MANUAL OF THE NTr.\niRI MSTRK 



^197 



Large quantities of a kind of sprat are caught near Calicut and CH. XXVIII. 

 sent up in neat parcels in vast quantities to Waiuad. Well mixed coffee 

 with pulp and jungle soil, I have found this manure very Cultivation, 

 efficacious. I apply about a quarter of a bushel to each tree^ and _figij. 

 reckon that it takes a ton of fish to each acre ; but I think the effect manure, 

 is not very lasting and that the manure should be applied yearly. 

 Fish has long been used as manure for tea in Japan. 



Considering the vast herds of cattle slaughtered monthly in — bonea. 

 Australia and South America, and the large demand there would 

 be for bone-manure if it were only well crushed and sold tolerably 

 cheap, I am surprised that bone-crushing mills have not been 

 started in those places and a large trade in bone-manure inaugu- 

 rated. It is true that both crushed and steamed bones can 

 be procured in India, but the price is very high, considering 

 that, unless treated with sulphuric acid, this manure whilst 

 lasting is slow in taking effect. Many planters hesitate to try so 

 expensive a manure. I am informed that bone dust mixed with 

 castor poonac makes a very fine manure, and 1 have found very 

 good results from bone dust mixed with jungle soil. 



This has been imported from Bombay by one of the firms at —blood and 

 Calicut, but I am informed by a planter who tried it that it showed to^ufe^l^fugg. 

 no results. 



This is very expensive and very generally adulterated, and is —guano, 

 usually considered too stimulating and evanescent in its effects. 



Whether owing to adulteration or deterioration, this manure — snperphos- 

 has by no means answered the expectations formed of it. p eo i . 



This mode of cultivation is but rarely employed, and my irrigation, 

 experience is that, except with a very large supply of water, and 

 this favourably placed, it is impossible to do any good. Unfor- 

 tunately just when irrigation is most required the streams are 

 at their lowest, but perhaps something may be done towards 

 saving and preserving the blossom in the absence of showers by 

 the watering-engine of Messrs, Rhodes and Co., which has been 

 used I learn with good effect by the agent of the Moyar Coffee 

 Company. 



These should be made as pucka and permanent as possible, as Buildings, 

 the constant renewal of temporary erections is not only twice or 

 three times as expensive in the end, but takes up a vast amount 

 of labour which might be much more beneficially employed in 

 cultivation. 



Although, until the plantation is well under way — felled, pitted —bungalow. 

 and planted — the planter may have to put up with a wattle-and-dab 

 hut, he should not hesitate to erect a comfortable bungalow as 

 soon as the labour can be spared, for, in order to keep his health, he 

 must be comfortably housed. Some prefer wooden houses raised 



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