March 1907.] 



187 



variety being found in greater numbers and sold for fence sticks at R2-50 per 100, 

 The Sinhalese here call the plant "Kurunte" and " Kaddu-kurunte" respectively. 

 The plants no doubt revel in droughty climate, and as live fence sticks they are very 

 useful. There is no tendency, however, to extend its planting for fear of goats which, 

 when there are no leaves on the plants even bite away the bark. The owners of 

 goats are also partial to this plant in their desire to find food relished by their 

 animals. For this reason the town people are beginning to prefer for fence sticks 

 Ceara rubber cuttings which splendidly grow on the fences here and are not touched 

 by man or beasts. 



The live "Kiluvai" twigs are very much valued as tooth brushes, owing to 

 the medicinal effect the juice produces on the gum and parts of the mouth. For 

 sore-mouth the natives chew the raw nuts as a specific, 



The plants are ornamental in systematic fences, especially the thorny variety 

 and should never be omitted in neat gardens and compounds in the dry districts. The 

 number of plants in this district is not so large as to supply cuttings to be removed 

 to other districts, but an effort should be made to distribute the sticks from Jaffna, 



^ . P- 0. NICHOLAS, Mudaliyar. 



Trmcomahe, 20th February, 1907. 



CASHEW NUT. 



Sir,— Mr. Donald Ferguson makes some interesting remarks about Cashew 

 nuts in the " Ceylon Observer" of December 18th, 1905, and February 6th, 1907, 

 These nuts would now appear to be appreciated at their proper value. In 1900 a 

 small lot was sent to Paris through the Local Exhibition Committee, but though the 

 nuts were highly thought of, the price quoted by likely dealers was 2d. per lb. which 

 is under their average selling price in Colombo. 



The mistake made in estimating the value of the Cashew nut was to compare 

 it (as was really done) with the Groundnut, commonly used in the roasted form 

 as dessert. 



When travelling in India last December I noticed large quantities of these 

 nuts being sold at the railway stations between Madras and Trichinopoly. 



The seeds were clean of all "skin" and sundried, in which condition they 

 are to be preferred to the roasted seeds. I also noticed that trees were more or less 

 systematically planted and tended : but if the Indian grower is satisfied (as Aborist" 

 makes out in the " Ceylon Observer' of February 6th) with less than 2d. per lb., this is 

 only another instance of the results of cheap labour in India which ousts Ceylon 

 produce. 



On the other hand, however, the huge discrepancy between the buying price 

 (2d. per lb.) and selling price (Is. per lb.) makes it possible for Ceylon produce to drop 

 in between. 



Yours truly, 



Colombo. C. DRIEBERG, 



RAMIE (RHEA)— AN INDUSTRY FOR THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 

 Dear Sir,— It is proposed to form a Ramie Growing Association to foster the 

 growth of Ramie throughout the Empire, and thus add a valuable asset to British 

 agriculture, commerce and industry. At the present time Ramie is grown largely 

 in China and in smaller quantities at different points throughout the British 

 Dominions. It is a fibre which for general utility is without a rival. It provides 

 one of the best of clothing materials, being a non-conductor of heat, and, conse- 

 quently, cool in the sun's rays and warm in winter. It is beautifully lustrous, in 

 this respect resembling silk, and it retains its lustre undiminished after washing. 

 It is exceedingly durable, and resists the roughest handling in laundry operations, 



