June i,, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
39 
To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 
NEW PRODUCTS IN UVA : CACAO AND' 
L1BERIAN COFFEE ON PATANA-LAND. 
Deyenewette, Passara, April 22. 
Dear Sir, — As you have done much to promote the 
success of new products, and always urged the necessity 
of railway extension to Uva, you will doubtless be 
pleased to receive by this post specimens of Liberian 
coffee and cacao grown on patana soil in Badulla district: 
the former raised from Polgahawella plants, and the 
latter from Pallakelly seed, and both three years old. 
On some of the Liberian trees are hundreds of 
berries, and some of the cacao trees gave over forty 
pods. From some 200 pods gathered all about the 
size of the sample, au average of twenty-eight seeds 
was the result, all of which are growing in bambu 
pots except 300 seeds used by me in the manufacture 
of chocolate paste. After grinding the seed on a curry- 
stone and mixing cinnamon, cream, and sugar, it was 
very good, and only required vanilla to complete 
both flavour ana colour to make the real thing. 
It is about time you received another report on 
the progress of new products in Uva. 
Trusting you will receive the twenty-five berries of 
Liberian and cacao pod in separate packets by this 
post, I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
HENRY COTTAM. 
[The cacao pod is a good average specimen weighing 
10£ oz., while the Liberian coffee cherries are splen- 
didly healthy and full-sized. It is Air. Cottum, hard- 
working persevering planter as he is who ought to 
have got a free grant of land, and not a capitalist 
so well able to buy for himself as Mr. M. H. 
Thomas. Indeed, we shall have a good deal more 
to say on the subject of this Uva grant, if Mr. 
Thomas does not voluntarily forego his claim to all 
but the first 100 acres. The House of Commons 
should hear of this matter otherwise. Meantime we wish 
every success to Mr. Cottam as a pioneer with new 
products.— Ed. C. O.] 
CACAO CULTIVATION. 
Gang Warily Estate, Western Dolosbage. 
23rd April 1881. 
Ueak Sir, — Sometime ago (9th inst. ) " New Pro- 
ducts" asked a few questions relative to cacao, and 
as no one has come forward— better late than never — 
V 11 endeavour to answer them. 
(1.) Where does it thrive best, in or out of shade? 
That will a good deal depend upon elevation. Over 
2,000 feet I don't think shade necessary ; but under 
that, I certainly think a light shade desirable ; and, 
the lower the elevation, the more shade will probably 
be required. I find the jak tree answers capitally, 
and, for a light permanent shade might be planted 
about a chain (fiG feet) apart, which would give ten trees 
to the acre. 
Cacao under shade may take a longer time to arrive 
at maturity, and bear less fruit ; but I believe that 
under chade the trees will be more lasting and the 
pods larger and the seeds of a better quality, at the 
same time . welding enough to pay well. I believe in 
cacao a good deal as a mixed cultivation ; and I find 
it thrives well, both as plant and tree, under the com- 
bined influence of the shade of coffee (ten years old) 
and jak trees of ubout the same ago. It does no harm 
to the coffee. 
(2.) How many pods per tree are required to the 
OWt. per acre t 
(3 ) How many pods per tree, or cwts per acre will 
pay ? 
II 
Fifty pods per tree is, I think, a low average and 
should give 1£ lb. of merchantable cacao. Taking 
435 trees to the acre that is nearly 6 cwts. per 
acre ; and this, at prices already obtained for Ceylon 
cacao, would pay handsomely. Planting and estate 
cultivation would be less ; and merchants, charges &c. 
would be much the same as coffee. The 3rd and 4th 
years there would be a small crop, and the 5th and 6th 
years should more than pay working expenses. The 
7th year the estate will be in full bearing. Twenty- 
five pods per tree should pay its way, one may cal- 
culate on crop lasting six months, a consideration, %s 
less coolies would be required, and there would not be the 
same rush as with coffee. 
(4.) What distance apart is considered most suitable » 
In decent soil, I say, 10 by 10 feet if cacao is grown 
by itself. This gives 435 trees to the acre. 
Your low-country, Western Province, correspondent 
seems to be in the " dumps " about the cacao, and, 
I don't wonder very much, if he has planted in an 
exposed situation and in poorish soil, as I gather 
from his letter. Cacao requires for its wellbeing 
(1) good, freeish soil; (2) shelter from steady or gusty 
winds ; (3) suitable elevation, with -forcing climate, 
and good rainfall ; (4) shade. To those (like above) 
who can't grow cacao as an even field I say plant 
the sheltered good nooks and corners (along with 
other products) with cacao. One or two hundred trees 
thus to the acre will always help to keep the pot 
boiling — the expenses against which will be only 
curing on the estate, and merchants' charges. 
Your Western Province correspondent and others 
who are much troubled with wbiteants should try 
cacao stumps, prepared the same as coffee stumps, but 
with more care. If the taproot is too long cut off a 
small bit with a sharp knife, but, do not do so if it 
can be avoided. It is a good plan to dip the tap 
root in any solution which is deemed likely to keep 
away whiteants, and encourage the growth of fresh 
rootlets. I have tried stumps myself successfully. 
They take upwards of a month to bud. Tbey should 
be over six months old, but the proper time can be 
judged by the ripeness of the bark and thickness of 
the stem of the plant : the size of an ordinary pencil 
and thicker. 
For plants to put out I recommend that the 
nursery should be made on poorish land, by which 
means the roots do not grow beyond control. Shade 
during weather which requires it with a temporary 
roof, or thatch, and remove the shade before planting 
in order to harden the plants, as is the case with 
cinchona. I find these tough little ' gentry ' take 
to the ground and resist whiteants better than their 
more handsome and delicate brethren. Remove the 
plants as carefully as possible with a digging fork, 
and plant in continuous showery weather — not in a 
puddle of rain. Alternate sunshine and shower is the 
desideratum— shade with ferns, or branches which 
retain their leaves for a long time. 
'Lastly, and in conclusion' (the part of the sermon, 
or lecture, we used to enjoy most) take care of the 
husks after you remove the seeds, as I note my pigs 
eat them readily, so they are likely to prove a not- 
to-be-despised addition to the pig food. 
Mr. Tytler was to give us some hints about the 
curing of this interesting new product. I hope he will 
do bo. — Yours truly, JOHN DRUMMOND. 
CINNAMON CULTIVATION IN THE HILL 
AND LOW DISTRICTS. 
Veyaugoda, 24th April. 
Dear Sir, — During the last few years planters, 
owing to the shortness of coffee crops, have given 
their attention to what is called new products. 
Amongst other things attention has been turned 
to cinnamon cultivation A very great error has 
