Nov.  r,  1892.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST, 
3g3 
PRINCIPLES  OP  FRUIT  CULTURE. 
Fruil  cuhure  is  afflicted  with  many  evils,  and  for 
those  evils  numerous  cures  are  prescribed,  usually 
with  little  or  no  effect,  and  so  the  two-lold  evil  of 
harm  to  the  fruit  and  the  infliction  of  nostrums  goes 
on  to  the  determent  and  no  small  discouragement  of 
fruit-growing.  And  the  evil  will  continue,  if  not 
increase,  till  a more  rational  course  is  pursued,  namely, 
carrying  out  the  principles  that  apply,  suiting  the 
treatment  to  the  condition  as  circumstances  may  re- 
quire; in  other  words,  giving  through,  intelligent 
culture.  This  is  not  a psnace0,  but  it  strikes  at  the 
root  of  most  of  the  evils,  and  puts  fruit  culture  on 
a successlul  basis.  A knowledge  of  the  principles 
that  apply  is  necessary  to  distinguish  and  direct 
as  circumstances  may  require,  suiting  the  culture 
to  the  varied  demands  of  climate,  sorts  of  fruit 
and  soil,  and  other  circumstances  of  cur  widely  diver- 
sified country,  never  losing  sight  of  general  principles 
that  necessarily  apply  to  all,  whioh  must  be  respected, 
or  harm  will  as  certainly  result.  Experience  has 
demonstrated  that,  under  all  circumstances,  a dry, 
deep  soil  is  the  best,  stagnant  water  not  then  being 
able  to  harm  the  roots,  or  the  extreme  heat  and  cold 
retch  them.  This  is  the  first  thing  to  be  considered 
yet  few  avail  themselves  of  it.  There  is  considerable 
trouole  and  expense,  for  most  soils  muBt  first  be 
drained  and  otherwise  treated  to  be  fit  for  an  orobard. 
This  is  imperative;  no  high  success  can  be  obtained  with- 
out it.  Equally  important  is  fertility,  bnt  with  great 
qualification.  It  is  well  known  that  fruit  trees,  like  other 
crops,  are  usua'ly  in  need  of  manure ; but,  what  is 
less  considered,  it  is  equally  important  to  avoid  excess. 
There  must  be  enough  enrichment  for  a fall  growth, 
bo:h  of  wood  and  fruit — no  more,  no  less — and  this 
be  kept  up,  change  being  always  more  or  less  hurt- 
ful. More  growth  will  result  in  immature  wood, 
to  tender  to  withstand  the  cold  of  winter, 
or  if  barely  escaping,  not  coming  cut  in  that  sound 
condition  required  for  test  growing  fruit.  As  to  the 
amount  of  fertility,  it  is  not  all  dependent  upon 
the  quality  of  the  manure  applied.  There  is  the 
thinning  out  of  the  fruit  and  wood  remaining,  sup- 
plying thus  far  the  place  of  manure-  Cultivating 
and  mulching  the  soil  will  also  aid.  The  true 
orchardist  will  avail  himeelf  of  those  means,  and  of 
the  manure,  if  any,  which  is  required  to  secure  the 
desired  vigour,  which  favours  the  soundest  and 
healthiest  growth,  both  of  wood  and  fruit,  keeping 
the  balanoe  established  between  them  to  their 
mutual  benefit,  particularly  as  to  the  wood,  as  good 
wood  is  neoessary  to  produce  good  fruit.  Snch  a 
growth  will  be  abundantly  able,  with  hardy  sorts,  to 
withstand  our  severest  winters  and  our  hottest  and 
driest  summers,  the  size,  toundness  and  quality  of  the 
fruil  increased,  with  more  perfect  maturity,  and  what 
our  observation  bas  impressed  us  with  as  more  im- 
portant still,  is  less  blasting  of  the  blossoms  and  tbe 
premature  dropping  of  the  fruit. — Horticultural  Times, 
Sept.  26. 
THE  CEYLON  TEA  FUND. 
MEETING  AT  KANDY. 
Minutes  of  proceedings  of  a meeting  of  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  held  at 
Kandy  on  Friday,  the  14th  day  of  October  1892,  at 
eight  o’clock  in  the  morning. 
Present  -.—Messrs.  Giles  F.  Walker,  Chairman, 
Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon ; A.  L.  Cross, 
Kandy;  J.  Anderson,  Kandy  -and  Matale  West; 
A.  W.  Lloyd,  Chairman,  Haputale  Association ; 
W.  D.  Gibbon,  Kandy  ; A.  E.  Wright,  Maskeliya  ; 
A.  Melville  White,  Kandy  and  Kelebokka ; Hon.  J.  J. 
Grinlinton,  Kandy ; and  A.  Philip,  Secretary  of  the 
Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon,  Kandy, 
t he  notice  calling  the  meeting  was  read. 
The  minutes  of  proceedings  of  a meeting  of  the 
Standing  Committee  held  at  Kandy  on  Friday,  the 
2nd  day  of  September  1892,  werq  taken  as  read, 
and  were  confirmed. 
CEYLON  TEA  AT  THE  WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN 
EXPOSITION  AT  CHICAGO  IN  1893. 
Read  (I.)  letter  from  the  Colonial  Secretary  stating 
that  the  Governor  in  Executive  Council  was  prepared 
to  give  effect  to  the  proposals  of  the  Association  in 
terms  of  the  resolution  passed  at  the  general  meeting 
specially  convened  for  the  purpose  of  considering 
how  funds  could  best  be  raised  to  ensure  an  adequate 
representation  of  Ceylon  at  the  World’s  Fair,  and 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago  in  1893.  (II.)  Letter 
from  the  Colonial  Secretary  acknowledging  the  vote 
of  thanks  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor  passed 
by  the  Planters’  Association  in  general  meeting  in 
connection  with  his  action  as  regards  the  representa- 
tion of  Ceylon  at  the  Chicago  Exhibition.  (III.) 
Letter  from  the  Ceylon  Chamber  of  Commerce 
transmitting  copy  of  resolution  approving  of  the 
proposals  made  by  the  Planters’  Association  for 
raising  funds  for  the  adequate  representation  of 
Ceylon  Tea  at  the  Chicago  Exhibition.  (IV.) 
Letter  from  Mr.  H.  K.  Rutherford  making  sug- 
gestions  for  raising  the  necessary  funds.  (V.) 
Letter  from  the  Special  Commissioner  World’s 
Columbian  Exposition  notifying  that  the  Govern, 
ment  had  granted  free  Railway  freights  on  exhibits 
for  the  Exhibition. 
Read  letter  from  Messrs.  John  Fraser,  Joseph 
Fraser,  and  Wm.  H.  Morrison  suggesting  that, 
considering  the  impossibility  of  many  estates  con- 
tributing such  a quantity,  the  contribution  for 
Fancy  Teas  be  reduced  to  three  pounds  of  each 
grade,  the  difference  being  made  up  in  commercial 
teas. 
Resolved  (I) : — “ That  in  the  case  of  exhibits  of 
fancy  teas  3 lb.  of  each  grade  of  such  teas  will  be 
accepted,  the  balance  of  5 lb.  in  each  instance  to  be 
made  up  by  substituting  commercial  teas  for  genera! 
exhibition  purposes.” 
(II).  “ That  a copy  of  this  resolution  be  transmitted 
to  the  Special  Commissioner,  and  that  the  Special 
Commissiocer  be  asked  to  favour  the  Planters’  As- 
sociation with  700  copies  of  the  rules  re  contribution 
of  estates  and  other  products  for  the  World’s  Co- 
lumbian Exposition  with  the  amending  resolution 
about  fancy  teas  to  be  circulated  by  the  various 
District  Associations  to  every  member.” 
Read  letter  from  the  Colonial  Secretary  trans- 
mitting a copy  of  a report  from  the  Assistant 
Commissioner  World’s  Columbian  Exposition  show- 
ing the  progress  made  to  date  in  the  work  of 
constructing  the  main  and  miniature  courts  for  the 
Exposition. 
THE  FUNDS  ALREADY  VOTED  FOR  THE  EXPOSITION  AND 
THE  DESIRABILITY,  OR  OTHERWISE,  NOW  THAT  AN 
EXPORT  DUTY  IS  SANCTIONED,  OF  SETTING  ASIDE  PART 
OF  THEM  FOR  OTHER  PURPOSES. 
Resolved: — “That  in  view  of  the  planting  commu- 
nity having  subjected  themselves  to  a special  tax 
for  the  World’s  Fair  at  Chicago,  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Tea  Fund  resolves  that  the  balance 
of  the  funds  voted  for  the  World’s  Fair  by  the 
Standing  Committee  and  not  yet  appropriated  for 
that  purpose  shall  be  devoted  to  the  furthering 
of  Ceylon  tea  interests  elsewhere.” 
BASIS  OF  SUBSCRIPTION  TO  THE  TEA  FUND,  AND  THE 
DESIRABILITY  OF  REDUCING  IT. 
Resolved : — In  view  of  the  funds  for  the  World’s 
Fair  having  been  otherwise  provided  for,  but 
that  a great  necessity  still  exists  for 
pushing  Ceylon  teas  in  other  parts  of  the 
world  as  well  as  in  America,  the  basis  of  subscrip- 
tion to  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  be  reduced  from 
25  cents  to  10  cents  per  1,000  lb.  of  green  tea  leaf 
made  during  each  six-monthly  period,  and  that  the 
reduction  do  take  place  as  from  1st  July  1892.” 
CEYLON  PLANTERS’  TEA  COMPANY  OF  NEW  YORK. 
Considered  the  following  resolution  passed  by  the 
Committee  of  the  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon  at 
a meeting  held  on  the  2nd  September  1892: — “That 
Messrs.  Wattson  & Farr’s  letter  be  referred  to 
the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund 
with  a recommendation  from  the  Committee  of  the 
Planters’  Association  for  its  favourable  consideration, 
