Maucu 1, iBBf.] ffie f J^OPiCAL AamCtfLf U^iSf. 



6ti 



3 ill be able shortly to declare better results; it 

 lows by the character, brisk, and pungent flavor, a 

 first-class Drying Machine. But they say as a "Wither- 

 ing Machine alone it ought to take. 



It enables planters to make first-class tea during 

 any kind of weather, be it rain, fog, or sunshine, as 

 air of any degree of heat can be used accordingly, 

 and they can time the withering to the rolling, and 

 save all chalonies, lofts, large sheds, their annual 

 repairs, labor, and worry infinite. 



It is a rapid Drying Machine one minute, and a 

 splendid AVithering Machine the next. Any degree 

 of withering can be given to prevent frothing and 

 loss of watery juice, particularly at the first of the 

 Assam season ; concentrates the mucilageuous matter 

 in the leaf, and holds the roll; rolls up (juicker, 

 gives bright flowery or orange nibs, enhances the 

 price of the tea. 



I apologize for this long letter, but your corres- 

 pondent's exclamation — " who will come to the front 

 with a good Witherer," has prompted it; and as 

 a duty to ourselves and the Tea industry, and but 

 for that I would have remained quiescent until the 

 promised still more surprising results, with the staff 

 in thorough trim and practice in Ceylon, where my 

 system of fresh leaf equalizing (making first-rate 

 equalized Pekoe Souchong, or all the classes, without 

 sifting or otherwise, and without broken tea and dust) 

 is being carried out by my several inventions, and 

 by instructions given during 12 months in our Works 

 to a young Engineer who is now there. — Yours 

 faithfully, John Greig, Jk., For John Greig & Oo. — 

 Indian Tea Gazette. 



[The surprising thing is that we, in Ceylon, know 

 so little, in fact scarcely anything of what is said 

 to be done amongst us. — Ed.] 



THE AUSTRALIAN BLUB GUMS 

 are rather inconsistently described in an article on 

 firewood '\ni\\e South of India Observer : — At the pre- 

 sent selling price of grass land outside of Ootacamund, 

 and considering the unique rapidity of the growth of 

 the eucalyptus aud the enormous proportions it attains, it 

 is proved to demonstration that the great quantity of 

 fuel yielded by an acre would amply recoup the outlay 

 of a producer, even if the latter sold his wood at half 

 the rate now charged by the Department for a thou- 

 sand pounds. The Forest Department charges a seigni- 

 orage of Rl-4-it for this weight of wood delivered 

 at the forest, and the average rate of cart hire to and 

 from the latter is Rl-8-0. Thus a cart load of wood 

 deposited on a purchaser's premises costs' R2-12-0 

 ( more than half of which is for carriage ) anything but 

 a light price, we submit, when we take into consider- 

 ation the excessive and necessary consumption of wood 

 in this climate for domestic purposes more especially 

 during the mousoon ami frosty months. Moreover 

 Government denies to the native town population the 

 privilege of taking their wood out of the forests, which 

 is conceded to villagers. A cheaper supply of fuel in 

 a damp climate like ours to a scantily clad and badly 

 housed native community would be of incalculable 

 benefit indirectly. It would improve the health of the 

 town, and lower the death rate, to say nothing of the 

 mere comfort of domestic life. On Esthetic and Agri- 

 cultural grounds we deprecate the promiscuous cultiva- 

 tion of eucalyptus within the precincts of the cantonment. 

 Viewed in the former light of the prim formal, stiff, 

 sombre looking blue gum is anything but an embellish- 

 ment to the lauscape, and when in addition, its towering 

 height, effectually shuts out from view the pretty 

 tasteful English dwellings which since recently adorn 

 our Sanitarium we think any ^Esthete will support our 

 contention that the disfigurement in question should be 

 removed or at least not permitted to be extended. 

 Unless one strains one's sinews to clamber up Dodabet's 

 Summit it is impossible to get a view of Ooty, ov.'iug to 

 this thick growth of eucalyptus, which envelope it ou 

 all sides, and the natural beauties of our pretty Sanitarium 

 are effectually effaced by this giant of the Antipodes. 

 If the cheapening of fuel should fail to demolish our 

 urban forests, for we bold that the factors, which cou- 



fribi;ite to «siiRBO« tb« {>ric9 of fi(«wo9id ir« ctiitan?* 



of the source of supply and cart hire, we should like to 



see a bye-law introduced prohibiting the planting of the 



tree within the limits of the cantonment, though such 



a bye law cau only be justified except by a very liberal 



construction of the Sections of the Municipal Act. 



Agriculturally considered it is an indisputable fact, that 



eucalyptus dries up streams and springs, destroys 



pasture and generally impoverishes the soil and it has 



been observed, particularly in Australia, that grass 



and undergrowth perish beneath its baleful shade and 



no green ttiing grows therein. In a word the Ecuaylp- 



tus Globulus is so select in its habit that it will tolerate 



no rival in the vegetable world in its vicinity and thrives 



rankly in solitary luxuriance or exclusive community 



like Robinson Crusoe, Monarch of all it surveys. 

 ^ 



OUTDOOR CULTIVATION OF 



THE STRAWBERRY. 



There is no tteubt that mauy Strawberry plantations 

 are relied on annually for the crop, when it ought not 

 to be counted on as profitable for more than two or 

 three years. As the time will soon arrive when there 

 will be abundance of runners, it will not be inopportune 

 to give a few notes regarding the outdoor cultivation 

 of the Strawberry. Many gardeners make their new 

 Strawberry plantations iu the autumn, others leave it 

 until the .spring ; but we think a full crop ought to be 

 procured the first season after planting. Therefore we 

 will recommend the runners to be planted in their 

 permanent quarters from the last week in July until 

 the end of August. The sooner the runners are 

 planted the stronger will be the plants, consequently 

 there will be a larger crop of fruit. This system 

 of Strawberry culture is well carried out by Mr. Douglas, 

 Great Gearies, Uford, and better results could not be 

 obtained. Preparing the runners and preparing the 

 ground for their reception ought to be attended to at 

 about the same time, for as soon as the 'runners are 

 well rooted they should be planted out. 



Pkeparing the Gbound. — The ground should be 

 well trenched to the depth of 30 inches, placing a 

 good layer of decayed manure iu the bottom of the 

 trench, and another layer within a foot of the surface. 

 If the sub.soil is not in very good condition it must 

 not be brought to the surface but be kept underneath. 

 It must be well worked up with some manure. After 

 the ground has settled down it will be ready for the 

 prepared runners. 



Peepabino the Runners. — As soon as runners are 

 obtainable they should be layered into GO-sizs pots, 

 filled with a compost of four parts loam and one part 

 decayed manure. The loam should be well divided 

 and the manure sifted. If it is not convenient to use 

 small pots pieces of turf 4 inches square are good 

 substitutes. Pinch the points off the runners before 

 layering, as it will strengthen the remaining runners. 

 Press the base of the runner ou the surface of the 

 soil or tuif, and peg it in position. Afterbeing layered 

 they must be kept well supplied with moisture. 

 When well rooted sever them from the parent plants, 

 stand them together in a sheltered place, and keep 

 them well supplied with water. In a week they will be 

 in good condition for planting out. 



Plantiso out the Runners. — Two feet apart in 

 the rows and the same between the rows is a good 

 distance. To every plant give a good shovelful of soil, 

 as was used for layering, only it may be in 

 rougher state. Press the soil well round 

 and form a shallow basin round them, 

 runners removed as soon as they appear^ 

 aud well water them every alternate night, or accord- 

 ing to the weather. They will soon commence grow- 

 ing, when the Dutch hoe should be used frequently 

 amongst them. As the season advances and the 

 autumn rains come on discontinue watering. 



AftKr-treatMENt. — If the winter is likely to be 

 severe mulch with some short dry manure. If it is 

 likely to be an open winter do not mulch them, but 

 use the Dutch hoe freely. After the fruit has set, and if it 

 is dry weather, a good soaking of sewage or liquid manure 

 should be given, afterwards well mulching them with 

 long stable litter, which will eooa become bleached 

 HB-f J9« ft good proteotJQn for the fruit, otberwie^ 



the same 

 a slightly 

 the rojts, 

 Keep all 



