July i, 1889.] fht TROPICAL AGRIGUltUmSt. 
COFFEE AND TEA : 
REASSURING NEWS FOR PLANTERS. 
We think we can fairly call attention to several 
letters (pages 30-31) as embodying reassuring, if not 
cheering intelligence, for many of our planters. 
We may first refer to the communication from Mr. 
Cotes of the Calcutta Museum in reference to the 
use of "Kerosene Emulsion" as a check for the 
ravages of scale inseots — the great " bug" family 
which, whether black or green has done, and is 
doing so much mischief to our coffee in Ceylon. 
We are aware that a good deal has been done 
already with kerosene and lime or soap mixtures 
on some coffee estates in fighting green bug, and 
although at least in one case— that of the group 
under the care of Mr. W. B. Jackson of Agrapatana 
— good results were obtained for a time from 
washing the stems of the coffee bushes with such 
a mixture; yet experience did not prove it to be 
such a cure as would warrant general application 
or repay all the outlay. On Capt. Bayley's estate, 
Nonpareil, too, kerosene and caustic lime have been 
freely used with results more or less satisfactory. 
The novelty therefore in the ease of Mr. Cotes' 
letter lies not so much in the emulsion recom- 
mended—although it may be an improvement on 
*ocal mixtures used hitherto — as in the means of 
application. True, we are told Mr. R. H. Morris 
on the Nilgiri Hills found that the kerosene emulsion 
killed the green bug wherever it touched it on the 
first application ; but we are not told what was 
the extent of garden or estate which Mr. Morris 
cleared of the obnoxious insect, and whether the 
riddance was a permanent one. 
It is, however, in the American contrivances for 
the economical and efficient distribution of the 
''emulsion" that we seem to see a possible oppor 
tunity of fighting the dread enemy of the Ceylon 
coffee planter of the present day, green bug. On 
Mr. Cotes' letter, we should like to have the 
opinion of men who must have given their enemy, 
"bug," very careful attention from nearly every 
point of view and who are specially interested in 
conserving the coffee still remaining to them. Among 
these, are Mr. Dick of Ragalla, Mr. Giles F. Walker 
of Dikoya, Mr. W. B. Jackson of the Agrapatana, and 
Mr. E. E. Green of Fundaluoya. Their opinion in 
response to Mr. Cotes cannot fail to interest and 
even enlighten that gentleman, as well as to be cf 
benefit to their brother planters. 
Turning to Tea. we have once more a cheery letter 
from our correspondent "Echo " which is certain to 
brace up and encourage his brother planters. So 
far from preaching pessimistically, he wants them 
to pull down (not their barns but) their bins and 
6 
to build or construct greater ones. He gives good 
reasons for asserting that " big breaks " of Ceylon 
tea must more than ever be the order of the 
day, and he shows how continuously favourable of 
late, have been the professional reports from home on 
our teas. In this connection we may quote what 
Messrs. Stenning, Inskipp & Co., the well-known 
brokers, report in reference both to Ceylon and 
Indian teas. Writing of the former (Ceylons) on the 
9th instant, they say : — " Buyers experienced much 
" difficulty in valuing the large number of samples 
" and some irregularity in prices ensued." In 
their Indian Report of the same date, there are 
several paragraphs very much to the point and 
we reproduce it in full in our Commer- 
cial column. It will be observed that they 
estimate a less import from China by 14 mil- 
lion lb. against an increase of 10 millions from 
India and 11 millions from Ceylon. The latte r 
calculation will prove rather below than above 
the mark we suspect ; but allowing for 3 millions 
less export, Messrs. Stenning, Inskipp & Co. work 
out a total of 197 millions as likely to be avail- 
able for "home consumption" in season 1889-90 
against 187 million lb. in the season just closed. 
There is nothing very formidable in this return. 
What is said of Ceylon teas taking the place so 
largely of China teas, shows how keen must be 
the competition henceforward in this direction. 
While recommending "moderate plucking" to Indian 
planters, the brokers under notice, do not make 
the mistake of insisting on or advocating fine 
plucking and fine teas only. On the other hand they 
coin a phrase which must meet with general ap- 
proval among planters and which coincides with the 
opinion lately arrived in our tea districts in favour 
of " medium plucking," namely: — " Make good tea 
and as much of it as you can ; but let the quality 
be yood." 
In this connection, — " medium pluoking " being 
the acknowledged best rule for Ceylon planters, — 
we have been favoured with a copy of a 
table prepared by Mr. F. M. Ma.kwood after 
consultation with several well-known upcountry 
tea authorities which we have pleasure in repro- 
ducing as affording a standard of guidance for 
many of our planters. It must be remembered 
that this table was compiled while prices were fairly 
prosperous and before the screw was put on by 
the recent fall in values. Consequently there is 
unquestionably room with strict care and economy, 
to work under the limits given. Of course the 
various authorities connected did not see eye to 
eye even in better times, as to each detail specified ; 
but they all agreed as to the final result per lb 
f.o.b. arrived at, and also as to the fact that on 
larger estates (say of 400 to 500 acres and upwards) 
one or two cents per lb. might be saved on the rates 
given. The suggestion has been made that Ceylon 
tea planters if pressed further should endeavour to 
reduce their coolies' pay a few cents per day ; but 
both proprietors and experienced managers must 
feel this would be a very risky expedient to adopt at 
the present time when labour is by no means over- 
plentiful and when we have to face a large area 
of planted tea land not yet in bearing. Before 
talking of reducing coolies' wages, wo must see 
how far current rates will serve to attract an in- 
creased number of immigrants to attend to tho 
pluoking off 200,000 aores of land whioh must 
