4'82 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1900. 
A VISIT TO HAKGALA GARDENS. 
(By a Newcomer.) 
Such a visit must be always a treat to 
any lover of plants, and especially so when 
shown round by the courteous Superintendent. 
The weather on our visit was perfect : the 
sky cloudy to temper the sun, but no ch.uds 
over the vast Uva amphitheatre of hills 
except to wreathe the Namunukula peak. 
The grassy platform in the Gardens, from 
which this view is obtained, has been enlarged 
and a fitting wooden pavilion built where 
visitors can sit to a table to partake of thejr 
refreshment in face of the panorama— thanks 
to Mr. Nock's thoughtful attention. 
Among the plants there is a new species 
of lily which Mr. Nock has named after Lady 
Ridgeway: the flower is cream coloured. 
The wedding flower ("Morea Robinsonia" 
after Lady Robinson), has been, I re- 
gret to learn, nearly eaten out by jjorcu- 
pines. The fern, of which the natives make 
a CVUTJ-, is interesting economically and 
the successful growth of the " selaginella, " 
picked up near Horton Plains, is interest- 
ing to Botanists. The new scientiflcally 
arranged plots, when fully carried 
out, will afford further interest. I need 
not refer to the gratification aft'orded by a 
walk under the giant pines, eucalypts and 
"cupressus" and amongst the 30,000 plants 
of all degrees from the lycopodiums to the 
tree ferns, among which that peculiar to 
Ceylon (Alsophyla crinita) still is queen. 
On account of climate as well as interesting 
and beautiful surroiindings, surely nowhere 
in Ceylon is a walk more enjoyable than 
in the Hakgala Gardens under the magni- 
ficent masses of rocky cliff towering 2,000 
feet above the visitors. Long may Mr. Nock 
live, to superintend and preside over Hakgala! 
[Mr. Nock, we suspect, will sympathise 
with the young lady — was it Miss Canning ? 
—who, helping her brother to canvass the 
electors of Liverpool, so won then' re- 
gard, that they all shouted as she appeared 
on the hustings :— " Miss Canning for ever "— 
only, however, to be answered with a 
smile and a bow, — "No thank you— I don't 
want to be Miss Canning for ever"! So, 
our correspondent must know that Mr. 
Nock can scai-cely desire to be at Hakgala 
for ever, unless, indeed, his good services are 
recognised by a corresponding increment of 
salary.— Ed. T.A.] 
TEA PLANTING AND LABOUR PROSPECTS. 
One of the most competent authorities in 
the island writes to us : — 
" Tea has been doing wonderfully well in the last 
few months and blights have all but disappeared. 
They will be showing up again, however, when the 
dry weather sets in unless the manure which has 
been freely applied of late keeps them in check. 
Heavy manuring is all very well if one can be 
certani of the necessary labour to reap the benefits 
tliereof, but risky otherwise and there is a feel- 
ing that with so much Railway Construction on 
hand coolies may become scarce. Advances are 
already rising." 
With two or three milHons of people 
Buffering from famine in India, it does seeip 
strange that there should be any scarcity of 
labour in Ceylon. The time has surely come 
for opening fresh disti'icts of supply, and it is 
possibl- that the pioneers in this direction 
would not only benefit themselves, but local 
industry generally. The Railway contractors 
(including the Government) will certainly be 
bound to do something in this direction. 
TEA IN AMERICA. 
New York, Jan. 6. 
It will be noted that last month's deliveries are 
up to the nonnal consumptive requirements of the 
country, being on a basis of 100, oiX), 000 pounds an- 
nual consumption. There is not much life to in- 
voice trading. Jobbing demand fair. Market 
steady. The following table shows, among other 
items, the stock of tea on hand in the United 
State* on June 1st, 1899, and the estimated stock on 
June, 1st, 1000, together with the amount of visi- 
ble supply on December 1st, 1899, and the total 
tea exports from China, Japan, Ceylon and India 
to North America during the season of 1899-1900 :— 
Pounds. 
Stock of tea on hand in the United 
States on the 1st of June, 1899 ... 28,200,000 
Estimated total export from 
all China, Japan and Ceylon 
and India season 1899-1900, to 
North America Pounds 
Green tea 15,000,000 
.Tapan ... : 42,000,000 
Formosa 15,000,000 
Foochow and Amoy ... 4,500,000 
Congou, Shanghai ... 5,500,000 
Congou, Foochow ... 5,500,000 
India and Ceylon ... 12,000,000 
99,500,000 
Withdrawals, June to 
Oct. 3L 3(5,935,456 
Withdrawals, est., for 
November 8,064,544 
Deduct direct shipments 
to Canada 22,000,000 
Deduct re-exports and 
rejections 1,700,000 
127,700,000 
44,000,000 
83,700,000 
23,700,000 
Visible supply for United States, 
December 1st. 1899 60,000,000 
Six months' consumption to June 1st, 
1900, at 7,000,000 pounds per month, 
estimated ... 42,000,000 
Stock of tea in the United States 
June 1, 1900, estimated 18,000,000 
— American Grocer, Dec. 6. 
A Coffee-Planting Contractor on a plant- 
ation near Jabofcicabal, Sao Paulo, met with a 
very disheartening experience a few days ago. 
He had managed to .save 6,000$, which he de- 
posited in a glass jar and then concealed it in 
the chimney of an unused stove in his house. 
One day while he was out in the fields, a black 
woman from a neighboring house asked his wife 
for permission to use the stove to make soap, and 
with the result that when the hu.sband returned 
he found his precious savings in ashes. It was 
hard luck, hut he should have found a better 
savings bank,— • .Kio News. 
