June 2, 1884,] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



BBt 



ore be reassuring to those interested in tea to know 

 that the insect has been noticed before by cacao 

 growers, and that it has contiued its operations in Ceylon 

 to the cacao alone so far. I noticed the insect first in 

 18S2. But there are others who also know of its exist- 

 ence, with whom I discussed about it. Late in 1SS2 I 

 visited an estate in Dumbara and observed some 

 pods spotted over, '.vhich excited my curiosity. 

 On cutting a pod, it was however found that the 

 beans were not in the least injured or affected. I 

 discovered however no such phenomenon as a spotted 

 pod on my own plantation then — but did .so after- 

 wards. ' Early in the year 1883 I visited a plantation 

 at Kadugannawa belonging to llr. Ferdinandesz of the 

 Botanic Gurdeus. The o'oject of the visit was to gain 

 inf ormation regarding the habit and growth of the 

 paie varieties of cacao w'hicli were then in bearing 

 there. I noticed that at the time of my visit the 

 conductor of the estate was pulling the pods oflf the 

 trees and burying thr-m. On inquiry it turned up that 

 he was engaged in a crusade against the mosquitoes 

 or "bugs."' The paler varieties appeared to me to he 

 more affected than the red pods. The mosquito was 

 poinied out to me, and I captured a few of them. 

 I have not heard more about that campaign since ; 

 and whether or not exterminationwas the successful issue 

 of it But I was then informed by the conductor, who 

 seemed to have studied the habit of the insect, that 

 it deposited its eggs in the pod ; that the grub re- 

 mained inside the pod, and in due course of time 

 the winged enemy appeared on the surface. These 

 immature mosquitoes with little growth of wing were 

 also shown; to me as they luxuriated on the pod, living 

 probably on the juices of the cacao. 



On ray way back to Kaudy I remember meeting Mr. 

 Russell Grant in the tr.iin, to whom, as one interested 

 also in cacao, I mentioned the existence of what I 

 then thought might prove a formidable enemy to 

 cacao. He, however, told me that the insect was 

 known to him and that it did no harm in any 

 appreciable degree. Mr. Munton, a cacao-grower with 

 whom also I discussed the matter afterwards, assured 

 me that the insect was known and not dreaded by 

 the cacao-growers of his acquaintance. 



Shortly after, on going round my own plantation at 

 Dumbara, I noticed eome spotted poils in a dry situ- 

 ation of the garden. Mr. Alex. Whyte of Kandy 

 accompanied me ia that trip, and we captured a few 

 Ijnoc/iies there; their ravages, however, have not told 

 in a single pod with me from that time to this. It 

 was noticed then, and I mentioned to several of my 

 acqnai itances interested in tea, that the mosquito 

 bore a strong resemblance to a tea enemy shown in 

 one of the plates in the "Tea Encyclopsrdia, " and 

 now Dr. Trimen seems to think so too. It is to be 

 hoped, however, that the Hclopeltis Antonii or //. thi- 

 vara of Assam will confine itself to the low hot districts 

 where it is now fonnd and not extend its ravages from 

 cacao to tea in higher altitudes, in quest of fresh 

 fields and pastures now. It has not done so at least 

 for the two years that I have known the interestiug 

 creature, a nd may not do so in the future. AGRICOLA. 



PROPOSAL TO CUT DOWN NATIVE 

 COFFEE. 



Uva, May 4th 1S84. 

 Dear Sik,— I see by Dr. Trimen's last report that 

 he would wish all native coffee done away with to 

 save its being a nurnery for //. V. A large proportion 

 of the native coffee in the island is past the stace 

 of being a nursery for Ica/dUease, and that still m 

 good heart, if cut down and fresh suckers allowed to 

 grow, would still give the owners a good return.— 

 Yours truly, TRY. 



[The same experiment might be tried with badly 

 "Bbuek" plantatiou coffee.— Ea). 1 

 112 



PINUS SINENSIS FOR TEA-BOXES. 



The Gazette contains a correspondence on this sub- 

 ject. Writing to the Colonial Office (London) on 2yth 

 March, Mr. Thiselton Dyer states : — 



Sir Joseph Hooker would remind you that Finns sinensis, 

 the wood of which is apparently largely used by the 

 Chinese for the purpose, answers extremely well for 

 plantations in Hongkong and on the neighbouring Chinese 

 mainland, and it has been recently introduced by His 

 Excellency Sir J. Pope Hennessy into Jlauritius. It is 

 worth consideration whether its experimental cultivation 

 might not be attempted where suitable land is available 

 in Ceylon. 



Mr. Thiselton Dyer had written to the Foreign Ofiice 

 in Nov. 1S83, as follows : — 



I am desired by Sir Joseph Hooker to inform you that 

 enquiries have been addressed to the Royal Gardens 

 from Ceylon as to the nature of the wood used iu China 

 for marking the cliests in which tea is imported into 

 this country. It is a matter of considerable com- 

 mercial importance,, as in some cases Indian Tea 

 has proved irretrievably damaged on its arrival iu this 

 country owing to the corrosive action of the wood on tho 

 ead lining of the chests. The tea has consequently been 

 unprotected from damp, and has further L-eenj deteriorated 

 by a flavour communicated by the wood. 



Under these circumstances, Sir Joseph Hooker is of 

 opinion that it would be well worth the trouble, if the 

 Secretary of State should think fit to invite Her Majesty's 

 Consuls in those parts of China from which tea is exported, 

 to inquire into the matter and report, as far as they 

 are able, as to the nature of the wood most generally in 

 use. Perhaps the attention of Dr. Hance whose know- 

 lege of Chinese botany is so extensive and accurate, might 

 be particularly directed to the question. 



The reply from the Foreign Office on 2Sth March 

 1 884 was:— 



With reference to the letter from this Department of 

 the 5th of December last,* I am directed by Earl Gran- 

 viUe to forward to you herewith, for the inspection and 

 use of Sir Joseph Hooker, a sample of the wood that 

 is said to be exclusively used at Foochowfoo for making 

 the chests in which tea is exported thence to this 

 country. 



In forwarding this sample, Her Majesty's Consul at 

 that port states that it is the common pinewood of 

 China {Pinws sinensis), and is produced principally iu 

 Tingchowfoo, a prefecture of the province of Fuhkien 

 in the north-western direction, several hundred miies to 

 the north of Foochow, where timber of this descrip- 

 tion grows in great abundance and is brought down the 

 Min river in rafts, like those seen on the Rhine. 



Mr. Sinclair adds that this wood is also greatly used 

 for coffins in preference to any other on account of its 

 consistency and dm'abilitj'." 



Now it Pinus sitiensis can be grown in Mauritius 

 it can doubtless be grown in Ceylon. But if it 

 to compete with our suitable indigenous woods, it 

 ought to grow readily and quickly. Perhaps Dr. 

 Trimen can give some information about it? We 

 have sought in vain for any notice of Pinus sinensis 

 under that name. It does not seem to have been 

 introduced into India ? 



ORANGE AND LIME TREES AMONGST 

 COCONUTS. 



SiR,^I shall feel greatly obliged for information 

 whether it would be advisable to plant 1- me and orange 

 in the spaces m a field of coconuts 25 feet by 23, I am 

 aware that they grow pretty fairly in rhe shade but 

 what I amanxious to know is whether thay will produce 

 enough fruit to cover expenses, and not interfere 

 prejudicially with the coconut trees. — Yours truly, 



X Y Z. 



THE CAJU TREE FOR TEA-CHESTS. 



Sir, — Will you permit me to suggest to your reader 



interested in the important question of suitable plank- 



