Sept. 1906.] 



263 



Correspondence- 



I do not pose, Sir, as an authority on these matters, but merely make 

 an appeal to practical common-sense, on the tacts regarding these three systems 

 of tapping, which are available to us at the present moment. 



If I am wrong at any point, I hope to be corrected. 



Yours, &c, 



ALEX. CAMERON. 



[The full spiral leaves L. P. C. untapped. We do not know that the cells 

 can seal themselves up after tapping ; it would be a most remarkable fact if 

 they did. The latex accumulates in other cells near by. The whole question 

 of the best way to tap is as yet in its infancy, and will probably be made 

 the subject of careful research in the Botanic Gardens during the next year.— Ed.] 



TEA PLANTING INDUSTRY IN NATAL. 



NOTES ON COFFEE, COTTON AND RUBBER. 



Natal, July 7th. 



Dear Sir,— Some time ago I addressed you, requesting you to obtain for 

 me au expert opinion upon some samples of teas I sent you. This you very kindly 

 got for me. 



Messrs. Porbes & Walker, who were consulted, very kindly pointed out 

 a peculiarity in the ferment, which they said was either an error in withering, or 

 a peculiarity resulting from the soil. Since then I have been, in various ways, 

 trying to overcome this fault and have, I believe, at last succeeded in producing 

 a tea as nearly perfect as local conditions allow. I am now anxious to have samples 

 of these teas tested by the same firm, and with this object send you a complete set 

 by even mail with the anticipation that you will again be good enough to ask 

 Messrs, Forbes & Walker to kindly report upon them and have the result published 

 in the Tropical Agriculturist. 



The samples are numbered and arranged as follows : — A. consisting of five 

 samples, represent my better class of teas. B. is one of my ordinary pekoes. C. 

 consists of four samples representing the highest grade manufactured by four of 

 the leading Natal estates, whose names for obvious reasons I refrain from giving. 



The teas A. and B. are made on this estate, the roller being employed is a 

 Jackson's new " Rapid " with teak facing and the drier a " 72 " Venetian. Both these 

 machines are in my opinion hard to beat, if they can be beaten at all. 



It is a good long while since 1 have contributed in any way to your very 

 interesting paper, the perusal of which affords me each month many pleasant hours. 

 With the present and all-absorbing native trouble, trade is absolutely at a standstill 

 here, and a depression such as has never been experienced^ fast spreading over the 

 entire Colony, making the outlook more and more gloomy. We all hope for better- 

 times, but they still seem as far off as ever. 



Expansions in tea acreage, however, in spite of all this, are encouraging 

 and one estate in my immediate neighbourhood comes into bearing next season '. 

 the factory is now under erection. The owners are a go-ahead lot, and, it is to be 

 hoped, they will help to improve the deplorable name Natal has lately got for its 

 coarse teas. The Manager has had a year or two's training in India and Ceylon in 

 tea, and with experience of local conditions as well, he ought to be in a position 

 to add his charge to the list of very few places where quality is studied. 



Coffee in Natal.— I am experimenting with a small patch of coffee. Coffee 

 was tried years ago on rather a large scale, and for a while paid well. Then the 

 dreaded Hemileia vastatrix appeared and the industry collapsed altogether, and, 



