November i, 1889.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
35 1 
Coorg for some years, in every way : it is to be 
found on the Greenfield estate in S-.E. Coorg. It 
was almost clean felled, and the timber, which was 
value ble, worked out. It consists of 2 lakhs of 
plants, 5x5, put down in honest 18 in. cube pits 
in July and August of 1888. It was planted with 
good seedlings, and the growth was so rapid, that 
they were most of them fit to top in one year, except 
in places where original shade trees of good caste were 
left : here the growth was checked. In every second 
line and at every second tree a shade seedling or 
seed was planted. Mr. J. D'Vaz, the managing pro- 
prietor, who is an advanced and thorough planter, 
told me he should thin the shade out later, when 
grown. The estate had been well kept, and was 
thoroughly dug after the planting : the shade in 
a little over a year was above the coffee. Jak is a 
favorite tree of Mr. D'Vaz's, from seed planted at 
stake, two seeds in case of failure, the extra plant 
taken out after a year, if both come on. Many 
planters object to jak as the fruit falls about, breaking 
coffee branches, and attracting cattle and pigs, but 
that objection can be got over by reaping the fruit 
before ripe, and burying it for manure in the coffee. 
Planting shade trees in the lines, or between the 
lines of coffee trees, is a matter of fancy. 
Now a few words as to the trees most suitable for 
shade, and I have done. Planters are very fastidious in 
this respect :some men like trees that others condemn, 
but that may be accounted for by differences of 
climate and rainfall. A tree that may flourish at 
3,00 i ft. and 60 inches of rain may look miserable 
at 3,500 to 4,000 ft. and a rainfall of 120 to 150 
inches. I have worked in all varieties of climate. 
For Ceylon estates generally I may say jak is un- 
suitable, as the trees will be killed by a heavy mon- 
soon, but in the lower and drier districts now being 
tried in your island it will do, A tree, suitable 
for Ceylon is our shingle tree, a bastard cedar 
(Acrocarpus fraxini folia) , a buttress tree, that 
throws red young leaves. I fancy you must have 
it in Ceylon, but I will be glad to procure and send 
some seed to anyone applying to me, ok of any 
other kinds of trees we have. That is a tree that 
stands wind, and cattle will not touch it. Another 
tree in favor with many men, with me among 
the number, is the silver oak (Grevillea robusta). 
It agrees with coffee, throws considerable deposit 
of fertilizing matter, is a good break wind and 
cattle will not destroy it. There is the wild red 
cedar, your toon (Cedrela toona); of this there are 
two kinds, both good, and proof against cattle ; when 
young they are attacked by a chrysalis, but soon 
recover, and rarely die from it. The other is G. 
rnicrocarpa. The spondias are good shade: one gives 
a fruit used by natives for pickle. In the Legumi- 
nosce oome the albizzias, all liked for shade, and 
can be raised from seed, 1st odoratissima, 2 lebbek, 
3 stipulala, 4 amara. Of the Myrtacea, several 
kinds are liked : Eugenia jambolana., E. zeylanica, 
E. floccosa, and several others. The first-named 
throw a black fruit with a stone, very astringent but 
edible. The fious is a large family, but there are 
several of that extensive variety disliked in shade. I 
suppose there is no country in the East so richly 
supplied with trees of the ficus tribe as Mysore. On 
a visit to Burma some years ago, I saw but two 
kinds— the common fig (Ficus glomerata) and the 
Pipul (F. religiosa) and wondered they did not 
send to Mysore for cuttings or stakes of the different 
sorts, for their avenue trees, as the roads were 
liued with miserable specimens, such as the 
goldmohur tree and such like. All the fig family 
can be raised from cuttings, or stakes, and some 
from seed, notably the one most in favor among 
planters for shading, the oommon fig (F. glomerata). 
The best way to raise it is to mix the fruit with 
fresh cowdung, make it into cakes and dry on the 
wall in the same way as the natives dry it for fuel ; 
powder when dry and plant in nurseries. It is 
leafless in the monsoon, but covered with foliage 
in the dry months, and coffee always thrives under 
its cool shade, in any climate, or at any elevation. 
The next best is F. infectoria. Many indeed pre- 
fer it before all others. It has long, dark green, 
glossy leaves, admirably suited for coffee. [That 
trees with bright, glossy leaves are always good for 
shade, may be laid down as the rule, while those 
with dull rough leaves are not good.] F. bengalen- 
sis, the banyan, is liked, and does in good soil that 
will admit its roots ; it throws much deposit from 
shedding all its leaves once a year. F. tubercu- 
lata is a good tree that coffee likes. Ficus retusa 
is a good shade. I will mention but one more as 
good, F. mysorensis, a fine tree suitable for coffee, 
and throws liberal deposit. To give our local 
names would not help Ceylon men, but the Tamil 
equivalents can be ascertained from any of several 
books on botany. A tree that used to be in favour for 
shade is now condemned : — F. Tsiela. It is a beau- 
tiful tree however for avenues. I will now dismiss 
the figs. A good shade tree is Bischoffia javanica, 
a tree with red juice and bark, common in 
Coorg and Mysore. Mangoes (Mangifera indica) are 
not in general favour, though some planters think 
them good shade. The fiumkino (Pterocarpus 
marsvpium) a fair shade giving manurial deposit. 
I wiil mention only the Melias. The M. indica 
or the sacred margosa tree is good for shade in 
dry districts, and can be raised from seed. M. 
composita is the quickest-growing tree known, but 
opinions are divided as to its value for shade. 
If I can give any practical information to any 
planters in need of it, on the question of Coffee Cul- 
tivation under Shade, I shall be glad to be asked 
through your medium. I make no profession to ex- 
tensive botanical or scientific knowledge. I have, 
however, studied the history of trees, good or bad, for 
shading coffee ; and the scant information herein 
given may be relied on an accurate, as tested by 
long experience, and close observation. To enter 
at greater length on an explanation of the reasons 
why different trees are good and bad, would 
require much space. There are many other trees 
than those I have mentioned, that are in favour, 
and which you have in Ceylon, and if the botanical 
name can be given, T can supply information to 
any planter wishing to try a clearing on the 
Mysore and Coorg plan of coffee under shade, 
and which is the only principle now practised here. 
J. P. HUNT. 
OYSTEE CULTIVATION OF BENTOTA. 
Bentota, Oct. 10th, 1889. 
Sir, — Mr. Haly, the Director of the Colombo 
Museum, examined the oyster banks of the Bentota 
river with Mr. C. De Silva, with a view to increase 
and improve the supply to Colombo. These oysters 
are found only within tbree miles from the mouth and 
they can be greatly increased. If the Colombo folks 
wish to have good oysters, they should support Mr. 
Haly's scheme which he means to submit to the 
Governor. The present oyster dealers are not very 
careful in sending fresh and good oysters to Colombo. 
C.S. 
HOENETS IN TEA BUSHES. 
Agrapatana, Oct. 15th. 
Deae Sir, — Quite a mistake to think wasps or 
"hornets" as they are called do not make their 
nests in tea. We have ki.led lots in the tea. Mark 
the bush with a long stick in the day, oome in 
the evening with a lantern, a stick with some tow 
at the end soaked in kerosine oil and a box of 
