700 
THE. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[April i, 1890. 
To the Editor. 
CEYLON EX PLANTERS IN CALIFORNIA. 
!' Malcolmson Vineyard," Fresno, 
California, Feb. 5th. 
Dear Sir, — Your ever welcome Weekly Observer 
is now coming to hand regularly, and by the time I got 
it back again owing to the numerous old Ceylon plan- 
ters' hands it goes through, it is almost in shreds so 
eagerly is it devourod. Some of us here are longing 
for the time, when our vineyards are in such con- 
dition as regards crops, that we can pay a visit to 
the old island, but in the meantime we have to do 
our best to pull aloDg until that time. If you think a 
description of this locality and our vineyards — 
and in this vicinity we have some of the largest 
in the world — would be of interest to your numerous 
readers, I shall wilingly sit down and give some 
idea of our prospects here and the country generally. 
In the meantime, I may mention we have located 
amongst us in this vicinity one of the ablest 
botanists in this State and one who has given a 
considerable amount of time and with success to 
the eradicating of the vine disease, a disease some- 
thing similar to the dreaded Ilemileia vastatrix. 
So successful has he been in this particular branch 
that ho has lately placed himself in communication 
with your respected Colonial Secretary, who has I 
understand brought his name before your P an- 
tors' Association. This gentleman, Profeesor Gustave 
Eisen, is well known here and is one of very high 
authority, and he feels certain if sufficient induce- 
ment is held out to him that he could eradicate 
your old enemy, the coffee leaf disease. Should his 
letter be favourably entertained by the Association 
and he decide to go to Oey on, I shall be happy 
to hand him letters of introduction to your gcodself 
as also to my numerous friends in Ceylon. — Yours 
&q„ WM, LAING MALCOLMSON. 
[We should not advise the Professor to think of 
incurring the expense of a visit to Ceylon to 
experiment on Hemileia vastatrix. The area now 
left of coffee is very limited, and it is scarcely at 
all troubled with H. V., the chief p st now being 
a coccus insect, green bug. We shall be glad to 
hear about the vineyards. — Ed. T. A.~] 
CEYLON TEA IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 
General Post Office, Sydney, Feb. 7th. 
Dear Sik, — Since arriving here 1 have been 
endeavouring to " push" the Ceylon tea (and 
commenced business as agent in a small way" 
"as per enclosed card"), but hitherto have re- 
ceived scant encouragement owing to the flavour 
of the tea I brought with me, not being gene- 
rally liked. People complain of its stroDg fla- 
vour, and I think most of the Ceylon teas are , 
faulty in this respect, as I find our teas are 
being "blended" with inferior China teas, to a 
very large extent, and principally on this 
account retail grocers buy the strong flavoured 
Ceylon teis at a low figure aDd it is passed on 
in a blended form to suit the publio taste, so 
that in leality the Coylon tea is little known 
and less appreciated in its pure state. Were a 
weaker or finer flavoured tea obtainable, it would 
undoubtedly fetch a better price and would be 
more appreciated and sought after by private 
families, and there would be no ocoasion for 
blooding with other, and as is often the case, 
vita infeii'jr te'3. Aa far as my experience , 
goes the Ceylon teas are bought up entirely for 
blending purposes, I allude now to the town 
trade. 
If you would kindly say a word on my behalf, 
getting the Planters' Association to appoint me 
one of their agents in Sydney and if they would 
supply me with samples of tea for distribution, 
allowing me a certain percentage on all orders 
obtained, I would feel greatly obliged to you 
and would do my best to forward their interests. 
I wouldj however, strongly recommend them to 
consider the advisability of obtaining finer or 
less strongly flavoured teas for the Australian 
market, as it is of the greatest importance to get 
our teas appreciated for domestic uso, in its pure 
state and not for "blending" purposes; as in the 
former oase better prices are obtainable. 
Another proposition I wish to make is, that the 
P. A. have their tea "analyzed" by a competent 
and well known Australian chemist, and copies of 
the analysis to b6 distributed among agents and 
others out here. It would aid the gentlemen who 
are trying to push the tea, and would also be a 
good recommendation, especially if a note by you, 
theeditor, were added to the analysis. — Yours &c, 
L. P. THOMAS. 
P.S. — Should my brother planters aid me in the 
way I Lave indicated in the disposal of their 
tea in Australia, I should do what I could for their 
interests. Not forgetting to thank you sincerely 
for all you have done for us and all who so liberally 
aided us in taking this much desired change, 
which as far as health goes has proved beneficial. 
I like Australia, and Sydney is a fine city, but 
sanitary reforms are much needed, particularly 
in the suburbs. L. P. T. 
[As the readiest means of aiding Mr. Thomas 
we give publicity to his letter, which the Oeylon 
Tea Fund Committee will doubtless take into con 
tideration. Oeylon teas wore fully analyzed in Mel 
bourne at the time of the Exhibition. Has Mr. 
Thomas warned consumers of pure Ceylon teas 
to put less in the pot, and to be careful not to 
allow the infusion extend beyond 5 or 6 minutes ? — 
Ed. T. A.] 
EMPLOYMENT BY THE IMPERIAL 
BRITISH EAST AFRICA CO. 
Mombasa, Feb. llthT" 
Dear Sir, — As I have had sundry inquiries from 
men in Ceylon, as to what steps should be taken 
to obtain employment in this Company, I should be 
much obliged if you would insert this letter in 
your valuable paper. 
All appointments are made in London. Personal 
application must be made at the office, No, 2, Pall 
Mall East. 
The limit of age is I believe from 25 to 35 years. 
The Board strongly objects to married men. 
It would give me much pleasure to see Ceylon 
men out here, but I should strongly advise them 
not to go home in hopes of getting employment 
here. — I am, sir, yours faithfully, 
J. R. W. PIGOTT, 
Asst. Administrator, 
Imperial British East Africa Co. 
THE COCONUT LEAF DISEASE. 
Veyangoda, Feb. 16th, 1890. 
Dkar Sir, — In your issue of the 13th instant, in draw- 
ing attention to Dr. Trimen : s latest report on the 
Coconut Leat Dis ase you say " we are assured that it 
lias almost, if not quite, disappeared from nearly every 
district where it was temporarily noticed, unless Veyan- 
goda be an exception." You "will I am sure excuse me 
if I inquire whether the assurances you refer to were 
