June i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
grub become that out of about 180,000 trees on my 
own and Mr. Gooch's estates scarcely one tree es- 
caped. 
The way the scourge works is by insinuating itself 
under the crown of the root and boring up the 
stem of the tree, emerging from the stem after slowly 
killing the tree, near the topmost branches in the 
form of a beetle. While in the grub or dangerous 
form, the creature is about an incn long, of a pale 
yellow or wh ; tish color, armed with a pair of strong 
hard forceps or pincers, which he seems to bore with 
in the most scientific manner. 
Unfortunately I stuck to the plantation much too 
long, having learnt at school that perseverance was 
a marvellous virtue. My friends advised pruning : I 
pruned. Not pruniug. I didn't prune. Manuring: I 
manured. No manure : I abstained from manuring. 
Bone dust : I boned. Lime : I limed. Guano : I emp- 
tied on a certain plot of land the contents of a bag 
warranted as imported from Jehaboe. Delving: 1 delved 
and dug. Weeding : I weeded. Let the weeds grow : 
and I speedily obtained a luxuriant growoth. Catch 
crops : I let go my hold. I shunned tobacco and 
mealies. I drained. Irrigate ; I could'nt. 
What to attribute the failure to I know not, but 
conclude by adding four words : — '' The acts of God." 
GOLD AND PEARLS IN CEYLON. 
Our Kandy correspondent sends us the following 
interesting extract from a local publication dated 
March 1854:— 
In connection with the discovery of Gold in Ceylon, 
and the alleged existence of a Pearl Bank off Mount 
Lavinia, the following information may perhaps be of 
interest. 
Gold is found only in the native or metallic state, 
but is generally more or less alloyed with silver, in 
proportions varying from a fraction to 72 per cent. 
When pure, its specific gravity is 19-25. 
If is found sometimes in brilliant crystallized grains, 
but more generally in small irregular lumps or grains 
in veins of quartz or calcspar. It is also obtained 
from beds of micaceous specular iron, in the form of 
spangles ; in decomposing blende, and amongst iron 
pyrites. It is, however, far more abundant in the 
sand of rivers, and in the alluvial deposits of loose 
gravel, sand, and mud, which in many regions are 
spread over all other strata. 
In the East, Borneo, Sumatra, and many other 
islands of the Indian Archipelago, as well as Cochin 
China and Siam, are known to possess productive 
gold mines. Of the productiveness of the Ceylon Gold 
washings little can as yet be stated ; but it has long 
been known to the natives that Gold was procurable ; 
and by the kindness of L. de Soysa, Esq., Modliar 
in the Translator's department of the Colonial 
Secretary's Office, the subjoined extracts from two 
ancient Sinhalese works on the geography and products 
of the Island are made public. 
From these works, entitled Kadayimpotta, it appears 
that formerly the whole Island was divided into three 
great Provinces, called Maya Itatta,* Pihitty Ratta, f 
and Ruhunu Ratta J. These were sub-divided, Maya 
* Maya Ratta, bounded on ihe north by the Dedro 
Oya; on the east by the Mahawelliganga and the 
mountains ; on the south by the Kaluganga ; and 
on the west by the sea. 
+ Pihitty Katte, hounded on I lie west, north, and 
east by the soa ; ou the south by the Mahawelliganga 
and Dedro Oya rivers ; it was also sometimes called 
Kaja Ratta, as the ancient Capitals were situated in it. 
T Ruhunu Ratta, boumled on the west and north by 
the Mahawelliganga, and Kaluganga (or Kaltura) 
rivers ; and on the east and south by the sea. The 
mountainous portion of it was called Malayaa Ratta. 
Ratta into 28, Pihitty Ratta into 14, and Ruhunu 
Ratta into 14 Rattas, or smaller Provinces. 
In describing the various Rattas in the Province 
of Maya Ratta, one writer mentions, among others— 
Siduruwana, of which he says, "This country is so 
called from the number of streamlets, lakes, and 
rivers which abound in it. There are lands in it 
sufficient for the maintenance of the four constituent 
parts of an array. There are also in it rice villages, 
Gem vilages," &c. &c. The Buddhist Temple Lanka- 
tilleka Vihare is situated in this District. 
From the same author the following notices are 
extracted : 
Kururatta (Allootcoor Corle ?). A Pearl bank is 
spoken of about 6 miles from the Coast. 
Pehetigalle (Pittigal Corle?). In this division there 
is a mine of precious stones called Siucleya, also a 
Sea-port called Mahadampe. 
Billigalle (Belligal Corle?) Gold, precious stones and 
pearls are found here. 
Dewameratla (situated between two oyas, or rivers, 
in the Kornegalle District). Silver is here found in 
a cave. 
Merisaru and MahavelUganga. Several mines of 
precious stones. 
The second author, writing in a more summary 
manner, declares that there were known to exist in 
Ceylon, at the time he wrote " 64 silver and 16 gold 
mines, one thousand (i.e. a very great number) of 
Pearl banks, and 100 mines of precious stones." 
HOW TO START A TEA GARDEN AND 
MAKE IT PAY. 
KOUGH ESTIMATE. 
Cost of opening out, in the Debrooghur District, 
Upper Assam, a new tea garden of 200 acres — clear- 
ing and planting 50 acres annually, and probable pro- 
fit therefrom in the eighth year : — 
FIRST YEAR. 
Cost of 500 acre grant under 30 years' Rs. 
lease rules, value of timber, &c. (first instal- 
ment) ... ... ... ... 1,000 
Clearing 25 acres by Teklas for buildings, 
and sowing at stake, at R16 per acre ... 400 
Preliminary buildings. Temporary bunga- 
low, out-houses, godowns and cooly lines... 600 
Tea seed, for germinating beds, and for 
planting out at stake, 25 maunds, at R70 per 
maund ... ... ... ... 1,750 
Importation of 55 coolies, at R100 per head 
landed on the garden... ... ... 5,500 
Engagement of 10 local labourers under a 
two years' agreement, at say R25 per head .. . 250 
Wages of 62 labourers at an average of 
say R4 each per mensem ... ... 2,976 
( Manager, at R200 per mensem . 
I Mohri „ 10 „ I 
Establish- | Native Doctor,, 25 | 
ment ...-! Chowkidar „ 6 „ Y 3,072 
I Syce ,, 5 ,, 
I Waterman ,,5 ,. | 
LDakwallah „ 5 „ ) 
Loss ou say 300 maunds rice, at R2 per 
maund ... ... • ■■ ••• 600 
Garden stores, implements, &c, say ... 1,000 
Cart bullocks and pony ... 500 
Government fees, law expenses, &c, say ... 300 
Station or steamer ageut's salary at R15 
per mensem ... ... ••■ ISO 
Calcutta agent's charges, say ... ... 500 
Discount, feed of live stock, stationery, 
postage, and other contingencies, say ... 1,372 
Total ..R20.00U 
