Map.cii 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
605 
price upoB their herds. For some two or three years 
past New Caledonia has been engaged in the industry, 
and has been importing cattle from Qaeenaland for 
tinning purpose?, bat consequent npau the tick pest 
at the source of supply theiudustiy ha.=j been hang- 
ing iire. Once it ha-! been (ienionstrated th t tinning 
meat as an industry will pay, and the many broad 
acres which at present remain idle v/ill be demoted 
to the raising of stock. — 1< iji Times, Ja.n. 6. 
PLANTERS AND TOPICS OF THE 
DAY IN CEYLON. 
Dikoya, Feb. 10. 
Sir,— I write several matters of interest 
to the planting community. 
1. Ceylon Labour Federation.— I have lol- 
lovved with the greatest interest the career 
of the Federation, ever since its conception 
was first publicabiy introduced (o the plant- 
ing community by Mr. L. St. Geo. Carey 
of the Maturata and Hevv'aheta Planters' 
Association. The Federation is "good;" has 
done "good," and will do "more, good:" 
any shortcojuings in the working of it are 
not due to the Federation ; but due to 
those members, who are too slack or to.o casual 
to lay breaches of the rules before the Fede- 
ration Committees, and yet who will on 
the strength of wiial are often imaginarj'- 
wrongs, run do .vn the Federation, without 
trying to set right what they know to be 
wrong. I do not believe there is a m.an who 
could show just cause of complaint against 
the Federation, and though I know many 
who run down the Federation, just by 
" smnma" talk, I have not yet met a. 
man who coidd show that he had laid his 
cause of complaint before the Federation 
Committee, and yet had cause to complain. 
Let all members act up to the Federation rules, 
and prosecute before the Federation Commit- 
tees all breaches of the rules, and all will be 
right. I agree with Mr. Lane that previous 
employers should be communicated with before 
steps are taken to employ coolies; but I would 
point out that this is not a Rule of the Federa- 
tion, and so need not be done; and I feel sure 
that the majority would be opposed to the 
recommendatory resolution to that effect, 
passed by the Federation Committee becom- 
ing a rule, thus showing what is actually 
thought of the recommendatory resolution 
from a business point of view. That a tundu 
once given is good should be clearly under- 
stood by all Federation members, and what 
are called " perili " tundixs should not be 
allowed by the Federation. All districts 
should have theirFederation Committees, and 
no breach of the rules should be passed tin- 
reprimanded. 
2. Ceylon S.P.C.A.— Now that the question 
of supporting this Society is before the 
Planting Conmiunity, we must hope that it 
will meet with every success. Coidd not 
the bigger Associations like the Dimbula 
P. A.," Dikoya P. A., Northern Districts 
P. A., and Maturata and Hewaheta 
P. A. appoint representatives in each of 
the several districts they cover : thus 
Dimbula P. A., Dimbula and the Agras ; 
Dikoya P. A., Dikoya and Bogawantala wa ; 
Matiii-ata and Hewaheta P. A., Maturata, 
Hewaheta and Deltota? Increased support 
means more Inspectors, and Inspectors are 
men with the time at their disposal, and the 
purse of the Society at their backs, and whose 
duty it -.Til! be to prosecute on behalf of the 
Society. Personal support, both moral and 
nnancial, is what the Society wants, and 
then perhaps we shall see less of the cruelty 
which is so rampant, like the cruelty in 
cattle branding, &c., &c. Most plantei-s have 
no time to prosecute, whereas it will be the 
Inspectors, duty to do so, and to get more 
Inspectors, financial help must be given : 
hence the need ot personal interest, through- 
out the planting districts in the work of the 
Society. 
3. Railways and Labour Supply.— This is 
a very serious question indeed, and it is 
about time H.E. the Governor told us what 
practical steps he had taken to secure a 
Labour Force, sufficient for the works to be 
undertaken ; so that the anxiety felt as to 
the possibilities of interfetence with planters' 
laboiu', should be relieved. 
4. Rice Averages. — I have looked in vain 
for .January's rice averages in all your issues 
up to date 9tli inst. Could you not always 
make it a rule to publish the monthly rice 
averages of each month, during the first week 
of the following month. Many who, like 
myself, pay for rice on your monthly quota- 
tions, would be glad if you could do this. — 
Yours, &c., PRO BONO PUBLICO. 
[Rice averages appeared in the Observer of 
1st Feb., eighth page.— Ed. T.A.] 
TEA BUSH ROOTS AFFECTED. 
Colombo, Feb. 13. 
Dear Sir,— I send herewith a portion of a tea 
busi) (three-year old) from a hish estate, which is 
<lying from the root, and shall feel obliged if 
any of your readers can inform me the cause of 
same. Thanking you in anticipation, — I remain, 
(lepir sir, yours faithfully, E, 
[The following is the report of the Ento- 
niolouist.— Ed. t.A. :— 
Ihe tea bushes just to hand. Tlie roots are 
covered with some fungus — a white mycelium, 
which may be the early stage of thread blight. 
The trees have possibly contracted the disease 
from decaying roots of jungle trees or even large 
iiccumniations of buried prnnings. — Yours truly, 
E. ERNEST GREEN," 
Government Entomologist. 
Peradeniya, Feb. 15th. 
P.S. — If your correspondents would send their 
specimens direct to this department, they would 
reach us in a better condition for study. It is 
very difficult to determine diseases after the plants 
have dried up. — B.E.G.] 
^ . 
Coffee Planting in Queensland.— An- 
other Ceylon planter is added to the list of 
those who have settled in the Australian Colo- 
nies. Mr. Louis Battinson has taken up some 
coffee land (a few acres planted and some 
reserve) in the Cooktown division of Queens- 
land and he reports no fungus nor bug, 
while crops are supposed to average 10 to 
12 cwt. per acre ; but the country is one 
where the white man has to labour for 
himself and where he enjoys it as well. 
There being a Customs Duty on coffee im- 
ported, the local grower has that advantage 
in his favour. We trust Mr, Battinsoi^ will 
make a success, 
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