April i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
837 
have been less modest, but for tho presence of Hemileia, 
for I have seen clearings bearing over three times the crop 
I have chosen to stand on. 
"The trees continue to grow as they have been doing 
for the last nine months, but Oeylon must bo,v its 
diminished head before the fertility of Java, where they 
are represented to have made 44 to 5 meters in 14 years. 
I have none of that age over four feet, and those, the 
longest legged varieties, and I have seen them six years 
old, on our best soil, but none that reached 5 meters 
anywhere. 
" The felling of t 
lot will be finished 
holing of the inter- 
The above carr 
but at last fairly 
end of 18S1. Sim 
has been encoura; 
of its ultimate su 
lizards, and all the 
of this sorely-tr 
SSOF THELOFFKK i REE, 
PLANTERS' ASSOC] 
The following are exti 
report for 1881 2 of the 
read at the annual meetii 
Government Sales of ( 
good offices of Mr. Win. Mart 
to all interested in cinehor 
the notice of Parliament b 
Devonport, who asked the 
whether it was the fact th 
London, and whether, in in 
into India, the Government 
Reduced in the Bengal pi: 
India for use there, but diffi 
ing the produce of Madras 
ami hence most of it had beei 
edthat the sale of this bark h 
Indian grown hark to tlio a 
:ylon. 
ith annual 
Government account, and, it tin's proves sin s>ful, 't is likely 
that Government sales will be discontinued. Your C m- 
mittee feather placed itself in communication with the 
Various Associations an 1 representative oo'lirs in India, with 
,thc object of obtaining suggestions and co-op* ration in 
ci«dn ivourini; to prevent a eo tinuanec of Government com- 
petition with private onterprize in the markets for Cii chonu 
Ijb&rk, and il is satisfactory to noto th it the Nilgiri I'l tit- 
ers' Association recently promptly »eted rn your advice, 
nnd brought the .subject prominently under tlio notice of 
Hl« Exeelloncy 'bo Governor of Madras, whoso repl . ef no 
allogotber satiafa :tnry, was both sensible, and statsimanliko 
A Government Cim hom Dark Avai.ym' vr 1 1 tkiai \. 
— At a recent general meeting, the following resolution 
Was passed:— "That, in view of the large area of laud now 
planted with cinchona, and of the fail that the climate 
and soil in many parts of Ceylon are well suited to its 
successful cultivation. Government he requested to appoint 
a bark Analyst at Hakgala with a view to carrying on. 
experimental cultivation." In reply the Government for- 
warded an extract from n letter from Mr. Thiselton l\\\ r. 
which, though l.earini' up m the subject, eon'. I n .| i , \ i ue I 
0.1 nn answer In your icon sentations, ami it uni t he felt 
by all that a matter of such importance, namely the fos- 
tering of a rising and important industry, d serves greater 
consideration. In the Idle,- referred to Mr. Dyer (dates 
his opinion that, in the present stnge of cinchona cultivation, 
the services of a chemist on the spot would ho of much ad- 
vantage to Hie planters, aud, though the v.iUblibhlucut of 
several local bark analysts has to a considerable extent met 
a want long felt by growers of cinchona yet, your Com- 
mittee feels that, without in any way interfering with pri- 
vate enterprise, there is ueed for Government to take steps 
to specially prosecute experimental cultivation with a view 
to the development of the move valuable varieties of cin- 
chona. Your Committee recommends that Government be 
again addressed on the subject. 
Leaf-disease. — There has been no general mitigation in 
the severity or prevalence of the disease during the past 
year. The final report of Mr. Marshall Ward, before leav- 
ing the island, though interesting and valuable in many 
respects, unfortunately indicates no cure, and indeed holds 
out but little prospect of an effectual remedy being dis- 
covered. Mr. Schrottky with laudable perseverance, continues 
to devote a considerable expenditure of time and money 
to tho prosecution of experiments in the treatment of 
the disease, anil it would be premature in your Committee 
to express an opinion on the results hitherto .attained. By 
the unanimous resolution of a general meeting of the 
Association, the Government has again beeuurged to offer 
a reward for the discovery of a cheap and effectual re- 
medy for the disease, and it is confidently hoped that a 
handsome reward so offered may encourage fresh efforts, 
aud induce many who are not personally interested in 
coffee cultivation to undertake experiments which must 
be attended with more 'or less expense. The duty of Go- 
vernment to assist and encourage private enterprize 
in this direction, by every means in its power, considering 
the vast importance of the subject to the general interests 
of the island, is so obvious, that your Committee trusts 
no time will be lost by His Excellency the Governor in 
giving effect to the recommendation of the Association. 
Ravages of Grub and the Services of a Katural- 
ist— In April last your Committee invited the attention 
of Government to the very serious ravages of grub in 
several of the coffee districts, and requested that the ser- 
vices of a naturalist might be directed to remedial measures 
because the Association is of opinion that the aid of 
science is required to lead the enquiry to a successful issue. 
Your Committee regrets very much to report that so far 
the Government has taken no steps to meet your wishes, 
as, it has transpired, that the letter forwarding your repre- 
sentation has miscarried in transmission from one Govern- 
ment department to another. A copy of the letter referred 
to has now been furnished, and your Committee trusts 
that Government may see its way to early practical ac- 
Admixturf. and Adulteration ok Coffee.— Your late 
chairman, Mr. Wall, interested himself greatly in connecti- 
on with a memorial to the Secretary of State on the 
subject of the admixture and adulteration of offce, but 
owing to a divergence of opinion with the Chamber of 
Commerce, the united action and co-operation in the 
matter, which is so desirable between the two bodies, 
could not be maintaiued, and has resulted, your Com- 
mittee regrets, in the abandonment of the memorial for 
"The Tropical Auric'citi-ihst. "— Your Committee was 
glad to note the commencement during the past year of 
this local periodical of information on tropical agriculture. 
It recognizes its great usefulness as supplying an iupor- 
tant want and has no doubt that its development will 
prove of much value to planters. 
0 ffi f Leaf IMskask. 
The following letter «as then read by the Secretary, 
which was considered very 8'itisf.icton by the meet- 
ing, am 1 it was resolved that the Government be 
thanked for the same. The letter was follows ■ — 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, I Ith Feb. 1883. 
SlH, — With reference to your letter of tho 1 ith ult. 
I am directed to acquaint you, ''or the iiilonmit . n of (he 
Planters' Association, that, in accordance with i ho assurincj 
givou in the Legislative Council, tho re-olutini of tho 
Planters' Association enclosed in vour letters of 7th March 
1381 mid 1 Ith January 18e2 wilf bo at once hud before 
the Secretary of M ite, and that with his approvals re- 
ward will be offered npon such lerms as may he deemed 
liberal, while properly guarding tho int. ro t of the pub ie 
against pnynifnt for an illusi ry remedy. - I am. sir, your 
Obedient scrv.,nt, Gfe«>. T. M. oBrikn,' 
for Colonial Secretary. 
