February i, 1889.] THE. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
57i 
and yet the discoverers of " virgin subsoil " will, 
I fear not, find a way out of it somehow. I don't 
think that there is anything in the heavens above, 
or in the earth beneath, which a (Jeylon V. A. 
would not bo able to explain, or at least attempt 
to, if he were asked to report thereon. Their 
resource is infinite. 
We don't hear much of Rohuek nowadays. It 
was a shortlived meteor in that sky which has 
spangled with so many new constellations, and 
never rose much above the horizon. Perhaps 
we expected too muoh — and that too soon — 
and what we had to do was ,to wait ; any- 
how the early tapping did not lead to anything 
hopeful, and rubber was quickly voted into the 
limbo of sells. But it is not going to remain there 
always, it would seem ; for a oaret'ul experiment on 
a I'ara rubber tree in the lowcountry has resulted 
in a pound and a half of rubbar being secured 
from the one tree during the course of a year. 
The rubber of such quality is said to be worth 
Is Gd a lb. in London. It is anticipated as the 
trees increase in ago, so also there will be an in- 
crease in outturn. 
Peppeu, which is an old acquaintance, is in 
the running to be a new favourite. When you 
have the proper tree to grow it on, it does not 
give muoh trouble, and is an admirable auxiliary 
in a cacao garden or anywhere else where 
shade is needed. I don't know if R15 a bushel is 
a big figure or not for such a spice, but I have 
heard ol a first crop having been disposed of at 
that figure in the Central Province, and the grower 
is perfectly satisfied. Those who intend to cultivate 
it, and who think of starting with seed, should 
know that beginning at that ond means five years 
to wait for returns, whereas by cuttings three 
years is the time. There is also a great 
deal in the tree on which it is grown, and 
those who have a right to speak with authority 
say, let the tree be deciduous. Nothing better 
than dadap, which loses much its leaves in 
the hot weather, and exposes the vine to the 
tropical winter. Then, when the monsoon rains 
come in there . is a fine rush of blossom, and a 
I od crop. On the jak, popper does well, but for 
mat ol the wintering is too apt to run into leaf.* 
Like moU planu in Ceylon it responds wonder- 
fully to manure, and repays the outlay thereon 
in a speedy and handsome way. Keoping the vine 
down to eight feet, makes the gathering of the 
spice simple and easy. 
In the above I may bo anticipating in a small 
way your Spice Manual, but the information may 
in the meantime be of use to some of your roaders, 
until in the fulnoss of time another of tho stan- 
dard Planting Manuals is issued. 
The Tropical Agriculturist is not the periodical you 
would go to for light reading, yet at timcB you do fall 
in wilh the amusing. An example of this is to be found 
in tho last number, January, in the report of tho 
" Kelani Valley Tea Association, Limited." This 
Company, tho directors assure tho shareholders, is 
•' proceeding satisfactorily " ; and whon you turn 
to tho profit and loss account you have an insight 
into this satisfactory progression. It shows the 
profit on rice to bo almost equal to the profit on 
the salon of tea. Thero is an artlessnoss about tho 
way this is put, which is very refreshing. 
Tho T\i.<iAswT.L\ Tr.\ Company are adding 
Mother 200 acres to tho aoruago alroady plant id. 
Til.- now laud is ui 1 to be undulating, and the 
forest uvon heavier than what was on tho first 
(MX) aero* that wore (oiled. Tho prospoats of this 
Company 1 hoar, aro good, and tho chuap labour whioh 
• l>orn that apply so iiuioli to tho lowcountry, as 
to altitudes varying from l,u<)0 to 2,600 foot Ho. 
abounds in the villages about is giving an im 
mense haul in the way of cheap working. 
Passing the other day a new building, with a 
pandal in the front of it, which was emblazoned 
in a very conspicuous way, with the royal arms, I 
stopped to inquire what was going on, and if the 
Lieut.-Governor or the Government Agent were 
expected ; but I was told it was the opening of a 
new Buddhist temple, and that the gay show was 
got up in honour of tho feeding of the priests, of 
whom some seventy in number had arrived, and 
were at that moment being fed. The lion and 
the unicorn were poor, poor specimens of these 
noble animals 1 — ashamed doubtless of this new con- 
nection with Buddhism. 
The weather is seasonable, and as yet the cold wind 
has not been so trying as last season. Rain showers 
are about, but nothing very satisfying has fallen, 
and we would willingly take more. There is a good 
deal of sickness about among coolies — fevers, oolds, 
and suoh like, which will disappear when the cold 
wind ceases. Peppercobn. 
CEYLON TEA AT THE MELBOURNE 
EXHIBITION. 
Planters' Association of Ceylon, Kandy, 29th Jan. 1889. 
The Editor, Qeylon Observer. 
Sib, — In terms of the resolution of the Standing Com- 
mittee of the " Tea Fund" passed at a meeting on 
the 19th instant, I beg to enclose the correspondence 
referred to regarding the Ceylon tea-house at the Mel- 
bourne Centennial Exhibition. —Yours faithfully, 
A. PHILIP, Secretary. 
The Oeylou Court, Melbourne Exhibition, Nov. 9th, 1688. 
The Seoretary , Planters' Association, Kandy, Ceylon. 
Dear Sir, — I have this morning received your favour 
of Ootober 15th, giving me copy of resolutions by 
Standing Committee of the Tea Fund, after consider- 
ing my letters of 27th August and 7th September. 
1st Resolution : — " That the Standing Committee of 
the Tea Fund confirms the Secretary's letter of the 29th 
September to Mr. Hugh McKenzie annexing memorau" 
dum of disbursements made in Ceylon on account of 
the Melbourne Exhibition, and points out that the total 
vote granted to Melbourne Exhibition is Rti.OOO as 
stated in the Secretary's letter dated 25th February 
1888." for whioh I thank you. 2nd Resolution : — "That 
the Committee does not see its way to authorize Mr. 
McKenzie to sell the tea consigned to him for free dis- 
tribution," and asking me to furnish a statement of dis- 
bursements. 
Full particulars of disbursements will be forwarded 
by the mail of 16th, and in the meantime I enclose 
an approximate estimate of che financial position to 
tho clone of the present mouth (November). With re- 
gard to my soiling the tea, there seems to be some 
misunderstanding, arising probably from the vagueness 
of my letter of 7th September. It probably appears to 
you that I am disposing of the tea by auction, or other- 
wise, not arising directly from tho principle of exhibit- 
ing : as to my authority for soiling, if you refer to your 
letter of 19th November 1887, you will soo that you 
say " Ohietly by its sale in the cup, and in packets." 
Again in your lottor of February 25th you say: "Yon 
dosiro to leave us oomploto discretion to cany out tho 
nndortaking as wo think fit;" and the whole tenor of 
tho last prragraph is to the effect that I should soli 
if possible; that yon wish me to soil is thoroforo clear, 
and you say nothing whatever of freo distribution ex- 
cept as a disagreeable alternative. The method pur- 
sued is this : in the cup of tea is given free, as tho 
Commissioners insist upon it, but to any guests who 
express a liking for the tea, and a wish to procure sonio 
of it, wo sell in packets of 5 lb. ami 10 lb. at 2t per 
lb. For ttiis purpose wo have hired a storo-rooni close 
to the Exhibition, whero tho tea cheats are subdivide. I 
as necessary. The enclosed memo, will show you ttiai 
the stun you have in hand will, an uear as possible, iin>< t 
the d. licit on tins side to tho close ol the proeonl 
mouth. Should you not havo already fenraraM the 
