Sept. 1, 1902.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
171 
introduction. Had cinchona originally been 
grown under shade in Ceylon, we might 
even now rival Java in our exports. 
A SPECIAL FAVOURITE. 
But wc n\uiit not forget to notice what is, in 
our experience, the best timber tree to grow 
in and around Nuwara Eliya and perhaps 
(judging by the specimens here) lower down, 
liamely Acacia Melanoxylon. It is really a valu- 
able cabinet wood, wheii fully grown ; and we 
recall the late Rev. W. Oakley, the veteran 
Church Missionary, showing us with pride a 
book case and other cabinet-work he had made 
out of some Melanoxylon trees, having all 
the markings and dark colouring of Nadoon 
or Walnut. No straighter or more handsome 
tree in our opinion grows about Nuwara 
Eliya, nor one which better resists mon- 
soon biu'sts and wind storms, apt to level 
or break the tops olf, a good many 
gums and other trees. On Abbotsford, and 
especially on adjacent Dessford, there is a 
large number of the finest specimens (for 
growth) wo have seen of Melanoxylon ; but, 
alas for the exigencies of the situation— as well 
as hecauseof distance from market and absence 
of demand— a good many are being levelled 
and cut up for fuel purposes. Tt is a 
fact, however, that this tree, like most of 
the \cacias, is not a favorite with tea 
planters, because of its tendency to spread 
and throw up suckers, especially where the 
soil is stirred for cultivation purposes. On 
a piece of land reserved for timber trees 
this propensity does not so much matter : 
in fact it constitutes an economical means 
of planting up waste bits of land in or 
near the Sanatarium, where the tree flourishes 
apace, and in its lofty as well as symmetrical, 
pyramidal shape, it offers an attractive feature 
as an avpnue tree, or in groups at certain 
vantage points. 
ORNAMENTAL AND PKUIT TREES. 
A very attractive-looking tree in its 
youthful prime— seed got from Java— is 
Acrocarpiis grandis ; as also Stvietenta macro- 
phylla, Mahogany plants from Peradeniya; but 
of slow growth up here ; while Dr. Thwaites' 
favourite Pehimhiya (Sinhalese name of 
t ilicium decipiens which he used to recom- 
mend to planters is not mucli more than a 
shrill) at an elevation which not only sees 
certain pahns but a fine jak-lrce conie to 
fruit; as also mango-trees in full bearing ! 
Of "Cupressus," and "Cryptomeria " there 
are many fine specimens on Abbotsford — 
though Hakgalla Gardens are the true show- 
place for giant trees in great variety of 
these. A tree which is encouraged as a good 
and hnndsonie grower, especially siiited as 
a wiiidl)elt, is the Himalayan Bucklandia, 
splendid specimens of which m huge well- 
formed trees (80 feet h-gh or so), we observed 
on our way to Darjeeling from the terai 
upwards. It is very much used at Darjeeling 
for plMuking and for doors and windows. 
BAMBOOS. 
A feature on Abbotsford — and one which 
;0uld be turned to mercantile account if a 
town like Colombo were near at hand — is 
the numerous groups of bamboos, of the 
giant variety especially, along the riverside 
and in many of the ravines, varied with 
the tiny (and medium) varieties useful for 
basket making. The present Manager h;i,d to 
clear out a great many clumps of bamboos 
from ravines as not so useful as water or 
Mauritius grass. 
CINCHONAS. 
Revisiting Abbotsford after an interval of 
two or three years, one of the most pleasant 
sights was the number of he.althy, vigorous- 
looking cinchona stems rising above and 
diversifying the tea fields, chiefly Succirubra 
and Hybrid. The smoother velvety leaves 
in some cases denote an approach to the 
more delicate and richer varieties. Alto- 
gether there must be quite 100,000 of these 
healthy stems from the old roots and 
from self-sown plants ; while one of the 
original plants left to grow by the 
roadside, which was measured in our pre- 
sence, is 72 feet high by .36 inches in girth at 
a foot above the ground. The age of this giant 
is 19 years. 
CINCHONA PLANTING NORTH OF KANDY, 
1 am planting some cinchona ; seedlings from 
old Ledger. I don't (ind that they make much 
progress in old soil — sides of drains and roads — 
but on new land they do come away. I have been 
planting for fuel and it is between the lines I put 
the (Cinchona, and I hope it will give back the 
outlay and leave the trees free. — Planter. 
« 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Capacity of Cisterns.— When calculating the 
capacity of cisterns (or tanks) 31i gallons are 
estimated to one barrel and 6.3 gallons to one 
hogshead. 
A CIRCULAR CISTERN ONE FOOT IN DEPTH, 
Five feet diameter holds ... galls. 
Six do .. 176i do 
Seven do ... 240^ do 
Eight do .. 314 do 
Nine do ... 397i clo 
Ten do ... 490i do 
A gallon of water weiglis 10 lb, arid measures 
277 274 cubic inches ; a cubic foot of water con- 
tains 6 2r! gallons, and weighs 62'35 lb ; I ewt of 
water contains ir2i;allons. and measures I "8 cubic 
feet ; 1 ton of water contains 224 gallons, and mea- 
sures 35 9 cubic feet. — Honn paper. 
Yarn from Peat Fibre — The honour of in- 
venting the first successful process to utilise peat 
libre in the textile industry cannot be claimed 
by the German inventor whose achievements in 
this direction were recently recorded. A London 
wool merchan!- writes to say that a home industry 
i'l thf> pioneer in the industrial application of this 
newfibre, the various products of which are already 
on the market. " The finer yarns composed of 
peat fibre mixed with wool, whieh appear to be 
the dre im of the German inventor, have not only 
been successfully produced, but the hosiery made 
therefrom is already manufactureil by a leading 
Leicester Krm. Further than this, yains li ve 
been made fine enougli for the manufacture of 
flannel equal in texture to the finest French 
caslimeres, and also cloths for athletic cos- 
tumes, &c, 
