September i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
289 
To the Editor of the Ceylon Observer. 
CINCHONA STUMPS vs. PLANTS IN DRY 
WEATHER. 
August 4 bh, 1881. 
Dear Sir,— It has been a matter of surprise to 
me, especially after this uuusual spell of fine weather, 
with newly plauted cinchonas dying right and left, 
that notice has not been made by any one in your 
columns hitherto, as to the very great superiority of cin- 
chona stumps to plants, especially the small fry so 
named ! I speak from experience. When plants were 
dying all round, the stumps put out throve without 
exception, growing more vigorously than the plants 
that survived, giving to the clearing, I believe, in growth, 
the full benefit of their additional age. They are less 
liable to the attacks of grub and other insects, and 
insure an even clearing, and save much loss in plants 
and BUpplyn 
done so try, 
suits, but s 
is necef 
broken 
it any of your readers who have not 
y will not be disappointed in the rc- 
tra care in removal and planting 
ry to prevent the bigger roots from being 
a damaged.— Yours truly; STUMPS. 
CASUARINAS AT A HIGH ELEVATION NO GOOD; 
C. UR1TDSINGA (OR CONDA VIINEA) IN 
DIMBULA. 
Lrmgdale, Gth Aug. 1881. 
Dear Sir,— Casuarinas are no good at this elevation, 
4,000 feet. I grew one certainlv f„r 10 years, and 
probably longer, and it measured, when cut. down, about 
13 inches diameter at ground and only 9" at 3' 3" 
high. You would not get much timber if this is a 
fair growth, for this includes bark, which is thick, 
and vou would have to wait longer than most men 
spondent's question as to whether this is jute, I may 
reply that though a very common Indian fibre it is 
not jute, which is the produce of Corcltorm capsulars 
and C. olitoriux."—lZi>.] 
is the 
there is 
measurement given comet . xo me n net 
some error, for I have a tree, I think, of 
kind, but 2 years older, and it only_measi 
circumference at ground, but it is l*5g at i 
while the h. ight is about the same 83 Mr. D 
2'J feet.— Yours faithfully, 
"HIBISCUS CANNABINUS." 
Dii.ui Silt, — I send by this post a box, containing 
the flower, seed-vessel, and stem of a plant, from 
which the coolies say twiue and sacks are manufact- 
ured on the coast. It is commonly grown in the 
line gardens, as the leaves are used for curries. Can 
you tell mo if it is jute '!— Yours faithfully, W. B. H. 
[Oiu- correspondent W. F. reports as follows: — 
"By a singular coincidence your packet of specimens, 
and a notice of contributions to the Colombo Museum 
in your issue of the 9th August, have reached me 
at the samo time. Tho specimens from your corre- 
spond, nt 'W. B. H.' and the donation of cord from 
the fibre ptilnc i keri (? pit'cliey Jceery, Tamil) from 
Mr. P X Brain • have reached me at tho same time, 
and 1 ha e no doubt they refer to the fibre of tho 
IBne plant, viz., that of the Hibiscus cannabinus, 
Or Beiup-leaved Hibiscus. Tho steins of this plant 
(Ornish abundant fibre in various parts of Indi:i, and 
It* leaves Are in goneral u-o as au excellent vegetable 
(Tamil, keeri), and t»8t» something like sorrel. The 
pi 1 is very oommonly planted in the gardens near 
oooly lines in Ceylon, and it is not an uncommon 
Rtai 1" plant in the island, but it i* not a native 
of Ceylon, though tho Flora «i British India, I, 
p. .'!.'}'.! re' 1- to Thw.it.s' Kuwm. 'Jo iiroiieou-l y 
WheN it does not occur. In reply to your corre- 
78 
RATTANS FOR MATTING. 
Ralnapura, August Gth, 1881. 
Dear Sir, — Can you inform me whether the same 
description of rattan cane as is used by the Malays 
in the manufacture of matting, chairs etc., is to be 
found in Ceylon, and if so where plants can be 
procured ? Rattan cane of a very inferior kind is 
found in the jungles of this district; so that cane 
of the better description ought to be easily crown. 
—Yours, NEW PRODUCTS. 
[W. F. reports : — " There are seven species of rattans 
indigenous to Ceylon : some very stout and long, and 
others very like the common rattans used for matting, 
chairs, couches &c, some of which were extensively 
sent from the Southern Provinee some years ago, and 
are no doubt still used by Sumps for the various 
uses to which rattans are put. These plants, Calamus, 
are not uncommon in various parts of Ceylon, and 
are no doubt collected for local use, but your corre- 
spondents trite remark that "rattan cane of a very 
inferior kind is found in the jungles of this district, 
so that cane of the better descriptions ought to bo 
easily grown," reminds me of Bat's remark, "No 
wonder that this place is called Stoney Batter, for 
for I was never so bitten with fleas in my life. "J 
THE EDUCATION OF THE COFFEE TREE 
— PRUNING. 
Coppa Kadur District, Mysore Provinces, 
20th July 1SS1. 
Dear Sir, — In the interest of a large and influential 
community busily engaged in "coffee plauting," I 
solicit space, in your most invaluable journal for 
•'coffee planters," to place one subject above all 
others most prominently for the best consideration 
of one and all. 
It is not within my province to say auything — 
beyond this— of the present industry and how it 
has been executed. It is enough for me to know 
and say that from " Laborie" to "Hints and Wrinkles," 
every information, as far as their researches and 
experiences warranted, have been duly placed before 
us, and they are all entitled to a universal acknow- 
ledgment, and at least the warmest aud most hearty 
thauks. 
There can be no doubt that "coffee planting" 
has had all the advantages of superior intellects and in- 
telligences, and deep study also from the most different 
points of view by men of knowu talent aud ability : 
add to which the exercises of the many with the 
two most valuable and nece sary ingredients " cupi- 
tal " and "self-interest." These two, one can easily 
conceive possible, would only go in for " results." 
But, notwithstanding all this, I believe -and I am 
sun* others will be found to agree with me in this 
belief — that the education of the coffee plant is not 
p rfection. and it will be found that there are many 
matter* requiring very, very serious consideration. 
Surely, your kindest of journals is open to have every 
one's view most openly placed, fairly to be examined, 
duly criticise 1, and ultimately " admitted " or "re- 
jected" of course, by a competent bod>, capable of 
undertaking the responsibilities of a close examination 
of tho different subjects ami soioutitically decidiug 
tlliT'Oll. 
I writ- loientifioally, becsnso I believe in science 
and my knowledge is that eho rejects any thing that 
cannot bo proved. Howevor, ignoraut a man there- 
fore may be, it is quite possible that he may have 
