182 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1888. 
planters, as well as the Planters' Association, will 
be prepared to avail themselves of Mr. Hughes' 
presence in our midst, by submitting to him for 
analysis and report specimens of tea, in all stages, 
from green leaf, to withered, rolled, " fermented," 
partially roasted and finally fired for packing. 
Teas from various elevations and different districts 
ought to be provided, so that the influence of soil 
and climate can be tested, and we think it would be 
well if small sample boxes were made up and packed 
now, to be opened and reported on chemically 
when Mr. Hughes is amongst us. No man can be 
better qualified than Mr. Hughes to suggest the 
treatment which ought to be adopted and the 
fertilizing substances which ought to be applied 
to old eoffee soils, or soils naturally poor, or in 
a bad mechanical condition. We need scarcely 
suggest that in many cases it may be advisable to 
submit, with specimens of tea, samples of the soil in 
which it has beeen grown, with records of tem- 
perature and rainfall. Teas made in dry weather 
and wet, from leaf gathered from old trees and 
young, and from trees after pruning, ought 
to be tested. To Mr. Hughes, although the 
labourer is always worthy of his hire, we 
feel certain, it will be a labour of love to 
investigate the characteristics of our now chief 
product and to render us all the assistance pos- 
sible in preserving the high position it once en- 
joyed or in recovering that position if it has 
really been to any extent lost. 
The following is Mr. Hughes' letter to our address. 
London, £, C, Aug. 3rd, 1888. 
Messrs. A. M, & J. Ferguson, Colombo. 
Gentlemen, — The recent numbers of the Overland 
Observer have contained numerous references to the 
supposed falling-off in the quality and keeping pro- 
perties of Ceylon tea, and only the other day I was 
visited by a gentleman of experience who asked my 
opinion as to the cause of this reputed falling-off in 
quality. I replied that I could give no opinion on 
the subject at present ; but th»t as I was arranging 
for a visit to Australia next Nov., I hoped to break 
my journey at Colombo, and await the following 
mail which would give me a fortnight for a trip up- 
country and a personal enquiry into the merits of 
the alleged falling-off in quality. 
Of course there may be a fall in price as the result 
of overproduction, without there being really any 
falling-off in the quality of the tea itself, 
Tbe most reasonable plan would be to get a full 
report from the leading brokers, stating in what res- 
pect the tea failed, supplemented, if necessary, by care- 
ful analysis to show by the aid ef figures the extent and 
in what particulars then -was or was mt any 
actual depreciation in the strength or aroma of 
the tea. Thus; is ;it the tea made in the dry 
weather or in the damp weather that is com- 
plained of ? Is there a falling-off in the strength or 
in the flavour .? Is the proportion of soluble extract 
greater or less than usual, also what are the propor- 
tions of tannin, theine, and essential oil. In other 
words let us obtain some definite results, and compare 
them with those already published respecting good tea 
of previous delivery. It is reasonable to suppose that 
leaf gathered after a period of drought must be of 
an interior quality, to that picked after a few weeks 
of showery weather during which there would be a 
rapid growth of fresh tender leaf full of sap, rich in 
the juices essential to good tea. 
I have been informed that the reputed falling-off in 
quality is chiefly in reference to the older gardens, 
and that the more recently planted trees have yielded 
ho far a leaf of average quality. If this be so, does 
it not suggest that the soil is becoming exhausted, and 
that if the flavour and strength are to be kept up 
some manure containing the chief fertilizing ingredients 
of nitrogen, potash, and phosphates of lime should be 
judiciously applied in moderate quantities. 
Certaiuly, bofore admitting the geuuineness of these 
complaints respecting quality, some definite facts should 
be ascertained, and a careful enquiry into the points 
suggested should be undertaken. 
I have only this week returned from a run through 
Scotland, during which I was fortunate to get a really 
fine day for tbe Glasgow Exhibition — the weather 
this summer being, as you are aware, unusually wet 
and quite the opposite to that of last year. The Ceylon 
Court looked very interesting and seemed tj attract 
much attention among the visitors, waile the tea-house 
must be a great success; for, as early as 1 o'clock in 
the day, it was full of country people anxious to taste 
the famous Ceylon tea. The Indian tea-house, though 
better situated and more luxuriously appointed, was 
comparatively quite empty at tha same time of the 
day. The well-dressed native servants with their 
wonderful pearl-like teeth and dark faces, were un- 
doubtedly a great attraction at the little Ceylon tea- 
house. Their jolly laughing voices as they shouted 
"All right" on receiving an order fjr tea, and their 
civil and obliging mauuers iudicateJ tint they had 
been carefully selected, and no doubt their presence 
materially added to the natural attractions of a cup 
of good Ceylon tea on a sum uer's afternojn at such an 
Exhibition.— Yours very truly, JOHN HUGHES. 
SILK CULTURE IN COIMBATORE. 
^Now that sericulture is again attracting atten- 
tion iu Ceylon, the following article will be perused 
with interest. — Ed.] 
[By Mr. E. B. Havell, Superintendent, School of 
Arts, Madras.] 
The following is a note on rfilk Culture in the 
Kollegal taluk of Ooimbatore: — 
Mode ojr Cultivating the Mulbebuy plants. — In 
the rainy season, immediately after the fall of rain, 
fields containing black soil or clay are ploughed 4 or 
5 times into furrows, and the soil loosened. On an- 
other fall of rain, mulberry cuttings, each one foot in 
length, are planted in smill pits a yard apart, in the 
same manner as sugarcanes are planted. Within two 
days these cuttings begin to take root and to sprout. 
At the time the plantation is weeded, and the soil 
around the plants broken up, and fresh earth mixed 
therewith. At the end of 4 months the plants grow to 
perfection. 
About the Reabing of Silkwobms. — One seer of 
cocoons is usually bought for one rupee. — They are laid 
in large bamboo trays (resembling sieves) which are 
suspended by ropes tor eight days out of the reach of 
rats and ants. On the 9th day the moths begin to come 
out of the cocoons. They are at onoe removed to 
another bamboo tray in which they are kept for one 
day. Next day the male moths are taken out and 
thrown away. Before the evening of that day the female 
moths lay their eggs, and the next day they are also 
removed from the trays and thrown away. The trays 
are then hung about the roof, and covered with thin 
cloth to protect the eggs from flies, ants, and lizards. 
On the seventh day after the eggs are laid, the silk- 
worms begin to come out. At this stage the worms 
are fed with small cuttings of tender leaves of mulberry 
plants five times in the day and five times 
in the night. Thus they are fed for seven days. 
On the eighth day they discontinue feeding 
and lie down without moving. In this state they 
are said to be attacked with fever. On the morning of 
the next day they recover and are fed as before with 
small cuttings of mulberry leaves. In this way they 
are fed for four days. Then they are attacked with 
fever a second time, and discontinue feeding. Next 
day they are again fed as usual. After the lapse of 
four more days they are attacked with fever a 
third time. Next day they recover as usual 
and are fed with full-grown mulberry leaves 
for four days longer, when they are attacked 
a fourth time. At the time of the first fever, the 
worms in on tray are transferred to two trays. 
On the second attack the worms in two trays are 
removed to eight trays, and for the fourth to thirty- 
two trays. In four days after the fourth attack the 
worms grow large and chs«|ge color from white to 
purple* At this stage they discontinue feeding alto- 
