May i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



267 



AN UPCOUNTRY TEA ESTATE IN CEYLON. 

 [Great Western Mountains in the background. | 



duction per acre, as the former trees stood 50 to the acre, while 

 the latter were 300, in either case the production reaching 150 

 pounds per acre. 



These yields, by the way, are not large, as Heneratgoda is not 

 to be compared with other parts of Ceylon as a rubber raising 

 locality. The many other and valuable experiments that were 

 carried out here and at Peradeniya would fill volumes. Ex- 

 haustive experiments as to the kind of incision that gave the 

 best results, whether the " herring bone," the X, the V, or 

 the single/was the best, and hundreds of records carefully kept 

 and compared to lead to the right conclusion. 



Then, too, experiments by the score were made to find what 

 part of the tree was the best to tap, whether near the base or 



high upon the trunk. In addition 

 to this a long series of experiments 

 in the coagulation of the latex were 

 instituted both by centrifugal ma- 

 chinery and by the employment of a 

 variety of acids. It is due directly 

 to this investigation that the Cey- 

 lon planter to-day, if he wishes to 

 hasten the coagulation, adds a few 

 drops of acetic acid to the latex. 

 Nor were these experiments done 

 in secret. The results were pub- 

 lished and scattered broadcast 

 among planters all through the 

 tropical world, with wonderful re- 

 sults for good. 



After a hasty look at the mag- 

 nificent palms, of which the garden 

 has more than 50 varieties, at the 

 banana, pepper, and other plants. I 

 resumed my hackery, and jolted 

 back to the railway. As the return 

 train was not due for half an hour, 

 I went to the " Rest House," a hotel 

 owned by the government and run 

 by a trusty native, where I had an 

 excellent breakfast. I paid the 

 fixed charges, signed my name to 

 the visitors, book, saying that I was 

 well pleased, and walking on to the station, caught the train 

 back to Colombo. In the afternoon I hired a jinrikisha, and 

 rode around the town. These " rickshaws "are simply huge 

 perambulators drawn by a half naked coolie who trots along 

 all day content with 10 cents an hour (gold). Most of the 

 rickshaws are old and rattley, but a few lately introduced 

 have pneumatic tires, and it is only a question of time before 

 they will all have them. 



As Director Willis had been good enough to invite me to 

 make my home with him when I went up country to visit the 

 Peradeniya gardens, and as I had only one suit of white flan- 

 nels, I got the tailor at the Galle Face to make me another. 

 I was measured in the morning and the suit delivered that even- 



PERADENIYA GARDEN ENTRANCE. 



'FICUS ELASTICA," PERADENIYA GARDEN. 

 IShowing spreading buttressed roots.] 



