348 THE TR0!>10AL AGRICtJLTUElST. [Kov. 1. 1902. 
MMM in estate mark, 12 cases sold at; 2s 9d ; MG 
in estate mark, 1 case sold at 2s 8d, 2 at 2s 9d, 3 at 
2s lOd. 
Is the fact forgotten that the nomenclature 
of cardamoms in Ceylon is all wrong ? Car- 
damoms, that are called 'Mysore' in Ceylon 
are really 'Mai abars ' or 'Alleppy,' Cardamoms 
that are called ' Malabar?.' are really ' Mysore.' 
It is, I am afraid, too late to change this now. 
• CCC ' brand is Cadamony, ' MMM ' brand is 
Munjanbulla, both bein? estates in Mysore. I 
do not think that, in the list of Ceylon sales, fiom 
which this cutting is clipped, any of the ' Ceylon's ' 
have fetched over2s. 
LATE MYSORE PLANTER. 
[Can our correspondent explain why the Mysoie 
cardamoms should be so superior ? Is it the better 
soil or drier climate — or both? Even then, some 
parts of Uva and Maturata should offer as favour- 
able conditions ?— Ed. T.A.] 
SUPERIORITY OF PRODUCTS IN 
INDIA. 
Dear Sib, — You ask why are Mysore Car- 
damoms superior to tbose of Ceylon; but 
why 1 may also ask was "Cannon's Mysore 
Coffee" superior to the very finest Ceylon 
Plantation in its day ; while again Cochin 
Copra and Coconut Oil are always quoted at 
a considerable advance over Ceylon ; and 
finally nothing in Ceylon can touch Darjeel- 
ing Tea! Ho you islanders ought to 
CRY SMA'. 
[Very true ; but there are a few things in 
which we are unapproachable, at least by 
India -.—Our Cacao, highest price in market; 
our Cinnamon, the only perfect spice(!) ; 
our Plumbago; and now our Rubber and, 
last not least, our Green Teas ! — There is 
nothing like having " a gude conceit " of 
ourselves. —Ed. T.A.\ 
CARDAMOMS IN CEYLON AND MYSORE : 
ALSO ABOUT PEPPEK AND TEA 
PRACTICAL HINTS. 
Sept. 26. 
SIB, — In answer to your query re Mysore car- 
damoms I niay state that the pubescent carda- 
mom of Mysore (called in Ceylon "Malabar") has 
a far finer sample than the robust cardamom 
of Aleppy (called in Ceylon ''Mysore") which 
now has taken the place of the other variety in 
Ceylon. Not only that ; but I consider the treat- 
ment adopted in Ceylon is not so conducive to 
t)reserve the aroma as that on the estates in 
Mysore. In Mysore the cardamoms are dried by 
artificial heat and never see the sun until the 
bleaching process is begun. I should advise Ceylon 
growers to di y liard (preserving the green coloui) 
and then have the cardamoms soaked, sul])hured 
and bleached in Colombo. But to insure success 
you want some one in Colombo who understands 
the delicale handling of cardamoms. They should 
be spread on white cloths instead of dirty 
jute-hessian. This is not only a cleaner 
method, but the stray seeds from broken capsules 
are more easily seen and gathered. The two 
brands, 1 mentioned in my last letter, have never 
been sulphured. They are entirely sun-bleached. 
The sulphur processes, I think, cheaper and quite 
eflective enough ; but I never cared for the Ceylon 
way of sulphuring the cardamoms in the green 
stage. This leads to premature exposure to tiie 
sun which not only causes the cardamom to 
split, bub also robs the delicate spice of much 
of its precious aroma. More care should be taken 
in picking ti e fruit. Where I was, the gangs 
went round every eight days (like tea) and boys 
were put on behind the gangs to find any missed 
ripe fruit. For every missed fruit the boys 
demanded six fruits from the peccant picker. 
Thus there were no fruit over-ripe or under- 
ripe if the gangs were well supervised as on a 
tea estate. Thus the sample was even and good, 
(Do your Pepper-growers know the advantage of 
"boiling" the berries? It's a good tip.) I con- 
sider that severe pruning of tea is ruining your 
bushes and causing planters to fall back on 
jnanure. This is not .healthy. Prune lightly, 
dig your land, and pluck ligiitly. 
LATE MYSORE PLANTER, 
COCONUT WATER. 
Dear Sir, — An English visitor to Colombo, 
who had been a wine merchant in 
London, casually mentioned to me that 
he thought a capital and suitable drink 
for Ceylon could be prepared out of 
coconut water. He said it was having his 
attention, but I have heard nothing more 
yet. I send you his name for your private 
information. As he well remarked, our 
aerated drinks, such as lemonade, &c., were 
not light enough for the climate.— Truly 
yours, INTERESTED. 
[We fear the gentleman named will never 
be well enough to continue his experiments. 
Some one else should take the matter up.— • 
Ed. T.A.] 
NEW AND MINOR PRODUCTS IN THE 
LOWCOUNTRY OF CEYLON. 
Sept, 24th, 
Dear Sir, — In the "Agricultural Magazine" 
for August, the first article is on Keppetiya and 
BETEL. 
Agriculture is sure to advance, if all Mudaliyars 
and chief headmen in the island were to take 
as great an interest in it as does Mr. George 
Weerakoon, Mudaliyar of the Wellaboda Pattu, 
Matara. His communications on various agri- 
cultural subjects very often find a place in the 
pages of this useful JVIagazine.* It is to be hoped 
that this progressive Mudaliyar inculcates his 
views on the people under his charge, through 
his subordinate headmen. Why should not every 
Mudaliyar and his equivalent in the other Pro- 
vinces, and aye, every Kachcheri as well, have 
small model gardens as object lessons and for 
the distribution of seeds and plants? All 
villagers believe in the virtues of Keppetiya 
(croton lacciferum) as a nianurial agent, and use 
it in betel and garden cultivation. All aromatic 
smelling leaves are said to be valuable as ferti- 
lizers. Besides acting as mulch, Keppetiya leaves 
decay rapidly and becomes available as manure. 
In "Notes," reference is made to the believers 
and unbelievers in the encouragement of the 
growth of 
* Which, it may be mentioned, is regularly iDQOi;< 
