Septe^er i, 1884.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



243 



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To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 

 CINCHONA CULTIVATION : LEDGERS. 

 Western Ghats, 4th July 1884. 

 Dear Sir,— I am sorry to see that the subject of 

 cinchona is gradually dropping out of discussion in your 

 columns, because, i fear it, argues that its cultivation 

 must be becoming lool ed upon as a non-paying con- 

 cern. 1 have 1). in j anxious to hear the opinions 

 of those of your subscribers who had tried the "Java 

 Ledger" seed, sold by auction in Colombo during the 

 earlier half of 1882, having heard opinions expressed 

 that have made me doubtful whether the resulting 

 plants are Ledgers at all, or " Micranthas " or some 

 other comparatively worthless variety. Some of the 

 plants grown from that same seed, and put out 

 in estate a year or less since, are commencing to 

 flower, aud, when they do, I dare say 1 may be 

 able to identify them, at all events determine if 

 " Ledgers " or not, I should be very much obliged 

 if any of your readers would inform me whether the 

 fact of their blossoming at so early an age •■necessarily 

 condemns their claim to being so as unfounded ? 

 I have the most undoubted 'Ledgers" (from "Yarrow" 

 seed) of a similar age and size without a sign of 

 flowering in any one of them. I have also " Verdes " 

 with same result, no buds. Cinchona cultivation is 

 one of great interest to many in Mysore, who, I am 

 sure, regret that .recently the T. A. has afforded 

 thorn so little information to bad them to decide 

 what its prospect9 are. I am lamenting the non- 

 arrival of your June issue. — I am, dear sir, yours 

 faithfully. MAHSEER. 



TRADE ALLOWANCES ON TEA. 



Ambagamuwa, July 20th, IS 1 ?!. 



Dear Sir, — Information on the following subject 

 would be of interest to all concerned in tea, viz, the 

 " trade allowances." I believe 2i per cent is the utmost 

 supposed to be demanded. But when it amounts to 

 5 per cent and 8 per cent, as it has done of late, I 

 think there is just cause for complaint. What is your 

 own experience, Mr. Editor? Are you mulcted to the 

 same extent? 5 per cent on the last year's crop from 

 Ceylon would be 7 r \< 1 00 lb., a nice perquisite for the 

 trade !— Yours faitb fully, A VICTIM. 



[Since we drew attention to the shamefully exorbit- 

 ant charges that were being made upon our tea, we 

 have personally nothing to complaiu of. The local agency 

 commission is only 1 cent per lb., and the deductions 

 from the quantity of tea made by the brokers in the 

 London market, which is what our correspondent 

 evidently refers to, are about 1 lb. in every 177, or 

 say halfa-pound per chest. We do not think anyone 

 can grumble at that. — Ed.] 



THE PAPPAYE OR PAPPAWE. 



Dear Sir, — Can any of your readers give me any 

 information as to how the juice or milk of this fruit 

 is expressed, and what the value of the same would 

 be at home? If the tree is of any value, something 

 might be made out of it, as it grows readdy in almost 

 any soil, and, when once planted amongst the coffee, 

 becomes a regular weed in time. The fruits, both 

 ripe and green, are used by the coolies as food. I 

 have a great number of these trees growing through 

 my coffee, and I know that coolies are attracted 10 

 the estate by these and jak fruit. If it is possible 

 to get any sale for the expressed milk, I coulel in 

 a very short time extend the cultivation of this pro- 

 duct. — Yours truly, B. G. 



[Some correspondent will probably be good enough 

 to give the desired mformation. — Ed.] 



HAPUTALE PLANTING REPOR I'. 



Haputale, 21st July 18 1. 



Dear Sir, — By today's tappal you will receive a 

 email tin box containing a few insects, two species, 

 their names and origin may be of ink rest to your 

 readers, 



Cojjee in lower Haputale has lately been the subject 

 of a smart attack of leaf-elisease, but is now showing 

 signs of recovery. Several fields of young coffee which 

 suffered last year have been singularly free from any 

 attack this year: the upper fielrla have as yet suffered 

 belt little, and wooel is getting into prime order, and 

 on both upper and lower fields a healthy-looking 

 spike is pretty general. The leaves of the young eolfeo 

 bearing heavily have a flabby appearance, and of the 

 branches a large proportion have black points, the 

 result of the long spell of dry weather. It is com- 

 forting to know that olel residents seem to ;igree that 

 this is the kiuel of weather which in elays gone-by 

 used to give the bumper crops with a large percentage 

 of light coffee in autumn, but the spring crops were 

 so large and of first quality that the loss from the 

 lights in autumn was never felt. 



Crop from the early blossom is now of a straw 

 color, and, with a few heavy showers, picking will likely 

 be commenced in earnest on the lower estates about 

 the middle of August. About the same time, the 

 first good blossom for spring crop may be expected. 



Cattle sent to graze must have a hard time of it, 

 grass is looking very parcheel, and even those which 

 are stall-fed must find their supply reduced and inferior. 



Roads. — The Leroas road is now in very gooel oreler 

 and the contractor deserves credit for the energy re- 

 cently displayed. Estate roads generally are also being 

 repaired, and one can get about without the risk of 

 coming to grief. 



Weeding. — Have never seen Haputale estates in better 

 order. Contractors must be making money, if the 

 average cost of weeding is over the rupee per acre 

 per mensem. 



_Yi a' Products. — Seeing that in this important dis- 

 trict there is so much fine coffee, new products are 

 having a fair share of attention given them, and 

 shows there are proprietors determined to make the 

 most of their estates with the material at hand, since 

 Government have been so lax in providing railway- 

 carriage for manure up to maintain these fine properties. 



Caeao in the Kandapola section appears to be doing 

 well. Where planted in a sheltered .situation, there are 

 trees fully seven feet in height and about twenty 

 months old, while the average is about five feet. 

 Having an opportunity of carefully inspecting a field 

 of about ten acres of young cacao, with a view to learn 

 whether any of the pests had visited it, two plants 

 only, of about IS inches in height, showeel signs of 

 weakness, the leaves of one of them were mere 

 skeletons; and the peculiar-looking insects sent in tin 

 box were picked off them; the other plant had a 

 brownish-looking leaf-bud, and under it was found 

 the dark-red insect with the two short feelers ami 

 four lines of light spots across the back. The former 

 wretches appear to be beetles with a sort of shielel 

 or covering all round, from which they pull them- 

 selves half out before they creep along. Are these 

 the Helopeltis ? If so, the damage they do is totally 

 different in appearance from that done by wind. 

 As these were all collected from one plant anil no 

 more could be found in the clearing, it should not 

 he a difficult task to keep them in check. Those 

 who have laud in Haputale suitable for cacao cultiv- 

 ation have no cause to be alarmed, hut, from the 

 rapid growth of the plant aud the bearing properties 

 of the older trees, they have every encouragement 

 to carry on the cultivation, the mistake some have 

 made is in planting eae^ao where the wine! tears off 



