826 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[June 1, 1901. 
on the out-rigger wheel. If they work in practice they 
would be invahiabla .as they exactly icdicate if any 
extra load is carried by the outrigger wheel 
(e) The friction on flanges of rail, wheels, and rails 
is very serious; and this is one of the weak points of 
the tram. 
I forgot to mention that Mr Kemlo and Mr Thorp 
both designed wheels with sloped flanges; and the 
former gentleman says, if they are properly made, they 
will work well, I hope so and would like to see them 
tried further. 
(/") The difficulty in regard to points or ramps for 
crossings is considerable, due to the difiiculty of deal- 
ing with double-flanged whe^s, but this can be got 
over in a fairly simnle way. 
(<7) Lubricating bearings have just been designed 
by Mr iMichie and will be successful, I hope, as they 
would save a lot of wastage through oil running on to 
the track. Uail-wheels of cast steel v/hich can be re- 
turned are far the best. Our cast-iron wheels wore out 
very quickly, the chilled ones could not be returned, 
but the new wheels now being made should do well, 
and be easily returned with the lathe; while the chilled 
ones cannot be treated in this way and are lost as soon 
as they are worn somewhat, especially if they have a 
" flat " on the tread." 
Although, theoretically, the out-rigger wheel carries 
no load, in practice it frequently carries a good 
deal and for this season the wheel track should be 
metalled to prevent its being cut np in wet v/eather ; 
and the part the animals hauling the trucks travel on 
should be metalled too, as they cut up the track if of 
earth. 
With those improvements in Ewing's tramway and 
a metalled truck to run it on, Ewing's tram can be 
made to do a lot of useful work. 
It can be laid within 2 feet of the outer edge of any 
road and therefore impedes cart traffic very little, and 
although we were naturally disappointed at the mis- 
takes made it did not get a very fair chance in the 
past ; and if the roti d is properly metalled and trucks 
and track kept in proper repair, the writer will be 
surprised if it does not prove quite successful, and this 
is also the opinion of Mr Kemlo.— Local "Times." 
L. Davidson. 
MOSQUITOES AND THE CASTOli OIL 
PLANT. 
{To the Editor of the Pioneer.) 
Sir, — Some short time back, there appeared, in 
the correspondence colunin.sof your paper, i think, 
a recomnienQation to use the castor oil plant to 
keep a bungalow free from mosquitoes. I, being a 
sufferer, had six plants placed in pots in my rooms, 
I fancy we must breed a different variety of mos- 
quito than your correspondent, for the castor oil 
plants are thickly covered with tiie insects by day, 
who, at night time, seem to be actually invigor- 
ated by the apparently stimulating effect of their 
new quarters.— Pioweer, April 22. D. 
o. 
SCIENTIFIC AWARD TO THE CEYLON 
GOVERNMENT ENTOMOLOGIST. 
The late Surgeon-Major Barclay, of the 
Indian Medical Service, contributed to 
science some most valuable work on various 
Fungi. His untimely death at the early age 
of 39 was a severe loss to science in the 
East and it was felt that some suitable 
memorial should be instituted so that the 
influence of his example and work should 
bo k(!f)t alive. Vv^ith this purpose the Bengal 
Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 
founded the "Barclay Medal" to be pre- 
sented annually to the investigator in 
Biology in India and Ceylon who has done 
the most valuable work. The first award 
has been made by the Council of the 
Society to Mr. E._ E. Green, F E.8 , Govern- 
ment Entomologist," Ceylon, for his work on 
the Insects of India and Ceylon. That 
Mr. Green has been honoured in this way 
will be a gratification to those in Ceylon 
who know his work ; for we feel sure that 
the first award of this medal could not have 
been made more judiciously, and we 
heartily congratulate the Government Ento- 
mologist who is so widely csfeemed. The 
meda' bears a clever tias-relief portrait of 
Dr. Barclay. 
OLDEST TEA IN CEXLON. 
DOING WELL IN ITS YEAR WITHOTTT 
MANURE. 
In iinswar to ooi' enquiry, Mr. G F Deane, 
Managi^r of the Loolecondera Group, writes : — 
"About the old Tea fields on Loolecondera, 
I am glad to tell yon that the oldest 20 acre- 
clearing (planted in 18S8-9) is still doing well, 
the yield for last twelve months, eii ling with 
March, 19U1, was 5661b made per acre ; this 
field has not been manured. Tiie next oldest 
field 8i acres planted 1874-.5-6 gave a yield of 
3901b. made tea per acre daring a similar 
period, the smaller yield being part y due to 
some of it having been pruned dining that 
time. No manure has been applied to these 
fields as far at I know." 
THE TEA TRADE. 
MARCH STATISTICS— RUBBISHY QUALITIES 
—RESTRICTED PRODUCTION. 
(From an expert correspondent.) 
INCREASE IN CEYLON AND INDIAN EXPORT-r. 
The only satisfactory feature in March statistics is 
the continued increase in the exports of Indian and 
Ceylon descriptions, and last month :he former ad- 
vanced 45 per cent and the latter 70 per cent as com- 
pared with the previous year. How the largeness of 
the bonded stock is to be accounted for in view of 
the recent heavy clearances I cannot m»k^ ou , but 
doubtless the investigat' r's explanation will be foith- 
coming in time. During March the ptices of all good 
teas improved generally a penny per lb — in many 
instar.c-'s tv.'opeuce — owing, it is said, to better qnality. 
Common descriptioniS, especially those averaging fn.rn 
5d to 6d per lb, have participa'ed in the improve- 
ment in a minor degree, and even the lowest grades 
are id per lb better. From the toue of the market 
recently it looks as if the prices of the qualities 
averaging 9d per lb and upwards have for the pi osent 
culminated, especially if the finer plucked common 
teas now on the way prove to be as satisfactory as 
they are reported to be. In the Colo'nbo market the 
higher grades have been realising au advance of 2d 
per lb. 
PROPORTION OF LOW GRADES. 
It appears by the brokers' circular!' that, whilst 
last year's Indian crop exceeded \he previous 
season's by nearly 13,000,OnOIb, ti e sales were 
about the same ; consequeu'.l y, there is this sur- 
plus quantity to be got rid ci d Liring this and the 
next two months. This excess consists largely 
of the lowest grade? of common tea, so ihere is not 
much hope of the average pri -es of Cachar, Svlhet 
and Dooars descriptions improving until it is dis. 
posed of, unless in the raeantiine the prospects of 
