SO The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



Manihot Glaziovii tor normal tropical climates. 



Manihot Dichotoma for rather dry regions. 



Manihot Piauiensis for light sanely soil only in rather dry 

 regions* 



These three varieties are very suitable for elevations ; especially Dichotoma 

 and Piauiensis which have been successfully planted up to 5,500 feet. 



Seeds true to name 



carefully prepared and tested, we supply for trial orders, postage paid to all 

 countries, in 



ParceSs of lOlbs. net at £3, 



after receipt of money order or cheque. 



10 lbs. contain about 3,700 seeds of Dichotoma or Piauiensis ; about 6,300 

 seeds of Glaziovii ; if requested the parcels can also be assorted, according to 

 orders in two or three of these varieties. — Prices for bags of 135 lbs, on 

 application. 



Hevea Plantations 



have found the Manihots very useful for elevations unsuitable for the culti- 

 vation of Hevea, thus making use of idle land. 



Gevakoht & Wedekind 



Hamburg 1. 



Telegraphio-Address : " Gevekimj Hamburg." 

 l • A. B. C. Code 5th Edition. :: 



cultivation. Later the burial of prunings waa 

 commenced, and on most estates it had very 

 satisfactory results, especially in the low country 

 On steep soil it rather tended to increase wash, 

 and on clayey soils in wet districts it caused the 

 death of many bushes from rosilJinea. The 

 latest method is deeply to fork alternate lines, 

 and to heap the prunings from two rows of 

 bushes on the same line. When the leaves drop- 

 ped they fell into the rough soil, aod the bran- 

 ches kept the coolies from treading down the 

 newly-forked line. A modification of this 

 method is to heap the prunings without forking, 

 and when the leaves drop to remove the 

 branches to the next row. Basic slag mixture is 

 then broadcast on the leaves, and the wholadeeply 

 forked without actual turning. The branches 

 can then be thrown over the row ag;iin It costs 

 an extra rupee per acre, but is money well spent. 

 Plucking. 



The old system of plucking which, until recent 

 years was fairly general in Ceylon, was in my opi- 

 nion, one of the chief causes of the gradual, and in 

 some instances rapid deterioration of tea. It con- 

 sisted in plucking more or less the whole leaf 

 for a few months, and then taking everything 

 down to the fish leaf for several months before 

 pruning. The effect was to exhaust the branches 

 and older wood of reserve material, which was 

 necessary for the development of new shoots 

 after the leaves and upper branches had been 

 removed. This naturally resulted in bushes 

 coming into bearing more slowly year by year, 

 with an earlier hardening of the young wood, 

 and a gradual falling off in flushing power and 

 yield. The root development was also affected 

 to a large extent. Heavy manuring at great ex- 

 pense wouldj gradually bring the bushes round, 



but it can be done far more cheaply and satis- 

 factorily by pruning as suggested above, and 

 then plucking the whole leaf throughout from 

 pruning to pruning, except, perhaps, a few 

 rounds to trie fish leaf during the bu3y season, 

 which encourages more flushing points from 

 dormant eyes, but in this case whole leaf pluck- 

 ing should be reverted to before the rush is 

 completely over. 



It is not generally realised what a marked 

 difference such treatment has to the tea bush, 

 and coupled with the improvement of the soil 

 by forking and -addition of humus by green 

 manures, and the application of moderate 

 mixtures to tupply some available mineral 

 constituents and nitrogen, there is hardly any 

 tea that will not respond readily, and gradually 

 form a dense cover over the soil. 



Manuking in the District. 



After making some comments on the different 

 artificial manures Mr. Bamber added :— Coming 

 through the district, there is considerable evi- 

 dence of wash, but there is still ample depth of 

 soil, which can be renovated by grem manuring. 

 Care and perseverance are required, but every 

 endeavour should be made to establish systema- 

 tic green manuring at the earliest possible date, 

 so that in time the amount of nitrogenous arti- 

 ficials required can be reduced to a minimum 

 and the cost of manuring also. The good effect 

 of green manuring with dadaps on Barnagalla 

 is very apparent to all, and Mr. Smith is to be 

 congratulated on his success, and there is no 

 reason why similar success cannot also be 

 obtained by most estates in the district. 



The lecture was much appreciated, and Mr. 

 Kelway Bamber was accorded a most hearty 

 vote of thanks by all present. 



