July r, 1&&9.I THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
61 
2. I am inclined to believe that manure does not 
improve the quality of the tea ; there are knowing 
ones, however, who think differently, and those who 
can afford it should give it a trial. 
3. Fair medium plucking will show the largest 
credit balance at the end of the year. R. 
LVII. 
Kotagala, 20th May. 
1. It would, I thiuk, be more correct to say that 
when the bushes are in good heart and other circum- 
stances favourable, weather for withering etc., the 
quality of tea is bes 1 ". After pruning or a long spell 
of wet warm weather (as at present) the bushes flush 
freely, but the quality of tea deteriorates. 
2. It seems to be generally acknowledged that manure 
increases the quanity, and as far as my limited 
experience of manuring tea goes, it decidedly improves 
the strength especially when applied to poor or exhausted 
soils. It the manure applied is a plant food, and 
not a mere stimulaut or " whip," I think this must 
follow as a natural sequence. I am strongly inclined to 
thiuk that it improves the flavour also, though in a less 
degree. When the manure first begins to act and the 
growth is perhaps a little rank, it may have an op- 
posite effect, but this would only be for a short time ; 
and once the spurt was over and the tree settled 
down to steady work, I think the manure would 
help the flavour. I have made tea off a small field 
in the Kelani Valley, manured with a mixture of 
farmyard manure, factory sweepings etc., which had a 
flavour equal to and above the average of upcountry 
teas. The manure was forked in about 6 weeks after 
pruning and the leaf referred to plucked about 4 
months after that. 
3. In regard to this question, I agree with the 
writer of letter XXXVI, that it is only on specially 
favoured estates that a steady fine-flavoured tea is 
obtainable, however fine the plucking may be. 
W. H. M. 
P.S. — Whatever system is carried out, careful pluck- 
ing is necessary to success. 
LVIIT. 
1. I have always found that the tea bushes yield 
the fiuest tea, both as regards flavour and strength, 
after they have been allowed to grow up to what I 
may say, is their natural size, and before pruning and 
cutting down have been resorted to. The bushes then 
flush periodically, and better tea can't be got. How 
many young estates have " got their name up," by 
sending fine-flavoured teas, and were not these all 
manufactured before the trees were forced to flush 
by pruning? 
2. I have no statistics regarding manuring, but am 
of opinion that it improves the strength of the tea. 
3. I believe in medium plucking, i.e., the bud, and 
a leaf and a half. If inferior teas are required, then 
another leaf. By flooding the market with inferior 
teas we may be doing the name of Oeylon tea much 
harm ; but on the other hand our cheap Oeylon teas 
may be the means of ousting China teas. 
T. (Elevation 5,000 ft.) 
LIX. 
Bentota, 20th May 1889. 
1. I do not know whether Mr. Armstrong is re- 
sponsible or not for the assertion that the quality of 
tea is best when the bushes flush most freely ; but judg- 
ing by the almost utter worthlessness of the tea 
manufactured immediatoly after pruning (the bushes 
flush freely then), I should think it was the other 
way on, and that tea from well-matured bushes 
flushing slowly in dry weather is more likely to give 
a superior article in both strength and flavour ; 
however, nothing less than a proper analysis can 
settle this point. 
2. Mot having had any experience in manuring, I 
can't well answer this ; but there can, I think, be no 
doubt about manure improving the strength, flavour 
and quantity, if the proper article is applied. 
3. If one could only foretell what particular kind 
of tea would be in demand at stated periods we would 
of course pluck fine or coarse to suit the market, 
but as matters stand, medium plucking, I think tho 
safest. W. A. L. 
LX. 
Lauderdale, llakwaua. 
1. With, the exception of the 3 or 4 months after 
pruning, the best tea can no doubt be made when the 
bushes are flushing freely. 
2. No. 
3. Decidedly quantity as well as quality, medium 
plucking and careful manufacture will pay best in the 
long run. We must not go in for quality (i.e. fine teas) 
only, but endeavour to meet the China market with 
her own weapons and send in good lower grade teas as 
well. So long as we send in fine teas only, so long will 
they be bought to mix with China low teas (because 
cheap) to the barring of our own. Pour in lots of low 
grade tea as well as fine and the China teas will 
no longer be sought for, for ours will take the cake. 
Drive the China teas out, and there will be less 
chance of adulteration and a fair market for Oeylons ; 
besides we shall win the jrcighi to our own island 
which at present runs between China and Loudon. 
A T il desperandum. R. S. D. T. 
LXI. 
Dimbula Estate, Kotagala, 20th May. 
1. As a rule I do not think the best teas are made 
when bushes flush most freely, because at that time 
factories have a bigger rush of leaf thau they can 
thoroughly well manage. The best teas in my opinon 
are made from bushes that have been pruned 9 to 
12 months previously. 
2. I have made very little tea separately from 
fields that have been manured : when 1 have it has 
always turned out well. I consider that judicious 
manuring should improve the strength of liquor, but 
quite think that repeated applications of manure may 
largely increase the yield, but at the same time to a 
certain extent spoil the quality of the leaf by forcing the 
bushes to an unnatural degree. 
3. I always advise medium fine plucking, carefully 
done, which with due attention to manufacture should 
give a good tea combined with a good yield. J. R. H. 
LXII. 
1. I cannot answer the first question, even if I 
dared to. 
2. In connection with the second question, I have 
a little experience tending towards au opposite con- 
clusion. A field on this place was manured with 
white castor cake, a number of years ago. After the 
manure had begun to show effect, the leaf from that 
field was manufactured by itself and the tea made 
from it dispatched and sold in Lmdon separately. In 
price it averaged Os ljd less per lb., than the tea made 
during the same time from the other fields which had 
never been manured. The leaves were more fleshy 
than usual and withered very unevenly. 
3. The answer to the third question seems very 
obvious. Of two good things no doubt " both 's best." 
But if we cannot have both to the full amount, then we 
have to consider what proportions of each are best. 
However, on this place since we began plucking all 
round once a week, a number of years ago, instead 
of onoe in ten or eleven days, as in former years, 
the crops have not been reduced iu quantity by 
that. A small reduction in quantity has been 
made, but it has been entirely iu the plucking of 
the primary flushes from which at the same time I 
began to take only the bud and one leaf the primary 
Hush being too inferior in quality to allow of taking 
another or coarser leaf with advantage. These two 
changes, but mainly the weekly plucking, raised the 
average price of our tea from Is 2d or Is 3d to 2s per lb,, 
and of course increased the profits in a far larger pro- 
portion. So far at least it would seem that if we 
can pluck finer by plucking over the fields wilhin 
shorter periods we may leave quantity to take care 
of itself. There is a limit to this of course practically, 
but although plucking be the heaviest item of ex- 
penditure a considerable increase to that alone does 
