January i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AtTRItJULTU R 1 ST. 
477 
couragement to us, as we have no elaborate cleaning 
machinery as at Colombo, and it must simplify matters 
very much. 
Cocoa.— About this staple very little is said, although 
we very well know that in this pushing Colony they 
make the very best of what they have, but their soil 
is not favorable, and therefore they do not much 
extend it. 
Coconut. — This is the oldest if not the most im- 
portant of their staples, and naturally meets with a 
great deal of consideration. They have lately arrived 
at the conviction that coconuts can be profitably plant- 
ed in the inland districts and even at altitudes from 
1,000 to 2,000 feet, and still more surprising to us, we 
learn that they do not hesitate to plant them in stiff 
clays lands ; only, in that case, they take care to 
pulverise the soil by digging and turning it over to a 
depth of 18 inches. The principal controversy just now 
in Ceylon, in connection with coconuts, is the use of 
salt. The consensus of opinion is in favor of it, either 
placed round the roots, i.e., the Istem of the tree, or in 
boles when planting out, but not so much as an appli- 
cation to the fronds and spathes as we use it. Salt is 
by them hardly regarded as a manure, although else- 
where it is at least considered to have a stimulant 
act-ion, i.e.. it acts chemically in decomposing otherwise 
inert matter and liberating nitrogen, etc., which would 
benefit the plant. Salt is, moreovor, thought to stand 
high as a destroyer of insect life, and. more particularly, 
the Termites or while ants. These pests are very 
destructive with us as well as in Ceylon, and would 
very soon account for cocoa or fruit trees if unmolested. 
The question is much mooted in India as to whether 
they ever attack living trees; this point may be verv 
easily settled by any observer in breaking down their 
tracks, when it will be seen that tbey eat away the 
living bark as they go, and this in time leads to the 
death of the tree. As to salt being a preventative it is 
at least doubtful, because they are not affected by 
imm^r.-ion in a saturated solution. To thelower forms 
of life fungi, etc., salt, no doubt, is fatal. 
Black Pepper — This woul ' be regarded with ua as a 
minor industry of, at most, the third order : but in the 
Fa't it is esteemed as a paying article and a cultivation 
that gives a speedy return and requires but little skill. 
It might, be grown here on the Bois Canon . In Ceylon 
it is recommended to plant it without shade and trim- 
med down to low bushes as in viticulture. It requires 
very good land and would eminently suit coolies or 
ether sn all cultivators. Could not some of the District 
Agricultural Boards undertake to supply plants with 
the fullest instructions to any willing small proprietors ? 
say in the rich quarter of Siparia ! His Honour Sir 
John Gorrie, who always speaks to the purpose, said 
that it is to these small men we must look to help us out 
in the establishment of new industries ! Is it not even 
possible that >ome of our East Indians are already 
familiar with the cultivation ? — Agricultural Record. 
COTTON EXPERIMENTS. 
(From the Proceedings of the Agricultural and 
Horticultural Society of India.) 
From Mr. J. Cameron of Bangalore, asking 
if any cotton seed could be supplied to him. 
Mr. Cameron is encaged in cultivating cottons 
experimentally for the Mysore Government, the object 
being to ascertain which variety is most likely to repav 
growers there. 2J lb. of Sea Island and New Orleans 
seed were supplied, and it was suggested that 'he 
seeds of the different cottons commerc'ally recognised 
in Calcutta should be obtained ; the offer wa- accepted 
with thanks by Mr. Cameron. Mr. D. MoL. Morrison 
has kindly given a list of the cottons known in the 
Calcutta markets viz., Bengal, Cawnpore. Ferozabad, 
Indore, Agra, Delhi, Hatras, Khurjah. Bombay and 
Madras cottons are also sub-divided in a similar manner 
in Mr. Morrison's list. Correspondents residing in the 
parts of the oountry, by the names of which the 
varieties are distinguished, have been asked to co- 
operate in procuring seed. In response, Mr. J. Gasper 
Nicholls, writes from Cawnpore : — " I asked Mr. 
Wishart (Messrs. Beeg Sutherland & Co.,) who is 
Secretary to our Chamber ot Commerce, about seed of 
the Cawnpore staple cotton. He tells me that there 
are three distinct varieties, the Gangapari, i.e., that 
grown in the western districts of Oudh, namely, Hardoi, 
Oonao and Rai Barielly; the Jamnapari grown in 
Hamirpore, Banda and Jaloun (Kalpi and Koonch) 
districts ; and the ' Desi, ' or common country cotton of 
the lower Doab — the tract between the Ganges and the 
Jumna. Possibly the Kalpi cotton is a hybrid, for the 
Company Bahadoor spent much money and some lives 
about 50 years ago in trying to introduce American 
seed at Kalpi." Mr. Nicholls continues that Mr. 
Wishart has very kindly promised to meet the Society's 
wishes. 
In connection with the attempt to introduce American 
cotton at Kalpi, alluded to by Mr. Nicholls, which was 
under the superintendence of professional American 
cotton planters, it. may be stated that a much later 
attempt made by the Society in Lohardugga district 
has also left it« mark. Mr. Basu of the Agricultural 
Department says of the cotton now cultivated in that 
locality, that the plant has the appearance of American 
cotton", and the fibre is longer and superior in other 
respects to the country kind. 
FISH-CURING OPERATIONS IN MADRAS. 
It is satisfactory to note that during the year 1888- 
89 fish-curing operations in the Madras Presidency 
show a decided improvement, and that it has oontinued 
to do so year after year with very slight variations 
towards a decrease. The number of yards where they 
were carried on at the close of 1887-88 was 148. During 
the period under notice 3 were newly opened and 2 
closed. Thus 149 yards were open at the end of 1888- 
89. The total weight of fish brought to be cured was 
1,132,756 maunds or 41,611 tons against 1,020,686 
maunds or 37,495 tons in the previous year, showing an 
increase of 4,116 tons or over ten per cent. Two 
causes accouut for this favourable result, one was the 
general development of the industry, and the other the 
genial character of the season. The total quantity 
has doubled in the last five years, i. e., from 20,108 tons 
in 1884-85 to 41,611 tons in 1888-89. Last year the 
quantity and value of salted fish exported from the 
Madras Presidency were 2,921 tons and R5,57,360, 
respectively. The bulk of the exports go to Ceylon; 
considerable quantities also go to Bombay, and there is 
some export to Burmah. It is stated that since 
1883 84, the year in which the suecess of the fish-curing 
industry may be siid to have been established by the 
breaking up of the combination among the fishermoa 
inSouth Cinara, the value of the exports has steadily 
increased from R2,64,039 to R5,57,360, though the 
quantities have shown some slight fluctuations. There 
is also a steady improvement iu the quality of the 
article exported, as the average value per lb of salted 
fish rose from 9 pies in 1879-80 to 1 anna 4 pies in 
1888-89. The average quantity of salt issued to each 
maund of fish cured was 12 55 lb against 12 59 in the 
previous year. — Indian Agriculturist, Dec. 7th. 
MR. ROBERT'S OPINION ON THE LATE 
PALL IN PRISE OF CEYLON TEAS. 
London, Nov. 29th. 
The late fall in price of Ceylon teas has been the 
subject of remark by me in several recent letters, but 
as it was i ot until the present week that the oppor- 
tunity occurred for my speaking with Mr. Roberts on 
the subject, it was not possible before now for me 
to tell you his opinion on the matter. To the oauses 
or this diminution that have beon previously men- 
