THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July i, 1893. 
above 8,600 or 4 000 feet in the island that we 
would more immediately direct and concentrate 
attention. Here ia the crtix of the eituation or 
diBcusBion. Are plaoterB in that higher region to 
follow the course of the market — to vary in 
"plucking" and manufacture accordiig to prices, 
and supply and demand — and put the eetablieh- 
loent of a permanent reputation for fine teas on 
one Bide ? 
These are queBttons which have arisen out of 
this disousBiou and which we think demand the 
oardful consideration of all proprietors and mana- 
gers in our higher regionp. One of our earliest 
correspondents in the list, expressed the hope 
that there would be no more eztensioDS of culti- 
vation in Oeylon, but that our true policy was 
to go in for "a limited area and high cultivation" 
in every sense of the word. But if the decision 
be that Oeylon as a whole, is only to aim at 
supplying "medium" and "common," rather 
than "fine" teas, there will be far less objec- 
tion to farther planting operations on a big scale. 
Indeed, one good result ot the low averages for 
Ceylon tea in 1892-93 is, according to another 
letter, that it must put our teas more freely into 
consumption than ever belore. Still, if we re- 
turn from this digression, to consider the case of 
our higher districts— all over 4,000 feet at least 
— we confess that we shall be very loath to receive 
any decision which should lead our higher plan- 
tations or districts, not to aim at corLpeting 
with Assam and even Darjiling for the supply of 
fine teas. 
Now it is in this connection that we would 
specially direct attention to the letter signed 
" Fine Tea " given on page 63, as one of the most 
suggestive and important drawn forth by the dis* 
oussion on " Philpot's " letter. This com- 
munication must surely afford cause for reflec- 
tion to all planters between Adam's Peak and 
Fedrotallagalla and onwards to Maturata, Udapus- 
sellawa and the rest of Uva. The writer main- 
tains that scarcely any teas leave the island now 
as fine as those of seven and eight years ago ; 
but that there is no reason why even the fioett 
could not still be made. He proceeds to indi- 
cate the process in plucking and manufacture. 
He then shows how a comparatively steady market 
for Ceylon "fine" (Is IJd to Is 5d) — not finest 
(Is 8d)— teas can be created, and he gives, what 
seem to us, good reasons why at present such " fine " 
teas as are sent to the Mincing Lane, do not fetch 
their true value. He instances a case of a con- 
signment worth at least Is 6d in the Lane, selling for 
Is 2d (resold soon after for Is lOd) simply because 
no steady supply of " fine" Oeylon can be de- 
pended on. The only point on which we differ 
with " Fine Tea" is when he seems to advise "the 
whole island" of tea planters to " make princi- 
pally fine— finest and stick to it." This oannoi 
be good advice from a planting as well as finan- 
cial point of view for our low districts, Surely 
it would be wiser to insist on such a policy being 
best for all plantations above 4,000 feet ? That 
would give us an output of from 20 to 25 million 
lb. of fine teas to deal with against 45 to 60 mil- 
lion lb. common and medium teas for the lower 
divisions. The former figure should ensure a 
steady supply of (and steady demand for ?) " fine" 
Ceylon teas all the year round. 
Let us, in this connection, recall once more the 
advice given to high district planters by Mr. Ar- 
thur Thompson, of the well-known leading Mincing 
Lane Tea-broking house, when on a visit to Cey- 
lon some years ago. After visiting the districts 
around Nuwara Eliya and testing the teas, Mr. 
XhompBon said that there was no reason, in big 
opinion, why the teas of Upper DimbuU, Nuwara 
Eliya, Udapuesellawa, Maturata, Hew Gslwny. die, 
should not come near to those of Darjeel- 
ing in appearance and flavour ; but he said 
it was no use expecting prices according to 
actual value until the trade could be asBured of 
a steady and sufficient supply. When there was 
an atpreoiable quantity — ee^eral million of lb. 
sent forward, then Mr. Thompson advised the 
planters concerned, to add to the marks on their 
boxes " Darjeeling-Ceylon" bo as to attract the 
attention of the usual buyers of fine Darjeeling 
teas. This advice has never been acted on : at 
leant not by all planters above 4,500 or 6,000 
feet, the limit we believe Mr. Tbompeon bad in 
viaw. Why should the Nnwara Eliya Planters' 
Association not take the matter up and secure 
a careful discussion on the subject with a 
view to united action 7 Let the point of the 
argument not be lost sight of. It is no answer 
to say that "so-and-so ' has given a fall tiial to 
" fine " tea-making and he is convinced it does 
not pay. That is just the argument answered by 
'■Fine Tea." Individuals oannot create or secure 
a remunerative demand for a limited quantity of 
"fine" Ceylon tea. It requires that aU the pro- 
prietors in a district, or better still in two or three 
districts, — should band themselves together and de- 
clare unitedly for " fine " tea plucking and making, 
in order to secure the tteady and appreoiabfe 
supply which would ensure an equally steady de- 
mand and amply remunerative prices. 
PADDY AND TEA IN MAHARA. 
Mabara, Juoe 4.— We expected a bumper crop this 
year, but the continuous raio huve caused much 
dsmage to the growing corn. Uuleee we get a tpell cf 
brigiit wea'her our expectations may not be realized. 
Fever is still prevailing and even tbe priioners at 
I the Mahara jail liave not escaped. The dispeDSkry at 
I Mahara is doinR immenFe good, thanks tu our i^oud 
I doctor. It is strauge that cattle have enjoyed immu- 
I nity from disease this year. 
Our good Mr. Brown has planted nearly 60 acres of 
, tea tbiij year, and I think hia is tbe nearest tea estate 
: to Colombo, 
j 
I » 
^"ITROGEN AGAIN— .^-D THE SOJA BEAN. 
The following is an extract from a letter by Mr. 
Edward Atkinson of Boston, Massachusetts, to the 
Southern Planter of Carolina : — 
" The deficiency in the dietaries of Europe is f<unJ 
to consist in nitrogen. The element of which 
we are depriving our soil without eufBcieDt 
return is also nitrogen. The people of China and 
ladia comprehend this matter a greit deal better 
than we do. I iojported soja beans tor distribution 
from the Cotton Exhibition in Atalanta in 1881, 
whence they went out in email parcels. Since then 
they seem to have attracted a good deal of attfn- 
tion iu the South. I believe tbey were known be- 
fore, but nothing bad apparently come of the knowledge. 
In Cturch's book upon 'The Foods of India,' testimony 
is given to the very great value of the eoja bean 
in yielding the nitrogenons element of food which 
is 80 ceoeesary in what are called ' the rice-fed 
nations.' There is no such thing as a rice- fed na- 
tion. The people would starve if fed only cu the 
starch in the rice. 
1 "It is absolutely certain that yonr soils must be 
renovate! either with cow-peas, clover, or btans. 
j I have reason to believe that the "eoja," the "mung" 
' and Bome other East Indian varieties of beans ara 
I very much more nitrogenous than the cow-pea i« 
I as a rule. 
