IViARcti i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
605 
In reply to tho other queries, thero is no com- 
pulsory reason why the Tea bushes should be plucked 
from 1st January to 31st December, but so far, with 
the exception of the periods of rest given to the trees 
by pruning, this system has been adopted with no 
ill results, and the older fields (several of them now 
nearly twenty years old) planted upon land selected, 
not for, its suitability for Tea, but for its unsuitability 
for Coffee, are giving a steadily-increasing yield, main- 
taming quality, and show no signs of exhaustion. 
Neither mosquito, red spider, nor any other blight, 
has, so far, had any appreciable effect in reducing 
the yield from the Tea trees. Ceylon cannot expect 
immunity from pestilence, but as my estimate of prob- 
ablo yield has been placed considerably lower than 
the average obtained from Indian gardens, which those 
cognisant of the circumstances of both countries con- 
sider unduly cautious, full allowance has been made 
for possible pests. The coffee-loaf disease, "a fungus" 
which " Indian Planter " doubtless refers 10, in no way 
" pointed to the poorness of the soil from overwork." 
Nor is it possible for it to attack the Tea trees. 
The figures attached to my paper read before the 
Koyal Colonial Institute, showing the cost of opening 
and working a Tea estate in Ceylon, and the result- 
ing yield, are no mere sketch figures, but are based 
upon actual results which have been obtained, and 
though disappointment may attend the conversion of 
Mime Coffee estates into Tea estates, much of the 
land which was under Coffee cultivation is already 
yielding abundant Tea harvests, and the urea of land 
suitable for Tea cultivation in the hands of Govern- 
ment is at least three hundred, thousand acres. "Indian 
Planter" inu.-.t know well that so much of the cost 
of production of Tea is expended upon the actual 
opt rations of bin vesting, that though the discrepancy 
between realised and anticipated profits may be great, 
land once planted with Tea does not readily pass out 
of cultivation, and ho* may rely upon it that the prob- 
abilities are in favour of a great increase of Ceylon 
Tea. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, J. L. Shank 
24, Hood-lane, E.C., January 17th. 
To the Editor of the Vnlonirs and India. 
Sir, — Iu the discussion which followed the reading 
of Air. Sbaud's Paper on the above much of the avail- 
able timo was taken up by gentlemen who gave lull 
details of the tea enterprise in Natal and Borneo, and 
by others who admitted that they had never been in 
Ceylon at all. 
1 should like, however, to express briefly my views 
011 the probable continued success of the tea industry 
of this island, and on tho favourable opening which it 
is likely to offer to the educated Europeau who is fond 
of a country life. In 1877, at the request of the 
Planters' Association, I made on extensive tour through 
the principal planting districts, which occupied nearly 
two months, and afterwards spent upwards of three 
months iu Colombo, analysing samples of soil from differ- 
ent localities, and also the manures then so largely used 
on the ooflee estates, the analytical results being in- 
cluded subsequently in inv ollicial report. 
I would, therefore, venture to point out that, when 
wo contrast the comparative failure of coffee with the 
present aspect of tea, we must remember that the 
colfee treo is essentially a surface feeder, and that, 
the estates being generally situated on the steep sides 
of hills, and the soil constantly loosened during the 
weeding operations, tho effect of the heavy rainfall is 
most disastrous. 
TOO frequently the valuable surface soil, continuing 
the SOOnmalated fertility of rigo* of forest growth and 
decayed Waves, has been completely washed away, and 
tb. toffee- tree, deprived of its natural supplies oi plant 
food, and lefl without the assistance of manure, either 
dies a natural death from poverty, or falls a ready proy 
to I he attacks of funic fungoid disease. 
Ill the ease of tea, however, thero is a long tap root, 
vimh extends deep into the subsoil, s., th'it , w lieu the 
tree bus been carefully planted, and tho soil is suffici- 
ently deep and fi<> ( > Ireni flab-reck cropping up, the 
■hruh can draw 1111 nbuudaut supply of the utcefsary 
mineral coustituvuts as required, while it cau also, by 
abstracting moisture over a large area, withstand for a 
much longer time the ill effects of drought. No 
doubt in time some manure will have to be used, but 
at present, on many estates, (he tea tree, well planted 
in suitablo soil and aided by a climate specially cal- 
culated to produce frequent Hushes of leaf, will 
doubtless thrive without artificial help. Indeed, on 
many plantations, excessive pruning has to bo resorted 
to iu order to check tho too rapid growth of wood and 
leaf. 
At the present time the most improved machinery 
is being put up at the central factories, and the study 
of the chemistry of tea manufacture offers an inter- 
esting investigation for our young chemists, as the 
various operations have to be regulated according to 
the weather at the time of picking. The flavour and 
strength of Ceylon tea varies according to the soil, 
elevation, and climate of the estate, as well us the 
care and skill displayed in the manufacture. It is 
one thing to produce a fine quality of leaf, and 
cpjite another — and perhaps a more difficult — thing to 
convert such leaf into a high qualify of tea. There 
is therefore plenty of opportunity for improving tho 
mode of manufacture, though rapid s' rides have already 
been made since the first few pounds of tea 
were shipped home. Average Ceylon tea coutaius 
less of the astringent ingredient tannin than India 
tea, and is therefore more suitable for children and 
persons with weak digestion. The flavour is so 
superior that it is used for mixing with inferior 
China, which could not otherwise be sold. If, there- 
fore, really pure Ceylon tea is required, the pur- 
chaser must pay a good price, otherwise he will only 
obtain a mixture, and not the genuine article. 
It is a fact as strange as it is true that heads of 
families who pride themselves upon the quality of 
their wine are content to drink such wretched tea 
themselves, and expect their visitors (often Anglo- 
Indians accustomed to a very superior beverage) to 
put up with tho same at afternoon tea parties. 
Let us hope that we may soon see a better appre- 
ciation of really good tea on the part of the general 
public, and this improved taste at home will soon 
stimulate our energetic Ceylon and Indian planters 
to still greater perfection than they have yet attained. 
— I am, tec, Jons IIuohes, 
(Consulting Aualyst to the 
Ceylon Planters' Association.) 
Analytical Laboratory, 79 Mark Laue, Loudon, E.G., 
January 14th. 
♦ 
TOBACCO— THE COMING PRODUCT IN 
CEYLON. 
Now that our correspondent " Peppercorn " has 
opened out on the subject, we may say that there 
is an unusually good prospect of the scientific 
cultivation of high-class tobacco at length being 
added to the permanent planting industries of Ceylon. 
Dutch planters of tobacco in Sumatra with whom 
we recently travelled from Europe were very frank 
in their statement of the large profits which were ac- 
cruing from their plantations. Notwithstanding that. 
Deli exports had risen from 35,000 to l;"i0,000 bales 
(of SO kilos, 17ti lb. each), yet the prices obtained 
had steadily risen and there was no prospect of tho 
market for good leaf falling. Not only so, but the 
Ceylon tobacco which they had seen in London and 
Amsterdam was considered fairly good and well worth 
cultivating. 
To Messrs. Ingleton and Vollar of Duiubara 
belongs tho credit of tho revival of this industry 
on a new and satisfactory footing. Dumhara cigars 
havo long been in the local and homo markets 
through Mr. Ingleton's agency ; but it was a ship- 
ment of leaf by Mr. Vollar, we believe, whioh 
roost attracted the attention of experts at home 
and brought out to Ceylon about six weeks ago 
two German gentlemen, capitalists and ready to en- 
courage and extend an industry which promised 
0 satisfactory a rosult. It is to enter tho service 
f this tobacco " firm," if wo may so speak, a. 
