March, 1910.] 



245 



Miscellaneous. 



The worst yielding trees on the Ceara 

 plot it is proposed to cut out at once, 

 and seed and cuttings to be taken from 

 the best trees only for propagation and 

 the formation of one or more new plots 

 of this product. 



The best results appear to be from a 

 modified spiral tapping and pricking, the 

 healing of the bark being good and rapid. 



Castilloa.— Tapping has been con- 

 tinued on various lines, and the yield of 

 individual trees recorded. Full spiral 

 apparently give the best results. 



Tea, — All plots have now been brought 

 into bearing again and the total yields 

 for the year ascertained and reduced to 

 the standard of 2,722 bushes per acre. 

 The results, given in a separate table, are 

 very satisfactory and point to the great 

 advantage of green manuring especially 

 with dadaps at this elevation. 



The dadaps and albizzias on plots 149 

 and 150 have been cut and mulched. 

 Plots 151-154 have been supplied with 

 Para, which is now established. 



The poor steep slopes of these latter 

 plots have been forked down alternate 

 lines and mulched with waste lemon 

 grass. 



Cacao. — The yields for the year from 

 all the manured plots have been obtained 

 and a new census of trees taken to reduce 

 them to a basis of 300 trees per acre, 



A bad attack of Helopeltis occurred 

 generally throughout the estate, espe- 

 cially where shade was least. Caracas 

 and Nicaragua trees were most affected, 

 and one Puerto de Cabello tree was 

 killed entirely. 



Experimental shading of the Nicara- 

 gua trees has been tried, and there is a 

 marked improvement, but the unshaded 

 trees are also better, 



Dadap stumps have been planted in 

 the unshaded portion. 



Five Acres Forestero.— The young 

 cacao has suffered to some extent from 

 wind and leaf-eating insects, which have 

 been difficult to find. The plants in the 

 Indigofera plot were more or less defoli- 

 ated after the crop was cut and mulched. 



Spraying with Imperial Bar Soap, 

 which was recommended by Mr. Green 

 will be tried, the soap having been 

 ordered. 



Coconuts — These are coming on well 

 in the 10-acre plot, though a few have 

 died or been destroyed. Seed is being 

 germinated for supplying these. 

 Para— Planted April, 1906, one Year 

 old Stumps.— All the trees (except in 

 the cacao plots) have been measured, and 



plot 78, all over 17" to 18" are being 

 tapped fiom the 1st January at the 

 base : — 



Row 1 with the basal \/ 

 ,, 2 with the cut from the left only \ 



,, 3 , „ right „ / 



The yields so far are poor. 

 Plot 87 was deeply forked all over as 

 suggested at the last meeting. 



The plots have been supplied with 

 large stumps. A few large trees were 

 blown down and were removed or ic- 

 erected and supported. 



Funtumia.— The trees are beginning 

 to recover from the caterpillar attack, 

 but the smaller branches were killed 

 back for several inches. 



Paddy.— The growth of the paddy is 

 excellent, especially after the green 

 manure, and where the artificial mixture 

 was applied it is 5' high when com- 

 mencing to form the grain. A small 

 area was attacked by insects and speci- 

 mens were sent to Mr. Green for identi- 

 fication. 



Oil Grasses,— Distillations were done 

 at intervals, the Lemon grass from the 

 coconut plots is now being distilled. 



The still is answering well and gives a 

 pale coloured pure oil. It holds about 

 400 lbs. of fresh grass and the oil is all off 

 in about 3-4 hours, working at a steam 

 pressure not exceeding 10 lbs. per square 

 inch. 



Plots of Java and Ceylon Maha-pengiri 

 and Cymbopogon flexuosus have been 

 planted out, 



Catch Crops. — Two more plots of 

 sunflower have been planted. The 

 gingelly crop (white and black) was 

 practically a failure, most of the plants 

 being diseased, and the seed failed to 

 mature. 



Fruit Plots.— The four varieties of 

 plantains are established, and the few 

 vacancies will be supplied as soon as 

 plants can be obtained. 



It is suggested that plots 69 to 77 old 

 cacao beyond the Para rubber may be 

 cut out for further fruit plots, a list of 

 which is given separately. 



Green Manures. — Several plots have 

 been cut and weighed, and new plots 

 established. Crotalaria incana is suffer- 

 ing from a fungus attack, identified by 

 Mr. Petch as " Wilt disease" caused by 

 Neocosnospora vasinfecta. Lime and 

 other fungicides are ineffectual, and 

 leguminous crops will not be grown iu 

 this plot again for some time, 



