THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the 0. A. 8 



Compiled by A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 



No. 5,] 



NOVEMBER, 1908. 



[Vol. III. 



CH1LLIE-GROWSNG IN NATAL. 



Catch Crop for Tea. 

 We present ourreaders this month with a very 

 practical article from the pen of a Natal planter, 

 who has previously written to us re tea growing in 

 the Garden Colony, on the cultivation of Chillies 

 as a catch-crop for tea. We feel sure that the 

 facts he presents will come with the interest 

 of novelty, and the attraction of what appears 

 to be "a good thing " and profitable, to low- 

 country planters in charge of tea fields here who 

 would be only too glad to know of a suitable, 

 quick-growing and easily handled catch-crop. 

 That there is a wide local demand is obvious 

 from the fact that the Sinhalese grow chillies 

 so widely, though in their own desultory way, 

 for personal consumption and for very small 

 ' wholesale ' disposal to boutiques ; but added 

 testimony is borne by the Ceylon Customs re- 

 turns. In spite of there being a duty of Rl per 

 cwt., 1907 showed an import of 73,125cwt., value 

 R952,906, or slightly more than for 1906, 

 quantity 70,748 cwfc. and value R,9l9,744. This 

 year the import for eight months (to end of 

 August) is somewhat less than to same date last 

 year— 44,385 cwt. (against 51,687) and value 

 R525,706 (against R673,502). Perhaps the cul- 

 tivation of chillies locally has already extended ? 

 Have any European planters taken it up so far? 



THE RESULTS OF A PLANTER'S 

 EXPERIENCE. 

 [By William A. Gilbert.] 

 (Special to the " Ceylon Observer and Tropical 

 Agriculturist.'') 

 The cultivation of the chillie is carried on to 

 some extent in Natal, and perhaps your readers 

 would be interested in the way it is conducted, 

 and be tempted thereby to put my remarks to 

 some practical use and benefit. 



Some grow it as an exclusive crop by itself, 

 but I have found it, 



61 



IN CONJUNCTION WITH TEA GROWING, 



a very lucrative catch crop, yielding hand- 

 some profits; while it has proved not in the 

 least bit detrimental to young 'tea, among which 

 I plant it. The long red chillie is the best 

 variety, undoubtedly ; it has a fine rich colour, 

 is easy to grow and manipulate, and commands 

 the highest prices. 



The seed, taken from selected pods, should be 

 sown about the beginning of winter— in Natal 

 about June— into nursery beds, by sprinkling 

 evenly over the beds, which should, for con- 

 venience, be traversed by pathways 4 feet apart. 

 They should be composed of rather a light! but 

 rich loam, and if the soil be at all stiff a little 

 river sand mixed in will give it the desired 

 friability. After sprinkling, the seed should be 

 covered - just covered and no more— with a sifter 

 mixture of leaf mould and decayed manure. 

 Then over all, a layer of grass, or palm leaves 

 spread, so as to keep the moisture from eva- 

 porating too rapidly. In about a fortnight's 

 time the seedlings will make their appear- 

 ance, and a day or two after that the 

 grass or leaves should be removed, or the 

 plants will grow twisted. Plenty of water is 

 necessary to ensure healthy vigorous plants 

 and when making the nursery, choose a well 

 sheltered site, close to water. As soon as the 

 plants are 2 or 3 inches high, thin them out 

 and prevent crowding as much as possible, 

 as they have a great tendency to get "drawn." 



The early spring rains— in this Colony about 

 October— is the best time to put out into the 

 fields the young chillie plants, which should 

 by now be 10 to 12 inches high. Holes should 

 be cut 9 inches cube and the best distance 

 apart is 4 feet. If the chillies are to be grown 

 with tea, plant them in the same row as the 

 tea, between the plants, and leave the space 

 between the rows free. Some put the plants 

 between evory four tea plants in a quincunx ; 



