182 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September 2, 1889. 
To the Editor. 
COOLIE LIFE IN SUMATRA. 
Sumatra, 5th July 1889. 
Dbab Sib,— Your book " All About Tobacco Plant- 
ing " is to hand, for which many thanks. In 
looking it over, I notice at page 196 an article — 
« Experience of Coolie Life in Sumatra." You 
mention you are unaware of the author. The solu- 
tion is easy and as a tribute to a man who always did 
his duty in the face of many difficulties, I shall feel 
obliged if you will mention his name. The article 
was° written by my brother James Hertz Zadick 
Just, and printed by a China newspaper. He was 
for many years in the employ of the Deli Maats- 
ohappiz, and one of the many pioneers in planting, 
who have, alas, passed away. My father had the article 
printed as a small brochure some years ago, and 
if you want a copy as verification of this statement 
you can get one. He was a oareful observer, and 
what is written can be relied on. Mr. H. Herrings 
of Assahan has a copy of the pamphlet.— I remain, 
yours truly, A. W. JUST. 
[We are obliged to our correspondent for the 
information he gives : we should certainly like to 
see a copy of the brochure in question. — Ed.] 
YIELD OF TEA IN OLD COFFEE LAND : — 
EE PLY No. I. 
Sib, — In reply to " W "s enquiry as to yield of 
tea on old coffee land I give my experience :— first 
tea planted June 7th 1884, first plucking October 
1885, mere tipping to keep bushes down : Crop Oct. 
1885 to June 1886=1,775 lb. 
Crop 1886-87. — Half estate pruned July-August 
rather too cseverely=16,574 lb. 
Crop 1887-88. — The other half lightly pruned in 
June-July=40,349 lb. 
Crop 1888-89.— The fir^t half lightly pruned 
again June-July=:96,320 lb. 
206 acres were plucked from first year, 226 
second year and 237 the third year. E. 
[About 4,000 feet elevation ?— Ed.J 
PADDY CULTIVATION IN BATTICALOA. 
Batticaloa, Kalmunai, 5th July 1889. 
Deab Sibs,— The Government Agent, Mr. E. 
Elliott, who has at heart the welfare of the people 
of this province, without any reference to their 
class, language or creed, convened a grand meet- 
ing to decide the question of paddy cultivation and 
irrigation in this ancient granary of Ceylon, and 
to appoint first of all a right and proper man as 
the Irrigation Officer of Sammanturrai Pattu. 
This large meeting was held on Tuesday, the 
2nd of July 1889. Among several other important 
matters publicly discussed and decided by him, one 
was to consider who is a competent Vanniyar to 
distribute the tank water to Chadayatolatai fields 
fairly and justly to all cultivators alike, fixing 
proper season for sowing them wit h suitable paddy, 
accor ng to high or low situation of different fields. 
Ed manasinga Vanniyar of Sammanturrai 
Pa ttu was fitly elected as a right man in the 
right lace, and approved by the Government Agent 
who h s placed the impetuous and youthful Venasi- 
tarnby Sinnatamby Vanniar of the central divi- 
sion of this district under the former's general 
guidance and advice and ordered him not to have 
any thing to do with Dr. Covington's fields, quash- 
ing all his proceedings against his cultivators and 
remitted also tho fine imposed by him on them 
All present, with the exception of a few friends 
and adherents of Sinnatamby Irrigation Vanniyar, 
admired and applauded Mr. Elliott's firm, just 
and impartial decisions on several important 
matters on this occasion. 
The weather here now is alternately wet and 
dry. The harvest in general good. Paddy is 
cheap and people sell it for E7'50 an ammunam 
of good paddy or 3 fanams a muracal. Coconuts 
only are verv dear. — I am, dear sir, yours very truly, 
M. COVINGTON. 
THE AMERICAN TEA CO— WHY ALL TEA 
PLANTERS SHOULD TAKE SHARES. 
Holmwood, Agra Patana, 18th July 1889. 
Sib, — Those who object to take shares in the 
American Co. on the grounds that they do not see 
any return for their mon^y, forget that unless the 
whole scheme is an utter failure the pushing of our 
teas in America must surely keep prices one cent 
per lb. higher than they would be without it. This 
means R1,000 per annum to every man who turns 
out 100,000 lb. from his factory. Is this no 
return for our money ? One cent per lb. will mean 
R500,000 per annum to Ceylon soon. The mora 
we advertise the more cents per lb. shall we 
add. Let everyone who has a factory think of 
one cent per lb. extra and take a few shares to help 
the Ceylon Advertisement even if he sees no pros- 
pective dividend, though many are confident of 
a good one eventually. Yours, &o. R. W. W. 
"MR. BORRON; BARBECUE PLANTING; 
AND OOTTON."* 
Dear Sir, — Since Mr. B. abandoned cotton to 
its fate, and raked up an old story, he has written 
three letters, against two from me. I think, on that 
ground, as well as because ot the desperate recklessness 
of his assertions, I may claim space for another. I 
notice that, what in his second letter he admitted was 
quite possible, is now, when supported by my affidavit 
utterly false. The reason is obvious he was not certain 
when writing the second, that I had not preserved his 
letter expressing deep " concern etc." He has as usual 
evaded my question as to why, believing me to be 
grossly dishonest, he insisted on numbering me amongst 
his friends. We now know on what principle he 
chooses friends. I am glad that on further probation, 
I am found wanting. It is difficult to deal with one 
who disregarding decency, reason and probability takes 
Ilia cue from the habits of his coolies. As a proof of the 
difficulty, I may mention that one gentleman writing 
from an upcountry district, says "spare the poor ;" 
while a neighbour, writing from within 2 miles of the 
former, urges stronger battle and offers assistance ! I 
think the general verdict may well be summed up on 
the words of a third .—" He pretends to think he has 
crushed you, whereas really he has only evaded." 
I have gone over Mr. B.'s letters to see whether 
there is any definite point unanswered. I find only 
one, that on which he bases the charge of malevol- 
ence, Let your readers judge whether he has made 
a mountain out of a mole heap. He says when 
he wrote of " such a Government," he did not 
write such in small capitals, whereas I have done so. 
But the "such" having obtained so great notoriety for 
itself and its author, I think I could not refer to it 
in another dress than italics and capitals. I submit 
that this is a fair sample of the foundation of all hia 
charges. David in his wrath said all men are liars. 
For David when sick, a breathing soothing solace 
was prescribed. Mr. B. should take note of this ; it is 
bad for man to be alone. 
The subject of barbecue planting was being dis- 
cussed a tew day ago in a reslhou.'-e, when I suggested 
that if Mr. B. had even been more than a philosophic 
dreamer, it might have occu.-red to him, that under- 
* Heading by the writer of the letter. — Ed. 
