January i, 1890] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
457 
CEYLON UPCOUNTRY PLANTING REPORT. 
THE 'LATE REVOLUTION IN BRAZIL AND ITS RESULTS — 
NORTH-EAST MONSOON RAINS AND WEEDING — CACAO — 
THE TEA-ROLL- BREAKER— COFFEE— LABOUR SUPPLY. 
Dec 9th. 
The north-east monsoon rains still keep off, 
although we are thankful for the showers which 
we have got, those who have planted, or intended to 
plant, have had rather a rough time of it. Weeding 
contractors are making money ; for weeding, which 
in November is sometimes a little troublesome, 
has this year been unusually easy. T hear of an 
experiment of the Indian system of not weeding 
for six months, and then digging the weeds in, 
being tried at present on a twenty-acre field. 
Rama Swami looks rather aghast at this sort of 
thing, seeing little signs of profitable contracts 
there; the whole to his mind being too like the 
effeots of hard-up-ness rather than deliberate choioe. 
Still it will be interesting to learn later on how 
the system bss affeoted the tea, and if it gives 
encouragement to persevere. 
The Cacao orop is still having attention, and 
the weather we have had has just been perfect 
for curing. As far as I can learn while there is 
some disappointment, still on the whole the crop 
is likely to turn out pretty much as was 
anticipated. One would be glad to see the borer 
disappear, but his baneful presence is still 
about, and unless kept down by careful hunting 
he would soon ruin the best estate. 
The Roll-breaker invented by Mr. Squire of Messrs. 
Walker & Greig is I understand rapidly getting 
into favour with tea planters. The principle is a 
very simple one, and the machine does its work 
effectively. So pleased was one man with it that 
he ordered two straight off with the refusal o' a 
third. It is not so elaborate a machine as Mr- 
Westland's, whioh also does good work, and gives 
satisfaction. 
Coffee about here is now all gathered, and is 
not up to last year's crop. There was but one 
blossom, and when that is the case, it does not 
stand so much picking, as when there have been 
three or four. Blossom on the coffee seems as if 
it would come out now, and if it did it would 
be quite in keeping with other things which are 
flourishing out of season. 
Coolies are plentiful, and Sinhalese seem to in- 
crease. I have great hopes that in time the 
Sinhalese will become more steady at work and 
acquire industrious habits. It is a sign of the 
times, I think, when you hear of a gang of Sinha- 
lese taking employment in one of the higher 
districts, and where there are no Sinhalese villages, 
as I did the other day. Those who have worked 
most with Sinhalese laborer urge patience. " Wait 
till they get up their strength, is what they say" 
" and then see if they don't equal the Tamils. 
The poor returns which they often give is simply 
owing to the reason that they have been insuffi- 
ciently fed." Peppercorn. 
CEYLON TEA IN NEW ZEALAND. 
Timara, N. Z , Nov. 5th. 
A. Philip, Esq., Seoretary, Planters' Association Kandy. 
Dear Sik, — By last mail I sent you a Timaru 
Herald of 26th ultimo containing a ra+her lengthy 
noli " I sent it about tea culture in Ceylon. I sent 
a copy of the paper to noarly 100 lo-vding people 
including lh< proprietors of most of onr principal 
newspapers, a'id in many cases I likewise sent a packet 
of your presentation tea per post. 
I now send you copies of the Southland News 
and the Dunedin Evening Star, the former of which 
roproiluced the Herald article in full and the latter 
38 
the substance of it, while both speak in high terras 
of the quality of the tea. The Otago Daily Times 
thought I wanted a cheap advertisement and took 
no Dotice of either tea or article in its columns. I 
enclose the managing director's letter and copy of 
my reply. 
Any further acknowledgment I get will be for- 
warded in due course. Private individuals seem 
to take little notice of the recoipt of their packets, 
which is rather annoying, as the cost of parcel 
post is lOd per packet. I have the satisfaction of 
knowing, however, that the demand for the tea is 
on the increase, and within the last few months I 
have been able to send orders from several large dis- 
tributing houses that have not previously bought 
Ceylon tea. A gresit part of the tea in this country 
is sold in 10 lb. boxes or tins made up by blenders 
who mix nn inferior China rubbish with a small 
percentage of good India or Ceylon. My endeavour 
has been to convince people that Ceylon tea should 
be used by itself and if blended at all should be 
mixed with another grade of Ceylon. That I have 
met with some success in this is evidenced by the 
fact that within a month I ba've ordered, amongst 
other packages, 750 original 10 lb. boxes. 
I mentioned in my last that I have found a few 
photographs sent me by Mr. Jamieson of Mariawatte 
and my hrother of great service to me in creating an 
interest in Ceylon tea. I would again recommend 
the Association in appointing agents in new parts 
to supply them with a well chosen set of these. 
Each wholesale house I open an account with, wants 
them for advertising purposes and I have sent for 
some to supply their wants. — T am, &c, 
(Signed) R. R. TAYLOR. 
Dear Sir, — We are in receipt, of yours of 26th in- 
stant intimating that you had sent us a packet of 
Ceylon tea, as also a Timaru Herald giving particulars 
of the growth of the tea growing and manufacturing 
industry in Ceylon; which you suggest we should re- 
publish. 
We cannot quite see our way to advertise the Tea 
Planters' Association's business gratuitously, and we 
have no doubt you will see at once that what von 
suggest is purelv advertising. "We purpose during 
Exhibition time having special advertising Supple- 
ments, and possibly it may suit you then to have a 
lengthy noHce of the Cevlon tea industry. Wn an- 
ticipate that th<=rf> will be numerous things of this 
nature in our Exhibition Supplements. — Yours truly, The 
Otago Daily Times and Witness Newspapers Oornpanv, 
Limited, (Signed) George Fenwick, Managing Director. 
Copy. 
Tea Planters' Association of Oevlon, N. Z. Agency. 
Timaru, Oct. 30th, 1SS9. 
The Managing Director, Otago Daily Times Co. 
Dear Sir,—! have your memo, of 29th instant, for 
which I am obliged. The Tea Planters' Association of 
Cevlon do no business (as an Association) in the way 
of selling tea. The planters of course individually 
grow and manufacture tea, selling it in <~!olomho or 
shipping to London and other centres. The Associa- 
tion has been formed for the purpose inter alia of procur- 
ing inf'-ru.a'-ion from all parts of the world as to the class 
of tea required or appreciated in each, and supplying 
+ hat information to its members. It has late'y de- 
voted a large portion of its funds to the purchase of 
tea for free distribution by its agents, certainly for 
the purpose of alverti°ing what Ceylon can pro- 
duce, but also, as I havo said, to ascertain the 
class of tea moBt suitable for each country, 
and the members are naturally desirous to know 
what is thought of these sample of packets. 
In sending you a sample of Ceylon tea and calling 
vour attention to a few facts I h»d published in our 
local paper I had no idea of advertising myself or 
any individual or firm whatsoever. I thnnsht the fact 
that an industry of such an import- n' nature having 
grown so rapidjy in a British dependency, rivalling 
the great staple of China in the quality of its pro- 
ducts, might be a matter of public interest in New 
Zealand as elsewhere. I will be glad to he furnished 
with further particulars as to your advertising ex- 
