March i, 1882.J THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
769 
at the time of 
with plot 3 at 1 
experiment, was 
time thin and w 
plot 3 was very 
wood, but, owinj 
mature its new 
Plot 2, as compared 
laying down of the 
plot 3 being at that 
ct of the manure on 
gards 1 he formation of 
application, it failed to 
ior the early blossoms, 
which pr. ctically gave me my last year's crop. The 
difference is about 2 ewt. an acre, which may there- 
fore be taken as Hie difference in value between the 
condition of plot 2 and plots 3, 4, 7 and S at the 
tune the manure was applied. The next point that 
strikes the attention is the superiority of plot S over plots 
3, 4 5, 6' and 7. To what is the superiority attrib- 
utable ? To me it appears to be in the absence 
of nitrogen beyond what was to be found in the boues. 
The growing period seemed to be extended on the other 
plots beyond its proper length, for 1 noticed at the 
time of ihe early blossom that the trees seemed to 
have a greater inclination to form wood in the plots 
to which nitrogen had been added than on plot 3, 
in which as I have said, there was no nitrogen be- 
yond what was contaiued in the bones. I may add 
that I see the same tendency exhibiting itself again this 
season, which, I believe, only a continued spell of dry 
weathei oa« counteract. 
The total failure of the manure in plot 4 is re- 
markable, but I believe it to be attributable to the 
same cause and to the fact that the nitrogen in the 
castor cake only became slowly available, continuing 
to act so as to cause the wood to go on growing at 
a time when growth should have been checked. 
Potash appears to exert a favourable influence on 
each of the plots to which it was applied, though in 
plot !), in which it is in exce.-s, the benefit gained 
seems to bear only a moderate proportion to the 
amount used, i e. , it would appear that beyend a 
certain percentage in a manure any excess is of no 
gain to tho tree. 
Lastly, plot 10, compared with plot 3, seems to show 
that time of application is an important factor, making, 
indeed, all the difference between profit and loss, for 
the gain on plot 10 over plot 5 is only 1 ewt., or say 
Rf)0, where is the manure cost R9'50 applied. 
I do not seek to draw any further deductions from 
this one year's experiment, as, owing to the season, 
the dillerences are not suflieiently marked. 
I Bum up the results of this one year's trial as re- 
gard i the question, does manuring pay? 
There was a profit on plot 3 of 1121-50, after de- 
ducting the cost of manuring; on plot 7 of R20 ; on 
plots' of USD, while on plot 2 the gain was RlOb oO. 
Plots 4, 6, 9, and 10 show a loss. 
If the manures had been applied at au earlier period, 
I am inclined to think that the gain on plots 3, 4, 7, 
and 9 would have been gi cater. 
Last year, the experiments were laid down in June, 
and it will be interesting to Bee if the above con- 
clusion is homo out. — I am, dear sir, youra faithfully . 
W'm. I). BOSANQUBT. 
Tin Ckdars of Lebanon.— We have received from Mr 
EJdridge, Oonsul-Genern] ol Beyrout, n copy of tho re-, 
gulathcis lately issued by Kustcm Pasha for the guidance 
of travellers and others visiting the Cedars of I. hanon. 
These venerable trees have now been fenced in. but, with 
certain restrictions, they will continue to lie accessible t> 
all who wish to inspect them, In future, no encamp- 
Bests will bo permitted within the ouolosuro, except in 
the part marked out for that purpose hy the keeper, „,.,• 
iiiuv any cooking or camp fires be Lighted near the trees, 
a regulation that has Keen rendered specially necessary 
by tlie |mrtial destruction by fire of three of tho largest 
cedars. Ijuitly, no animals will be allowed to enter the 
enclosure, and the keeper of the ground h.vs order* to 
bpU the dragomans and tourists' guides responsible for 
nn\ intimation of the regulations. — London iu>„.. 
179 
A Quinine Manufactory is in a fair way to be 
established in Colombo; u lease of the piece of land 
adjoining the Slave Island Ice Mills has been taken 
for a period of ten or fifteen years .and no time will 
be lost in going to work, One point on which some 
doubt has been expressed is whether the temperature 
of Colombo is not to > high for the purpose of manu- 
facturing, and whether Nuwara Eliya would not 
therefore be a better site for the purpose; but no 
doubt the present promoters know what they are about. 
Coffee. — It is true that the finer fjuahties of our 
Coffee maintain theii position fairly well — K47 f. o. b. 
equal to 92s per ewt. in Loudon, is still the quotation 
here; but the fall in respect of medium and low 
qualities is certainly very great. E2b' now offering 
for "Garden Parchment" is rather a change! For 
certain Ceylon marks we know there arc buyers for 
English and Continental houses who, year by year, 
must have their supply of the best coffee, and who 
care not if it costs a good deal more than the 
ordinary market quotation. Put granted that the 
bulk of our Ceylon produce is far superior to either 
Brazil or Java coffee, aud that in past years it was 
all taken off, it is strange, with three short crope 
now, that the much more limited supply of our 
high-class coffees should not bo in better demand. 
SPORES. — A M. Miguel has been making a careful 
examination of atmospheric dust. He finds in 
the air two varieties of spores. These spores are 
the seeds of plants, and are so email as only to be 
seen clearly under the microscope. Of the first 
variety there are about 30,000 or 40,000 contained in 
a cubic yard, the number varying somewhat accord- 
ing to the weather, and are, for the most part, not 
injurious to health. Of the other kind, however, 
there are found only about 100 in the cubic yard, aud 
some of these, if taken into the system, may produce 
serious effects. During rainy weather the first variety 
may increase in number, so that a cubic yard of air 
will contain 200.000 of them, while during a drought 
the number falls to only 4,000 or 5,000. The second 
variety almost disappears during rainy weather, but 
may double in number during a drought. So it seems 
that much of the diseas- in the world is coanected 
with the existence of atoms so minute that a microscope 
is required to render them visible. — New York Hour. 
Leaf-Disease (?) on a Mantis.— A correspondent 
writes :— " Talking of leaf-disease and its hosts, one 
would have imagined that at least they would havo 
been confined to the vegetable kingdom! But, examine 
the mantis I enclose aud let your eyes answer whether 
or not the unfortunate insect was not suffering from 
an attack that might have been calculated to deprive 
it. of its wings in a week or 80 had it not prematurely 
departed this life. Seriously it seems to mo a re- 
markable example of bow nature adapts itself to 
circumstances in many cases, for its cupport and pro- 
tection. This creature was caught on my back in a 
clearing, and not in the jungle 1 had lately passed 
through, whence it bad doubtless settled on me! So 
I am unable to identify the tree or shrub it woi 
ton; but must conclude that it was -urn-ring from a 
disease of which in on I ward tippcaranoe, tho spots 
and markings on this mantis 1 w ings are a true deline- 
ation : and it would bo iuterestinc to know by 
what subtle process tho similarity, in appearance, 
devolnpos itsulf. Is it Knottier illustration of the means 
Jacob employed towards a f.i r division among the 
sheep i ud the cuttle and ll. e crate of hid father- 
in-laws llocks, when be had eonio to an understand- 
ing with him?" [The spot* aro certainly curiously 
like those causod by hnniUin, but an entomological 
authority states that "the diseased ftato of tho wings 
of the praying mantis is probably duo to natural 
decay from I be old age of tho intent, aud not from 
the attacks of any iin.ee t para; itc. "— Ki> J 
