July i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
15 
To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 
*' CINCHONA VERSUS LARCH OE ANY 
OTHER PLANTATION?" 
Dear Sir, — In reference to that letter of Mr. 
McCall's from Hamilton, concerning the cultivation 
of cinchona in Ceylon, I may be allowed to make a 
tew remarks on tne treatment of forests in Scotland, 
as compared with cinchona plantations in Ceylon. 
I have advocated for the last chree years that cin- 
chona will grow as well, if not better, more closely 
planted than what we are doing at present. 
We are endeavouring to grow trees, " and not 
•bushes ;" by so running tin m up good clean stems 
will produce a greater amount of bark. 
Trees that are grown for timber in Scotland are 
generally planted 2| by feet mid 3 by 3 feet ; often 
.h mixed plantation of Larch, Beech, Ash, Elm, Oak, 
Scotch Spruce, and Silver Firs. But a great deal de- 
pends on the locality and condition of the soil in 
planting a mixed forest. All the inferior trees are 
partly thinned out after the tenth year, and again 
when necessary. In a well cultivated plantation 
the grass and natural plants are always kept clown, 
until the trees are strong enough to choke them 
out. As the trees grow up, all herbage gradually 
disappears. 
Who has not roamed through the forests, under 
shade of fine trees, and found the ground covered 
•with nothing but vegetable mould, decomposed leaves 
»nd twigs. Why mention a larch plantation? Since 
the disease has been so bud among the larches, 
foresters have found out that in planting a forest 
ttf mixed trees the larch trees grow better and are 
not so subject to that fatal disease. I would ad- 
vice, all those planting cinchonas " to plant close," 
and as the plantation comes on, thin out all the 
straggling and weak trees : little pruning would then 
be wanted, in removing strips of bark, no shading 
or moss is required, and very few weeds will grow 
after a time. In fields where the cinchonas begin 
to die out in patches, "as if from dampness," a 
few more drains should be cut, and the plants stuck 
in thick, about a foot apart. 
I do -not advocate leaving the weeds and only 
cutting them down occasionally. Keep your planta- 
tion clean, if possible. In planting timber trees in 
abandoned coffee land or for wind belts, "plant 
•close," the one treo will protect the other. Go where- 
over you may, you will find that close planting is 
always carried out in growing timber trees, and the 
same will hold good for cinchona. We grow timber 
which gives us bark. Planters feel the want of ad- 
vice on arboriculture, not having a practical forest 
■department in the Island. If Mr. McCall will pay 
a visit to Perthshire, he will find a great deal to 
interest him, in the fine forests of Dunkeld, Scone, 
Dupplin and Tay mouth, — I am yours, 
AN OLD MEMBER OF THE SCOTTISH ARBORI- 
CULTURE. SOCIETY. 
years past I have made Australia (New South Wales) 
my home, and been also in several of the other 
colonies. As I feel and know that I have something 
essential to say on the Tea truth which you wish 
Ceylon to open up with Australia, you will excuse 
my addressing this letter to you, and the Ceylon 
public through you. 
Being a late arrival from Australia, I was aware 
while there, of the efforts made (by you) to give the 
budding trade a fair start ; and my attention was 
again drawn to the subject by a planter, as I passed 
through Galle. 
I have tasted Ceylon tea, and am familiar with 
Indian teas, having been on the seals of their pro- 
duction in Assam, Cachar, Kangra, and other parts ; 
and I have no hesitation in saying that your Ceylon 
tea carries off the palm in flavour aud body from 
nineteen-tweutieths of Indian teas ; and in fact, for 
its price, ranks as the best of the teas we have any- 
where. 
Such being my deliberate judgment, aud I have no 
mean knowledge of the subject — even of China teas 
from the variety made for the palates of Emperors 
and Shahs, to the beastly rejections so largely ex- 
ported to Australia — I should heartily, as a great 
tca-di-iuker, wish to see good tea make its way in the 
world ; and as an Australian, wish to see Ceylon tea 
supplying the half-a-crown and even three and six 
pence stuff so common in the threat southern continent. 
But permit me to say that however praiseworthy 
valuable your introduction of Ceylon tea to the notice 
of Australia was, during the late Melbourne Exhibi- 
tion, as an Australian who knows Australia well, 
and how things are managed there, that a great deal 
and indeed every thing is now needed really to 
cxtahlLih the trade. 
If nothing now be followed up as I indicate 
below, Ceylon tea will be forgotten in a few months 
in Australia, even if there be kept up a small shop 
for its sale in Melbourne, or Sydney, and there appear 
an occasional advertisement. 
You must be a young and inexperienced man indeed 
if you think that where old interests are concerned 
(in this case of the China tea merchants) and the 
field fully occupied, a new article can be made to 
make its way into popular favour by the mere 
force of its being the best. I know all the obstacles 
in the way of Ceylon tea supplanting Chinese teas in 
Australia, and it is because I know them, and the 
way to go about in the matter, and am convinced 
that if my plan is adopted that Ceylon tea will be 
the favourite with high aud low in New South Wales 
and Victoria, that I take the trouble to write this, 
and oven offer to c irry it out. 
Firs 
Austr 
can do 
othing ii 
»th 
CEYLON TEA AND TIT K 
c/o Mesers. li 
AN MARK E 
that, 
May 
SlR, I am tempted to drop you these 
a subject of groat inportauoe to the Ce 
community, and Ceylon trade in con 
Australia. 1 am well known iii the Benj 
and al-o partially in Madras, as having 
days commoted with the Indian Press; 
i able so to start the trade 
itiou thereafter, it will con- 
agent for New South Wale*, 
or the field of country is 
r as much change wili be 
if the large 
the 
numbers of store keepers (tea-sellers) in 
(and there are numerous towns in 
as tli rough the merchants and tea- import! 
and Melbourne. Of course, a small si 
prominent place, will have to be kept ii 
ties. This would, however, for two ao 
