Ian. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AURICULTURIST. 
475 
SWISS CHARD. 
Seeing that a considerable amoant of the Giant 
Seakale Beet seed was being ordered for this Jail, 
the Manager of the Himalaya Seed Stores suggested 
that Swiss Chard might be tried here, as being very 
similar to the Seakale Beet; P-nd much less expensive. 
On his snggestion four varieties of this vegetable have 
been cultivated here with great success. The Swiss 
Chards, like the Seakale Beet, are all varieties of 
Spinach Beet. The seed is sown in seed beds and the 
plants put out about 1 foot apart. They require the 
same soil and treatment as the plants previously 
described. They are particularly handsome and give 
a good return in a short time. Ihe outer leaves 
should be cut when the plants cover the ground com- 
pletely, and a second crop will be obtained in about 
6 weeks time. These plants when under irrigation, 
withstand the heat well, and can be grown here 
nearly all the year round. Of the varieties tried here, 
the White Silver Curled, and the Large Ribbed Scarlet 
are preferred. 
It has been argued that these vegetables and the 
Giant Seakale Beet contain a very large percentage 
of water. No doubt they do contain a very large per- 
centage when compared with the majority of English 
vegetables, but they compare favourably with most 
country vegetables. The great thing in their favour 
is that they are easy to cultivate, give good returns 
and are thoroughly wholesome. The prisoners also 
appear to like them, as no complaints of these 
vegetables are ever made. 
Central Jail, Coimbatore, E Gadsden, 
20th July 1902. Superintendent. 
We can supply any of the seeds referred to above at 
the following prices : — 
Beet, Giant Seakale per ounce Rl ; per iD, R7-8 
Swiss Chards of sorts . . . , per lb. R2-0 
Sugar Beets of sorts . . . . per lb. R2-0 
When very large quantities are required, orders 
should be registered not later than the end of January 
and supplies will then be sent on receipt of stock 
from Europe. 
Apply to :— 
The General Manager, 
The Himalaya Seed Stores, 
Mussoorie, U . P. A. & O. 
THE CARDAMOM POSITION, AND 
PKOSPECTS. 
Paniyar Estate, Devicolam, Dec. 1. 
Dear Sir, — Considerable anxiety regarding; 
above has been expressed lately, by those in- 
terested, and a good deal of speculation indulged 
in as to over-production. As most reference has 
been made about Ceylon, it may be of interest 
to publish the following figures regarding India, 
and the Cardamom Hills of Travancore, the 
latter, probably the largest, and most prolific 
cardamom producing districc of the present time. 
With the abolition of the Government Monopoly, 
and the advent of the Land Tax system into the 
Cardamom Hills, a great stimulus has been given 
to cardamom cultivation, and the acreage has been 
increased from 10,000 acres under old system to 
15,650 acres in 1900 (Government Survey) and 
probably 1,500 more during 1901-02. There will 
therefore be about 17,000 acres under cardamom 
cultivation in these hills at date. The principal 
feature, however, is not exactly in the increased 
number of acres, but in the system of planting, 
and subsequent treatment, carried out on these 
later extensions, especially since the F.nropean 
Planter stepped in, (about 1899.) I venture to 
make the following definition, and estimate, of 
. crop from the 17,000 acres, when in bearing, 
(this is derived from personal observation and ia 
more a guess than an estimate) :— 10,000 acres 
original monopoly gardens, never properly planted, 
or cultivated, and in a very bad condition, sit 
35 1b. per acre per annum, ,350,000 lb.; 4,000 
acres land taken up after 1896 on Land Tax 
system rather better planted, and cultivated, and 
comparatively fresh soil, at CO lb. pet acre, 
240,000 1b.; 3,000 acres including European 
holdings (about 2,000 acre.s) mostly planted 
1900-1, systematically planted, at 150 lb per 
acre 450,000. These figures aggregate 1,040,000 
lb. and work out about 60 lb. per acre on the 
average. Last year tlie output entirely from 
native gardens was a little over .300,000 "lb, Ihia 
year the crop is not yet all gathered ; but, the 
output from same source will not be less than 
600,000 lb. This increase is partly due to a favour- 
able season, but mostly due to extensions. The 
badly tended gardens are naturally very erratic in 
cropping, and will give little in an unfavourable 
season, and I would not put the annual output 
over 500,000 lb, on an average, but the later 
systematically planted acreage (.3,000) will crop 
regularly, and we may expect the output from the 
Cardamom Hills to be not less than a million 
pounds in 1903-4. Without considering increased 
production from extensions in Mysore, Annamalais 
and other districts in South India, where is a 
market to be found for Ceylon's increase (over 
100,000 lb as compared with same date last yeai ) 
and the extra 300,000 from Cardamom Hills this 
year, with every liklihood of a similar further 
increase next year? It looks as if the cardamom 
market at present taking about a million-and-a 
half pounds altogether, will be called upon to in- 
crease Its capacity another half, or three-quarters 
of atmillion in the short space of two years, how 
is it likely to respond? The cardamom industry 
scattered over South India, and Ceylon, as it is, 
with a good many native participants, is not 
likely to unite in any scheme to open up new 
markets, so it will undoubtedly be the " survival 
of the fittest." European planters on the Carda- 
mom Hills have compact estates, from 300 to 
600 acres, of good fresh land, the home of the 
cardamom, with a distinct crop season making 
picking very cheap, and being close to lowcountry 
where curing can be carried out to best advantage, 
have little to fear in the coming struggle — Youi;s 
faithfully. J. A. HUNTER, 
NEW COFFEE- HYBRIDS IN TRINIDAD. 
Botanical Department, Trinidad, Oct. 30. 
Dear Sik, — I thank you for the notice of my 
annual report in your Tropical Agriculturist. 
You remark in reference to "coffee- hybrids" that 
"nothing is said as to their being proof against 
the fungus Ue7nileia vastatrix." I am glad to 
inform you that I was quite unable to do so, 
as Hemileia is as yet an unknown quantity, and I 
don't think we shall try to import it for the pur- 
pose. I hope, however, to put your Gardens in 
possession of seed, that may be tested as to 
immunity shortly. — I am, yours faithfully, 
J. H. HART. 
SNAKES ALIVE! A REMARKABLE 
MEAL FOR A COBRA. 
Dangkande, Rattota, Dec. 1.3. 
Deab Sir,— The following is a sight not 
often seen : — 
This morning as I was walking alonjr iny 
watercourse, a cobra, which was ruuniug by 
