358 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov, r, 1886. 



to leave it entirely to nature whether this was ulti- 

 mately tloue: I know not as I have not seen or heard 



of it for twenty five years. 



The cultivation of Liberian Coffee is not yet suffi- 

 ciently aivauced in Ceylon for the btudy of the 

 mature plant but there are circumstances in its hab- 

 its that at present appear to me iutuperably negative 

 in "the matter of dispos-ing of its bearing wood artifi- 

 cially in a limited space, but in eighteen months or 

 two years if I live so long I will have a definite 

 opinion to offer on this point. In the management 

 of this plant there has been and will be great blunders 

 before the true view is struck. I know that in the 

 past I have contributed my fair share of the blunders 

 but a philosopher learns even more from his failures 

 than his successes. 



PADDY (RICE) INSECTS IN CEYLON. 



No. 1026. Olfice of the Director P. I. Colombo, 11th 

 October 1886. 

 The Honorary Secretary, Agricultural Association. 



Sib, — I have the honor to forward for your inform- 

 ation the annexed extracts of reports received from 

 the Head Teacher of the Walalla Anglo Vernacular 

 Boys School, concerning a cure for paddy insects with 

 which he has made successful experiments. — I am, 

 Sir, Your Obedient Servant, H. "\V. Greex, Directov. 



{Extracts rejWred to.) 



Of letter of 16th Sept. 1836. 



This is the remedy I used: well cleaned ashes and 

 a little kerosine oil. This powder I sprinkled over the 

 plants three or four times which made the insects 

 to retire, the few that remained could do no harm 

 to the ears. As to the efficacy of this powder in 

 driving off the insects, there is not the least doubt; 

 you may kindly recommend this powder with con- 

 fidence to any body in the Western Province who is 

 in need of it ; but the powder most be carefully prepared 

 with the proper quantity of kerosiue oil, otherwise 

 it will do more harm than good. It was advertised 

 some time ago that a rope saturated in kerosiue oil 

 and drawn over the paddy plants will drive off the 

 insects. I tried this method also, the result was that 

 all the blades of paddy plants aud ears that this oil 

 touched withered, and the insects concealed themselves 

 at the root of plants, came up after a few hours. No 

 one is satisfied with the rope method. I have already 

 given orders to my Goiyaa to collect ashes to instruct 

 them how to prepare my powder. 



Of letter of 1st Oct. 1886. • * * 

 Take a pint of kerosine oil and mix well with one 

 bushel of well cleaned ashes; press well this powder 

 in a bag jvnd keep in the sun mouth tied from three 

 to four hours, "\^'hen the powder is sufficiently dry, 

 sprinkle it lightly over the paddy plants bo'h morning 

 and evening when there is dew ; if the insects still 

 remain repeat this every other day for sometime, for 

 the second application however not more than half a 

 pint of kerosine oil should be taken for every bushel 

 of ashes. If the application of this powder is made 

 immediately before the ears appear it is preferable. 

 The dams or the ridges of the field also must be 

 sprinkled over with the powder as insects too often 

 take refuge in such places, grass should be cut short. 

 The jungle near about the field especially Lantana or 

 Ratahingura as it is called in the upcountry should be 

 cleared. Even if a few insects remain after the above 

 process they can do liitle or no harm to the ears. 

 If a Goiya does not succeed in this plan to save his 

 crop, he must be a very unfortunate man. Consider- 

 ing the immense loss that cultivators suffer yearly on 

 account of insects, I suppose my powder will be of great 

 use to them. I am &c.,(Sigd.)D L. Wickremasingha. 

 ♦ 



The Or.\nge Crop in Valencia.— As an illustra- 

 tion of the importance of the Orange crop in Spain 

 it is stated that from the Port of Valencia alone ^over 

 3,000,000,000 Oranges have been shipped in ' the 

 course of one seson. The fruits, which are considered 

 the best of their kind in Europe, can now be delivered 

 in England at 9*-. the box, leaving a fair margin of 

 profit to the producer. — Gardeners' Chronicle. 



Praisk of Ceylon Tka from the best- 

 K.Now.\ Medic.ill JorRNAL. — We are indebted to Dr. 

 Eockwood for the following extract : — " Analytical 

 records. — Cassell's Ceylon tea. The tea plantations 

 of Ceylon have been a great success, and have added 

 in an important degree to the material resources 

 of the island. The sample now before us is very 

 satisfactory. There is no facing or other mineral 

 matter. The leaves are small and clean, and give 

 a strong decoction of delicate flavour. Such tea 

 may well replace the product of China." — The Lancet. 

 Mica or Talc : a New Industry.— It is 

 rather a coincidence that just as we were taking 

 up our pen to attract attention to the advertise- 

 ment in another column in reference to a demand 

 for this article a gentleman in the Fort should 

 have sent us for inspection, two of the finest pieces 

 of talc from Badulla we have ever seen in Ceylon : 

 they measure more than a foot square about J inch 

 thick, beautifully smooth and form a capital mirror. 

 Pieces of this description would meet with a ready 

 sale we have no doubt. Anything above 8 inches 

 is considered good and marketable ; while three 

 and six inches' pieces are considered small. We 

 are aware that mica has been collected in Uva for 

 some time. Perhaps the Messrs. Greig & Co.'s de- 

 mand may give an impetus to the industry. 



Cinchona Bark in Madras. — At an auction held on 

 October 18th, Madras, by Messrs. Oakos & Co., of the Ex- 

 change Hall, the following prices were rfalised for 

 Dodabetta Estate, Natural Crown Bark : — 

 Description No. of bales 



of Bark. for each lot. Amount realized. 



Stripped ... 1 to ION 



do ... 11 30 



do ... 21 30 



do ... 31 40 



do ... 41 50 \ R6,400 at R64 per bale. 



do ... h\ m 



do ... 01 70 



do ... 71 80 



do ... Si 90 



do ... 91 100^ 

 Shaved ... 101 110, 



do ... Ill 1-20 



do ... 121 130 



do ... 131 140 R3,000 at R40 per bale-. 



do ... 141 150 



do ... 151 \m 



do .. 101 170 



do ... 171 175' 

 Each lot contains 10 bales, with the exception of 171 

 to 175, which contain 5 bales. — Madras Midi. 



What is Bhang 'r* — I have always understood bhang 

 to mean gauja leaves. But those who ought to 

 know explain that bhang is a preparation of bnviiUa 

 leaves aud opium ; that the preparation is \ised for 

 smoking in pipes, which is called luadat. and that 

 ganja leaves, leaves I think of the Indian hemp, have 

 nothing in tiiem in common with bhang. The Ordin- 

 ance which prohibits the sale of opium and bhang ex- 

 cept upon a license, does not prohibit the sale of K^i'ij^ 

 leaves. But I would wish to have some more inform- 

 ation on the subject. Asa matter of fact, ganja leaves 

 are sold in many unlicensed boutiques. But they say 

 the police levy a black mail on it. — Cur. [The inebri- 

 ating preparation made from the leaves of the ganja or 

 bhang, the Cannabis Sutiva, is generally in a liquid 

 form and is a fiercely intoxicating draught. Hemp 

 leaves (washed in water) 3 dr., black peppei- 45 grains, 

 cloves, nutmegs and mace of each 11^ grains. Triturate 

 the ingredients with 8 oz. of water or milk, or with the 

 juice of Water-melon seed or cucumber seed, and 

 strain. The spices render it more ine'>riating. The 

 dried Hemjj plant which has flowered, and from which 

 the resin has not been removed, is called " ganja." 

 The larger leaves and capsules of the dried Hemp 

 plant are usually termed " bhanjf." — {E.riract from 

 " Balfour's Enci/clopitdia.") The leaves or young 

 leaf buds of the hemp plant, ganja, are smoked by 

 tseor added to tobacco. — From Dr. Vanderstraaten."" 



