92 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



THE (30S£»irUT BLEEDING DISEASE 



* *" " • Veyangoda, Jan. 10th. 



Dbaa Sik,. — H is satisfactory to know that the 

 Agricultural Society is circulating leaflets with 

 information bearing on the new disease — some 

 call it old — and on the most effective treatment 

 therefor. Something more is needed than the 

 circulation of information, viz., the prompt en- 

 forcement of remedies. The Society is helpless 

 to do this. It rests with Revenue Officers to 

 ascertain from their Headmen whether they 

 are doing anything themselves in fighting the 

 disease in their own gardens, and in inducing 

 the villagers to combat it. The answer, I fear, 

 will be that nothing has been done, or practi- 

 cally nothing. I have made inquiries in this 

 neighbourhood, and have so far failed to find 

 that the people are aware of the gravity of the 

 situation. It is because I consider the outlook 

 serious that I now address you, in the hope 

 that publicity may lead to energetic official 

 action. The appointment of Pest Committees 

 and Inspectors, to see that trees attacked are 

 either treated, or cut down and burnt, should 

 not be delayed if the progress of the pest is to 

 be stayed, and if the operations of those who 

 believe in remedial measures are not to be nulli- 

 fied by the negligence or ignorance of their 

 neighbours. 



It was not many months ago that in reply u to 

 an inquiry from the Society, I stated that only 

 about a dozen trees were attacked on this 

 estate. Now it would be safe to multiply that 

 number by ten. Whether it is that the disease 

 has spread since, or that only closer examination 

 has made me acquainted with the true state of 

 things, my experience points to the need both 

 of closer observation and vigorous action. It is 

 immaterial whether those are correct who say 

 that the disease is an old one, pointing to the 

 scars which almost every coconut tree shows, or 

 those who, like myeelf, believe the disease to be 

 of recent origin. Mr Petch's opinion points to 

 a serious danger, and those who cut out the 

 diseased stem find that the damage done by the 

 fungus is far from superficial. It is easy to deal 

 with it now. It will be more difficult presently. 

 Meanwhile, the vitality and productiveness of 

 ' the tree are likely to be seriously affected. — 

 Yours, F. B. 



CAMPHOR : ANNUAL REPORT 

 FOR 1907. 



The values of crude camphor have diminished 

 throughout the year, particularly in the second 

 half, the decline over the year being about 60 

 per cent. This is due to increased production 

 in South China, where, however, the output is 

 irregular, and unless replanting takes place the 

 industry there may become extinct in a few 

 years. Japan is improving and extending cul- 

 tivation of camphor-trees both in Japan and 

 Formosa, and so means to avert the profitable 

 introduction of synthetic camphor. Refined 

 camphor closely followed the decline in crude. 

 Up to 5s was paid for English bells in March, 

 but from May to August the market was de- 

 pressed, and Japanese competition in refined 

 becoming exceedingly keen, values dropped Is. 

 4d. in August, a further 5d. in September, and 

 3d. in November (when bells touched 2s. 9d.), 

 with a recovery of 2d. in December. These re- 

 ductions in price have told against synthetic 

 camphor, which, nevertheless has made some 

 hoadway. Now companies for its production 

 are working in England, Germany, France, 

 Switzerland, and the United States, and up to 

 the present most of the product has gone to 

 celluloid manufacturers ; although it is now put 

 up in tablet form, there is a difficulty in dispos- 

 ing of the output, unless at prices materially 

 below those of refined. When natural camphor 

 was at its dearest some suspicious parcels came 

 from China, the optical rotation differing so 

 much from the natural as to lead to the sugges- 

 tion that the optically inactive synthetic cam- 

 phor had been purposely mixed with it. 

 Whether this was the case or not, it is satis- 

 factory to know that we have a means of detect- 

 ing admixture of the two kinds. — Chemist and 

 Druggist, Dec. 28. 



THE CEYLON TEA CROP ESTIMATE 

 FOR 1908. 



Messrs Forbes and Walker estimate the 

 Ceylon Tea Crop for 1908 at 182,000,000 lb., 

 distributed as follows :—, 







lb. 



United Kingdom 





. . 106,000,000 



Russia 





. . 24,000,000 



Continent of Europe 





2,500,000 



America 





. . 12,000,000 



Africa and Mauritius 





1,850,000 



Australia 





. . 24,000,000 



India 





V>50,000 



China and Singapore 





.. 11,000.000 





Total 



. . 182,000,000 



Against 178,000,000 lb. estimated by the Ceylon 

 Planters 1 Association, 



