550 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 1, 1900. 
TEA CULTIVATION : MANUKIING, &c. 
DIKOYA planters' ASSOCIATION AND MK. 
KELWAY B AMBER. 
REPORT OP THE BOGAWANTALAWA SUB-COMMITTEE AP- 
POINTED TO MEET MR. KXLWAY BAMBER. 
Mr. Bamber has been up to Oampioa twice ; on 
the second occasion, 2'2ncl July, lo99, lie wa.s met 
by the Sub-Gommittee. Those present were Messrs. 
A. O. Bonner, Fred. Hadden, W. P. Barber, and H. B. 
Roberts. lu the morning Mr. Biimber went down 
early to the Factory and took one or two notes of 
Temperature, Moisture in the air, etc. At 9 a.m. 
Mr. Bamber went out to the field being manured 
with the mixture advised by him. Duriug the wallc 
he was able to give some useful hints on blights, 
manuring, etc., and amongst other things that quick 
lime dusted over the bushes after pruning, noi; only 
kills all moss and lichen, but is likewise beaefioial 
to the tea in many ways, as nearly all Ceylon soils 
are deficient in lime, but this must be applied while 
the bushes ai'e moist from either rain or dew. Fresh 
wood ashes used in the same way are also very 
good for the above purpose. 
Manuring.— Mr. Bamber pointed out that he thought 
manure such as the mixture now being applied on 
Campion, was better forked in rouod the trees, than 
put into semi-circular holes, except on steep laud 
where holes might be necessary. 
Forcing Manures. — With a view to getting a largely 
increased yield, beyond what the soil is capable of 
doing, he thinks somewhat dangerous, 
Blights. — These Mr. Bamber considers are much 
on the increase, and in some districts are getting 
serious, especially grey blight, and that where this 
is the case, it is advisable to burn the piuuings 
green if possible, and also to sweep np and baru 
all leaves on the ground. Also when the tea conies 
into leaf again, as soon as any blight appears, the 
diseased leaves should ba pullod off and burnt, and 
that this should be done not by one estate but by 
all. Unless prunings are universally burnt and done 
thoroughly, burning is useless. 
Burying Prunings. — Prunings if buried should be 
limed at the same time and then covered with soil, 
and this although not destroying the blight in foto, 
■ would certainly destroy a large proportion. Grey 
blight is easily identified by the black specks on 
the diseased part. Mr. Bamber looks upon grey blight 
as the most serious we have and considers it should 
be taken in hand at once by all estates. 
Ghevilleas he thinks beneficial rather than other- 
wise to tea. Mr. Bamber believes that soma legu- 
minous crop might be found which would be bene- 
ficial, if grown between the rows of trees to be 
fterwards buried green. 
Manjfacture. — In the afternoon Mr. Bamber made 
analyses of the leaf in different stages of manufacture 
and found that the pungency and strength lost in 
ho process of manufacturing was less than on most 
estates. This shows that longer fermentation" at a 
low temperature can be done without losing these 
qualities, and therefore with advantage to the teas. — 
(Sigd.) A. C. Bonner, Fred. Hadden, A. L, Hine- 
Hayoock, Hugh B. Roberts, William P. Barber. 
BEPORT OF THE DIKOYA SUB'COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO 
CONFER WITH ME. KELWAY BAMBER. 
Mr. Bamber has several times visited DarrB,wella 
Estate. On the last occasion, iSrd August, 1899, he 
was met by the Sub-Committee, those present being 
Messrs. H. B. Boberts, Keith Eollo, F. G. A. Lane, 
W. R. Tatham, R. H. Eliot, J. Anderson, and VV. 
P. Barber. 
Manuring. — The Sub-Committee learn from Mr. 
Hamber that the main object should ba to apply such 
manures as will keep the bushes in health and main- 
ain the yield, and he would deprecate forcing 
manures being used so as to ensure an increase of 
yield only. Manuring judiciously done after analyses 
of soils, would load to the liberating of plant food 
at present in the soil which now lies insoluble. Mr 
Bamber recommends manuring being done immed- 
iately, before or after pruning, and being forked in 
wherever practicable. 
Manufacture. — The analyses of teas in this and 
higher districts point to the fact that the best and 
most valuable qualities in the tea, are maintained by 
keeping a temperature as much below 75 as poesible 
in manufacture up to the time of firing. Mr. Bamber 
suggests more care Ehould be taken to prevent the 
made tea absorbing moitare when lying in the 
Factory, as this would assist in maintaining the 
keeping qualities of the tea. 
Shade Trees. — In reply to enquiries as to shade 
trepp, iMr. Bamber recommends Grevilleas, Albizzias, 
f aa Dadaps planted at distances which would not 
make the shade too dense, and ptn\:l tbut the 
beneficial effects of these trees were : — 
(1) To encourage the tea roots to feed lowc.r. 
(2) To bring up plant food to the surface. 
(3) To save wash. 
(4) To equalise the temperature of the soil. 
(.5) To tend to help the rain v^ater to filter through 
the soil and draw air to the lower depths. 
Also he recommends the growth of a legumiuous 
plant such as " Crotolaria iStriata," and cutting down 
and digging it in at the time of flowering. This plant 
grows wild i:i Pa.idy fields in Badulla and elsewhere 
at 2,000 to a, 000 feet elevation. 
Tea Blights. — The Sub-Committee desires to urge 
most strongly on all members lo burn or bury 
prunings with lime so as to minimise the adverse 
influences of these pests, which they believe tend to 
largely reduce yields, and they understand from Mr, 
Bamber that when burying purniugs they should be 
covered with 7 to 9 inches of soil and lime or basic 
slag sprinkled over the prunings before covering, the 
quantity being 4 to cwt, per acie. When burning 
prunings the ashes should bs sprinkled over the 
pruned trees. 
(Sid) Hugh B. Roberts W. R. Tatham 
K. Rollo R. H. Eliot 
F. G, A. Lane J. Anderson 
Willam P, Barber. 
COr-HIN MARKET REPORT. 
Cochin, January 27. 
C. N. Oil. — With an improved demand in the 
market mainly for prompt deliveries, prices made 
a .=liglit advance, and contracts were placed at 
R87 per candy. 
CoiR Yarn, — Further contr.icts .are reported 
at late prices. Regular (shipments are going 
forward to Europe both by direct boats" and 
via Bombay mainly against orders on c. i. f. 
terms. 
Rope Yarn.— Ditto. 
CoPRAH.— Rassi R52-53 per cn,ndy. - Cochin 
Argus. 
Rubber Estates of Para, Limited.— The 
estates, consist of 284 .square miles. — India- 
Kvhher and Gutta-Percha Trades Journal, 
Jan. 8. 
Rubber.— A recent issue of the Hongkon" 
Telegraph has this note ; " The Goa papers an" 
nounee that Captain. Moraes has disscovered a 
plant in the wilds of the Portuguese teriitory of 
Goa, a tree which yields India-rubber in con- 
siderable quantities. The tree is' described as 
Kandalfla, and it is stated that the I'ortuguese 
authorities are about to encourage its cultiva- 
tion on a large scale." — India Il^ibher World, 
Jan. 1. 
