254 
THE TROPICAL 
AamCULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1900. 
plumbago have been taken out in the i^resent 
year without interfering with the tea. 
Mining under European su[)ervision has been 
going on for a few years back, and there 
are now mining experts available at our 
doors for advice. The output of plumbago 
will, no doubt, continue to be auiple for 
current requirements, and if average prices 
remain even near those now reported as 
current, the industry, in our opinion, must 
continue to be a flourishing one, at any rate, 
for experienced pit-owners. 
In tliis connection, we take over elsewhere 
from our contemporary, tlie letter of a Pliil- 
pot Lane Firm who are, apparently, .anxious 
to establish a London mart for plumbago on 
a new system as detailed. Even if there were 
no objection, and only decided advantages in 
this plan, we consider the day is past for 
such a proposal. " All the world " interested 
in plumbago may now be said to have come 
to, or to be represented, in Colombo .and the 
fully-established direct trade with America 
and the Continent of Eiu'ope cannot be inter- 
fered with. The t -ue mart, therefore, for 
Plumbago, with abundance of competition, 
is in Colombo itself. 
GREEN TEAS IN CEYLON. 
Extracts from Minutes of proceedings of a 
meeting held at the Victoria Commemoration Buil- 
dings, Kandy, on Saturday, the 15th day of 
September, 1900. 
Ceylon Green Teas.'— Submitted correspond- 
ence from various applicants for grants. 
Intimated thatpaytnents had been made as under : — 
July 1900 9,168 lb Brunswick Green Teas R916-80 
do 25,000 lb Ceylon Green Teas per 
Whittall & Co. 2,500 00 
Aug. 1900 3,518 1b Nahakettia Green Teas 351'80 
do 1,2020 lb Ceylon Green Teas per 
Whittall & Go. 1,202 00 
do 10,090 lb Brunswick Green Teas 1,009-00 
do 6,990 lb Tillyrie Green Teas 696 09 
do 10,225 lb Ceylon Green Teas per 
Whittall & Uo. 1,022-50 
do 2,367 lb Nahakettia Green Teas 236 70 
Sept.1900 o,645 lb Dewalakande do 364-50 
do 10,120 lb Brunswick Green Teas 1,012-00 
Add total 
aaperpre- 
vioas 
statement 181,144 18,114-40 
274,257 lb. B27,425-70 
Leaving the balance of K2,574-30 still available 
at date. 
Read Minutes of Proceedings of a meeting of 
the Subcommittee of the "Thirty Committee" 
appointed to confer with the Colombo Experts, 
with a view to establishing a Standard for Ceylon 
Green Teas held at Colombo, on Monday, the 13th 
August, at half-past seven o'clock in the morning 
also Minutes of Proceedings of a meeting held 
at Colombo on Tuesd.ay, the 28tli August at 3 
p.m. to fix upon a Standard for Ceylon Green 
Teas. Resolved :— " That the Report be adopted 
as follows. 
(1) That in Green Teas each grade must be 
restricted to .'5 per cent sittings when sifted through 
a sieve of No. 30 Mesh. (2) That the grades be 
Young Hyson Hyson Hyson No. 2 
(Broken Pekoe and (Pekoe Souchong 
Orange Pekee) (Pekoe) and Souchong) 
(3) That up to 10 per cent of leaty siftiugs as a 
separate f;rade be allowed for cess in each in- 
voice not more than half of which shall pass 
through a No. 30 sieve. (4) That the sample of 
Hyson No. 2 submitted be approved" as a Standard. 
Subject to (a) the tea having the absolutely true 
green character and containing no fermented leaf 
(b) cloudy or lirown liquor must not be passed. 
(5) That the question be again brought up for 
consideration two months hence. (0) That before 
payment of the grant under the new scheme 
there shall be filed with the Secretary an invoice 
(form to be supplied on application). (7) That 
the sanction of the (iovernor in Executive 
Council be applied for to an appropriation of 
of R20,000 as desired and determined by the 
Committee for the purpose of payments under 
the grant and new scheme above ment oned. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Poultry : Prevention and Treatment ok Fleas, 
Lice, and Mites. — Infestation is always worst in dirty 
and neglected runs and roosts, and such are a standing 
danger to more cleanly neighbours. Cleanliness and 
freedom will always put these pesti, under a disad- 
vantage, not only cleanliness of the nests, walls, and 
floor, but also of the ceilings and perches. To suppress 
these pests the houses should be cleaned down at least 
twice a year with a wash made of hot lime and soft 
soap, the ceilings, walls, and nests having a good 
coating ; the wash should be fairly liquid so as to run 
into every crack and crevice, liarly spring and autumn 
are the times for these applications. The percties are 
best treated with boiling water and soft soap, or with 
an emulsion of kerosene. It is important that houses 
should be well built, with as few cracks and crevices 
as possible, for in such harbours these ppsts congregete 
and may escape from any wash used. — Proceedings of 
the Agricultural Soriety. 
Elkphant Hunting' in Siam.— The kraal is 
only a couple of a hundred yards from the river, 
and there is a funnel-shaped enclosure extending 
from the North Gate to the ford. Into this the 
animals are slowly led — for they must now be 
kept very quiet. One leader and then another 
passes through the nariow gateway, followed by 
some confiding friends. The decoys stand near 
by way of encouragement to those in the rear, 
which are imperceptibly crowded forward. A few 
get restless, but before long they are all safely 
in, and the trained elephants slip out through 
the other gate. Then it is that the wild ones 
realise that they have been trapped, and, madly 
eager to get out, trumpet, bellow, and groan ; 
creating, as a local paper truly said, " a scene 
of such confusion that no two people saw it 
alike." The walls now swarm with spectators, 
who amuse themselves by watching the bewildered 
beasts, some of which seem to resent their im- 
prisonment, while others are indifferent, and 
others again engage in settling private quarrels, 
or roaring defiance at the gallery. One inqui- 
sitive youngster, that was destined for a civilised 
and useful life, tried to squeeze between the piles 
of the refuse, and got jammed across the ribs — 
the thickest part of his body. His efforts to get 
free attracted his friends, who watcheil him 
while he struggled and bellowed. One big fellow 
tried to push him back, but failed ; then there 
was a pause, during which one could almost see 
thejn thinking ; and another, having apparently 
worked it out in his mind, tried from behind, 
and, fairly lifting him, off his legs, pushed him 
through, amid shouts of applause from the crowd. 
— Fran:, "Elephant Hunting in Siam" in the 
" VortiMll Macjazimf" for September, 
