MaV i, 1890.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
789 
dantly proved to be admirably adapted to the success- 
ful cultivation of the tea plant. 
I frankly own that I see no limit to pro- 
duction of tea in Ceylon, if the bush continues to 
escape the serious ravages of insect pests and the 
enterprise is not stifled by causes beyond control. 
The shrub itself is as tenacious of life as 
lantana, and flushes over far greater ranges 
of temperature. It adapts itself to the sunny 
shores of Kollupitiya and before long will have ap- 
proaohei the summit of the mouutan ranges 
which enoircle the frosted peak of Pedro. 
Inspector. 
* 
PLANTING REPORT FROM THE HILLS 
OF CEYLON. 
THE " LITTLE MONSOON " GROWING — A NEW DEPARTURE 
—A GRAND SHOW OF COFFEE BLOSSOM— CINCHONA 
THRIVING WELL. 
Nanuoya, April 16. 
The "little monsoon" seems to be growing. 
Yesterday, after the usual very hot morning and 
forenoon, the sky darkened until between 3 and 5 
we could scarcely see to read. But beyond a few 
scatterings the rain fell off until after midnight. 
This is a new departure, which if continued will 
be very welcome on estates and on the railway, 
where the day showers have hindered work. Between 
6 and 10 p.m. the rain poured down until 75 cents 
of an inch was the record of the rain-gauge. This 
morning is, as usual, calm and watery-lookirjg, 
promising oppressive heat ending in rain. When 
the lull before the great monsoon comes the tea 
ought to run rapidly into flush. There is a grand 
show of blossom on the Dessford flat of ooffee which 
ought to result in fine crop if the rain does not 
injure the flowers. 
It is surely the very irony of fate that when 
the bark of Cinchona ledgeriana was worth almost 
its weight in silver all the attention we could pay 
to the plant, in digging, manuring and terracing 
the soil, failed to procure satisfactory results ; while 
now that the market is so low that Java planta- 
tions are being abandoned, plants the result of 
seed which came to us by a sort of chance grew 
well in the nursery and as planted along paths 
from 5,700 feet altitude downwards are flourish- 
ing most luxuriantly. Simultaneously Cinchona 
officinalis growing amongst some of our tea has 
thriven so wonderfully that in justice to the now 
more valuable plant we must out the oinchonas 
down, storing the bark for that rise in the market 
whioh we trust will some day come. 
PLANTING IN THE LOWCOUNTRY. 
(By a Knight of the Tea Bush.) 
April 7th. 
The lowoountry has its charms. The oool dusky 
walk down to muster with the corner of night's 
mantle over everything, and the coolies half awake 
moving off slowly to the inevitable pluoking. The 
morning tea in the back verandah looking out on 
the broken landscape of chena hills and distant 
jungle — the rays ol the now-risen sun illuminating 
all nature, the orow of the jungle-cook, the sweet 
whistle of the batagoya, the deep moan of the 
imperial pigeon, the coo of the fruit pigeon, ani 
the other various notes of birds. As I start for 
the field and faotory the sun is rapidly occupying 
his throne and making allnaturo bow before him. By 
10 o'olock the erstwhile vigorous planter slowly 
returns to tho bungalow, bowed and weary, covered 
with honest sweat, thinking only of Pilsener and. 
shade. The tub gives a moment of coolness and 
a freshness for breakfast, and then the daily trial 
of the afternoon commenoes. Kiok off boots, 
throw off coat, choose a light novel, and lie full 
length in bed. Deep slumber soon supervenes, 
and woe betide the man who disturbs the durai 
now. But hark that fowl has laid an egg and is 
too proud of it to keep quiet. It is chased and 
pelted till its shrill cackle dies away in the dis- 
tance, and master turns over again, and quietness 
reigns. Sometimes the cock will orow, or the 
crows will caw, in spite of the anxious servants. 
About J past 2 or 3, a shattered man plunges his 
fevered face in the cool basin, and has a cup 0/ tea. 
What a wonderful effeof tea has on a sleeping 
man ! Ooffee prevents sleep, tea refreshes after 
sleep. Coffee sustains a man for exertion. Tea 
refreshes and brightens a man after exertion. 
Then I take an hour's walk round by the factory 
and see the leaf come in, and then perhaps ride 
over to my neighbour for tennis, or else I have 
a chair put out in front of the bungalow and 
enjoy a cheroot and whisky and water. 
Men say lowoountry planters drink too much. 
I fear they do; but the question is, what is too 
muoh ? I take 3 bottles of Pilsener and 2 or 3 
whiskies and water a day. If I see men I take a 
whisky or two more. [Oh ! too much altogether. 
—P. BV 
There is no doubt one requires a good deal of 
liquor in the lowoountry if one is over thirty. 
Youngsters under thirty will suffer if they exceed. 
The evenings are very sweet ; beautiful sunsets 
every night ; and the air is pleasant, balmy, as the 
fierce sun is disappearing in the waves" of the 
Indian Ocean. White drill and a huge pith topee 
is the proper dress. 
The cooly strike a new comer from the hills 
as being very black ;— whereas a lowoountry man 
fancies he sees a red tinge in the coolies' cheeks 
when he goes up to Dimbula. Such a tinge is 
visible to a close observer. Have none of your 
readers seen a oooly blush ? A sort of maroon 
tinge on the cheeks. Then the gait of the up 
cooly is refreshing to a lowcountry man. The 
swinging stride and free energy is the result of 
fine bracing air and wholesome water. . 
TEA IN AUSTRALIA. 
(From liowbotham <& Co.'s Monthly Tea 
Market Report.) 
Sydney, March 25th, 1890. 
There is only a small business to notice during the 
past four weeks, either privately or at auction, and 
the transactions put through have been principa'ly 
confined to late arrivals, which have shown such 
excellent value. A small catalogue of these Teas was 
printed for the 5th instant — about 2,000 packages 
Flavory Panyongs selling from 5d. to 7d. There has 
been no inquiry at all for finer first crop kinds, but 
it is expected that this will shortly be experienced. 
'Price" Tea in light weights maintains its position, 
but there is really hardly any demand for it, the quantity 
of hotter class teas available at an advance of |d. to 
Jd. per lb. putting it quite out of the market. S. O. 
Pokoes are entirely neglected, and are faot becoming 
a dead letter in the trade, their place being taken by 
Indians and Ceylons and Hang Mee. This latter 
article is now being used by all the principal blenders, 
and the importation of it should be well worth the 
atteution cf some European house, the trado so far 
being in tho hands of the Chinese, 
Shipments both from Fooohow and Calcutta may 
now be regarded as closed, so that tho statistical 
position aud consequent prospects for the remain ler 
of the season can be reyiewei. 
