August, 1909.] 



167 



Corresponded ice. 



in this line, and have added to the 

 scientific knowledge of the subject. 

 What we now require is to have a popu- 

 lar scientific treatise drawn up in Eng- 

 lish on the fermentation and drying of 

 cacao ; one that will fully explain the 

 why, when, and where of the biological 

 and other changes that take place in the 

 beans. Such a treatise will, we consider, 

 encourage the planters to continue the 

 experiments on a large scale, and by 

 adopting the method found to give the 

 best results they will be able to assure 

 an improvement in the quality, colour, 

 appearance, and more even break of their 

 beaus. It should also enable small pea- 

 sant and other proprietors, as in the 

 West Indies, to turn out from number- 

 less small plantations large bulked ship- 

 ments of cacao, as similar in appearance 

 as is the case with the exports from 

 Bahia, San Thome, the Gold Coast, &c, 

 cacao that can be depended upon to turn 

 out to type, and not show a marked 

 difference in appearance in every few 

 bags. 



In order, therefore, to encourage fur- 

 ther research work on the lines stated, 

 and to ascertain exactly what changes 

 (together with their causes, and whether 

 these changes cccur duriug the ferment- 

 ing process only, or whilst being dried) 

 take place in the cacao bean between the 

 time that it leaves the pods until it is 

 shovelled into' the bag for export, the 

 Editor of Tropical Life has much plea- 

 sure in heading a list of donors of £5 

 each towards a prize fund for the best 

 treatise on the subject, the said treatise 

 to be competed for on terms as shall be 

 agreed upon by the various subscribers 

 as soon as the list is closed. 



It is hoped to raise at least £50. 

 Whether one or more prizes will be 

 awarded depends on the decision of the 

 subscribers and the amount raised. At 

 present three promises have been re- 

 ceived, and two more from the Continent 

 seem likely to follow. Those already 

 subscribing include : — 



The Editor of Tropical Life. 

 Messrs. Cadbuiy Bros. 

 Die Indische Mercuur. 



I? ABA CUBVATING SEEDLINGS. 



Gikiyanakanda, Neboda, 

 April 26 th, 1909. 



Sir, — 1 have proved to my entire satis- 

 faction that this trouble is due entirely 

 to nurseries being badly laid down. 



The seeds should be laid flat with the 

 crease up or down, and should be only 

 just covered with fine soil. On no 

 account should there be any depth of 

 soil over the seed, 



Nursery work is one which amply 

 repays constant and absolutely reliable 

 supervision. 



If your correspondent will bear in 

 mind what I have said above, I can pro- 

 mise him a nursery free from turned 

 roots. 



The same thing applies when laying 

 down a Tea nursery. Unless you make it 

 impossible for the seed, in either case, 

 to be rolled into a hole which is said to 

 be a certain depth, the result will be 

 disappointing. Of course, some few 

 roots turn from contact with small 

 stones, but the percentage of these 

 would be very very small, provided the 

 nursery site has been suitably chosen 

 and properly worked.— Yours faithfully, 

 GEORGE H. GOLLEDGE. 



[The subject of the above letter is dealt 

 with in The Circulars and Agricultural 

 Journal of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Ceylon, Vol. IV., No. 17. Mr. Petch in- 

 forms us that in his experiments the 

 depth at which the seed was planted did 

 not seem to have any effect, and that 

 the position of the seed is the chief 

 factor concerned.— Ed.] 



EFFECT OF FLOODS ON TAPPED 

 BUBBEB TBEES. 



Tavoy, 4th June, 1909. 



Sir, — Will you or any of your readers 

 be so good as to tell me the effects of 

 floods on tapped rubber trees ? Does the 

 water getting into the cuts cause rot 

 and thus injure the tree ? In the case of 

 jute trees, which are tapped by Burmans 

 for use as birdlime, l'ot is thus caused 

 and the tree often eventually dies. 

 Would such evil effect be probable in 

 the case of Para rubber ? The flood 

 water level in part of my grant is, every 

 three or four years, 6' to 8'. This would 

 entirely submerge the tapped surface of 

 trees planted in these lowly in g parts. 

 What would be the effect on the tree ? 

 Any information will be gratefully re- 

 ceived. — Yours truly, 



BURMAH. 



[No injury is likely to be caused unless 

 the tapping had been severe and the 

 bark split away from the wood, but the 

 result will depend, to some extent, on 

 the time of immersion. Apart from this 

 slight risk, immersion should do the 

 trees good, and probably increase the 

 subsequent flow of latex. Trees in the 

 low-country of Ceylon, which have been 

 tapped by the herring-bone system and 

 are submerged 4 to 6 feet at every rise 

 of the river, have not been affected, and 

 the bark heals well.— M. K. B.] 



