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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[January i, 1885. 



"TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST," VOL. III. 



(A Review.) 

 Judging from the numerous testimonials received from 

 all parts of the glohe, the T. A. has evidently obtained a 

 world-wide reputation. Practical agriculturists from all 

 parts of the compass trumpet forth its praise. Thus, from 

 the north, Mr. w. T. T. Dyer, F.L.S., C.M.G., dating from 

 Kew Gardens, Dec. 1883, writes : — " Sir Joseph Hooker .md 

 myself always look out for the successive numbers of the 

 T. A. with eagerness, and I keep a file in my office for 

 reference. It is impossible to speak too highly of the utility 

 of such a publication and of the way it is managed." From 

 the south, the editor of the Australasian writes: — "This 

 serial is quite a cycloptedia of tropical agriculture." From 

 the east, a correspondent from the Wyuaad writes : — "The 

 T. A . is highly appreciated by all who read or have read 

 it, and one and all declare that it supplies a long-felt 

 want." And from the west, Mr. D. Morris, f.l.s., of Jam- 

 aica, writes : — " I sincerely congratulate you on the T. A., 

 which supplies a great want ; I only wish that we had in 

 Jamaica a paper like yours to work up planting subjects." 

 The third volume (1,090 pages) as full of information for 

 the people " as an egg is full of meat," well sustains the 

 reputation of the work. This volume derives additional 

 and special importance from the fact that it includes Mr. 

 Vincent's valuable and exhaustive report on the " Forests 

 of Ceylon." The clear and well-executed Map of the Island 

 which accompanies this report is well worth the price 

 charged for the whole volume. 



At this epoch of our agricultural history, Tea, the hope 

 of the hitherto despairing plantiog world, naturally occu- 

 pies the first place in the present volume. No less than 

 325 articles — many of which are of considerable length and 

 of unusual interest and importance — notably those by Mr. 

 Armstrong, pp. 250-7 ; Mr. Owen pp. 273-8, and Mr. Hay 

 pp. 383-7, beiug devoted to the discussion of this valuable 

 product. 



Coffee is discussed in 164 articles 

 Cinchona ,, 157 ,, 



Indiarubher „ Kb „ 



Cacao ,, .17 ,, 



Cinnamon „ 29 ,, 



Coconuts ,, 19 ,, ami 



Rio (Paddy) „ 15 



I. The Cultivation of Tea. — Planters who would " turn 

 the comer " will do well to study these pages, and then, 

 having made up their mind as to the most suitable soil 

 and climate, and as to the best jat, let them fall to and 

 " fell " and then " peg " away at tea. Our old friend ^p. 

 61) who formerly wrote lamentable accounts of the ravages 

 of crickets, white ants, etc., now confesses himself to have 

 been beaten " all along the line," so far as his efforts to 

 grow cacao ami Liberian coffee are concerned, and having 

 himself become a tea-totaller, advises planters on all sides 

 to forswear all more doubtful products, and addict them- 

 selves to tea. Sound advice my friend, and may your bushes 

 flush, until you yourself are flush of all good things. 



(1.) Olimate ami Sail. — Mr. Armstrong (p. 252) speaks 

 of the Kelani Valley District as having the beau ideal of 

 a tea climate. If the report is true that the Government 

 have resolved to reserve the greater part of the Crown 

 forests, in this district, land from Hanwella upwards already 

 in the hands of private parties should be invaluable, wheu 

 the anticipated " boom " comes. In the coffee districts, 

 land which is "most suitable for coffee" is declared to 

 be "most suitable for tea." The planting of tea on old 

 washed coffee laud is deprecated. " Where coffee makes 

 most wood (called leaf in tea) there will our tea do best." 

 (2). Jdt.— This subject is discussed on p. 133-4. " Indi- 

 genous Assam " or a hybrid closely approaching it in char- 

 acter is recommended, as best for Ceylon. The indigenous 

 if used at all must be confined to lowcountry estates. Mr. 

 Armstrong also (p. 252) insists upon the importance of ob- 

 taining seed from the " highest class hybrid." Mr. Owen 

 (p. 274) says :— " In India none but indigenous seed at R150 

 per maund is bought, and on the hills a good high-class 

 hybrid is gone in for. He then warns Ceylon planters 

 against planting China or low-class tea at any elevation. 

 Inferior jat means decreased yield and a comparatively 

 weak tea (see also Mr. Hay's remarks on this point, p. 383). 

 Thus, the T. A. finally settles the important question of jat. 

 (3). field.— Mr. Armstrong— page 255, speaks of Galle- 



bodde and its ,8001b per acre and the older portion of Dunedin 

 with its 730 lb. He also mentions a field of his own— 3 

 acres at 7| years which has given 1,2001b ! ! I should think 

 cnoTu I t 7 mt the avera S e of 400 lb. for up-country and 

 Ail 'b- /or low-country estates maybe accepted as correct. 

 Abbotsford has already reached 663 lb. See Mr A M F 

 jnr's. letters pages 424 and 789. [Average 500 lb for "the 

 year. — Ed.] . 



(4). Profits, on on page 383 works out a table of pro- 

 fats to be expected from tea from which we learn that 

 an average yield of 400 lb. per acre will give a profit of 

 oJ™ a 1? that au avera S e of 6001b. will give a profit of 

 K200. For every 50 lb of tea add R20 per acre and for every 

 Id. improvement on Is 3d. add R5 per 100 lb yield S 

 cannot be very far out when he states that with tea up 

 to Is lOd. to 2s. per lb. good estates will be worth 111,200 

 per acre. 



II. The Cultivation of Coffee.— Au interesting paper 

 on this subject by Hon. J. L. Shand, pages 176-8, will amply 

 repay perusal. The Report of the " Spring Valley Coffee 

 Company » p. 73, speaks very hopefully of the prospects 

 ot coffee m Uva. The Manager answers the Directors that 

 with plenty of manure there is little to be feared from 

 leaf disease. Mr. Storck, p, 350, recommends the expendi- 

 ture of £2 10s. per acre on his vapour cure. No, thauk 

 you, Mr. Storck, no more vapouring please. It is rather 

 late in the day to tender us such advice, we mean to 

 stick to manure as they do in Spring Valley and if that 

 does no good, we shall addict ourselves to tea. 



III. The Cultivation of Cacao.— An instructive paper 

 on this subject appears on pp. 371-4. Intending Planters 

 will note that the very best laud that can be got should 

 be secured for cacao. An estimate is given for opening and 

 bringing into bearing 200 acres, from which it appears that 

 the total cost for 6 years (including interest on outlay) will 

 be R107.946. The crop however of the 3rd to 6th years 

 is estimated at a total of 2,800 cwt. which at R45 will realize 

 11126,000, or R16.050 clear gain, plus an estate worth 

 R14(),000 or a total R156,05G, on six years' work ! ! ! 



IV. Coconuts.— Articles on this produce will be found 

 on pp. 609, 772 and 819. In Fiji Coconuts are said to be 

 in full bearing at the 8th year ; in Ceylon double that time 

 should be nearer the mark. 



V. Geneeal.— Mr.Morris (pp. 746-55) writes a most inter- 

 esting article on St. Helena. El, phants are dealt with on 

 pp. 870-77. Astriches on p. 861, Sugar by G. W. on p. 659 

 Nutmegs on p. 656, Paddy (rice) by Mr. Weerakody on 

 page 785, Oranges on p. 74. On p. 891 we have a chat about 

 Ceylon fruits, in which our oranges are grossly libelled. 

 Some years ago Mr. R. L. M. Brown planted a small orange 

 estate at Mahara, perhaps Mr. Brown would pro bono publico 

 let us have the result of his unique experiment. 



Scattered throughout the pages of this most interesting 

 volume are papers on very many other interesting and im- 

 portant topics. I cannot dwell upon these just now, so 

 beg to refer your readers to the book itself, where they 

 may " enquire within " about everything (agricultural) for 

 themselves. 



Nibefonos. 



Tea in Ameaoamuwa. — Aberdeen estate, Amba- 

 gamuwa has been recently reported to have given for the 

 season nearly as large a yield of leaf as Mariawatfce. The 

 manager answers our enquiry as follows :— " How could 

 youexpectto hear from one who bas notyetgot theproper 

 average for his tea? When I can double the price it will be 

 tune to letyouknow the whereabouts of "Aberdeen Awa." 

 Meantime, it 's no use disgracing a rising district with 

 a bad name. My own opinion is that Ambagamuwa 

 will yet stand second to none for quantity as well 

 as quality of tea produced in Ceylon. Some of the 

 district estates — Benachie for instance — have a tine lay 

 of land, good soil, perfect aspect, eitching the first 

 glimpse of the rising sun, and eo far start' d with a 

 good jat of tea, which I have no doubt will add more 

 to the future success of a good tea estate than peo- 

 ple are aware of at present. My ideas coincide quite 

 with y.iur correspondent ' R. L. ' from Assam about 

 jdt and hybrid. Figures of quantity (clearing planted 

 in 1879) will follow at end of this month." 



