January i, 1890.] THE TROPICAL 
He says that the elevation is too low for the 
growth of flavoury tea. Considering that the eleva" 
tion is from 3,500 to 4,000 feet, this statement to any 
praotical man carries its refutation on its face, Will 
you kindly, Mr. Editor, give me your opinion on three 
samples of Peermaad tea I am sending you by 
this post ? 
As to cinchona, we have little else but sucei- 
rubra ; but as it flourishes and pays (my last sales 
averaged over 3d net) we do not grumble. 
Our friend indulges in a wild flight of ima- 
gination about the number of planters here eight 
years ago and now. There were never 40, and 
there are now more than six bachelors, not to 
mention all the married men, and since eight 
years ago Peermaad has become very much married. 
This does not look exactly like ruin. 
If this Pioneer correspondent should ever visit 
Ceylon, I would recommend you to insist on his 
addressing his impressions to the Observer instead 
of to some far-away paper. Before it came to hand 
he might be beyond the reach of vengeance. — I am, 
dear sir, yours faithfully, F. M. PARKER. 
[Mr. Parker sends us three samples of well- 
made nice-looking tea which we must try ; but 
he ought to get the report and valuations of 
an expert. — Ed.] 
" PLANTERS' ENERGY " AND RAGS. 
Kelani Valley, Deo. 1 3th. 
DEAR Sib, — I was delighted last niyht to read in 
the Observer that article from the Daily News. More 
power to the editor's elbow. We drank his health 
with all due decoium, and we all felt inclined to em- 
brace that man. I can't imagine where he got hold 
of the cedars of Oeylon. He must have had his head 
jammed into a Ceylon Japan cedar tea box on some 
auspicious occasion. 
I was equally interested, too, in reading your 
leading article lately on rags as a manure for our 
tea, and I have no doubt that such a fertilizer would 
be just the ticket, as there 's no denying the virtue 
of certain old rags even those of Ceylorj, and it is 
certain that something ma't be done in this direction 
if our present yield of tea is to continue. 
There are, as you know full well, however, rags and 
rags, the good old 12|-center of 1837 as also that 
jumped up 5-center just beginning to make itself known 
a bit, but of course it can never hold a candle to 
the yeoman services of the "old un." 
I maintain that your own old rag 1 has done more 
for the planting enterprise of the colony — this isn't 
more soft solder mind you— than oil the other rags 
heme and local put together. I fancy I can see you 
blushing, with your usual modesty, and it reminds 
me of ttie story of the very plain young American 
proposing to a very pretty young lady. He said "Bessy, 
do you love me ?" No reply. "Bessy, do you love me ?" 
No reply. " If you love me, Bessy dear, and don't like 
to say so, just squeeze my hand." 
What I 'm worrying about now, however, is, that if 
H. K. R.'s rag manure succeeds, rags will go up in 
price, and you, dear Observer, will feel it, for as paper 
is made from rags, you will have to pay more for 
your raw material. Let ua therefore look before we 
leap a bit and not embark too precipitately iu any 
new enterprise at this time, particularly one that 
would bs likely to affect the press of Ceylon and the 
price of the printer's paper,— Yours faithfully. L. 
P.S. — Of course if rags increase the yield of our 
tea, and you have to pay in consequence more for your 
printing paper, we can well afford to pay you a 
little moro foi - your periodicals. 
FIBRES AND FIBRE PLANTS. 
Dolosbage, Dec. lGth. 
Sir,— Referring to your article on the production 
of fibres in Ceylon : ai one whose business was 
formerly with fibres and ropemaking, I would re- 
commend the introduction of Manilla hemp, should 
it be found that the aloe and common plantain, 
AtyRITTOLTU R1 ST. 5^ 
now growing in the island, can be satisfactorily 
treated. 
Aloe and sisal only came into the English market 
for ropemaking when Manila rose to such a high 
figure some 7 or 8 years ago. 
Mauritius hemp was used previously for fancy 
white cordage, being a very clean fibre, but more 
expensive than and inferior to Manila, I think 
Manila will always hold the position of the beat 
fibre for ropes, and that an increase in its pro- 
duction would cause by the reduction of its price, a 
falling-off in inferior hemps. 
Is there not a planter who has seen the hemp 
grown and treated in Manila who can help to 
solve the question whether Ceylon is able to cut 
out Manila in hemp as China in tea ? If the hemp 
be produced, I think, it would be found that by 
manufacturing in the island with our cheap laboui' 
and water-power Ceylon could Eend rope into the 
market at a very low figure. In conclusion I would, 
remind you of the great strides made in steel ropes 
during the last few years, and point out how little 
hemp rope a steamer takes nowadays as compared 
with the tons used in the outfit of a sailing vessel 
some years ago.— Your truly, E. F. DAVIS. . 
[Any information of a practical nature is valuablet 
Caution is necessary in this as in other c eses.bu 
trials ought to be made. We are more hopeful of suc- 
cess from aloes than from Manila hemp.— Ed.] 
IS THE TEA HORNET AN ENEMY OR 
FRIEND? 
Lethenty, Dec. 17th. 
Sir, — Durirjg the last few months, from what 
cause I cannot say, the hornets, which were until 
then very numerous upon this estate, have dis- 
appeared. Since their departure I have noticed 
an increase of the caterpillar which devours the 
tea bushes, secreting themselves in rolled up 
leaves, and in some places there are more this 
season than I have noticed before. It has oc- 
curred to me that there may be some connec- 
tion between these two creatures. 
About eight years ago I most carefully watched 
the habits of the hornets, and bar an occasional 
onslaught among the coolies when overtly molested, 
all else was in their favour. I found them 
voracious and predatory in all their habits, nor 
on the other hand, when undisturbed, did they 
ever appear disposed to attack human beings. 
I have often seen coolies plucking the bushes 
containing a nest without any injury resulting. 
I also noticed that during the north-east they 
did not appear to prosper so well as during 
the south-west monsoon. 
Caterpillars, moths and the coffee-grub beetle I 
have observed them carrying away, and if a pound 
of beef were hung up in any proximity to their 
nest I would engage that it were all devoured or 
removed in an hour or two. Often I have noticed 
them trying to catch bees, but I do cot remember 
witnessing the attempt proving successful. The 
beetles in rose-blossoms were removed by these good 
custodians, and I have an idea that we are very 
much indebted to them for the good done in this 
and probably many other ways we know nothing 
of. I doubt if there is any family of insects so 
useful to us as the Hymenoptera in removing the 
insect enemies to which tea is subject. 
From what I have heard recently I imagine a 
war has been waged against the hornets, the con- 
sequence possibly being an increase of these cater- 
pillars. Our estates are not sufficiently wooded to 
induce small birds iu large numbers to come amongst 
us. Last week I saw some honey-birds (Cihnitris 
zeylanicus Legge) very busy where tho caterpillars 
were the worst. 
