Oct. 2, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
229 
Cocoa pod8 are thus very slightly richer than 
Ceylon cattle manure No. 2 in respect of nitro- 
gen, much poorer in potash and lime, and very 
much poorer in phosphoric acid of whicli they 
only contain a mere trace. 
Analyses of the leaves of the cocoa plant are 
still required, and also an estimate of the loss 
of leaf per acre per annum to enable us to 
calculate the amount of plant food removed from 
the soil by cocoa cultivation. Judging from the 
analysis of the seed an ordinary coffee manure 
should meet the wants of this plant, nitrogen 
and potash in the average crop being somewhat 
less than in coffee, and the phosphoric acid (which 
in coffee manures generally is added so much in 
excess of the theoretical dose) greater. The 
quantity of manure ppr tree will of course be 
greater than in Lliu case of coffee, but not 
necessarily the quantity per acre. 
ITo be continued.) 
MANGOSTEENS IN THE PLANTING 
DISTRICTS. 
The mangosteen is a very difficult fruit tree to 
propagate and bring to sucoesBful bearing even in 
the low-country. We have known of trials of 
young plaintB m Colombo with every care given, 
again and again fail. Xalutara seems to be the dis- 
trict in which they best succeed. We are surprised 
however, to learn of the tree growing and bearing 
freely in Western Dolosbage on Gang Warily 
plantation at an elevation we suppose not under 
2,500 feet above the sea. Mr. Drummond has 
two trees in bearing and they are fine specimens 
and are giving a splendid crop this year, the fruit 
bein^ of first-class quality as we can testify through 
Mr. Drnmmond'a kindness. An orchard of mango- 
steens or even of oranges in these " steamer " days 
would be a little fonune in itself 1 
TEA AND "HELOPELTIS." 
Writes a proprietor :—" JIe?ope/i?s is something 
we must try to keep down, and in the meantime out 
of the newspapers, as they won't find us aremedy." 
This is going a little too far 1 For instance, 
how were Dr. Trimen's most practical and timely 
suggestions to be made known save through the 
Press— and again what could be more useful news 
than the hints about the appearance of the eggs 
of Helopeltis given by us the other day. 
At the same time, we can quite understand how 
multiplied discussion may be regarded as magni- 
fying the evil to the imagination of outsiders, 
and also there is the risk of creating a scare 
about any little difference in appearance of the 
tea bushes or leaves. A case of this kind occurred 
the other day: a gentleman sent us some tea 
leaves to ask what ailed them or attacked them. 
We referred to Dr. Trimen who is of opinion 
that there is nothing beyond a scorching of the 
sun which has dried them up and turned them 
suspiciously brown. 
On the other hand, we feel sure that the 
series of letters or extracts we append will only 
do good by their publication as showing that in 
some Ceylon tea districts, the insect has not made 
its appearance at all. But first we may give a 
letter which affords a really good practical bint 
about how to "catch and kill'' the enemy : — 
How Tc Catch Helopeltis. 
To the b',ditor " Ceylon obnerver.'' 
Dear Sir, —Dr. Trimen telling planters to catch 
and kill hf lopeltiH, puts mo in mind of Mrs. 
GlaSdu's receipt for hare soup ■■ first get your hare." 
Your correspondents talk of bottles and match- 
boxes to hold those caught, but none lull jou bow 
to capture. I tell you a plan I find answers. 
Get a green wand cut from any tree 15 to 18 
inches in length. Peel, to make it white, smear 
all but 6 inches of thick end with jack milk and 
arm your podian with this and send him forth. 
Every insect he touches with it will stick and show 
his assiduity at vellayatu at 5 p.m. — B. B. B. 
From typical districts North of Kandy, here are 
the reports made to us : — • 
" I have nothing to add to the information alrea'Jy 
published re Helopeltis, but can only support the 
idea of stamping it out by collecting. Unless tlie 
Helopeltis is more apparent in one place than an- 
other, I think the usual gangs of pluckers or pruoers 
ought to be euffioient to do all the ooUecting, If 
the coolies are shown what is wanted and promised 
a cent per so many insects or grub, aooordicjsr to the 
extent of the pest, it will be found that they will 
work harder perhaps than if they had no Helopeltis 
to collect. The price to be paid should be fixed for 
two or three days and if they bring many without 
much ^trouble the price ehould be reduced, the coolies 
wont object, so long as they earn from 4d to 6i a day 
extra." 
"I must say I do not know much about Helopeltis, 
but that it has been with us for years, atlasbiog 
cinchona and cocoa before tea was plented ; here 
the higher fields of tea from 3,500 to 4000 feet are 
mostly pestered, bashes nearest the jungle being pre- 
ferred, little seetUings under the bushes are attacked 
juft as often as the big trees. So far the attacks 
have been slight not doing much harm. It cheoka 
the flash a little, but as the leaves do not fall off 
I do not think it can do permanent injury. 
" Another pest does much more dam gp, this insect 
rules a line on either si^le of the midrib of the leaf, 
p.nd then eats along the under surface from the midrib 
to the ru'ed liupo, the resuH is the whole buth looks 
puckered, the flush s>iriffelled and coming into the 
Factory quite red when tho attack is at its height. 
It bfgins anytime from February to .July and on tea 
a few months from pruting, the attack lasting ou 
each field for about 2 months. This is the thira year 
we have h -d it. The bufbes recover rapidly and seem 
none the worse a month afterwards. I send (enclcised) 
a few leaves to let you see what it is like, it is nearly 
away or I phonld be able to send better samples. I 
call it the ' Ruler ' fer want of a better name. I 
have heerd it called the tea louse. This ye«r we 
have had red spider, Helopeltis, ruler and scale bug ; 
but we are quite hippy, all the estates in the district 
doing better than last season." 
Then from Kandy, Mr. Gibbon writes : — 
" Re Htlopeltis in tea I have bad no trouble with 
it in any of the estates I visit. Dr. Trimen tells us 
and others corroborate his testimony that it is the same 
pest that did such serious damages to our cacao 
some years baf>k. Cacao planters in the course of 
two years so reduced their numbers by systematic des- 
truction that now they scarcely do any h^rm. The 
planting of suitable shade and shelter belts no doubt 
consifierahly facilitated the destruction of the pest as 
regards cacao. Th-re is tlie difficulty of shading 
tea in its checking flush, but I understand a great 
deal might be done in thn way of sliclter helts on the 
tea estate^ in the low country wht re the pest has 
been most troublRfome. 1 he oooH^a are most expert 
in catching the Helopeltis when money inducements 
are offered." 
From districts South of Kandy: — 
" I know nothing of Helopeltis, don't know the 
gentleman when I see him. I have just returned 
from a tour in the district and do one here has seen 
anything of the kind ou tea. Will let jOu know, if 
he docs turn up." 
