Feb. 2, 1903. J 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
561 
It is hoped that the improvements nltimately 
decided on, may be caviied out expeditiously and 
on ecoDomic lines. 
Hospitals and DispENSAEiEa. — Your Committee are 
glad to report that, to the best of their knowledge, 
the Craigie Lea and Lindala Hospitals aud Dis- 
pensaries have been snflicient to meet the demands 
made on them in their respective vicinities: — The 
promised Agra Patanas Hospital has not yet been 
sanctioned, although, it is highly desirable that the 
mortality amongst coolies should be reduced. 
Firewood Supply, — There have been no complaints 
made to the Association during the yeai ; it is, 
therefore, presumed that the fuel Depot at Talawa- 
kelle has worked well and continues to give satis, 
factim to those estates interested therein. 
Planters Kifle Corps. — The strength of the corps 
in our District continues satisfactory: — The interest 
and keenness shown in Shooting is marked ;— The 
District is to be congratulated that their Distinguished 
Officer Commanding the Planters Eifle Corps, has 
been deservedly promoted to be Lieut. -Colonel : — 
Your Committee would urge on all Volunteers, the 
necessity for making themselves thoroughly efficient 
in the use of the Rifle, besides, making themselves 
competent in Drill. 
Tin Ticket System and Registration of E.states. — 
Your Committee are pleased to report that this new 
scheme inaugurated by Government about a year ago, 
has given satisfaction so far : — It is thought that 
advances have been reduced thereby and that as it 
becomes better known and more widely adoptgJ, it 
is calculated to produce even better results' than 
hitherto, when thoroughly understood :— It is hoped 
that every Estate in the District has registered, bat 
should there yet be some who "have not done so, your 
Committee would urge on them to do so without 
delay. 
CooLt BoiiTERs, — Your Committee regret to report 
that the prevalence of Bolting and repudiating Ad- 
vances amongst Uanganies and Coolies, at one time 
during the year, threatenei to assume serious pro- 
portions ; but happily it has somewhat abated of 
late: — Your Committee would urge on employers the 
necessity for studying the cause of this serious evil, 
witn a view to checking its further spread if possi- 
ble: — It is thought that to some extent it might be 
reduced, if employers of labour would desist from 
retaining coolies, who want to leave their Estates, 
against their will :— It should not be forgotten that 
"The Indian" in the eyes of the law, is a free Agent ; 
therefore, if his services cannot be retained by fair 
persuasion, it is best to pay him oil and recover ad- 
vances; to prevent him taking the Law into his own 
hands, and thus create a bad precedent on an Estate : — 
It has been brought to the notice of your Committee 
that some Proctors have uusettled Labour, but it 
would remind employers, that if coolies do not derive 
any benefit from the advice given by those gentlemen, 
it is not anticipated that labour will adopt this method 
on a large scale. 
Memorial VVindow. — Your Committee have to 
report that the Memorial Window subscribed for by 
the friends of the late Mr. Saudys Thom'as has 
been erected in the Lindula Church during the 
year : — It is a handsome window and adorns the 
Sacred Edifice which was frequented by the 
Deceased. 
Bulk Petroleum and Liquid Fuel Installation. — 
Your Committee are pleased to report that Installa- 
tion for Kerosine Oil and Liquid Fuel are imdor 
erection at Talawakelle Station aud when completed 
will meet a long felt want in tho District:— It is 
hoped that everyone who can couvenicnt)|' make 
Talawakelle their outlet will support Messrs. Delmego, 
Forsyth A; Coy's enterprise. 
DiMBULA U'.LL.— The question of Rebuilding the 
Hall was considered again during the year, but 
nothing definite was agreed upon. 
The Ceylon Nursing Association. — Your Com- 
mittee would remind managers o£ Estates of tffae 
snggestion made, to endeavour to induce their 
Proprietors to subscribe to this As? ociation :— It is 
hoped that some have been successful, but those who 
have not received permission to support this worthy 
institution, may yet fry once again when the time 
is opportune. 
Obituary.— [?]. 
MR. T. FAIKHURST'S ADDRESS ON 
"OOLONGS." 
{Bejore the Bimhula P. A. Annual Meetwj.) 
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, — When I met Mr. 
Welldon in the train the other day, he asked me if 
I would lay before you what little knowledge I pos- 
sess concerning China Oolongs, I have pleasure in 
doing so, but regret that my knowledge refers more 
to the tea as ready for shipment than to its actual 
manufacture. In China, European merchants are 
confined to the Treaty ports — travel in the interior 
of the country being discouraged by the Chinese and 
only entered upon with what amounts to a " safe- 
conduct " in the form of a letter from some high 
oflicial to all Government officers in the interior. 
The purchase of land by Europeans, outside of the 
Treaty Ports is forbidden by Chinese Law, and so it 
happens that we who live at the threshold of the tea 
districts, know so little of the methods of manufac- 
ture. Even were the necessary permission to visit 
those districts obtained, the very rough nature of tho 
country, necessitating travelling in comfortless boats 
up rivers encumbered by rapids, making progress very 
slow, together with contact with the frequently un- 
friendly dwellers by the river, would deter most 
men. We, therefore, only come into contact with 
the tea after it is manufactured and packed, as 
is th •. case in Colombo. The nearest tea district 
to Foochow lies about 2U miles distant, and ihe leaf 
is fi-'^queutly brought into that town in a half- 
finished state. Thus we see a little of the later proces- 
ses, such as firing or drying and sorting. Some years 
ago it was possible to see the final stages of green tea 
manufacture, but at Foochow only a low grade of green 
tea was made, very highly coloured, and when the 
United States legislated against the excess of colouring 
matter, the manufacture in Foochow ceased. All other 
teas than those of the near district which I have men- 
tioned, are manipulated aud packed on or near to the 
spot where they are grown. Touching Oolongs in 
particular, Foochow and Amoy in China, and Tamsui 
in the Island of Formosa, are the ports of shipment. 
As regards Formosa Oolongs, these, as their name 
indicates, are grown in the Island of Formosa — the 
principal market is at an inland town distant about 
15 or 20 miles from the port of Tamsui. The leaf in a 
partially prepared state is purchased by Europeans or 
their Agents and brought down to Tamsui for final 
manufacture. This is done not only by Europeans 
but by Chinese and tlie teas thus prepared are sent by 
steamer to Amoy on the China Coast, for final ship- 
ment to the different markets in the United States and 
England. The teas so shipped from Tamsui by Euro- 
peans are mostly already ordered by their constituents, 
whilst those shipped by the Chinese are intended for 
sale on the Amoy market to the European buyers. 
The teas grown in the island of Formosa, are all of 
one variety ranging from commute extra choicest. The 
best "chops" are frequently^cented with a flower 
belonging to the Jasmin tribe. The soil of the island 
of Formosa is volcanic and very rich, and it is to this 
thai^t the teas grown ther-e owe their special and 
peculiar, flavours. This is proved by tha fact that the 
tea trees in Formosa are grown from seed imported 
from Amoy — the produce of the parent trees on the 
China side possessing nothing of the peculiar Formosa 
quality and like all Chinese teas deteriorating so 
much, that the produce ot jha Amoy gardens has 
practically ceased to be cultivated. 
I myself some years ago, to my after regretj 
