JuLY t< 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
* 
To the Editor of the "Ceylon Observer" 
IROSES ATTACKED BY FLIES. 
Colombo, 17th May. 
Sir, — I happen to be the happy possessor of a pretty 
good collection of choice rose plants. Since of late the 
plants are actually covered every evening with a swarm 
of our ordinary flies ; and this causes the plants to put 
in a sickly growth. I have tried sulphur and ashes to 
drive them away, but without any success. I should 
feel greatly obliged if you or your numerous readers can 
tell me how I am to be rid of them. Thanking you in 
anticipation. D. J. C. 
[A practical horticulturist answers: — "I have never 
heard of the ordinary flies (which I take to be the com- 
mon house fly) doing any damage to plant life before 
I have no doubt they can be easily got rid of by syring- 
ing the plants occasionally with tobacco water in the 
evenings and with pare water the following mornings: — 
three or four ounces of tobacco to a gallon of water 
make a good wash and will kill or drive away any fly 
I have met with. To economise the mixture the leaves 
could be sponged or the shoots dipped in it. Newly 
slaked lime, mixed with a little snuff and dusted over 
the plants would, no doubt, also drive them away. The 
fumes of turpentine is another thing that all insects 
detest, but great care must be taken that it does not 
come in contact with the plants. It could easily be ap- 
plied by placing a little in saucers or tins at the foot of 
the rose bushes." — Ed.] 
COCONUT SEEDS. 
21st May 1887. 
Dbak Slit, — The current number of the Tropical 
Agriculturist contains a very sensible communication 
on seed nuts. It is to be deplored that very little, if 
any attention is paid to this important subject by 
coconut planters. Considering that a coconut tree has 
not a limited lease of life, and that the financial 
success of a coconut plantation is greatly dependent 
on the bearing quality of its trees, it is te the manifest 
interest of planters to be extra careful in the selection 
of seed nuts. What do we actually bud ? Villages 
scoured for plants that have germinated in the coco- 
nut heaps, or nurseries made of nuts indiscriminately 
bought from bad and good trees. 
In my neighbourhood is an estate planted from se- 
lected seed, which during the recent drought presented 
a striking contrast to the neighbouring estates. The 
former had very few trees with drooping branches, and 
displaced branches, while to the latter the lucid and 
poetical description of your ox-cinnamon and coconut- 
planter correspondent " S." of the trees in Veyangoda, 
Mirigama aud Ambepusse applied :" The trees shed their 
branches and get them at the top, and at the age 
of 30 yoars the trees will hardly give any crop." I 
wonder where coconut trees in other districts get 
their branches? 
I have before now recommended placing coconuts 
on their sides in the nursery, my principal reason 
for this being that the germs are continually kept 
moist by the " milk in the coconut," aud the chances 
of successful growth are greater than if the nuts 
arc placed in an upright position and the germs de- 
prived of the moisture nature intended for them. 
Your correspndent inclines to an opposite view and in 
support of it makes the startling assertion that " the 
first event in germination is the conversion of the 
Witer into a light spongy substance that fills the wholo 
Cavity." Ol what? Now this is in direct opposition to 
fact. In the process of germination all seeds make 
an upward acd downward growth. The latter supports 
the former. Coconut is no exception to tin; rule. 
A sprout is thrown outside and a spongy mass grows 
troru tlio germ inside the coconut. This absorbs the 
water inside the coconut which in its turn supports 
the sprout till such time as it developed roots. The 
roots occupy the space between the outer husk of the 
OOOOnui and the shell inside, and feed on the husk till 
they reach "mother earth." It is surprising that a 
man of the evident experience of your correspondent 
has not observed that this spongy mass, which he so 
unhesitatingly asserts is formed by the water in the 
nut, is from its earliest growth attached to the germ, 
and cannot be detached from it without the application 
of some force. This ought to have taught him that 
it was the germ that gave birth to the spongy mass. 
While if his assertions were true, this substance will 
make its first appearance where the water is : if the 
coconut were placed in an upright position, at the 
bottom of the nut and it will also be a de- 
tached mass, which it is not. 
I have heard it stated by natives that owing to 
the depredation done to a nesv coconut p'autatio u 
by boys who wantonly root up and destroy the plants 
to feast on this toothsome spongy mass inside the' 
coconut, it is scooped out before planting and the 
place it occupied filled with ashes or paddy husks, 
and that this treatment in no way affected the 
plants. This then supports my contention that this 
spongy substance supports the sprout only for a 
limited period. 
A neighbour of mine recently had many of his 
coconut plants in his new plantation destroyed by 
boys for this spongy substance, while another gentle- 
mau finding a splendid nursery of his gradually die 
out, was curious to discover the cause. Taking up 
the sprouts he discovered that the nuts to which 
they were attached were missing. A watch was set 
and some coolie hoys caught in the act of sticking the 
sprouts where they were and removiug the nuts. I 
need hardly say that they gave up their little game 
after this discovery. It is curious that "W. B. L." who 
wrote a clear and elaborate essay for you on Cocsnut 
Planting did not include naughty boys amongst the 
enemies of the tree. — Truly yours, B. 
CHEAP QUININE. 
Dear Sir, — According to arrangement with the 
Government, the p'anters who are taxed in an 
unmerciful fashion under the Medical Ordinance, 
were to have quinine, &c, sold to them at cost 
price. Now Messrs. Mackwood & Co. have for a 
long time past been selling Howard's (white label, 
and black letters) pure Sulphate of Quinine at 
R2-40 peroz., and they will sell a single ounce at 
that rate — and no doubt they reap some small pro- 
, fit on the transaction. The Government charge is 
R2-50 or more per ounce — so I think it is suf- 
ficiently clear that the planters are not getting 
their quinine at cost price ! 
Colombo Chemists are advertising Howaid's quinine 
at R2-50 peroz., but then will you bo surprized to 
know this is Howard's second quality ! It bears 
a black label and gold letters. The two labels arc 
the only moans taken by Messrs. Howard to deiote 
the two qualities. If the black label quality is 
worth R2'50 per oz. — the advertized price — then the 
white label is worth about fifty per cent more — so 
all honour to the Hon. Fi M. Mackwood who stands 
alone apparently in giving to Ceylon 
CHEAP AND PURE QUININE. 
" CHEAP ~AND _ PURE QUTNINE : A COB - " 
BECTION. 
Colombo, 2ith May 1S87. 
Dear Sir, — " Cheap and Pure Quinine " as- 
serts in his letter appearing in your yesterday's 
issue that "Colombo Chemists" are advertising 
! Howard's Quinine at 112*50 per oz., but that 
1 " this is Howard's second quality " indicated 
by black label and gold letters ; while the lirst 
quality is indicated by white label and black 
; letters. Your correspondent proceeds to say, 111 
authoritative tones, that " the two labels are tin; onlj 
means taken by Messrs. Howard 16 denote lit' 
two qualities," und that "the white label i. worth 
about oU per cent more " than the black. 
