have
nodules on the roots in which certain bacteria live,
capable of absorbing the nitrogen from the air for
their own growth and passing it on for the use of
the treeitself, where it is used to form leavesand new
growth. When, however, these leaves are returned
to the soil it means a distinct gain of nitrogen every
year, and from that point of view I think Albiz-
zias are to be recommended, I think
POLLARDING SHOULD BE TRIED
and, if it succeeds, the trees should be cut at an
early date and allowed to grow again. But what
I think will be a more important source of humus
is the growth and burial of green crops such as
Crotalarias or other of the leguminose. I
recommended this some years ago, but it has not
been carried out to any great extent until lately.
I have been getting reports from estates, and all
these reports, I am glad to say, are very
favourable indeed. Crotalaria is such a succulent
plant if you pull it up after four or five months
and bury it, that there is very little risk of the
root-disease spreading from its use. I have made
careful analyses of this plant, ard I have found
the growth of one crop would supply as much
nitrogen as if you applied fully half-ton of castor
cake, Of course, you cannot expect the same
immediate results, but you must remember that for
the tea to be permanent you must keep the soil in
proper condition. Half-a-ton of castor cake does
little or nothing toadd to the humus, The crop of
Crotalaria adds humus to the soil and supplies
several tons of organic matter containing, of course,
a large proportion of moisture, and all this does
more to render the cultivation of tea permanent
than any continuous application of artificial manure.
Under certain circumstances I have recommended
that the burial of prunings should be stopped
entirely. These are chiefly in very wet districts
or in very clayey soils or in fields that have
been within the last few years opened from jungle
in which the disease is known to be prevalent. Bub
even in these cases although, I think, it is better
not to run undue risk, I consider ib would
be very slight if only
GREEN LEAVES AND YOUNGER PRUNINGS
were buried carefully with lime or basic slag. Ihave
had numerous samples of prunings sent to me in
which very large wood was buried, although I have,
in my recommendations to these estates, carefully
pointed out again and again that on no account
should large wood be buried ; and, I think, greater
care in this respect should be taken, because if
there is any disease about, the dead wood will
help to spread the root-disease as much as anything.
And the wood is of no use in the soil; in many
cases it keeps the soil too open and it contains
yery little nitrogen or plant food. I1t is also of
great use as a fuel to the coolies, and J think
it is better left on the surface. ‘There ,is a method
that might probably be adopted with ad-
vantage in the burial of prunings. We all
know —at least J have seen—that wherever the
root-disease has spread from buried prunings to
AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1903.
the tea, it is almost invariably in wet clayey soils,
and the holes have become more or less sodden
with water. If you open up old holes in clayey soils
you will find the ground is almost impervious to
water, and J think if trenches could be dug down
‘and the prunings buried in a way that no water could
possibly hang about, the chief reason for disease
would be remedied, for fungus will aot grow so readi«
ly in a well-drained soil. Anotherimportant point is
that the burial of prunings should only be done
before dry weather. I think there is not the
slightest doubt from what I can see that great
harm has happened from this. Cases of disease
that have been reported have occurred where the
burial of prunings had taken place before a period
of wet which entirely prevented the decomposition
of the prunings.
Mr, MAsEFIELD :—How long would yousay, Sir ?
Mr, BAMBER :—I should say at least two or three
months before. When I first recommended the
burial of prunings on account of the presence of
grey blight, I think I recommended that they
should be covered with at least six inches, if
not more of soil. I think now that if the burial of
prunings is confined to young wood and leaves
it is advisable not to go sodeep. The bulk of the
feeding roots of teagrow3 or4in, tol ft. from the
top, and I think if prunings are buried to that depth
only it should be sufficient and less expensive.
_Mr. MASEFIELD :—What would you limit the
size of burying prunings to? Brown wood? :
Mr. BAMBER :—Yes, I think no prunings should
be thicker than your finger.
Mr. MAsevieLD :—Then it would be safe to bury
all brown wood.
Mr. BAMBER :—Except under the conditions I
have mentioned, I think it would be safe. TI think
I would also suggest that where the burial of
prunings has been carried out systematically for
some years so that practically the whole of the
estate has been brought under cvltivation, it
might pay to omit the burying for one season and
probably to apply rather more manure. By
spending the money in manure, I think possibly
a better return may be obtained, for I know well
that the burial of prunings is a very expensive item
and does not always givethe return one might expect
from it. So it would be advisable to stop for an
occasional round where the cultivation has been
thoroughly carried-out, I should like it clearly
understood that
I AM NOT AGAINST THE BURIAL OF PRUNINGS.
It has several times been brought under my notice
recently that I am now recommending the stopping
of the burial of prunings; but, except under these
circumstances I have mentioned I would recom-
mend going on with ib until we get some other
source of returning humus to the soil. Ib js
absolutely essential that there should be a consider-
able supply of humus in the soil if we are to get
continuous and good crops, and get the bushes to
respond to manures quickly. {[f not you have to
put far more manure into the soil at greater
expense, and the return is invariably less. It is only
by maintaining the humus and cultivation of the soil
that the expense of manuring can be kept down to
the minimum. Ido not know that there is any-
thing further I have to say, but I will be pleased
to answer any question any gentleman may
care to put. :
oo
eRe
CR Ser T AUR 5 teem
tr
Deze. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL
Mr, CHARLES RYAN :—I should like to know if
there is any ready means of distinguishing
between the dangerous fungus growths and the
innocuous ones in the holes.
Mr. BAMBER :—There are no means ; until it gets
to the fruiting-stage you cannot determine it. But
] think, that wherever you see a tea bush dying out
near a pruning hole or dead grevillea you may be
quite certain in nine cases out of ten it is due to this
root fungus; that it is present in the soil and greater
precaution is necessary.
Mr. RYAN :—The tea must die first,
Mr, BAMBER :—No, you can dig up the prunings
as soon as signs of the disease appear,
The CHAIRMAN ;—Is this fungus general all over
the island?
Mr, BAMBER :—I don’t think it is known at all
in thelow-country. I have not seen it below 2,000
or 3,000 feet, 50 my remarks apply to districts
above that elevation.
The CHAIRMAN said he asked the question
because Mr, Bamber said at Kandy there was very
little risk in growing Albizzias in the low-country.
Was he in favour of growing them in Dimbula ?
Mr, BAMBER :—I think thereis some risk from
what we see from the grevillea which is a harder
wood and not so liable to diseage, Unless the
fungus was in the ground, the decay of wood would
not cause the disease.
The CHAIRMAN :—How is it carried about?
Mr. BAMBER:—That we do not know yet.
Mr, GRAEME SINCLAIR :—I have fourd where
prunings were buried that the tipping takes much
longer to come on. A
Mr, BAMBER :—I thinkin the majority of cases
the holes dug for prunings are far too wide, with the
result that the roots are considerably injured for
some weeks and months, which woulda account for
the tipping taking longer tocome on, ‘That is one
of the reasons why I should suggesb burying in a
narrow trench one foot wide, so as not to injure
the roots of the bushes.
Mr, MASEFIELD :— Would you think that burying
in steep land is objectionable owing to the wash ?
Mr. BAMBER:—As far as I have seen, if burying
is carefully done, and as long as the land is not too
steep, I don’ think there is much danger from
wash,
Mr. MASEvIrLD ;—1t depends on the rainfall a
good deal, I suppose ?
Mr, Bamber .—Yes, and if it is exposed direct to
the South-West monsoon I think there is consider-
able danger of wash ?
Mr. MaAsEFI£LD :—In the loweountry, would you
Say the rainfall is too heavy for the burial of
prunings ?
Mr. BAMBER ;—Nob in some cases.
Mr, MASEFIELD:—You recommend the burial
of prunings in the lowcountry ?
Mr, Bamber :--I do certainly,
Mr, MASEFIELD :—What is the method adopted
of growing Crotalaria ?
Mr. BAMBER :—I think the general method is to
grow ib up every other row and continue weeding
between the intermediate lines, then to pullitup and
use it as a mulch or bury it as you would prunings.
Itis absolutely essential that sowing isdone at the
right period of the year, because although the
seed may germinate at most periods the growth is
limited unless itis sown at a period suitable to the
plants. This varies inevery district, but I think
ib is easily seen by those who watch its growth
alongside of the road, Ihave not noticed any here,
AGRICULTURIST. 429
but on the other side of Uval have seenit. IUthink
the best time would be about January or February
as the main growth appears to be in March,
April and May, the same time when tea is most
luxuriant, and again at the end of the year,
Mr, MASEFIELD :—Willit give two crops of seed 7
Mr, BambBEeR:—Yes, I think it advisable to let it
seed, I have seen seed germinating after the crop,
I have seen it stated that the growth of leguminous
plants would considerably send up the cost of weeds
ing, but as far as I can understand, those who have
tried it notice that the plants choke out the weeds
and the cost of manuring is not increased in the
slightest. In fact I do nov see why it should not
be considerably reduced. I would suggest to sow
crotalaria about the end of January with a certain
amount of sulphate of potash and basic slag, so that
by the time you pull it up to either use as a mulch,
or dig it in, you will have avery largecrop of green
material. I should advise that the crop should nob
be cut, but should be pulled up and used as a
mulch. The root is very tough and fibrous and
when the plant is pulled up it breaks up the soil and
if left on this broken soil the leaves are very soon
taken in.
Mr. C.E. WELLDON :—There is one thing I should
like to ask you. You say you recommend the
burying of prunings on steep taces ?
Mr. BAMBER :—Not on very steep faces ?
Mr, WELLDON :—I was going to ask, would you
recommend burying prunings where the land was
so steep that when you took the earth out of
the hole ip rolled down into the ravine instead
of remaining where ib is put ?
Mr, BAMBER said he did nob think he would
in that case.
Mr. WELLDON :—My experience is the coolieg
have to replace that soil by scraping between
the side bushes and thab leaves the tea tree
on a mound,
Mr. BAMBER ;—I should say that face was too
steep.
Mr. GRAEME SINCLAIR :—Are feeding roots an
annual growth?
Mr, BAMBER :—I think they grow twice a year,
In reply to another question by Mr; Sinclair,
Mr, BAMBER said :—You must avoid the cutting
of holes when the growth is most active,
Mr. SINCLAIR :—In May and November ?
Mr, BAMBuER :—As far as I can see, there is a
very good growth in March.
Mr. SINCLAIR :—We begin to flush heavily then,
The CHAIRMAN :—May I ask, Sir, if all the
manurial value of prunings is lost by leaving them
on the ground?
Mr. BAMBER :—Nobt by any means. I daresay
a certain amount of nitrogen is given off, but,* f
think, the chief loss is from wash and wind. One
objection I noted was that wherever prunings were
left on the surface the tea sent up a large number
of rootlets into the decomposing mass, and as soon
asthe wind and rain came and washed the prunings
away, these rootlets were left on the surface, and
in the heab of the sun they were quickly killed,
It seemed to me better that these should be en.
couraged to grow in, and not waste their energy in
growing upon the surface,
cals concluded the discussion and
r. DUNBAR then proposed a heart
thanks to Mr, Bamber tor his detention Oe He
meeting and for giving such valuable informatioz,
Loud applause.)
430.
THE CEYLON LAND AND PRODUCE
COMPANY, LTD.
STATISTICS FOR PAST 14 YEARS,
A
a
2
as. 6
— [=| oS
5 Su A ES all ee
aa Aig Bs odo , aad a
Fala a) bugil « Chomieeisees Go “e
a o8 = oe ee ie wer J Rupee
on 5 | Shee al Bete os, Cant
ag fe § sa 2205 225 §
A 4 ie) q Ho Ree cs
An
d.
1890 1131 354,842 314. 286,092 9.46 1/52 54-06
1891 1345 480,684 358 357,648 9:10 1/6 48°61
1892 1385 503,293 364. 479,005 7-81 1/43 46:63
1893 1406 589,192, 419 596,172 7-70 1/3 51:33
1894 1451 608,110 419 342,040 6°77 1/24 46-68
1895 1556 597,399 384 435,908 7:34 1/1 55-40
1896 1556 694720 446 590,111 680 1/2 48:57
1897 1571 748,994 476 432,652 651 1/3 43-40
1898 1636 753,151 460 393,360 4852, baja {3888
18991754. 754,768 480 281,457] 873 b ajay $4154.
1900 1814 865,168 477 206,327 Seoia} 1as | Sr eL
524. 32°00
1901 2108 917,038 435 483,102 J 755 af 48 NES a
1902 2391 986,862 413° 453,288) 276, 13g | 32.86
1908 2440 1,038,584 426 551,225 47°" bayag § 3618
a Including Sales made in Colombo.
Cocoa. — DIVIDENDs.
22
EG Som 2
“ 3 - Q
BE - Ba Ss 5 is
er =| 7 As oa Fs 3
aS ap ae Wiese a =
COV GEE S Oo ay tas x eZ
a is) vz) jax Ay oS.
1890 1294 95/11 15/6 per ct. 10 per ct.
1891 1855 108/ 1929/6 6 do. 10 do
1892 1431 96/5 120/ 6 do 15 do
1893 9201 . 90/11 130/29 6 do 15 doa
1g04 1212, 58/4’ 83/6 do! 15 do
1895 9840, 52/9 65/6 6 do 15 doa
1896 9335 56/8 80/ 6 do 15 doo
1897, 2264, | .66/ly j -Bd/,, ».6 dou: N54 doe
1808 9593 68/3. «80, «SG do s15, dow
1809 2504) 668.” SE, 6 da, | \35r: doa
1900 1574 78/ «1028/6. «6 do. 15, do
1901 9378 72/6 1103/6 6 do 15 do
1902, 2866 -B9/fL 80/6 do 15 dg
1908 3271 ©» 63/7.— «89/6 dy 1 do
a And 5 per cent Bonus.
THE AGRA TEA COMPANY OF CEYLON
LIMITED. t
Minutes of an Extraordinary General Meeting
of the shareholdersof the above Company, held at
11°45 a-m,, on Wednesday, the 2nd day of Decem-
ber, 1908; atthe office of the Colombo Commercial
Company, Limited, Slave Island, Colombo,—
Present,—Major E ¥ Tranchell(in the chair), Mr
Tee Saram, Mr 5 oe Mr Joseph Fraser
y his Atterney), Mr J K Symonds (b
and the Agents and Sapretn den) Ny Prey)
Ib was proposed by Mr{Morison, seconded by Mr
DE SARAM and carried unanimously:—That the
Directors of this Company be and they are hereby
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST:
(Dee: 1, 1908:
authorised on behalf of and in the name of the
Company to transfer tothe proprietor or proprie~
tors of Preston estate, situate at Dimbula in
Udapane korale, Nuwara Eliya, Central Province
of the Island of Ceylon, a'portion m extent two
rocdsand twenty-eight perches more or less of
Wishford estate, situate at Dimbula aforesaid,
the property of this: Company; in exchange for
a transfer to the Company of a portion in}
extent one acre more or less of St Margaret's
Estate, also situate at Dimbula aforesaid, upon
such terms and conditions as; the said Directors
shall think fit in the interests of the Company,
and to affix the seal of the Company to all deeds
necessary for giving effect to the said exchange.’
The Directors have the pleasure of submitting their
report, together with accounts made up to the 30th
September, 1903. The acreage of the Company’s
propertyis as under :—
Acres: r. p.:
Cultivated from 2 to 9 years old) 373. 1 0
Available Jungle B5 137 0 8
Tonas, etc,,... EE PALES. 10)
Total acreage ie 528 0 8
The crop for the past season was, disappointing, only
14,255 nuts having been plucked. Thisis owing tothe
fact that the eevere drought caused the young’ nuts to’
dvy up and(fall off the trees. Thesevere' drought inthe:
early partof the season is also: responsible-for the vex:
penditure of R1,144'93 on watering, Red) beetles. are:
still very.troublesome, The.expenditureom endeayour-
ing to eradicate this pest amounted. to Ri,050:87
during the season—nearly. one-fifth of the total ordi-
Thary expenditure. Only one or two trees have been
actually destroyed. The year’s working results in a
loss of R6,900%6, to which has’to be added the
balance brought forward from last year, viz.
R4,871'14, bringing’ the total at debit of the Profit
end Loss Account up to Rilj77P80. The es-
timated expenditure for the seasom 1993-4
is, R5,20000, and it is anticipated that the
crop. will amount to, 30,000 nuts, estimated to,
realise: R1,200°00. It will be necessary. to borrow a
further sum of R5,000°00 to provide for the, current
season’s working, after which, it is expected that.the
estate will have reached the self-supporting stage..
Mr’ A O Tranchell retires from the Board in accordance
with the Articles of Association, but: is: eligible for
re-election. The appointment of an Auditor will resti
with the meeting. By order of the Directors, Colombo:
Commercial Company, Limited. :
Joun G WaARDROoP, Manager, Agents;and: Secretaries:
Colombo, 21st Nov., 1903.
a ny '
HOW TO DETECT ADULTERATION
IN CITRONELLA OIL.
Mr M Kelway Bamber, the Government
Chemist, has hit upon an absolutely re-
liable test, for detecting adulteration-in
Citronella Oil as follows :—You take acertain
quantity of a pure fatty oil insoluble in
alcohol. The citronella oil to be tested. is
added ; and the oils are mixed and shaken
up for one minute with 10 volumes of
alcohol of a certain strength. The mixture
is then put into a milk centrifugal machine
and revolved for one minute, when the
volume of fatty oil plus any adulterant from
the citronella oil can be’ immediately read
off and the percentage calculated. Four
tests can be made in about five minutes.
The idea is, if the test is approved, by
Government, to appoint; if possible; one or
two Government a 9 ee to test. all the
oil at the Oustoms before shipment.—Local
6 Times,” 16,0
Dae). 1, 1908:) THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 431
Monthly Shipments of Ceylon Black Tea to all Ports in 1902-1903.
(Compiled from Chamber of Commerce Circular.)
Unirep Krnepom. Russia. ContiInENT ov Hurorn, AUSTRALIA,
3. 1902, 1903, 1902. 1903. 1902. 1903,
wb. a, ue neh i6i8 | 107885 Gee 1738760
os ( 7720436 612958 393101 51984
eee oe atn 7983166 919709 372474 121158 150846 1020948 1337353
March .. 8198179 7192958 896513 568942 91081 188065 1713916 737977
April 8521388 8411101 988698 936633 93198 142852 2081904 1510067
Ma Ae |: 9638555 10023181 238239 480774 80669 193804 2000522 1456987
Taha 12563050 11204634 1984976 1330431 166479 147245 1828695 1526555
July gf 10724781 9362321 1779011 460757 108785 158007 1747960 1933567
August ... 7396614 6454565 1065599 969325 208894 164500 1574498 2492924
Sept’mber 6652202 5305610 795315 882356 70262 171263 1857897 1362494
October .. 6559765 6827027 360844 470845 79943 158272 1567796 2013007
November 6386229 937757 213619 1033030
December 9072552 285785 60628 1577381
TotaL ..{, 102,899,489 a 11,599,953 1,206,140 18,718,794
AMERICA, Au OTHER Ports. ToraL.
1902. 1903. 1902. 1903. 1903.
lb. lb, lb. lb. lb. Ib.
January oe ee 125795 538166 389215 584321 11050212 11032667
February oe oe 115332 743733 385705 615790 10018071 11203362
March f oe 566263 417750 311191 270198 11777143 10625890
April OO °° 807390 363052 290137 531685 12782715 11895390
Ma 00 ee 249651 538007 436410 979191 12637046 13671944
J me oo wie 403005 410820 714471 977991 17660676 15597676
July do eee 464858 652273 846036 1048151 15671431 13615076
August , : 461229 735131 678095 499192 11384929 11315637
September ase See 563981 245323 688730 739124 10628487 8706170
October nn on 483085 704780 655827 428861 9707260 10602792
November ts ste 282794 547508 9400936
December wee ee 558864 626319 12181529
Total... 5,048,137. | 6,569,644 146194397
Monthly Shipments of Ceylon Green Tea to all Ports in 1901—1902.
Unitep Kinepom,
Jannary...
February
Maire
Septtm
October...
November
December
TOTAL ..
January os
Hebruary
March, an
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December ass
Total
* lt is impossible to get the fig
for cerjain jnformation,
RUSSIA,
ee ee
ConrTINENT oF EUROPE. AUSTALIA,
1902. 1903. 1902: 1903,
: lb. lb. lb,
Be 3000 eee on
ee 1430 ae oe
a "600 a 3
¥ “7688 ath ai
is "4832 es sy
os 13599 OO 400
127,115
AMERICA, Aut OrHeR Ports, Toran
1902. 1903. 1902. 1903. 1902. 1903.
Ib. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
113332 265340 ne te 177353 363883
26480 567474 515 ie 66254 621616
62313 551016 100 an 101423 610474
538610 348963 9165 Ad 84451 448594
32676 569016 3280 | 4570 106059 771848
84184 773332 4500 | ae 250249 858840
194016 666316 0 8614 234590 736853
105982 756126 1600 3780 178482 8016386
333704 430290 6800 3050 391275 588373
281168 1390027 ae 7710 349847 1529031
156653 30 20080 Rs 224809 é%
365843 cic 2240 | ne 408506 ts
1,968,456 48,280 2,796,844 |
ures for the last month in time for publication ; hut see pages 432, 433
432
SHARE LIST.
ISSCED BY THE
COLOMBO SHARE BROKERS'
ASSOCIATION,
CEYLON PRODUCE COMPANIES.
paid Buy- Sell- Trans-
Company p. sh. Ole ers. actions
Agra Oavah Estates Co.,Ltd. 500 1000 1100 —
Ceylon Tea and Coconut Hstates 600 4. 6500
Castlereagh Tea Co., Ltd. 100 — 1022 =
Ceylon Provincial Estates Co. Ltd. 500 — 605 aa
Clunes Tea Co., Ltd. t 100 260 85 ee,
Ciyde Estates Co., Ltd. 100. =. 75 ~=80 a
Doomoo Tes Co., of Ceylon Ltd. 100 ww» 100 100
Drayton Kstate Co., Ltd. 100 bon ab a
fila Tea Co., of Oeylon, Ltd. 106 30 323 oe
fistates Co. cf Uva, Lid. 500 bs — 300
FernlandsTea Co., Ltd. 500 —- — ca,
Glasgow Hstate Co., Ltd. 500 . 12124 =
Gangawatte Tea Co., Ltd. 100 100 — a
‘Great Western Tea Co,, Ltd. 600 we 700 dee
Hapugahalande Tea Estate Co. 200 200 ae au
High Forests Katates Co., Ltd 600 — 5 ae 575
Do part paid 400 450 5 no
Horrekelley Katates Co Ltd 106 105 107% 107%
Kalutare Co., Ltd., 500 305 a5 800
Kandyan Hills Co,, Ltd 100 © 40 a op
Kanapediwatte Ltd. 100 5 75 aa
Kelani Tea Garden Co., Ltd. 100 45 50 —
Kirklees Estate Co., Ltd. 100 ac $ om
Knavesmire Estates Co., Ltd. 100 (W/E? eS T7E
Maha Uva Estates Co., Ltd. 500 ww. 450 _—
Mocha, Tea Co.; of Ceylon, Ltd. 500 ... 900 one
Nahavilla Estate Co., Ltd. 500 400 a», , 425
Neboda Tea Co., Ltd. 600 420 AG oe
Palmerston Tea Co., Ltd. 600 250 300 oe
Penrhos Estates Co.. Ltd. 100 soe 974 0
Pitakanda Tea Company 600 cos — —
* Pine Hill Estate Co,, Ltd. 60 — 422 —
Putupaula Tea Co. Ltd. 100 100 =
Ratwatte Cocoa Co., Ltd. 500 --- 650
Rayigam Tea Co., Ltd. 100 60 ies 60
Roeberry Tea Co., Ltd. 100 117% .. —
Ruanwella Tea Co., Ltd, - 100 60 — i
St. Heliers Tea Co., Ltd, 600 .. 600 My
Talgaswela Tea Co., Ltd. 100 45 475 web
Do 7 percent Prefs. 100 fin = i
Tonacombe Estate Co., Ltd, 500 425 450 we
Union Estate Co:, Ltd. ' 600 -. 110 ah
Upper Maskeliya Estates Co., ae
Ltd. as 500 650 <5 Be
Uvakellie Tea Co. of Ceylon, «
Ltd 100 90 100 90
Vogan Tea Co,, Ltd. 100 Ria ee 72
Wanarajah Tea Oo., Ltd. 500 .. 1025 as
Yataderiya Te Cc. Ltd. 100 — 360 oe.
CEYLON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES,
_ Adam's Peak Hotel Co,, Ltd. 160 us 80 As
Bristol Hotei Co., Ltd. 100 70 75 70
Ceylon Ice & ColdStorage Co. Ltd. 100... 874 ae
Czaylon Gen. Steam Navigation; Ny
Co., Ltd LOO WNE25 Ole Were
Ceylon Superaération Ltd. 100 15 oa
Colombo Apothecaries’ Co. Ltd, 100 135 43 ee
Colompo Assembly Rooms Co.,
Lta, 20. 16 = — As
Do prefs. QOPR Rin) | Pian aM
Colombo Fort Land and Building
vo., Ltd. 100 — 100 100
Colombo Hotels Company 100 290 295 row
Galle Face Hotel Co., Itd. 100... 187% os
Kandy Hotels Go,, Lid. 100 120 ae ae
Mount Lavinia Hotel Co,, Ltd. 6500 — 250 Br
New Colombo Ice Co., Ltd, 100 -: 95 2
Nuwara Eliya Hotels Co,, Ltd, 30 a 30
Do 7 per cent prefs. 100 se eeLLO
Public Hall Co., Ltd. 20 18 “a Ae
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Dec. 1, 1903.
LONDON COMPANIES.
paid Buy- Sell- Trans-
Company p- sh ers, ers. actions,
Alliance Tea Co., of Ceylon, Ltd. 10 9-10 —
Anglo-Ceylon General EstatesCo 100 — 53—66
Associated Estates Co., of Ceylon 10 a 1-2 —
Do. 6 per cent prefs 0 — 24
Geylon Proprietary Co. 1 — —10 —
Ceylon Tea Plantation Co.,Ltd. 10 25 25-26 ..
Dimbula Valley Co. Ltd oS 53-6 —
Do prefs 5 — 6-6 —
Eastern Produce & EstateCo. Ltd 5 — 43—43 —
Hderapolla Tea Co., Ltd 10 = B=8. use
Imperial Tea Estates Co., Ltd. 10 — 5g..6 a.
Kelani Valley Tea Asscn., Ltd. 5 — B—5 owe
Kintyre Estates Co., Ltd. 10 “a 4-7 «—
Lanka Plantations Co., Ltd 10 — © 33-44 —
Nabaima Estates Co.,Ltd. 1 — nn —
New Dimbula Co., Ltd. Les 22-35 —
Nuwara Hliya Vea Estate Co., Ltd, 10 _ = =a
Ouvah Coffee Co., Ltd. 10 ee == ~
Ragalla Tea, Estates Co., Ltd. 10 «. 9-10. .
Scottish Ceylon Tea Oo., Ltd. 10 a 9—10 .
Spring Valley Tea Co., Ltd. TO) se “a
Standard Tea Co., Ltd. Gite 12> is
he Shell Transport and Trading Koes .
Company, Ltd. i 1 oe = .
Ukuwella Estates Go., Ltd. QE we par _
Yatiyantota Ceylon Tea Co.,Ltd. 10 & = oe
Do. pref. 6 o/o 10h eco — NO —
i BY ORDER OF [THE COMMITTEE.
Colombo, Dec. 4th, 1903.
Latest London Prices.
RAINFALL RETURN FOR COLOMBO.
———«<
(Supplied by the Surveyor-General.) '
2 |Av.of
1898. |1899 1900 |190, 190 33yrs. 1903
Inch | Inch.| Inch.| Inch,| Inch | Inch,| Inch
January ..| 2°32 “98 3°72) 11°91 | 1°95 | 3°46 | 4°16
February ..| 1°98 2°78 0°63] 3°55 | 4°57 | 2:02 | 3°95
March ont CAL 0°88 3°71] 5°12 | 6°85 | 4°82 | 253
April 22°81 6°66 | 15°12) 8°71 | 10°01 |11°30 | 7°62
May -.| 5°80 |17°73 | 10°63) 6°28 | 11°89 | 11°86 |20°76
June --| 10°94 9°23 7°83) 5°93 | 9°84 | 8°32 | 5°42
July «-| 6°15 11l 6-77| 4°52 | 4°63 4°46 | 5°02
August ..| 0:97 | 0°62 | 7:35] 0°46 | 2°78 | 3°66 | 7°54
September ..| 6°90 1°48 4°00} 3°93 | 8°18 5°04 | 8°06
October ...| 20°60 {12°99 | 9°47] 3:91 | 31°47 | 14:56 |1117
November ..|/ 17°38 | 8°58 9°25) 19°84 |20°10 | 13°00 | 0°94
December ..| 3-05 | 4°44 5'20| 1°70 | 6°43 | 6°21 | 0°12"
Total..;103°11 |73°48 | 83°68 | 75°86 |118°70) 88°71 | 77°29
&* From Ist to 2nd Dec. 0°12in., that is up to 9-30 a.m. on
the 8rd Dec.— ED. C. O.
CEYLON TEA: MONTHLY SHIP- —
MENTS TO UNITED KINGDOM
AND ESTIMATE,
{
Estimate for Oct. 1903— 7,000,000 Ib,
Total Shipments do
Do do do 1902— 6,386,229 Ib,
Do do do 1901— 6,229,472 lb,
Leomne for December 1903—93 to 10 million Ib.
1903— 6,500,000 Ib,
—
SENSITIVE PLANT FoR MANURING: A DiIs=
COVERY !—We hear that Mr. Herbert Wright
has discovered the presence of abundance of
parasitical eelworms in the roots of the
‘ Sensitive plant '—which has been used as a
green manure with the idea that the nodules
sabe a nitrogenous! This is certainly rather
a shock ! :
‘ - ss v~ awh
433
AGRICULTURIST.
Dro. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL
) J}OLOMBO PRICE CURRENT
CEYLON EXPORTS AND DISTRIBUTION anaes by the Ohamber of Conmerce.)
FOR SEASONS 1902 AND 1803: ORE aap
\ ¢ ICES SINC :
male! Be28ag 3 aee S | . Ee Colombo, Nov. 30th, 1903,
. wn ~ we © wv may . at pp
5 ES fe A i | Oral aowid parcel, well bleached peu lb: 59c. to 0s,
i : dull medium oO. .
a4 A) PARMNE WeReeieB ,; = : ve asortment,Qandlonly do, 80c. to 90c.
5 A goss & Mara # | a Special a , do 60c.
a 82 a9 ;Sao oO Fee er isuer oH Seeds i
Sela sn * OCrncuona Bark :— 7
ro if s c
i Iphats of Quinine .
a ae EES geeus3 3 | 2 UH GinGELS (ini belealof HOU ub! rete), ¥
Z a@a SSX Saasss s ‘S “i wainarel sasontmenbe oo perilb: 453c. to 47c.
B| © |/888 .2a8 .:8°RA45 2.3) 8 Bete er Ib. 52c, to 53c.
8 Zz, 3 Gel a ° S| | = Nos. 1 and 2 only Pp 1b 37¢. to A0o.
is) | | Nos. 3 and 4 Sault Bane Les ib
rr 2 Cinnamon Curps :—(Un ' . ’
S| | Ceres Re BBER | at nett. per candy of 560 Ib.) R60:00 to R63-00
23 ~| Sannoa HS mag aS Cocoa :— ' E ‘ 48:00
EB Fe ls SS p37 fii | 3 Finest priate red upricked Eee ees re BiG
= to) x
go | Cantino En pice de nacurd soe sie
= r 7 S19 19 DOD 2 VAs do (o] fo) o6 oe
Ee etre ae A deel eS) 0 Gaccee(kaskod) d R50-00
| SERS ae Tene rt Selected per thougan B49'00
Sa} sEO j dinar Pe
S| |SeSese5S 2 SkSsz5 | 2 Smile” : Bee 0e
oO 8a SIRS Es rt 3! OAAaS " Ss CONUT Caxe— a ; !
GE | ©) mallee an aga le | is veetnad in robins f.0.b. perton R65'00 to R67°50
HHS on ies Do in bags pone. ane Pry
al Z BeSeuss = P:8S pra a Coconut (Desiccated). Ib se 160
° as ASrgeEag © Te We Assorted all grades per f 5
g)or Coconut O1L— : ie
a)a |SSSSee5 SSS885 = | 2 Dealers’ Oil per cwt. R13‘50 to R13-75
a By |SORRSSs Hesind s esr ss Coconut Oil in ordinary packages 600 to R310-00
ge 3 SN SUA is Oe ‘| a Epon bap orgon 1. Buyers at lower Sellers at
7 —Prices nominal. .
2 g° S28 Sse aeons higher figare.
$a 3 5 PSiue Te Ce A | 3 CorrEE.— Betis
aa] =l/s ee : Plantation Estate Parchment o a
) : = a) a the spot. per bus. 8°00
2) 6 | SERBS (oR Re ara ame Plantation Estate Coffee f. 0. b. gee
3 B| is oO Vout oy (ready) per cwt.— R58
; ae SSE SANs | 3 Native penee: f.0.b per cwb.— con le
Bi) Pe é ob hye) | SITRONELLA OIL— :
{2 gates or . sas Firm. 54c, to 56¢,
2) | Ready do per lb,— .«
ne Hane el Sy anys Mascaiioonraipenieandylot sculnh: RAG“50 to BA7-25
HC ae Seen a Siete, vacdt: | taste aclegnoomees
Sl.el4 aoa SSsrgnes s Cart do do do 00 to
Clee lS: 7: rrerGi°Se 7] 8 Estate do do do R47°50 to tp
las |" lat Croron SEED per cwt—
a Soe ° 1g Esony— :
S . depot R160:00 to R185
3| 3 3 = A AHS enie a 7 send: | RB Seder Haee at Govt. dep R50-00 to R100
ll rt | aye Sales of 30th Nov. 25 tons only sold ont of 125
3 re 2 GES 2 tons offered.
aefS2a)/s. Te eyseyisicn Baa : | a site
& \s8 |: Mba one ce | Fa Pete BHeHeENoUMe en owel RILOOM EUR
| ALE, 4 ‘
: Sa lz ese 8 2 Bee cy 2 ce Ea ess ig t sae to 378
O(ZE/5 858 12.8 293 Bk | 3 TSR 175 to 1:85
eig@tacecenene gO TNE Lice 9B OE us
oa SONgaD! Do Colombo ,, o 8—Hirm fe) z
gglseeenoecisetses-2e2| = — peprun—Black pent) onlin
S35 BADSR AAP LSaSHD— A HSS | B P BAGO—
e|S2|k8 Eira) 8 Rio rit vom tEAe ht R300 to R575:
3|F5 | ay 8 5a°S | 3 Large lumps _ per ton BOD a aoe
Bs tee : 5 :
S)\2, |S2gesasusrsceseszaz| 8 Creed one Mee R150 to R350°00
3 23 |Becceoesege eee see 3 | x Chips do Rs0! Reape
MAS | aeacaane PNA DOGS oy | ce) Dust Flying) ‘ac R40 to R100-00
1 i Sts a Vv
Cee Baas, Se ae do—Small Supply. R37:50 to R40:00
ae imate Ainipecea orn e . lo 2 of Satinwoop (Sound) ver cubie ft R300 to R740
Hort o Uri g ens Fe 28 Do (Inferior) per oubic ft. oe ft
a gp Do (Flowered) poe cubic He R10:20 to R15*50
°
Fa ey —Sales of 7th Sept. 1903. :
# aos ES Ss ae 2a digh Grown Medium Tow Grown
“SHoga « eS Sa or os es Average Average. Average,
a MEGE EEE: suuse 528 u 35 | e° Brena Pekoeand Broken cts cts cts
8 Pasiemiaahags44onan a Orange Pekoe ae Ib BS = 43
Sl BES eGR OS DBE BRS SSE) eb Orange, Eekoe oe a5 ay 38
Pekoe S
Sy LT Ge a Pekoe Souchongdo 40 36 35
iti 2 n Tea for which certi 2
ae Shas beet emuntoat Tne Ist January to 28th REEGesEenningyda oy : 33
ate
1903, were 10067,,578 Ib Broken mixed—dust, &o0 34 25 26
oY. F) ” °
434
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Dec, 1, 1903.
‘MARKET RATES FOR OLD AND NEW PRODUCTS.
(From Lewis & Peat’s Fortnightly Price Current, London, 18th November, 1903,
— -—_—____
ALOKES, ‘Soecotrine cwt.|Fair to fine dry
Zanzibar & Hepatic ,,
ARROWKOOT (Natal) lb.
BEES’ WAX, ewt.
Zanzibar Yellow i
Bombay bleached ,,
Madagascar a
CAMPHOR, Formosa ,,
Japan Ay
CARDAMOMS, Malabarlo
Ceylon. —- Mysore
Tellicherry ,,
Long 33
a Mangalore ,,
CASTOR OIL, Caleutta,,
CHILLIES, Zanzibar cwt.
CINCHONA BARK.- Ib.
Ceylon
CINNAMON, Ceylon Ists
per lb, 2ndg
3rds
4ths
Chips
Ib.
CLOVES, Penang
Amboyna
‘Zanzibar
and ‘Pemba
Stems
COFFEE
Ceylon Plantation ,,
Native
Giberian
COCOA, Ceylon
th
”
COLOMBO ROOT ite
CROTON SEEDS, sift. cwt.
CUTCH “1
GINGER, /Bengal, rough,,
Calicut, Cut ,,
+ ”
Gochin Rough ,
Pp *
ONIACUM ,,
ANIMI, Zanzibar ,,
Japan
GUM AMM
Madagascar,
ARABIC E. I, & Aden
Turkey sorts
Ghatti
Kurrachee
Madras
ASSAFGTIDA
KINO
MYRRH, picked
Aden -sorts
OLIBANUM, drop
pickings ,,
siffings
INDIARUKBEK, Ceylo
Assam
”
n
Ib.
Rangoon
Borneo
Jaya, Sing. & Penang| Foul togood clean
Nyassaland
QUALITY.
Common to good
Fair to fine
Slight’y drossy te f3ir
Good to fine
Dark to gcod palish
Crude and semi-refined
Fair average quality
Clipped, bold, bright, fine
Middling, stalky & leap
-m ‘ll Fair t fine plump
Seeds
Good to fine
Brownish
Shelly to good 29
Med brown to fair bold
ists and 2nds
Dull to fine bright ie
Ledgeriana Orig. Stem
ee
Crown, Renewed
Org. Stem
Red Org. Stem
Renewed
Root
Ordinary to fine quill
29
”
”
” ”
Dull to fine bright bold
Dull to tine
Good and fine bright
Common dull to fair
| Fair
Bold to fine bold colory
Middling to fine mid
Smalls
Good ordinary
Small to bold
Bold to fine bold
Medium and fair
Native
Middling to good
Dull to fair
Fair to fine dry
Fair
Small to fine bold
Small and medium
Common fo fine bold
Small and D’s
Unsplit
Sm. blocky to fair clean
Picked fr. fine pl. in sts.
‘Part yellow and mixed
Bean and Pea size ditto
Amber and dk. red bold
Med. & bold glassy sorts
Fair to good palish
30) 2) red a
Ordinary to good pale
Pickings to fine pale...
Good and fine pale...
Reddish to pale selected
Dark to fine pale F
Clean fr. to gd. almonds
Ord. stony and blocky
Fir to fine bright
Fair to fine pale
Middling to good
Good to fine white
Middling to fair
Low to good pale
Slightly foul to fine
Fine (grwn. fr, Para seed)
Good to fine
Common to foul & mxd,
Fair to good clean
Ccemmon to fine
Fair to fine ball
QUOTATIONS. QUALITY. UOLTATIONS
INDIARUBBER..(Contd.)
.. 13¢s a 70S Good to “fine Ball «38 2 38 8d
-/20s a 638 Ordinary to fair Ball ...jZzs a 2s 6d
-|3d a éd Mozambique », ,|Low sandy Ball .../9d a 2s
Sausage, fair to good ..|/3s2d a-3s 54d
£6 12/6 a £6 17/6 \ |Liver and ‘Livery Ball ../1s 9d a3s¢d
£6 5s a £7 5s ; bEr to fine pinky &-white}zs a 3s 1d
£6 12/6 a £7 2/6 Madagascar { Fair to g.od black ../isida 2s 3d
1758 nom. Niggers, low to good ..|7da 2811}a
- |180e nom. INDIGO, EI Bengal-- _ e :
is6d a 1s 7d Shipping mid to-gd yiolet|3s &d a 4s
8id a lsid Consuming mid. to gd.|3s 2d a $s 7d
6d a 2s 4d Ordinary to mid. 2s 10d: a 3s
1ld ais id Mid. to good Kurpah |is 94a 2s 3d
is 6d ais 9d Low to ordinary 1lsai1s 6d
lid a 1s 4d Mid. to good Madras 1s 6d a 2s
6d a 1s 6d MACE, Bombay &Penang|Pale reddish to fine [38a 3s 6d
2s a 2s 5d per Ib. Ordinary to fair @sa 2s 9d
2d a 23d Pickings 1s-$d als 1ld
31s a 40s MYRABOLANS, Dark to fine paleUG |5sa6s nom.
éda 9d Madras f C¥'|Fair Coast 4s 3d a 4s 6d
32d a 7d Bombay _,, ,Jubblepore 4sa5s 64
22d a 6d ‘Bhimlies 4sa 7s 6d
da 43d Rhajpore, &c. s6d a 5s 6d
3d a 53d Bengal ,, {Calcutta 3s 60. a 5s nom,
33d a 4d NUTMEGS— Ib, |64’s to 57's 23 9da 2s 1¢d
74d a 1s 8d Bombay & Penang.,, |110’s ‘to 65's la s23j 7d
6d a Is 6d 160’s to 115’s 6d ait
5d a is 4d NUTS, ARECA ewt. |Ordinary to fair fresh {128 2 13s
4d a lid NUX VOMICA, Bombay |Ordinary to-middling [68 6d a 6s
1gd a 95d per cwt. Madras |Fair to geod bold-fresh |7s a 10s
6d ails Small ordinary-and fajr|58.a'6s 9d
5d_a 6d OIL OF ANISEED ,, |Fair merchantable [489d a 4s 10d
bid a b5hd CASSIA ;, |According to analysis [3s 1d a 3s 6a
5d a bid LEMONGRASS ;, (Good flavour:& colour |53d
id NUTMEG » |Diugy to white Id a 2d
CINNAMON ,, Ordinary to fair sweet |!¢d a 1s
90s a 122s CITRONELLE [Bright & good flavour |9d a 103d
» [55s a 90s ORCHELLA WEED—ewt .
40s a, 608 ‘Ceylon ,, |Mid. to fine not woody.,.|10s a 12s 6d
4)sa 5Cs Zanzibar. ,, |Picked clean flat leaf ...)1Cs a 14s
30s a 40s PEPPER -— (Black) Yb.)
658 a 91s Alleppee & Tellicherry|Fair to bold heayy ..,|6da6sd
55S a. Cbs Singapore ... | Fair ve) abe) wae OG GR
478 a, 658 Acheen & W. C.Penang|Dull to fine .. ...joad a 63d
128 6d.a 18s PLUMBAGO, lump cwt.|Fair_to fine bright bold|3('sa 35s
15s a 22s 6d Middling to good smallj20s a 283
22s 6d a 30s chips Dull tofine bright — ..|/9S a 19s
40s dust Ordinary to fine ‘bright|4s a 7s 6d
723 a 859 SAGO, Pearl, large ...| Dull to fine .. {13s a 16s 6d
41s éd a 60s medium en ey 18s a 16s 6d
328 a 85s small Raita = 10s a 13s 6a
30s a 318. 6d SANDAL WOOD— ;
278 6d a 288 Bombay, Logs ton.|Fair to fine flavour ../£15 a. £30
20s a 55s Chips ,, ae A ona .. |25a £8
£10 a £12 Madras, Logs ,, |Fair to good flayour ../£15 a £30
£7 a £10 ships ,, |Znferior to fine [£40 £8
75s a £8 bs SEEDLAC -ewt. {Ordinary to gd. soluble|t6¢s) a190s a
£5 15s a £7 SENNA, Tinnevelly ‘Ib [Good tofine bold green|5d ai7d ‘
958 a £6 15s Fair greenish 33d a md z
-.|£4a, £8 Common dark and small|i3d a 34d 4
£458 a £7 10s |SHELLS, M. o’PEARL— 2
ae 6d a 32s 6d Bombay ewt.|Bold a A’ im
S a 358 D’s-and_-B’s 9 i
16s a 233 Small { 268 a 1278 6d iH
43 a 27s Mergui malbto Bais F
10s a 283 Mussel t Small to bold ae eae a ae a
--|158 a 20s TAMARINDS, Calcutta..,}Mid.to fine bl’knot stony/gs a, 12s ty
50s 210.8 percwt. Madras |Stony and inferior .l4g 6d a 63 i
58a 45s TORTOISESHELL—
33d a 5d Zanzibar & Bombay Ib. |Smail to»beld dark
97s 6a a 120s mottle part heavy { 1ésa 23s 6d
65s a 9Es TURMERIC, Bengalewt, |Fair bright')/11s a 133
42s 6da 47s 6d Madras ,, eee fair to fine bold|gs a 10s 6d
388 a 428 Do. _,, |Bulbs ..|78 a &8
238 a 30s Cochin __,, |Finger 16s 64 a 8s
15s a 238 Bulbs + {63 73
3s 4 4s 83d
2s 8d/a 3s 6d =| VANILLOES— Ib.
Is a 28 Mauritius ,.. Ists|Gd. cry sallized 34 a8% in|4s 186
23 a 3s 4d Bourbon wy 2nds|Foxy & reddish 34.48 ,,/8y a 696d
6d a 2s 43d Seychelles 3rds}Lean andinferior ... [33.2 6S
. |8da 8s 3d VERMILION lb.} Fine, pure, bugnt 48 38d
2s 3d a 3s 6d WAX, Japan, squares cwt|'Good white’ hard oe 758
(DASE dao
AcricunTurar
COLONIBO.
Added as a Supplement Monthly to the “TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.’
The following pages include the
December :—
Contents of the Agricultural, Magazine for
Vol. XV]
DECEMBER,
1903. [No. 6.
THE CLIMATE OF CEYLON.
HE Surveyor-General’s Report
for 1902 is a particularly
interesting document, and iS
well illustrated by three
maps of the Island besides
other explanatory diagrams ,
The maps show respectively
the mean annual rainfall, the mean rainfall
during the South-West monsoon, andthe mean
rainfall during the North-East monsoon.
We cull the following information from the
report :—
The climate varies considerably in different
parts of the Island, both as regards temperature
and rainfall, In the lowlands the climate is
tropical, but in the mountains in the interior
the climate is found equal to many parts of
Europe.
The mean temperature for the year 1902 was
highest at Mannar and lowest at Nuwara Eliya,
being 82°3° and 59°7° respectively.
At Colombo and Kandy the mean temperature
was 81'8° and 75°4° respectively.
The mean daily range of temperature, 7.e., the
mean of the daily differences between the
maximum and minimum temperatures, was highest
at Ratnapura, having been 20°2°, and lowest
at Galle, 8°7°
The differences recorded at Colombo and Kandy
were 12°7° and 15:8° respectively.
The absolute rvange or differences between the
highest and lowest temperature of the air recorded
during. the year was greatest at Nuwara Hliya and
lowest at Galle, having been 30°7° and 12°5°
respectively.
The absolute difference at Kandy was 24°3° and
at Colombo 19°0°,
The hottest station, taking the mean tempera-
ture of night and day all the year round into
account, was Mannar (82°3°).. The coolest
Nuwara Hliya (59°7°.) Colombo and Kandy were
81°0° and 75'4° respectively.
The deficiency in rainfall reported in 1901
was more than made up for during 1902, The
first three months of the year and the months
of October and November were abnormarly wet
all over the Island. October and November
especially shewed large excess, the most remark-
able being 17 inches in October on the West
and over 12 inches in November on the Hast
coast above the average, During the year the
whole Island has received from 14 to 30 inches
more than the average for the past 33 years, the
only exception being a small patch in the south
part of the Uva Proviace with 23 inches below
the average.
The following figures give the mean annual
rainfall of the chief towns in various parts of
the Island :—Colombo, 88°77; Galle, 91:72;
Hambantota, 35711; Batticaloa, 58°17; Trin-
comalee, 63°45; Jaffna, 45°47; Mannar, 38°59;
Puttalam, 46°98; Anuradhapura, 54°47; Kurune-
galle, 84°71; Kandy, 82°16; Nuwara Eliya, 94°44;
Badulla, 76°93; Ratnapura, 151:39,
436
RAINFALL TAKEN AT .THE GOVERNMENT The best are given as,
‘STOCK GARDEN FOR NOVEMBER, 1903.
1 Sunday ... Nil 16 Monday oo ‘12
2 Monday ... ‘14 17 Tuesday coo SK)
3 Tuesday ... “07 18 Wednesday ... Nil
4 Wednesday... *24 19 Thursday ... -04
5 Thursday ... ‘05 20 Friday - Nil
6 Friday «. ‘ll 21 Saturday Nil
7 Saturday ... °36 22 Sunday ae NGL
8 Sunday ... "04 23 Monday sch
9 Monday... ‘11 24 Tuesday . Nil
10 Tuesday - ‘14 25 Weduesday ... Nil
J1 Wednesday... Nil 26 Thursday ... Nil
12 Thursday ... Nil 27 Friday Nil
13 Friday -. Nil 28 Saturday Nil
14 Saturday Nil 29 Sunday Nil
15 Sunday ... ‘09 30 Monday Nil
Total iv....1°75
Mean in.... *06
Greatest amount of rainfall in any 24 hours
from 6th to 7th="36 inches,
No, of days in which rain fell—14 days.
ALEX. PERERA.
Se
OCCASIONAL. NOTES.
Among our visitors during October was Mr,
B. C. Basu, Assistant Director of Agriculture,
Assam, who came on official duty with a view
to acquainting himself with the cultivation and
manufacture of Cocoa, Cinnamon, Citronella,
Pepper and Cardamoms. Mr, Basu, to whom we
rendered all possible aid, was a distinguished
student of Cirencester Agricultural College.
Under the head of Cocoa in the return of
imports into the United States, the U. S,
Department of Agriculture Year Book for 1902
gives the following information :—Cocoa, crude
and leaves and shells of 45, 924, 353 pounds im-
ported in 1901. Whatever could this mean?
There would appear to be confusion between coco
(nut), cocoa, and coca !
In view of the local beliefs in the existence
of gold in the Island, it is interesting to find
(vide Scientific American of May 2na) that on
electric contrivance has been invented by Messrs
L, Draft and A. Williams of Ealing, England
by the use of which gold, tin, silver, copper,
or iron bearing reefs could be accuratly lucated,
Numberless experiments are reported to have
been made, and all are said to prove that the
invention is not an @ imaginary thing but ao
solid fact.
The following interesting note on the botany
of Tobacco is given by Mr. R. S. Neville (tobacco
expert) in the Queensland Agricultural Journal.
Of the 50 different kinds all except two are
indigenous to America. JV. suaveolens is native
to Australia, and WV. fragrans to New Caledonia,
Supplement to the“ Tropical Agriculturist.”
[Dec. 1, 1903.
(1) N. tabacum of which
there are two species, Macrophylla (Maryland)
and Angustifolia (Vriginia). Of these there are
several varieties including the ‘famous tobacco
of Cuba and Manilla. To the second class belongs
Latakia tobacco. (2) WN. rustica is Hungarian
tobacco cultivated largely in Europe, Asia and
America. There is a large and a small leayed
variety, both producing good tobacco. (3) WN.
persica, a form of tabacum produced by climatic
influence. (4) NV. crispa, a species grown in
Syria and along the Mediterranean. (5) WN.
repanda, Mexican species whose small leaves
give the pecular aroma to Mexican cigars.
We have had pressing enquiries from certain
quarters regarding the identity of a tree called
Massoy or Meswi, and for the information of
those concerned we have pleasure in giving its
botanical name (for which we are indebted to
Mr. Ridley of the Singapore Botanic Garders)
viz.,—Cinnamomum Xanthoneurum (Blume), a
species which Mr. J. C. Willis, Director, Royal
Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya, informs us is native
to New Guinea,
ee eee
THE NEW ENTOMOLOGY.
Among recent visitors to the Island was Mr.
George Compere, Entomologist to the State of
Western Australia. Mr. Compere is an Entomolo-
gist of the new school who has little faith in
kerosene emulsion, arsenical insecticides or fumi-
igation, but believes in making use of the natura
enemies of plant pests to destroy them, His
theory that every insect has its natural enemy
is not a new one that has yet to be proved, for Mr.
Compere has been working for many years on this
line and demonstrate the soundness of his theory
over and over again till it is now a recognised
“cult,” His name is always associated with that
of Mr. Koebele who did so much to save the
fruit gardens of California, while his work in con-
nection with the “red scale” is interesting enough
to be referred to, as giving some idea of the
boundless enthusiasm of the man. Tha facts are
culled from an official report by the Quarantine
Officer of the State Board of Horticulture U. S. A.
Australia and the adjacent islands had been
twice ransacked by Mr. Koehele and once by Mr,
Compere in the search for an enemy of Aspidiotus
auranti, but in vain. Mr. Compere was then
directed to visit the Orient and found evidences
of internal parasites on the scale at Hongkong,
but discovering that there was no suitable tree to
send to California, he ventured into China, in
spite of the ‘Boxer’ trouble, and at last came upon
a little orange tree slightly infested, and observed
th: small chalcid flies depositing their eggs in the
scales, He purchased the tree, carefully dug and
boxed it, and shipped to San Francisco. Thus
was the red scale suppressed in California.
Hailing originally from the latter country, Mr.
Compere has for some years been a resident of
Perth, Western Australia; but this last statement
is hardly accurate, for while his residence is there,
he has been more abroad than at home,
Dao, 1, 1903.]
On his previous tour Mr, Compere left Perth
in October, 1902, and returned in August, 1903,
after visiting Sydney, Manilla, the Phillipines,
China, Japan, California, the United States,
England, Spain, France, and Italy.
Since then another prolonged tour was under-
taken, and Mr. Compere, having come from India,
was on his way back to Australia, In Ceylon,
where he spent two days, our visitor found much
tointerest and occupy him in the Government
Stock Garden, (established in connection with the
School Garden scheme), and was able to secure a
number of specimens of fruit flies and other
insects damaging the crops being raised there.
Mr. Compere will no doubt make reference to such
work as he accomplished in Colombo in his
report on his present tour, and we shall look
forward to the publication of this report in the
pages of our “exchange,” the Journal of the
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.
Mr. Compere’s visit was full of interest to us, ashe
had so much to say regarding the latest develop-
ments in his interesting work, which he enters
into with a zest and enthusiasm that is not often
met with even in a scientific expert, carrying
out every detail with his own hand, however
unpleasant and trying the circumstances,
—_———____¢@__
VETERINARY NOTES.
Dr. R. A. Stoute, Veterinary Surgeon to the
Government of Barbados, has contributed the
following suggestions for improving the breed of
Zebu cattle in respect to their qualities as beef-
producing animals :—
There are three characteristics possessed by
Zebu cattle which it would be well to develop in
any beef breed.
(1.) Smallness of bone in proportion to size,
(2.) Immunity from ticks,
(3.) Power of obtaining nourishment from
hard, coarse fodder.
(4.) Great foraging power,
Were I asked the best means of producing these
characteristics, or at least which I considered the
best means, I would suggest the following :—
Obtain as nearly perfect a bull as possible
from the breed decided on, (persumably Short
horn, Hereford or Polled, Red or Black), select
some pure-bred Zebu cows, as nearly approaching
the build of a beef breed as possible. Cross these
with the bull decided on. Castrate all bull calves
and divide the heifers into three lots of four
calves each, One lot of about four calves I
would keep at pasture day and night; lot No. 2,
I would keep at pasture during the day, and pen
or tether at night ; lot No. 3, I would keep always
tied. Keep a record of weights taken about every
month, and from these different lots only breed
from those that had developed well, and had the
three characteristics wanted, accompanied by
form of father. Breed these to same bull, as the
idea of in-and-in breeding has lost the dread it
once had. In fact some breeders maintain this is
the best way to reach a point of excellence,
Treat calves from these in the same manner in
Which the mothers were treated, Again breed to
Supplement to the ‘Tropical Agriculturist.” 437
the same bull and continue until 4 Zebu and %
pure breed has been reached. Irom the last lot
of calves I would keep a few of the best marked
as brood bulls.
Mr. Thomas Newberry, M.R.C.V.S., writing to
the October number of the Veterinary Journal
says with reference to Pasteur’s Vaccine for the
prevention of ‘‘Blackleg” that he used the
“Blacklegine” in the worst affected districts
during the present year,and (to quote his own
words) “in each case where animals on the farm
were already dead or dying, I vaccinated what
apparently remained healthy, and in every
instance the operation secured immunity from
attack, and ‘greater evil’ was seen no more.”
It is stated on the authority of Professor
Nocard that the Magana ot South Africa and the
Surra of India are identical and due to the
presence of a parasite (trypanosoma) in the blood,
In Africa the disease is propogated by the tsetse
fly, while in India the agent would appear to be
the tabanus tropicus. The recent outbreak in
Mauritius is said to have been due chiefly to
to Stomoxys nigra.
M. Nocard’s last public utterance was in support
of the movement to establish classes for Veterinary
Surgeons also in the school of Tropical Medicine
at Liverpool, and it is satisfactory to be able to
state that the movement has now taken prac-
tical shape, and the Prospectus and Course of
Instruction have already been published. Those
who doubt the utility of such a measure should
read Professor Nocard’s speech on the occasion
referred to,
We have received a copy of Bulletin No. 2 of
the Department of Agriculture of the Transvaal
entitled: ‘‘Some Diseases of the Horse in South
Africa.” The author of this number is Dr. Thieler,
the Government Veterinary Bacteriologist who
ably deals with the various forms of diseases and
their treatment. :
Mr. William Hutchison, late Stock Inspector in
Queensland, who writes to theSeptember number of
the Cape Agricultural Journal is a stroug advocate
of “Spaying”, the prejudice against which he
attributes to the losses resulting from unskillful
operating. Reading Mr. Hutchison’s letter, a
summary of which we give below, we are inclined
to recommend that something might bedone to test
the value of spaying among the Government
Dairy Stock, We do not know whether the
operation has ever been performed on cattle in
the Isiand, though we have heard of a Ceylonese
who returned to the Island after spending some
years in Australia, as thoroughly qualified and
able to show how it is done.
One of the chief advantages of spaying cows not
up to dairy requirements is, says Mr. Hutchison, in
the direction of raising the standard of production,
as the cows can bs kept in milk to the end of
the season without the trouble of getting into
calf again, andif sold will bring much higher
438
prices for fattening purposes. If retained, the
animals will fatten readily. Under present con-
ditions the system of selling deteriorated cows tends
to depreciate the value of real good milkers and
perpetuate the breed of inferior dairy cattle.
Having spayed many thousands, says Mr. Hut-
chison, I can speak from practical experience. I
liave spayed stock from six months to seven years
old and over on an average 150 per day, day
after day, . . . with a loss of 24 per cent in hot
and cold weather all the yearrouud. This, we
must admit, is pretty extensive experience.
KAPOK.
(The following paper on one of our commonest
trees, too little appreciated locally, is worthy of
peruse] by landowners and planters generally.
The native names for the tree are ‘‘pulun” and
‘‘imbul,” and the word ‘‘ Kapok” (said to be
a Malayan name) should not be confounded with
“ Kapu” the local name for spinning Cotton
derived from varieties of Gossypium. We take
over the article from the Queensland Agri-
culturist.—_Ep. A. M.|
Kapok, so well known as a soft material largely
used in the upholstering trade for stuffing chairs,
&e., and equally largely employed for stuffing
mattrasses and pillows as a substitute for
feathers, hair, &c., is the product of a kind of
cotton-tree (Bon.bax pentandrum or Eriodendron
aufractuosm), much grown in Java of late years
for the sake of the fruits which produce the fibre,
which meets with a ready sale in Huroyean
markets in large quantities. Dr. James Neish,
M.D., contributes an interesting article on this
product, edapted from the Journal d@ Agriculture
Tropicale to the Journal of the Jamaica Agricul-
tural Society. Amongst other things we read
that of late years the journals and reviews of
Java have on different occasions shown the profit
which could be drawn from this tree. A very
good article, written with this object, appeared
in the Indische Mercuur, in 1901; and this article
has certainly not been without influence on the
constantly increasing cultivation of kapok in
Java. Here are some extracts:—‘“‘ Even before
the fruits of the kapok have arrived at maturity,
many Chinamen seek to get hold of them, if need
be, by buying them. The importation into China
must be exceedingly large, judging by® the
demand which is made for it in that country;
About 10 cents is paid for 100 dried fruits. A
Dutch cent is the hundredth part of a florin ;
accordingly, the cent is worth one-half an
American cent or about one farthing. An adult
cotton-tree, growing from a cutting, yields full
5,000 fruits, ‘Trees grown from seedlings
produce more. This tree grows rapidly, and
begins to bear from the second year. It requires
no attention, and grows even on very poor soils,
and is not exacting as regards water,” An ener-
getic Chinaman in Solo (Java) said, ‘‘If I
possessed a concession, I would plant cotton-trees
on it on a large scale, and it would be seen if I
did not draw more profit therefrom than those
who spend thousands ef florins on the ordinary
Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist.”
(Dec. 1, 1903.
cultivations, the expenses cf which consume all
the profits. If cotton-trees were planted on the
bare mountains of the South, I am certain that
the operation would be advantageous.” These
words were brought to the attention of the
planters. In 1888, 1889, and in 1&90, the impor-
tations into China must have been considerable,
but the Chinese kept the matter secret for they
fear the competition of Huropean merchants.
At the present time there are in the central
parts of Java some fifty plantations whereon the
kapok is harvested as an accessory product, on
some even as the principal product, whilst ten
years ago five only gave attention to it.
According to official figures, the exportation
from Java rose from 1,888,639 kilos to 2,777,467
kilos in 1896. Of 388,586 bales which were
exported in 1896, 25,161. were sent to Holland,
8,159 to Australia, 745 to China, and 216 to
America,
The yield of kapok per tree per annum, it is
said, varies from one to 50 kilos (2 Ib. 3} oz.
to 111 1b.) (According to Dr, Warren de la Rue,
the kilogramme is equivalent to 2°2046213 1b, of
7,000 grains; usually the kilo is reckoned at
2 Ib. 34 oz, avoi.) Dr. Greshoff has ascertained
the average weight of the dry fruit to be 26
grammes and 80 centigrammes; the fluff or kapok
weighed 4 grammes 20 centigrammes; the seeds
(to the number of 175) 10 grammes 20 centigram-
mes; the pod weighed 10 grammes 30 centi-
grammes, and the stalk weighed 1 gramme 20
centigrammes.
In the cleaning of kapok in Java, use is made
at the present time of small iron mills, each
giving two piculs of cleaned merchandise for a
day’s work. (The picul in Java weighs 61 kilos
220 grammes, about 137 Ib.) Each mill
employs about four women to receive the mer-
chandise, to fill up the bagsand carry them into
the ‘‘godowns” or storehouses, where they are
pressed into bales. (Generally, the bales weigh
37 kilos for the cleaned kapok and 80 kilos for
that which is not cleaned.) Improved macliines
for cleaning kapok are made by Thomas Barra-
clough, of 20, Bucklersbury, London, It should
be remembered that for export it is not advisable
to press the kapok excessively ; this would impair
the elasticity of the fibres.
In 1898 the quotations in Holland were—Extra
cleaned, 393 cents to 36 cents the half-kilo (nomi-
nally, 1 lb.) (10d. to 9d. per 1b.). Good cleaned,
31 to 33 cents (72d. to 8id.), Cleaned, second
quality, 26 to 20 cents (63d. to 5d.), Good un-
cleaned, 83 to 94 cents (24d. to 22d.). Ordinary,
uncleaned, 6 to 7 cents (13d. to 12d.)
In Java the cotton-tree furnishes an important
by-product in the seeds, which are purchased by
the Chinese with a view to extract the oil, which
is used in the adulteration of the oil of peanuts.
At Tegal and Kediri the preparation of this oil
is carried on at some tobacco plantations, The
proprietor cf Wedari oil factory (in Japan) bought
from the natives in 1895, about 4,000,000 of
‘ kapok fruits, and obtained from them 580 piculs
of cleaned kapok and 1,000 piculs of seeds, which,
added to 3,000 other piculs bought from the
Duc. 1, 1903.)
Chinese dealers, served for the preparation of
400 piculs of oil and 3,430 piculs of oil cake,
In Java the cotton-tree is held to be an
excellent support for pepper plants, cubebs, &c.
It is also employed as a shade tree in the coffee
plantations. Again, in India it constitutes
naturally excellent living telegraph posts, on
account of the two following properties :—The
wood is not attacked by the termite-ants, whilst,
on the other hand, the horizontal and widely
separated branches do not interfere with the
wires,
——_—__——( 2 —
NATIVE BELIEFS REGARDING THE
HAIRMARKS ON CATTLE,
[J. D, E. HOLMES, M.A., M.R.C.V.S. |
Lucky Marks.
(1.) Tdmani Suli.—A ridge of hair along the
middle line of the back about its centre.
‘‘Tamani” means a herd, and this mark indicates
that the purchaser will acquire a large number of
cattle,
(2.) Irattai Kavam consists of two ridges of
hair, one on each side of the brisket, A single
hairmark on one side of the brisket (Ottaikavam)
is most unlucky, and forebodes the loss of all
other cattle in the house and also the death of the
purchaser.
(3.) Bhashicam Suli is a crown on the forehead
above the line of the eyes. ‘* Bhashicam” is the
name of the wreath worn by bride and bridegroom
during the marriage ceremony. If the purchaser
be a bachelor or widower, this mark indicates
that he will marry soon. If the purchaser be a
married man, he will either have the misfortune
to lose his wife and marry again, or the good
fortune to obtain two wives,
(4.) Gopura Suli.—A crown upon, in front of,
or immediately behind, the hump, Considered a
very lucky mark.
(5.) Nir Suli is a crown situated on the middle
line of the back, just opposite to the ope ring of
the urethra. Regarding this the saying is that
‘The family will either be reduced to ashes or
swell like a river.” The hairmark is thus of
doubtful signification. An intending purchaser
rather than incur the risk of evil consequences
will avoid the purchase. The ryots say that ifa
little earth be taken and rubbed on this hairmark
the bullock will void urine.
(6.) L’rupiirdn (ascending centipede),—A ridge
of hair on the hind quarters curving up to the
back is a sign of coming prosperity. If the ridge
does not curve upwards to the back it is called
Trangupiaran (“ descending centipede”), and indi-
cates adversity to the purchaser,
(7.) Lakshumi Suli is a hairmark situated on
one side of the neck, at a distance from the
dewlap. “ Lakshumi” is the goddess of fortune.
This is considered to be the most lucky hairmark,
but is rarely met with, A bullock with such a
mark is highly esteemed, and fetches a long price.
Unlucky Marks.
' <(1.) Mukkanti Suli or Agni Sult.—Three crowns
on the forehead arranged in form of a triangle
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agricultaun ist,” 439
said to represent the three eyes of Siva, of which
the one in the forehead will, if opened, burn up
all things within the range of vision.
This mark forebodes ruin to the purchaser,
(2.) Kudai-mél-kudait.—T wo crowns one over
the other on the forehead predict disaster after
disaster.
(8.) Ottai-Kavam.—A single hairmark on one
side of the brisket close to the middle line fore-
bedes loss of all other cattle in the house and the
death of the purchaser,
(4.) Vilangu Suli (fetters).—Hairmarks on the
fetlocks of either pair of legs indicate that the
purchaser will soon be in gaol,
(5.) Pddat Sulii—Two ridges of hair on the
back on either side of the middle line; indicates
that the purchaser will soon need a coffin.
(6.) Lrangupirdn (descending centipede).)—A
ridge of hair on the hind quarters not curving
upwards to the back indicates adversity.
(7.) Nagappadam.—A ridge of hair on the
haunch spreading out at one end like the hood of a
cobra. If the direction of the hood is upwards it
is termed Munnagam, and if downwards Pinnagam.
(8.) Tattu Sul (obstacle),—A crown situated
on the back between the points of the hips; indi-
cates that any business undertaken by the pur-
chaser will fail.
(9.) LTudaippa Suli.—A hairmark on the side of
the tail near the root, sometimes extending as ridge
over the back,
Other Superstitions regarding Cattle.
A bullock whose tail has the root of the tuft of
hair situated above the hock is said to have
‘*H’ru-val,” and to bring ill-luck. A cow having
‘¢ Wru-val” is not objected to.
A-bulleck having white hair, skin, horns, and
hoof is considered of weak constitution, and not
to be purchased.
A black bullock is generally considered a rogue.
If not a rogue, he is considered of great value
according to the saying—‘‘ A black bullock is but
the fourth of a bull, but if he be guileless he is a
bullock and a quarter.”
A bullock with numerous small spots over the
body, ‘like a deer,” is considered very lucky.
The form of the horns is supposed to indicate
many things, The different forms of horns go by
different names. For instance, Madakkombu
means horns bent backwards. This is a good sign
in a cow. The saying is—‘‘ Let any man who
does not know how to select a cow purchass one
with horns curved backwards,”
Straight horns, Siléi, are liked. Horns pointed
forwards, Képadd, indicate spirit, Twisted horns,
Churuttai, are considered good. Horns which are
hollow and present white patches, looking as if
they were rotten, ‘* Kolkikkombwz,” are considered
very disastrous, Horns with white tops, Pén-
kombu, are also bad,
If a cow at the time of purchase voids urine, it
is considered a very good omen, but if she passes
dung it isa bad omen. The reverse is the case
with a bullock,
A bullock which fails to cut the fourth pair of
permanent incisors is called A'rukatti-madu, and
ig considered lucky, that is, ‘* One who purchases
440
a bullock with only six permanent incisors will
become rich enough to keep an elephant.”
A bullock which cuts only seven permanent
incisors is unlucky to the owner. The saying is
that one who purchases such a bullock should
have his coffin ready.
——__—__
NOTE ON A COMMON FIBRE PLANT.
————
A correspondent, writing to us on a matter
of business, asks if sufficient encouragement is
being given by the local authorities for develop-
ing the indigenous resources of the Island. He
says that enough is not being done to make the
most of what already exists, and too much atten-
tion is given to what is new and foreign. He
instances the case of fibres, and asks why attempts
are not made to encourage the cultivation of
fibre plants already found growing in the Island.
We quite agree with our correspondent that
much more might be done in the way of growing
such plants as Crotalaira Juncea, the Sunn Hemp
of India and Hana of Ceyion. The fibres are
used to a fairly large extent in the manufacture
of fishing nets, and for this purpose it is culti-
vated in parts of the Island, as, for instance, the
Chilaw district. We have little doubt that the
plant would be more largely cultivated if the
people were made aware of the fact that there
is more than a local demand for the fibre.
Not long ago the Burman Government sent a
two pound sample of the fibre to the Imperial
Institute with a request that the report oa the
fibre might include its value in the London
market, together with any remarks that could be
given as to how the quality of the fibre could be
improved. :
Mr, Collyer, the fibre expert, stated that the
fibre should sell freely in the London market,
and that its cultivation should be encouraged as
much as possible. In his opinion the sample was
strong, bold and clean, though of a somewhat
dull colour, its length varying from 36 to 40
inches. He fixed the value of the fibre as
represented by the sample sent £16 to £17 per
ton, but advised that it should be better cleaned
than the sample, and should also be brighter in
colour; and added that if more carefulJy pre-
pared, its value would be from £2 to £3 per
ton higher than the price quoted.
Messrs. Puddy & Co. confirmed by independent
reference to the statements of Mr. Collyer.
They find the fibre to be of fair quality,
-and state that it might be brighter and longer
with advantage; but that it is saleable in the
London market, and that if they had at the
present time a shipment on hand, they could
secure £16 to £16 10s. per ton for it.
The late Sir Frederick Abel had the fibre ex-
amined in detail by the comparative process
adopted in the Research Department of the
Institute, and this examination went to confirm
the opinion expressed by the practical experts in
regard to the good quality of this fibre.
Supplement to the “Tropical Agriculturist."
[Dec. i, 1903.
HOW TO GET RID OF TICKS ON CATTLE.
The following is taken from a report of the
‘ proceedings of the Jamaica Agricultural Society
held on February 21 last :-—
The Hon. Oscar Marescaux gave an interesting
account of the method successfully adopted by
him to get rid of ticks on cattle. ‘I am pleased,’
he said, ‘to see that the Agricultural Society
are seeking information as to the possibility of
destroying the plague of ticks which renders our
island a pest to ourselves, to our friends and
visitors, and especially to our animals; and as
I have succeeded in ridding my property of the
pest, you may like to know how this has been
done.
‘Cherry Garden in St. Andrew consists of
nearly one thousand acres of land—gentle slopes,
—mMmountain sides—some cultivation, but prin- .
cipally grass lands. I have cattle and horses,
from 80 to a hundred of the former and 8 to 10
of the latter. You can or any lady can walk
over any part of the property—short bite, Guinea
grass, gullies, ruinate—without picking up a tick,
and my stock are free from them, though occa-
sionally a weak cow may be seen with a few
which are at once destroyed.
‘Some years ago ticks were a plague on Cherry
Gardens, and I determined to get rid of them.
My cattle were constantly driven in the pen, and
there the cattle men and boys were made to pull
off the ticks, placed them in a calabash, and when
nearly full to burn them in a fire kindled in the
pen for the purpose. It was a tedious job to get
my people to do this. They all believed it was
useless work, for the ticks came out of the ground.
For a long time little impression was made on
the appearance of the cattle, but little by little
the ticks were less and less numerous, and now,
as I have said before, the placeis pratically free,
from them.
‘I was informed that the tick will not
reproduce unless he has sucked blood. I, there-
fore, aimed at burning all those who had thus
feasted. ‘The tick does not travel—the fertilized
female drops from her prey, and has her young,
commonly known as grass lice. Wheu she drops,
these grass lice climb up a grass stalk and cluster
up at the top like bees. If a living creature in
passing brushes close to them, they soon scramble
over it, and endeavour to feed on it; but if
nothing disturbs them they simply die.
‘The process I have adopted is tedious, especi-
ally on account of the passive resistance of the
people one employs; but it is efficacious, and I
hope you may induce others to adopt it.’
Mr. Fawcett stated that his experience was, in
districts where Indian cattle were bred, the ticks
were less, Ticks did not attack Indian cattle
when they were in good condition, as much as
other breeds of cattle. é
Dr, Pringle said he had adopted a similar
method to that followed by Mr. Marescauxj and
with success. Ticks were now very much less
on his properties than they were two years ago,
It was a very good plan,
Dac. 1, 1903.]
__ Mr. Fursden said that the plan was good, and
if followed up would diminish the tick plague.
But how were they going to compel everybody
to follow the plan and do likewise ?
Mr. Olivier said the only thing they could do
was to make the method of destroying the ticks
as widely known as possible. No legislation was
needed. Anybody, whose cattle had ticks should
simply pick them off and destroy them. He
moved that Mr. Marescaux’s letter be printed in
the Journal along with the opinions of the
members.
This was agreed to.
ee eee
THE CURING OF CARDAMOMS IN INDIA.
So much has been written about the future of
the Cardamom, that it is interesting to find an
account of the preparation of Cardamoms for the
market in India. The following is a description
given in a paper on Cardamom Cultivation in the
Bombay Presidency by Mr. J. W. Mollison, head
of the Indian Agricultural Department. [It is
stated that the character of the water used
has a material influence on the capsules, the
water of some wells having special virtues for
bleaching and improving the flavour of the Carda-
moms, |
‘‘Water from the well is drawn and taken to
a.suitable room. A large earthernware vessel is
filled with the water, into which pounded antalkat
(the fruit of soap-nut, Sapindus trifohatus) and
sikikai (Acacia concinna) in the proportion of
2, lbs. of the former to lb. of the latter for about
5 gallons of the water are placed and well stirred.
Another vessel contains a strong solutiou of com-
mon soap in the water of the well. The mixture
containing 2 lbs, cf pounded soap-nut and { lb. of
sikikai suffices for 5 maunds (1 maund = 26 Ibs.)
of cardamoms,
‘‘Two women seated on tripods place a wide-
mouthed earthenware vessel between them, the
washing tub as it may be styled. Hight dota-fulls
of the well water (a large supply of which is
kept at hand) are poured into the tub and three
lota-fulls of the soap-but or stkzkat mixture, The
lota holds about one quart of water,
‘‘The tub then receives a basketful of carda-
moms weighing 10 lbs. The two women plunge
their hands into the tub and stir vigorously for
about one minute and then suddenly rest for about
the same length of time, and again stir for another
minute, A thick lather results, This completes the
first washing. The cardamoms are baled out by
hand and transferred to a basket, where they
remain a few seconds till the water has drained
off. The basketful is received by two other
women sitting on tripods with a washing tub
between them, This tub contains 7 quarts of the
pure water, 1 quart of the soap-nut and szkikar
mixture, and one of the soap solution. The carda-
moms are stirred as in the first washing with the
same interval of rest and are baled out into an=
other basket. When the water is drained off,
the washed cardamoms are thrown on to 4 mat.
The heap becomes large after a few hours’ work,
A woman is exclusively in charge of it and con-
Supplement to the * Tropical Agriculturist.” 44)
tinually sprinkles the well water over it. She is
relieved at night by another woman, who sprinkles
the heap till morning once every half hour,
*“ Next day when the sun has risen, the heap
is carried to the flat roof of the house, and the
cardamoms are spread on mats for four or five
hours to dry, The next operation is to nip off the
short stalks. This is done by women sitting in
the house. Hach woman has a large pair of
English scissors. She squats on the floor and
rests her right hand which holds the scissors on
the floor and feeds the scissors with her left
hand, The pace at which this nipping is done
astonished me. The stalkis very swall, and care
must be taken to cut it off without injury to the
cardamom itself. I saw an old woman nip 90
cardamoms in one minute.
‘‘This done the sorting begins, The small
ill-shapen cardamoms are separated and only the
well-rounded ones packed for export to distant
markets. A woman sorts a maund per diem.
‘‘T must now return to the first washing, The
mixture in the tub, after the first basketful
has been baled out, is replenished by two or
three quarts of the well water and a second basket-
full washed, Thetub is then emptied and a fresh
mixture made. The mixture for the second wash-
ing also does duty for two basketfuls, The wo-
men who wash the cardamoms are paid 3 annas
per diem, An ordinary wage is 1% to 2 annas.
The night-watcher receives 4:annas, The nipping
is peid for by the piece at the’ rate of 4 anna
per padi (10 padis — 1 maund = 26 Ibs.), It is
said that an expert can earn 23 annas per diem.
She must clip 13 lbs. therefore; all other hands
employed are paid by the day at 2 annas.
“ Besides this bleaching now-a-days cardamoms
are starched, Starching was first introduced at
Sirsi where bleachers had recourse to it, as they
had to compete with bleachers at Haveri, who
were experts in the art of bleaching, and who
had establishd their fame as such. The starched
cardamoms look whiter than the ordinary bleached
cardamoms of Haveri, and the bleachers of Haveri
have therefore now taken to starching, The
starch is prepared by pounding together rice,
wheat, and country soap with buttermilk. The
paste is dissolved in a sufficient quantity of water
and the solution is sprinkled over the cardamoms
to be starched as they are being rubbed by the
hand,”
eee
GENERAL ITEMS.
The West Indian Bulletin recommends Jeyes
disinfectant for screw worm in young calves,
It should be supplied with a little brush which
could be got within the orifice of any sore. The
best plan is to dress the calves as soon as they are
born, to keep off the flies and anticipate the evil.
If already attacked, the worm should be killed
with Jeyes’ fluid, the wound washed with soap
and water, and a second application of the fluid
given,
The Journal of the Society of Arts reeommends
the sweet potato as a suitable substitute for the
|
442
English potato in times of searcity. As it is,
supplies of the latter have to be drawn from
France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and even the
Argentine and other places. In this connection,
itis interesting to note that trial shipments of
sweet potatoes have been made from the West
Indies.
The Agricultural News, Barbadoes, points out
that Cocoa canker—as the bark disease has come
to be called—is not so new a disease as is genevally
thought, and quotes thus from Porter’s Tropical
Agriculturist (1833) :—“ Cocoa trees are likewise
subject to a disease which shows itself in the
form of black spots or blotches on the bark and
which as soon as they appear should be carefully
cut out, or the trees will quickly die.” Verily,
there is nothing new under the sun!
The Agricultural News, Barbadoes, gives the
following analysis of sweet potato meal by Prof.
Church : Water at 100° C, 12°9, ether extract (oil
&e.) 11, fibre 2°4, Nitrogenous matter (N=‘584)
3°7 (albuminoids coagulated by phenol-method 3°4),
ash 2°4, starch, sugar, gum, &c. by difference 77'5.
The sample was of meal prepared by Dr. Rat by
the aid of machinery.
The dried leaves of the screw pine are used
in Dominica for making hats which are sold at
tor 6d. to 1/6 each, according to quality of work-
manship. In Ceylon the leaves of the wild date
(Phoeniv zeylanicum) take their place.
The great disparity of price in Jamaica and
Cochin ginger (in favour of the latter) is explained
by the fact that the former lacks careful grading
which tells against it, for buyers feel they can
depend on Cochin ginger to be what the marke
indicate, and prefer to purchase an article of
known quality. Itis authoritatively asserted that
‘Cochin ginger is actually of less value than
Jamaica,’ and yet the London buyers will pay
more for it!
Supplement: to the ‘* Tropical Agriculturist.’
(Dao. 1, 1903,
The three best materials for use in storing
sweet potatoes have—by actual trial—been found
to be cotton seed hulls, dry sand, and cotton
seed, in the order named. Storing in straw is
condemned,
We read in an exchange that Mr. Hoffmann
Bang, a Dane, has erected machinery at St,
Thomas, in the Danish West Indies, for the
manufacture of dried banenas for export in closely
packed handy cardboard boxes. :
The mosquito (Culex Pungens) is said
Dr, \L. O. Howard to have 4 ee ine,
history period of ten days, Inthe case of small
fruit flies (Drosophilila &e.) which attack fallen
fruit t.e life-history ig even shorter, and some
peared on a mango completed the cycle in eight
ays. j
To freeze without ice or acids, here i
recipé :—1 Ib. of ammonium chloride bE al atc
niac finely powdered is very completely mixed with
2 lbs. nitrate of potash or saltpetre and labelled
Powder No. I.” Powder 3 lbs, best Scotch Soda
and label “Powder No. 2,” For use take an
equal break of No. 1. and No. 2; stir together,
place in an ice poil round the vessél to be cooled
and pour rather less cold water than is required
to dissolve the whole. If, for instance, a quart
of No. 1 and No. 2 are taken, they will require about
one quart of water to dissolve them, The tem-
perature will fall to about 30° below * freezing
point,” whichis the extent of cold required to
freeze a liquid. The amount of water used is of
the ‘greatest importance, too much will consume
the cold nroduced. . The ice pail may be of wood,
but the vessel with the liquid to be frozen should
be of pewter or other metal, and the mixture
should surround the vessel nearly to the top, —
QP ICAL
a tht a
«| MONTHLY. be
Lom
SP y
XXIII. COLOMBO,
A SKETCH OF THE CEYLON PEARL
FISHERY OF 1903.
EveRARD IM THURN, C.B., C.M.G.,
GOVERNOR oF CEYLON.)
(By LiIEvT ,-
(In Spolia Zeylanica.)
Part I,
THE HARVEST OF THE SEA,
T is difficult to imagine a more
picturesque incident than the
‘harvest of the sea,’ when
pearls are the crop gathered in,
The scene is in the shallow
tropical sea which is shut in
by Ceylon on the east, the
coast of Southern India on the
west, and on the north by ‘“Adam’s Bridge,” a reef
partly just awash and partly cropping up in the form
of a chain of islands which connects Ceylon with India
In the Gulf of Mannar thus formed it was found
at least some 300, years before Christ that there is
an abundant growth of pearl-producing mussels—
locally called oysters. The banks or “paars” on
which these bivalves grow lie from 5 to 10 fathoms
below the surface of the water. Thither for 2,000
years, when the rumour goes abroad that the harvest
is ripe, divers have come together from the Red
Sea and the Persian Gulf and the coasts of India,
as well as from Oeylon itself, to gather in the Orient
pearls which have been distributed to adorn stately
men and beautiful women in many a function through-
ont the civilized as well as the barbaric world.
The coast lands of Ceylon nearest to the oyster
paars is for the most part very sparsely inhabited, and,
like the opposite coasts of Southern India, consists
chiefly of rolling sand plains, with here and there
a little coarse grass or low sparse vegetation or
eyen occasional scrubby jungle. For some mysterious
and hitherto unexplained reason this harvest of
the sea has always been an uncertain one, apt
suddenly, and at any stage in its growth, to dis-
appear; and often it is many years before it re-appears
At most times of the year, and sometimes for years
together when the oyster crop is known to have
JANUARY
Ist, 1904,
failed, the adjacent shore is a desert in which a
human being is rarely to be seen. But nowadays,
and throughout the past century, as each November
comes round, an official from Oolombo visits the
paars, takes up a certain number of oysters from
each, washes out the pearls, submits these and the
facts connected with them to experts, and the Ceylon
Government thus decides whether or not there shall
be a fishery in the following March and April.
THE EXTENSIVE NECRSSARY PREPARATIONS,
If the decision is in the affirmative preparations
have to begin at once. The fact that there is to be
a fishery is made known throughout India and the
Eastern world, and evenin Europe. This is done
partly by the prosaic system of newspaper advertise-
ment, partly by that far more wonderful passing
of the word from maa to man which, as is now
well known, can carry news across a continent with
amazing speed, Onland which isat the momenta
desert, an elaborate set of temporary Government
buildings have to be erected for receiving and dealing
with many millions of oysters and their valuable
if minute contents, Court-houses, prisons, barracks,
revenue offices, markets, residences for the officials,
streets of houses and shops for perhaps some thirty
thousand inhabitants, and a water supply for drinking
and bathing for these same people have to be ar-
ranged for. Lastly, but, in view of the dreadfal
possibility of the outbreak of plague and cholera, not
least, there are elaborate hospitals to be provided.
After an interval of eleven years it was announced
at the end of 1902 that there would be a fishery in the
following spring, The difficulty of making the above-
mentioned preparations in due time was enormously
increased by the fact that so long an interval had
elapsed since the last fishery, and that so few
persons were conversant with what had to be done.
Mr, Ievers, the Government Agent of the Northern.
Province, and his immediate assistants Messrs
Horsburgh and Denham were, however, equal to the
occasion; and when the time appointed for the
commencement of the fishery came, a complete tem-
porary town had sprung up as well and minutely
ordered as are most permanent towns,
444 THE TROPICAL
THE FISHERY FLEET.
A fleet of some 200 large fishing craft had gathered,
and with the help of an occasional steamer from
Colombo had brought together, chiefly from India
but partly from Ceylon, 2 population which during the
course of the fishery varied from about 25,000to perhaps
85,000 or 40,000 souls—men, women, and children.
It was my great good luck to pay two visits of
considerable duration to the camp and, especially as
I had had considerable part in arranging for it,
to see it thoroughly. Many men have written and
many others will write of this camp and of the
Ceylon pearl fishery generally, but I believe that
I saw it from a point of view peculiarly advantageous
for seeing and understanding its general effect; and
this is my sole excuse for acceding to the request
of my friend Dr. Willey that I should descrive, as
I sawit, this great effort of recovery of spoil from
leCeylon deep in Spolia Zeylanica.
Another great advantage I had which has fallen
to. the lot of few other officials, and certainly never
before to a lLieutenant-Governor with scientific
leanings. On a suggestion made to meI gladly pro-
vided for the supply of diving dress and apparatus;
and these being on the spot my innate curiosity in-
duced me on several occasions to put on this dress
and go down to visit the paars and see for myself
how the oysters grow. I believe that Mr. Hornell,
Captain Legge, and myself are probably almost the
first persops to make use of the diver’s dress for
inspecting the bottom of the sea for purely scientific
purposes ; and some account of my own experiences
may be not without use.
I have roughed it inso many places and so many
ways, thatafter the idea of myself going down had
once suggested and commended itself to me, I do
not think that any qualms or doubts presented
themselves.
FIRS£ EXPERIENCES WITH THE DIVERS DRESS.
The sensation of being put into the dress is at
first certainly rather trying. The weight is of course
enormous and most oppressive, and I found that the
operation of screwing up of the rivets fastening the
very heavy helmet on to the rest of the dress was
distinctly painful. Mr. Bartlett, professional diver,
who valetted me on this occasion, certainly did his
best to spare me as much inconvenience as possible.
But a few months later when I was at the Maldive
Islands with H.M.S. ‘“ Highfiyer” and, moved by a
desire to see for myself the wonderful coral forests
and jungles and underwater clifis of those atolls, I
again donned the diver’s dress, as supplied to His
Majesty’s ships, I found that both the weight and
the painfulness of being screwed up were con-
siderably less. I am assured that the equipment
of the “ Highfiyer” is identical with those used
in constructing the Colombo breakwater—it was one
of these that 1 used at the peral fishery; but I am
positive that for some reason the ‘‘ Highflyer” dress
caused me the less incoavenience, and if any scientific
man wishes to engage in the enterprise of deep
sea diving, I should strongly advise him tefore
acquiring his dress to consult the naval authorities.
‘he dress once donned and one’s heavily encum-
bered body once got over the side of the ship and
on to the ladder, the rest is easy. All that is
necessary is to keep one’s feet well down when
decending the ladder and until one is entirely under
water. Neglect, or rather ignorance of this pre-
caution on one occasion brought me into difficulties.
Having seen the prcfessional diver swing himself off
the ladder instead of first going patiently down
to the lowest rung, I thought I would do the same,
with the result that I fell on my back into the
water, and that the air distributed within the dress
instead of being forced gradually up from feet to
head, as would have been the case if I had gone
down feet foremost, was forced to the front of chest
24 legs and kept me kicking on my back on the
water,
AGRICULTURIST. [Jane 1, 1904:
NINE FATHOMS BELOW THE SURFACE.
After leaving the ladder feet downward pure passi-
vity is to be recommended until one reaches the
bottom, My first depth was 9 fathoms, but it certainly
seemed to meto take a very long time to get down
those 54 feet, and on the first occasion or two the
pain in my ears was intense. I was told that the
slower I went down the less acute would this pain
be, but after various experiments I have not been able
to make up my mind whether the longer endured but
very slightly less acute pain is preferable to the
quicker, sharper sensation, The most surprising
thing to me was that as soon as the bottom was
once reached all sensation of pain ceased.—it was
perhaps overhelmed by the undoubted delight at the
novelty of one’s sensations and to exasperation at the
small control one had at first over one’s movements
under that pressure of water. I could not by any
effort keep my feet quite firmly on to the ground ;
and each twitch which the man who played Provi-
dence to me at the other end of the rope gave—
doubtless in his nervous anxiety to guide me aright
—had the unfortunate effect of throwing me over on
to my back or my side or my face. Finally I found
that getting about on all fours was the proceeding
which gave me the greatest control over my own
movements,
The light was wonderfully good, as a full green
twilight, and I could distinctly see the ship 9 fathoms
over my head. It is curious that atthe same depth
in different parts of the sea the quantity of the light
varies considerably. This is probably due to the
greater or Jess quantity of matter Hoating in the water .
THE PICTURESQUE SEA‘ BOTTOM.
The bottom where I first went down was a sandy,
slightly undulating plain. Here and there at dis-
tances of a foot or so apart were small groaps of from
six to a dozen oysters, each group fastened by the
byssus to a stone or piece of loose coral or dead shell ;
as far as I could see, no oysters were fastened to the
actual bottom. Scattered abont among the oysters
on the sand were mushroom-shaped and other loopse-
growing corals, and here and there was a branched
coral fastened tothe bottom. The fishes and shrimps
swam about utterly obiivious of one’s presence,
especially a lovely little ultramarine blue fish with a
golden yellow tail. It was somewhat exasperating
to throw an oyster at a fish and to find that the
missile instead of going towards the fish dropped
languidly to one’s feet. Of big fish I hardly saw any,
and of sea snakes, generally very plentiful in those
parts, I caw only one, and that was whileI was on
my way down one day, Crabs were fairly abundant,
and I came across a striking-looking—indeed vicious-
looking—animal of this sort (Rhinolambrus contrarius).
To one like myself who has as long as he can
remember found a peculiar joy in seeing Nature from
new points of view, it is pure delight to make one’s
way along the bottom of the sea, picking up shells,
corals, starfish (very abundant), sea urchins, and a
host of other things which had always before been
to one lifeless ‘‘ curiosities,”
THE PEARL DIVERS AT WORK.
One of my chief purposes in going down was to
see the divers actually at work. In but a few mo-
ments from leaving the ship and the world ta which
I had long been accustomed, I reached a quite new
world and, as it seemed, one apart from all other
human beings. Then from the gloom of the distance
—it was easier to see upwards than for any distance
along the ground—some big thing came rapidly
towards ove; it might have been a big fish, but a3
it came quickly nearer it proved to be « naked Arab
swimming gently but rapidly towards me, his rope
between his toes, and his hands and arms rapidly
sweeping oysters into the basket which hung round
his neck, I tried to speak, forgetting that my head
was buried in my helmet, but he glided close past
me without taking any more notice of me than did
Jan, 1, 1904.) THE TROPICAL
he fish, He had perhaps thirty to forty oysters in
his basket by that time. But his time was up—after
all he could only stay down from 50 to 80 seconds,
While I without inconvenience could stop down for
half an hour. In an instant he had changed from a
SWimming to a standing position, andjhe was rapidly
hauled up from me towards heaven, his feet being
the last part to disappear.
AsI gazed up after him something dark came dowa
through the water and nearly hit me. It was a stone
at the end of a rope thrown down for another diver.
It was a warning that I had wandered from my
own ship till I was under one of the diver’s beats ;
and I beat a hasty retreat.
RETURNING TO THE SURFACEo
I had but to give a pull at the rope, a signal, and
I felt myself being pulled rapidly up through the
water. I went faster than the bubbles of air which
had been rising from my dress, and was carried up
through a stream of these bright bubbles. Suddenly
it was very iight, and some big dark broad thing
covered with bubbles was directly above me, and
the next moment I hit against it. It was the bottom
of the launch, and my next task was to guide myself
till I came to and with difficulty succeeded in
getting on to the ladder. Then as I stood on the
ladder, while the helmet was unscrewed and taken
off and the fresh air came, I knew how good fresh
air is.
While down on the first occasion or two my nose
bled rather unpleasantly, but as this never happened
to me afterwards, I put it down to the fact that on
those first occasions I had a heavy ccld in my head.
I was once more back on the Master Attendant’s
bargue, moored in the middle of the fleet on which
the divers were all hurrying up to complete their
day’s load within the given time.
(Lo be concluded.)
NS
PLANTING PROSPECTS IN UGANDA.
AN INDIAN PLANTER’S EXPERIENCES.
The prospects for planters in Uganda and impres-
sions of a newcomer in the country are given in an
interesting letter from Mr, George Caine, late of
Messrs. Begg Dunlop & Co., in our Indian contem-
porary. It will be read with interest as giving an in-
sight into this new country being opened up by the
Uganda Railway, and of use to planters and others
who may be looking upon the country as a possible
place for settling in
Ueanp\ Rattway, via MomBaAssa.
Limorv, 12th November, 1903,
Lhave been intending to write to you for some time
ast to give you my impressions of this country for the
Faneat of the readers of your J.P. G., as doubtless
many of my old friends in Behar as well as others will
be glad to learn what inducement this country offers to
planters. I cannot at present give any definite opinion
on the subject, but give you the points that strike me
for what they may be worth. (I don’t mean by this to
hint at a cheque!) LTarrived in this country at the end
of April, and after looking around a little I decided to
try this part which has a magnificent climate. The
altitude here is 7,400 feet and the scenery lovely—
like the hills in India, but with no snowy ranges or so
many big mountains, and Iam 1} miles from the rail-
way station which again is 25 miles by rail from
Nairobi. The railway station of Kikuyu lies between
—Nairobi is the commencement you may say of these
highlands, and is 5,400 feet elevation and is 530 miles
by rail from Mombasa, Kikuyu being 6,400 feet,
RAINFALL AND CLIMATE,
There is rather more rainfall at Kikayu than
Nairobi,and more here than at either place. No
waeteorological records have been kept in this country,
‘surplus labour.
AGRICULTURIST: 445
but I gathre there must be about 70 inches here during
anormal year, It is warmer of course at Nairobi, but
is notunp leasantly hot there, and here the climate is
like the Highlands of Scotland but without the winter,
and with a hotter sun you have to wear a solar topt or
double terai hat. Being almost under the equator
there is little variation in climate. December and
January are the hottest months, and June and July
the coldest, but you rarely get frost, it being quite
exceptional, and although the sun is warm enough
like itis in Darjeeling or Simla, the air is equally cool as
in those favoured regions,
The rainfall in a normal year is well distributed,
being spread over the months of November and Decem-
ber and from March or April to end of June with
showers in the other months, and here we get Scotch
mistsin the rainy weather and also heavy dews at
nights for about 20 out of every 30 days, but they had
a failure of the rain and a bad famine three years
ago,
As to the future itis hard to speak. There is prac
tically no local demand for any produce. The country
is a series of flattish ridges with valleys between, and
the sides of the ridges are often very steep. There is
usually a stream in the valleys and you require to
build your house near a stream as it is uncertain work
sinking a well for water. Thatched houses with mud
walls can be run up very cheaply, but corrugated iron is
the best for a roof in this stormy and wet climate,
CHEAP AND ABUNDANT LABOUR,
Labour is cheap and plentiful enough for present
Needs, but if many settlers came it might be necessary
o import from Uganda, where there is plenty of
Present wages are Rs. 4 per mensem.
The people are strong and light-hearted, they live on
Ewest potatoes and beans, soitsaysa good deal for the
climate.
Women do weeding and carrying loads and get Rs, 4
per mensem also. Nothing muchat present is being
grown here except potatoes, but there is no local
market for them, the trade not having expanded
sufficiently yet to bring the middleman, who is always
necessary to farmers for disposing of produce, and
therefore here the farmer has to be an exporter also
and ships his potatoes to South African ports for sale
in Johannesburg. Roughly the through rate to
Johannesburg on potatoes is £19 per ton I am told, and
the net price to the farmer if the potatoes arrive safely
and sell well may be £6 per ton, The Uganda Rail-
way gives a through rate to Durban of Rs. 40 per ton.
The South African Railway freight to Johannesburg
is so deadly. As potatoes are a perishable product it
is hardly worth the risk to my mind,
Beans grow readily here, and Iam growing them and
very little of my land is in potatoes, I will grow
potatoes when a starch factory and-or potato spirit
distillery is started here. Iam also trying Rhea fibre,
tobacco, and onions, I brought Rhea roots from
India and they are coming on well. I also brought
some linseed and mustard, both of which have grown
to seed, but I planted them at the wrong time. Very
good tobacco has been grown at Kikuyu and some
excellent cigars made from it, superior in my opinion
to the Indian cigars, as it must be remembered
that the latter owe much of their flayour to the.
Sumatra wrapper with which they are covered
However, all these crops are in a more or less ex-
perimental stage. I also propose to try tea.
SPLENDID SOIL,
The soil here is magnificent, a friable porous loam,
never water logs. The formation is volcanic and
there are extinct cratersin the country, The country
about me is scrub and bush with forest land two miles
away. The rainfall doesn’t seem heavy enough for tea,
but I rely on the heavy dews at night to make up for
the deficiency, also the mists in the rainy weather, but
it is true the soil here dries very quickly, ‘The life
isa yery lonely one, There is one settler near Limory
446 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Jan 1, 1904.
station, and the Italian Catholic Mission is about paths about me, and few ponies could climb down some
half a mile from me, other settlers there are none of them, although I have plenty of space near my house
here: at: present, .. most of them being at Kikuyuand fora pologround or race-course—but somewhat undu-
between there and Nairobi and Kyambu. Ifound the ating, Asto sport, there are partridges, guinea fowl
officials ont: here most courteous and ready tohelp one and duck, but not in large numbers.. Nn antelope
so far as the existing land regulations will permit. shooting near me except on the plains at Nairobi. There
Mr. A. HE. Ornickshauk, the Traffic Manager of the are rhino and elephants near me, but my game. license
Railway, who has many old friends in Behar, is most does not permit me to shoot them. Three forms of
obliging and peegy to pa ales IBY low rates game license are issued. page ° os
of downward freight to Mombassa; he very kindly I Th >. 75 Bee “ea
: 2 : : e sportsman’s license—entitling a man‘to shoot
Sat sis Copy of your J. P, G. to read, so I get practically anything—intended for enmity sporting
"MANY. PROSPECTS FOR MEN WITH SOME. CAPITAL, ie ee: cae ee a pers =
- This country I consider offers many prospects of 7 CiEBTNG UCenEy sauce tOaZ ae SIGE |
} ue officials for £10 for one year,
success, but it may be a waiting game,and I would Pas Z
not advise any one to come here without at least £1,000 III. The settler’e license costs £10 for one year which
of capital,and even then he must be prepared to /! have got, it only entitles me toshoot antelope and is
go slowly and live cheaply and put up withavery not much used, asI have no time to go on shooting
Yonely life for a time. A man might manage with jaunts. Ifa settler wants to shoot big game he most
less, but runs a risk of finding himself stranded. Land takeout a £50license, I think that anyhow the rhino-
up to 1,000 acres can be bought ontright at Rs.2 ceros hardly needs protection beyond the game reserve
per acre free hold, or a square mile of 640 acres area; he is a dangerous beast, more formidable than a
can be taken up and payment spread over 16 years, and _lion to tackle, and attacks people without provocation ;
Certain conditions are imposed in regard to cultivating he is welldescribed asa big ugly pig. I feel awfully
acertain area annually which I think are unnecessary fit. here.
and unfair in the present state of the country before - GEORGE Carne.
itis known what crops can be profitably grown. The =
settler hes i compeuenve natives for aBy cultivated SS eee Suisse
land on his holding. No one is making anything ATTE i i
at present, and fey Sin be paying their wae but NATURAL PRODUCTS OF THE
everyone Hoge in the future. ea Oneal PHILIPPINES. otis
Department has just been formied, ‘an r. A. Linton % mel che
fifora Egypt appointed Director, aud probebly agri- STAPLE PRODUCTS OF THE ARCHIPELAG O
cultural development will be considerably accelerated, An account of the general history of the Philip-
GRAZING AND CATTLE RAISING, pine Islands, with some interesting information
Ihave not touched on the question of sheep and Te8arding the natural products and resources of
cattle raising, as although there is a large area of ae (Pree: appears in the Vanilla Times, from
pasture land it is not a matter I understand much Wich we extract the following :— Re Se
about, also there are tribes of wandering Masai who herd Staples in the order of importance ‘are hemp
cattle on these plains, and Government haven’t yet tobacco, sugar, copra, coffee and rice. For home-con
decided how they are going to prevent them from sumption the economic classification is rice, com
grazing the land a sheep farmer may takeup. The bamboo zacate, cogon and sorghum. Rice is the chie
Masai have held these pastures by force of arms in food of all peoples in the Far Hast, and is the chie
the past, and cannot understand any prohibition against food ofnatives who look upon the Philippines as home
grazing where they choose. The Masai are a warrior When boiled without salt, it is regarded as Ameri
caste and have raided the neighbouring tribes for years. cans and Huropeans regard bread, or, in other
It is said they could go ata jogtrot in a large body up words, it is the staff of life in Pacific Oceanica.
and down hills for 40 miles in she dayand raid some -Skort crops usually entail- suffering, for rice is
unsuspecting victims. the main-stay of life throughout the islands, and
In conclusion it is no use any thirsty mancoming the general indolence of the tribes is such that
‘here. - Whisky costs Rs. 10 a case freight from they are never ready for the calamity of famine.
Mombasa, stores too are very expensive. Only a Rice in the husk is called palay. ‘There are
temperate man prepared to roughit and leadalouely a number of varieties, but the most cultivated are
life for some time to come has any hope of sticking © Mimisand Malagquit, On account of their elutin-
it here. I often think of the comfortable houses, well ous qualities they make up into the finest bread
served meals ang good attendance and jolly society and cakes on the Oriental markets. Corn, of
that most people evjoy in India, but the climate American origin, is the second of the food “pro-
_ here compensates me for a good deal. As you will | ducts. Ninety day corn, of the flint: variety, alone
gather from what Ihave written there is no certainty is in common caltivation, but the Agricultural
here. I haven’t got any live-stock, started a few ani- Bureau is making an effort to supplant “it by
mals, such as tame antelope, monkeys, etc., but the advanced grades from American seed, Success is
leopards carried them off. They seemed tothinkI have said to be assured. Bamboo ranks third in come-
come here to keep them in delicacies, Black ants too mercial importance. With nipa for thatching and
are vecy bad—one little antelope was literally bitten to rattan for whipping or tying together, the homes
death in about an hour before any one noticed that for the peasantry are built, and many that grace
it was suffering. I shall be very glad toanswerany the snburbs of all cities and towns. Moreover,
enquiries or to give any information, bamboo has a succulent root that takes the place
SOCIETY AND SPORT, of asparagus for table use. ;
I was almost forgetting to describe the social and Zacate, or grass, a forage for livestock, is cul-
sporting aspects of my neighbourhood. Nairobi is tivated with great care, especially near cities or
becoming quite a large place and sports a hotel. There large towns, for the returns are large. There are
must be quite 20 ladies in Nairobi anda regiment of & number of varieties and several crops are
the King’s African Rifles. It isalso the head-quarters- gtown each year. Cogon is. also a forage plant.
station of the Uganda Railway, and holds tworace- Where nipa does not gtow it is used for thatch»
_ meetings a year at least. Horseflesh is scarce, There ing cases and other buildings, Sorghum is a
pre. no indigenous ponies, although zebras abound on fodder plant, and in some localities it is employed
the plains. ‘he British India steamers carry horsesat in the manufacture of sugar and: alochol, Other
a very moderate rate from Bombay or Kurrachee, grasses and fodder plants form the pastures of
Roads are being made, but at present I have only bridle the mountains. oa Banas
_Tlang-Llang, Sampaguita and Champaca.
Jax. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL
TEXTILE OR FIBRE PLANTS.
Textile plants, as are used in the manufacture
of cloth and cordage are hemp, cotton, pineapple,
cabo nogro, rattan, ramie, agave and pandan.
Pineapple furnishes the fibre for the pina cloth
80 much in vogue in the ornamental dress of
women. Hemp furnishes the material for the
chief wear of men and for rope and cordage.
Oil-producing plants are the coconut, castor bean,
lumbang, sesama and the peanut. The coconut,
however, is of greatest importance and value, It
not only produces an oil of great medicinal value,
but also copra and fibre for calking and cordage
purposes, By tapping the central bud that crowns
the tree, tuba, or a kind of wine is extracted,
which, fomented, becomes vinegar, and, distilled,
a kind of brandy. The woody part of the shell
is used for rosaries and many other articles. The
trunks of the palm serve as pillars to support
tases, and the hollow part of the trunk is created
into oil barrels, tuba casks and water pipes. Coco-
nuts and their products are largely exported.
DYE AND STARCH PLANTS.
Dye and starch plants belong to the economia
subdivision of plant life in the islands, and they
are rich in the order of their importance, viz,,
Indigo, safflower, salicican, ananaples, aguisip, sibucao
bacauan, arrowroot, buri, cassava, bagsang, lumbia,
canong and bauga. The alcoholic plants are sugar
cane, nipa, sorghum, coconut, buri, camona, maize,
and the aromatic plants are tobacco, coffee, choco-
late; mace, betel, cinnamon and- pepper. And,
coupled with these, are a large number of medi-
cinal plants, all of which find a ready market in
all parts of America and Hurope.
Vegetables of all sorts grow in abundant richness,
not only in size but flavour, especially such as have
been grown from American seeds since the sovereignty
of the flag of the United States asserted itself, lrish
potatoes grow to richest size and flavour in north
Luzon; while sweet potatoes thrive in every island
of the group. where this cultivation has been
attempted. .
The Agricultural ‘Bureau has been experimenting
with the cereals grown in temperate zones with
varied success, yet the opinion is expressed that
both wheat, oats, rye and barley will do well in
the temperate portions of the islands when planted
during. the temperate season,
RESINS, GUMS AND ESSENTIAL OILS,
Aside from this, the Philippines are rich in resins,
gums aud trees that produce flowers from which
essential oils are distilled. Chief among these are
Resins and
gums are each a dozen or more in number, and
their harvesting forms an important industry in
many sections of the archipelago. ‘hese substances
of plant life are marketed in all of the principal
marts of the world. ;
FLORA AND FAUNA,
Patting it in a general way the flora of the
Philippines is tropical, but there are very great
differences in vegetation on the Pacific and China
Sea-coasts, Mindanao and the Suln Archipelago are
equatorial, and they possess a growth of the
durian and mangosteen, plants of indigenous growth,
which are very common in all islands near the
equator. But such forms of vegetation lessen until
they reach the parallel of Manila, where the two
floras are supposed to have their dividing line,
North of the capital is found the pine and vegeta-
tion of subtropical belt, and south the foliage and
blossoming families of Myrtacea, Leauracear, Orchi-
dacaea and others,
Wherever rains are most copious foliage with
many variegated colors is. most dense, and this
applies to Mindanao and all contiguous eqnatorial
jlamde, North the mountains are more compact,
AGRICULTURIST. 447
and, in consequence, this territory has a more
limited agricultural zone. The forests of the
mountain sides and valleys contain an abundance
of ferns, orchids, and palms. While the fir is not
found, other gums, such as the almaciga and
various species of the Podacarpus and agojos, grow
luxuriantly, and are much sought after for decorat-
ing purposes.
As the Gazetteer puts it, ‘‘where the hand of
man bas not interfered with nature, two kinds
of vegetation are seen; either the land is
covered with extensive forests or with grass of
various species.” Latitudes and altitudes determine
largely the disbursement of flora in Oceanica of the
South Pacific, including that of the China Sea.
That in the Philippines is analogous to that of
Sumatra, although the latter has much the larger
number of species. There is 00 comparison between
the flora of the Philippines and that of Java, the
latter having a distinct variegated foliage, and, prac-
tically, a distinct forestry. It may be said, too, that
identical species are quite rare on the Pacific coast
and on that of the Ohina Sea,
While blossoms from native plants and shrubs
and trees have delicately beautiful petals and color-
ings of every shade imaginable, very few of them
are fragrant, such as the connoisseurs of the beanti-
ful delight in ‘most. Ilang-Ilang is perhaps the
most fragrant of all, and next in rank are Sampa-
guita and Champaca, The flowers of the first-
named spread their fragrance from one to two
miles where they are cuitivated in orchards, and
their perfume is such that one delights to linger
among them.
THE WATER BUFFALO OR CARABAO,
Pastoral pursuits are extensive, The water buffalo
or carabao is the most useful animal in the islands,
and they are numeronsly propagated wherever
marsh land and rivers obtain, and this means they
are raised in almost every island of the archipe-
Jago where any pretension is given to agriculture,
This animal is the beast of all heavy burden, is
stronger than the ox but much less docile. Ori-
ginally he came from India, but is now common
in all of the torrid latitudes of the Eastern
Hemisphere, Here he is used for draft, carriage
and tillage, and under existing conditions is in-
dispensable, ‘‘Ghee,” or a kind of butter, is
made from the milk of the female, but it is not
very palatable, nor is the meat of the matured
animal, but that from the calf is sweet, tender
and luscious. The hide of the carabao is practically
hairless and very tough, making a valuable com-
mercial leather.
Horses, cattle, hogs, fowls and other animals,
including sheep and goats, have become domesticated,
and are to be found on every farm, ranch or
hacienda. Deer, wild hogs, wild turkeys and wild
chickens abound in the mountains and forests
near the tribes and tribal families of the islands.
The rivers, bays, gulfs and harbors furnish fish,
reptiles, aligators and crocodiles, some of which
approach the size of mammals.
NATIVE FRUITS,
Wild and cultivated fruits of the archipelago are
large in variety and many.of them are superior
in quality. Anona, an exotic from Mexico, has a
soft, white meat with small black seeds resembling the
bullock’s heart or the custard apple; balambing
has the flavor of quince and is used by the
natives with meat or fish; bananas are the com-
monest and cheapest fruit in the islands, and there
are eighteen or twenty varieties; camias, when green
has a sour taste and when ripe is sweet and
fragrant; cantaloupes of excellent varieties grow in
the provinces near Manila; citron, frnit very large,
is found in abundance; duat, a wild edible fruit,
about the size of an olive, dark purple to black
in color, is found in all of the principal islands ;
448 THE TROPICAL
guanabano, pear-shaped and similar in exterior to
the pineapple, containing an acid pulp, is used
for preserves; guayaba, a Tagalog bayabas, yellow-
ish when ripe, is very aromatic as are also the
leaves; nangca is perhaps the largest fruit of its
sort in the world, i3 recognized by its aromatic
and penetrating odor, and its flesh is used for
preserves and sweet-meats; lanzon, perhaps the
most beautiful fruit grown in the Whilippines, is
like the lemon, containing five divisions, has a
flesh almost transparent, sweetish sour, quite deli-
cate, and is very refreshing ; lemons, seven varieties,
two of which are of superior quality while the
rest are worthless for commercial purposes; mabolo,
about the size of a seedless California orange,
has a flesh white and sweet, but it is somewhat
indigestible; mampon, very similar to the mango
for table use, preserves or sweetmeats; mango is
one of the most exquisite fruits in the world, is
from six to seven inches in length, flattened. It
is used as a food, while green or ripe, often being
converted into preserves, jelly and marmalde, both
the fruit and the converted foods having an ex-
quisite acid flavor; mangosteen, an exotic fruit,
grows only in Sulu and some points off Zamboanga
and Cotabato, where it is greatly prized by
Moro sultans, who call it the “King’s fruit.’
' Oranges of various species are found in many
portions of the islands; papaya has two sexes,
male and female, the former producing small
white aromatic flowers, and the latter the fruit,
which has an acid taste, and for table use is
pickled or converted into a sauce with red
peppers, spices, relishes and onions; pineapples
have fine acid flavors and are of good size; rima,
about the size of a child’s, head, is a bulb com-
posed of small female flowers, and its flesh is a
substantial food, when boiled or roasted and eaten
with sugar or syrup; santol is similar to the peach
but larger, and the zapote, also similar, are natives
of Chins, bus grown to a considerable extent in
the islands; tampoy, about the size of a seedling
apple, soft and sweet, has an odor very like that
of the rose and is quite eatable. Among the ma:s
of wild fruits growing in the Philippines may be
mentioned the doctoyan, pananquinan, durian, abuli,
amahit, angiap, amaga, agonanan, dar, bonano,
marobo, cabaan and dalinson. ‘These, in general,
are sweet and sour, and somewhat carminitive.
FORESTRY AND MINERALS.
No part of the world has a finer display of
forectry than the Philippines, area considered,
‘his is true not only in variety but in quality
and quantity. There are one hundred and eighty-
one varieties that have merchantable value, that
is, for building and cabinet purposes, and most of
the forests covering millions of acres are virgin,
having never been touched by axe or saw.
Public forests of the Philippines are grouped .
-jnto six classes for proper botanical and com-
‘mercial survey. ‘The first is the superior, with
twelve species, including ipil and molave, both
export woods; the first group includes seventeen
species, among them camphor, betis, malatapay
and palmoris; the second has forty-eight species,
including alalangat and banuyo; the third seventy-
five which includes abilo, balodo, calumpit, dao,
labato, manga and pipi; the fourth two hundred,
and the fifth thirteen, with twenty varieties of
palm, including the valuable areca, orania bonga
and caryota. ‘his classification shows 665 varie-
ties of timber, peculiar to the islsnds, fixing, too,
the woods of economic or commercial value,
Forest products, besides the woods for economic
purposes, such as ship-building, general construc-
tion and cabinet work, comprise a number of
_ gum-producing trees and medicinal and dye barks
and plants, hitherto mentioned. Philippine hard
woods must come into considerable use in America
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1, 1904.
and Europe in the near future. Lnmbermen of
Manila say that narra, the mahogany of the
Philippines, can be delivered in the United States
at a much less price than it can from South
America, and that its colorings for artistic work
are superior to the woods that come frem the
south part of the Western Hemisphere, hence are
even more valuable.
The forests of the Philippines are one of their
great sources of natural wealth. That the forests
of the islands might be protected, a Forestry
Bureau was created, April 14, 1900, and reorganized
under acts of the Civil Commission in June and
July, 1900.
——————
PINE-APPLE HIBRIDIZATION,
EXPERIMENTS AT HOPE BOTANIC GARDENS, JAMAICA,
The superior qualities of the Ripley-varieties as
to flavour, and the excellent qualities of the Smooth
Cayenne as to large size and weight, good keeping
and ability to bear long transport, gave rise to
the idea that if the two varieties could be crossed
the hybird product would most likely partake of
the mixed qualities of both parents. This process
in horticulture is known as cross-pollination or
cross-fertilisation. It is the method whereby ‘nu-
merous fruits—apples, pears, grapes, etc., have been
produced. It is well known to horticulturists that
very many cross-seedlings may be produced without
much success as to the desired result of producing
a better plant. It is recounted that many thousands
of worthless gzape-seedlings have been giown before
one good or better grape-vine could be established.
Hence the value of, and even necessity for, trials
on a numerically extensive scale. At Hope, during
the present year, it is gratifying to observe that
these operations are on a scale at least large
enough to deserve if not indeed to command success.
The botanical] name of the pine-apple plant (Ananassa
sativa) denotes its growth from seeds: but in
practical cultivation the plant is multiplied, true
to its variety, by means of offsets, which have
received special names; thus an offset from between
the leaves of the plant is inappropriately called a
‘sucker ;”’ those from the stem near the base of
the fruit are called slips; the prolonged stem
passing through the fruit bears an elegant grouping
of foliage called appropriately a crown. When the
crown is double or is surrounded by numerous
buds called cockscombs, the fruit becomes unsale-
able as choice fruit, and these faulty fruits are
called monsters, All these various offsets have the
same physiological character; they are all axillary
buds or phytons, and all may be employed in re-
producing the parent-plant true to the original
variety.
The process of rearing a plant by cross-fertilisation
makes it imperative that the reproduction shail be
by seed. How the seed of new quality is to be
obtained may be thus explained:—When in flower
the pine-apple presents « cone of flowers all com:
pacted together, just as the fruit is made up of a
congeries of single fruits compacted together in the.
fruity cone which constitutes the pine, ;
THE FERTILISING PROCESS,
The flower of the pine-apple is both staminate and
pistillate ; that is to say, it contains six stamens anc
one pistil; it is thus a flower which is readily ferti-
lised by simple agencies, Artificially, these agencies
have to be controlled. The proposition is to remove
all simple agencies from action upon the flowers of
the Ripley. This is done by cutting out the stamens
from all the blossoms of the Ripley before the
anthers have ripened their pollen and by protection
from external agencies by wrapping up the flower<
head with fine gauze. Then the maturity’ of the
stigma forming the summit of the pistil is watched
for, At the proper moment pollen-dust from the
os —————
Jane 1, 1904:] THE TROPICAL
stamens of the flowers of Smooth Cayenne is
applied to the moist and adherent stigma of the
Ripley, and the flower-head is again wrapped up,
and so protected against any other mode of polli-
pation, which would of course impair and render
uncertain the result, :
That this delicate operation has been skilfully
performed at Hope is shown by the abundance of
the seed obtained and the large number of seedling-
plants procured. I estimated that there are this
year between 1,5€0 and 2,000 seedling-plants thus
cross-fertilised and known as Cayenne x Ripley,
growing in the nurseries at Hope, so that there
is surely a hopeful chance of more than one
superior variety being evolved.
CARE OF THE YOUNG SEEDLINGS,
These tiny favorites are growing under glass in
the orchid-houses, occupying a part of each house.
The heat of the solar rays is modified by applying
a coat of whitewash to the glass roof, and ample
ventilation is secured by open doors and windows.
On the bench beneath the glass roof water-tight
boxes containing coarse and well moistened with
water were placed, and the seedlings after being
germinated in shallow pans were pricked out into
small earthenware pots filled with suitable compost.
The plants are not watered. It is the sand which
receives a regular watering, aud the porous pots
absorb by physical attraction sufficient moisture for
the nutrition of the young plants. True to their
hybrid origin, these little plants were widely dif-
ferent in their characters. No two, indeed, could be
compared witheach other as being alike. To my
idea many of them showed signs of a predominat-
ing Ripleian feature in the incipient spiny foliage.
This final test is the fruiting, which will be
waited with interest.—Journal of the Jamaica Agri-
cultural Socvety.
ee eS
SOIL INOCULATION FOR LEGUMINOUS
PLANTS,
TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF NITROGEN.
Of the three elements, nitrogen, phosphoric acid
and potash, going to make up the value of fertilizers,
nitrogen is by far the most expensive, costing about
15 cents per pound, while phosphoric acid and potash
cost only about five, While nitrogen is abundant in
nature, forming four-fifths of the atmosphere, it is
only under certain conditions that this uncombined
nitrogen becomes available for plant growth,
Tt has long been known that leguminous plants,t
such as cow peas, velvet beans, alfalfa, the vetches,s
the clovers, etc., are usually rich in nitrogen andt
increase the nitrogen of the soils on which they grow.
This was not fully explained until science brought
out the fact that this family of plants is able to
obtain the nitrogen from the air.
THE BACTERIA NODULES.
It has been found that the power of securing free
nitrogen exists only when small nodules or tubercles,
containing bacteria, are found on the roots. It is
now generally believed that these bacteria by some
mysterious process, draw the nitrogen from the air,
which is ever present between the soil particles,
and converts it into forms which can be utilized
by the plants on which tubercles grow. ‘These tu-
bercles may readily be seen by examining the roots
of any leguminous plant grown under favourable con-
ditions, 2.¢., soils deficient in nitrogen, which con-
tains the germs for the development of the tubercles
on the particular jegame. If the soils are abundantly
supplied with nitrogen there is little need for the
bacteria, and the nodules which they produce are
not so likely to occur on the roots: On the other
hand in soils poor in nitrogen (most soils are) the
bacteria, if preset in Sufficient quantity, attach them
selves to the roots in large numbers and
STIMULATE THE PLANT,
npon which they grow, to produce tubercies; and
AGRICULTURIST. 449
thus provide the necessary nutritive substance for
the growth of the bacteria, while inreturn the plant
receives the uitrogen which the bacteria alone can
take from the air, rendering it available for the
plant.
It has often been noted that when a leguminons
plant was grown for the first time on a soil it fre-
quently produced no tubercles and failed to thrive ;
this is true in many instances even though some
other legume has been successfully grown on the
same soil the previous season. This led to the con-
clusion that, at least, each genus of legumes has its
own kind of bacteria. No legume is likely to thrive
unless the bacteria necessary for that particular
legume is present in the soil. Bacteria are left in
the soil in great numbers by the decay of the tubercles
left from a previous successful growth of a given
legume,
The introduction of bacteria into the soil where
rarely grown legume seed are to be planted, is com-
monly known as inoculation, that
IT PAYS TO INOCULATE SOILS,
for at least some legumes is evidenced by the fol-
lowing figures: Duggar, (Ala,) Experiment Station
reports that inoculation increased the yield of Hairy
vetch from 232 pounds, cured hay per acre on unin-
cculated plot, to 2,540 pounds on inoculated plot.
Inoculation increased the yield of crimson clover
from 761 pounds, cured hay per acre to 4,057 pounds,
Similar results according to Prof. H, Benton inthe
Florida Agriculturist have been obtained with clover,
vetch and alfalfa in Louisiana, Canebrake Station,
Alabama, and other stations.
METHODS OF INOCULATION.
There are at least three methods by which
soils may be inoculated. One method is to
find a field on which a crop of the plant to be
growo has made a satisfactory growth and
where the tubercles have developed in abundance,
thus being sure that the bacteria are present in
abandance. Haul the soilfrom the inoculated field,
using that from two to three inches deep, as the
germs in first inch may have been killed by sunshine,
and that deeper than three inches may not con-
tain the bacteria in sufficient numbers. Scatter
about one ton per acre over field to be inoculated.
This inoculated soil should be quickly harrowed in
to prevent the sunshine killing the germs. If the
seeds are to be sown in drills it is better to put
the inoculating soil in the drill with the seed.
A second method is to obtain some soil from an
inoculated field, about half bushel of soil to each
bushel of seed to be planted, place it in a vessel and
pour water over it; stir vigorously, allow the larger
particles of soil to settle, use this murky water to
thoroughly wet the seed before sowing. The seed
may be dried again if kept out of the sunshine. The
germs which should bein the murky water stick to
the seed and inoculate the soil on which they are
sown. This is at present the most economical method
of inoculating a field,
NITROGEN AS A FERTILIZER,
The third method is to buy a material known as
nitrogen, Thisissimply a gelatinous substance full
of the germs one wishes to use, Pare cultures of
nitrogen may be obtained for peas, beans, the vetches,
_ lupines, the clovers, alfalfa, mellilotans and flat pea,
There are two methods of using nitregen as an
inoculating material. One is by bringing the nitro-
gen into solution by using pure water, and sprinkling
this solution over the seed to be planted. The other
method is by mixing the nitrogen with a small
portion of the soil, then scatter this coil over a pre-
pared field and harrow in immediately. The cost of
inoculating an acre with nitrogen is about $2°50 per
acre. One bottle of the prepared nitrogen is sufficient
to inoculate one-eight of an acre. Owing to the
fact that nitrogen has to be transported across the
450
ocean, many of the bottles ferment and the inocu-
lating property of the material is lost. Therefore,
for practical purposes, we would recommend the use
of soils containing the germs required for the species
of legume to be grown. :
A sufficient amount of soil inoculated with germs
of the rarely grown legume may frequently be ob-
tained from a neighbouring farmer, who has succeeded
with one of these crops. In the event this is not
practicable, buy a quart or so of seed of the legume
to be grown, make a small area very rich by the
use of stable manure, thoroughly prepare the soil,
sow the seed at the proper time and in the proper
manner, Keep the weeds down, so tho plants will
haves good chance to develop. If the tubercles do
not appear the first year repeat the second or even
third. In most cases the tubercles will develop
either the first or second year, After the tubercles have
appeared on the plants use the soil from this smal! plot
to inoculate larger areas,
—_—_____—_—___—_
RUBBER IN THE PHILLIPPINES.
The United States Department of Agriculture has
received from the Philippines several samples of low-
grade gutta-percha, but no rubber, and it has not
been supposed that native rubber trees exist in the
islands. It has recently been announced, however,
‘that a shipment of native rubber has beensent from
Zamboanga, island of Middanao, to a San Franciso
firm. This rubber, according tothe J. 2. Journal, is
said to be derived from Ficus elastica, the Assam
rubber tree of the Hast Indies.
That the Ficus is confined to Mindanao is scarcely
to be expected, in view of the fact that it has been
reported on Formosa, far north of Luzon. It should
accordingly be sought for on other islands of the group.
{he existence of what may prove to be another
rubber plant is indicated by the following paragraph
from a resent letter received by this department
from Mr, Henry BH. Neibert, an American teacher
stationed at Jaro, on the Island of Leyte :—
‘Phere is a rubber plant indigenous to the soil here,
the native name of which in the Binasaya dialect is
quiliquilt (pronounced ke-li-ke-li). Neither the natives
nor the Spaniards seem to be aware of its commercial
value, and have cut all easily accessiblespecimens at
an early age. for the columns which support their
houses. Because it is a prolific plant is the only
reason that it still exists.”
POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF RUBBER FROM CEYLON.
Tt is not known that either Castilloa or Hevea has
been introduced into the Philippines, Seedsfor ex-
perimental planting can be secured more easily from
Ceylon or the Straits Settlements than from tropical
America, but as soon as the superiority of any one
or more of the Mexican or Central American varieties
of Castilloa has been determined, a new supply of
seed should be sent out, The suitability of some
of the various soils and climatic conditions found in
the Philippines for the culture of Castilloa is to
be expected. The character of the natural vegetation
would enable one conversant with the subject to
select the most favourable localities for experimental
plantings, but until these have given evidence of
success extensive undertakings will not be justified.
——__—__
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES.
TpA CULTIVATION IN THE CAUCAUsUS.—The cultiva-°
tion of tea in Russia is reported as progressing satis-
factorily, On the Crown estate, Tschakira, there
were, according to recent reports, fifty-five dess-
jatines of land under tea cultivation. The first
harvest, in April and May last year, gave a yield
of 76,323 lb. raw leaves. The second, in June, gave
62,430 lb. ; the third, in September, 37,412 lb.; and
the fourth, in October, 116,165 lb. The aggregate
output of dry tea was about 1,000 pood. The
rivate tea growers delivered a smaller quantity
of raw leaves to the Tschakira establishment. Of
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
JAN. 1, 1904,]
raw tea leaves, 4: lb. yield 1 lb. of tea. As the tea
has met with a ready sale, and as the cultivatien
is comparatively low, great hopes are entertained
by those interested about the future of this industry.
Goip Coast Cocoa Inpustry.—The report on the ~
Gold Coast for 1902 states that the value of cocoa
exported during the year shows an increase of
about 121 per cent. over that for 1901. This in-
dustry was founded in 1879 by a native of Accra,
who brought some cocoa plamts and pods from
Fernando Po, made a small plantation and, four
years latter, sold the cocoa pods in the neighbour-
ing villages. The first consignment of 121 ibs. of
cocoa was shipped to England in 1895, and
realised 67. 1s. No more cocoa was shipped until
1901, since when the industry, fostered by the
Government, which distributed large quantities of
cocoa seeds from the botanical station at Aburi
and, at one period, shipped crops to England for
the native growers, and also by the Basel Mission
Stations, has advanced with rapid strides, fully
6,000,000 plants having been planted in one district
alone. The chief port of shipment is Accra, which
is now connected with market towns in the dis-
tricts in which the greater portion of the cocoa
exported is grown, by excellent roads.—Board of
Trade Journal,
RussErR In Matay States,—The Resident-General
for the Federated Malay States in his Report for
1902 says:—™ Export of Para rubber in quantity has
not yet commenced, and we may have to wait a
year or two longer for that consummation, but
meanwhile we know that our samples realise high
prices in ngland, and that additional outside
capital is coming in to extend the area of land under
this ctltivation.”’ The chairman of the United Plan-
ters’ Association of the Federated Malay States
writes in his official report for the year 1902 :—“As
far as it is possible to judge at present, the Malay
Peninsula appear to possess every factor necessary
to the successful cultivation of rubber. Climate,
soil, transport facilities, the quality of the product,
and the yield of the trees, leave little to be desired.
As regards labour, this country is, at any rate, in-
finitely better off than any other with which we will
be brought into competition, excepting Ceylon and
India itself, where, however, some of the other
conditions are far less favourable. It may be con-
tended thatlittle is known of the yield over a large
area, which is true, but, on the other hand, we do
know what considerable numbers of indifferently cul
tivated individual trees have given, and there is
no reason whatever for fearing that our average
yield will be less than that of any other country.”
The British Resident at Negri Sembilan writes that
not much has been done in extending the cultivation
of rubber from want of capital. Some old trees on
Linsum Estate were tapped. and 133 lbs. of rubber
sent to England realised 3s. 10d. per lbs,, althongh
classed by the exporter as ‘‘ number two quality.”
Pupuications Hro, RerceiveD.—Indian Museum
Notes, being the first number of Vol. V1. containing -
extensive entomological notes and four plates. The
Indian Forester includes a chapter on the commercial
value of Mhowra seed; also the yield of Madras
forests, and fire-protection in the teak forests of
Lower Burma. The Agriculiural Gazette of New
South Wales (November) contains much useful in-
formation of Australian agriculturists; there is a
well-illustrated article on irrigation, and a chapter
on locusts and grasshoppers with an excellently
coloured plate. The Agricultural Journal (Natal) is an
interesting exchange. A critical review of Gossy-
piums by Dr. A, Alcotta comes to hand from Italy,
We have also to acknowledge a digest of researches
and criticisms bearing on the reyision of the British
Pharmacopoeia from the Pharmacopoeia Committee.
A neat little leather-bound booklet, Agenda Agricole
and Viticole, has come to hand from Messrs, Vermorel,
President of the Society of Agriculture and Viti-
culture of Beaujolais,
JAN. 1, 1904.)
LAC AND THE LAC INDUSTRY IN
' CEYLON.
(By E, E, Green, Government Entomologist.)
Strictly speaking, Jac is not a vegetable economic
product, but as it is a resin and collected upon plants
it ig convenient to include it here.
Lac is not—as sometimes supposed—a resinous
exndation from a tree, excited by the punctures of the
insect that accompanies it, The juices of the plant
first pass through the body of the insect, and reappear
as an excretion from the skin. The resinous matter
first occurs in the form of separate plates on the
dorsal area of each segment of the larval insect. As
the insect grows these plates enlarge, ccalesce, and
thicken; finally forming a hard compact shell com-
pletely enclosing the insect, but perforated by three
small holes—known as the spiracular (2) and anal (1)
orifices. Where the insects are much crowded on a
branch—as usually occurs—the resinous cares become
agglomerated, resulting in a continuous incruscation
enclosing the branch upon which it is formed. In this
condition it is known as ‘Stick-lac.” ‘*Seed-lac’’
consists of the resinous matter removed from the
branches and broken up, ‘Shell-lac”’ is the residue
after evaporation of an alcoholic solution of the resin.
The lac insect is a Coccid or scale-insect, belonging to
the genus TVachardia. Many species of Tachardia are
known to science, but only a few of them are of any
economic value, The principal source of commercial
lac is Tachardia lacca, a native of India.
LACQUER WORK IN CEYLON.
Lacwork, or lacquerwork, appears to be a dying
industry in Ceylon. There are two distinct classes of
work: one in which the lac-pigments are applied to the
wood while it is revolving on a turving-lathe, the heat
of friction causing the lac to adhere: and another in
which the pigments are heated over a charcoal fire
during application. The first class of work is applic-
able only to articles that can be turned on a lathe,
The second can be employed for the decoration of
other articles, such as panels, Kandyan walking-sticks,
standard handles, and small pieces of furniture. The
painted pottery and much of the decorative panel
work—often classed as lacwork in Ceylon—have really
no connection with that art. The pigments employed
in the painting of pottery are mixed with vegetable
gums, and applied with paint brushes. Paint brushes
are not and—from the nature of the medium—cannot
be employed in true lacwork. As far as I have been
able to discover, work of the first class is centred in
the small village of Angalmaduwa (situate about 7
miles from Tangalla), and is in the hands of two small
families only. 1 have visited this village and (with the
exception of the actual mixing of the pigments, which
was reserved asa trade secret) have seen the whole
process,
The product of two distinct species of lac insects
(Tachardia albizzie, Green; and 7’. conchiferata, Green)
is employed by the lacworkers of the Tangalla District.
The former, known to the natives as ‘“‘ Kon laccada,”
occurs on the following trees:—‘* Keppitiya ”’ (Croton
aromaticus), “Kon” (Schleichera trijuga), “ Hinguru”
(Acacia cesia), and ‘ Kittipol” (a name which I have
been unable to identify). I have found it also on
“Hulan-mara” (Albizzia stipulata), “Pehimbiya ”
(Filieium decipiens), “* Na-imbul” (Zarpullia cupani-
odies), and Nephelium litchi. The'latter (Z’. concheferata),
known as ‘*Vela-kiriya laccada,” is a scarcer species,
andis found by the natives only on the ‘ Tela-kiriya ”
(Bacecaria. Agallocha),an Euphorbiaceous plant. I
have myself taken this lac insect on a species of Acacia,
in the Kandy District. Though less abundant than
the other, this species is preferred by the lacworkers,
as it produces lac of a brighter and clearer quality.
They also use small quantities of imported Indian lac
(the product of Tachardia lacca), which they purchase
at Galle; It makes a quality similar to that of ‘6 Téla-
57
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 451
kiviya laccada.’”’ A third species of Tachardia (which
hes been provisionally named 7’. lobata) occurs in
Ceylon on a species of lacourtia. But the insect is so
small and the resinous secretion so dense, thal it
would be of litile or no value for lacwork.
WOOD BS PLOYED IN THE WORK;
The wood employed by the lacworkers of Angal-
maduwa is—almost exclusively—“ Suriya ” (Thespesia
populnea), which is light and easily worked on a
turning lathe, It is seasoned (under cover) for
about two months. ‘*Satinwood” (Chlorovylon Swretenia)
is more zarely used. Lhe work is smoothed with the
leaves of the “ Sandpaper fig” (icus asperrima). The
objects usually manufactured are small tables, chairs,
fancy cups, tom-tom frames, and walking-sticks, But
any article, the parts of which can be revolved on a
lathe, can be lecquered by this process.
The turning lathes employed are of a very primitive
construction, he objects is pivoted upon two fixed
points, and is revolved independently of the lathe.
The operator works in a sitting posture on the ground,
The object is revolved by a second man, by means of a
piece of rope twisted two or three times round it or
round a block to which it is attached.
THE PREPARATION OF LAC-PIGMENTS,
The lac-pigments are prepared as follows:—The
freshly collected twigs bearing the lac insects are
dried in the sun, The resin is then removed, pounded
and winnowed or sifted. In this condition it is termed
simply ‘‘laccada.’’ It is then packed into smail
bolster-shaped bags of thin cotton cloth and roasted
over charcoal fires, As the lac melts and oozes through
the cloth it is allowed to drip on to a smooth leaf or
the smooth surface of a piece of plantain stem, where
it cools into a hard brittle mass of a deep brown
colour. This is the uncleared lac, locally termed
‘* Kuhata ekka.’’ A piece of this uncleared lac is next
softened over the fire and attached to the point of a
short stick, Itis again warmed and a second stick
attached to it, The softened lacis then drawn, ont
between the two sticks, worked about, doubled up, and
redrawn many times, until it assumes the form of a
long stout ribbon of glistening fibrous lac of a bright
golden brown colour. It is now known as drawn lac,
or ‘“‘ Kahata netta.” It only remains to add the. pig-
ments,—a process which I was not allowed to see, but
it is doubtless effected in much the same manner ag
described later, in the account of the Matale lacwork.
The pigmented lac finally appears in the form of
broad cakes or sticks—resembling coarse sealing-
wax—ot four colours: red, yellow, green, and black,
They are usually shaped so that the edges vary in
thickness, to permit of fine lives or broad bands of
colour being applied,
APPLYING THE PIGMENT,
The object to be ornamented is now attached to the
lathe and revolved as described above. The pattern is
in the form of bands of colour of varying breadth; the
width of the several bands being first marked out by
holding the thin edge of one of the cakes of pigmens
against the revolving wood at the measured iniervals,
Where large surfaces are to be covered, narrow lines
of one colour are often superposed over a ground of
another colour, A favourite combination—especially
for the decoration of smal! tables—is a black ground
with concentric rings of yellow or yellow and red.
As mentioned above, the pigment is applied by
pressing the cakes of coloured lac against the reyoly-
ing wood, to whick it adheres by the heat of friction,
After the surface has been roughly covered in this
manner the colour is evenly distributed (while the
object is still revolving) by means of small pieces of
cane with blunt chisel-shaped ends. The application
of colour is repeated several times, and the work is
finally polished by holding against ita piece of fresh
Pandanus leaf, assisted at Intervals by the application
of the operator's finger,
The work is now complete, ahd the pigmented lac
forms a dense waterproof covering, which can be
affected only by heat or alcohol.
4.52 THE
The natural crimson pigment of the lac insect—
from which a separate Gye is menufactured in India,
and which gives its name to the artist’s colour
“crimson lake’’—does not appear to be utilized in any
way in Ceylon. It is noticeable that a certain propor-
tion of the insects—even in a single colony—are of a
gamboge-yellow instead of crimson colour, and yield
correspondingly a yellow pigment.
er FINGER-NAIL LACQUER-WORK,
“The second class of lacwork is known as “‘niya-
pothen” ,(finger-nail) work. The ‘principal examples
of this work are coloured walking-sticks and native
eeremonial statis, The headquarters of this branch of
the industry is at a village named Hapuwida, in South
Matale. It is confined to about five families, The
name of this class of work is derived from the fact that
the pattern is manipulated chiefly by the finger (or
thunib) nail of the operator. | . .
The lac employod is that from Tachardiaalbizze,
and is here called “‘ Keppitiya laccada,”’ being collected
principally from the ‘‘ Keppitiya ” tree (Croton aroma-
ticus var. lacciferus). "The imsects' occur on a number
of other trees, bat the lacworkers state that the lac
grown on the croton is of a superior quality, and that
lac from other trees is darker and more opaque.
PREPARATION CF THE: LAC,
The preparation of the lac is, in most particulars,
Similar to that employed by the Tangalla workers.
The crushed lac is enclosed in narrow bolster-shaped
bags of thin cloth. Isis heated over a charcoal fire,
and the bag twisted until the melted Jae oozes through
the cloth.» ‘This’ melted lac is then scraped oif with
the back of a knife, and is drawn in the manner
already described. Vermilion (‘‘ Sodilingam ”) is the
pase of the red pigment. Dhobies’ blue (“Nila ) is
employed for the blue?tints. \ Orpiment (or sulphide of
Arsenic), locally mown us “ Hirial,” forms the yellow
and buff colours. Black is produced by burning rags
soaked in oil, and catching the soot on the bottom of
an earthenware chatiy. ‘The greens are compounded
from the blue and yellow pigments.
* The pigment is mixed into the drawn lac by soften-
ing the latter and pounding the coloured powders into
it. This mixing is done by repeated blows with a
blunt keife, which drives the colouring matter into the
lac, the compound being kneaded and folded again and
again during the process. ¢ ‘
From the nature of the appliances, this form of
lacwork seems to ‘be principally confined to the orna-
mentation of wooden sticks, or of such pieces of
furniture and other articles as are composed of rod like
pieces of wood joined together. It will be convenient
to follow the process in its simplest form, namely, in
the decoration of a walking-stick.
THE PROCESS OF LACQUERING.
The wood, having been fashioned into the requisite
form and carefully smoothed, is first coated with the
ground colour (usually red), The only tools employed
are small round tapered sticks, about 8 inches long, of.
some hard wood. ‘The specimens in the Museum
collection are cut'from some kind ofpalm. The lac
pigment is softened over glowing chareoal and a
portion transferred to the point of this ‘distributing
tool, and worked about until it thickly covers about an
inch of the extremity. This, in its turn, is again
heated over the charcoal, and when sufficiently soft is
spread evenly over the’ surface of the object by means
of the same wooden tool. The object that is being
coloured is itself repeatedly warmed to ensure the even
distribution of the colour. The coating of pigment
ja then smoothed and polished with a strip of ‘‘ola”
(Talipot leaf), a final’ polishing being given with a
piece of eoft rag, Upon this groundwork'all the other
colours that form the pattern are overlaid in the
manner described below. For this purpose the lac
pigments are drawn out info threads of varying fine-
ness in the following manner. A small piece of the
requisite colour is attached tothe point of the wooden
tool, It isropeatedly heated and kneaded upon the
TROPICAL,
AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1904,
extends, is wound off round the bare knee and left
hand of the operator, forming a short skein; the
thread being finally pinched off with the thumb nail.
The thickness of the thread depends upon the rapidity
of the drawing action ; the fine threads being produced
by a rapid movement, while the broader ribbon-like
threads are formed by a slower action. ~
MAKING THE PATTERN.
To make the pattern—which is usually in thin lines
of a lighter colour on the dark background—a, thread
of lac pigment of suitable thickness and tint is selected:
The object is warmed, the end of the thread attached
at the desired point and heid in position with the
thumb of the left hand. The thread is then applied,
being made to follow any curves required by the
pattern, and is finally cut off at the right spot with the
finger nail. That portion of the object is then again
warmed, and the filament of colour pressed firmly into
the substance of the groandwork by ineans/of the strip
of palm leaf. Broader bands of colour are formed by
applying many threads side by side. When warmed
and pressed into position, the several threads coalesce;
losing all trace of their composite origin. Dots are
formed by applying the end of the thread and cutting
off a minute piece with the, thumb nail. Such do
are consequently square or diamond-shaped. © ‘
In this manner the most intricate patterns ar
traced on the coloured ground, and great artistic taste
is displayed in’ the execution. To ensure symmetry,
the distances are carefully measured with thin strips
of the palm leaf. The work is finally polished with a
piece of soft cotton cloth, apparently without the
assistance of any oil or other lubricant. 4
The outturn of local lacwork is completely absorbed
in the Islaud, It is very small, and the artificers do
not, seem at all enterprising or anxious to extend
theix operations or to find new markets. © : st
There seems no reason why the’ Indian lac insect,
which-‘secretes the resinous’ matter’ in much greater
abundance, should not be established in’ Ceylon. Tits
plentiful cecurence here might give a healthy impulse
to the local trade in lacwork. I have made several
attempts tointroduce the Indian insect ; but owing to
delay in postage and unsuitable packing, the insects
have invariably died during transit. 9 9 3
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CEYLON LACS, ;
The following analyses have been prepared by Mr,
M, Kelway Bamber, Analytical Chemist to the Ceylon
Government. For convenience of comparison, the
analysis has been conducted by the method employeé
‘by Mr. Hooper in his analyses of the Indian lacs. >”
Composition of ‘‘ Keppitiya laccada ”
(ZI, albizzie, Green.) ~
ac
_ Per cent.
Moisture Mae ta (850 9 |
‘Colouring matter saa seve ODO! af
Resin COO ao +, ashe aaa
Bark, fragments, &e, .. see 125,
Ash san yy: soe Gi0 Swans
_ 100000
Composition of “Téla-kiriya Jaccada”
(ZT, Conchiferata, Green).
SEA
: Per cent. f
Moisture ace ) ‘ieee ; sel D455
Colouring matter Bae UDO SE ove NAILS
Resin oe “on ae 85°SE I
Ingoluble seit) (uiOtl.. Jolide oat eae me
Ash age wi (2 hd Proisae ekp
‘ : gg. eee
“100000 ©
(Amnals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya.)
ie
Jaws 1, 1904] THE TROPICAL
REPORT. OF THE ADMINISTRA-
TION OF COORG.
A copy of the above Report has been received, and
we make the following extracts :-—
AGRICULTURE, PLANTING, &c.
The depression in coffee has indirectly given an
impetus to the cultivation ofjrice, the total extent under
whick (80,694 cres) increased by upwards of 1,400 acres
excluding areas twice cropped. Coffee planting was
finally abandoned in large areas held by natives, andthe
extent recorded as being cultivated with this product
(59,417 acres) consequently declined by nearly 10 per
cent, while the inspection of deteriorated coffee gardens
led to proposals to reduce assessmentin respect of an
aggregate area of over 12,000 acres. The year was re-
markable for an exceptionally abundant crop, but the
advantages which would under ordinary conditions.
have been derived from this circumstance were en-
tirely neutralized by the disastrously low prices ruling
in the London market. Prices hardly less favourable
contributed to keep the cardamom industry in a simi-~
larly depressed condition notwithstanding the grant
of numerous reductions and remissions of assessment,
Though the total area shown as held for cardamom-
growing is over 58,000 acres, it is estimated that only
some 1,100 acres are actually under cultivation; the
industry is now practically moribund. The only other
agricultural feature of the year which calls for notice
was the continuing expansion of orange cultivation.
The rainfall, though deficient at one season, was on
the whole up tothe average, and except as regards
coffee and cardamoms the prices realized were normal,
As an indication of the extent to which coffee has
deteriorated it may be observed thai during the year
under report reductions of assessment aggregating
Rs 6,958 were sanctioned in respect of 6,652 acres,
while the orders of the Chief Commissioner were
awaited in respect of similar proposals relating to an
aggregate sum of Rs. 6,243 distributed over an area
of 5,499 acres. The unfavourable conditions affecting
the industry formed the subject of special represen-
tations by a deputation from the Ooorg Planters’
Association on the occasion of Sir Donald Robertson’s
visit to Mercara in February, 1903, the outcome of
which was the decision to consider the expedience of
(a modifying the assessment rules by permitting the
imposition of a grazing rate on land which, though
natarally fit for coffoe-growing, cannot be profitably
cultivated while prices continue at the present low
rate, (b) permitting the complete exemption from tax
of wet lands, the entire bané attached to which is
cultivated with coffee paying full assessment, and (c)
yefusing applications for reduction of assessment from
planters whose negligent cultivation has made their
estates a material factor in the spread of infection
from the borer insect.
The area shown in the Statement under orchards
and garden produce is made up of 282 acres of arecanut
and 2,966 acres of orange groves. The expansion is
attribntable to the gradual declinein the interest taken
in coffee planting. An incidental consequence of the
same factor is the impetus given to the cultivation of
pepper. Wo statistics are available, but considerable
areas have been cultivated with pepper on estates
formerly worked only for coffee, and the enterprise
at first promised favourably, but falling prices have
Since discounted the prospects of success,
The total rainfall recorded at the head-quarters
of the province was, 120°65 inohes as against 118°66
inches in the preceding year and an average of 119°12
inches for the past ten years. ‘The rice crop was an
average one and the yield of coffee particularly abun-
dant, the out-turn under the latter head being esti-
mated at some 5,650 tons or double the previous year’s
crop. Theprices realized were however so low that
the increased out-turn had no appreciable effect on
the industry exceptin sofar as it served to retard
the ruin of estates on the margin of cultivation, The
cardamom crop was fair, but prices continued to be
pisastrously low,
AGRICULTURIST., 453
Elephant-Catching operations were successfully initi-
ated during the year with the assistance of Mr,
Tireman, a Depnty Conservator in the Madras Forest
Department, who was deputed to Coorg in May, 1902,
for the{purpose of instructing the local staff in the
Malabar system of pitting. During his stay in the
province sites were selected for some 70 pits in the
southern ranges, and in the ensuing monsoon nearly
50 of these were exeavated and prepared for the
capturing season, which comprises the months of
March, April and May. Two serviceable young ele-
phants were caught in March, 1903, and several other
captures have since been effected. The actual cost of
the operations during the year was approximately
Rs, 1,600. 5
——————
PINEAPPLE CULTURE IN FLORIDA.
AN EXTRAORDINARY SYSTEM,
Along the east-coast railway line, which traverses
Florida, from 28 degrees north latitude southward,
the pineapple belt stretches, chiefly where spruce
pine lands existed. For years this grey sandy waste
was taboo to fruit growers and farmers, but when
a knowledge was gained of the action of fertilisers
upon free soil, attention was turned to improving
this' huge sand- bed. Now several train loads of
splendid pines are sent away dsily: during the ship-
ping season, and huge fortunes have been made in
the business.
The selection of the land is the most important
problem connected with successful pineapple growing,
for the pineapple cannot endure wet feet. Here
along the pine barrens the land has proved to be
ideal. A first look at the soil used would make a
grower in Queensland roar with laughter says Queens-
land Country Life. Vhe kind of soil used is not
simply absurd, it is preposterous. It looks like pure
sand, such as one sees going from Mackay to
the beach, and down along the coast road to Broad-
sound. Asa matter of fact some of it contains nearly
993 per cent. of substarttes which:are quite insolu-
ble even in strong acids. Fancy raising a crop of
fruit from soil only. one two-hnndredth part of which
is soluble: in water! Yet it is done, and last year
Florida produced about 4,000,000 pines for market
from these once barren lands. ‘he mystery is easily
explained. They have an ideal base for the cultiva-
tion, viz: free drainage, and the art of fertilizers ia
thoroughly understood,
THE GREAT PROBLEM OF FERTILIZERS.
In the south-eastern part of the United States the
use of commercial fertilizers has more nearly reached
the stage of exact science than anywhere else in
this country. The subject is large and complicated.
The Florida Experiment Station has published a
bulletin, over one hundred pages, devoted entirely
to fertilizers for pineapples. We have learned that
nitrogen from an organie source is better for pine-
apples than nitrogen from inorganic sources. Sul
phate of potash is better than mnriate of potash.
Bone meal seems to yield a sufficient amount of
phosphoric acid. A complete fertilizer would be
about as follows:—Iwo hundred pounds of dried
blood, two hundred and fifty pounds of low-grade
sulphate of potash, snd one hundred and fifty pounds
of bone meal, This is abont the right quantity for
the first application to an acre of twelve thousand
plants. The fertilizer is sprinkled between the rows
and then worked in with a scuffle hoe. The first
application may be made eight or ten weeks after
the field has been planted, and the next about
January or February. After the field begins to bear,
applications of the above mixture shonld be made
immediately after the crop is marketed, and again
about January or February.
PLANTING OUT THE SUCKERS.
About twelve thousand plants of the Red Spanish
variety are set out to the acre, and in the course of
eighteen months 5Q to 75 per cent, of plants will
454
produce fruit. Under very favourable circumstances,
by selecting the finest suckers, and planting out at
‘the esrliest opportunity, a larger percentage of the
plants will fruit. The plants which have fruited
usually produce from one to four new plants. All
but two cf these to each plant are removed for
setting out. The suckers which are left on the
parent plant produce the second crop a year later,
so that for a second crop it is not unusual to harvest
fifteen thousand, or more, fruits from the acre which
has been set out to twelve thousand plants,
In the pine woods and the spruce-pine land, the
favourite method of planting pineapples at the present
time is to lay the ground off in beds of about six
rows, the rows being planted about twenty inches
apart, the plants about twenty inches apart in the
row. Fields, laid cff into these narrow beds are
much more. cheaply worked and fertilized than when
laid off in a solid block, :
THE SHED SYSTEM OF CULTIVATION.
One of thegreatest factors in the success atiained
in Florida has been the introduction of the shed
system of cultivation, and now over hundreds of acres
stretch low shedding, equalising the temperature
greatly the whole yearround. The best pines are
raised under these sheds—and the expense of building
a shed usually staggers a beginner—it is something
like £80 per acre. The pineapple ‘-shed”’ is a modi-
fied form of greenhouse, the roof of which has as
_ much space open as covered, it is about 7 feet high,
and built of hardwood and pinelaths. The object of
the shed is to reduce the temperature in summer, and
increase it during the winter. The advantage of
shedding are these; (1) An increased amount of
nitrogen is developed in the soil.; (2) the texture. of
the fruit is improved; (8) the size of the fruit is
increased about twenty-five per cent. ; (4) the tempera-
ture is reducedin summer, and increased in winter.
Many acres are now shedded where the danger from
frost is quite remote. One of the largest sheds at
the present time shelters a half-million plants, and
covers forty acres. ‘The cos#oi such a pineapple shed
is about £80 peracre. This, of course, may be con-
siderably reduced as the area is increased. ‘The
following bill of lumber gives approximately what
it takes to build a shed for a single acre:—463
posts, 4by 4 inches by 9 feet; 266 stringers, 2 by
6 inches by 16 fect ; 5,900 laths, 1 by3 inches by 16
feet, for cover; 450 boards 1 by 12 inches by 16 feet,
for sides.
THE METHODS ON THE FLORIDA KEYS.
The Florida Keys are famous for pineapples:
Here the growers set out their plants in a mass
~ of rubble, equalled only by the refuge from the
rock-quarry. Sometimes there is no leaf-mould left
aiter cleaving, and it becomes necessary to brace the
newly-3et plant on all four sides with rocks to keep
it from falling over,
ig impossible to use a plow ox even a hoe, Young
plants are usually set out within a few weeks after
the crop on the old field has ripened. and are allowed
to have their own way for several months, when
labourers are employed, who use large knives to cut
out the weeds that may have sprung up, or whatever
shrubbery may not have heen killed by burning
over in clearing, It may“be necessary to go over
the field again before the firet crop comes in, but
ordinarily one weeding is sufficient. In this section
it is impossible to plant in rows, as the plants have
to be set out wherever possible at convenient distances
from each other. By the time the second crop is
ripening, the foliege will be so dense that the
ground is completely shaded. Fertilizing is not
practised in this section,
The pineapple plantation on the Keys produces
crops for from five to ten years, when the field is
said to be ‘run out.” Then Nature is allowed to
claim her own, and the sturdy “‘ Gonch”’ moves on
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
No cultivation is given, as it.
(Jan. 1, 1904,
*
to a new field. Unfortunately, the ambitious from
other secticns of the country have entered the field,
and the end of this comfortable system is practic-
ally in sight.—Agricultural Journal.
———__—____<—_—
THE COTTON WORM.
THE USE OF PARASITES TO COMBAT IT.
Among insects, as among all other groups of animals
and plants, there is constantly going on a keen
struggle for existence. Insects are preyed upon by
animals in other orders such as birds, toads and lizards,
and by other insects, examples of which are very easy to
find. The wild bees eat caterpillars ; the dragon-flies or
pond-flies capture and devour butterflies, grasshoppers
and even other dragon-flies; Jady-birds (coccinellids)eat
plant lice and scale insects, Many more examples
might be given. In addition to these predaceous
insects, there are others still more common and much
more effective in checking extreme outbreaks of insect
pests. These are parasites, and they are extremely
abundant,
Parasites are of two kinds—external and internal.
Examples of the former are the very familiar reddish
mites found attached to the body and wings of grass-
hoppers. These act in a similar way to those parasites
of the higher animals, the lice and ticks of man,
cattle, dogs, fowls, etc. Inthe insect realm internal
parasites are of much more importance than external.
These have a wide range in habit, structure and
relatiouship, but the commonest are certain two-
winged flies (Diptera), and certain of the wasp-like,
four-winged flies (Hymenoptera). Inseots of nearly all
orders are attacked by internal parasites, and the
attack usually results in the destruction of the indi-
vidual attacked, or the host, as it is called,
Two. of these internal parasites have recently been
reared from pupae of the cotton worm by the Entomo-
logist on the staff of the Imperial Department of
Agriculture. A large number of pupae was kept in
boxes and jars under favourable conditions for the
moth to emerge. After eight days no more moths
emerged, but on the ninth and subsequent days a
number of small flies appeared and a few small black
and white Hymenoptera. Although at present nothing
is known of the early stages of these insects, yet it is
possible, from our knowledge of other similar insects,
to give a general account of the life-history of each.
This parasitic fly is at first glance not unlike the
common house-fly, but comparison shows it to have
more bright colours on the head, and the body is
covered with rather long, stiff hairs, It belongs to
the family Tachinidae or Tachinid flies, nearly all of
which are parasitic.
The adult female has no sting or ovipositor, so that
when the eggs are laid they are merely fastened upon
the skin of the caterpillar which is attacked, It the
caterpillar sheds its skin at once, the egg may be cast
off with it, but it generally happens that the egg
hatches before the moulting of the skin takes place.
In this case the small, white, footless maggot, which
comes out of the egg, immediately bores its way
through the skin of the caterpillar, which is now the
host, furnishing both food and protection to the un-
welcome guest, Here this small maggot lives and —
grows, feeding on the vital fluids of the soa In spite
of this tax upon it the caterpillar is able to go on to
the pupa stage; but when this is reached and no more
foodis being taken in to supply the demands of the
maggot, the guest eats up the host itself. All the
concentrated energy and dormant. life, which should
go to develop a moth capable of reprodneing its kind,
is converted into a fly, whose object in life is to, live at
the expense of some other insect, and so instead of a
moth there emerges from the cocoon a fly, The.
hymenopterous parasite differs from the fly in the
method of depositing its eggs. This one has a sting:
like ovispositor, by means of which it is able to insert.
its eggs under the skin of the caterpillar, and theg
there is no escape for the unlucky host, ; oriteR
Jan, 1, 1904.) THE TROPICAL
At present the cotton worm parasites are very few
in proportion to the extreme abundancs of the host,
but later the proportion of parasites to host will be
much higher.
Insects in their native localities and under normal
conditions are less likely to become epidemic, than if
they are introduced to new localities or if the condi-
tions become considerably changed. This is because
the relation of host to parasite is upset, the parasites
haying to accustom themselves to the new host, or
the host having opportunities for rapid development
which enable it to increase to a remarkable extent in
Spite of its parasites,
Extreme abundance of any insect pest is usually
followed by a season of comparative scarcity, which is
due to the development and increase in number of the
parasites consequent upon the extreme abundance of
its host or food supply. later, other parasites may be
bred from the eggs or the adult, and experimentsjwill be
tried by this Department as to ways for increasing the
ee of the parasites alzeady knowv.— Agricultural
ews.
—— ———
INDIA-RUBBER LATEX.
THE PRESENCH OF INDIA-RUBBER AS SUCH IN THE LATEX.
India-rubber is a product of. such extraordinary
physical properties that already years ago I came
to entertain strong doubts as to the presence in the
india-rubber latex of india-rubber as such. It is, of
course, impossible to decide this question without an
ample supply of india-rubber latex. Unfortunately,
this is a product which, if shipped into our latitudes,
always arrives either in an entirely useless condition,
or, at any rate, having undergone such alterations
as to render any conclusions based upon its exami-
nation in that state of rather questionable value. It
is well known that, by adding to the-fresh milk a
quantity of strong ammonia, it may reach here in
apparently perfect condition, but whether this addition
of the ammonia has not produced an alteration of
the milk, rendering it unfit for the conclusive eluci-
dation of the above point, is likewise 2 moot point.
EXPERIMENTS WITH CASTILLOA LATEX.
For this reason, the following experiments, carried
out on the spot with the freshly collected milk of
Castilloa elastica (Caucho rubber) may be of interest.
The milk obtainable from the different rubber trees
varies very much in consistency. That of Castilloa
elastioa is generally obtained in the condition of a
creamy mass, scarcely liquid. On diluting it with
water and shaking the mixture, we do not obtain a
homogeneous milky fluid. The liquid obtained always
contains a large number of very small nodular aggre-
gates of about the size of a pinhead. The microscopical
examination of such a diluted milk shows that this
is due to the fact that the globules occurring in Castilloa
milk are not singie globules, but unite to form
strings, or clusters of globules, which are not easily
broken up into their integral parts. Considering the
coagulating action of heat upon most kinds of rubber
milk, it must sppear very surprising that a milk so
ricoh inalbuminous matter as that of Oastilloa elastica
can be boiled without coagulation, although it should
be stated that this can only be done with the fresh
milk, Castilloa milk which has been standing for any
length of time cannot be boiled without coagulating.
Hven more surprising is the circumstance that, in
boiling the rather lumpy liquid we obtain on dilut-
ing this milk with water, all the little lamps and
knots disappear, and we obtain in this way @ perfectly
thin and homogeneous milk which, under the miscros-
cope, shows itself to consist of enormous masses of
individual globules, Allthe globular aggregates before
mentioned haye therefore been broken ap in the
boiling,
AGRICULTURIST: 455
THE COLOUR OF CASTILLOA RUBBER,
On standing, the latex of Castilloa elastica rapidly
darkens in colour, and is, after a few hours, converted
into a most uninviting-looking blackish-brown mass,
This striking change always takes place under the
conditions under which the natives collect the latex
and prepare the rubber from it, and it is chiefly
responsible for the abominable colour of all the brands
of Castilloa rubber at present in the market, But
if must not be understood that thischange of colour
of the latex involves a change in the india-rubber
contained init, If we effect a complete separation of
the rubber substance of the latex from the aqueous
vehicle in which this substance is emulsified, we
find at once that the rubbe: remains practically per-
manently colourless, but that the acqueous vehicle
undergoes very rapidly the above described discolor-
ation, and it is therefore evident that in order to
obtain Castilloa rubber of a light colour, the separation
of the rubber snbstance from the aqueous vehicle must
be eifected at the rate at which the latex is gathered.
Latex discoloured in ‘the above-described manner, on
boiling, rapidly coagulates; whereas the fresh latex,
as I have falready pointed ont, cannot be coagulated
by heat.
THE PRESENCE OF TANNIC ACID IN THE LATEX,
In the literature on india-rubber we very frequently
meet with the statement that rubber latex contains
tannic acid, Considering, however, that the latex
contains a very large proportion of albumen which
is readily and completely precipitated (coagulated)
by tannic acid, the above statement is obviously wrong.
zi any proof beyond the one just adduced were
needed, it will be found in the fact that on adding to
india-rubber latex a solution of tannic acid, complete
coagulation at once supervenes. I believe that the
above erroneous statement is due to the incorrect
interpretation of the fact that Castilloa latex, on
addition of any salts of iron, assumes a very strong,
dark green coloration, a reaction characteristic or
members of the tannin eluss. But I found, on closes
investigation of this point, that in the case of the
Castilloa latex, this very striking colour reaction if
not due to the presence of tannin, but to a substance
belonging toa class of bodies known as glucosides,
The {glucoside in the Castilloa latex appears to
be _a compound of a crystallisable sugar (dambonite),
and a substance closely related to aesculetin, which
occurs in the horse chestnut.
REACTIONS OF CASTILLOA LATEX,
The general reactions of the latex of Castilloa elastica
are as follows :—
Hruyb anp Meruyn AuconoL :—Immediate complete
coagulation.
Acetone :—Fairly rapid coagulation.
FoRMALDEHYDE:—No coagulation. Does not coagn-
late on boiling.
Formic Acip:--Traces produce immediate coagu-
lation, which does not take place when the acid is
added in excess,
Acetic AciD:—Same as formic acid, acts more
energetically,
Inorganic Actps :—Same as acetic acid,
Ammonia :—In very small quantity produces intenss
greenish-yellow coloration and coagulation ; the latter
fails when excess of ammonia is used,
CausTic SopA :—Same as ammonia, more: intense
coloration. j
Frrric Cutoripe :—Very intense dark green colore
ation and coagulation.
Tannic Acip:—Immediate precipitation.
Hypno-FERRO-cYANic Actp :—Immediate cosgulation.
All the numerous well-known precipitants of the
alkaloids, including albumen, have the same action
upon the latex as the two last-named of the above
re-agents, and there remains therefore no doubt
whatever that it is, indeed, not the rubber of the
a which is coagulablo, but the albumen contained
in it,
a eee
456 THE TROPICAL
THE LATEX GLOBULES ARE NOT RUBBER,
A oareful examination of rubber latex under the
microscope soon reveals the very interesting fact that
the minute globules suspended init are covered with
an, extremely thin film of albuminous matter; but
we further find that the contents of these globules
do not consist of india-rubber as we know it, but
of a substance possessing about the fluidity of an oil.
In other words, these supposed rubber globules are
not rubber. Of course, it might be suggested that
these globules consisted of india-rubber rendered
liquid by the presence of some substance acting upon
it in the manner of a solvent, and it seemed to me
important to settle this question. This seemed to be
possible with the foliowing considerations as the
Starting point.
India-rubber is absolutely insoluble in ether.* If.
therefore, india-rubber is present in the globules of
the rubber-inilk, it shonld be impossible to remove
these globules from the milk by shaking if with ether.
Tf, ‘on the other hand, these globules’ do not contain
preformed india-rubber, but merely a substance
which by some simple molecular change, say polymezi-
sation, is transformed into india-rubber, we might
then expect this substance to be readily soluble in
ether.t, and therefore, on shaking the rubber-milk
with ether, the whole of the contents of the globules
should dissolve in the latter, Under these cixcum-
stances, the milky appearance of the latex would
disappear, and we would obtain a watery, clear liquid,
with a supernatant layer consisting of an ethereal
solution of the mother substance of india-rubber. And
this is exactly what we do obtain, Working in this
manner, L obtained with the greatest ease ethereal
solutions containing up to 43 per cent. of this rubber
substance. ‘This fact alone issufficient to demonstrate
that the contents of the so-called rubber globules
are not india-rubber, for, even if india-rubber were
soluble in ether, a 43 per cent. solution of this kiud
would be almost semi-solid; whereas the ethereal
solutions I obtained were perfectly limpid, and could
be filtered with the greatest ease.
These solutions may be kept in the dark in a cool
place for several weeks without any apparent change,
Sooner or later, however, they become distinctly
viscous, and once this change has become noticeable, a
few days suffice to convert them intoalmost water-
white jellies of surprising toughness. If the ether is
allowed to evaporate from these jellies by exposing
them to the airin acool place, we obtain ultimately
an almost colourless, glassy, and fairly transparent
substance possessing in a high degree all the properties
of a very high-class rubber.
I did not succeed in producing this polymerisation
by boiling such a freshly made ethereal solution for
several hours, buton adding to such solutions ether
containing hydrochloric acid, or a trace of formic
acid, a very rapid rise of temperature takes place,
the ether within a very few seconds begins to boil, and
this boiling proceeds with explosive violence under
formation of an enormously inflated spongy mass.
The thermometer at that point recorded 61 deg. C,
The cavities of this spongy mass are, of course, filled
with ether: vapour, and on cooling, the whole structure
collapses, the ether gradually evaporates, and we obtain
thus eventually a solid mass in all essentials
resembling the product obtained from the akove
described: jellies.
”* Of course, this applies to resin-free rubber. Hrom
crudé rubber ether dissolves the resins contained in it,
The rubber substance itself is quite insoluble in
that solvent,
+1 omit the chemical reasoning justifying this!
assumption,
AGRICULTURIST.,
(Jan: 1, 1904.
ANALYSIS OF RUBBER FROM ETHEREAL ‘SOLUTION.
The rubber thus obtained ‘on extraction with ace-
tone yields about 3 per cent. of a resinous substance
identical with that obtainable by the same treatment
from the commercial brands oi Castilloa rubber, but
much. lighter in colour.. The rubber obtained from
these ethereal solutions on analysis was’ found to
contain 87°59 per cent. of carbon and 11°80 per cent.
of hydrogen. No doubt, therefore, remains that
india-rubber, as such is not pre-existent in the india-
rubber latex, but is the product formed by a process
of polymerisation from the thin, oily liquid emulsified
in the latex.
This is not the place to enter upon a fuli discussion
of this interesting and vastly important result, but
I may point out that the above already amounts to an
almozt complete proof that one of the possible terpenes
of the class known as olefinic terpenes must be the
mother substance of india-rubber, and that it only
remains to discover this particular terpene, and the
means and ways of its production, im order to realise
the synthesis of india-rubber. These remaining
problems do not appear to offer any insuperable
difficulties, though the task cannot be considered an
easy one,—Jndia-Rubber Journal.
il oer cummed
IRRIGATION IN EGYPT.
THE NILE DAMS,
Sir Benjamin Baker recently gave some very satis—
factory information which had not yet been pub-
lished regarding the beneficial results of the expen-
diture on the Nile dams. After remarking that
about £2,300,000 was expended at Assouan, and
£1,000,000 at Assiont, he went on to say that’ the
following conclusions had been drawn by the Egyptian
Government officials:—The Assiout barrage was in
operation during the summer of 1902 before there was
aby water in-the reservoir, and when it acted merely
as a regulating dam to raise the level of the water
in the river without: increasing its quantity. It
was estimated that the direct and indirect gain was
not less than £600,000 in one year on an expenditure
of a million. 4
The Assouan dam ‘sluices began to be closed in
October, 1902, and during March and April amd part
of May the flow down the river was supplemented
to the extent of one million tons of water daily,
and this was gradually increased until in June the
quantity was 20 million tons per day, and practi-
cally doubled the available. supply at the most
critical time for the irrigation of the summer crops
RESERVOIRS SAVE THE COTTON CROP.
The levels in the river south of Halfa were very
low in March,. April, and the first half of May,
. so that without the assistance from the reservoire
great difficulty in saving the cotton crops would
have been experienced, The result of the discharge
was to give an ample supply, with Middle and Lower
Egyot, at least one month earlier than would have
been the case without the reservoir, and ‘a cotton
ecop probably amounting’ to nearly seven miilion
cantars, of a value at present market rates of over
22 millions sterling, was plentifully irrigated.
. RECENT PROGRESS IN MIDDLE EGYPT:
In Middle Egypt, 170,000 acres of basin land had
been converted to perennial irrigation, and each year
more would be taken in hand, upto a final total of
about 350,000 acres. In two years the rent of the con-
verted basin land increased £3 per acre, and the
value of the land £30 per acre, while the cost of
the conversion, including all drains and irrigation
works, was £4 per acre. Up to the present, therefore,
the annual increased rental was £510,00U, and th
increased value £5,100,000 in converted lands only, —
Jan. 1,, 1904] THE TROPICAL
THE AMERICAN BUREAU OF TROPICAL
AGRICULTURE,
The bureau of tropical agriculture, since our acqui-
sition of extensive possessions in the Hast and West
Indies, has become an important feature of the
department of agriculture, and the studies of tropical
growths made by its experts sent out to the various
colonies promise to add enormously to the resources of
our new domains, There is in the tropics a great
diversity of trees and plants of much economic value,
as yet but slightly utlized, but of large commer-
cial possibilities if systematically cultivated and
exploited.
THE TROPICAL FRUIT TRADE,
The enormous business developed in the cultivation
of the banana in the West Indies and Central America
for export to this coantry, mainly through the enter-
prise of Boston capitalists, indicates what may possibly
be doue with other tropical fruits. The orange and
the pineapple, together with the coconut, are tropical
products that have been staples longer than the
banana has. But there are various other fruits, com-
paratively little known here, that might achieve high
favour if systematic efforts were made to introduce
them. Chief of these is the mango, which easily bears
transportation and commends itself by its extraordi-
nary delicious qualities. Its bearded pit (seed) makes
it objectionable to many on first acquaintance, for it is
difficult to eat the fruit on that account. But there
are some varieties which have litte or no fibre attached
to the seed, and the bureau of tropical agriculture is
encouraging the cultivation of these in Porto Rico for
the American market. Another tropical fruit that is
gaining favour here is what is popularly known as the
alligator pear—a corruption of the Mexican name,
aguacate, It makes a fine salad, and is served in
various other attractive ways. A fruit that bears
transportation admirably is the sapodilla, exceedingly
sweet and rich flavoured. This is borne by tho tree
which produces chicle, now the principal basis for
chewing gum.
CASHEW NUTS AND OILe
The experts sent from Washington have been
greatly impressed with the remarkable combination of
economic properties included in the cashew tree and
its fruit. The cashew is a native of India and is nowa
familiar growth in the West Indies. Its fruit is pal-
atable and makes a good preserve. But better-still is
the nut, which as a seed projects from one end of the
froit. tis one of the finest flavoured nuts in tho
world, and produces an oil superior to olive oil and‘
equal to that of the almond. The tree belongs to the
same family as the poison sumach, but the poisonous
properties are confined to an acrid oil contained in the
shell of the nut. Persons susceptible to ivy poisoning
have consequently made the acquaintance of the raw
not greatly to their sorrow. To eliminate this poison
it is necessary to roast the nut. The bark is valuable
for tanning, and the trunk yields a gum so obnoxious
to insect life as to be of great potential value for
entomologists and horticulturalists. Other oils and
also acids of diverse medical and chemical value are
‘obtained from various parts of the tree. These
possess stimulative and anaesthetic properties. Alto-
‘gether the cashew tree promises great commercial
possibilities.
__ Great industrial resnlis are expected of a widely
distributed tropical shrub, the emajagua, which yields
a very strong fibre that has the remarkable property
of increasing in sirength when submerged in water.
It is easily cultivated and has a value for paper
making as well as fox fibre.
A tree that is strongly recommended for cultivation
‘in Porto Rico is She litchi chinensis, It is urged that
‘it be planted by the thousand, for its fruit would be in
great demand in this market. The dried fruit, known
AGRICULTURIST. 457
as the litchi nut, resembles o raisin inclosed in a thin
shell. The tresh fruit is deliciously acid, and, raised
in the West Indies, could easily be sent to this
country in that condition—-Boston Herald.
ane OL
RUBBER CULTURE AND FINANCH.
AN ACC)UNT OF A MEXICAN RUBBER COMPANY
AND ITS PLANTATION,
from an important source at Chicago the following
information with reference to rubber culture has
been issued, and is published in a financial contem-
porary :—‘ That the rubber industry will soon
becomes a most important one admits of no doubt,
As yet it is comparatively new; for it was only about
the year 1840 when Goodyear discovered the process
of vulcanising rubber, giving itits varied and almost
innumerable uses.
‘Since then the commercial value of rubber hag
enhanced rapidly, until now fortunes await those
who can raise this precious product successfally,
The rubber bicycle tyre alone doubled the demand.for
yubber, and the many new uses. such as tyres for
automobiles and other vehicles, electric insulation,
and ocean cables, are doubling and trebling the demand.
With this increased demand the supply of rubber
is constantly decreasing, owing to the destructive
methods used in gathering.
A PREDICTED ADVANCE IN TIME,
As the rubber tree isa tropical growth, and the
native of the tropics is often a slothful worker, he des-
troys where no easier method is found, ‘cutting down
the tree or ringing it with jcuts, and millions. of trees
are thus destroyed, which will zequire the planting of
thousands of acres to replace. So, with the demand
increasing and the supply decreasing, the’present price
of rubber will not only be maintained, but sill surely
advance. The cultivation of the ‘rubber tree will
never be followed extensively; for rubber is grown
in the tropics where few civilised white men can be
induced to go, irvespective of the prospect of great
fortunes which are being made there now, and will
be made there in the future.
. “The natives of Africa, Brazil, and the Indies are
indolent and slothful, an example of which was shown
when the french Government in Oentral Africa
supplied the natives with seeds and young shoots of
rubber trees to plant and cultivate; but no planting
or cultivating was ever done, they preferring to carry
on their destructive methods of gathering the rubber
milk, having neither the patience nor energy to
plant and cultivate trees, which require time and
attention before the young seedlings will bear, The
Para rubber tree of Brazil is ancther instance; while
it produces a yery fine grade of rubber, it is a
swamp growth. It requires twenty years of growth
before yielding its rubber, which is no inducement
for cultivation. [This is evidently not a practical
grower’s remark.—Ep. 7'.4.] The Mexican robber
tree (Castilloa) requires only six years of growth
before yielding, and grows under climatic con-
ditions more favourable for cultivation than the
jungles of Africa or the swamps of the Amazon,
These advantages have been brought about by a
peculiar condition of the country physically, which
condition lies largely in the arrangement of the moun-
tain ranges lying north and east of Soconusco, keeping
out the cold winds of the north and condensing the
moisture of the Pacific into rain. From this condition
there has been formed a very limited district from
whieh the yield of rubber will never form more than
A comparatively small part of the entire output of
the world. While many rubber companies have
been started up in the past few years, encouraged by
the large profits in rubber, most of these hayvé simply
turned out stock-selling schemes, with apparently little
i
458° THE TROPICAL
thought of the duty of proper selection of land for the
cultivation of rubber, and with seeming disregard
of contracts with ‘shareholders for conscientious
planting and cultivating of rubber trees. Again, there
are other rubber companies backed by men of good
reputation; but many of these men, unfortunately,
know nothing of rubber culture, and their lack of
knowledge and experience can only be followed with
unsatisfactory results, To La Zicualpa Rubber Pian-
tation Company belongs the credit of being
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COMPANY NOW ENGAGED IN THE
CULTURE OF RUBBER TREES,
for their. plantation has been producing xrubber
commercially for many years. They have now a
grove of 5,000 trees, planted in 1889, producing on
an average over £3 to the tree—a pzoduction of
50 per cent. in excess of the amount the company’s
figures. of future profit are based upon, ‘These are
facts no other rebber company can show, and, with the
plant of the past three years, the company has over
1,000,C00 trees under cultivation and 2,000,000 trees in
the nursery. The Zacualpa plantation is situated in
the department of Soconusco, State of Chiapas, Mexico
—a locality where, as rubber experts have expressed
it, ‘the rubber tree grows spontaneously "—which is
largely accounted for by the splendid arrangement of.
the mountain ranges, as before stated.
MODE OF PLANTING OUT ON ZACUALPA,
© Conservative management and nearly four years’
conscientious work on this plantation have placed
La Zacualpa first on the list of plantations devoted
to the cultivation of rubber, it being the only one that
has solved the problem by actually producing rubber
in commercial quantities from cultivatea as well as
wild trees, Their trees are planted in squares of some
28 acres, each containing 10,000 trees, with roads
24 ft. wide between the squares. This plan allows of
the most careful supervision, and the actual number
of trees planted can easily be ascertained.
“On September 8, 1899, La Zacualpa Rubber Plan-
tation Company : was organised under the laws of
the State of California, and purchased from Mr,
O. H. Harrison 18,791 acres of land in the depart-
ment of Soconusco, State of Chiapas, Mexico, the
title to which is perfect and free from all encum-
brance, Mr. Harrison becoming one of the company
and its resident director. At the time of purchase
Mr. Harrison was shipping many thousand pounds of
rubber yearly from la Zacualpa to Cotesworth and
Powell, 148, Leadenhall-street, London. The Com-—
pany at once made plans for the systemetic deve-
fopment of the land, and set apart 12,000 acres
suitable for rubber cultivation. Mr, Ashmore Russan,
the English rubber expert, who paid a visit to this
plantation, states in a letter to this company
as follows: ‘As regards the suitability of your land
for the cultivation of the Castillon (or Mexican
rubber tree), I can only say that it is black alluvial
of very great depth, and I know of none better, .
The location is all that could be desired for rubber
cultivation, having all the conditions necessary as
to elevation, depth of soil, rainfall and climate ;
the general surface is level, but sufficiently rolling
for good drainage, and is intersected by a number
of sanjones, or ditches for carrying off the surface _
waters. The titles to La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation
were thoroughly investigated before the purchase of
the property, and passed upon by the best legal
authority, everything being found in order aud the
chain of title perfect.’ Since acquiring title the com-
pany has been shipping rubber regularly in com-
mercial quantities from its own cultivated and wild
trees. '
U. 8. GOVERNMENT STUDENTS ON ZACUALPA,
“ita success has not only attracted the eyes of
President Diaz, of Mexico, but likewise tho Seoretary
of Agriculture at Washington, D. C., the Hon. James
Wilson, who has appointed Mr, O. FE. Cook, botanist
in charge, Department of Agriculture, and his chief
assistant, Mr. G, N. Collins, to study rubber oultiva-
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1, 1904.
tion on La Zacualpa. These gentlemen have spent
some time on the plantation, making a careful study
of the situation, and have ‘returned with full
material for arepors to be made to the Department,
which will be published in due time and illustrated
with photographs taken during the trip. From
letters received, their report, when issued, will be
one of the most interesting bulletins published by
the above Department, The management of this
plantation have at all times courted. a personal in-
vestigation of their work, with the result that they
are able to present an array of testimonials and
endorsements regarding the merit of their plantation.
It is the purpose of La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation
Company to interest the outside public in their
work, Sharesin La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation
are not capital stock of a corporation, and carry
none of the responsibilities and obligations, or liability
to assessment of capital stock, but represent an un—
divided interest in the plantation itself.
THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE COMPANY'S SHARES
‘“The 12,000 acres comprising the plantation are
divided into 12,000 shares, each share represeuting
one acre of lana, and the holders of shares in La
Zacualpa Rubber Plantation are the actual owners
of one undivided acre of land for each share held,
with a guarantee expressed upon the certificate by
La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation Company, under
its official seal, to plant 200 (300 trees tothe acre
have been planted, aud belong to the shareholders)
or more rubber trees per acre for each share sold,
and to care for same for a period of five years, and
at the expiration of that time to gather the first
harvest and deliver the net proceeds thereof to the
shareholder. ~ ’
“In other words, La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation
Company sells to each shareholder one | undivided
acre of land in La Zacualpa Rubber Plantation,
with 200 or more rubber trees five years old, and
their profits for all time, for each share sold, and
agrees to plant so that the first harvest belonging
to a shareholder is the one to be gathered from La
Zacualpa Rubber Plantation during the sixth year
from the date of the certificate. After the delivery
of the first harvest Lia Zacualpa Rubber Plantation
Company will care for the plantation, and harvest
and market the crop for 10 per cent, of the net
proceeds therefrom. Out of this commission the
company agrees ;to pay all costs of administration,
including mainteuance of its home and branch
offices.”—Home and Colonial Mail.
eee
PLANTING NOTES.
TropicaL Propucts In GERMAN East ArricA.—
Professor Zimmermann, Botanist to the German Hast
Africa Government, has been stopping a few days
in Zanzibar. He is on the scieptific staff of the ex-
perimental station, Amani, founded in 1902; in the
Usambara country. Among the various tropical pro-
ducts under cultivation at Amani Dr. Zimmermann
is paying special attention to cinchona which he
hopes to 2succeed in introducing on the elevated ~
parts of the country. Considerable progress is being
made in the cultivation of cotton: natives are in-
duced to cultivate it and sell it to the Government
who ship it to Hurope, the inet profits being after-
wards distributed among the growers. Attention has
so far been confined to Egyptian cotton, but ex-
periments are to be made with the Sea Island variety.
{In connection with this snbject we may remark that
the Zanzibar Government have also been trying to
introduce the cultivation of this important product
in these Islands; cotton seed has been distributed
to all the Government plantations in Zanzibar with
a View to giving it another and more thorough trial. _
Experiments will be made with both the Egyptian
and Sea Island yarieties.—Zanaibar Gazette, ~~
JAN. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
“NEW” INDUSTRIES FOR THE NATIVES.
At a recent meeting of the Dimbula P A.,
Mr Kelway Bamber gave some useful advic2
on the manuring of tea, and the advantage
of growing a green nitrogen producing plant
among the tea as a mulch, especially cro-
talaria. He explained the method of growing
the crotalaria, and stated that one. crop
grown and pulled up and _ to be used as a
mulch was equivalent to a dressing of half-a-
ton of castor oil cake; the green crops sup-
plying necessary humus. Some difficulty is
experienced in obtaining crotalaria seed,
although the plant is « common rcad-side
weed in Oeylon. The natives for some
reason will not go to the trouble of gathering
the seed; and, ralthough offering a fair price,
Mr. Bamber has been unabie to induce them
to take up the work. Orotalaria in many
parts of the island grows plentifully ; in the
neighbourhood of (Colombo it grows in
abundance about Bambalapitiya, and is very
commen in the Matale district and elsewhere,
Native boys and youngsters could easily collect
the ripe seed and there would always be a
good demand for almost any quantity of it.
We should like to see the work taken up.
Another seed for which there is a strong
demand is the Nw« Vomica, acommon tree
in many parts of Ceylon. The yellow fruit
can be easily gathered when ripe, and all
that is required is ‘te wash the pulp off
in any stream or pool of water and dry
the large clean seeds, two or three of which
are in each fruit. For nuz vomica seed
there is a good demand, and for this also
a ready sale could be found. Any one who
could take up the work and get natives
in the various districts to collect the seed
would find a brisk market for its dis-
posal. Both these pruducts are ready ‘to
hand, and it is only necessary to induce
the natives to take up the work—but they
are naturally disinclined to take up any new
venture and look on it with some suspicion.
——$——_—$_<¢______
SOLUBLE TEA:
HOW SHOULD THE TEA-PLANTER
REGARD IT.
A correspondent elsewhere raises a timely
question when he asks whether considerably
less leaf is not required to make a certain
quantity of tea liquid—from the soluble tea
powder -than is required to produce the
amount of ordinary black tea that will
yield an equal quantity of the “cup that
cheers but not inebriates.” As the Soluble
Tea Company is going ahead, such a question
affecting the Company’s capacity for ab-
sorbing green leaf is of high interest to
the black, and even the green tea producer,
We have, therefore, sought for an answer
to the question, It is pointed out that
| it is a very vague question—as 1 lb. of one
| tea will not give the same quantity of a
; good infusion as another—and it will take
| more pounds of some tea leaf to make, say,
\t Ib of soluble ter, than of other leaf,
\It all depends on the quality of the
\ten, and the quality of the green leaf
_jused for soluble tea. The anxious enquirer
a however, console himself with the
*
|
AGRICULTURIST. 4.59
general statement, that the more soluble tea
is made, the more of ordinary leaf tea will
be taken off the market—to the benefit of
the planter. His conclusion is scarcely to
the point, as soluble tea is not so likely to
take the place of ordinary tea, in its ordinary
use; but will be mostly used by the man
in ahurry, who has no time to wait for the
infusion of ordinary tea. It is more likely
to displace essences of coffee. Had essence
of coffee been made purely of coffee beans—
as soluble tea is made of pure tea leaf—what
a boon it might have been to coffee planters !
Tt has already heen sufficiently made known
that soluble tea is striking out into quite new
fields for itself, the world over; while its
growing popularity with natives opens up
prospects of a ready salein this way. Both
this and its other spheres of enterprise
should present vesults which must inevitably
tend to the general good of the tea industry,
———_——_____—___
CASTILLOA OR PANAMA RUBBER,
Castitloa is a genus of the family Moracee
(often included in Urticacec), and belongs to that
section of the family which includes the jack and
breadfruit (Artocarpus), the milk tree (Brosimum),
and the many species of Ficus, e.g , the Bo and
the Assam rubber (# elastica), The genus has
twoor more species. Of these, the most important
is C elastica, (Cervantes), the Ulé of the Spaniards
which is found wild in Mexico from lat 2196
southwards, in Guatemala, Honduras, San
Salvador, Custa Rica, and Nicaragua; it also
appears to oceur in North-Western South America.
C tunu, (Hemsl), the Turu, occurs in Honduras and
Costa Rica. Castilloa rubber was introdueed into
the Colony about the same time as the Para and
through the same agency. A Wardian ease of
plants arrived in 1876 from the R yal Gardens,
Kew, and the plants were put out at Henaratgoda
and Peradeniya. They grew well at both places,
but especially at Henaratgoda, and were increased
by cuttings. They began to flower in 1881, and in
the following year a few seeds were ripened. About
1886 the growth became less rapid, and since then
has been very slight, the soil in the gardens being
shallow, and at Henaratgoda not well drained C.
elastica is usually described as a large tree of
’ rapid growth, reaching 180 feet in height and 15
feet in girth. The Ceylon plants show no sign of
such growth. There has been some doubp as to
whether they are the true C elastica; they were
brought by Cross from Darien (Panama)t
where they were locally known as Caucho,
and have been described by some as a differ-
ent species, C BMarkhamiana, Markham (not
Collins), Recent research seems to show that this
form cannot be specifially separated from Celastica,
but at the same time it is not improbable that
tre Jatter cesurs in several different varieties,
Koschny describes three in Costa Rica, the white,
black, and red (U!é blanco, negro, colorado), re-
ecognised chiefly by the colour of the bark, As
this is partly due to lichens, these colours are
probably vot reliable tests ont of Costa Rica, The
white form is described as the best, the others
giving a poor yield and being easily injured by
tapping. A considerable number on plants were
distributed from the Gardens, and the tree is now
common in Ceylon, especially in the Matale Dis-
trict. In recent years'some seed has been imported
460 THE TROPICAL
direct fron’ Mexico and elsewhere, and may prove
to be different from the originally imported form.
When young the tree grows rapidly upwards,
and forms a number of short lateral branches,
which after a time drop off, beig detached
from the trunk by a peculiar joint, whose
surface resembles a piece of coral, The bark is
rather soft and thick. The leaves are large and
oblong. She flowers are borne when the tree has
reached some considerable size (in the fifth year
or later) and has begun to form permanent brane
ches, ‘They are moncecious, male and female on
the same branch. enclosed or embedded in a top-
like common receptacle, which is covered exter-
nally with small leaves, This subsequently forms
a somewhat fleshy fruit, containing numerous
small seeds about 4 inch in diameter, with white
papery seed-coats. About 800-1,000 seeds weigh
a pound, They do not keep well, and should be
sown as soon as possible,
CULTIVATION.—The seeds are sown an inch deep
and about 8 inches apart, in a well prepared nur-
sery« and lightly covered with a little vegetable
mould. They are kept lightly shaded, and watered
when the surface of the ground is dry. They
' germinate in about three weeks. In ten or twelve
months the young plants are 2 feet high and ready
for planting out.
Cuttings (at least 3-inches long, with a basal
portion of old wood) may also be taken; those
from lateral branches have a tendency to grow
more or less horizontally, so that main.shoots must
be used. The treein its native country inhabits a
warm, steamy climate. like that of the low country
of South-West Ceylon, and is rarely found above
1,500 feet. The most common situations are in
alluvial soil at the sides of valleys or on low
ridges. It needsdeep, warm, loamy soil, with
plenty of water, but does not thrive where the
soil is swampy, nor in places where there is not
good drainage at the roots. It grows best where
the temperature never falls below 60°, andin a
district with a well distributed rainfall of at least
70 inches. The most promising localities in
Ceylon are the lower mountain districts, such
as Matale, Rambukkana, Balangoda, Passara.
The young plants are planted out during rainy
weather in holes filled with well prepared sandy,
Joamy soil. If the plantation is of Castilloa only,
they are usually put at about 12—15 feet apart.
The young trees are snaded for atime; possibly it
. would be best if they were always lightly shaded
like cacao, Castilloa being a forest tree. Itis
sometimes itself used as a shade for cacao or for
other crops. The ground is kept clear of weeds
and the trees watered in dry weather until they
reach sufficient size to take care of themselves.
The tree grows fairly rapidly at first, and soon”
reaches a height of 10 or more feet. The largest
of the original trees a5 Henaratgoda at six years
old was 46 feet high and 26 inches in girth at
ayard above the soil ; at ten years old its girth
was 36 inches, but afterwards it grew more slowly,
TAPPING, &C.—The tree may be tapped when
it reaches a girth of at least 2 feet or 2 feet 6
inches. After theeighth yearthere will probably
be a number of trees in the plantation ready for
tapping.
he milk flows much more freely than that of
Hevea, so that one cub seems to drain a much
larger area of the stem, The native American
methods of tapping are wasteful, and often cause
the death of the trees. The method described
uncer Para rubber, by cutting ‘' VY” incisions ab
AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1904.
frequent intervals, seems to be ihe only one used
in Ceylon. The milk here runs so freely that a
simple sloping cut is sufficient, and there is no
need to make the V. A sharp knife should be
used, as the milk flows more readily and the wound
is less ragged. The cuts need not be so close
together asin Hevea; they may be 3or 4 feet
apart instead of 1. A large quantity of milk
flows from an incision, so that tins holding 150 c.c.,
or 4 ounces, must be used. The incisions are about
an itch long, and shou!d be confined to one side of
the tree, or to not more than three-fourths of
its circumference at a time. The milk is placed in
a glass churn or other receptacle (machines for the
purpose are occasionally used) in which it can be
shaken. On standing, the caoutchouc floats to the
top as acream. The beery fluid below is run off
by the tap. ‘Whe cream is mixed with water,
churned, left to stand, and- the process repeated.
The rubber is thus obtained almost pure in three
creamings, and the cream is poured out to dry on
a porous surface, when a thin sbeet of perfectly
dry and almost pure caoutchouc is obtained in a
short time. Good results are obtained with less
trouble by theuse of the centrifugal machine,
first applied to rnbber separation by Biffen. Sam-
ples of Ceylon Castilloa rubber, prepared by Mr
Parkin by the creaming method, were submitted
to MM. Michelin et Cie, who reported that they
were ‘‘rubber in very clean sheets, unusually fine
for Castilloa.”” On washing and drying the rubber
lost nothing in weight. The film contained 91°78
per cent. of pure caoutchoue, 7°54 per cent. of
resins. Till further experience has been gained
we do -.not know how much tapping
is advisable in Castilloa, nor how much
it willstand. Afew trees of about 3 teet girth
gave an average of 5 ounces of rubber each from
one day’s tapping. Probably three or four tappings
might be done every year without serious injury,
but this remains to be investigated. The tree is
not very resistent, and in some cases at Henarat-
goda has died back completely, apparently as the
result of a number of tappings carried on four
years ago, Trees in the Matale District, about
twelve years old, have yielded 14 to 2 pounds of
rubber a year. It issometimes stated that rubber
may be obtained from saplings or from the young
twigs, thus saving many ycars in obtaining a
return, but Parkin’s experiments showed thatin
‘Ceylon at any rate the latex in young stems
contains no caoutchoue, but a sticky substance
like bird-lime, which he terms viscin. The best
Castilloa rubbers appear on the market as sheets,
and are valued next to fine Para. Ceylon samples
~ have obtained 3s. 64d per 1b at'a time when fine
Parawas valued at 4s 2d.—Circular (No. 7.) of the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, for December
1903. 7 on
>
THE STANMORE ANAMALLAY Coy. LTD.—
is at present in the stage at which the
Directors cast their bread upon the waters ;
or in other words the period at which money
is expended in opening land and preparing
it for cultivation. Further opening is to
be done shortly and in consequence furth
shares are to be issued. The prospects 0
the Company are on the whole encourag- —
ing and it was stated by Mr. Maclurethat ~
by Ist January 1908 there should be areturn
of 12 per cent on their whole capital from.
tea alone. We direct attention to the interest-
ing report elsewhere. ; 8S
Jan. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
PEARL FORMATION,
MR, HORNELL’S INVESTIGATION.
Jaffna, Nov. 28.—I had aninterview with Mr
James Hornell, Biologist in charge of the Marine
Laboratory at Galle, this morniog at the Jaffna
Rest-house, and he was kind enough to give me
some particulars concerning his investigations with
regard to the formation of pearl. The actual and.
immediate cause for the formation of the pearl is
a tiny parasite which undergoes different stages.
In its first stage the parasite exists in the water.
This parasite is eaten by the oyster and, entering
its stomach, finds its way into its body mixing with
the blood. The oyster, in turn, is eaten by the
TRIGGERFISH
commonly known by the name of Kilathi, in
whose body the parasite attains its third stage.
These three stages were known previously. Mr
Hornell’s investigations so far have lea him to
believe that the fourth and final stage is attained
in akind of fishealledin Tamil ‘* Thirukkai” and
his attention is devoted to the collecting of further
evidence to confirm this belief. It appears that the
‘Thirukkai’ fish eats the ‘‘ Kilathi” (or Trigger)
and in its bowels the parasite develops into its final
(fourth) stage. The ‘‘ Vhirukkai’ fish lays eggs
in the water where they hatch and then a number
of parasites come into existence. These parasites
are eaten by the oyster, and those that die in its
stomach produce pearl. Mr Hornell is also on the
look-out for sea sponges in their living form so as
to make some observations. With this end in view
he may go tothe adjoining islands.—Jaffna Cor, |
FURTHER INTERESTING PARTICULARS.
Trincomalee, Nov. 20th..-Mr. J. Hornell,
the Marine Biologist of the Galle Laboratory,
who arrived here some time ago and is
occupying the Resthouse, will be leaving
this for Jafina and Mannar by thess, ‘‘Lady
Havelock.” Hehas specially visited here, not
so much to investigate about sponge culture,
which perhaps is a future programme, as
for the solution of the question of the pearl
oyster destroyers. Among many _ other
Marine researches made, he has traced that
a fish of the Linnoean genus called in Tamil
“Kitathi’—a species of Ray, which he
calls a trigger fish for it is a thorn-back
and has two trigger-like spinal thorns—is a
devourer of pearl oysters, The parasitic
anima), to which this mollusc is a host, when
eaten by these fishes, grows to an inferme-
diate stage, and, when these fishes are likewise
attacked and swallowed by large sharks,
skates, dolphins, and other large fishes, it passes
into maturity. These parasites are the pro-
_ ducers of pearls. It is a mistake. des-
troying these fishes, for although they may
destroy oysters yet, but for them, no pearls
. would ke formed, however much the oysters
are preserved. He intends to confirm this
_ theorem by observations at Jaffna and Mannar.
Specimens of these parasites, gutted from
. fishes, are being preserved for inspection,
The “trigger fish” is a flat one of the
shape of a Flounder or Halibut—with thick,
rough scales and as Mr. Hornell puts it, fit
for smoothing purposes. He is of opinion
that there are abundant pearl oysters in the
‘Trincomalee harbour, but for want of pro-
AGRICULTURIST, 461
tection they are fished for eating by
the public. He has found 2-years old
oysters which prove that the intusion of
fresh water into the harbour from the Maha-
weli ganga being said to destroy them, is an
untenable theory.
That the orbicular oysters to be found in
the Bay of Tamplegam, have been overfished,
and the paucity of these oysters is‘due to
the past renting system, owing to which
the renters have endeavoured to make the
best of their opportunity,—Zrincomalee Cor,
a
THE INDIAN AND THE CHYLON TEA
PLANTER,
A CONTRAST.
A gentleman who has just returoed from a tour
through the Ceylontea districts has informed us
that the contrast between the way things are done
in the Colony and ia Iudia is very great, and that
Indian Planters require rousing up—being, in great
measure, wanting in the push and go now so charac-
teriztic of their tellow-workers in the Island, 1t has,
of course, to be borne in mind that conditions in
India and Ceylon are very different. In India
political and military interests predominate, and
industry and trade take a back seat; in Ceylon
the very reverse obtains; consequently the
Government of the Crown Colony fosters industry
aud trade to the utinost in its power, as the wel-
fare of the Island is wholly dependent on its com-
mercial development. Ila this country, on the
other hand, commerce is practically a secondary
consideration, and agricultural industry does nob
meet with the attextion on the part of the Govern-
ment which it deserves. Tea in Ceylon is the
staple product, and the welfare of the industry is
therefore of supreme importance to the Adminis-
tration. Under the circumstances, tea planters, as
a community, are a power in the land, and hold
sway in a manuer quite impossible to their less
favoured brethren in India, It may, there
fore, be urged that, such being the case, a
too critical comparison is uot fair; the
Island industry haviug the powerful sup-
port of the Government which is in full sympathy
with it, whereas the {udian industry is lvuoked
upon with a jealous eye, iustead of being en-
couraged and tended with care and has every
obstacle to progress thrown in its way by an
unsympathetic executive. Viewed in this light,
the wonder is, not that the planting community
in India has done so little, but that it has done
so much, The seeming apathy of Indian planters
is moreor less born of despair, fordo what they
will to improve their prospects aud condition,
they have to face the tactics of not over-friendly
Government officials, who, instead of helping
them, more often than not openly oppose and
hinder them in every way possible, ‘Ihe Indian
tea planter meets with discouragement at every
turn, he is constantly thwarted iu his endeavours
tomake headway; it says a great deal for his
steadfastness that he did not long ago throw
up the sponge. Bat his indoniitable
pluck and courage—identically the same
as that possessed by his brother in Ceylon—hayg
469 THE TROPICAL
‘enabled him so far to keep his head above water,
and despite his socalled apathy and seeming in-
difference, he has managed to hold himse’f up from
being swamped. The Ceylon planter’s rapid pro-
gress is in truth due to the fostering care of his
Government, which is doing more and more to
encourage him every day ; thus seconded, it is not ~
%
surprising that he is making the marvellous head-
way that heis. The Indian planter, although
perhaps’ his progress is not| so apparent, is ne-
vertheless, in his own quiet way, ferging ahead.
He is fighting the powers that be, and gradually,
but surely, making his influence felt. He is borne
up with the hope that the day will yet come. when
in place of an obstructive he will be able to reckon
upon a sympathetic Government, backing him up,
and working hand in glove with him to still
further open up the jungles and waste lands of -
Assam, and give employment to many more than
the 600,000 labourers at present on his rolls. Not
that there will be further extensions of tea fields,
but rather of by-procucts of every kind suitable to
the province. Give the planter the necessary
agricultural labourer on fair terms, and not at the
present prohibitive prices, and he will soon convert
‘the forest and jungle into handsome revenues
paying plantations of rnbber, fibre plants of various
kinds, and other remunerative products ; and the
native workers on his estates, will likewise do
‘their share by turning the adjicent waste lands
into smiling fields of rice and rich cereals of all
descriptions. The Indian tea planter asks the aid
of his Government to do for him what the Ceylon
Government is doing for its planting commnnuity.
If the Indian Government will forswear its
obstructive tactics in connection with the recruit-
ment of labour into the province and encourage
immigration in every legitimate way ; if it will,
once and for all, do the planter justice, and give
him justice, instead of harassing him and tying
his hands, he will work out his own salvation
and that of his labourers, and Assam will once
again become, asit was of old, ‘‘the garden of
India.’ Withoutin any way detracting from the
merits of the Oeylon planters, we muss not forget
that all the knowledge that they have acquired,
they have, in the first instance, learnt from
their Indian brethren who were the pioneers of
the tea enterprise, and, all said and done, the
Indian tea industry still holds the premier place.
If the gibe—that Indian planters are asleep—is
flaunted ip their face, they can at least reply that
they have been asleep with one eye open, wateh-
ing for the ghance which they will grasp
immediately it comes within thelr reach,
The Ceylon planters ave to be congratulated
oft thelt present proéperity and their brighd
fature prospécté, They are fully deserving of
pil the praise which is bestowed on theth, and
thei pxamplé is ofe to be followed by all
Eitdilarly tiredmstanced. review, giving a true
actouot of tlie history of the Indian téa industry
Wotild, liowever; show that the Indian planter is
Hot bide whit behind liis Ceylon confrere in the de:
sire for rapid progression, and such « review would
prove equally attractive and profitable reading.
~ Indian Planters’ Gtzette, Dec 5.
[The Editor, J P G, adds :—‘‘There is one point
Which the wii er has omitted to draw attention
to, and that is that the majority of tea planters
in Ceylon are proprietors, and—being their own
masters—have a free hand to act as they will.
Jodian planters are not so favourably placed in
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1, 1904.
this respect.” But our Indian confrére should know
that in Ceylon, too, Companies own the bulk of the
tea property. The reason for the greater success
in Ceylon is that planters form so much larger
a proportion of the white population than in
India, and are proportionately more influential,
they are also more compact and more articulate.
—Ep. T. A.] diy ci?
oo
SCIENTIFIC PEARL CULTURE,
Pearl merchants in this country will no doubt
be interested in the experiments which have
been conducted near Toulon by Professor Duboist
of Lyons, with a view to facilitating the possible
culture of pearls by scientific means. The Pro-
fessor, who recently read a paper on the subject,
before the Academie des Sciences, theorises as,
follows :—The pearl is a disease of the shell due
to the accretion of | mother-o’-pearl under
the action of a parasite, and this disease is com-
municable to other mollusca of the same
genus. Acting upon these premises Professor
Dubois has conveyed a number of pearl oysters
from the shores of Tunis to ‘foulon, and under
Lis observation they have . thriven wonderfully.
In their natural state the oysters on an averace
are said to produce one pearl amongst about
1,200 shells. The Professor, however, by inoeu~
lating his oysters with a serum obtained frum
the pearl blisters, states that he has been able
to obtain one pearl in ten shells If this be so,
the production of pearls should be an easy matter,
‘and the pearl of the future quite a drug in the
market. But apparently the pearl merchants of
the West are in no way excited. They state
that such experiments have been made before,
but that up to the present no one has
been able to produce pearls of a size that
would) make them of any value... One of the
old theories as to the formation of the pearl
was that the gem had its origin in a grain
of sand or other extraneous matter which found
its way into the shell of the bivalve, and which
the molluse was unable to eject. The intruding
substance was covered by the shell fish with a
layer of ‘‘nacre”’ as the basis of the pearl is
called, and as time went on continued acerelions
of nacre were added and the pearl grew gradu-
ally in size. Mr, Albert F Calvert, a gentleman
who appears to possess considerable knowledge
of the subject of peal fishing, adheres to’ this
yiew in spite of the alleged diseevery of Pro:
‘fessor Dubois, He states tmergove: that. pearl
farming hae been frequently attempted, and
that the Chinese have made great
the artifeial production of pearls, sir method
of bringing the desired resuls about is to insert.
sotie foreign substance into the shell of thé
oyster, and to replasé the mollusc in tlie tiver of
éanal in whieh they found it,
nacre, and in due cotirse the fisher comes along)
and collects the resulting pearl, ‘lo the unscienti:
fic mind this method of cultivation seems to proé
mise better results than that advocated by
Professor Dubois, but it must be remembered that
the results of that gentlemen’s labours are taken
seriously by such biologists as have devoted time "
-and attention to the study of the ‘life history of —
the pearl-producing
molluse,—Bombay Gazette, —
progress in —-
: Phe tiolliie to
protect itself covers the intruding substanee with
Jan. 1, 1904.) THE TROPICAL
RUBBER AND FIBRE FROMTHE SAME PLANT.
The Honorary Secretary of the Madras Agri-
Vorticultural Society writes to us :—Having had my
attention called to the rubber-and-fibre- yielding
properties of the plant known to botanists as Cryptos-
tegia grandiflora, which grows wild over ® consider-
able area in this Presidency, I sent in May last
samples of both materials to the Director of the
Imperial Institute in London, with a request that they
might be valued commercially after being chemically
examined. As in both cases « favourable conclusion
may be drawn from the results of the examination and
valuation of these products, I am sending youa few
details from the Reports in the hope that they may be
of interest to some of your readers,
The rubber was reported on by Professor Wyndham
R Dunstan the Director, who says :—“ The rubber on
arrival was soft but not sticky, very elastic and pos-
sessed fair tenacity, After keeping for some time,
however, it hardened a little and then exhibited a
tendency to tear when stretched.” The chemical
examination: gave the following results :—
Sample as Calculated for
received, dry material.
Moisture’. pn DAT on _
Caoutchouo me OA. se 89:5
Resin acme: Oe) op 79
Dirt co. PHY) oco 26
A sample of the rubber together with a statement
of the above results was submitted for commercial
valuation to brokers, who reported that at the present
‘time it would be worth 2s. 4d. per Ib., and that, as
“medium qualities of rubber had been very scarce in
the London market for some time, the present would
be a favourable time for forwarding a trial consign-
ment, As to the methods of obtaining the rubber from
the plant Professor Dunstan quotes the suggestion
which Sir Daniel Morris Commissioner of the West
Indian Imperial Agricultural Department, made in
the course of a lecture before the Society of Arts on
the sources of commercial India-rubber that ‘‘it is
quite possible that by coppicing the plant and taking
yearly crops of shoots this plant might yet be rendered
of value.’’ This point, however, as well ag the other
suggested methods of collection conld only be deter-
mined by practical experiment.
Regarding the fibre Professor Dunstan says that in
general character and appearance it resembles that of
Marsdenia tenacissima, on which a Report was recently
supplied by the Imperial Iustitute to the Government
of India, and the results of the chemical examination
by the Scientific and Technical Department of the
Imperial Institute show that these fibres are also very
similar in their chemical properties and behaviour.
The following figures which Professor Dunstan gives
show howclose is this resemblance ,—
Oryptostegia Marsdenia
Per cent, Per cent,
Moisture oo oe) ae 77
Ash : oe , U'98 Ib
OA atolls Tons vu BB 78
B Hydrolysis do » «= 89
Merocerising -do ar 4:3 49
Acid Puriflowtion Loss ., 1'2 Bd
Nitration gain sa = 490 139
Cellulose va, 02:0 9L'5
Length of ultimate fibre.. 1060mm, 10:30mm,
ith regard to these particulars about the two
fibres, Professor Dunstan says.—The fibre contains
little or no ligno-celinlose ; this is shewn especi-
ally by the absence of colour in the nitration product;
and by the fact that when the _ chlorinated
product, obtained in the course of the estimation of
cellulose, is treated with sodium sulphite, no red chio-
ration is produced, Itis exceptionally resistant to the
action of alkali, as is indicated by the comparatively
small losses sustained on hydrolysis and mércerising,
The remarkable quality ofthe fibre is shown also by the
unusually high percentage of cellulose, and by the
large increase of weight on nitiation. In all these
partictWars the fibre of Cryptestegia resembles that of
A GRICULTURIST. 463
Marsdenia.” The leading fibre brokers to whom the
‘sample was submitted for commercial valuation con-
sidered it likely to prove of considerable value, but
said that its commercial possibilities could only be
arrived at by cubmitting it to munufacturing tests, and
for this purpose they asked to be supplied with two or
three bales as eaxly as possible. They report, however,
that the fibre is of good quality and worth about £30
per ton. From the sboye it will be seen that the
results of the examination and valuation of both these
products of the ‘“‘Cryptostegia’’ may be considered
very favourable, and it is indeed unusual for one and
the same plant to yield good samples of two such
valuable and important materials as rubber and fibre.
If they can be produced of as good a quality as the
samples sent on a large scale, and a regular supply
depended upon, there seems little doubt that both
would find a ready sale on the Lonjon market. It is
still more matter of surprise that this useful indigenous
plant, which willgrow pretty well anywhere in this
Presidency, and may in many places be seen growing
wild over considerable areas, has hitherto been quite
neglected,— Indian Planting and Gardening, Dec, 5.
THE EDITOR OF THE “INDIA RUBBER
WORLD” IN CEYLON.
MR. HENRY C, PEARSON,
We recently bad a visit fromMr. Henry CU,
Pearson, the well-known and able editor
of the India Rubber World, who arrived
in the s.s. ‘‘ Himalaya” on a twelve days’
visit to Ceylon. Mr. Pearson is a Boston man,
with considerable interest in rubber, as his
profession alone would show, though his
proprietary interests are not extensive and
have not been added to since he assumed
the Editorship of the famous rubber journal.
His views of the future of the rubber in-
dustry are of interest. Mr. Pearson thinks
that the fear of rubber being over-produced
is infinitesimal; though there is little doubt
that the high prices so long prevailing have
done much to encourage planting extensions.
Rubber is different, he argues, from such
a product as tea—for the uses of rubber are
extending year by yearand a limit to them
is far from being fixed. The demand, there-
fore is likely to keep pace with the supply
for some time to come. On the other hand
rubber is bound to become cheaper as time
goes on and rubber manufacturers are only
Waiting this time to be able to do more
business in rubber than they can with the
high prices still ruling .Mr, Pearson holds
that the British planter is doing a great
service to the Rubber Trade all over the
world by his enterprise in rubber-planting,
‘his is Mr. Pearson’s first visit to the Kast
and while in Oeylon he is anxious to visit
ag many typical rubber estates as possible,
both Upcountry and in Kalutara district,
He is well acquainted with Mr, J. C.. Willis,
Director, Peradeniya Gardens, through
correspondence, &c,
Mr. Pearson goes from Colombo to Sinjfa:
pore, and will visit the Malay States and
afterwards Manila, before making his way
to Yokohama and home via the Pacific
and the States. He has come out as mueh
as anything for a rest and change: but a
man of Mr. Pearson's energy is not given
to resting much while ashore—éspecially
when there is personal acquaintance with
growing rubber to be made. Mr, Pearson
was the only American onthe ‘* Himalaya,”
and the yoyage out was very pleasant,
464 THE TROPICAL
THE WAY TO MAKE GREEN TEA PAY.
THE AMERICAN MARKET.
In green tea we have practically but a single
market to aimat. The American trade has been
long accustomed to being supplied with long lines
of homogeneous tea, and also to have facilities
presented for repeating their orders and procuring
With ease the particular kinds of tea suitable for
their business. The process for making green tea
depending less upon natural changes in the leaf
and more apon mechanical treatment than is the
case with blacks, it is possible so to control the
manufacture, asto turn out from gardens very far
apart from one another and situate in very differ-
ent districts, tea possessing almost identical
character. We can instance three gardens whose
teas we have seen, which are situated as far apart,
respectively, as Darjeeling, Cachar and Chota
Nagpore, and yet which produce teas varying so
little in character as to be practically interchange-
able, and from prices realised, these teas are shown
to be the best on the market. There is everything
to gain, therefore, by other gardens conforming
to the style of manufacture which has thus
| produced teas admittedly superior to the rest.
If there were any sacrifice of price in so doing
it would be different, but as there is an
actual advantage, no barrier exists. With regard
to our China type supply, the case is somewhat
different, for the Kumaon and Kangra. planters,
in whose hands it lies, have their individual
secrets, and do not work together as there is
no advertised process to conform to at present. But
even here it would be found to their advantage to
adopt uniformity. We trust producers will consider
the position seriously, and take steps to conform to
a uniform standard of manufacture, combining for
the purpose. Experience of late has shown that this
brauch of the American trade is ours if we choose
.to attack it in abody.—Indian Planting and
Cardening.
Rae BO EE ee
PLANTING NOTES,
_ Ruspper In Mataya.—As an instance of the
way in which planters here are now going in for
rubber, we (Malay Mail) may cite the case of
the West Country and Belmont estates in the
Kajang district. At the present moment there
are nearly 16,000 trees over 6ft. high there, while
smaller ones have been planted to the number
of 65,000. By the end of the yearit is expected
that there will be fully 85,000, or, roughly, 100
to the acre, the trees being planted 20ft. by 20ft.
—Singapore Free Press.
. RuBBEeR IN THE MALAY STATES.—An im:
portant letter appears on page 468 from the
en of a prominent Straits planter, Mr
. W. Bailey, General Manager of the
Selangor Plantation Syndicate, with reference
to our -October interview with Messrs
Parry and Tunnicliffe. It is quite plain
‘that our visitors have under-estimated the
value of upcountry Rubber land in the
Straits and we believe that both upcountry
and low-country properties in Malaya are
-assured of arich and promising future. The
references to Brazil are appropriate—though
of course, differences of soil, latitude and
local climate have to be carefully taken into
account, |
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1; 1904.
INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA PLANTING.—
Whatever Mr. Bamber may have urged as
desirable, catch-pits for silt in drains do not
obtain in Ceylon. Myr. Claud Bald (who writes
elsewhere) in his book says:—‘ The primary
object of pruning is to change the form which
the plant would naturally take and so turn it
into a low bush instead of a tree. The
next object is to encourage the bush to pro-
duce leaves rather than wood, etc.' The italics
are ours. An expert has but to glance at
these statements, to see how unscientitic
they are. It is a pity that the mystery why
the wounds on topped tea should face the
North, has been left unexplained. We are
asked to believe that there are good reasons
for it; but in an age of the decadence of faith,
we feel this to be unnecessarily hard treat-
ment. Is there any need for the creation of
a new ‘ Asian Mystery ?’
LIBERAL CULTIVATION AND PRACTICAL
MANAGEMENT FOR CEYLON TEA.--We direct
attention to a very important letter on page
469 from a planter of 21 years’ experi-
ence, of which 5 were in agriculture at home
and 16 here in tea. There is a great deal
of truth in his letter. But in spite of the
points he makes, we do not think he quite
the situation. With the aid of
the cultivation of estates in
Ceylon and even the manufacture of tea are
gradually progressing into scientific cultiva-
tion and manufacture. It is the combination
of chemical knowledge and practical experi-
ence which is leading to this very desirable
result. Planters were comparatively working
in the dark before. Now the light is break-
ing, and we not think the disinclination to
preserve old teaestates by liberal cultivation
is es general as our correspondent makes
out.
on this important topic.
Uva Tea Estatss, 1900-3: AND Dry Mon-
Soons.—The following list of Uva estates ©
averages in the last three years goes to
show that this year’s dry S.-W. monsoon aver-
ages in Uva are not equal to those of the last
two years. Demodera is a notable exception
—accounted for by its splendid factory and
machinery and so much young tea, no doubt, ~
The list runs :—
Average,
Mark. Average. Average.
1901. 1902. 1908,
(Up-to-date),
Badulla 84 72. 83
Cocagalla 0) 104 9
Canuavarella 10% 113 9%
Cullen — = 103 95
Demodera 9 - 84 11;
El Leb 8 9 9
Glen Alpin 8% 103 9
Gonakelle 72 8 83
Gowerakelle 9 113 8
Ledgerwatte 103 1g oA
Mahadowa 103 9 8g
Spring Valley 10 8} 9
Telbedde — 8 9 9s
Ury 8 B Rigs)
Uva Té 8 %
We should be glad of other opinions — 4
JAN. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL
CAMPHOR PRODUCTION,
INTERVIEW WITH A CAMPHOR MERCHANT.
Amongst the numerous visitors from abroad
which have recently been visiting Ceylon
is Mr, Peter P. Van Vleet of Memphis,
Tennessee, who with his wife is on a trip
round the world, mainly on a_holiday—
having arrived here from the States via
Japan and the Philippines. Mr. Van Vleet
is a partner in the big Van Vleet, Mans-
field Drug Co. of Memphis. While at
Manila he and his wife were the guests
of Governor Wright who _ succeeded
Governor Taft (now U.S.A. Secretary for
War). In Japan, he was interested in
studying the state of the camphor trade—
his firm being largely interested in this
roduct, the sole control of which (through
its monopoly) is one of Japan’s proudest
commercial boasts and for which it has never
been sorry it accepted Formosa instead of
Korea in treating with Russia. For in Japan,
we learn, the camphor production has now
almost died out; the trees have been so cut
about—the camphor being obtained by boiling
the pulp obtained—that they have died off
and Japan has now to rely on its island of
Formosa, where the supply is practically inex-
haustible. Mr, Van Vieet thinks that for
anyone who can undertake camphor-growing
here, there is a sound future, the demand
being always-greater than the supply at
resent prices, which are fixed by the
faaeriese Government. Six or seven years
ago, Mr. VanVleet says, camphor could be
bought at 27 cents (about 85 rupee cents) per
Ib. whercas nowit has risen nearly 150 per
cent to 63 cents (or about R190.) Owing to
the high price, it has been cut out as a dis-
infectant and many other articles have taken
its place. Our visitor was interested to hear ~
that some camphor was already being
grown in Ceylon—e.g. 15acres in the Hewae
heta district and further plantations else-
where—and he advised extension in this
product wherever it is found to grow well.
Mr. VanVleet was also. interested in
ecinchona, which was now 15 cents (about
40 rupee cents) a pound, formerly—when
Peruvians first collected it from their own
forests—1$ 5c, or R330 nearly, India had
eut out Peru by planting cinchona, and
thus guaranteeing a regular supply, for
Peruvians had found it too profitable, were
lazy in collecting it and prices went up to
2 dollars per pound. But Java now was
producing even better cinchona, richer in
quinine, and the Indian product suffered
accordingly. All the supply of quinine, we
are told, comes from Germany which buys
up practically all the cinchona_ supply.
Mr. VanVleet knew well Mr. F. L. Seely,
of the Paris Medicine Co., who visited
Ceylon 2 years ago—on his honeymoon (his
bride being the daughter of one of his
ehief Directors, Mr. Grove) and who has
since gone in for Law.
Mr. VanVieet was congratulating himself
on being at this season in a temperature
of 75° to 78° in the shade, while his friends
in ennessee were sleighing and skating as
usual in the middle of December. He and
AGRICULTURIST. 465
Mrs. Van Vleet proceed to Calcutta and across
India, leaving Bombay for Europe and
thence home, Bon voyage.
~
COOLY EMIGRATION TO REUNION,
THE BAD LABOUR CONDITIONS IN THE
FRENCH COLONY,
Pondicherry, November,
There scems to be a probability of a brisk com-
petition springing up for the cocly emigration
trade at no very distant date. It is stated ina
late issue of the Paris paper Quinzaine Coloniale,
that ‘a determined effort is about to be made
to re-introduce Indian cooly emigration to Reunion,
where planters and employers are in a despe-
rate state owing to a want of labour”; and
private advices from France lately to hand seem
to confirm the account, adding that it is rumoured
Messieurs Waldeck Roussean and Lanessan, mem-
bers of the late Cabinet, and also Monsieur
Hebrard of the Tempsde Paris with M, Yves
Guyot of the Siecle, are expected to join the
Syndicate. The Isle of Bourbon has ever been
dependent upon British India for the labour
required to work its sugar plantations and also,
in agreat measure, to carry on the public works
of the Colony. Up to the introduction of the
Indian Emigration Act of 1861, a fair supply of
Indian labourers was generally obtainable at
reasonable rates, and for some years after the
Act came into foree matters worked smoothly,
But as time wore on the Planters and their Agents
became oppressive and cruel, and it was only
after submitting for many years of tyranny and
despotism that the ‘‘Gentle Hindoo” revolted
and refused to work. And at about the same
time similar complaints were received from the
French West Indian Colonies to which large
numbers of coolies had emigrated under the
British Indian labour law. The accusations
against the Planters and the local Government
officials were rigorously and thoroughly investi-
gated, and the result was that with here and there
an exception the complaints were proved to be
substantially correct: it was shown that not
only were the French authorities to blame for
allowing the planters to commit horrid atrocities
upon helpless natives, but that they permitted
them to defraud and victimise the coolies in any
way they wished, while means of seeking redress
ot their wrongs were kept absolutely and entirely
beyond their reach, And this disgraceful state
of affairs was enacted practically in the presence
of a highly paid English official—styled ‘* Protec-
tor of emigrants” and stationed at the Head-
Quarters of each of the Colonies where Indian
contract labourers were employed, The end of
the whole business has been the suppression of
the Indian Emigration Convention of 1861, and
British Indian subjects are now forbidden under
severe penalties to emigrate or to enter into
Foreign labour contracts or to proceed abroad.
The Act is framed so as to include all or any
“‘who shall assist or attempt to assist a British
Indian subject to reach.a F)anco-Indian port
with a view to emigrate to a Foreign country,”
The law, towever, was evaded two and three years
agoin the case of Madagascar, to which Colony
upwards of 1,000 emigrants were shipped from
Pondicherry, in two English steamers. The coelies
were brought into Pondicherry surreptitiously
by railway, and atter a nominal medical examina-
ee
466 THE TROPICAL
tion were lodged in the depot to await shipment.
The. British Consul, who is also the protector of
emigrants for the ports of -Pondicherry and
Kanrrikal, was invited to hold a survey: on such
of the emigrants.who claimed to be ,Bri-
tish subjects, and to satisfy himself that they
were proceeding to Madagascar entirely of their
own/accord. -This: was all very right and proper,
and the “cargoes,” were landed at Tamatave all in
good. health and condition. But unfortunately
for the poor coolies, there were practically 1o
suitable arrangements prepared for their reception
or future disposal: no crganised medical staff;
ho commissariat ; no proper camp and no adequate
or intelligent supervision or direction 5 the pro-
visions provided were totally insufficient, the
quality inferior and objectionable and not suited
for newly arrived Foreign emigrants. The whole
business was, indeed, a helpless anc shameless
muddle, brought -about by sheer negiect and
want of eare and foresight. It is not to be
wondered at that the screme failed and that
Indian Cooly Emigration to Madagascar naturally
died out: but the result of this ill-starred enter-
prise should be a wholesome warning to Govern-
ments, contractors and others engaged or con-
cerned in trading with Foreign cooly labourers,
Of the one-thousand emigrants landed at Tamatave
about one-third sre said to have died in the
country, another third returned to India, and the
remainder are supposed to be working out their
time, The Madagascar Government will, of course,
have to foot up the bill of costs, but the con
tractor—who happens to be a man of means,
has been fined in the sum of 100,000 franes
—for neglect: the case is under appeal. This
Madagascar affair is brought prominently to the
front for the reason that it is quite a recent occur-
rence and with a view that while entrusting
British Indian emigrants to French officials and
employers, positive and stringent provisions should
be made to guarantee beyond the question of a
doubt, their.absolute freedom from oppression and
injustice. _The contractors should be required to
give valid security—guatanteed by the local
Government, for the due and faithful performance
of their contracts with the coolies, The promoters
of the new scheme are savguine of obtaining a
modification of the late Convention proposed by
the Government of India: it is rumoured that
several leading English Statesmen have promised
to support the French planters’ appeal and certainly
Messieurs Hebrard and Guyot deserve recognition
for their plucky advogacy of the British cause when
nearly every other paper on ‘the Continent was
doing its best to bring odium upon the English
nation. It is moreover said that Monsieur Yves
Guyot is a personal friend of Mr Chamberlain—
not a bad omen—perhaps, true? That a concession
in the present case would be appreciated—not
only by the whole island of Bourbon, but equally
so by the French Government and a strong sec-
tion of the entire F:ench people, is beyond
doubt or question. The French nation has taken
a noble initiative in suggesting to the English
people a closer alliance anda better friendship
than that which has existed during late year-
between the two countries, and the Government
would be guilty of a grave error should it fail to
accept the generous offer. But the responsible
Ministers of King Edward dare not refuse and
good feeling: It is admitted that the emigration
question is exceedingly complicated and requires
will gladly do allin their power to consolidate the —
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1, 1904.
very careful handling and profound consideration.
The Government of India must possess an absolute
aud direct controlling power over the actual em-
ployers of British-Indian labourers—so far as the
proper treatment of the coolies is concerned : half
weasures and a shifting liability will not work:
substantial penalties for offences against the Act
of Vonvention must be positively defined and
rigidly enforced, and to secure this and the general’
agent at head-quaiters—Pondicherry—must be
amenable to the British autliorities. ,
THE DEMAND FOR INDIAN COOLY LABOUR
is rapidly increasing snd old established emi-
gration agencics find it difficult to obtain a ‘tithe
part of the ordinary requirements of the trade ;
urgent orders are coming in from all quarters
for largely increased supplies, which, with. the pre-
sent state of the local labcur markets, it will be
impossible tu meet for many months to come. The
current season’s crops, which are now approaching.
matuiity, are expected to give record returns, and
ifthe outturn reaches a good average limit, the
harvest should be a prodigious one: it seems likely
that in some districts the local labour will fall:
short of the demand and that assistance from out-
Jaying taluks will be needed to gather in and
thrash out and prepare the grain and other pro-
ducts for market. It is highly satisfactory to
notice that the condition of the agricultural
labourer is gradually being changed ; the rates of
pay, the hours of work and other considerations:
are being modified,’ and in certain measure by
mutual consent : there is—at last—a good prospeet
that the hard-working cooly population of the
country will receive a fair wage for his labours.
A few years of agricultural prosperity and a brisk
demand for Foreign labour, and the ~ conditions’
between employer and the employed, must mate-.
rially help to bring about the desired change. For
centuries the lion’s share of the Indian labourers”
earnings hastound its way either directly or in-
“directly into the pockets of voracious aud unprinei-:
pled agents and employers of high and low
degree, whose professed object is to enrich their
condition by grinding the work-people to the finest.
edge of endurance. The Foreign emigration system,
as generally conducted in India, is a scheme for
making (sic) wholesale and retail, without sharing in
any risk or liability, financially or otherwise, that:
may overtake any ‘transaction. The process is.
simple and effective : a favoured few—mostly ad-
venturers, securé an order (usually through an
agent) from a Foreign Government for a supply. of
Indian labourers to be delivered at a fixed price
per head : the rate arrived at generally represents
the maximum limit, plus an unblushing margin
for possible contingencies, foreach and every item
of charge, and to this aggregate of small totals is
added the Chief Agent’s modest commission,
Indirectly the poor emigrant pays the whole cost
incurred by the Government—and paid to the
Colonial Agents—for his transport and. expenses —
from tha date of his enlistment in India up to tiie
time of his arrival at the depét where he .is to be
employed. It may fairly be assumed that in the
large majority of cases not one-half of the
“ incidental expenses” debited in:emigration ac-
counts are legitimate charges. It is, perhaps, but
natural that these extreme statements should be
ridiculed by theorists and others interested inthe
pecuniary side of the case, but the facts are un-
deniable and carry conviction, MR ye.
pe a wit bee
ie | Mats
JAN. 1, 1964. j THE TROPICAL
Correspondence.
To the Editor. .
er ereeens
INDIA AND CEYLON TEA PLANTING.
Darjeeling, Nov. 18,
DEAR S1R,—I am indebted to you for devoting
so much valuable time and space to my book on
“Indian Tea, its Culture and Manufacture.” You
have been so good as to say some kind things about
the book, but there are some passages con-
cerning which you express disapproval and
as your paper has such vast influence with a
very large number of planters, I feel that you
are entitled to any explanations [ may have to
give. Youexpress surprise at the para, where [
mention that the Ceylon planters are ahead of us
in the matter of having cross-drains and catch pits
for silt. My authority is your own scientist, Mr
Bamber, in his ‘‘Report on Ceylon Tea Soils” 1900;
in which he urges the general adoption of the
system on all thesteep parts of Ceylon estates,
He says :—‘‘The silt accumulated in this way
forms an excellent material for top-dressing,
while the annual expense of clearing drains is
ceduced to a minimum, it being merely necessary to
clear out the holes.” With regard to *‘The primary
object of Pruning,’ you make out that I am at
variance with theScientists, Sir Geo. Watt and
Mr H HMann; but if you turn to the revised
edition of the work to which you refer you will
find at page 67 as follows :—
“Para. 132. Objects of Pruning.—Pruning is an
operation carried on in order to induce the
plant to assume a particular shape so as to
tacilitate cultivation and plucking of the. leaf, &c.”
Thus it isseenthat there is perfecb agreement
as to what is the primary object of pruning, and
we use almost the same words. I should point
out, however, that the para, which I have
quoted, does not appear in the early edition by
Sir Geo. Watt; and I must also mention that my
book was already in the press before the
new para appeared. The interesting theory about
** flowers and fruit” does, indeed, apear in the book
referred to, but ib is only in the form of a
quotation from Sir Geo. King, It is referred to
with approval, but is, by no means, spoken of
as the primary object of pruning.
I should be very sorry indeed if it were found
that any of my conclusions or recommendations
are not in accord with the ascertained facts of
science.—Please note that I appeal for a distinc-
tion between facts and mere theories. I look to
science for guidance in all practical work, and [
have great hores that the men, who are engaged
specially in the elaboration of that branch of the
subject, will yet accomplish great things for the
industry. Iam exceedingly sorry that a perusal
of my book seems to have given you the impres-
sion that the work is scrappy and superficial. In
the circumstances, perhaps [ may be excused for
mentioning that before 1 went to press I took up
each subject in detail, and studied every work I
could lay hold of which had any bearing upon the
subject in hand. Lalso gathered something from
my own twenty-five years’ experience in tea, I
mighb very well have followed the example of
Bae a my predecessors, and given copious extracts
AGRICULTURIST. 467
from various’ other authors at each ‘stage; in
this way the covers of my book would bave
swelled out considerably, but it would have defeat-
ed my chief object, which was to be intensely
practical. Planters, as a rule, are very busy men,
and they have nob always time to investigate into
the nice distinctions of different theories to account
for well-ascertained facts. The book was prima-
rily intended for India, and specially for young
beginners ; but if our fellow-planters in Ceylon
find in it anything which can be of use to them,
the tact will only add greatly to my pleasure,
There is one more point upon which your article
ealls for explanation. Itis my suggestion to Plan-
ters in India that when they prune down -the
main stems of young seedjings, they should do it
so that the wounds shall face the north. I ask
you to believe that there are good reasons for this,
but fear I have already presumed too much upon
your patience; hence I must close this letter,
while I beg to remain.—Yours truly,
CLAUD BALD.
GREEN TEA AND BLACKS:
ISSUE,
Sim,—I take up the weekly summary of the
Ceylon Observer for the week ending November
18th, 1903, and find the following interesting
figures :—
THE. OLD
Black Tea. Green Tea.
oles st + eee
fi 1903. 1902. 1903. 1902.
.K. . 81,841,108 88,456,940) - no, jf
Others ... 33,430,700 30°012,209 f 1,385,329 2,173,529
Totals ... 120,271,808 127,469,462 7,385,329 2,173,529
Grand totals black and green.
120,271,808 127,469,462
7,385,329 2,173,529
127,657,137 129,642,991
Messrs, Wilson Smithett & Co.’s London average
Ceylon blacks :—
d.
October 30th, 1903 8:25
VIOZ avs. 5 = 7320
33
‘Messrs. Forbes & Walker’s Colombo average :—
o
Cc.
Nevember 19th, 1903 ... 40
A pA 1O0Dfe ne 35
It will be observed from the foregoing figures
that shipments of black tea to London during
1903 have fallen away to the extent of 64 million
pounds, and one naturally enquires whether the
removal of this weight of tea from the London
market has had the effectb of hardening prices
both at home and locally to the extent of about
one penny per 1b.? Ido not. say that it has had
this effect, [merely ask the question. As we are
aware the Thirty Committee have decided to
expend R150,000 is further subsidizing 5 millions
of green teas at 3 cents a 1b. during the early
months of 1904, withthe expiry of this vote our
money ends, and so does the green tea bonus.
I do not know that any of the Phirty Com-
mittee were particularly keen about voting this
subsidy, which to a very great extent comes out
oi the pockets of the producers of black tea, and
no one was more reluctant than those who felt,
that unless the black tea producers were satisfied
it was to their advantage topay this bonus they
were being very unfairly taxed. A question, and
& very pertinent one, has been raised as to whether
the green tea buyer is about to pay more money
for this class of tea, and whether the black tea
468 THE TROPICAL
producer is nob being sacrificed in the interests of
the green tea buyer, and on this point we are leit
some what in the dark. Now what I should like
to ask the black tea producer is this. Is the penny
a lb rise in black tea chiefly owing to the removal
from the London market of 54 million pounds of
tea made into greens? If this is so, have you
not by taxing yourself ‘30 cents per lb bene
fitted to the extent of 4°70 cents per lb which
amounts are the difference between 1902 and
1903 prices. If you have benefitted to this
extent, it appears to me, it would not hurt you
to continue paying this tax indefinitely and in
increasing ratio until blacks and preens prices are
on the same level when it might even then pay
you to go on if by not doing so there was a chance
of 10 millions of greens reverting to blacks. Ido
not say you have benefited or that it would pay
you;I merely ask the question. If, on the other
hand, the rise in the price of blacks has not been
caused by the quantity of green tea made, the
bonus should be stopped immediately 5 millions
of greens have been made. Perhaps, indeed, it
should not have been voted at all.
T ask these questions not because asa producer
of green tea, I want to enlist the further sympathy
of the growers of blacks, but because I know there
is a strong minority who would like to see ithe
green tea bonus swept away, and who feel, I may
_ say bitterly feel, that they are charitably assisting
the green tea grower to make huge profits. Now
the Ceylon tea planter whether he grows biacks or
greens is reluctant if not unwilling to accept
charity ab the hands of anyone, especially of the
latter producer. Moreover, I believe, that the es-
tates which are nowmaking greens will still be able
to live, even if they have to revert to blacks, which
they will certainly do when the bonus ceases unless
backs and greens are fetching prices identical. Is
ib to the interest of the growers of 140 million
pounds of black tea to allow the green tea pro-
ducer to return to blacks? I do not say itis, I
merely ask the question. I show a few low-
country averages last week, green and blacks and a
few of up-country blacks viz ;—
LOW GROWN.
~ Blacks. Greens. :
Avissawella «> 988 Chesterford ... 387 faced
Ganapalla -. 38 Hllakande ... 84 —
Glendon se 39 Farnham Loe
Kelham we 38 Vincit 50. 8
Ninfield oe 36 Contract estates i 34}
Polatgama, cq Af say
HIGH GROWN.
" Agraouvah ewe 45 Gampaha eo 44
Ballagaila, «» 41 Middleton .. 51
. Brownlow -» 47 Preston Bo 2k8
Coreen ». 43 Scarborough .. 48
Tounnagory Aa. i!)
I show these latter because we are always being
told—lots of low grown teas, good up-country
prices; shortageof low growns, bad up-country
prices. i
LT raise this questions now so thab we may have
plenty of time to consider the matter during the
next six months.—Yours, &c.
November 23rd, 1903. W. FORSYTHE.
THE
THE FUTURE OF RUBBER IN
MALAY STATES.
Klang, Selangor, Nov, 24,
DEAR Sir,—I write with reference to an
interview which appeared in the Ceylon Observer
of October 28th with Mr M S Parry of
AGRICULTURIST: [JAN: 1, 1904.
the FMS United Planters’ Association,
Mr Tunnicliffe. I do not wish to question the
great future of Rubber in the Malay Peninsula
nor to,enter into a discussion as to whether the
alluvial flats of the Klang, Perak and other rivers
are better for Rubber cultivation than the Hill
lands; for Planters cannot have had their eyes
shut as to how such well-drained flats have proved
their capabilities in coffee, tea and cacao; (I
do not allude to some undrainable swamps or to
such so close to the sea and so low that they are
affected by high tides); but I agree with the old
saying about comparisons, and [ cannot under-
stand how the Ceylon Observer’s informants had
thecourage to dictate the following paragraph :—
“KLANG AND UPpcounTRY LAND.’—‘' The
varieties cultivated are Para and Rambong, This
latter kind, the Ficus Elastica, does well at the
Negri Sembilan, and in the Klang land is far
preferable to Para, Th@ Klang is the heavy,
undrained deep soil by the coast, and is excellent
for coffee, but not as suitable for rubber as the
upcountry districts, as the roots cannot get
sufficient grip in the soft ‘soil and the
sea-winds frequently blow down -the trees;
also white anjs are very troublesome there.
In connection with this Mr Parry thinks the
Ceylon Planters and. others who invested in Mr.
Wickwar’s upcountry Estates are to be congra-
tulated, this land being preferable to the Klang.
Certain upecountry planters, Mr ‘Yunnicliffe in-
formed us, having been asked to float their estates
as Companies gave the rejoinder that when they
got a good thing, why should they giveit away
by floating. The Planters there evidently have
faith in the future of the Malay States Rubber
industry.”
Ti they wished todo Mr Wickwar’s Company
a good turn, they have had their wish gratified,
for I know of no better Upcountry Estate than
the (now) Seremban Company’s, andI have not
got a word to say against it. Ib may prove
itself to be even as good as whab is considered by
many men to be the best Rubber Estate in the
Peninsula namely the Sungei Rongam Estate (The
Selangor Kubber Co.) with 1150 acres opened in-
Rubber, and 3600 acres of reserve jungle lying
between river and Railway for over 5 miles, and
with 3 Railway stations on it) which is in the
Klang district, and of which Professor Troub
(of Botanic Gardens, Buitenzorg, Java) said lasb
month ‘‘Jt was a magnificent sight, and I did
nob expect to see such a grand sheet of Rubber
in the Malay Peninsula.” All the Klang district
is not good; but there are plenty of splendid ~
Hstates in Klang which I do not intend to
mention, for I feel sure that other Planters
will feel hurt on your informants’ remarks whether
they happen to have good or bad estates.
I shall say nothing about my own estates in the
Klang district more than that I have heard the
opinion of such as Messrs. E S Grigson, Thomas
North Christie and Norman Grieve on it, and I
am prepared to take their opinions, as against your —
informants’ ; though none of these men ever ran
down the Upecountry estates for, like me, very likely
they are interested in both and consider compari-
sons asI de. I would not answer this letter had
it only appeared in a local paper, for the opinions
expressed init would do no,harm here ; but as I
represent owners of estates in both Klang and
and.
Kuyala Lumpur I feel it my duty to take some ~
notice of it, and if possible to prevent such wrong —
expression of opinions; and hope that both up-
Jan. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
. country and low-country rubber will continue to
look as promising as it does at present. Other
men here are not likely to letsuch a letter as this
pass, and io may possibly raise such a nest of
hornets about the ears of your informants as will
sting them in places thab are unprotected and do
them more harm than it can possibly do to the
owners of good low-country land.
Take for instance one part of the statement as
follows :—‘ Klang is a heavy undrained deep soil
by the coast and is excellent for coffee, but is not
so suitable for rubber as the up-country districts,
&e.’—All land is undrained untilit has beendrained;
and land undrained and undrainable is neither
suitable forcoffee or rubber, andmen who have tried
to grow either on it deserve the consequences, Yet
one Estate in the Klang District with a main
drain 26 feet wide and 10 feet deep ab its mouth
and 45 miles of all sorts of smaller drains, gave a
Jarge profit last year, and supported 600 acres of
Rubber, 400 acres of which is over 5 years old
beside opening a 100-acre clearing in Coffee 7 x 7
and Rubber 14x14. Cau thisland be bad or un-
suitable for Para Rubber ? Again ‘deep soil by the
coast’ Men who tookup land sufficiently near the
coast as to beaffected by high tides and salt water
should have planted coconuts init: bub many of
the Klang Estates are miles away from the coast,
some as much as 15 miles.
I now quote some paragraphs from Brazil Diplo-
' matie and Consular Reports :—
‘Trade of Paraand the District for the year 1897.’
Page 26.
1. Harr or Para.—! The localities where Rubber
trees thrive best are on islands, and low ground near
rivers, where the hanks are periodically inundated,’
‘Ground that has no drainage is not suitable to the
tree.’
_2. Ricuust ZoNrs.—' The Richest Zones as at
present known are along the banks of all the Southern
tributaries of the River Amazon’s, and on the Islands
in the main stream and near Para,’ ‘The most
prolific part is on the River Aquiry or Acre, one of
the tributaries of the River Puros.’ The Northern
tributaries of the Amazon’s do not produce much
Rubber, Of those the River Negro produces the most
and &c,’ ‘ The River Branco yields very little Rubber
and the upper part runs through pasture lands and
high ground (no doubt of a considerable elevation)
which is not suitable for good Rubber.’
3. Raryrauu.—‘ The rainfall during 1897 amounted
to 115 inches. MRain fell during 291 days and the
maximum during one day amounted to three inches,’
4, Hercut.—‘ It grows to a height of 60 feet,’
5, Leaves,‘ The leaves are trifoliate.’
6. Fnownrs, Fruits AnD Sneps.—‘ Tho seeds should
be planted as soon as possible as they soon lose
their vitality,’
No doubt the high ground that the Consul writes
ofinthe upper reaches of an enormous river like
the Amazon, island of a considerable elevation,-
and I think Mr Parry has mis-named the land
here planted with Para as hill land. They should
be called Low-country hills which have an
elevation of, in most cases, not more than 100 feeb
from sea-level, like Seremban Company’s land, and
this land has proved itself to yield weli—trees
twelve years old having averaged 8 lb each. It is
no pleasure to me to have to write this letter, and I
am sorry that my friend Mr Parry should have
been tempted to lend his name in the way he did
to such a production as the paragraph headed ‘ The
Klang and Up-Country land.’—Yours faithfully,
Oe W. W. BAILEY,
‘beginning to rouse themselves
AGRICULTURIST. 4.69
A FORWARD POLICY ON CEYLON TEA
ESTATES IMPERATIVE.
IF PROPRIETORS AND SHAREHOLDERS
REQUIRE EVEN ANNUAL PROFITS.
Dikoya, Nov, 27,
Sir,—How truly refreshing it is to read the
remarks which fell from the lips of the Chairman
at the Kintyre Tea Estates Company’s meeting
held in London on 26th October, 1903. The more
so, when we consider how much tbis particular
gentleman has been held up to everyone in and
out of Ceylon as a model in the management of
tea estates—praise, perhaps merited during a period
such as we experienced between 1886—1897. How
long cheap work and want of proper systems of
cultivation of estates would lasb wasapparently a
matter never thought out, before cheap work,
generally, was so widely adopted on the estates under
the management of the gentleman referred to. The
following paragraph in the proceedings of the
meeting alluded to, must have produced many a
smile in Ceylon; for what planter has advocated
more widely cheap work on tea estates and
laughed to scorn anyone who ventured to sug-
gest years ago that tea must be cultivated and
properly worked if it was to yield even crops and
maintain its wood, prevent declinein quality and
be kept strong enough to resist pests—than the
very man who now has turned round tothe other
quarter of the compass and poses that he has
brought forward a new policy that many, ages ago,
foresaw would become imperative, but were
prevented from carrying out, by the powers that-
be ;—The paragraph referred to above runs as fol-
lows :—‘‘ I musb remind you that 600 lb. an acre
is a heavy crop tor any plant to produce annually
and if that yield is to be maintained more culti-
vation must be done than to estates. that yield
400 lb. an acre. Perhaps in the past our
advisers in Ceylon have not kept this sufficiently
in view and they have produced our tea tco cheaply,
if I may use the expression.” I would ask you
Mr. Editor, together, with your sensible and
practical readers, to consider these phrases; and
say if you think Lam wrong when I submit that
those remarks, are a direct slur on the practical
mea in Ceylon ; who have often vainly tried to
impress on people directing affairs in London and
elsewhere, how short-sighted it was in many cases
to reduce expenditure on tea estates in the past
and that the time would assuredly arrive when
such a policy would be lamented ; but was such
warning heeded ? fa most cases I think, [ean safely
say ‘no’; and now what do we find ? Estates going
back year after year and people at home just
from years of
slumber and commencing to realise at last,
the weak and impracticable policy pursued for
“ears, I ask what has really happened during
the past few years? Am I wrongin saying that
Managing Directors and others have worried their
Ceylon Managers about decimal points in the
cost of production? ‘They in turn have passed it on
to their Superintendents who have been compelled
to accept inferior work to keep within the limit of
cost allowed and has often resulted in change of
superintendence, loss of labour, bad name on the
Coast, preventing immigration and heaps of other
influences—too numerous to mention individually,
for they would fill a fair-sized book. Shareholders
have little conception of the grossly bad methods
adopted by many; of their Directors.and in some
-
470)
cases perhaps by retaining the services of theore-
ticalinstead of practical men, as Inspectors of
their estates in Ceylon. If each estute had in
recent years been worked on its merits, we would
not -now be lamenting loss of quality, bad
wood, pests on our tea and other factors
Which have been nvticed from time to time
working against us all round; which lossof time
may take years to mend; if ever it will return;
so low has our tea got on so many estates through-
out the island, from want of proper and regular
nourishment to the soil, The time has undoubt-
edly arrived when theoretical men should rest
on their oars and practical planters be appointed to
fill their places—of the type of such planters as
Messrs Clements, Jackson, Keith Rollo, Fraser,
Alex, Cantlay, Robt. Bowie, and a few others: a
class of agriculturists and practical men who are
few and far between in Ceylon ; who possess fore-
sight, enterprise and initiative, so seldom come
across in this country, which, as arule, has a
‘Follow my Leader” sort of policy to the detriment
of the island and its products. If only Shareholders
and Proprietors would raise their voices and insist
that more practical methods be inaugurated at
_ once, their Managers’ hands would be forced—
but none the less strengthened—in adopting
a bold forward policy on tea estates, before disease
further attacks our staple product and our soil de-
teriorates beyond recovery. Wake up, all hands, and
do, for demand has overtaken supply ; let us all do
our best to raise the standard of our tea and thereby
retain our good name for beirg able to produce the
best tea in the world, Let us note carefully what
the gentleman referred to, has advocated on the
Kinty1e property for the current seasen, viz., 406
acres tobe manured, 125 acres to be limed, 275
acrés to have its prunings buried; a very liberal
treatment on a property 876 acres in extent and
one I should like to see more generally adopted on
tea estates throughout Ceylon. fet estates be
liberally treated trom Superintendents downwards
and profits will rise, if the Advertisers and Inspec-
tors of Mstates are drawn from the right sort;
further, see that all works on estates are tho-
roughly well carried out within reasonable limits,
let us not forget toshow Ramasamy and Meenatchie
ete., afair margin of profit for the work they
perform and labour will once more flock over to
Ceylon as they did before this cursed cheap work
and no permanent profit system was adopted on
a great many estates in Ceylon; where neither
Proprietor, Shareho!der, Superintendents, or Rama-
‘ssainy and Company have benefited—I would
ask everyone to read Mr. Joseph Fraser’s speech
at the Associated Tea Hstates’ meeting in London,
which was held towards the ena of October; it
is well worth perusal. I would sign my name to this
letter, but not wishing to advertise I will content
myself by remaining,— Yours faithfally,
A THA PLANTER AND AGRICULTURIST.
COCONUT PRICES.
December 4th.
Siz,—l see mention was made in a recent
article in the Obserer of the system adopted in
Desiceating Mills, facilitating frauds; but the
Chamber of Commerce Circular prices coconuts
under three headings, and the prices for Se-
lected, Ordinary and Small vary very considerably
—as much as R15 per 1,000 separating Selected
from Small. One can quite understand the exten-
sive purchases and large daily consumption of
‘THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
(Jan. 1, 1904,
,
the mills hindering the sorting of nuts into classes —
and paying for them separately. It must also be
difficult to require a certain percentage of each
sort to goto a thousand. But is the course not
practised with cinnamon? Any way, one should
be able to say at a glance whether the big nuts
had been sorted off from a heap ; and that should
regulate the price. But who is to see toit? On
payment by weight should answer ; but that is a
tedious process. Asit is, the grower of big nuts
and of heavy nuts gains nothing by his enterprise
in the Desiceating Mills. It is as if the tea buyer
bought by the chest without reference to its size,
or by the lb, without reference to quality.—Yours
truly, COCOS NUCIFERA.
ee
CARDAMOMS IN SCANDINAVIA.
Watawala, Nov. 30,
DEAR Sir,—The figures given by Mr, Renton
as imports of Cardamoms into Skandinavia
are given correct in kilos, though not in 1b.:—
Given by Mr.
Kilos. Rentonas Should be
lbs, ‘
Sweden 52,526 1,156,672 115,798
Norway ae ee LOG 257, 247,654 24,817
Danish lb.
Denmark ... 39,336 432,696 43,383
Total 1b....183,998
The population of the three countries to-
gether is 10 millions—not 74, as given, Sweden
heading with about 5,350,000.—Yours faith-
fully, OSCAR DICKSON.
[We are much obliged to our Swedish
friend, for his corrections.—Ep. 7A.
SILK CULTIVATION IN CEYLON.
‘ Kadugannawa, Dec. 5.
DEAR SiR,—When writing to you on this sub-
ject three months ago, I promised to send you
notes on some experiments I was making with
our indigenous wild silkworms. The first: object
that I had in view was the domestication of the
Tusser and other wild worms. In India it was,
for a long time, thought to be impossible, no
one having been able to get the moths to pair
in confinement, but in the Dimbula district in
1880 my efforts were successful after some
eighteen months, and I have since then adopted
new methods with excellent results. Having
got together a fairly large stock of eggs by cols
lecting since January last all the worms, or
I could get, it occurred to me that I might as
well at once begin some experiments which I
have long contemplated,—feeding the worms on
certain plants of which there is a considerable
acreage in many districts which does not bring
in a very satisfactory revenue to its proprietors 3.
“ cocoons, of the Twsser and Atlas moths that —
the products referred to are tea, cardamoms and —
cinchona. To those who haye no. experience
in such matters it may seem a vain idea to
make such an attempt, but these wild worms
have keen found occasionally feeding* on all —
these three products, though the number of such
instances is certainly small: one of the jinest Atlas
cocoons I have was spun by a worm found on —
a cardamom plant. I hoped especially to he
able to hold: out the prospect of relief to the: — A
tea industry, and though this attempt has not ~
been altogether successful, it was so to a certain
————
|
|
JAN. 1, 1904:] THE TROPICAL
point, and further efforts with the experience now
gained, should effect the desired result. It will
be no small advantage to the tea enterprise if
it is found possible to devote the unprofitable
fields of tea to the production of Tusser silk,
and in addition to these there must be a
considerable extent of tea in many districts
which would be better for an occasional
period of rest, and if left unpruned they
ean be utilised for the cultivation of these
wild silkworms. The eggs devoted to these
experiments began to hatch on the
2nd and 3rd August: Tusser 785, Atlas 970.
The food at first offered to them was of many
different kinds, including several plants and trees
on which the worms are often found feeding.
Several of these latter they altogether refused to
eat, and the rate of mortality was very high,
As the Atlas worms are not so difficult to domes-
ticate as the Zsser, both species were kept
together ab first, but some days later a number
ot Atlas worms and a few Tusser were picked out
and kept in trays and fed on bombu leat and
castor-oil leaves in the same way as the ordinary
silk worms are fed on mulberry. A great many
of the worms kept on branches (in bottles) con-
tinually crawled down and were drowned in the
water. On the 26th August only two Zusser
and 115 Aélas worms were left. ‘Ihe former died
before spinning (though one, an injured worm,
began a very promising cocoon); but several
of the latter spun on cinchona, sapu and castor.
oil. On the 5th September another lot of Zusser
eggs began to hatch. Those that were fed on
tea from the first day grew very well for about
threes weeks ; but in my absence for several days
were apparently fed on unsuitable leaf or the
branches were watered with dirty water, and the
survivors were transferred to other food. The
moths from these and the earlier lot of Atlas
cocoons are now emerging, and the first female
moth of the latter has just paired. ‘’o many
people the smallness of these results will, perhaps,
seem discouraging, but the experiments, as already
mentioned, were interrupted by my frequent ab-
sence from home, sometimes for two days or more,
and the results are better than I expected. I had
not expected with the first brood of worms to geb
them to feed on tealeaf at all: further attempts,
with the nexb brood, ought to be easier and the
death-rate considerably less.
The experiments are interesting, too, in other
ways. In some districts in India the natives
feed the Zwsse7 worms out-of-doors on trees that -
have been coppiced, and those which are reared on
sapu trees produce the lightest-coloured and the
best cocoons, In Ceylon the worms have never
been found feeding onthe sapu, and the Adlas
worms reared here on this tree have all spun
eocoons rather darker than usual. My worms
refused altogether to eat the tender leaves, pre-
ferring mature, coarse leaf even in their infancy:
the taste tor sucenlent foliage is evidently ac-
quired through their partial domestication in India.
\As regards the natural food-plants of the Zusser,
more than one writer in the past dozen years has
tated that it feeds sometimes on the ecastor-oil
‘lant. My Aflas worms, after being fed for three
‘xr four weeks ic trays on castor leaf, were pro-
noted to branches, and several of them had
eeidents, falling down through other worms
‘ting the stalks of the leaves they were eating. As
ie Lusser worm is considerably heavier than the
AGRICULTURIST. 471
Atlas it does nob seem likely that the castor-oil
can be one of its natural food-plants, though the
worms may be oceasionally driven to feed on it by
accident.— Yours faithfully,
PERCY N, BRAINE,
TRIVANDRUM AND TH# COLOMBO ZOO.
Peermaad, Dec. 6.
DEAR SirR,—Reading with interest your
article on the Colombo Museum and proposed
Zoo, | would suggest that some of those
interested in the scheme should visit the
Trivandrum Museum and Gardens, which,
if not strictly a ‘t Zoo,” are a credit to His
Hiighness the Maharajah of Travancore.
The Gardens, under the care ot Mr... H.
Ferguson, are tastefully Iaid out and contain
a very fine collection of wild beasts—not all
lumped together, but grouped here and
there in situations most suitable. The lions,
tigers and bears would be hard to beat
anywhere, and smaller game, such as kan=
garoo, deer, sambur, are well represented
—hbirds, monkeys, etc., and snakes, From my
point of view at any rate the Museum
as a building eclipses Colombo Museum.
Steamers do not often call at Trivandrum,
but, landing at ‘ Quilon,” the journey by
backwater is well worth doing. A cabin boat
with some 18 rowers is the luxurious method
of travelling, but if a day’s time is no
object, and expense is, there are ordinary
2nd class wallams, which is about a half-size
padda-boat and is very comfortable ; there is a
good Travellers’ Bungalow at Trivandrum,
and I am sure it will well repay the traveller
to make the journey if he is interested in
the Museum-cum-Zoo scheme.—I am, dear Sir,
yours faithfully,
H. DRUMMOND DEANE,
SOLUBLE TEA AND GREEN LEAF.
Dec. 7th,
DEAR Sitr,—We have had no- authoritative
statement from the Soluble Tea Company as to
the quautity of leaf required to make 2 oz. of
their tea powder which makes 200 cups of
tea, as compared with the quantity of leaf
required to make the quantity of ordinary
drinking tea to make the same number of
cups. If considerably less leaf is required for*
the soluble tea, then the prosperity of the
Soluble Tea Company is adverse to the leaf
grower; so ‘‘cave canem” say I—and not
“‘ welcome, tittle stranger.”—Yours faithfully,
DOUBTFUL,
————— > ——_———__
REMARKABLE PRICES FOR CEYLON STAMPS,—
The sale of the firs portion of a valuable collection
of British and Colonial postage stamps formed by
a well-known philatelist was commenced by Messrs
Puttick and Simpson at Leicester-square yesterday,
High prices prevailed throughout, and more than
£700 was obtained for the 250 lots sold :—Ceylon.
1855 59, Gd deep claret, slightly torn, £5 5s unused
Is lilae, no gum, £7; rare 23 blue, large margins,
£7 53; 1861, 64 deep brown and 8d brown, both
unused, with part gum, £7 2s 6d; rare 8d yellow-
brown, brown, with gum, £5 15s ; 1883-84, 16 cents
lilac, in mint state, £6 15s; unused 24 cents purples
£6; and 1885, 5 cents on 24 cents purple-brown-
unused, with part gum, £7 5s,—Morning Posts
|
.
472 THE TROPICAL
THE GROWING OF RAMIE FIBRE,
The following letter
several papers :—
Srp,—I willask you, Sir, to find me space in your
columns to give some informationas to the planting
and growing of the fibre. ‘To see ramie introduced
into India as an agricultural staple of value is the
object of my interest in the present movement to
place ramie products on the markets of the world.
China grass, rhea or ramie has been grown for cen-
turies in China with success, and has been decorti-
cated and degummed by simple manual processes,
and woven by the patient Chinaman into fabrics of
‘‘ vegetable silk,’ which takes a middle rank be-
tween real silk and cotton. The ramie plant itself is
a species of nettle of tle order Urticaceew and one or
more of the species of Behmeria. The Behmeria
_ Puya, or Pooah plant, which grows wiid in the
north of India, also yields a rhea fibre. The plant
may be propagated from seeds or slips. If from the
former, the seeds should be sown in shallow dishes,
and when about six or eight inches high the young
shoots should be pricked out into nursevies of pre-
pared ground. If pianted in sufficient space, lateral
shoots are given off which, when pegged down,
take root. The Botanical Gardens vf India which
exist, more or less, to distribute economic plants,
should be in a position to distribute seeds. Some
authorities are of she opinion that the most success-
ful method is propagation by root cuttings. ‘
Next as to the question of soil. There is little
doubt that different soils would produce different
types of ramie fibre, but these experiments have
yet to be made. What can be proved now from
experience, gathered in China, the West Indies,
Java and India, is that it is the rich alluvial soils
which produce the best crops. Briefly good tea-
lands, good sugar-lands, would also make good
ramie lands, An abuadant rainfall is beneficial to
the growth of ramie ; it can be grown equally weil
in low-lands and highlands; but the more slowly
matured fibre of the cooler districts has qualities
peculiarly itsown. Itis, however, by no means
has been addressed to
necessary that ramie should be grown on extensive -
estates and by planters with large capital ; it can
and ought to be grown also on small patches of
land by the humbie and laborious ryot, he bring-
ing his ramie crops to the broker, or to the factory
to sell. Thisis, however by the way. When the
young plants are ready tobe planted out, they
should be rooted in the soil sufticiently close
together to prevent lateral shoots, it being impor-
tant to obvtain long unbroken strands of fibre
without knots or branches. It is, however, ad-
visable to cut down the whole of the first crop
which is short and branched, and to replant the
cuttings soasto get numerous straight and tall
stems in their place.’ The time taken to mature a
crop would vary with the climatic conditions, but
in about six to twelve months’ time it is generally
ready to gather, and when once well established,
from three to five crops a year can easily be ob-
tained without exhausting the plant. To keep the
soil clear of weedsis one of the early expenses to be
incurred; later when the ground is well covered
by the plants, weeding becomes less necessary.
The soil must, of course, be well manured.
Ramie is now being grown successfully on the
West Coast of Africa, in the Argentines, in Java,
and elsewhere,’and I fail to see why the rich land
of the Terai, Darjeeling, Nilgiris, etec., and the
rich and luxuriant soil of Ceylon should nob fur-
nish large and profitable crops of this valuable fibre-
AGRICULTURIST,
(Jan. 1,°1904:
plant ; and I think that the Government should,
through the agency of the Botanical Gardens, do
what is possible to give technica! information as
to the planting and cultivation ofthe fibre-plant,
the preparation of the soil, and should provide
gratis, or at a very low price, the seeds and cuttings
necessary to encourage the growth of ramie,
If these instructions were circulated in leaflets in
the Vernaculars of different Provinces, much might
be done to familiarise the minds of the ryots with
the facts of ramie growing, anda beginning made
in what f believe would prove an agricultural in-
dustry of great prospective yalue to India. In my
next ietter I propose, with your permission, to
give some information regarding decorticating and
degumming the fibre. RaJA VARMA,
3 Northumberland Avenue, London. ‘
a
PEARL-SHELLS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Simultaneously with the information that a new
pearling ground has been discovered at Chittagong,
and with the news that a company is about to be
formed in Singapore to prospect for pearl shell along
the shores of the Malay Archipelago, comes the fact
of the entrance into Manila of a small coasting
steamer with a cargo of about one ton of shell obtained
on the South side of the Island of Mindanao at Siasa
and Paragus. The valuable find is to be reshipped
in afew days to Messrs W R Grace & Co., of New
York, the trading allies of the Sulu company. The
latter is a San Francisco corporation established for
the purpose of utilising the natural resources of the
Southern Islands, and the cargo which the steamer
“Camarines” has just brought up to Manila isa sample
lot intended to test the market value of the shell.
At Mindanao the trade is mainly in the hands of
Chinese vendors, and the demand onthe spot being
somewhat small, a big field is undoubtedly open to the
Sulu company. As is well known, pearl shells are in
great demand. and are used for a variety of purposes,
Thousands in the Hast and Far Hast wear them on
their white coats, and many thousands of ladies
Bombay Gazette,
prefer to wear them in the form of brooches, and
other items of personal adornment. Pearl shells are
not common on every strand, but the fisheries of
Mindanao are exceptionally valuable, and the
treasure-seekers of the Island must be congratulated
on the opening up of a field of enterprise in the
Philippines which history tells us has lain dormant for
nearly a century.—S China M Post.
——_—_.——_—__
FEATHERED STOWAWAYS.
BIRDS THAT TAKE PASSAGES ABOARD LINERS,
|From an article by Mr. F Finn, FZ $8 in the
Dec. 8th, we extract the
following :—]
The second stowaway Lhave to record was the last ~
I have met and the most remarkabie. As the
P and O steamer ‘‘ Japan,” left Colombo harbour,
on her homeward voyage last December, a crow
which perched in the rigging was hungrily
watching the cook cutting up some meat, was
carried out to sea, and did not think it worth
while apparently to make an effort to return.
He was nota very prosperous-looking crow for
his face was bare ot feathers on one side and
possibly he thought thab a sea voyage might be
of benefit to his constitution. Be that as it may,
he stayed on board and was regularly fed at night,
he roosted aloft in the rigging. ‘This was well
while the weather was calm, but a day or two
before we got in to Suez it began to blow very
hard one night and jn the morning the poor crow
Jan. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL
was found worn out by his efforts to hold on in
the*teeth of the wind. With characteristic
prudence he determined the next night to roost
under the awning, but the ship’s cats showed
such a desire to make his closer acquaintance
that his friends on board decided that he would
be safer caught and caged. He bore his im-
prisonment with good grace and appetite like my
old friend the shrike, but his adventures had a sad
ending, The weather was terribly cold when we
reached England this January and the poor crow,
although he lived to be delivered at the Zoolo-
gical Gardens, died before he had the opportunity
of recounting his adventures and experiences to
his fellow crows in the society’s aviaries, At
any rate he could claim to have made a record
as a stowaway that has seldom been equalled
especially by a bird which eschews migration and
foreign adventure to such an extent as does the
town-loving Indian crow.
a _
PRODUCE AND PLANTING.
THE RUSSIAN BOYCOTT OF INDIAN TEA,
A letter appeared recently in the Times from Sir
Roper Lethbridge, who is very indignant with the
wicked free-fooders aud their suggestion that the
recent increase of the Russian duties on Indian tea is
the result of the Indian Government’s action impos-
ing countervailing duties on bounty-fed Russian beet
gngar. Sir Roper states that the reason for the Rus-
sian tea duties is well known in Calcutta, and the tea
plantations of the Caucasus, which are now being
developed, have a striking similiarity to Ceylon and
Indian teas in flavour, and it is with the object of
fostering the new industry that a heavy duty has been
imposed on the imported article. Sir Roper says :—
_“ Why should the Ozar admit Indian and Ceylon teas
of precisely the same qnality and flavour at a duty
that would enable them to crush this. most lucrative
industry ? The free importers would freely do it, in
the sacred name of free Trade; but the Czar is
neither a foo] nor a fanatic.” It is common knowledge
to all interested in tea-growing that the Russian
authorities wish to protect their much-talked-of tea
industry in the Caucasus, and that this was a reason
for imposing heavier duties on British-grown tea
imported into Russia, But it is quite likely that a
double shot was intended, and that in addition to
wishing to foster the infant tea industry of the Cau-
casus, the Russian Authorities may have also intended
to show their resentment at tHe Indian countervailing
duties on Russian bounty-fed sugar.”
THE SUPPLIES OF TEA AT AUCTION.
The quantities of tea offered at publio auction con”
tinue on such a large scale that it is not Surprisivg to
find the demand slackening. In their last circular
Messis Gow, Wilson and Stanton sounded a note of
warning on this subject. Few will be found to dispute
this statement, bnt in practice each grower and impor-
ter seems to rely on his neighbour to act upon it
instead of following the advice himself. It is a difficult
problem, Tew growers, many of whom have to con-
sider shareholders clamouring for dividends are beset,
with anxieties as to the best course to adopt, and as
the plan for regulating supplies seems ineffective, the
old policy of everyone for himself is naturally revorted
to, with the result that supplies come merrily to
market and prices are not maintained.
THE BOARD OF CUSTOMS REPORT AND TEA,
The annual return for year ending December 31,
1902, of samples of tea analysed in the Customs Depart-
ment under Section 30 of the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act, 1875, shows that the total number of samples
analysed during the year was 1,399, as follows .—760
samples black tea, congous, &c,; 311 black tea, dust,
93 black tea, siftings; 27 green tea, faced; 93 green
AGRICULTURIST. 173;
tea, unfaced; 185 green tea, capers; total 1,399. Of
this total, 1,252 samples were considered satisfactory,
and the importations represented by them wero accord-
ingly delivered on the certificate of the analyst.
The remaining 147 samples, representing 1,522
packages, were of doubtful character, and they were
reported to the Board for their decision, The Board
decided that the whole of these 1,522 packages
should not be admitted for home consumption or for
use as ship’s stores, but should bo restricted to expor-
tation, or for the manufacture of caffeine,
A TEA MISSIONARY..
Mr. A. Suter, of the Montreal branch of Crosfield,
Lampard, Clark & Co., the London, England, and
Colombo house, has returned from his two weeks’
tour through New York State, Ohio, Michigan and
Pennsylvania, ‘Mr. Suter’s trip was made,’ says the
Canadian Grocer, ‘with a view of openivg branches
and agencies for his house in the special interest of
Ceylon and Indian teas, and though the popular taste
has not taken hold of our southern and western
cousins as in Canada, he was pleased to learn that
owing to the stimulating advertising that had been
done during the past number of years the trade was
beginning to look with distinct favour upon these
teas, and it was only a question ofa few years when
the excellent merits of British-grown teas - would
meet with favour, Many of the leading jobbers in
Bay City, Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, Buffalo, and
Pittsburg were considering the advisability of taking
hold of Ceylon and Indian teas, and there is little
doubt that the St. Louis Purchase Exhibition next
year, where large bungalows are being erected by the
Ceylon Government and Tea Association for the
purpose of introducing these teas to the American
public, wili have a marked effect. The introduction
- of Ceylon green teas since the Chicago Fair will make
the work of diverting the taste of tea-drinkers easier,
as Americans are, if drinkers of tea at all, more
friendiy to China and Japan greens than to blacks,
Mr, Suter reports his reception as very favourable and
most encouraging.’
TEA INTERESTS AND PERSIAN TRADE:
Mr J D Rees’s lecture on ‘‘ Persia and the Gulf
Trade,” had some remarks about tea, specially
interesting, Hesaid: ‘“ As regards tea the increase
of 90 per cent must necessarily raise the retail price
very considerably, and it was understood that importa-
tion by the new Quetta-Nushki route had, for the time -
at any rate, received a severe check. This was a
matter calling for the sympathetic attention of the
Indian and home Governments, Our interest in Persia
and the Gulf solely resulted from there being in fact at
- the present time Indian frontiers. The spend-thrift
and spiritless Shah would certainly barter the inde-
pendence of the ancient Persian monarchy, and it was
not too soon to think of the division. The recent
appointment of more consuls was a sign of happy
augury, aud now thst the North-West frontier
of India was at length placed ona satisfactory foot-
ing and reduced to its proper political dimensions
the Gulf and its shores, whieh were the actual
frontiers of our Hastern Hmpire, needed ~and were
receiving—attention, The recent trade treaty with
Persia gave us a right to be consulted in future, which
we had not had under previously existing arrangement,
The present tariff was a revenue tariff. England got
the same terms from Persia as Russia, the Foreign
Office had not been so blind as was represented,
and though tea at a duty of 5 per cent could not
compete with tea paying 95 per cent., the results as
regarded this commodity could not be accurateiy
gauged tilt all the stocks imported atthe lower rate
had been consumed, He could not but believe that
the enormous increase was dictated by Russia to
Persia to prevent the smuggling of tea over her
protected border and at the same time to injure the
trate from India by the Nushki route,’’—H. and C.
ail.
——
474 THE
CATTLE-FARM AT SULUTANAGODA IN
WELIGAM KORALE—MATARA DISTRICT.
(By «a visitor. )
Having heard of this institution for some time, I
determined to pay a visit toit, and took the opportu-
nity to dosotwo days ago. Sulutanagoda is a village
about 8 miles from Matara on the Kotawila road,
past the estate of thai name lately owned by Mr
CJR LeMesnrier. It may be mentioned in passing
that Mr LeMesurier bought the land and got the
estate planted himself when at Matara, and built a
substantial bungalow on it, hoping no doubt to reap
in due time—but, alas, it has changed hands and is now
the property of a rich renter of Matara. In addition
to some 200 acres of coconut, I believe there is about
100 acres of paddy land. The country all about seemed
well-plented with coconut. Citronella looked very
pleasant and cheerful in the bright sunlight. To
return, however, to the object of my visit, the Cattle-
Farm is an institution by the Mudaliyar of the
Korale, Mr Jas. Wickremeratna, with the object of
improving the breed of cattle in the District. With this
praise-worthy object he laid the matter before Govern-
ment and I must say that Government has so far
given him every encouragement. In the first place
they gave him a stud bull, a magnificient animal, but
not too big so as to be too unwieldy for the small
native cows, The Government also placed at the
Mudaliyar’s Jisposal 100 acres of Crown land, about
15 or 20 acres of which have been cleared and fences,
in with palings, and 14 headmen presented a cow
each soasto form the nucleus of the Farm. Tem-
porary sheds have been run up for the catile and I
learnt from the manin charge that all the cows were
big with calf at the present time. Beside the cows
-at the Farm the services of the stud bull are allowed
free of charge to any villager who sent his cow to the
Farm. Three korotowas have been formed for grow
ing vegetables, grain and other new products to be
introduced. Twoof them were already well planted
and growing various kinds of vegetables. The third
one will be duly planted up, and the whole clearing
was planted with grass, seeds of which were obtained
*from the Botanical Gardens. Of course, the whole
thing isin its infancy, but there is no doubt that in
8 or 4 years, the benefits of the Farm will be fully
shown. Whatever the results, I think the Mudaliyar
deserves all praise for his action in striking out into
new enterprises of this nature for the improvement
of his District and the benefit of the people under him,
and let us hope that he will meet with all success,
Would that there were many more like him. With
100 acres of land at his.disposal and the Farm already
staxted I haveno doubt he will strike out into other
and new schemes to improve the condition of the
villager, I understood the Government Stock Inspector
visited the Farm, and was highly satisfied with what
has been done so far. On the way we passed many
well-built houses the results, as I was told, of the citro-
nella industry. The whole country seemed prospercus
and flourishing.
ee
EXTRAORDINARY NOVEMBER
RAINFALL,
HALF THE TOTAL FALLS ON ST. ANDREW’S
NIGHT.
Matale, N.-H.,Dec. 1st,—Now that November
account is closed, it may interest some of your
readers to learn that the month’s rainfall
was 594 in. of which under 2°73 in. fell on St.
Andrew’s night. Although showers fell on
13 days, the weather throughout was more
like March or April, than any November
within the past 14 years. Result—leaf
plucked double the quantity secured in
October which was cold, wet and unfayour-
able for tea flushings. Without going so back,
TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
[JAN. 1, 1904,
the November records here, are as follows:—
Taches. Days. Inches. Days.
1491... 1000 on 15 1898 ... 9:60 on 19
1892 ... 1644 ,, 25 1899" a AT*56 | 7018
NIE: ceca PARTS) Bits) 1900; s. -208147 Ee .25
eet 5 Oley 55 Zl 1901 2. 219004; 22
1895... 10:48 ,, 19 1902... 3683 27
TSIS gag UIFBIS 5 A) 1903 -.. 5:94 5,138
1897... 18°51 ,, 14—Cor.
———————_—
THE WORLD’S PRODUCTION OF RUBBER.
The following table showing the World's pro-
duction of rubber in 1902, with comparative
figures for 1900, is compiled from estimates
published in Industrie et Commerce de Caoutchouc
of 6th November, 1903 :—
t Quantity
Country of Production. Produced.
1900 1902
Tons Tons
Brazil, Peru and Bolivia ... -» 25,000 30,000
Other States of South America -. 3,900 1,000
Central America and Mexico «- 2,500 2,000
Straits Settlements and Dependencies — 1,000
Hast and West Africaand the Congo 24,000 20,000
Java, Borneo. &c. ote «- 1,000 _
Madagascar and Manritius “0 sey 1000) --
India, Burma and Ceylon oa 500 —
Total ., 57,500 54,000
——_—__.—____.
QUININE IN INDIA,
The recent cheapening of the cost of production
of sulphate of quinine has made ib possible for
the Government to increase the quantity of qui-
nine sold in the pice packets from five to seven
grains, It has also been decided that quinine will
be packed in 2 anna parcels of eight packets and
printed vernacular directions given with each
packet. ‘he Postal authorities have undertaken
to distribute vernacular translations of the fuller
directions for self-treatment to all who ask for
then.—M. Wail. -
eee
PLANTING NOTES.
RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON.—I'wo im-
portant letters elsewhere on this subject
should be noticed—one from an authority
on Castilloa, our visitor, Mr. H. C. Pearson.
CEYLON EXPERIMENTS WITH SILKWORMS.
.—We believe that silk culture in Ceylon
during the present generation is now only in
its infancy and that after careful experi-
ments such as those recorded by Mr. P N
Braine elsewhere—showing most satisfactory
results on the whole—the local knowledge
acquired should be productive of considerable
interest in the cultivation of silkworms and
silk culture generally in Ceylon, The “hobby”
might well be turned into a profitable side-
industry on the part of planters and others
suitably placed as regards food, climate, &c.;
if local sericulturists have already had ex-
periences differing from those related else-
where, or otherwise of general interest, we
invite them to communicate with us that
these may be added to the general stock of
information at present available upon silk-
worms grown under local conditions, —_~
Jan. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
THE STANMORE ANAMALLI CO., LTD.
REPORT,
The Directors have to submit theix report and
accounts for the year ending June 30th, 1903. The
Company was incorporated on 14th day of Octobex4
1902 and the property taken was as from the Ist
July 1902. The tollowing was the acreage of the
Company’s estate on the 1st July, 1903:— ;
Tea planted 1900, 112 acres planted throughout with
Java Ledger Succ, Cin, 20! 417! ft.
Coffee do 1900, 110 acres Succ. Cinchona 2017 ft.
do do 1902, 65 do about 30 acres only planted
with Cinchona
Oinchona 1901, 50 do Hybrids and Ledgers (Java)
Rubber do 4 do Para Rubber
Cardamoms 1900 80 do about 18 acres Ceylon variety
do 1901 55 do
do 1902 46 do 512 total cultivated
Reserve Forest 1,886
Total acreage 2,398 acres
The buildings thereon (1) a permanent bungalow
partially furnished, (2) three sets of permanent lines,
(8) stables and a writer’s house both permanent.
An arrangement has been come to whereby the Com-
pany’s tea is to be made at the Monica Factory until
the Company’s own factory is built. As will be seen
from the accounts for the year July 1st, 1902 to June
30th, 1903 annexed, nearly all the expenditure for the
year has been incurred on capital account, viz., in
the roading, draining, weeding and upkeep of
clearings, in the opening and planting of tea, carda-
moms and coffee and in addition to the buildings.
The original issue of shares amounted to R217,900; and
one hundred and forty shares of the further issue made
during the year, have been subscribed for, The scheme
of finance to bring 450 acres of tea into bearing and
build a suitable factory for the Company will be put
before the Shareholders at the general meeting. In
terms of the articles of the Association all the Direc-
torg now retire, and are eligible for re-election. It is
proposed to change the oflice of the Company to
Hatton, as it is more conveniently situated for transac-
tion of the Company’s business, and to appoint Mr.
F Liesching, who now resides at Hatton, Secretary of
the Company. Mr. F M Simpson has audited the
Oompany’s accounts for the year, It will be necessary
to appoint an Auditor for the season 1903-1904.
(Signed) Junius & Creasy, Secretaries.
THE CALEDONIAN (CEYLON) TEA
ESTATES, LTD.
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS,
The Directors beg to submit the balance sheet and
profit and loss account for the year ended 30th June,
1903, duly audited, The working account, after pro-
viding for London charges, shows a profit of £3,538
8s 6a, and the profit and loss acconnt, including the
balance brought forward from the previous year, and
after payment of interest on debentures, &, leaves
an available balance of £1,369 9s 6d. From this sum
the Directors now recommend the payment of 4 per
cent on account of the dividend on the preference
shares for the year to 30th June last, amounting to
£1,280, Leaving to be carried forward to the next
ear the balance of £89 9s 6d.—Total £1,369 9s 6d.
The Directors regret that for reasons given below they
are at present unable to declare the full dividend on
the cumulative preference shares. The yield of tea
from the Company's estates for the past and two
previous seasons was as foNows :—
Lawrence and 1902-3. 1901-2. 1900-01.
Venture 315,401 lb. 410,120 lk, 899,087 lb.
Selegama 167,876 ,, 165,379 ,, 167,378 ,,
Wavina 126,389 5, 112,695 ,, 94,979 ,,
609,616 lb. 688,194 lb. 66),444 1b,
60
AGRICULTURIST, 475
The gross average prices obtained in London were :—
1902-3, 1901-2 1900-01,
Lawrence ees DOE 662d 6'84d
Venture -- 7°660 678d 713d
Selegama «» 6°26d 5°70d 5 79d
Wavina oo» 6'250 578d 5 64d
The crop of cocoa comprised 278 ewts. from Kaha-
wattee and 38 cwts. from Wavina, in all 316 cwts, and
this realised a net average of about 54s. per ewt. ; 1,605
seed pods were also disposedof. The previous year’s
crop of cocoa was 185 ewts. It will be seen by the
above figures that the total quantity of tea produced
was 78,578 lb. less than the previous season’s crop,
and 75,384 lb. below the estimates. The chief cause of
this shortage was the abnormal weather prevailing
during the greater part of the year. Owing, however,
tothe higher prices obtained for the tea, and the
larger quantity of cocoa gathered, the amount realised
for the whole crop is about the same as that of the
preceding season, The expenditure has been larger
on account of various alterations and improvements
made in the working of the estates, the benefit of
which, it is anticipated, will be realised in the near
future ; and this explains why the net result is less
favourable than that of the previous year. The esti-
mates for the current season are given by the Managers
in Qeylon,as follows :—
Lawrence and
Venture ... 400,000 lb. tea.
Selegama oe §=190,400 do,
Wavina ee» 125,000 do, and. 30 cwts. cocoa.
Kahawatte do. 300 do,
Total... 715,400 do. 330 do.
The young coconut and para rubber trees continue
to make good progress, and will, it is hoped, commence
to yield shortly, The amount charged to capital in
the accounts now rendered includes the cost of anew
factory on Wavina estate, fully equipped. with machi-
nery, beside new machinery and coolie lines, on the
other estates. In -accordance with the Articles of
Association, Mr William Gow retires from the Board,
and, being eligible, offers himself for re-election, The
Auditors, Messrs Singleton, Fabian & Co,, also offer
themselves for re-election.
re
PLANTING NOTES.
TEA ComMPpANY NrEws.—The Ceylon Land
Produce Company’s report on another page
is a massive document but full of instruction
‘for other proprietors and directors! Nearly
£2,000 was spent in manuring to keep the
5,278 acres in good heart. The 15 per cent
dividend and £1,000 odd carried forward prove
how strong the Company is. The tea crop esti-
mate for next year is 80,000 1b. less thart this
year’s yield: about 6 per cent less,
GREEN TEA AND BLAcK.—Mr. W. Forsythe
asks some pertinent questions elsewhere,
He does not venture to express a definite
opinion—far be it from us to go one better
at this early stage !-but wishes to know, if
black tea producers feel they are unfairly
treated when the bonus is being given to
greens. Green tea should be out of its swaddl-
ing clothes before long: but it is always a
question, for business principles must come
into play, whether a cessation of the bonus
will not instantly mean cessation of manu-
facture of greens, A 2-cent bonus might
well be the next experiment ?—And so on ?
476 THE TROPICAL
MR. H. C. PEARSON’S VISIT TO KALUTARA
RUBBER DISTRICT,
Mr. H. C. Pearson, Editor of the India Rubber
World, from whom an interesting letter on
Castilloa appeared in our columns recently,
has been paying a visit to the Kalutara rubber
district. He is full of admiration for the
growth of rubber in Kalutara district and saw
some tapping done, with satisfactory results,
The canker, recently reported upon by Mr.
Carruthers, he remarks upon as nothing serious
and not likely to injure Para Rubber in the
least, Hixtensions appear to be going on apace.
Asked as. to the amount of tapping a tree
could stand, Mr. Pearson said that was a
question for your Peradeniya experts to solve.
No one really knows what the latex is to the
tree, whether it is sap and life —a reserve stock
of nourishment on which it can draw in dry
weather; or whether the vigour of the tree is
little decreased or even improved by tapping,
according to the frequency and regularity of the
performance. The methods of tapping here—V-
shape, or unconnected slanting cuts, or herring-
boning—differ from those in force in Mexico,
_where the native wielder of the cutlass, or
machette, makes a connecteld zigzag cut up thestem
and the whole of the latex flows down to the
foot of the tree. Asked as to close planting,
Mr. Pearson did not think sufficient was known
about its effect to condemn if: but he would be
inclined to regard the danger as not so much
one of drawing too much from the soil as of
not allowing the sun to get to the soil and to
the bark of the tree.
Mr. Pearson also visits the Kelani Valley,
making use of all his available time for
seeing Ceylon Rubber growing. He sailed for the
Straits by the P. & O. ‘‘ Bengal ”
a ee
GREEN TEA INTO BLACK.
CALCUTTA ALSO MAKES THE DISCOVERY.
A method of turning green tea into black has
been discovered by Mr. Judge, and the process,
which, we are informed, is an extremely simple
one, will be communicated free to all purchasers of
the complete installations of the Deane Judge
machines for manufacturing green teas. Thisis an
important consideration, for the green tea fannings
and dust, which at present are of little value, by
being readily converted into black tea fannings
and dust will fetch their full value in the market.
Green tea makers will thus gain a great advantage
from the concession, for they will stand tomakea
considerable extra profit. The probable effect of
the discovery will be a further impetus to launch
into the manufacture of greens on an extensive
scale. The prices for green teas which are now
being realised in the local market are so extremely
satisfactory that we have little doubt but that
many more gardens will take up the manufacture
in right earnest next year. There is every thing
to gain by so doing ; and if the two industries are
properly worked and dove-tailed one into the
other, there cannot possibly accrue any loss. So
long as vale liquor and neat leaf are distinctive
marks of the finished teas placed on the market,
they will always realise the remunerative rates
which are being paid for them abt the present time.
And there is no difficulty in gardens making and
"Nyassa.
AGRICULTURIST, [JAN. 1, 1904.
keeping up a constant supply of such, now that the
requisite machinery is avilable.—Indian Plan-
ters’ Gazette,
a
COTTON GROWING IN AFRICA,
Berlin, Nov. 18.—Some instructive statistics showing
the steady growth of the German cotton trade and
textile industry are published by the Vossische Zeitung
today. The growing importance of the German textile
industry, and especially of the cotton trade, naturally
demands the development of sources of raw material
which shall be independent of commercial and political
relations with other countries. The experiments in
cotton-growing, which have for some time past been
made on the Wert Coast of Africa under British aus-
pices, have been followed with the closest attention by
the German colonial authorities in Africa. For the
systematic organisation of the work in German Hast
Africa an official cotton inspector has been appointed
who is a cotton sarmer of wide experience from the
North American cotton States, The inspector’s head-
quarters will be at Dar-es-Salaam, and his duties will
be to see that the cultivation of the cotton is conducted
in a manner which may lead to u timate success, and
to survey,the sites of new plantations, in the choice of
which proximity to rivers and to contemplated rail-
ways is to bea paramount consideration. This year’s
harvest in the coast regions of German Hast.Africa is
estimated at 50,000 German pounds weight Fresh
plantations have been laid out in the following dis-
tricts—in Dares Salaam about 600 acres, in Bagamoya
about 240 acres, in Kilwa about 220 acres, and in
Mohorro about 50 acres, The cotton which has lately
been received from the Lindi and Tange districts is
valued at between 70 and 80 marks (or shillings) per
100 German pounds (60 kilogrammes). This crop is
said to be equal to the best ‘“‘white Egyptian” and to be
suitable for the finer-spun yarns as well as for worsted.
In Togoland a cotton inspectorate has also been
created, with its office at Lome; and in this district
the cultivation of cotton by natives is making rapid
progress. According to the latest advices the crop
from the Togo ‘‘ Hinterland” is expected to reach
several hundred bales. It is noteworthy that the
samples of the new Togo crop which have arrived are
rated as being superior the first crop and are classed
as ‘‘ fully good middling.” ‘The English cotton expert
from the Gold Coast is said to have expressed a very
favourable opinion of the progress made by cotton-
growing in Togoland and to have observed that the
end of June or the beginning of July was also the
time for planting the cotton in the Gold Coast Colony.
The undeveloped condition of the country naturally
renders the question of transport one of the utmost
importance. The solution of this diffioult ques-
tion is being promoted on the one hand by the
establishment of an inoculating station in charge
of an army staff-surgeon to combat the dreaded
‘‘tsetse’’ fly, and on the other hand by surveys
for the new railway line from Kilwa to Lake
The construction of the projected railway
from Lome to Palime will be entrusted by the Govern-
ment to a firm of contractors, and upon its completion
the new line will be transferred, together with the
wharves and coast railways, to a company under
special conditions safeguarding the interests of the
colony. In German South-West Africa the prospects
of cotton cultivation are also favourable. Several
large samples of cotton grown from the famous “sea
island” seed are declared by experts to be of extremely
good quality. The farmers are proposing to form
an association for damming the Swakop river in order
to utilise its waters for the development of cotton-
growing. It is further proposed to canalise the river
Knunene in the north in order to prepare the soil for
cotton-culture in that part of the colony.
The German textile industry and the various
chambers of commerce are rivalling each other in-
Jan, 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
their support of this new enterprise which is being so
extensively developed throughout the German sphere
of influence in Africa, Attention in Germany has
been drawn to the fact that the British Cotton-Growing
Association intends to raise its capital from £50,000
to £100,000. Moreover, it is noted that the expenses
of the cotton experts in the employ of the association
are borne by the individual Colonies in which they are
’ engaged. Belgium also issaid to be on the point of
introducing the cultivation of cotton into the Congo
State, while the excellence of the cotton grown in
- Cuba and the still greater possibilities of the Island in
this respect have already attracted German attention
to this new rival; The object of the Colonial scholar-
ships of the Berlin Society for the development of
Colonial agriculture, which I mentioned in my despatch
of November 17, is to qualify young German farmers
to become cotton-inspectors in the German colonies
by a 21 months’ course of study in the cotton States
of America. This step is said to be due to the
Initiative of the German consul at the great cotton
port of Galveston, under whose supervision the new
students will be placed.—London Yimes, Nov 25.
ee
COCONUT LEAF DISEASE.
IN CEYLON AND PORTUGUESE WEST AFRICA,
Writing to us from Quilimane, Portugese West
Africa, a correspondent asks for information
regarding the Coconut Leaf Disease. In Quilimane,
he says, the disease attacks the leaves, which
become discoloured and dried, without there being
any insect pest or any visible disease present.
The disease quickly spreads from tree to tree
until a whole plantation is destroyed. In Quili-
mane the only remedy kuown is the total des-
truction of the diseased tree in an early stage of
the disease by cutting down and burning. Our
correspondent suggests if may be the coconut
disease of the Wesb Indies—the Pestallozia.
We have submitted our correspondent’s letter
to Mr, J B Carruthers, the Government Myco-
logist, and he has favoured us with the following
remarks. Mr. Carrutherssays :—‘‘We have a leaf
disease of the coconut in Ceylon due to a fungus
which is a Pestallozia, the species of which 1 am
not yet sure of. Pestallozia is the name of a
group of fungi which are only stages in the life
of some other fungus, so that when more know-
ledge is gained of the fungus it is placed in its
_ proper place in the fungus flora and gets « new
name. The disease of the coconut leaf is one
which I have in my agenda list—which unfortu-
nately gets longer—as one of the things needing
early attention, and, when I have finished on rubber
eanker and some other things, I hope to get down
to Negombo and Ambalangoda districts, whence
this has been sent to me and collect and investi-
gate. I recommend the cutting off and burning
such leayes and have drawn up some directions
for copper sulphate spraying experiments which
i hope will be carried out.”
Sh eS
CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN THE
FEDER ATED MALAY STATES,
Touching the important question of whether this
part of the Empire could not produce its proportion
of cotton to meet the Empire’s needs, the following
letter from Mr A §S Baxendale to the Federal
Secretary appears in the November “ Agricultural
Bulletin,” [From which we quote.—Ep, 7.4.]
Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 24, 1903.
Sir,—There are probably in these States ten
AGRICULTURIST: 477
ynillion acres suitable for agriculture, and, under-
correction, I would suggest that not more than kalf
a-million are under cultivation. The present would
therefore seem to be a suitable time for Government
to indicate to planters—European and native—its
intention to encourage more particularly the growth
of such products as are unlikely to undergo
alarming fluctuations in price. The improbability
of cotton being ousted from its present position as
the staple fibreofthe spinning industry is instanced
by the difficulty of finding a market for ramie—
which is stated to surpass cotton in nearly every
essential respect, as a fiure, Seeing, however, that
ramie cannot be woven by cotton machinery, it is
a drugin the market at a third of the price given
for ordinary cotton. To describe tersely the
comparative merits of cotton and any cther staple
product which can be generally cultivated through-
out the Federated Malay States, it may be said
that the yield of an additional 1,000,000 acres of
cotton would not very appreciably affect the cobton
market, whereas the successful cultivation of the
same acreage of any other product with which we
need be concerned, would cause a collapse in its
price. I would refer particularly to whatis known
by Javanese asthe “ Kala-kala,.” (I understand
from the Director of the Singapore Botanical
Gardens that this shrub is a variety of the Gossy-
pium herbacewm.) 1 have seen this plant carefully
cultivated and have seen it practically untended
producing what appeared to me to be fairly large
crops. Plants may be seen in many partsof these
States apparently thriving in a moist climate.
The following quotation froma letter addressed to
me by Mr C ES Baxendale discloses the views
held by practical native cultivators with previous
experience of this formof cultivaton,as to the possi-
bility of growing cotton at a profit in these
States. ‘* About three anda halt years ago a
deputation claiming to represent 65 Javanese land-
holders in this district came to see me. They
asked meto guarantee them a price (15 cents a
catty for the clean cotton they suggested) and one
of them would go to Javaand bring over seeds of
the best variety which they called ‘ Kapas Blanda,?
This kind is an annual. The only kind I knew here
is the perennial Kala-kala, but there are two other
kinds known to my Javanese friends—‘ Kala-kala
Palembang,’ and ‘ Fardeh. Their expressed inten-
tion was to plant cotton solely, noé as a cateh-crop
(I do not see any reason why it should not do well
with either rubber or coconuts) and the fact that
many of them had been cotton growers in Java and
know the soils and conditions of both countries was
noteworthy. The ‘Blanda’ is said to yield one
heavy crop, while our trees are perpetually yielding
afew pods ata time.” Mr Cyril Baxendale did not
accept this offer, seeing that his brokers were un-
able to guarantee him afutureprice. They expressed
their willingness, however, to buy Kala-kala of the
same quality as that he sent to Liverpool at
prices varying (from different brokers) from 54d
to 7d per |b. while ordinary prices at Liverpool
were averaging about 6d_ a lb. (Prices at present
average about 7d alb,) The Kala-kala seed was
valued at £7 a ton--a very high figure for cotton
seed. The brokers reported that the cotton
was ‘Sa very - valuable variety owing to
its ‘harsh’ fibre, this makes it approach
wool inconsistency and it is greatly sought
after by woollen manufacturers to mix with
wool.” [I presume that the “‘ Kapas Blanda’!
referred to by the Javanese was an imported
yariety of the Sea Island cotton-producing plang
478 THE TROPICAL
(“G Barbadense.”) This plant though nob
deciduous, is I believe treated as if it was so and .
crops in the method described by the Javanese. In
spite of the favour with which the ‘‘Kapas Blanda”’
is viewed by these men I should not be inclined to
abandon ‘‘Kala-kala” in favour of the imported
variety unless a series of experiments proved the .
atter had the better commercial prospects. It
must be remembered that there is a very great
advantage as regards labourin having to deal with
crops that do not suddenly necessitate a large
temporary addition to the labour toree on an
estate. The cost of engaging one man for 1,000
days is ordinarily much less than the vost of
engaging 1,000 men for one day. And if
throughout the Federated Malay States all the
planters wanted this sudden inerease in their
labour force simultaneously, the possible resu!t
would be that the planters in their attempts to
abbract the available ‘ floating’ labour would have
to pay such prices as would seriously affect the
prospects of their enterprise. In cotton-growing
countries it would seem that during the ‘picking sea*
son’ men, women and children who at other times
are unable to obtain a wage, are eagerly engaged at
task-work rates which make their earnings,
' during the time they are employed, considerably
higher than the normal wages of a first class
labourer for the same length of time. even dis—
regarding the question of cost, the nature of our
population would seem to offer an overwhelming
obstacle to the general introduction of a form of
cultivation the success of which must to a great
extent depend on the possibility of planters being
able to engage simultaneously a large supply of
* casual’ labour.
In regard to the general question of the desir-
ability of a dry climate for growing cotton, ib
would appear that in the United States a very wet
season is almost as much feared by the cotton
growers aS is a drought. Exceptionally wet
weather is stated to produce weeds and tends to
make the plant run to wood rather than crop.
It seems to me to be possible to believe that even
in the wettest years there is generally sufficient
Sunshine here to mature a crop of cotton. I know
nothing of the climate of the cotton-growing
districts of the United States, but would suggest
that there is possibly an unusual lack of sunshine
during the wet summers and that every hour of sun. |
shine is of sreati.nportance when a plant has to bear
fruit either on a certain date or not at all. After
the opening of the boll there is undoubtedly
some danger of rain discolouring the cotton if
left exposed to the weather. Yet I have now in
my possession some beautifully clean white cotton
that was purposely allowed to remain on the
shrub during three days of heavy rain while the
boll was open, When considering these sources
of possible disappointment it is only reasonable
to bear in mind that neither droughts nor gales
(gales strip the shrubs of blossoms), which fre-
quently eause immense losses to cotton growers in
the United States, ae likely ever to cause serious
loss to planters in the Federated Malay States.
Tf, 1 have made out a case for supposing it would
be worth the while of Government to consider this
matter seriously, [ would urge that. with a view to
its doing so, a small Committee, chiefly composed
of planters, should be requested to visit Java and
observe and record such practical results in regard
to cottou cultivation as they consider noteworthy.
Such a Committee should, I would suggest, also
try to arrive ab some arrangement by which
AGRICULTURIST. (Jan. 1,.1904,
Javanese emigration to the Federated Malay
States might be encouraged. The over-population.
of Java is yearly causing greater concern to the
Government of that Island, and for many years
every encouragement has been offered to labourers
to leave Java for Dutch possessions, which are
much in want of coolies. But there is, I understand,
a strong feeling among the Javanese against emi-
grating to Sumatra and Boraeo. {ft would seem
that the same objection does not exist to coming
to the Federated Malay States, and if it is de-
monstrated to the Government of Java—as I
believe it would be possible to do—that Javanese
emigrants do not generally become permanent
settlers here, it might be possible for us to voimne to
some agreement with the Dutch Colonial Goyern-
ment that would be mutualiy «advantageous.—
S. &. Press. er &
——__ <<. —__ —_
THE COFFEE INDUSTRY OF CULOMBIA
LANGUISHING FOR WANT OF LABOUR.
Mr Dickson, British Vice-Consul at Bogota de-
votes a recent report to the coffee industry and
trade of Colombia, where the coffee plant is widely
grown. A few years ago Colombian coffee had a
high reputation and secured high prices abroad,
Is was at that time grown in large plantations,
with good machinery, and was store dried. The
high prices led to over-planting, and it was thought
that coffee would replace the quina industry. Bub
there was not sufficient Jabour to keep all the
new plantations going, and many of them had
to be abandoned before the plants ‘matured in
the third year. The revolutionary war which
broke out in October, 1899, gave the final blow
to the enthusiasm for coffee planting, and
ruined the few plantations which survived the
previons crisis. At present, matters are even
worse, for labour is Searcer than ever, by reason
of the loss of life through war and disease. The
existing plantations lose half their coffee from want
of labour; the greater part of the produce of the
-last three years is still stored in the river ports.
for there is no way of despatching it, while the
coffeestored on the estates is deteriorating. Formerly
the cost of exporting was one-third of the net
value in London; this has now inereased owing
to excessive charges both of transport and storage,
With the exception of a few estates on the Magda-
lina river, it appears that it does not pay to grow
coffee in Colombia when the price on the New York
market falls below four pence per pound. The
cost of production cannot be reduced below two
pence, and the cost of transport is about twopence
also. A tree from four to eight years old will
~ yield, in smalland well-cultivated plantations about
one pound of coffee annually ; in large and less
cared for plantation the yield is about half that
amount; the price in Colombia range according to”
quality, from 84d to'53¢ per pound on the average.
Of all the coffee produced in the country only
a small quantity remains at home in normal years,
and it is usually composed of beans damaged by
the machinery. Owing to the disturbed state of the
country and the increasingly scientific cultivation
in Brazil, Colombian coffee is losing favour, especie
ally as that now being exported is three years old.
The reporp describes the different qualities of
Colombian coffee and the different processes through
which it passes before fit for consumption. Before
1899 the export was, roughly, thirty to thirty-five
million kilos, and the value, on the average; about
eleven million dollars,—London Times, ;
Jan. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL
SIR A SWETTENTAM AND COTTON
GROWING,
His Excellency the Governor. has given the
Berbice Cotton Growers’ Committee the sum of
$50 as aprizeto be competed for by the peasant
farmers throughout the colony up to the 30ch of
June next, for the largesf area of land under
cotton cultivation.—Demerara Daily Chrouicle.
———_—_—————__—_—
SOME FACTS ABOUT QUININE.
We recently announced that the cheapening of the
cost of production of quixine had enabled the Govern-
ment to increase the quantity of quinine sold in the
pice packets from 5to 7 grains. That being quite a
new departure this is an opportune moment in which
to enquire into the conditions under which the
cinchona industry is maintained in this and other
countries. In this connection the Memorandam on
bark and quinine by Mr W M Standen, Director of the
Government Cinchona Plantations, which has just
been published, is interesting. Fromit we learn that
the Madras Government manufactured 15,711 1b of
quinine in 1902 and the Bengal factory 11,927 lb, ora
total manufacture in India of 27,6381lb Excluding this
17,153,000 lb of cinchona bark, the raw product from
which quinine is manufactured, were exported in the
same year from Ceylon, India and Java viz, from
Ceylon 407,000 lb, from India 2,020,000, and from Java
14,726,000 lb ; and the arrivals in London during the
same period from Africa and South America amounted
to 179,872 lb and 775,000 Ib respectively. The total
amountof bark available for manufacture in 1902 was
thus 18,107,872 lb, which it was estimated contained
861,812 Ib of quinine. In addition 43,705 lb of quinine
were manufactured in and exported from Java.
The quinine production of the world in the
year 1902 may, therefore, be estimated as follows ;—
From Ceylon, Indian, Javan, South American and
African barks 861,812 |b ; quinine exported trom Java
43,750 1b; quinine produced at the Government factories
in India 27,688 1b; or a total of 933,200 lb.
There are 20 quinine factories in the world wiz:
3 in England, 2 in Germany, 1 in Holland, 5 in
France, 2in Italy, 4 in America, 1 in Java, 1 in
Bengal and 1 in this Presidency. The most important
markets of the world are, however, Amsterdam and
London. In the early days of the bark industry, the
London market was well supplied with bark from
South America and Ceylon: but since the decline in
exports from these countries, and the steady increase
of production from Java, the Amsterdam market has
become a far more important centre for the sale of
bark. During 1902 the quantity of bark sold in
Amsterdam was 14,322,659 lb while the quantity sold
in London during that year was only 2,850,000 |b.
Those interested in this wonderful febrifuge will
faye noticed thatthe price of quinine in the London
market is always quoted at so much per unit. This
unit is the price of 1-100th of a lb of quinine sulphate in
bark form. For example, if the precentage of sulphate
of quinine in the bark is three and the price paid 44d
the unit is 13d, When the unit is 14d thejcost of 1 lb of
sulphate of quinine in bark form is 1, 5d x 100=150d
or 12s 64. The difference between this figure and
the selling prices of quinine per lb. represents the
cost of manufaciure aud the manufacturers’ profit.
In 1902 the avorage unit price was 13d and the
average price of Howard’s quinine was 1°24 per oz.
There are two points of controversy between the
Director of the Government Cinchona Plantations and
the private planters, The one is the allegation by
the latter that they areat a disadvantage owing to
Governmont competition; the other the variation in
the analysis of samples of their bark by which their
sales to the Government factory are regulated. With
regard to the former, Mr Standen points out that
AGRICULTURIST. 479
since 1882 the imports of quinine into India have
rapidly increased, in spite of the fact that during this
period the Government Hospitals and Dispensaries
and Medical Depéts have been supplied from the-
Bengal and Madras factories. The imports in 1879
were 5,940 Ib, in 1882, 10,650 1b, and in 11 months of
1902, according to Messrs Woodhouse, they were
57,250 lb. It cannot bo said, therefore, says
Mr Standen, that the manufacture of qui-
nine by Government has adversely affected
the trade in quinine. With regard to the
second bone of contention Mr Standen says :—
With a material like cinchona bark the value of
which consists of its alkaloidal contents, the question
of obtaining a representative sample of the bulk is one
of great importance, That itis a matter of consi-
derable difficulty, if not of impossibility, to obtain a
sample which accurately represents the value of a
large bulk can be realised, when it is remembered
that the bark of one tree may contain 1 per cent, of
quinine, while that ofa similar tree of the same age
and grown on the same field may yield 10 per cent.
This extreme degree of variation is quoted for the sake
of illustration, bat in actual working, the range of
value between one tree and another on a good field of
oficinalis bark may weil be from 3 per cent. to 6 per
cent, of quinine, In the case of a consignment of
20,000 Ibs of bark in 100 bales, the bark may be the
produce of 10,000 trees, each differing in alkaloidal
yield from the others, and each bale may contain the
bark of 100 trees. It is evident, therefore, that, unless
care is taken to thoroughly mix the 200 lb. that are
required to fill the bale asample of one pound drawn
from the contents of this bale 1s not likely to represent
with accuracy the whole 200 lb.
Mr Standen points out that in Java the bark ‘is
pounded in small chips and well mixed before being
packed, “but in India this pounding and mixture of
the bark before packing does not appear to have
received the atteution it deserves. It is not surpri-
sing, therefore, that complaints about low analysis are
heard from time to time.’’—J/. Mail.
see
PROFESSOR HERDMAN’S REPORT ON THE
CEYLON PHARL FISHERIES.
In the list of new books for the week is the Re-
port to the Government of Ceylon on the Pearl
Oyster Fisheries of the Gulf of Mannar, by WA
Herdman, D Se. F RS with supplementary Re-
ports upon the Marine Biology of Ceylon by other
naturalists, 12 x 94. 37) pages, Twenty plates.
The publishers are the Royal Society, Following
(says the Times) on Mr Herdman’s ‘historical,
biological and deseriptive record are more special
reports by various writers, by far the largest being
on ** Copepoda” by Mr L Thompson and Mr.
Andrew Scott. Further reports will be published
in 1904, and the remaining parts, dealing with
other groups of aunuals, will appear, it is hoped,
in the following year.—Home Cor,, Dec. 4th,
—__.-—__——
Tut ASPHALTE Derosits oF TRINIDAD.—
Professor Henry Louis, of Newcastle, who was
sent out by the Government to investigate the
asphalte deposits of Trinidad, addressed a
meeting on the subject last night at Newcastle,
{t had been sugyested that the so-called pitch
lake from which 120,000 tons of asphalte were
dug anuually was inexhaustible, but Professor
Louis said he had been able to prove that this
was notso, The level of the lake had sunk to
a degree corre sponding exactly with the quantity
taken from it, If they knew the depth of the
lake they would know to a ton how much asphalte
was in 1f,—London Times,
480 THE TROPICAL
A CHAT WITH MR. KELWAY BAMBER.
SALT AND NITROGEN IN CULTIVATION.
(From a correspondent. )
To an enthusiastic agriculturist, as I claim to
be, a chat with Mr. Bamber could not have failed
to be as interesting as it certainly was instructive.
Mr. Bamber will, I teel sure, pardon me, if I
make publie portions of the conversation which
have a public interest.
Ib is about 20 years since I advocated the use
of salt as a manure for coconuts. My arguments
was that the home of che palm was on the salt-
saturated soil and salt-laden atmosphere of the
sea shore ; that when we carry on its cultivation
inland we must try to imitate as closely as pos-
sible the habitat of the palm, by applying salt
to the soil on which it grew. Thelate Dr. Trimen
and many experienced coconut planters were of
opinion that the South West Monsoon storms car~
ried inland as much salt as the palms required.
My reply was that the beneficial results of salt
should not be measured by the actual requirements
of the tree, Salt has very
VALUABLE CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL
PROPERTIES,
which should not be lost sight of. The hy-«
groscopic properties of salt are of great value,
both in light and stiff soils. It was very
gratifying to me to find that these viewsare shared
by Mr Bamber, and that he is as interested as 1 am
on the issue of salt by Government for agricul-
tural purposes, at special rates. It is very encour-
aging to know that two very high officials of govern-
ment are also interested in the subject, Mr.
Bamber has been engaged in trying to find a sub-
stance that will denaturalise it. I have always
thought, and still think, that this isa waste of
useful energy. What is possible chemically, will
be found improbable in practice. Salt for culinary
purposes, is nob a large item of household
expenditure in mative houses. The profits
from its sale by boutique-keepers are not large.
Neither consumer nor seller is likely to be
tempted, for the sake of a few cents and
rupees, respectively, to purify and crystallise
what had been rendered impure for manurial pur-
poses. Except the lowest classes of Tamils, peo-
ple are generally very fastidious of what enters into
consumption. I always suggested that salt
should be mixed with ‘‘ Pandiletti”
culty will be, to get anyone tohandle it after that,
* LT have since thought the matter over, and think
that if it is mixed with lime, and ground, nobody
will be found to take the trouble to separate the:
salt from the lime, for the problematical gain that
willresult. The mixture, or at least the substan-
ces that compose it, are of very great value in
coconut cultivation,
Would that the Hon Mr Ferguson were in the
island to agitate the subject in the Legislative
Council! He was always keen onthe subject and
latterly compiled a pamphlet on salt. One of the
other members might put a question on the subject
to find out the present views of the Government,
As in the case of the up-country tea plantations,
so on the low-country coconut estates, Mr Bamber
advocates cultivation of nitrogen-producing plants
both for the sake of the nitrogen directly accruing
to the soil, and for the humus their decay will yield.
He places
The only diffi-
AGRICULTURIST. (Jaw: 1, 1904.
THE MIMOSA
as one of the best of nitrogensprodu-
cing plants for coconut estates. I pointed out
to him, that except as an experiment on a small
patch, no practical planter would allow his estate to
be over-run with mimosa, however beneficial the re-
sult might be. 1t would mean the practical abandon-
reent of the place. No one unshod would be able to
do any work whatever on the estate. All
coolies, cartedrivers, pickers &c, will have to be
shod to protect their feet from thorns from which
least scratch produces ulcers in the cooly. Even if it
is allowed to grow round the coconut tree, it will
in ashort time spread all over the estate, unlessa
constant war of extermination is waged against it.
Besides, it is very expensive to turn it into the
soil, or even to bury it. Failing that, he strongly
suggested the encouragement of the growth of
‘pilla,’ a leguminous plant, that eattle and goats
do not eat, and on which | had always pinned my
faith. We examined the roots of a plant, and
found it full of nodules. The plants should be
allowed to grow till the seeds dropped, and be
then rooted up and buried. On the estate from
which T write, a leguminous creeper has shown
itself where it is most wanted; on sandy soils. Its
roots too are with nodules. The ‘Crotolaria’ is
not very common on this side of the country. The
lowly ‘Indupielli,’ the food of hares, should be
encouraged to grow round coconut trees, and be dug
in. It, too, belongs to the order leguminosze and
has nodules on its roots.
LIME, &C,
Too little attention is paid to lime. Without
its presence in the soil, the nitrifying organisms
in the soil will be dormant. True, a little lime is
applied to the tree in the phosphate of lime of bone
manures; but that will notdo. It must be free
lime and lightly broadcasted over the soil.
——es——
RAILWAY SLEEPERS IN CHYLON.
(To the Editor, * Indian Engineering.”)
Srr,—The Ceylon people are puzzled about
sleepers. Suitable material cannot be ob-
tained from the local forests, and they affect
a fear of the cost of importing wood that
has been tried and proved in every way
satisfactory, The General Manager states
that Australian jacrah wood is far and away
the best for the heavier rails, and withstands
the attacks of dry rct and ants, which
destroy other woods, Unfortunately the
wood has to be imperted, and consequently
@ certain proportion of the cost represents
shipping, inspection and other charges, For
a management that can swallow the camel
of an unremunerative narrow-gauge line,
this is straining at a gnat with a vengeance.
Jarrah sleepers, now that they are becoming
the vogue in India, may be obtained in
any abundunce at a cost which compares
favourably with that entailed in securing
local produce, and Colombo being closer to
Hremantle than Calcutta, the bugbear of
shipping charges is exaggerated. 1t seems
to us that it would be a much wiser policy
to adopt the jarrah sleeper which has given
such good results, in preference to the intro.
duction of the cast-iron pot sleeper, with
which Mr Greene proposes to experiment.
OLD RAILS
—Indian Lngineering; Dec. 12, ii
Jan. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
A NEW RUBBER COMPANY:
RAN! RUBBER CO., LTD.
The Memorandum and Articles of Asso-
ciation of this Company appear in a
recent Gazette, The principal object of the
Company is to acquire and take an assign-
ment of the lease about to be granted by
the Government of Travancore to Mr. George
Nicol Thomson, of three blocks of land
situated on the banks of two rivers, the
Kakaad and the _ Sittaar, within the
Koni reserved Government Forest, Travan-
core, containing in extent about 500 acres,
and to convert the same into a rubber
plantation. The nominal capital of the Com-
pany is R300,000 divided into 3,000 shares of
R100 each. The first subscribers are Messrs.
John G Wardrop, A A Prideaux, G R
Marnoch, H P Church, R C Dickson, JW R
Still and J Steuart, all of Colombo; while
the first directors shall be the Hon, Mr.
J N Campbell, Messrs. A A Prideaux, GN
Thomson and J G Wardrop.
a eens
MR. SPENCE’S CARDAMOM MISSION IN -
AUSTRALIA,
HIS FIRST REPORT.
The following has been sent us for publication:—
W. Sinclair, Esq., Chairman, Cardamom Com-
mittee, Kandy.
Sydney, N.S.W., 30th Nov., 1903.
My Dear Sinclair,—Owing to a very severe
illness contracted shortly after my arrival in
Western Australia, and which laid me up for some
four months here, 1 regret to say during*that time
I was quite unable to attend to any business.
Hence the cause of delay in sending you any
report sooner. However, I am glad to say, lam
nearly allright again, and have been able to get
about and attend to the cardamom business which
T undertook.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA,—Nothing in the way of
pushing our cardamoms can be done here, as they
get almost everything they require, principally,
from Victoria.
MELBOURNE.--I got this length about middle of
September, and regret to say I was again laid up
here for about a fortnight. As soon as I was able
to move about, I set to work. I first ealled on the
Governor-General (Lord Tennyson) and delivered
letter from H E Sir West Ridgeway. The Governor-
General received me most kindly and, through the
introduction, I met most of the officials who were
of assistance to me. From Customs-house books I
found the principal importers, and called on the
following houses here I had samples
sent to all the above firms and they all took much
interest in them; but from ali I got much the
same answer: ‘‘Our requirements here are too
small to import any large quantity trom Ceylon.”
SYDNEY.—On my arrival in Sydney, N,S,W.,
early this month, I calledon several of the large
houses here (to most of them I had letters of
introduction) . . . but got much the same
answer as at Melbourne. i have distributed
samples with Chamber of Commerce, and where t
thought they would be of some benefit and eould
be seen, and have given all the information
required. As thisis not a manufacturing country,
IT am afraid the cousumption of cardamoms here
lwill not be mnch increased for many years to come
have done my best to push them and bring
them before public notice here, but regret to s.y,
AGRICULTURIST. 48]
with little result. In time to come there may be
a greater demand for them. Other products ag
well as cardamoms I brought under notice as
much as I could.—Yours sincerely,
J. A, SPENCE.
—EEE—————E
NATAL TEA PLANTING NOTES.
LABOUR SCARCE THERE ALSO,
(By ** Camelia Thea,’”’)
At last the long-expected and wished-for
rains have fallen, and we may now look for
heavy flushes, which, after the long rest the
trees have had, should be better than usual.
Although the output has been less than
ordinarily this season (through the drought),
the quality of tea made has much improved,
and I would urge upon all planters the neces-
sity for keeping up the quality throughout
the season. We can make as good tea in
Natal as any imported, and if (through want
of labour), we cannot supply all the tea
required, let us cater for the high-class
demand rather than for the low grade ; it is
only a question of time, and a re-organised
labour supply, when we shall be able to
supply all that is needed. Although the
Delegates sent by the Indian Immigration
Trust Board to Indiv, to confer with the
Indian Government respecting a better supply
of labour, have been back some time, they
have not published any report as to their
doings. The success of the Natal tea plant-
ing industry is bound to depend upon the
supply of cheap unskilled labour, as nearly
all the cultivation has to be done by hand,
and, personally, { think itis time the Coast
planters combined, and, through a properly-
organised Association, took upon themselves
the immigration of labour from India or else-
where, on the same lines as_ the Ceylon
Planters’ Association. Under the system in
vogue here, the supply of labour gets less
every year, and the class of Indians coming
gets worse. Natal has obtained a bad name
in the recruiting districts in Southern India,
and only persons leaving their country for
their country’s good agree to come here. I
should like to see this matter brought up at
a Planters’ Association meeting —as something
must be done to increase the present supply
of labour.—Notal Mercury, Dec. 3.
CHINESE TEA PLANTERS WANTED FOR
INDO CHINA.
M Beau, the Governor General of French
Indo-China, is bent upon drawing Chinese
Agriculturists to settle in the thinly peopled
Districts of Annam and Tonquin. Tea plan
ters are wanted in particular. His Secretary-
General, M Hardouin, has gone to Canton and
Foochow to arrange for recuiting Chinese
labourers in Jarge numbers in furtherance of
M. Beau’s scheme.—Straits Times,
SS
SALT AND NITROGEN IN CULTIVATION.— We
direct special attention to the ‘chat with
Mr. Bamber” by a practical planter which
appears elsewhere,
;
J]
482 THE TROPICAL
SILK CULTIVATION IN MANCHURIA.
The American Consul at Niu-chwang states in a
recent report that considerable quantities of raw white,
yellow, and wild silk, as well as silk cloth, pongees
and cocoons, are exported from Niu-chwang, the Ya-lu
river, and other Manchurian ports. It is not possible,
he says, to give even an approximate estimate of the
amount, because from many of the places the trade is
in native junks and through the native Customs, which
keep no records; but the value must be millions of
taels per annum. Large quantities of cocoons go to
Chi-fu and Shanghai, and are made into yarns and
cloth. Some goto France, and are made into a special
ribbon embroidery and re-exported to China. The
Manchurian si!k district extends from Kiaochau on the
coast, across the mountains to the district around the
headwaters of the Ya-lu. The autumn cocoons are
carefully preserved over the winter, and the silk-worms
are hatched in April. These are taken into the hills,
where a scrubby white oak is grown, andare placed
on the trees to feed. About July another cocoon is
formed and the worm from this finds abundance of
food in the full foliage, The second cocoons are there-
fore the more valuable. The process is cruder than
that emploved in the production of the finer kinds of
silk, and the oak shrub does not yield such tender food
as the carefully cultivated mulberry. The oak is planted
_ 00 mountains and hillsides, where the ground is too
rough and poor for food cultivation. The process of
removing the silkfrom the cocoon, as well as the
making of the cloth, is all by hand, and the labour
ig enormous. Kiaochau is the centre of the cloth-
making district.—Liondon Times, Dec. 9.
THE PRICE OF COOLIES IN ASSAM.
(To the Editor of the ‘* Enqlishman.”)
Sir,—The tea planters in the tea districts of
Assam and Cachar don’t appear to realise the
grave situation of the present state of the labour
market, Coolies are getting scarcer and scarcer
year by year and the present rates, demanded
by coolie contractors, ave ruinous to the tea in-
dustry. I know for a fact a first-class coolie
has been landed on the gardens in Assam a few
years ago for R80, whereas the same class of
coolie the contractors now demand R140 in the
depot, and with his steamer fare, ete., makes
the total cost to R160. All I can say is, thab
the coolie contractors are the only persous who
-are benefiting by this risein the labour market and
reaping rich harvests, and if something is not
done soon to keep these abnormal rates in check,
the tea, industry will suffer a very severe loss. I
am really very much surprised at the apathy
shown by the ‘Indian Tea Association” in
Calcutta in the matter of coclies and the directors
and shareholders of the various Tea Companies
appear to bein the same somnolent state.— Yours
faithfully, ONE INTERESTED.
—Lnglishman, Dee. 17.
aon
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES.
DIscovERY oF ASBESTOS IN MysorE.—A dis-
covery of that useful mineral asbes'os has been
made by the Mysore Geological Department in the
vicinity of Avanhalli, in the Bangalore District,
and ithe Mysore Government are investigating
whether the quality and quantity of the mineral
is such as to justify its creating an industry. As-
hestos is 2 common mineral in India and is met
with in most places, but on attempting to create
an industry it has always been found that it ig
not available in sufficient qnantities or of proper
quality to make mining pay.—Pioneer, Dec. 17,
AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1904.
CROTALARIA.—In response to a correspon-
dent in our columns, Mr. C, Drieberg has
written a lengthy communication to us on
crotalaria and the leguminosae generally,
He describes the various leguminous. plants,
which are nitrogen-producers, and suitable
for cultivation for increasing the fertility of
the soi! and adding humus.
letter will be read with much interest by all
interested in the question.
Mr. Drieberg’s_
THE CARDAMOM MISSION IN AUSTRALIA. ‘
—We direct attention to the first report to
hand from the ‘‘ Cardamom Commissioner,”
Mr. J. A. Spence, who left Ceylon about
six months ago for Australia. Illness for
a period of four months, delayed his work
considerably, but apart from this it has
proved very discouraging—the local require-
ments being of the smallest and_the pushing
of our product a thankless task. We trust that
as Mr. Spence pushes on himself, he may find
his efforts meeting with better reward. At
present cardamom planters cannot feel es-
pecially elated, as regards Australia.
RUBBER—UP TO DATH,—The latest circular
from Peradeniya, deals with Oastilloa rub-
ber. It will be noted that planting is not
advised further than 15 feet apart: Para, in
the Straits, is put at 20. Tapping gives a
more voluminous flow than from Para trees,
while priges are usually about 16 per cent
lower. As torubber prospects, following on
yur information from Mr, H. C. Pearson
elsewhere, we quote the following sentences
(from our contemporary) uttered by a London
expert :—
You Ceylon people, when yon come home and see
motor cars running about for the first time, are apt
to get the idea that there isan enormous increase
in the demand. This is not borne out of the figures,
Although there is no oversupply, it cannot be said
that there is not enough rubber, I should not be
surprised to see prices drop another penny or two,
with a smart recovery in the spring.
GRASS AND FoDDER,—It is only by bitter ex-
perience that states, like individuals, learn
obvious truths. The South African War has
taught its lessons outside the Dark continent
and India is paying more attention to transport,
and cattle and horse breeding than if did before,
. The last famine, too, has impressed the Indian
authorities with the need of providing food for
beasts as well as for man in emergencies. We
read in an Indian paper that ‘“‘Geheral Sir Alfred
Gaselee, while in Bundelkhund visited the head-
quarters of the Grass Farm at Jhansi, inspected
the pressing operations and showed particular
interest in the quality of the hay. ‘The Inspecting
Officers have been over the whole of Messrs Abbott
Brothers’ farms, which extend over a distance of
250 miles, going thoroughly into the details and
capacities of the business. The farm has now
eight hydraulic presses, pressing 2,500 maunds of
fodder daily; and the attention given to its
progress by the head of the Command shows that
it is being taken into serious consideration as an
adjunct to the military resources of the country
in case of an emergency.” Ss
~~“
JAN, 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 483
TO THE PLANTING WORLD.
Seeds & Plants of Commercial Products.
Hevea Brasiliensis.—Orders being booked for the coming crop August-Septen li
1903, booking necessary before the end of April, quantities of 100,000 aa ven at ea Roe Sal
ayailable all the year round, 100,000 and over at special low rates. A leading Rubber planter in Sumatra.
who purchased 50,000 seeds in 1899, and 100,00) in 1900, writes us, under date 15th November, 1900 ET
received your letter of 20th October, from which I learn that you added anothez case of 5,000 seeds to replace
the loss, &c. Iam satisfied hereby, and even after this adding I am satisfied by the whole delivery of this
year,’’ Special offer, post free on application.
Castilloa Elastica.—True superior variety cultivated in Mexico, seeds from speci: rye
old untapped trees. Orders booked for Gaho een vee delivery 1903, immediate f epee? nba cpenved
large quantities on special terms; Plants in Wardian cases. if Sine?
A foreign firm of Planters writes under date 11th October, 1901 :—‘‘ We beg to enquire whether you
would procure us 100,000 Castilloa seeds, in which month we might expect them, and what would be the
ayerage price.” Special offer, post free on application.
Manihot Glaziovii:—Sceds and Plants available all the year round, 100,000 and over at special
low rates. A Mexican planter in sending an order for this seed wrote on the 22nd August, 1900 :—“TIf£ they
arrive fresh and germinate easily I may send you larger orders, as they are for high ground. where tho
Castilloa does not thrive.’’
: i Ficus Elastica.—Seeds available in May-June; booking necessary before the end of March
also plants.
_Mimusops Globosa (Balata) wood of the tree is much sought for buildings, fruits sweet lik
and eaten, oil font seeds, said to yield as much as 45 lbs. of dry rubber per tree per Hee ve en
drunk and when diluted with water used as cow’s milk, grow from-sea-ievel up to 2,000 feet orders being
booked fox seeds and plants, price on application. ne 2
Cinnamomum Zeylanicum (Cinnamon superior variety).—New crop of seed i oj .
booking necessary before toad of February, also plants. y) ni ADBL bo June ;
Coffee Arabica-Liberian Hybrid.—A highly recommended leaf-disease resisting hardy new
variety of Coffee (cross between Arabian and Liberian). New crop March-April ; immediate booking necessary
A foreign Agricultural Department writes dating 9th September, 1901:—‘‘ Please accept our. order
for 175 lbs. of Tea seed and for 2,000 Coffee beans. In regard to Coffee seed I would say that this will be the
first importation made by this department, and we will leave the selection of the varieties to be sent to
your judgment,’’
OUR DESCRIPTIVE PRICE LISTS.
The following six Descriptive Price Lists are now being forwarded with Circular ‘ i
of Seeds and Plants of Rubber and other Economic Products :— = s and special offer
1. ‘Tropical Seeds and Plants of Commerzial Products, enlarged edition for 1902-1903.
9. Seeds and Plants of Shade, Timber, Wind-Belts, Fuel and Ornamental Trees, Trees for Road-
sides, Parks, Open Spaces, Pasture Lands, Avenues, Hedges, and for planting among crops (Tea, Coffee
Cacao, Cardamoms, &c.) ’
3, Seeds and Plants of Tropical Fruit Trees including Mango grafts.
4, Bulbs, Tubers and Yams.
5, Orchids—Ceylon and Indian,
6. Seeds and Plants of Palms, Calamus, Pandanus, Cycads, Tree and other Ferns, Grotons
Roses, Dracinas, Shrubs and Creepers. "9 ’
Special Arrangements made with foreign Governments, Botanical and Agricultural Depart.
ments, Planters and others for supplying seeds and plants of Commercial Products in larger quantities,
‘‘ Sourn ArRrica.”—The great authority on South African affairs of 25th March, 1899, says :—
““ An interesting Catalogue reaches us from the Hast. It is issued by W1~L14m BrorueErs, Tropical Seed
Merchants of Henaratgoda, Ceylon, and schedules allthe useful and beautiful plants which will thrive in
tropical and semi-tropical regions. We fancy Messrs. Williams should do good business, for now that the
great Powers have grabbed all the waste places ofthe earth, they must turn to and prove that they wree
worth the grabbing. We recommend the great Powers and Concessionaries under them to go to William
Brothers.”
Agents in London ;—Mussrs. P. W. WOOLLEY & Co., 90, Lower Thames Street.
Agent in Colombo, Ceylon ;—E. B. CREASY, Esq.
Agent in British Central Africa :—T. H. LLOYD, Esq., Blantyre.
Telegraphic Address + J. P WILLIAM & BROTHERS
Witr1am, Henarataopa, CEYLON.
cae A.I, and A.B.C. Codes used.
Tropical Seed Merchants,
HENARATGODA, CEYLON
484
Correspondence.
To the Editor.
TEA PRUNING IN INDIA AND CEYLON.
Calcutta, Dee. 9,
S1r,—In your last issue in commenting upon Mr
Claud Ba)d’s book on Indian Tea, you threaten us
witha “new Asian mystery” apropos of Mr
Bald’s dictum that the cuts made in pruning tea
should face the North. Di meliora !—and, if I can
avert the prospect, lexpect your thanks. Mr
Bald has stated an Indian belief. Beliefs, as some
one stated of morality, are often questions of
latitude. Don’t you think the latitude contains
the solution of the matter and gives a clue to the
reason for the belief? At the pruning season in
India the sun is at the South and, consequently if
the slanting cuts usual in pruning are made with
a Nerth aspect, they are protected from the direct
raysof the sun. It appears probable that the
belief that the direct rays are injurious in their
effects on the fresh ‘‘ wounds” lies at the bottom
of the practice. Ido not propose to enter into the
merits of the question or to state that in my
opinion it matters a brass button or not, but
merely desire to clear up the ‘‘ Asian mystery,”
Of course it was hard lines to ask you to believe
right away without excuse assigned, as in Ceylon
you are nearly in the case of the ‘‘naked Negro
panting on the line”—(“do you boast of your golden
store and palmy wine”? Toddy, I suppose, —
horrid stuff), Well, your sun does not go South
very much andif it did with your practice of
pruning at whatever time of the year you please
(convenient, and no doubt accounts for some
Ceylon teas I have seen) the position of the cuts
is not even theoretically material to you.
Hovever, in this case, the prophet has honour
in his own country (and remember he is writing on
Indian tea). In India we should be inclined to
believe Mr Bald even where he assigns no reasons,
for his reputation isa very solid one as an ex-
perienced planter,— Yours faithfully.
CHARLES JUDGE,
|We are quite willing to allow Mr Claud Bald’s
apologist to accept everything which his mentor
.may dictate regarding the cultivation of the tea
bush with or without reason; but an opinion on
pruning which ts only ‘‘ probable,” and the merits
of which Mr Charles Judge wisely declines to
discuss, does nob appear to us to be worth much;
nor is it likely to be adopted by the practical
planter of Ceylon.—Ep. 7.A.]
RUBBER-GROWING IN CEYLON,—I.
(CASTILLOA.)
Colombo, Dec. 12.
Sir,—The very valuable circular of the Royal
Botanic Gardens on ‘‘ Panama Rubber” or ‘Cas. —
tilloa”’ is before ue and as I read a friend calls my
attention to a cutting from one of the Colombo
dailies signed ‘‘ W EG” which questions the sound-
ness of the conclusions reached at Peradeniya and
Heneratgoda, Personally they had appealed to
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
[Jan. 1, 1904.
me as being very fair and not at alla condemnation ©
of the Castilloa’ Elastica as a tree worthy of the
Ceylon planters’ attention, As I spent the better
part of last winter in Mexico especially to visit
and examine castilloa plantations, I feel that a
word just here may not be out of season, - ri
In the first place while the rainfall and climate
here are favourable to the quick and lusty growth
of the tree, such soils, as I have seen, would not
tempt me to try it, were the experiment to be
mine. Its long tap root certainly demands a deep
rich soil while the laterals do not compare with
the Hevea for length or food-gathering ability.
The Tierra Caliente—where my researches took
place—has about 100 inches of rain, about the same
climate as Kandy, and a dry season that is practi-
cally the same. It is, however, only in the rich
deep well-drained soils there thabp the Castilloa
amounts to anything. In shallow gravelly soils,
it does very well for a few years and then stands
still], Several abandoned plantations, of which
Filisola on the Coatzacoalecos river is a good
example, testify to this. I agree with “ W HG,”
that the Castilloa is a very hardy tree; that is,it will
stand a lot of cutting, hacking ete., and recover
—provided it is in a spot suited to its best develop-
ment. Otherwise it is just the opposite and takes
any sort of excuse to wither and die. I am also
inclined to think that those who tap the Castilloa
before the seventh or eighth year will find much
of the latex immature and of little use. It is
possible, of course, to select trees that have matured
earlier and get good latex, but the chances are
thab the labourers will mix good and bad and injure
the resulting Caoutchouc. This is why most of the
planters in Mexico do not figure on any profitable
crop under seven years and some put it as high
as ten.
Of course in the Matale district which, I fear, I
shall not be able to visit during my present stay
in Ceylon, the-soil nay be all that is desired and
the Castilloa do finely.
I believe fully in ‘‘W E G’s” conclusions as to
planting cuttings, and even go further and hold
that planting: seed is best of all, and that in
the open, and at the beginning of the rainy
season.
May I add that what the Ceylon planters are
doing with India Rubber, their alertness and
interest, as shown by such correspondence as that
from which I have quoted, have astonished and
delighted me, and I trust that the day is not many
years distant when the Islard’s yearly out-pub
will be millions of pounds instead of thousands.
HENRY C. PEARSON,
Dec. 12,
DEAR SrR,—The same fate that awaited
Cinchena will happen to Rubber if this fool-hardy
close planting is persisted in. As long as Cinchona
was planted at large intervals, it did well and grew
luxuriantly ; directly close planting was resorted to
canker set in and killed it out by hundreds of acres
atatime. Why not plant rubber alternately with
coconuts, wide apart, and ensure success instead
of courting disaster? I have been bitten by greed ;
but not agaiu, I hope,— Yours truly,
» FACIL; |
pe hee
JAN. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
RAMIE FIBRE FOR CEYLON.—I.
Hampstead, N.W., Nov, 21.
DEAR Sir,—Your colony will do well to
start Ramie as an industry. I am collecting
information for three Government Depart-
ments and I am convinced Ramie will come
to the front very shortly. 1 am in a posi-
tion to place 100 tons per week if quality and
price are satisfactory; and if regular supplies
can be relied on there are many other firms
anxious to open up in Ramie. In spite of
the cold water thrown on it by some Gov-
ernment officials from practical experience
I urge you to recommend your planters to
grow Ramie. Floreat Ramie is the motto of
—Yours faithfully,
EDWARDS-RADCLYFFE.
Il,
Dec, 14th.
DEAR SrR,—Concerning Ramie fibre, what
people want to know is how to prepare and
sell the product, I know many who have
grown this plant. Any one can grow it, for
it grows with the rank, gross greed of ground
typical of all its tribe. I have produced it
luxuriantly both in tropical Australia and
Central Mexico, and, like everyone else I have
known who did so, I had to root it out and
turn if, . INSULA.,
III.
West Hampstead, N.W., Dec. 18,
DEAR Sir,—As former correspondence from the
Colonial Secretary was published in your columns,
September 10 and October 27, I now enclose a
reply I have sent to the Colonial Secretary, as I
presume his letter to me will be published as
before, My object is to help Ceylon and point out
to the Colony the business they are missing. Such
pessimistic reports as Director J C Willis writes
have all along stood in the way of Ramie. Why
should difficulties exist in Ceylon that are not
experienced in China and Japan? If planters
expect to be guaranteed from loss or stipulate
conditions which don’t exist in any other industry,
then Ramie will not find a place in the agricul-
tural economy of your Colony. If you would like
proof of the possibilities of the Ramie trade and
its uses in Europe, if you will instract your
London representative, I shall be glad to satisfy
the enquiry, and 1 have no doubt his report will
be satisfactory to the encouragement of estab-
lishing the Ramie Industry in Ceylon. I still
maintain it is a crop worth Ceylon’s attention—
Floreat Ranie.—Yours faithfully,
D. EDWARDS RADCLYFFE,.
(Copy. )
The Hon, The Colonial Secretary, Ceylon.
Dec, 12.
Sir,—In reply to yours of Noy. 21, enclosing
letter of Director John C Willis, Iam sorry the
merits of Ramie are so grudgingly given. I notice
Director Willis recedes from some of his conten-
ions, but he still adheres to the fallacy mercerised
cotton takes the place of Ramie lustre, acom-
parison about as appropriate as ‘‘lemonade is equal
to champagne.” Mercerised cotton is almost
useless ; its gloss is of the most fleeting character ;
itis los) almost first time of wearing, certainly
AGRICULTURIST. 485
gone first shower or firsh wash. Ramie improves
by washing. The quality of cheapnessis no com-
pensation for nastiness. The Ceylon planter, he
says, is ‘‘concerned with textiles of the present,” if
vo he had better devote his attention to Ramie unless
he wishes to be left. As to Rhea being exhaustive
isnot the experience of others. His allusions to
rotation, I do not understand, Ramis lasts forj 16
to 18 years, If it requires manure why nob
give it as to other crops? It always pays. I doubt
if your farmers have a crop that will pay as
handsomely. The Chinese are making it pay,
Ihave bought at £18 and only lately ab £40, and
I am intormed the Chinese planters make large
profits at the lower figure. My quotation is nob
for filasse, but ribbons. Filasse would fetch £50 a
ton—the cost of filassing on the place of production
would be trifling, I should say a properly organised
degummiag station would turn it out, including
cost of growing, at £10 per ton. As to ‘‘ the pro-
cess of cleaning being a stumbling block,”
this shows me it has not been properly
understood, If the Chinese can do, it, surely,
the Sinhalese are as capable. If your plan-
ters will only undertake it properly, there are
methods and machinery waiting employment that
will sarmount all difficulties if, which I doubt, any
need exist, As to the nonsense of planters being
guaranteed from loss and expecting to have con-
tracts till they can submit samples, such impos-
sible conditions have too long stood in the way
of Ramie. Evidently the planter is so afraid of
losing, be misses the opportunity of making.
‘“‘ Nothing venture nothing have” applies in full
force. I know nothing about the areas waiting
cultivation, but I do know none of the crops men-
tioned by Director Willis will pay so well as
Ramie. As to my coming’to Ceylon and planting
&e., Director Willis cannot be in earnest. If all
Colonies talked in this way, 1 should want to
possess the earth to comply with such conditions.
I will, however, make your Government this offer,
I will teach you how to filasse without remunera-
tion except a share of profits, As to the proof of
demand, I have been preparing statistics for the
Government here. There are firms here willing to
take from 2 to 70 tons per week—to say nothing
of the demand in Sweden, Switzerland, France
and Germany. If there are any capitalists in
Ceylon with enterprise enough to take up Ramie,
if they will communicate with me I would soon
satisfy them that demand exists. My opinion is
that Government would do well to make the en-
quiry and further to encourage the industry; where-
as by circulating such pessimistic reports, they
retard the Ramie industry and throw it into the
hands of Germans and French who are fully alive
to the potentialities of Ramie and are making
profit whilst we sleep. For further proof, see what
Japs and Chinese are doing. Per same post I send
you printed matter which might do good to your
Colony if published. My object is to help our
Empire generally.—Yours faithfully,
D. EDWARDS RADCLYFFE,
CROTALARIA,
Dee. 21,
Sir,—A correspondent suggests that I should fur-
nish botanical and vernacular names of all the
leguminous plants that ought to be cultivated on
estates, The suggestion is made, I understand, ig
re See A Sa ae
486
connection with the recommendation that advan.
tage should be taken of the property possessed by
most leguininous plants (and particularly the
Papilionacee or plants of the bean sub-order)
of drawing and fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere,
The order Leguminoseé is so largely represented
in the island, and so many common weeds belong
to.it, that the question of ‘‘ cultivation” might
almost be passed over, and only the question of
conserving the nitrogen-fixing weeds that occur
naturally in the locality considered. Indeed, the
latter procedure will, I think, prove in the end
the most convenient and economical method of
taking advantage of the property referred to,
though it may bea fact that some Leguminose which
would require tobe ‘‘cultivated” possess this pro-
perty in a more marked degree than others. At any
rate, ‘the necessity need hardly arise for importing
new species for the purpose indicated. Hven the
much-talked-of ‘‘ Cow-pea” and ‘Florida Velvet
Bean.” which for long had the reputation’ of being
the best plants for gceen-manuring, are hardly
distinguishable from certain varieties of ‘‘Mé”
and the plant called ‘‘ Achariya pala” respectively.
The term Crotalaria (uot Crotolaria) is the name,
not of any single plant, but of a whole genus,
of which there are a number of species indigenous
to the island, Perhaps the best known of these
is “Hana” (Crotalaria juncea) from which is
obtained the fibre used locally in the manufacture
of fishing nets. But there are other common
weeds such as the ‘‘ Andanaheriyas ’ (Crotalaria
retusa and verrucosa) belonging to the same genus,
No one need feel bound to select any special
favourite of the hour as recommended by seedsmen,
for there are leguminous wild plants suitable for -
green-manuringto befound every where—by the sea,
e.g. ‘‘Mudu-awara” (Canavallia obtusifolia), in the
dry low-country e.g., Aswenna (Alyssicarpus vagi=
nalis) at less dry and higher elevations e.g, Alupila
(Tephrosia tinctoria) and so onaccording to varying
loeal conditions, such as elevation temperature, rain-
fall soil, &c. As an illustration of how existing weeds
ean be turned to account may be cited the case of
the ubiquitous seasitive plant (Mimosa pudica)
which though a troublesome weed, is being utilised
to advantage in some localities where it has taken
possession of the soil, But less intractable weeds,
and, where possible, plants not without some
economic value, whether for food, fodder, fibre, &e.,
should preferably be selected. The chief point,
however, is that such plants should be favoured
as have found local conditions suitable for robust,
and even rank, giowth, and self-regeneration.
The Kew Balletin has recommended the
folloving leguminous plants as_ useful
for fodder and green manuring. Vigna catiang
(cow pea or -‘' gas mé”’), Cajanus indicus (dhail
or ‘‘rata-tora”), Phaseolus Junatus (bonchi)
Dolichos lablab (Dambala?), and Phascolus
Mungo now P Maw (muneta) Dr Watt, ree
ferring to. Cicer artetinum (Kadala), Crotalaria
Juncea (Hana), Dolichos biforus (Kollu), Indi-
gofer'a tinctoria (nil-awari), saysi—'* 1b need only
be-added, regarding the remarks that will be found
Under these and such-like crops, that they were
printed in the Dictionary before the publications of
Hellriegell’s discoveries, and express, therefore, agri-
cultural experiences that havebeen handed down for
generations. It is significant that the chief plants
that in India are valued as green manures, or have
the reputation of improving the soil, should all be-
long to the order Papilionacee.”—Yours truly, ©
C, DRIEBERG,
THE TROPICAL’ AGRICULTURIST.
both .
faithfully,
(Jan. 1, 1904.7
TEA DUST.
Kandy, Dec. 24.
Sir,—I enclose herein copy of a letter
received from the Secretary, Ceylon Asso-
ciation in London, addressed to him by the
Secretary of the Tea Buyers’ Association
in regard to the lining of packages contain-
ing tea aust, to be published for general
information.—Yours faithfully, A. PHILIP.
165, Fenchurch Street, London E. C., Dec. 2.
W Martin Leake Esq. Secretary Ceylon Asso:
ciation in London.
Dear Sir,—At a meeting of my Committee
yesterday the fact that carriers are refusing to
take delivery of dusts and small teas unless
cased was diseussed and it was resolved :—
“That the Committee recommend the members
of the Tea Buyers’ Association not to purchase
after the lst July 1904 packages of dust and
small tea weighing more than 60 Ib. nett lined
with 5 oz lead,”
My Committee hope that your Association
will let this resolution be known to growers
and will use its influence in getting the system
adopted.—Lam, &c, :
(Sigd,) J. A, BROWN, (Secretary). .
MONSOON BIRDS.
Pelmadulla, Jan. 3. -
DEAR SiR,—There are many birds which
come in with the monsoon, but the one re-
ferred to ky your correspondent is doubtless
one cf the bee-eaters, merops philippensis
or m. viridis, most likely the former, the
blue-backed bee-eater. This bird is sometimes
quite erroneously spoken of as the azure fly-
catcher, there evidently being some confu-
sion in the lay mind between /fly-catcher and
bee-eater,— Yours faithfully, :
C. M. HARBORD.
THE CLYDE TEA ESTATHS CO. LTD. :
GREEN THA CONTRACT, 40 CENTS. .
22; Baillie Street, Fort, Colombo, Jan, 4.-
DEAR Sir,—We beg to intorm you that this
Company’s tea crop for the current year has
been sold, made into Green Tea, at 40 cents
per lb, delivered in Colombo; any ‘ Thirty
Committee” bonus being payableto buyers.
To secure this comparatively satisfactory
price, a more elaborate process of manufacture
than hitherto in use has beeen adopted at
an estimated increased cost of nearly one cent
er lb. of made tea.—We are, dear Sir, yours
LEWIS BROWN & Co,
Agents and Secretaries,
PLANTING OF RUBBER TREES IN BURMA
Kandy, Jan. 5.
~ Srr,—I enclose herein copy of correspondence
received from Secretary, Ceylon Association in
London, which explains itself and in continua-
tion of the correspondence on the subject printea
at page XC of the correspondence portion of the.
Year Book of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon
(Kandy) 1901-1902.—Yours faithfully,
A. PHILIP. ©
JAN; i, 1964, }
From Ceylon Association in London,
61 & 62, Gracechurch Street, EC,
To A Philip Esq., Secretary, Planters’ Associ-
ation, Kandy, Ceylon, 18th Dec., 1903.
DEAR Sir,—I beg to enclose for the informa-
of all concerned copy ot correspondence with the
India Otfice as to the Indian Government ex-
eriments in the Planting of Rubber trees in
arma. There seems to have been misappre-
hension as to the extent of these experiments
which will be removed by the explanation of the
Secretary of State.—Yours faithfully,
(Signed) WM MaArrTiN LEAKE, Secretary.
61 & 62, Gracechurch Street, 27th, Nov. 1903.
Srr,—lIn reference to my. letter of 2nd August,
1901, and your reply thereto R&S 2007 of 8th
idem on the subject of planting of Rubber trees
in Burma by the Indian Government, I am to
say that informdtion reaches my Committee that
the area planted already exceeds 10,000 acres, and
that itis yet being further extended by all means
available, by the Forest Department.
On 17th May, 1901, the late Secretary of State
for India, in a reply to a question in the House
of Commons, said that the fndian Government
had ‘‘ recently authorised an extensive experi-
mental plantation of the Para-Rubber tree in the
Tenasserim division of Burma” and he stated
the object of the Government to be ‘ to do their
best to develop the resources of that country and
encourage private enterprise by showing that this
tree can be profitably cultivated in parts of India.”
I am respectfully to submit that a plantation of
10,000 acres, though undoubtedly extensive, canaob
reasonably be considered experimental ; and so
far from acting as an encouragement to private
enterprise the extensive experiment is, as a matter
of fact, viewed with very great alarm by the many
private persons now engaged in Rubber planting
in Ceylon and other British possessions. In
Ceylon alone there were, according to the Jatest
returns, nearly 12,000 acres of Rubber trees
planted, To the owners of these lands it is a
great discouragement to find that the Indian
Government is likely to bea very powerful com-
petitor with them in the market for their pro-
duce. Ihave the honour to be, Sir, your obedient
servant, (Signed) WM. MARTIN LEAKE, Secretary,
The Under Secretary of State for India, India
Office, Whitehall, S.W.
India Office, Whitehall, S, W. 11th Dec,, 1903.
Sir,—I am directed by theSecretary of State for
India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 27th November, in which you
represent that the size of the Burma rubber plan-
tation is so large that it cannot reasonably be con-
sidered experimental, and further, that the experi-
ment is viewed with very great alarm by many
private persons engaged in rubber planting in
Ceylon and other British possessions.
In reply, I am to say that Mr Secretary Brodrick
is not disposed to fetter the discretion of the
Government of India, who, he considers, are in the
best position to judge what is a suitable area for
the rubber plantations, which they have experi-
mentally undertaken. As the total world’s pro-
duction of rubber exceeds 50,000 tons per annum,
and as only 100 tons per annum are estimated as
the output of the 10,000 acres in Burma, it seems
highly improbable that the Burma rubber planta-
tions, even if they were considerably larger than
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
487
is at present contemplated, would have any per
ceptible effect on prices.
This beirg the ease, the Secretary of State does
not see how the existence of these plantations
should excite alarm among private persons engaged
in rubber planting in Ceylon, especially as there
is no reason to believe that the supply of the com-
modity is, or will be in the immediate future, in
excess of the demand.—I am, Sir; your obedient
servant, (Signed), HORACE WALPOLE,
The Secretary, Ceylon Association in London.
-61 and 62 Gracecbureh St.; E.C., Dee. 11th, 1903,
Sir,—I have the honour to acknowledge receipt
of your letter (KR and S 30, 60) of this date.
There must, I think, be an error in the estimate
of the output of Rubber put forward, viz., 100 tons
from 10,000 acres, or 22'41b per acre. Such a
result as this would hardly show that ‘‘ this tree
can be profitably cultivated.”
Mr A Dupont, Curator of the Botanic Station,
Seychelles, in his report dated 31st July last, says:—
**An acre of land may yield 200 1b of Rubber at least”
and again ‘‘a plantation in Ceylon yields seven
years after planting 300 lb per acre per annum.”
It seems probable that the correct estimate is
1,000 tons of Rubber from the 10,000 acres, But in
that case the argument adopted in your letter under
reply loses nine-tenths of its force,—I am, Sir, your
obedient servant, (Signed) WM MARTIN LEAKE,
Secretary.
The Under-Secretary of State for India, White-
hall, S W.
India Office, Whitehall, S W, Dec. 18th, 1903.
Sir, —I am directed by the Secretary of State for
India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of llth December on the subject of
Rubber. tree cultivation by the Forest Department
in Burma.
In reply I am to say that the yield per acre musb-
necessarily vary with the method of cultivation
alopted and the number of trees planted per acre.
In undertaking the experiment, with a view
to ascertaining the conditions under which
the Hevea may be grown in Burma, the
Forest Department is operating in an area
already under natural forest, and the method
of planting adopted differs greatly from the close
and continuous plantations to which your letter
apparently refers, the seed being sown only at
wide intervals in natural forest, The estimate of
yield given in my letter of 11th December was
based on the number of rubber-trees expected to
be in existence at the end of the 12th year under
the particular mode of treatment which it was
proposed to pursue.—I am, Sir, your obedient
servant, (Sgd.) A. GODLEY.
The Secretary, Ceylon Association.
61 & 62, Gracechurch Street, Dec. 18, 1903.
Sir,—I am in receipt of your letter (R. &S8.
3,196) of this date,
The explanation given of the method adopted by
the Indian Government in planting the Rubber
trees in Burma will no doubt go far to allay the
alarm, felt by those engaged in Planting in Ceylon
and elsewhere, at the magnitude of the operations
of which reports have been received.
In order to attain this result I am sending a
copy of our correspondence to Ceylon for publica-
tion in the local newspapers,—I am, Sir, your
obedient servant,
(Saed.) WM, MARTIN LEAKE, Secretary.
The Under-Secretary of State for ludia, White:
hall, Ss W,
2
488 THE TROPICAL
CEYLON. MEN IN THE FAR WEST.
COFFEE IN PUERTO RICO:
OLD PLANTERS IN CHICAGO.
[As soon as it was announced in the Chicago
papers, that Mr. J. Ferguson was to speak in that
city on ‘‘ Ceylon,” several old Ceylon residents
sent. cards to await his arrival. Among the rest
was Mr. Augustus Waddington, who was planting
in Ceylon from 1858 to 1868—recalling R. B.
Tytler, Col. Byrde, senr., and other old residents.
Mr. Waddington is still hale and hearty and in
business in Chicago and he handed to our Senior,
as of interest to him and to Ceylon planters, a
copy of the following letter which appears to be
from Capt. Hansard, formerly of the Ceylon Rifles
and the Police Department, and who will be
remembered by many of our readers. The informa-
tion afforded is very interesting and will be read
with profit; and the interesp is increased by
Capt. Hansard being so well-known here, while
his correspondent, Mr. Waddington, has also a
warm cornerfor Ceylon.—ED., 7. A.]
September 17th, 1898.
A. Waddington, Esq., Chicago.
DEAR SIR,—The British Consul at San Juan has
placed in my hands your letter of inquiry of 24th
August requesting that I would answer direct
to you, and this [ have very much pleasure in
doing. But I must digress for a moment to
notice that you were formerly in Ceylon. I was
out ‘there in the days of the Ceylon Rifles which
regiment perhaps you remember and by a peculiar
coincidence one of my greatest friends out there
was a Waddington—Cyril; I wonder if he can
be any relation of yours. Now to
COFFEE IN PUERTO RICO.
I must first premise for your general information
that all costs I may mention will be in Puerto
Rico currency; and, owing to recent events, we are
in perfect ignorance as to its value, though the
rate of exchange up to the beginning of the war
has varied from $7.50 to $8.70 to the 1 stg.
Present quotations are very high and unsettled,
and we are uncertain as to how the Government
of the United States will take over the coinage,
which is purely insular. The District I live in
is at the extreme N-E. corner of the island. The
highest point in the island is near me and is
just over 3,000 ft. high. The District is new to
coffee, though every peasant has had a few coffee
trees about his hut from time immemorial—and
they bear well. Government land is to be had
about here in plenty at suitable elevation, say
from 1,000 feet upwards. This is all thickly
covered with most valuable timber; the price for
this has hitherto been $4 per acre (and less). But
appropriated land can be had at about the same
price $4 and at $5. These latter are at lesser
elevations, considerably cleared and all robbed of
the valuable timber. Of the several estates
Around me, I am unable to name more than
one that is doing even fairly, The remainder,
fear, must be run abt a _ tremendous
loss, but the total ignorance of anything
CONNECTED WITH COFFEE
amply accounts for thiz. There is no euch a thing
as regularity of distance, lining, holing, pruning
of any sort, or frequent weeding. Trees ot any
size, pulled out of ground anyhow and in any
weather are put ina hole, made with the point of a
AGRICULTURIST, (San. 1, 1904.
cutlass—never singly, often three and sometimes
even six together—and are then allowed to grow to
any height and often with weed enough to hide
a 4feet or 5 feet tree, Under such conditions it
would be misleading to quote returns, even were
such obtainable; and ideas are so vague as to yield
per acreor per tree. My own trees are too young
yet to quote from and my this season’s crop is only
now ripening; but I may say I find that, given
fair treatment
COFFEE DOES WELL
~ at any elevation, and for first year’s bearings trees
bear well. Another reason for none of the neighe
bouring estates doing wellis want of capital and the
fact that taxes have been sohigh in ourdistrict that
nearly everybody has at one time or other aban-
doned for a time, and (perhaps more than anything)
to there generally having been a dishonest, ignorant
man in charge. I cannot answer your question as
to what the cost of Government land will now be.
I can today obtain several hundred acres of land
at $4 cash. There are several estates, of sizes
varying from 300 to 700 or 800 acres, planted over
with coffee, I was seeking information for a New
Orleans gentleman about two years since and a
place of 800 acres—with house,and 150 acres planted
—was offered me at $15,000; but I met the owner
when in the American lines lately and he told me
confidentially he would not sell under $100,000
now, because the Americans were in ; still I would
not like to offer him the $15,000 if I did not want
to buy. There are several ocher places about,
whose owners would sell with little or no persua-
sion, all with some acres of coffee in production.
But knowing somewhat of the Spanish—or rather
Puerto Rican-— people here, I would be sorry to ask
their selling price and in the event ot your deciding
to come this way you could not do better than start
enquiries through a resident—I mean,of course, non-
Spanish. The clearing of forest land would be
somewhat costly, about $10 per acre; but this would
be according to your views on ‘‘ shade.” Holing,
say $8 per acre. Good plants, when obtainable
cost 25 ets. per 100; few labourers about here have
any idea how to put ina plant. Some half-dozen
I have taught myself, but filling holesis $1°50 or $2,
weeding about $1°50 per acre if done frequently.
otherwise I find it costs from $4 to $5 per acre’
LABOUR
costs— good men 50 cts. per day and downwards to
18 cts. for a boy ; they come to work at sun up and
leave at sun down. On this point I may here say
I quite expect: that the incoming of work will
somewhat raise the price of labour if immigrants
do not come too. It is not necessary to make any
‘estimate for barracks for labourers except at high
elevations away from the residences of peasantry
and then you can generally put up palm tree huts
at $6, or $8 each for one family. I have only one
resident Jabourer—my headman, and, of course,
the stableman.
I have a Gordon pulper, an American washer
and drier with engine and boiler, and a Gordon
(Smout) huller. I only know. or have heard of
one other place in the island having
ANY MACHINERY
but several—many—have ‘‘ tojona ” and some dry
their coffee ; there is nothing of this sort near me
except locally-made wooden pulpers. —S—
Now with reference to other parts.of the island
I am only able to tell you there are districts which
have large estates and some fine coffee, byt they
JAN. 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
ure very old and get no cultivation or pruning and
I fancy, from what I have heard from many and
a little [ have seen, that trees are in the same state
as those about hereand moreover lands are taken
up except at great distances from the coast and
far from roads: but there is a chain of bills from
end to end of the island which comes near to the
sea coast both N & S the whole length, and
though I do not say the following on any autho-
rity I believe I am quite correct in saying that
except at this end and within short distances
of this district, land suitable for coffee is
taken up, I have passed through a great deal of it.
I know of no other Englishman or British
subject coffee planting here. [do know a half-
German, half-Danish W I family who speak
English, but they are sugar people, with cofiee
the property of one, and I fancy not very much
of it, I can name you, should you so desire,
several English sugar people; but if you wrote
them regarding coffee you would probably not hear
from them again as they know nothing of it and
would refer to me tor information. | However,
should you desire anything further, I will do what
I can to assist you. * * *—I am, Very
faithfully yours,
ARTHUR C. HANSARD,
[We may mention that another ex-Ceylon resi-
dent met by our Senior in Chicago is Mr. W
Cartwright, well known in Uva and Nuwara Eliya
during the ‘‘ seventies,” he having been Assistant
in Messrs, Glenny & Co., and atterwards partner
with Mr James MacLaren. After a most varied
career, including an attempt to make coffee pay
in Guatemala (where the Jamaican negroes gave
the labour, but seemed only good to grow bananas!)
Mr Cartwright lost both his money and health
(through jungle fever) there and returned to the
States penniless. Fortunately, he got a start
through an American philanthropist as well as
keen man of business, and while engaged in
Kansas City asan Agent for the Pullman Car Co,,
he encountered Alan Black, formerly of Dikoya,
on his way to Mexico for coffee and rubber. Mr
Cartwright is now in a comfortable position in
Chicago, has his own home 12 miles, married, with
son and daughter doing well in business, with
another daughter at home. Old friends in Ceylon
will be glad to learn of one whose name was
known to all the old Uva planters and ‘in the
Stores of Colombo, Kandy, &c. That Mr Cart-
wright became a changed and useful man in
America is patent from the fact that, in his varied
career, he was for five years a Missionary to the
Indians in Dakota, where he ran frequent risks of
losing his life, one companion being killed. Mr
Cartwright is still an active man in good health.—
ED, 7.4.) ;
Sd
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES,
BuRMA—is beginning to grow English fruit in
certain favoured tracts in the Southern Shan
States where a Goverument orchard has so far
sueceeded as to now offer apple, pear and cherry
trees and strawberry plants for sale to the public.
—Pioneer, Dec. 30.
BANANAS AND PLANTAINS.—The following is a
highly coloured account from Yitbits of what
can be gained from the cultivation of bananas in
Jamaiea and the West Indies :—“ Immense for-
tunes have been made ont of the banana business,
AGRICULTURIST, 489
Revenues do not accrue alone from the vale of the
fruit, for the leaves are used for packing, the
wax found on the under side of the leaves is a
valuable article of commerce, Manila hemp is
made from the stems, and of this hemp are made
mats, plaited work, and lace handkerchiefs of the
finest texture. Moreover, the banana is ground
into banana flour. The island of Jamaica and the
West Indies generally yield great crops of this
useful fruit,”
TEA IN JAVA.—An extract from a Straits
paper quoted elsewhere, urging the greater
cultivation of the local (Java) market, is a
sign of the times and of the centrifugal moves
ment of tea-selling as regards Hurope, which
has lately resulted in the great development of
the Colombo and—latterly, more especially
—the Calcutta markets. But it is curious
to find a Java writer urging, as this one
does, the imitation of the make of China
teas. Japan greens have been held up to
Ceylon for imitation, to fetch the American
taste: but in this case the argument is that
Chinamen will be the people to drink the
Java tea if only China kinds are imitated !
A VARNISH FOR BOOKS IN Hot CLiMates,—In
regard to the protection of books from hot climates,
‘* Karachi” writes in ‘f The Model Engineer ’’:—
‘© T enclose a wrinkle in protecting books in hot cli=s
mates from the three destructive agencies, viz,
(1) damp, black insect, (2) small black insect,
and (3) cockroaches, by -coating the covers of
books with the varnish described on the reverse.
I think it may be useful to other readers :—
Dammer resin 56 Ab: cast ae OLS
Mastic An8 ie He 1. 2 028,
Canada balsam BS at viene VC OZs
Creasote {94 pt see & OZ
Spirit of wine ...20 fl ozs,
Where it is necessary to keep books or papers in
boxes, cupboards, or closed bookeases, some naph-
thaline balls or camphor should be always present
with them,
‘TEA SALES IN 1903.—The quantity of tea sold
locally this year is the largest on record, have
ing been 46,172,487 lb. against 42,874,399 in 1902,
The average price shows improvement on
the previous three years. In 1893 the total
quantity disposed of at local auctions was
only 14,365,017 lb., and it is satisfactory
to note that the market has continued to
expand steadily. We quote figures for 15 years:
Sold lb. Ay. cents.
1908... 46,172,487. - 38
1902 ... 42,874,499 34
1901... 39,154,993 338
1900 ... 38,442,996 344
1899... 31,970,236 384
1898 °°... 28,881,747 - 35
1897... 26,132,080 35
1896 .. 25,402,624 41
1895. ... 19,668,116 47
1894 ... 15,723,080 43
1893... 14,365,017 43
1892... 11,578,869 41
TS9k ends 9,578,611 41
1890. 6,114,225 43
1889 ... 4,627,762 463
The decrease in London sales is, of course,
due to less exports to the United Kingdom
this year,
490
SERICULTURE IN ORISSA,
“+1 An attempt is being made to introduce sericul-
ture on the Keonjhar Estate in Orissa, where con-
ditions are favourable for the industry. A trained
sericulturist lent by the Provincial Agricultural
' Department has been entrusted with the care of
the experiment which we trust will turn out well.
—M. Mail.
—_—__@—___—
PEARL FISHING AT THURSDAY ISLAND.
Brisbane, Dec, 10.—Mr J Douglas, Government
Resident on Thursday Island, who is on a visit to
Brisbane, states that the past pearl-shelling
season was the worst that he had known for
bad weather, but within the last two months a
good number of valuable pearls were obtained.
The supply of labour had been fairly good.
About two hundred natives were engaged in
pearl-fishing at New Guinea under white em-
ployers. He reports that head-hunting has ap-
parently been discontinued and that, generally
. speaking, the New Guinea natives wére making
good progress.— Western (W.A.) Mal.
——— eee
A SERIOUS COCOA TEST IN SURINAM,
It is said that the most promising prospect at
present for successful: investment and activity in
= agriculture is the development of the rubber
industry, but here again the boundary dis-
pute between Colombia, Ecuador and Peru make
_ the enterprise of doubtful value, for the rubber
tree forests’ of Colombia are in this disputed
territory. The building of the canal at Panama
would be the industrial salvation of
that. country, but open and secret influ-
ences are strenuous in. preventing any ami-
cable arrangement whereby the canal can be
built. It isdoubtful, therefore, whether Colombia
will improve her material conditions for many
years to ome, —Americun paper.
———E——————r
DISCOVERY OF THE PEARL-PRODUCING
PARASITE BY MR HORNELL,
(To the Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post.)
- Sir,—Mr James Hornell (formerly a student: of
“science in Liverpool, whois now in Ceylon carrying
on the investigation of the pearl-oyster ‘ fisheries,
which I started in 1902), tells me in a letter just
received that he has now succeeded in finding the
final stage of the larval worm ‘which we have deter-
- mined to be the exciting cause of pearl production,
“In the spring of 1902 we found this larva (a
tetrarhynchus) in the pearl-oyster, and what we took
to be its later stages. in the file-fishes (balistes) which
feed upon the pearl-oysters, and we felt pretty certain
(as I have stated in the first volume of my report now
published) that the adult worm would be found in one
of the large rays (trygon) or sharks which infest the
pearl banks. This prediction has now been verified.
Mr Hornellj writes from Trincomalie, November
16th, as follows:—“Just a line to tell you that I have
found the final host of ‘Tetrarhynchus unionifactor.’
It occurs, as surmised, in one of the large rays—a
trygon, I believe, but I have no work on fishes. and
capnot indentify at present. There is, I believe;
practically no doubt as to species: in the stomach of
the ray being two balistes (file-fishes) entire and ap-
parently just devoured, and plenty of bones;in the
folds of the spira valve various tetrarhynchids mature
of two sizes. I fancy of (two) species which bears out
_ Shipley’s belief of two species being in balistes; in the
stomach a larval tetrarhynchid, just where the larva
should be, the adults being further along: the canal,’
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
{Jan. 1, 1904.
The rest of the letter, hurriedly written to catch the
mail, refers to other matters. Mr Shipley, of Cam-
bridge, is examining the pearl-oyster parasites for me,
and willcontribute a joint paper with Mr Hornell to a
future volume of my report but it is due to Mr
Hornell, who is working most energetically in the
wilds of North Ceylon, that his interesting announce-
ment should be made known at once.—Yours, &c,.
W A HerpMan.
University of Liverpool, December 9:h, 1903”
———————
PINEAPPLE. PACKING
is a Singapore industry that seems limited solely
by the amount of the fruib available for the pur-
pose of packing. One American agent who was
visiting the town a little over a year ago made the
statement tuat his firm alone could handle twice
the entire united output of all the loval canneries if
he could only get it at the then current price. This
assertion may have been partly ‘‘ bluff,” but he
certainly could not secure nearly as many cases
as he then wanted. lt is likely that he may
shortly find a better supply available, because the
Australian colonies seem anxious to exclude the
Straits product in favour of pineapples of their
own growth. Mr DF Denham, the Minister of
Agriculture in Queensland, is bent on encouraging
the growing of pineapples in that State of the
Commonwealth at any rate. It seems that the
growers of the fruit in Queensland cannot at
present stand against Singapore competition. Mr
Denham means to change all that, and recently
addressed a meeting of growers on the subject.
On that occasion he said :—
Hie had been informed that pineapples at 1s a dozen
would actually allow the grower a small margin. At
Singapore the whole of the fruit was tinned not by
means of slicing, but simply by taking out the core
and packing the rest of the pine in tins for transport to
England at 3s 64 f.0.b. Singapore, If the Queens-
land grower could raise pines at Id each, the othe
charges would not exceed 13d so there was a margin
even that way. Stillthey had a market nearer at hand
that London, for Western Australia was accus-
tomed to getting her supply of pineapples
from Singapore, and they should take the place of
the latter. It was one of the advantages of federation
that the duty on pineapples was in favour of Queens-
land and against Singapore, and presently it would
disappear altogether as far as Queensland was concer-
ned. He would recommend the fruit-growers ia
that district to make ready to capture the Western
Australian market.
The last report of the Belgian Consul here
mentioned that about 400,000 cases of the tinned
fruit were shipped hence in 1901 to Europe and
America. He made no mention of the exports to
- Australia, but stated that about 75 per cent. of
the entire amount shipped went to the United
Kingdom. It was set forth in the same report”
that “The preparation of preserved pineapples is
an industry characteristic of Singapore, which is
the only place in the East where this is done. This
industry was originally founded by Frenchmen,
whose work-people eventually commenced to
manufacture. on their own account, hence the
great number of different brands which exist. The
principal factories are those of J Bastiani, A
Landau [both European—the latter a brother of Mr
Ad, Landau, of Colombo.—Ep. 7,4.]—and then
‘the Chinese, whose brands are pretty well known in
Europe. Pineapples are prepared in various ways.
The average price at Singapore is $5 the case of 3
dozen tins ; freight is charged at 403 per 50 cubit
ft,"—Straits Times, Dec. 24.
Jan. 1, 1904] THE TROPICAL
CEYLON GREEN TEAS” GRANT, 1903.
Kandy, Jan. 5.
Memo of payments made as ab 31st December,
1903, under the Ceylon Green eas Grant, 1903.
lb. Estate. Green Teas. Rupees
4,227 Deviturai do 126 8t
7,695 Rutherford do 230 85
3,933 Oaklands do 117: (99
4,575 Ayr do 137 25
11,360 Chesterford do 340 80
19,165 Siddewatte do 574 95
6,533 Polpitiya do 195 99
9,001 Polpitiya do 270 03
7,665 Polpitiya do 229 95
12,004 Brunswick do 360 V2
3,097 Farnham do 92 91
10,999 Carolina da 302 97
9,854 Carolina do 295 62
84,786 Kirriwana do 1,043 58
10,300 Yataderia do 309 00
5,493 Rayigam do 164 79
8,425 Sunnycroft do 252 78
7,675 Runawella do 239 29
4,906 Dooroomadella do 147 18
10,380 Yataderia do 311 40
4760 Clyde do 142 80
6,881 Udabage do 206 43
6,584 Claremont do 197 52
10,114 Ingoya do 303 42
2,340 Piccadilly do 70 20
18,835 Siddewatte do 565 05
11,400 Sunnycroft do 342 00
10,005 Knavesmire do 300 15
3,108 Deviturai do 93 24
10,312 Pambagama do 309 36
30,886 Kirriwana do 911 58
9,710 Sunnycroft do 291 30
1,383 Maskeloya do 41 49
7,341 Maldeniya do 220 23
10,300 Yataderia do 309 00
13,555 Arapolakande do 406 65
5,494 Rutherford do 164 82
8,466 Carolina do 253 98
4,080 Hanwella do 122 40
6,310 Ella Oya do 189 30
86,288 Kirriwane do 1,088 64
5,285 Chesterford do 158 59
1,754 St. Leonards-on-Sea do 52 62
4,026 Udabage do 120 78
10,380 Yataderia do 311 40
5,733 Rayigam do 171 99
11,600 Arnan do 348 (00
5,095 Ayr do 152 85
1,020 Ellakande do 30 60
10,360 Sunnycroft do 310 80
10,000 ‘Troy do 300 00
6,894 Vincit do 191 82
6,010 Mudamana do 180 30
3,346 Mudamana do 166 33
878 Mudamana do , 26 34
. 4,990 Dewalakande do 149 70
4,990 Dewalakande do 149 70
560 Dewalakande do 16 80
¥ 4,990 Dewalakande do 149 70
7,876 Perth do 256 28
21,240 Moray do 637 20
35,176 Kirriwana do 1,055 28
8,512 Heeloya do 105 36
“R17,287 20
R381,830 23
10,970,581 Ib, R899,117 43
The number of lb, paid onsince the 1st January,
1908, is 11,119,676 lb., including 149,095 lb, Ceylon
panei ae Grant, 1901-1902 Scheme paid in
anuary, 1903,
EH. & 0, BE
62
576,240 lb. at 3 cents per lb.
10,894,341 lb, (‘Total as per previous
statement, 15th December, 1903)
A, PHILIP,
AGRICULTURIST, 491
LOCAL COMPANY SILARES.
We direct attention to the quarterly table
given elsewhere showing the rise and fall in the
value of shares during the past three months of
48 Planting and 14 Commercial Companies
locally registered. Leaving the Seremban
Rubber and Soluble Tea Companies, which
are quoted for the first time, out of view
7 of the Planting Companies show a falling,
off, and 24 a rise, in the value of their
shares, while 15 have remained stationary
the net result being an appreciation by
R543, 132 as compared with the aggregate
value on 30th September last. Of the Com-
mercial Companies, 4 show a falling-off and
6 a rise, the rest remaining stationary, the
net result being an appreciation by 5,120
during the quarter, The fluctuations during
the year may be seen from the following
quarterly totals :—
PLANTING COMPANIES.
Face Value of Market Value
Shares, of Shares.
1903, R. R.
31st March 15,245,240 14,781,915
30th June .. 15,247,240 15,003,472
30th September ,., 15,251,240 15,495,500
3lst December .,. 16,076,240 16,705,382
COMMERCIAL COMPANIES.
3lst March 3,851,020 5,459,640
30th June 3,851,020 5,374, 880
20th September... 3,851,020 5,234,510
8lst December ... 3,851,020 5,239,630
It is noteworthy that while the shares of
the Planting Companies have been steadily
rising in value every quarter, those in the
Commercial Companies have made a slight
improvement in the last quarter only. We
hope our next comparison may show better
results in every way.
=
CINNAMON—AND COMMERCE—IN LONDON.
The home mail has brought details of the
fourth quarterly sale of Cinnamon held
in London on the 30th November. The
final sale of the year is generally a big
one, and leads to spirited competition.
This year was no exception to the rule.
and though a thousand Bales, as the quarterly
average quantity offered, is a poor show,
When our exports total 28,000 Bales and
more a year, the offerings were much the
same as had been recorded for the corre:
sponding sale last year and—we fancy—for
many years past. They are but an index of
the loss of trade—in spices, at any rate—
which London has sustained since the open-
ing of the Suez Canal. The great commercial
capital of the United Kingdom—may we
not yet say of the world ?—is no longer
the sole great distributing centre it was.
Foreign merchants have established them
selves, in growing numbers in the producing,
countries, and find no difficulty in shipping,
their purchases direct to continental ports
and though the imperial sentiment may
lament the intrusion of the foreigner, British
common-sense realises the absurdity of ex.
pecting the practical monopoly of trade in
499
some commodities, which Great Britain long
enjoyed, to be indefinitely extended. In-
dustrial and commercial supremacy is
another thing; and the mother-country has
not awinkened a day too early—she might well
have roused herself earlier—to the need of
special efforts and special technicai educa-
tion, in the face of the growth of knowledge
and enterprise in other countries, notably
in Germany and the United States, to say
nothing of the yellow races. There is no
reason why she should not be able to hold
her own against all comers in industrial
excellence ; but in the volume of her in:
dustries her capabilities must he limited by
population. We do not think it an idle
boast of the British iron master, when the_
taunt of business leaving the country is
levelled at him, that he is ful up with
orders. Barring the action of ‘‘Trusts” and
‘* Cartels,’ which foster an unwholesome and
artificial business; British pre-eminence in
industries is well maintained. In commerce,
too, the growth of business in foreign hands
does not necessarily mean loss of business
to the Britisher, in this commodity and
‘that, there may be less business done in
the Lane than 20 cr 30 years ago; but is
there nct greater variety in the business,
and is not the total volume more? Hven
if the answer be ia the negative, it is a
mistake to measure British enterprise by
what is accomplished in London. British
capital has found its way to all parts of the
world; and if all the commodities created
thereby do not seek distribution from London,
oftener than not it is because other markets
are more remunerative ; and British capital
benefits thereby. Such is the case with Tea.
There bas been an actual falling off in the
quantity of Ceylon Tea snipped to London
this year by about eight million Ib, as
compared with last year, and yet the local
Tea industry is in a far healthier condition
than it was in 1902. British capital has
benefited, notwithstanding the diminished ex-
ports of ‘lea to the United Kingdom—or, in-
deed, because of the diminution !
Cinnamon is not in precisely the same
position, because the amount of British
capital invested in it is very small—estates
and gardens being chiefly in native hands;
but this British dependency, the Island as
a whole, benefits from the direct demand
for the spice from foreign countries, whose
knowledge of it and taste for it were
acquired from London. And thus it comes
to pass that, whereas only one sixth of the
quilled Cinnamon we exported this year
found its way to the United Kingdom,
America took almost half as much again,
and Germany nearly double the quantity ;
avhile Spin claimed in direct shipments more
than three-fourths of the exports to the
United Kingdom. In these circumstances—
considering, that is, that the chief consumers
of the spice dvew their supplies direct
from the Island, and that the exports have
up-to-date totalled more than the exports
for any previous year as a whole—there is
every reason to be satisfied both with the
demand at the auetion and the prices realised.
The drop of 4d to ld in some qualities anp
=e
‘THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.
JAN. 1, 1904,]
marks is explained by the unexampled crop ;
but even so, the prices, ranging up to Is 7d
per ib., were far in excess ofthose ruling
locally, which averaged 40 to 50 cents—
showisg that now, as in the past, the finest
qualities of spice produced in the Island
find their way to London for sale and
distribution.
The following is the Report on thesale from
the leading Firm of Messrs. Forbes, Forbes
& Co., Ltd.:—
9, King William St., London, H.C., 1st Dec., 1903.
. Cinnamon.—The closing sales of the year were
held yesterday, when 1,128 bales were offered against
790 bales in August; and 1,178 bales at this period
last year. The ‘worked’ qaill comprised 403 bales—
a larger supply than usual, the remainder being
offered as landed. Competition was brisk throughont
and resulted in the clearance of 403 bales ‘ worked’
Spice, and of 473 bales ‘unworked.’ Prices quoted
irregular and values all round must be quoted on
average 4d to 1d per lb lower.
The ‘ worked’ quill realised :—Firsts, 93d to 1s 7d;
Seconds, 83d to 1s 5d; Thirds, 74d to 1s 4d; Fourths,
6d to 1s dd per lb. : "
‘ Unworked ’:—Firsts, 7d to 1s 24; Seconds, 64d
to 934d; Thirds, 54d to 844; Fourths, 5d to 6d per lb.
Of 305 bags chips, &c., nearly 200 bags were sold
Quillings, &c., 54d to 9d and chips common to fair
25d to 34d per lb. i
A new show of Bark was passed without making
a bid of ld per Ib.
1902. 1901.
Stocks :—Ceylon 2,149 bales .. 2,599 2,585
Wild 9837) jee ee a 2,438
Chips 1,969 bags .. 625 2,975
Wild Bark 3,587 pkgs... 6277 —_7,886
The next auctions are fixed for 22nd February, 1904
> $ -
THE BIG NEW RUBBER COMPANY.
se CAPITAL £70,000. ‘
Bokit Rajah Rubber Go, Ld. ( 9,314).—Regd Dec.
3, with capital £70,000, in £1 shares, to acquire
the estates in the district of Klang, Selangor, Straits
Settlements, known as Bukit Rajah, Sungei
Binjai, New Esxd4le, Delabole, Bukit Duku. and
Booneans, to plant, grow, produce, prepare for
market and deal in india rubber, gutta percha,
bolata and other gums, coffee, tea, coconuts and
other natural products, ete. The subscribers are :
_ Shares
A W Crichton, 17, Kensington Court M’sions,
Lond, barrister 60 3 soul
J EA Dick Lauder, 52, Gracechurch St, H C, gent... 1
CO Naftel, 1, Walpole Gdns, Strawberry Hill,gent... 1
- W H Anderson, 52, Gracechurch St, E C, gent jo i
CB Rendle, 15, Kensington Sq, W, surgeon ee
G A Talbot, Harpenden, Herts, planter we 1
HK Rutherford, 20, Hastcheap, EC, mcht = Le
N W Grieve, Ivy Chimneys, Tunbridge Wells, planter 1
No initial publie issue. The first directors are
H K Rutherford, N W Grieve, G A Talbot
and C B Rendle; qualification £500; yremu-
neration £250 per annum, dividend, The Anglo»
Ceylon and General Iistates Co, Ld. (one of the
vendors) may if holding 4 of the issued share capi.
tal nominate A W Crichton to ke a director ab
any time after the expiration of 2 years from the
incorporation of this company, subject to his hold-
ing the requisite qualification and to his retirement -
if he cease to be a director of the said vendor eo,
Regd office, 20, Eastcheap, E C,—Investore’
Guardian, Des, 12,
Jan, 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL
LABOUR TROUBLES 1N DEMERARA.
It is certainly a new form of labour trouble,
that of having too many coolies, and one
which is quite unknown in this colony. It is,
however, rampant in British Guiana, and so
rabid have the Negro population and their
supporters become that the Secretary of State
for the Colonies has been memorialised to
stop the State aided Immigration, or have a
Royxl Commission appointed to fully inquire
into the matter. From the Demerara papers
itis clear that a good deal of friction and heat
is about, and His Excellency the Governor,
Sir J. A. Swettenham, K.c.M.G., in his cover-
ing dispatch when forwarding the Immigra-
tion Memorial, had a number of plain things
tosay and availed himself of the opportunity
of saying them in a sharp and pointed way.
The trouble is the trouble of all the West
India islands : the Negro population will not
work for a pay which will allow the planter
to live, and when they do_deign to seek em-
ployment as agricultuvists, they areirregular
in their service, and cannot be depended on. If
there is no ambition, itis very easy in tropical
lands to make a bare living, and it is hopeless
to expect any colony to advance if agriculture
is to be dependent on Negro service ; for the
emancipated African dearly loves an idle life,
and there is no pressure of want to compcl
exertion. During the last eleven years 46,343
coolies have, with State aid, been imported
into British Guiana ; 20,205 have returned to
India during the same time, and at present
with natural increase and other ways, it is
estimated that 150,000 are in the colony. ‘The
Indian cooly, being industrious and living
simply, is able to more than hold his own with
the Negro, and when his indentures have ex-
pired, instead of returning to Calcutta with
his accumulated savings he often elects to
remain on, becomes a shopkeeper, petty trader,
small free holder, cattle-owner, milk man or
rice-grower. In the face of this pushing and
capable working force, the easy-going Negro
is nowhere ; but all the same the African has
a high opinion of his own work, and, because
the planters do not appraise him at the same
high figure, and decline to offer bigger wages
than are current among the Indian evolies, he
fancies he has a serious grievance, and hopes
to force the hand of the planter and procure
work on his own terms by getting the State-
aided immigration stopped. The friends of
the Negro have it that through the influence
of Christian missions the African has been
raised to a higher plane of life than the Indian
cooly. His wants have increased, he has
progressed in the scale of civilisation and to
meet this new condition of things, the cooly
wage is inadequate, and—rather than accept
the half-loaf offered—he will take none. He is
represented to resemble a man who is on
strike for higher wages, and the action of the
Government in aiding Indian Immigration is
like taxing them to pay for the introduction
of foreign cheap labour to compete against
them. If the Negro had possessed any re-
alisable capacity for agricultural work, he
had good opportunities of showing it outside
of the sugar plantations where the Indian
AGRICULTURIST:; 493
cooly is mostly employed ; but of these opens
ings he bas not availed himself, nor risen to
the opportunity, Coffee is a product in which
the cooly does not compete with the Negro.
It is ‘in British Guiana essentially a small
proprietary industry, which can be success-
fully prosecuted at little cost save of industry.
It is also .protected by a 44 cents per |b. im-
port duty—equal to £21 sterling per ton, and
yet with all these advantages the yearly im-
dorts of coffee are large, and the peasant pro-
prietary body has simply abandoned the culti-
vation and allowed this promising rural enter
prise to go to wreck. ‘Loo lazy to work in
their own interest, is it any wonder that the
Government is convinced that if sugar were
wholly dependent on African labour, it too
would sutfer eclipse. In the adjoining colo--
nies of Dutch and French Guiana, where
nothing has been done to supply other than
Negro labour, and which are physically and
historically on a par with British Guiana,
there is presented an object lesson to the
British aaministrator, which he has not faiied
to note, and which he hopes to avoid. In
these two foreign colonies, when Indian immi-
gration has not been availed of, agricultural
prosperity is all but lost; the country is
under-populated, and the African race has
barely maintained its numbers. There are
abundant rich lands available for cultiva-
tion, but the want of the steady worker to
develope them gives them—for the time being
—the same value as the Sahara, Is it any
wonder that Sir J. A. Swettenham, with his
former Ceylon experience, has a passion for
the Indian cooly, and that he should say in
his despatch :—‘' I confess, speaking individu-
ally, my regret that instead of merely 150,000
coolies, we have not ten times that number in
the colony. We have land enough and to
spare, and with a nateral supply of water
available they could grow rice to supply this
hemisphere. Already, chiefly by the industry
of the free cooly, the local price of rice which
25 years ago was 32 cents per gallon, has been
reduced to 16 or iS cents, There is also an
enormous field for coconut planting on alarge
scale, and on the savannahs for cattle-larming,
a business which is very popular amongst
coolies.” We have always held that the
Indian cooly was the best labourer in the world
and it is not a matter of surprise that the
sugar planters of Demerara and the Governor
of the colony who have tested his quality,
should be willing to let the African worker
slip, and instead of leaning on the Negro,
look to the Indian immigrant as the power to
further the colony’s interest and increase its
influence. ‘he emancipated Negro is a sore
puzzle anywhere, and Ceylon is happy that its
labour question is not complicated by his
presence amongst us.
ee
SALE OF SIDRAPONG ESTATE.
CALCUTTA, Jan. 4,
Sidrapong tea estate, Darjeeling, containing
286 acres. together with all the buildings
thereon, was sold on Saturday for R72,250 by
Messrs, Cresswell, the purchaser being Mr.
Laidlaw of Messrs, Whiteaway and Laidlaw.
494 THE TROPICAL
A CHAT WITH MR. JAS. HORNELL,
THE PEARL FISHING—DREDGING FOR PEARDS-—
THE FISHING INDUSTRY OF CEYLON;
WORK AT GALLE, &C.
Mr Jas* Hornell, Marine Biologist at Galle
who, sometime ago, was unwilling to. express
his views on the experiment recently made to
dredge for pearls, has just been seen by our repre-
sentative and was in a position this time to furnish
particulars as to the same, and also to give some
idea of the pearl fishery, and the fishing industry of
Ceylon. Mr Hornell’s journey to the North was
specially made to find the creature in which
the oyster parasite came from, and he was suc-
cessful in finding this out. He found out that
through the oyster the parasite entered what was
called the trigger fish which was a minor enemy
of the oyster and ate it, and by so doing the parasite
in the oyster was transferred to the stomach of the
fish. The parasite became adult in some creature
that fed the trigger fish and this was found in the
intestines of a ray (Trygon). The parasite had
to die before a pearl could be formed in the oyster.
‘These parasites were essential to the production of
pearls, The greater the number of parasites, the
greater the number of pearls. Speaking about the
DREDGING OF PEARLS
in future Mr Hornell said that the recent dredging
experiment produced very satisfactory results and
there wasno reason why Government should not
adoptit. The net is capable of holding about 900
oysters atatime, The width at the opening of the
net is 3 feet and, therefore, the portion of land
dredged at a time will be 3 feet in width,
THE FISHING INDUSTRY.
“The fishing Industry of Ceylon, Mr Hornell,
what is your idea of it ?’—“‘It is at present carried
on according to primitive methods. ‘The caste
system limits development, butin spite of this the
fisheries of the Island furnish great supplies of
excellent fish. Comparatively little fish curing ’or
salting is carried on, though Government has
done much to encourage it by establishing fish-
curing yards. A trade distinct from that of
ordinary fish-curing is the preparation for the
Chinese Market of dried sharks’ fins. In the
Northern Province an extensive trade is done in
the article.
THE PEARL FISHERIES.
Alluding to pearl fishing he said:—“'The Dutch
had several good fisheries and the British too had
very good pearl harvests during the first years of
their occupation. The fisheries during the first
37 years wereregular, but after that they became
erratic. In 1815 as little as £584 was gct from
a pearl fishery. The best beds are where a coarse
grit sand is interspersed with frequent outcrops
of flat-surfaced rock or where many loose
fragments of stone or
are scattered over the surface of the sand. In such
situations, the oysters do not become overcrowded
and with sufliciency of food come early to the
pearl-producing stage. Rucky banks, which are
crowded with spat, seldom bring oysters to profi-
table maturity—over-crowding producing stunting
of growth, disease and premature death. ‘The
Chief Agency in the irregularity of the pearl
fishing in Ceylon has been found to be, from in-
yestigationus made by Prof, flerdman and myself,
of dead coral (cultch)
AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1904..
the tendency of spat to fall upon unfavourable
ground, where—if exposed to the full violence of
mousoon sterms—-it is liable to be smothered by
overwashes of sand; or where, if the ground
is “continuously rocky, the oysters eventually
become stunted by the shortage of food in-
duced by overcrowding. ‘The chief remedies
proposed are
THE TRANSPLANTATION OF SPAT
from unfavourable to favourable ground and the
thinning out of overcrowded beds. The old idea
of pearls being dueto the irritation caused by an
intrusive grain of sand was proved untenable,
although three instances of this
SAND ORIGIN OF PEARLS
were found among several hundred instances
traced to other causes. There are two
chief classes of pearls, namely ‘ Orient” pearls
or ‘‘fine” pearls of commerce and those
known as ‘seed pearls.”’ Orient pearls were
discovered to be due to {irritation caused within
the tissues of the pearl oyster by the presence of
the dead bodies of the spherical larvae of a small
tapeworm (Tetrarhynchus) which often infects the
Ceylot Pearl Oyster in considerable numbers.
Pearls are most numerous in oysters which have
long been infected; where the worms are
oldest and so are most liable to die ;
the living worm does not produce pearl
formation. The inferior class of seed pearls is due
to the formation of crystalline bodies, analo-
yous to gall stones, within certain muscles of the
oyster. Later, they become through irritation,
the nuclei of pearls, coats of nacre, similar in
composition ta the mother-of-pearl lining of the
shell itself, being deposited concentrically around
and thus the pearl increases in size. ‘* Orient ”
pearls are similarly formed of successive coats,
differing solelyin the character of the nucleus of
the originating irritant body. There are also an
inferior variely of pearls, the Tamblegam pearls
found in the bay of the same name. The oyster
yielding them is the window-pane oyster. They
resemble whitemica very much in appearance. ‘*Can
SPONGES
become an industry in Ceylon ? ”—‘‘ They occur
abundantly in localities around Jafina and in Trin-
comalee harbour. A few men actually fish them in
small quantities, but as an industry it has no value,
At Trincomalee they are found growing profusely
on stones in shallow sater, [ have filled a basket
with about a dozen or so of fine specimens within
the space of five minutes,”
MARINE WORK AT GALLE,
‘‘ How do you find the Galle Harbour for your
work as a Marine Biologist, and does it afford the
facilities you require ?”—‘‘ I think no better site
for such an institution could have been chosen
in the tropics. The place is rich in all that is of
interestto a Zoologist interested in Marine fauna,
The lagoons of the fringing coral reef around the
Fort abound with corals, and aleyonarians, sea
urchins, star fishes, sluggish holothuriums, and the
giant synapta beselit, which extends six feet of
snake-like body. Balanoglossus can be had in
numbers. Sponges form extensive crusting growths
often gaudily coloured. The Galle harbour is most
exvellent for the study of corals, and Zoologists
viting Ceylon will find many facilities for
research at the Marine Laboratory.”
JAN. 1, 1904,] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 495
Monthly Shipments of Ceylon Black Tea to all Ports in 1902-1903.
(Compiled from Chamber of Commerce Circular.)
UnitED KinGpom. RovSsIA, CONTINENT OF EUROPE AUSTRALIA,
1902. 1903. 1902. 1903. 1902. 1903. 1902.» 1903,
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. Ibsee lb. ;
January.. 9056013 7720436 612958 | 323101 151984 | 127883 714247 1738760
February 7455219 7983166 919709 372474 121158 150846 1020948 1337353 ;
March ... 8198179 7192958 896513 668942 91051 188065 1713916 737977 a
Aprils 8521388 8411101 988698 936633 93198 142852 2081904 1510067 ;
May 0 9638555 10023181 238239 480774 80669 193804 2000522 1456987
Jute ak 12563050 11204634 1984976 1330431 166479 147245, 1828695 1526555 '
July ad 10724781 9362321 1779011 460757 108785 158007 1747960 1933567
August ... 7396614 6454565 1065599 969325 208894 164500 1574498 2492924 7
Sept’mber 6652202 5305610 795315 882356 70262 171263 1857897 1362494
October .. 6559765 6827027 360844 470845 79943 158272 1567796 2013007 |
November 6386229 6602882 937757 1621146 213619 187714 1033030 798551 i
December 9072552 5218297 285785 | 2234953 60628 38952 1577381 1532047 i
Toran ..{ 102,899,489 a 11,599,953 | a 1,206,140 a 18,718,794 a
AMERICA, Ati OTHER Ports. ToraL.
-
1902. 1903. 1902. | 1903. 1902, 1903.
lb. Ib, lb. lb. Ib. lb.
January 36 50 125795 538166 389215 | 584321 11050212 11032667
February 66 ale 115332 743733 385705 | 615790 10018071 11203362
March aes aie! 566263 417750 311191 270198 11777143 10625890
April Soe ee 807390 363652 290137 | 531685 12782715 11895390
May es or 242651 538007 436410 979191 12637046 13671944
June ate cle 403005 410826 714471 977991 17660676 15597676 |
July ae eee 464858 652273 846036 1048161 15671431 13615076 |
August écc c00 461229 735181 678095 499192 11384929 11315637 {
September oc rae 563981 245323 688730 739124 10628487 8706170 fh
October ae wea 483085 704780 655827 428861 9707260 10602792
November att ois 282794 4684103 547508 206301 9400936 9884997
December «ee aa 558864 573528 626319 164404 12181529 9762181
Total... 5,048,137 a 6,569,644 a 1 146194397 a
Monthly Shipments of Ceylon Green Tea to all Ports in 1901—1902.
United Kinepom, Russi, ConTINENT OF EUROPE, AUSTALIA,
1902 1902, 1903. 1902. 1903. 1902. 1903,
lb. Ib, lb. Ib, lb. lb, | lb,
January.. 64021 30 coo 60 3000 “tn ee
February 24839 4420 oc de 1430 AG ove
March .. 14800 24210 coc 60 30 BE on
April’ i: 13676 8000 10411 ae ae cle act
May .. 70103 : we 06 600 Pers | S
gune .. 87340 74225 20640 ui ae on se }
July.’ s+. 40574 AS: sis 7688 . ie
August ... 70900 ads oa we OC eas we |
Sept’mber} 50771 co 43066 ace 4832 ae ree
October .. 68679 ae 46410 dic 13599 ate 400 ;
November 48076 ate 23200 Oo cor : sco
December 40123 Sr. a0 ont are nee
TOTATH Jee 644,443 197,115 a a a a a
rn he a SS
‘AMERICA, | ALL OTHER Ports. Tova.
1902. 1903. 19025) 19038: 1902, ) 1903.
lb. lb. lb. |} lb. lb. lb.
January . 113332 | 265348 a ie 177353 | 363883
February . 26480 | 567474 BIB es 56254 | 621616
March see 62313 | 651016 100 | e 101423 | 610474
April ar 53610 | 343963 9165 | = 84451 | 448594
May oo 32676 569016 3280 4570 | 106059 771848
June 06 84184 773332 4500 | ooo 250249 858840
July “0 194016 666316 as 8614 234590 736853
August “ 105982 | 756126 1600 3780 | 178482 801636 :
September oon 333704 430290, 6800 | 3050 391275 588373 {
October Sr 281168 1390027 CO | 7710 3419347 | 1529031
November eee 156653 371217 20080 1580 224809 491156
December are 365843 586235 2240 | 3620 408506 | 620708 :
——- — —. _——_—|— ae ee ‘
Total ... [1,968,456 | a 48,280 | a |2.796,844| a
* lt is impossible to get the figures for the last month in ti for ication ; 6
for certain ioanition: 8 : n a ms or publication; but see pages 496, 497 .
a 6 completed export returns up to 3lst December, 1903, having not been available yet, the fi
December are subject to alteration; correct totals will be given in our next issue, ee ast: ;
496
_ - SHARE LIST.
ISSUED BY THE
COLOMBO SHARE BROKERS’
ASSOCIATION, ‘
CEYLON PRODUCE COMPANIKS.
THE TROPICAL
paid Buy- Sell- Trans-
Company p. 8h.
Agra Ouvah Estates Co., Ltd. 500
Ceylon Tea and Coconut Mstates 500
Castlereagh Tea Co., Ltd. 100
Ceylon Provincia) Kstates Co. Ltd. 500
lunes Tea Co,, Ltd. 100
Clyde Estates Co., Ltd. 100
Doomco Tea Co., of Ceylon Léa. 100
Drayton fztate Co., Ltd. 100
Bila Tea Co., of Ceylon, Ltd. 10%
fistates Co. of Uva, Lid.
FernlandsTea Co., Ltd.
Glasgow Msbate Co., Ltd. 500
Gsngawatte Tea Co., Ltd. 100
G:eat Western Tea Co,, Ltd. 590
Hapugabalande Tea Estate Co. 200
High Forests Kistates Ce., Lid
Horrekelley Estates Co Ltd 100
Kalutara Co., Lid., 500
Kandyan Hills Co,, Ltd 100
Kanapediwatte Ltd. 100
Kelani Tea Garden Co., Ltd. 100
Kirklees Estate Co., Ltd. 100
Knavesmire Estates Co., Ltd. 100
-Maha, Usa Estates Co., Ltd. 600
Mocha Tea Co., of Ceylon, Ltd. 500
-Nahavilla Estate Co., Ltd. 500
Neboda Tea Co., Ltd. 500
Palmerston Tea Co., Ltd. 600
Penrhos Estates Co. Ltd. 100
Pitakanda Tea Company 500
-fine Hill Estate Co., Ltd. 60
Putupauls, Tea Co. Ltd. 100
Ratwatte Cocoa Co., Ltd. 500
Rayigam Tea Co., Ltd. 100
Roeberry Tea Co., Ltd. 100
Ruanwella Tea Co., Ltd, 100
Seremban Estate Rubber Co., Ltd. 100
Soluble Tea Co., Ltd. 100
St. Heliers Tea Co., Ltd, 500
Talgaswela Tea Co., Ltd. 100
Do 7 percent Prefs. 100
Tonacombe Estate Co., Ltd, 500
Union Estate Co., Ltd. 500
Upper Maskeliya Estates Co.,
td. 500
Uvakellie Tea Uo. of Ceylon,
ey Ltd 0
Vogan Tea Co, ,
Wanarajah Tea Co., Ltd. 500
Wataderiya Ta Cc. Ltd. 100
erg. Crs.
.. 1050
.. 500
— 1023
— 600
B75
80
90 100
30 =
Ae ee
-. 1200
675 700
200...
550 575
1074 110
.. 325
AD 5p
Sr 5
45. 472
Bs 80
v 900
400...
420;
275° on
.. 100
— 40
100.
525 550
60 63
Ws =
=
105 105
120...
.. 500
30 40
425 475
650 750
OOF ise
Meee tO)
ve 1025
— 360
actions
CEYLON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES,
Adam's Peak Hotel Co., Ltd. 100
Bristol Hotel Co., Ltd. 100
Gzeylon Ice & Cold Storage Co. Ltd. 100
Goylon Ger. Steam Navigation: A
Co., Ltd
Geylon Superaération Ltd. 190
folombo Apothecaries’ Co. Ltd. 100
1slombpo Assembly Rooms Co,, i
Do prefs. ray
Colombo Fort Land and Building
Jo., Lid. 10:0
Gutombo Hotels Company 100
Gatie Face Hote! Co., Ltd. 100
Randy Hotels Co., Ltd. lun
Mount Lavinia Hotel Co., Lid, 609
New Colombo Ice Co., Ltd. 106
Mawoxa Eliys Hotels Co., Ltd. 30
Do — 7 per cont prefs.
|" Public Hall Co., itd,
AGRICULTURIST. HJan. 1, 1904.
LONDON COMPANIES.
paid Buy- Sell- Trans-
Company p- sh ers. ers. actions,
Alliance Tea Co., of Ceylon, Ltd, 10 8 9-10 —
Anzlo-Ceylon General Estates Co 100 — 63—56
Associated Estates Co., of Ceylon 10 = 1-2 —
Do, 6 per cent prefs 0 — a
Oeylon Proprietary Co. Lo — =i
Ceylon Tea Plantation Co., Ltd. 10 25 25-26 ..
Oimbula Valley Co. Ltd 5 — 53-6 —
Do prefs 5 _ 53-6 —
Eastern Produce & Estate Co. Ltd 5 — 44-42 -
Ederapolla Tea Co., Ltd 10 — 5-8- we
Imperial Tea Estates Co., Ltd. 10 _ 53..6 ..
Kelani Valley Tea Assen., Ltd. 5 _ 3-5 ane
Kintyre Estates Co., Ltd. 10 ee _ —
Lanka Plantations Co., Ltd 10 — 83-43 —
Nabaima states Co.,Ltd. 1 — nom -
New Dimbula Co., Ltd. i _ 23-24 -—
Nuwara Fliya Vee Estate Co., Ltd. 10 — — —
Ouvah Coffee Co., Ltd. id 40 - =
Ragalla Tea Estates Co., Ltd. 10 5 9210s ace
scottish Ceylon Tea Co.,Ltd. 10 ee 9-10 ..
Spring Vslley Tea Co., Ltd. 10 ee 4a—5
Standard Tea Co., Ltd. 6 os gies as
Sheil Transport and Trading ce a
Company, Ltd. 1 Be _ Ss
Ukuwella states Co., Ltd. QF 25 par —
Yatiyantota Ceylon Tea Co:, Ltd 10 & — 24)
Do, pref. 6 o/s 1G 9-10 —
BY ORDER OF fHE COMMITTEE,
Colombo, Jan. 8th, 1903.
Jatest London Prices.
RAINFALL RETURN FOR COLOMBO
(Supplied by the Survey or- General.)
Av.of
i899 | 1900 |190. 1902 33yrs, 1903 | 1904
Inch,| Inch.| Inch.| Inch | Inch.} Inch | Inch
Janusry | ‘98 3°72)11°91 | 1°95 | 3°46 | 4°16 | 0:07*
February ..| 2°78 | 0°63) 3°55 | 4°57 | 2°02 | 3°95
March -.! 0°88 3°71} 5°12 | 6°85 | 4°82 | 2°63
April «-| 6°66 | 15°12] 8°71 | 10°01 |11°30 | 7°62
May -. {17°73 10°63} 6°28 | 11°89 | 11°86 |20°76
June e-| 9°23 7°83) 5°93 | 9°84 | 8°32 | 5°42
July ra | pedicel 6-77| 4°52 | 4°63 4°46 | 5°02
August --| 0°62 7°35| 0°46 | 2°78 | 3°66 | 754 |.
September ..} 1°48 4:0)} 3°93 | 8°18 | 5°04 | 806
October __,../12°99 9°47} 3°91 | 31°47 | 14°56 |11°17
November ..| 8°58 9°25] 19°84 | 20°10 |13°00 | 094
December ..| 4°44 5°20) 1°70 | 6°43 | 621} 2°22 |
Total..|73°48 | 83°68 | 75°86 |118°70/ 88°71 | 79°39} 0°07
* From 1st to 6!h Jan. 0°07 in., that is up to 9-30 a.m. on
the 7th Jan.— Eb. C. 0. ,
CEYLON TEA: MONTHLY SHIP-
MENTS TO UNITED KINGDOM
AND ESTIMATE, —
Dec. 1903—93 to 10 million lb,
Estimate for
Total Shipments do 1903— 9,250,000 lb.
Do do do 1902— 9,072,552 lb,
Do do do 1901— 12,235,867 Ib,
|EstiMaTE for January 1904—72 to 8% million lb. .
Lae :
NEW INDIAN TEA COMPANY,
(Registered in Scotland.)
BuusRicHAT TEA Company, LimiteD (5,491).—Re-
gistered at Edinburgh, Dec. 5, with capital £25,000
in £1 shares, to acquire the Bhubrighat Tea Katate,
and any other toa estates in British India or
elsewhere, and to oultivate tea, coffee, einchona or
other produce. The management is invested in an
agreement Registered by Wishart and Sanderson,
we xe Place, Edinburgh.—Jnvestors’ Guardian,
ec, 12, 3
Pip.
wl
Jan. 1, 1904.)
CEYLON EXPORTS AXYD DISTRIBUTION
FOR SEASONS 1902 AND 1903.
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19 do pek sou 1615 32 39 do pek sou 2262 84.
Rahatungoda, Iny. : Columbia, Inv.
No. 5 26 hf ch bro or pek 1430 40 bid | “QO7Q™ 29 hf ch bro pek 1740-85
Lenichigvomapelse en ee 23 do orpek 1196 42
BE C9 jude Pa oe 22 ch pekNo.1 1980 36
eth Ge Minot Tea 25 ch pek 2050 ish: |
0., Lit incing : a
Lane, Inv.No. 461 hf ch bropek 3355 42 OURS: Guomtoc Se Se eee tae
St. AndrowsK 26 ich bropek 150835 2) OR GUS) vite Mack
te ews ish 1289 |e Mount Temple 51 ch bro pek 4590 33
Laxapanagalla 17 ch bro orpek 1700 36 27 do ek 2025 33
He Fame oy cae se 22 do peksou 1540 32
anagama g ao) OE 30 3 Avisawella 22 hf ch bro or pek 1200 45
BoiedS NOE DOR gat a Nee 15 do orpek- 1950 | 37
ee : 21 do pek 1890 35
44 do peksou 3960 ° 31 18 do pek sou 1440 33
Karangalla 24 a pee pek oon) ee Marigold 46 hf ch bro or pek 2392 48
ae) We 45 do orpek 2160 39
Maragalla 18 ch bro pek 1800 withd’n | Atlacollawewa 88 hf ch broor-pek 1976 42
15 do or pek 1350 ” 40 do or pek 1920 39
K. 17 ch bropek 1768 34 Ankande _35 ch bropek 3500 33
49 do pek 4116 32 27 do pek 2430 32
Damblagolla 29 ch pek 2465 33 bid 21 do peksou 2890 32
HOH dod .cmper een eteeend || ivtessyille 39 ch pek 3120 33 bid
17 hf ch bro pek bid | Narangeda 15 ch bropek 1350 ° 35
26 ch pek 22100 34 19 do pek 1710 33
29 do pek sou 2320 32 bid 14 do pek sou 1260 32
Romania 14 ch bro pek 1404 30 18 do (bro or pek 1235 35
aS ded ee tong lee Akuressa 23 ch bropek 2185 34 bid
TONE Go apekasou ., | Gona 21 ch bropek 2205 30 bid
Damblagolla 17 hf ch bro pek 1016 «335 bid | yg, 32 hf ch bro pek 1600 35 bid
; eae oe asi ate) Woo en | Alpttakaude 12 ch bropek 1104 33
Cooroondoowatte 12 ch bropek , 1200. 35 bid Rabyews lO ee _ bro mise eS Oe eae
19 do pek 1900 34 SS a
K, M. B. 40 ch bro orpek 3800 34 bid SMALL LOTS
Go Ltd, Relont 58 h k 5035 35 bid age ir
2 i i ] i " :
©. Lid Melon nates vl Be 2940 33 bid Messrs. Geo. White, Bartleet & Co.
18 do pek sou 1260 32 Pkgs. Name. Ib., C.
13 do bib pek Janie 0 32 Moragalla. 3 hf ch dust 225 «(QT
ereaia 17 ch pek 700 8633 Myraganga, 11 ch bro mixed 935 31 bid
Hoe; iL, 30 hf ch Det 2400 25 6 do dust 960 25 ;
Galphele 20 ch bro or pek 1800 88 bid | C. L. 7 ch. bro or pek 700 withd’n E
138 do or pek 1170 36 bid | Stockholm 4 hi ch dust 320 26 — (a
18 do bro pek 1800 §=635 4 ch fans . 400 i
21 do pek 1890 33 bid | Devonleigh 5 hf ch br or pekfans385 30 bid
Messrs. Gordon & Wilson.
CEYLON
Pkgs, Name. lb.
Orangefield 8 ch orpek 800
1 do_ bro orpek fans 100
M 1 do unas 100
2 do bromix - 180
1 do dust 100
D—K 9 ch pek sou 720
K, inestate mark 1 do peksou 95
1 do fans 88
Killin 17 bf ch young hyson 849
7 ch hyson 629
5 do hyson No? 419
2 do siftings 209
Messrs. E. John & Co.
Pkgs. Name 1D.
Yahalakelle 1 ch red leaf 110
2 do bro mixed 234
Dickapitiya 1 hf ch dust 80
3 do fans 210
W. H. 2 ch bro mixed 120
Wana Rajah Tea Co.
of Ceylon, Ltd.,
Wana Rajah 5 ch dust 455
Rookwood 7 ch bro pek 700
Mt, Clare 10 ch hyson 950
6 do hyson No.2 510
7 do siftings 420
Elemane 8 ch fans 800
Ottery, Invoice
Wo. 11 9 ch or pek 765
4 hf ch dust 320
f 4 do fans 260
Carendon 6 ch
1 hf ch bro pek 660
4 ch pek 380
1 do dust 115
1 do congou 86
Stubton 8 ch pek 797
Roehampton 8 ch peksou 640
3 hf ch dust 180
3 do fans 240
Ury 1 ch or pek 95
Siriniwasa 4 ch dust 620
1 do sou 85
Poonagalla 8 ch fans 676
Udawatte 3) uch
_ 1 hf ch bro pek 329
2 ch pek 186
1 do sou 68
2 hf ch dust 140
Nagagala 6 ch fans 566
1 do dust 107
A. T. 7 hf ch dust 560
Ratwatte Cocoa Co.
Ltd., Ratwatte 6 ch peksou 540
3 hf ch dust 240
Shawlands 7 ch bro tea 665
3 do sou 2279
Galloola 2 do dust 200
1 do fans 100
Abenpolle 4 ch _ bro pek 420
. 2 do unassorted 206
J. in est. mark 4 ch fans 384
Tismoda 1 ch_ bro pek 75
‘Tintern 10 ch peksou 800
2 hf ch dust 170
Handrookande 6 ch bro pek 600
5 do pek 300
1 do pek sou 100
Peru 7 ch peksou 630
3 do fans 405
Bowella 1l ch pek 935
3 hf ch dust 255
Ramsgill 4 ch bro pek 380
Tamworth 8 ch or pek 744
10 do pek sou s00
4 do dust S04
8 do bro pek fans 186
Ury cl < fans 59:
PRODUCE SALES LIST. 211
| Messrs. Somerville & Co.
c. | Pkgs. Name, lb, Cs
3 Woodston 8 ch or pek 720 35 bid
26 Rathalawewa 7 ch _ bro pek 700 = 332
25 bid } fi 6 do pek 540 32
21 | 5 do pek sou 450 3
22 | 1 hf ch dust 80 24
23 | Weyhill 3 ch bro pek 348 3
28 i 2 do or pek 212 35
25 4 do pek 350 32
out 8 do peksou 664 30
out 2 do unast 192 27
20 bid 8 do souchong 210 23
out | 5 hf ch dust 500 20
10 ck red leaf 850 24
Richlands, Inv.
No. 6 ch _ bro or pek 588 58
5 do. or pek 440 5a
Gs | Higaields, Inv. eae 5
tha’ o, 16 1 ch bro or pek 896 7
ae 19 do pek 950 34
04 East Matale Co.
56 Ltd., Mousa-
30 kande 5 ch _ bro pek 475 35
| 9 do pek 810 33
| 2 hf ch fans 150 27
27 Salawe 3 ch _ pek fans 330 = 30
32 Rahatungoda, Iny. ,
out No.5 5 hf ch bro pek 345 30
axis | 3 do dust 255 27
92 Scottish Ceylon Tea
27 | Co., Ltd., Mincing
Lane, Inv. No44 ch pek sou 320 33
41 1 do souchong 83 29
927 7 hf ch pek fans 525 29
32 3 do. dust - 270 27
| St. Andrews K. 15 he ch bok 750 a
; 1 do peksou 50 31
aT bid 1 do dust 85 25
5 Laxapanagalla 3 ch _ pek 285 32
24 3 do pek sou 285 32
34 2 do dust 200 = 25
34 Hanagama 3 ch dust 414 26
94 Karrangalla 8 ch peksou 760 32
28 2 do souchong 200 31
34 3 hf ch bro tea 130 §=.28
25 7 do dust 560 25
25 Allakolla 8 hf ch dust 800 25
27 Mousa 6 ch bro pek 600 35
8 do pek 720 8633
31 Hilandhu 8 ch _ bro pek 760 36
28 ¢ 3 do peksou 270 31
15 2 do bro tea 18) 30
24 1 do dust 135 25
24 1 do bro mix 100 29
29 Marragalla 11 ch pek 880 withd’n
24 bid 4 do pek sou 300 nl
1 do bro pek fans 125 a
30 bid 1 do dust 150 5
94 Paragahakande 4 ch _ bro pek 460 34
34 3 do pek 285 31
32 1 do pek sou 95 30
5 2 do bromix 190 26
30 2 do fans 180 24
298 bid 1 do congou 90 26
97 Ke 5 hf ch dust 400 25
B. F. 2 hf ch dust 152 27
out | Romania 6 ch fans 590 39-7
ao 2 do dust 303 22
95 -3 do red leaf 320 19
tha’ Cooroondoowatte 4 ch pek dust 600 25
witha | M. inest. mark 1 hf ch bro tea 54-29
” 1 do dust 69 25
4 Kinross, Iny.
31 No. 5 8 ch bro or pek S80 35
28 9 do or pek 900 34
33 6 do pek 576 33
25 | 1 do pek sou 90 32
25 | 1 do fans 130 26
35 1 do dust 168 2
32 Digdola, Inv.
25 ' No. 1s 5 ch bro pek 525 37
27 | 6 do or pek 600 34
5 ~ nol ey) ac
4
’
Y
212 CEYLON PRODUCE SALES LIST.
Pkgs. Name. lb. c. | Pkgs. Name. Ib. c.
H. G. L. 8 hf ch souchong 800 29 | 6 hf ch bro pek fans 360 27
Maha Valley 2 ch bro pek 182 32 8 do dust 240-24
6 do pek 570 32 | Avoca, Invoice
7 do fans 798 24 bid | No.1 4 ch bropekfans 572 28
4 do bro tea 340 §=616 | Geragama, Invoice
6 do bro mix 510 18 { Noli 6 ch pek sou 510 31 :
2 do dust 280 20 5 hf ch dust 400 26
Ratwewa 3 ch or pek 303 31 2 do fans A207 :
7 do pek 595 30 Mahawale, Invoice |
5 do pek sou 400 28 fo ONG) 2 ch fans 200-25
4 do bro tea 320-25 | 7 hf ch dust 560 25
5 do red Jeaf 400 16 Mahawale, Invoice :
M. B.C. 8 hi ch bro pek 480 26 bid No. 10 1 ch fans” 95 29
Katukurundugoda 7 ch bro pek 630 29 5 hf ch dust 4.0 26
7 do pek 595 «= 80. Chesterford, Iny. :
2 do souchong 160 28 No. 33 3 ch gunpowder 240 26
3 do dust 300 17 bid 5 ch fans 700 12 bid :
Piccadilly, Inv. 1 do dust 170 «610 |
No, 4 2 if ch finished young ~ Erlsmere, Invoice
hyson 120. = out No.9 3 ch _ pek sou 25285
2 hf ch foong mee 120 out 3 bf ch dust 240 27
2 do dust 160 13 Sylvakandy 4 ch dust 400 25
2 do siftings 180 21 G, Ceylon 8 hf ch dust 680 24
Owilikande 6 do pek sou 480 31 Honugalla 8 ch pek sou 600 3931
P.T.N. in est markll hf ch bro pek 616 30 1 do dust 150 «24
16 do peksou 896 28 ‘ 2 do fans 240 27
Glenalmond 5 ch pek sou 500 31 Leanguwatte 6 ch _ bro pek 600 25
Monrovia 2 ch dust 320 24 6 do pék 600 31
4 do bro tea 320 25 Penrhos 15 hf ch or pek 675 40
Yarrow 11 hf ch unassorted 506 32 4 ch peksou 300 31
Avisawella 8 hf ch fans 520 29 5 hf ch pek dust 450 25
Allacollawewa 16 ch _ pek 800 =. 37 7 do tans 476 27
Ankande 9 hf ch dust 720 25 Rothschild 5 ch _ bro tea 555 3L
1 ch souchong 100 28 Sogama 5 do _ bro tea 655 31
T. C. 1 hf ch dust a7 25 S V, in estate :
K.C. 1 ch dust 170 24 mark 8 ch peksou 744 932.
H. G. 1 ch_ bro pek dust 100 25 14 hf ch pek fans $80 §©29
K. 2 hf ch dust 13) ep | 5 do dust 450 26
B. 2 ch orpek fans 250 26 Baddegama, Iny.
Alpitakande 8 ch pek 600 = 33 No.5 5 ch pek sou 375° 3?
10 do peksou 740 89332 3 hf ch dust 210 = 26
2 hf ch dust ~ 140 24 7 do fans 490 28
poe eames Lt pe | Templehurst 6 hf ch pek fans 420 29
Bogahagoda-
Messrs. Keell and Waldeck. eae Ach aaperstn Mice
Pkgs. Name. Ip, Ge Aberdeen 11 hf ch bro pekfans 770 28
Stafford 4 hf ch fans 340 29 Erracht 4 ch bro pekfans 480 29
Pingarawa 6 ch or pek 510 42 6 do dust 870 86.26
8 do’ sou 600 33 If 1 ch _ bro pek 83 30
5 hf ch dust 450 26 ai 2 hi ch pek fans “154 (5
Alpha 5 hf ch bro-pek _ 850 ~ 29 Monerakande 8 ch twankey . 880 19
1 do dust * 100 25 HGM 10 ch peksou 850 32
3 do fannings 255 27 Ambragalla 8 hf ch dust 560 26
Westward H, 13 hf ch broor pek 1793 50 bid i do red leaf 62 26
8 ch pek 784 45 bid | Vincit 3 ch hysonNo.2 300 24 bid
3 do peksou 931 40 7 ch siftings 602 16
Minna 11 hf ch bro pek fans 770 29 bid | New Galway 12 hf ch bro pek 720 31 bid
Panilkande 6 ch bro pek 600 36 B. FE. B. 9 ch bro pek 880 35 -
5 do pek 450. 40 j 1 hf ch pek 30 29 ca
Rock Cave 6 ch bro pek 570 . 32 bid 1 ch wreentea 65 8
Tientsin 8 do pek 70 88 bid 3 do dust 3387 = 26
Glenwood 5 ch dust 425 25 Bencon * 5 ch pek* 500s 8
Oakland 3 1 ch young hyson 100 out 1 do. ;
Agrakande 3 ch pek sou 255 33 1 hf ch pek sou 140 = 29
4 bf ch dust 320 27 3 ch
2 ch unast 176 33 1 hf ch fans 376 9-27
Woodend 7 ch or pek 692 37 2 ch dust 300-25
10 do pek sou 800 32 | Galapitakande 5 ch pek sou 475 32
2 do dust 980 95 | 7 hf cb dust : 595 26
LB. 10 bt ch bro pek fans 980 27 bid | Morankande 2 hf ch br or pkfans 140 26
Hopewell 1 ch or pek 90 34 ~ 1 do dust 90 26
Maldeniya 7 ch or pek 630 34 Parsloes Invoice
4 do pek son 320 Bal No4 4 hf ch fans 320 26
2 do fans 260 27 Siddewatte Invoice
Thedden 8 ch bro pek fans 375 97 No 12 7 ch siftings 840 13
1 do dust 160 25 Glencorse 13 ch pek No 2 975 =. 33
ae s 5 hf ch dust 400 26
a Cobo 6 hf ch brocrpek 3380 38
Mesers. Porbes & Walker. 2 ch peksou 176 8682
Pkgs. Name. Howe? Cc: _ hf ch dust - 80 26
Sirikand as es Panmure Invoice :
PITIRADAUT ch bropekdust 810 29 No 12 9 hf ch br or pk fans
Nakiadeniya 9 do pek 765 34 3 ch pek sou
5 do pek sou 350 £ Acgceria i Ot ee
CEYLON PRODUCE SALES
Pkgs. Name, ib, C.
1 do dust 177 27
Y. D.A 2 ch bro pek 180 386.32
5 do pek 410 31
2 do pek sou 130 29
1 hf ch bro pek 64 31
1 box dust 18 25
Laurawatte 5 hf ch fans 475 27
Lebanon Group 7 ch sou 700 3=— 332
7 hf ch dust 560 26
12 do dust 960 26
St Heliers 7 hf ch dust 595 27
Yuillefield 4 ch pek sou 380 33
3 hf ch fans 195 28
1 do dust 90 26
Battawatte 8 ch pek sou 680 31
3 hf ch dust 240 25
3 do dust 240 25
Udayeria 3 hf ch bro pek fans 222 29
1 do dust 86 26
Mahawale Invoice
No 11 1 ch fans 100 29
9 bf ch dust 720 25
Cloyne 10 ch pek sou 900 = 333
5 do fans 750 25
Pkgs. Name. Ib. c.
K. P. W. 16 bf ch bro pek 880 384
4 do pek fans 280 27
3 do dust 270 25
El Teb 6 ch pek sou By). 8}
10 hf ch dust 800 27
6 do fans 420 29
CEYILON CARDMOMS SALES IN
LONDON.
Minoine Lane May 5th.
‘Clan Farquhar.’—Delpotonoya, 1 case out; 1 case
sold at Is4d; 3 sold atis 3d; 4sold at 13; 4 sold at
9d; 3sold at 8kd.
‘Socotra. Kobo O, 13 cases out; ditto], 15 cases
sold atlsld; ditto 2, 4 sold at 94: ditto 3, 4 sold at
84d ; ditto 8, 2 sold at 9d; 3 sold at 84d 3; Seed, 1
sold at 11d.
‘Clan Gordon.’— Walton 1, 3 cases out ; 2, 1 case sold
at 8d; S, l sold at 11d,
‘Clan Sinclair.’—Midlands O, 9 cases out ;
2 cases sold at S3d.
‘Yangtsze.’—Hlkadua O, 8 cases out.
‘Nubia.’—Midlands O, 9 cases out at 1s 8d; ditto 2,
5 sold at 84d ; ditto Seed, 1 sold at 103d,
‘Clan McKinnon. *_Valpar ai No. 1 M, 6 cases ont at
ls 8d; ditto No. 2 M, 14 soldat 1s 2a; ditto No.3 M,
11 sold at1l0d; ditto ‘Splits, 6 sold at 9d.
‘Nubia.’—A Kabreagalla M, 12 cases out ;
cases gold at 104d; 6 sold at 11d; Split ditto, 1 sold
at 9d.
‘City of Benares,—OBEC in estate mark Dang-
kande No. 1, 16 cases out at 1s 6d; ditto No. 2, 12 sold
at9d; OBEC Naranghena in estate mark AAA, 12
cases out atls9d; ditto AA, 4 sold at 114d ; ditto A,
10 sold at 84d; ditto BB, 5 sold at 104d; OBES Nil-
loomally in estate mark OOO, 1 case sold at Is 4d;
ditto OO, 6 sold at 11d.
‘Cheshire.'—Riverdale A OOO, 8 chests out; ditto
AO, 6 chests sold at 104d; ditto SS, 3 sold at 114d;
lsold at 6d; St Martins No. O, 10 cases ont; ditto
No. 2,3 cases ’sold at 9d 3 ditto No. 1 Brow D, i sold at
8hd 5 ditto No. 3 Splits, 1 sold at 8d 5 5 ditto No.
Splits, lsold at 11d ;-ditio No. O, 5 cases out ; ditto
No. 2, 2 cases sold at 94d ; ditto Bye sold at 8k;
Woodside 1, 10 cases sold at Is 1d; ditto 2, 4 cases
ditto 2,
out; ditto 3, 11 cases sold at &d; ditto Splits, 8 sold
at 8d; ditto Seed, J sold at 1144.
‘Clan Chattan. '_ Gonakelle 1, 5 cases ont.
‘Staffordsbirc..—Gammadua 3, 4 cases out,
*Cheshire.’—Nawanagalla 1, 25 cases out; ditto 4
8 cases ont,
‘Nubia.’—Vicarton A. 8 cases sold at 1s; ditto B,
Tsold at 83d; ditto C,1 sold at 8d;
at Sad.
ditto D, l sold
8
C ditto, 2 |
LIST. 213
‘Nubia.’—Nargalla 1, 8 cases out; ditto 3, 3 cases
sold at 84d ; ditto Seed, 1 sold at 1044.
‘Achilles.’—Lauderdale Cardamoms O, 3 cases sold
at 1s 3d,
‘Jumna.’—Lauderdale Cardamoms U,1 case sold at
1s 2d; ditto 1,2 sold at 10d; 2 sold at 10}d.
‘Comeric,’—VRP in estate mark FEC, 4 cases out.
‘Cheshire,’— Kobo 2, 8 cases sold at 9d,
‘Historian.’—Duckwari Ceylon Cardumoms D 1, 6
cases Out,
‘Clan Macpherson.’—Allakolla 1,9 cases cut,
‘Nubia.’—Hcooloo Group Poengalla No. 1, 5 cases sold
11 114d; ditto No. 2,2 sold at 83d; Seed, 2sold at
104d ; S in estate mark Glenabbat Mysore, 32 cases
out 5 ditto Seeds, 3 sold at 104,
‘Ulan Sinclair, —DB Calzagodde Malabar,
out.
Jity of Sparta, ’—Yelam Mallai O, 1 case out.
8 cases
‘Staffordshire. —Yelam Mallai 1, 11 cases out; ditto
Seed 2, 1 case sold at lid.
‘Orontes.—Kelvin Ex, 6 casesout; ditto A, 4 cases
sold at 9d; ditto B,1 sold at 83d; ditto C, 2 sold at
8d; Pingarawa OO, 15 cases out ; ditto No.1, 16 “cases
sold at 1s ld; ditto Brown, 2 sold at 84d ; ditto Small,
4 sold at 8d; ditto Splits, 1 sold at v$d; ditto Seed,
1 sold at 1ld; ditto C,10 sold at 9d; P O ia estate
mark Mysore, 79 cases cut; P in estate Lari 2, 28
cases scld av 8hd5 ditto 3, 4 sold at 8a; ditto S, 2 sold
at 9d; FB OS, 5 cases sold at 83d ; ditto O, 5 sold
at 1a 3d ; ditto 2, 4ecld at 8d; ditto OS, 1 sold at 93d;
ditto Split 2 sold at 9d.
‘Nubia ’—Nicholaoya Ceylon OO, 13 cases ont ;
3,11 cases sold at 8d; ditto 2,1 sold at 104d.
CEYLON RUBBER SALES IN LONDON.
‘Land Carriage.’—No mark, 1 box sold at 3s 6d,
‘City of Seay eb Heel Ceylon Para Rubber
Fine Biscuits, 8 cases sold at 5321d 5; ditto Fine Scrap,
8 sold at 4s 64d; ditto No. 2 Scrap, lsold at 4s 6d;
ditto Fine Scrap, 2 sold at 4s 7d.
‘Clan Farqubar.’—Yatipauwa Estate Biscuit, 2 cases
sold at 5s 2d; ditto Scrap, 1 sold at 4s 7d.
‘Cheshire.'—Eastern Produce and Estates Co., Ltd.,
1 bag and 2 cases sold at 53 2d,
‘Clan Lamont.’—Culloden, 5 cases sold at 532d; 2
sold at 4s 6d; 1 sold at 53 ld.
Cryton Ruspper—has been sold today in public
auction at highest prices yet obtained, especially the
good scrap, Fine thia biscuits from Para seed 53 to
53 33d per Ib., good to fine scrap 4s 6d to 43 7d per 1b;
tone “good.
ditto
CEYLON CO€OA SALES IN LONDON:
Mincine Lane, May 13.
‘Yangtsze.’—North Matale Ceylon Cocou, 61 bags
sold at 65s.
‘Staffordshire. —Mawalaganga A, 26 bags out ; ditto
B, lbagscld atd4s; ditto A, 55 bags out; ditto C, 21
bags sold at 70s.
‘Australia.’— Woodtk horpe, 13 bags out.
‘Nubia.’—Kirrimettia 4, 22 bags out; 7 bags sold at
54s ; 11 sold at 53s 6d; B, 7 sold at 51s; T, 2 sold
at 45s.
‘Oanfa..—1 Kahawatte, 24 bags ont ; 2 ditto, 2
sold at 49s.
bags
‘Olan Chattan,’—Flower Dew B in estate mark, 34
bags out.
‘Olan Sinclair.’—Ratwatte, 26 bags sold at 458s; Old
Haloya, 16 begs out. .
‘Historian,’— Uknwela A, 30 bags ont.
‘Cian Farquhar.’—Coodoogalla, S$ bags ont; 2 baga
sold at 533 6a.
‘Formosa '—Coodoogalla, 8 bags out.
‘Socotra.’ —AS in estute mark, 78 bags sold at 42s.
Warwickshire. —Batagalia London Ceylon Cocoa
No. ], 10 bags out: ditto No. 2,2 bags sold at 50s:
‘City of Sparta.’—Owella Ceylon Cocoa, 20 bags ont;
Alloowiharie Ceylon Cocoa B, 9 bags sold at 55s 5d;
Strathisla Ceylon Coooa A, 9 bags sold at 62s6d ; ditto
A xX 10 sold at 58s 6a ; ditto B, 40 bags out: ditto U.
214 ° CEYLON PRODUCE SALES LIST.
‘Socotra.’—Clodagh A, 29 bags out; ditto B, 9 bags ditto 2, 1 sold at 55s; Ashanti O in estate mark, 1
gst at 55s. eee ¢ bags sold at 503. ge: :
‘Yangteze.’—Palli London 1, 99 bags ont, . Sa er . jee ‘
‘Clan Gordon.—J J V&C G ia estate mark 436 “Giky goes pn pee mork,
Claremont, 76 bags out. sold at 50s ; Min estate mirk, 173 bags ont. :
‘Clan Furquhar.’—Laxahena 1, 19 bags sold at 65s; ‘Palma.’—1 M in estate mark, 129 bags sold at 503.
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