426 
THE TEOPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1900. 
PLUMBAGO MINING IN CEYLON. 
VIEWS OF AN EXPERT. 
Mr. Alfred J Hodirkinson-Carrington, c E. , M,E , 
A.M I.C.E., M.A.I.M.E., of 26 Blooirisbiiry Square, 
London, W.C, who airived in tlie island on tlie 
12tli October by the P & 0 steramer "Rome" 
from Australia, again made a brief stay at 
the Bristol Hotel, having returned from a visit 
of inspection to the Moragalla Mines ; and, after 
revisiting the mines, he left for England on 
the 22nd ult. Asked for an expression of opinion 
concerning the plumbago industry in Ceylon, Mr. 
Carrington stated to our contemporary that owners 
of mines are working by 
EXCEEDINGLY PRIMITIVE METHODS. 
They apply absolutely no scientific methods in 
the working of the mines, and, unfortunately, 
whatever machinery is used, has been put up by 
men who did not thoroughly understand mining 
engineering. This had, naturally, caused a gene- 
ral prejudice among natives— miners and mine- 
owners — against any innovations in the methods 
of working, or the introduction of mining plants 
to assist them in their operations. 
" There are very many mines in the Colony," 
said Mr. Carrington, " which have been worked 
by the primitive methods to a certain depth, and 
then abandoned, just at the stage when the working 
should have proved remunerative jf under skilled 
direction and with proper machinery. This has 
a very prejudicial effect on plumbago mining in 
the inland generally, and must be a source of great 
loss to the con.munity at large, and those engaged 
in mining in plumbago particularly. Such En- 
glish Companies as own mines in Ceylon are tak- 
ing steps for the working of their mines on a 
more highly-skilled basis, and it would be largely 
to the interest of the natives, who are the owners 
of the most valuable mining properties in the 
Island, if they would follow the example of their 
European confreres." 
EFFICIENCY OF NATIVE MINERS. 
Continuing, Mr. Carring'ton said he knew of 
several instances where good mines have been 
lost through the want of improved methods of 
working. He has been ratner struck vvith the 
efficiency of most of the native miners in different 
parts of the island. I'hus it was not for the 
lack of good labour that the industry is at 
present in a crude state, for ths native miners 
under proper scientific supervision would be able 
to do good work. 
A SUGGESTION. 
The method of working in shifts of twenty-four 
hours is prejudicial to the health and efficiency 
of the miners. This custom might be discon- 
tinued with mutual advantage to miners and 
mine-owners,, 
MiCA-MlNiNG IN S. India.— The Mica-mining 
community in the Hazaribagh and Gaya District 
numbers 42 Europeans and 7,500 natives. It is 
in contemplation to form a Mica-miuing Associa- 
tion for the purpose of repre-enting the view's of 
this body to Government in all matters relating 
to the industry.— Madras Mail, Nov. 14, 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Benefit OF Criticis?.! to the Tea Industry. 
— All matters connecied with the tea industry, 
says the Indian Planters' Gazette, are having 
the sharp shears of criticism applied to them, 
and they will come out of the ordeal all the better 
for the " pruning " : like the tea bu.sh itself, the 
industry will be all the better for the cuttii.g, and, 
like the tea bu:-h, will prove itself ever green, 
taking a fresh lease of life and all the belter for 
the change. This is why we have .such hope in 
the industry, the more it is assailed the better it 
will thrive. The old rotten time-worn branches, 
useless twigs, and leathery leaves being cut away 
and thrown aside, the tree itself will spring afresh 
into a new and vigorous life and yield abun- 
dantly. Pessimists would have us believe that 
tea is played out, but such is as far from the 
case a.'s an old tea bush may be said to be pl iyeii 
out. It only needs the knife to renew its youth. 
Stone cutting and Polishing.— An excellent 
little manual of instructions upon this subject, 
by Mr. Geo. Day, F.R.M.S., has reached us 
froni the publishers, Messrs Dawbarn & Ward, 
6, Farringdon Avenue, e.g.— price 6d. It forms 
No. 26 of the Useful-Arts-and Handicraft Series. 
Nos. 1-13 and 14-25 are bound in two volumes 
(post free, 8s) and form a possession, tlian which 
no more excellent gift could be made to the car- 
penter, smith, or other serious or fancy worker in 
wooil, steel iind even stone. Single num'lers are sold 
at 6d each, Stone-cutting is a little more dilfi- 
cult than the mere poli.-hing of a pebble, and 
it may be developed into very elaborate and 
artistic work. It is undertaken for various pur- 
poses, principally: — 
1, To provide a large flat surface (or two surfaces) 
for polishing, without having to grind away a large 
proportion of the pebble. 
2. To slit stones into thin layers, increasing 
their translucenoy and beauty. 
3- To give stones .several angles or facets, givinf? 
variety in coloring and reflection. 
4. To fit the stone for setting, as a personal or- 
nament or for some useful purpot-e. 
The quotation of the following "table of hard- 
ness" may indicate to some extent the great 
usefulness of the knowledge which the booklet 
set forth, as well as the simplicity of treatnipni:— 
1 Talc (jet, cannel coal, steatite, etc.)— E ts'ily 
broken or scratched with fiuger-nail. 
2 Rock Salt- Scratched with difficulty by the 
finger-nail, but readily cut with a knife. 
3 Calcite— Not to be scratched with finger-nail, 
but easily with a knife. 
4 Fluor Spar-Can be but slightly scratched with 
knife, bat easily attacked with a file, 
5 Apatite— Docs not scratch glass, or only fa-'ntly • 
does not give out spark; against steel ; easily scratched 
with flmt. 
6 Felspar— Easily scratches glass, is scratched by 
a file, and gives some sparks against steel. 
7 Quartz (agate, jaspar, chalcedonj, etc.)--onlr 
steel by file ; gives sparks readily against 
8 Topaz— Very hard ; is not scratched by file. 
9 Sapphire— Hardest of all except the diamond ! 
scratches all other stones. 
10 Diamond— Scratches all minerals, but is not 
scratched by any. 
