Dec. 1, 1900.1 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
423 
CACAO CULTIVATION. 
Mk. Carruther's Circular. 
At a recent meeting of the Cacao Committee 
of the Ceylon Planters' Association, Mr. Cavru- 
thers spoke on the importation of new varieties 
of Cacao from foreign countries and stated 
that the Director, Royal Botanic Girdens, asked 
him to represent him at the present meeting 
He thought he might safely promise on behalf of 
the Director his co operation and to undertake to 
get any small importation, i.e., if any member 
conld specify any particular seed. 
Mr. Carruthers re k1 questions (annexed) which 
he had circul ^ted lately to cacao-growing countries 
in the West Indies with a view to Ceylon planters 
also answering them. Mr. Carrutheis also indi- 
cated that if the Committee -^iU decide what ex- 
periments should be undertaken, action would 
follow. 
The Committee should accordingly dr<;ft a list 
of certain experiments desired by cacao planters. 
Mr. Carruthevs ha l drawn up a few notes 
which he read, both as to disease and as to 
means to combat or cure the disease ; if 
practical men were satisfied that experiments 
had been successful; or if a cure had been effected 
in specific instances, what wa? the general effect. 
As regards native holdings badly diseased, in- 
fluence should be used in sucli cases to get rid of 
dead trees on these native gardens in the 
neighbourhood of estates. 
Resolved:— "That Mr.Carruthers and Mr. Huxley 
be asked to draft sut;gestions for experiments to 
be undertaken, and that they be circulated to the 
Cacao Committee as soon as possible, (II) that 
the Government Agents of the Central and North- 
Western and Uva Pioviuces he invited to use 
their influence with the Headmen in the cacao 
districts in the direction of getting proprietors of 
cacao estates and gardens to cut down and burn 
cankered tree? wiih a view to preventing the 
spread of the disease which, if neglected, is likely 
to jeopardise the prosperity of the industry, both 
in European and native hands." 
The Cacao Committee of the Planters' Asso- 
ciation then adjourned. i 
QUESTIONS REFERRED TO WHICH ME. CARRU- 
THERS LATELY CIRCULATED TO CACAO-GROW- 
ING COUNTSIES IN THE WEST INDIES. 
Is the mature Cacao shaded, and if so for what 
reasons, i.e., from the sun or wind? 
What shade trees are used and at what distance 
apart in each case ? 
Do you find the shading is beneficial to healthy 
Cacao? How does it affect the crop ? 
Does shading affect the attacks of insects such 
as Hf'lopeitis, Thrips or any local insects ? 
What effect has the shade on diseases caused by 
fungi on stem, branches and fruit? 
VVhat dis anee apart do you plant the trees- 
are they planted at first thicker and afterwards 
thinned out ? 
Is any system of pruning carried out and if so 
wiiat? Are suckers allowed to remain? 
What proportion of fruit that is set, eventually 
reaches maturity ? To what cases do you attri- 
bute the withering or drying up of pods in their 
initial stages? 
What is the average number of ripe pods pro- 
duced by a tree in full vigour ? 
To what age does the Cacao grow under favour- 
able conditions ? 
What is tlfe average annual percentage of deaths 
of trees and to what causes are they due? 
How long do the individual leaves remain on 
the tree ? 
Do any varieties suffer less from parasitic or 
other diseases, if so which? Have you any reason 
for attributing their immunity to any special 
characteristic ? — A Philip, Secretary, Planters' 
Association of Ceylon. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Irrigation in India.— We learn from 
Simla, 27th October, through the Pioneer, 
that the Goveriimeni of India in reviewing 
the irrigation reports for 1898-99 state that 
21 productive works paid collectively 9 62 
per cent on the capital outlay, the least re- 
munerative heing that of the Periyar project, 
which paid only 17 percent. The total area 
irrigated by all classes of works was 18^ 
million acres, the value of the crops raised 
being 39 1-7 crores of rupees. 
South India and the Ceylon Tea Ex- 
ports. —The Wynaad correspondent of the 
Madras Mail, writing upon the most recently 
revised estimate of the current year's tea 
exports from Ceylon, says:— "These figures 
are calculated to make the owners of tea pro- 
perty in this part of Southern India anxious 
as to the prospects of their growing tea 
industry, but it is to be hoped that when 
all the well opened gardens on the plateau 
arrive at maturity we shall be able to record 
average yields of 600 lb. per acre, while the 
cost of placing and selling the teas will not 
exceed ojd., and that as Indian teas have for 
many years past averaged higher prices than 
those from Ceylon, our new staple will hold 
its own successfully." Excellent confidence, 
but there is also the factor of " pushing 
foreign markets," in which campaigns we 
venture to think Ceylon is still some way 
ahead of India. 
Assam Rubber for Westralia.— The Woods 
and Forests Department has received from the 
inspector-general of Forests, India, a supply of 
Assam rubber (Ficus elastica), a portion of which 
i.Sj being distributed to resident magistrates, 
wardens, etc., throughout the tropical portions 
of Western Australia, for experimental sowing, 
and with directions as to cultivation. The rubber 
grows equally well on high or low land, in forest 
or grass country, but preferably on a light sandy 
loam, and, provided it is shaded from the direct 
rays of the sun in the early stages of its gi owth, 
is easily raised from seed To give some idea 
of the value of this tree, it may be stated that 
the import of rubber into the United Kingdom 
amounted in 1884 to 198,000 cwt., representing a 
value of £2,266,000, and the demand has vastly 
increased during recent years. In Assam a tree 
of Ficus elastica is tapped when it attains about 
the age of 2.5 years. When .50 years old the yield 
is about 40 lb. of rubber every third year, mid 
continues till the tree is over 100 years old. The 
white sap flowing from cuts in the trunk is 
poured into boiling water, stirred until it gets 
firm, and is then taken out, pressed, and finally 
washed with lime water. —Perth Morning Herald, 
October 11th. 
