July r, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
8? 
a lye product called plate sulphate of potash, from 
kelp. The following are Dr. Richardson's analyses of 
it, made on samples taken from paicela of 100 tons. 
Irish. Scotch. 
Sulphate of Potash .. 77"43 75-28 83-06 
Sulphate of Soda ... 21-31 2089 14-89 
Sulphate of Lime ... "80 
Chloride of Sodium ... '76 "54 -67 
Insoluble Matter ... trace 1-04 
Moisture ... "59 1-55 i'44 
100-09 100-10 100 06 
Sulphate of potash has this advantage for agricultura 
purposes over the nitrate and muriate that it is less 
soluble in water. The muriate dissolves in 3 parts 
of water at 60°, the nitrate in 7, and the sulphate in 
11. The sulphate, moreover, in the hands of Mr. 
Anderson has been found to have a certain curative or 
preventive effect on leaf disease. A good deal more 
might be done by analysis to ascertain whether or not 
there is a connection between leaf disease and a de- 
ficient supply of potash to the coffee plant. The coffee 
leaf not being of direct commercial importance, little 
has been done as yet in determining the composition 
of the ash in the different stages of the leaf's growth. 
The tea leaf, on the other hand, has been analysed in 
all its stages, and it is remarkable the extent to which 
potash disappears from the leaf as it grows old, so 
much so, that Zoller affirmed " that the age of tea 
leaves may be determined from the analysis of the 
ash. Thus, young leaves of which the best teas con- 
sists contain much larger amounts of potash and 
phosphoric acid than the older leaves, which are com- 
paratively deficient therein, while they become richer 
with age in lime and silica. The ash of a sample of young 
tea, grown in the Himalayas, amounted to 5. 63 per cent, 
and it contained in 100 parts 39 - 22 of potash, 4-24 
linie, 4-38 of oxide of iron, 4 35 of silica and 14-55 
of phosphoric acid" (Hassall.) In marketable teas 
the amount of potash in the tea ash varies to a great 
extent, as the following examples from Watt's Dic- 
tionary of Chemistry, quoted by Hassall, will shew, 
and where potash is low, it will be observed, soda is 
high and vice versa : — 
c I o Skj «i a 
S o o o S Si 
Soda 25-46 1*70 40-00 9 -26 12 88 
Potash 3-70 44-96 12 38 33 95 28 38 
Lime 11-36 8-77 7"68 8-17 8 39 
Phosphoric Acid ... 12-62 11-46 8-26 16-64 17-44 
Sulphuric Acid ... 10-14 696 8-27 4-89 4-76 
Silicic Acid ... 16 04 879 7*81 10 89 5-59 
Potash being the dominant element of the ash of 
the coffee seed, the formation of fruit must tend to 
drain the leaves of their potash and if the supply is 
not equal to the demand, we can imagine an abnorm- 
al condition of the leaf to be induced, rendering 
it liable to the attack of htmeleia while the seeds 
would be reduced either in number or size. Again, 
if at any stage of its growth, the coffeo leaf, like the 
tea leaf, requires a much larger proportion of potash 
than at other stages, and the supply be not equal 
to the demand, we may in this case also have an 
abnormal condition of leaf and disease the result, I 
think, at all events, that this line of investigation is 
worthy of attention. M. COCHRAN. 
COFFEE AND LEAF DISEASE. 
8th May 1881. 
J)i:au Sik, 'Regarding the cure of leaf disease : 
the leaf disease appears to have come in a most 
mysterious fashion, and will, no doubt, go away as 
mysteriously as it came, and I do not think that any 
earthly agency or power can do otherwise than simply 
assist the afflicted trees by doses of manure and. 
proper cultivation. Beyond that, nothing can be don^ 
until the disease leaves of its own accord, and I 
think, from a general impression which I have some- 
how got, that it lias begun to go off already. I have 
noticed that good paying coffee, which had been aban- 
doned during a time of financial depression, and which 
has now been brought back into cultivation, was all 
the better after the abandonment, and looked most 
vigorous and healthy. Perhaps a good way with fields 
of leaf diseased coffee might be to manure them well 
and then abandon them for a time, letting suckern 
and everything grow, until the power of the treo 
asserts itself over the disease. When, and if, th» 
tree has thrown off the disease, it may then be handled 
or pruned and the ground weeded. I do not think 
that weeds harbor the disease : otherwise, were they 
to do so, they would manifest signs of suffering from, 
it themselves. I merely describe what has come 
under my practical obeservation, and I should be glad 
to hear the opinions of others on the subject. — Yours 
truly, FACTS AND FANCIES, 
CACAO CULTURE. 
Dickeria, 12th May 1881. 
Sib, —Every Ceylon Observer, I eagei-ly look out for 
more information of our new products. And that 
"kittle" one Mr. Drummond wrote about cacao, has 
baffled me more than any plant I ever tried in the 
clearing, either as plants in pots, stumps, seed at stake, 
or any other way I can try it. Stumps I have tried 
and been the most unsuccessful. In large, medium and 
small plants, all are the same, although they got every 
care given to them. Eve" a lot of strong healthy 
plants got eaten down by hares, leaving 2 to 7 or 
8 inches of a stump above ground, which was after- 
wards carefully protected. But almost all have died, so 
I say stumps no more. 
Seed at stake •' with a good protection from wind, 
and a light shade, if the season is favourable, success 
must follow. 
Plants in pots or baskets well hardened about n, 
foot high, their little rootlets as little disturbed as 
possible and immediate protection from wind, should, 
also do well, if planted in season. After they are 
planted out, a checkered sunlight does more good 
than dark shade ; and when they make a fair start, 
in growth, gradually get them into full light. 
A stirring up of the soil round about the plant 18 
inches to 2 ft. also brings the plant on very fast. 
They are also the prey of many insects, and consequently 
require much attention. But when they get up, where, or 
what, will we get for a more handsome lucrative tree, 
loaded with fruit, giving recompense for our care and 
attention? I so far agree with Mr. Drummond that 
cacao does require shade, according to clearness and power 
of the sun, but I do not care for jak, it being dense. 
But with my little experience as yet I cannot say what tret: 
would be the best. Perhaps, a mixture ot'Liberian, rub- 
ber, Cloves and a few plants here and there — in fact any 
light shade tree that will give returns and be re- 
munerative, and wind-protecting. Belts of nutmegs OUgh . 
to keep out any amount of wind. — Yours truly, R. C. 
Root Crops.— It is astonishing that the cultivat- 
ors of India should never have considered it a par!; 
of good farming to cultivate root and other crops 
purely for cattle feeding purposes. We give the re 
suits of a series'of experiments at home, from which 
it will be seen that a crop of 30 tons (818) maunds 
of turnips has beon raised from an aero. — Indian 
Agriculturist, 
