783 
THE TKOPICAL AGRiCULTURIST. [May 1, 1900. 
cattle droppings is in the extreme solubility of 
their manurial constituents. A mixture approxi- 
mating this will be of great value to coconut 
planters. 
The system of carting husks and burning them 
with leaves, between every four trees, is a rational 
form ot cultivation ; but its cost is against it being 
carried out on a large scale. The more econo- 
mical system would be to burn the husks where 
the coconut heaps are, and to appply to each tree, 
when manuring, ashes representing the husks of 
twice the annual average crop. 
Mr. Jardine's experience of "hungry" soils 
must be the experience of all those who unfortu- 
nately have to do with them. A very large pro- 
portion of the manure applied goes to build up 
the tree and a very little to put on crop. If 
manure be not applied to trees growing on such 
soils every other year, the results ot less frequent 
applications are positively nil. 
Mr. Jardine's heresy as regards the use of salt 
in coconut cultivation is unfortunately not his 
only heresy. I always maintain that even if salt 
was not a manure, it was of great value agricul- 
turally, owing to the chemical and mechanical 
changes it caused in the soil, more especially in 
heavy soils. Mr. Davidson, than whom perhaps 
no more competent man ever engaged in the 
cultivation of coconuts, and who was the Gamaliel 
at whose feet Mr. Jardineasa young man learnt 
the lessons in coconut planting which entitle his 
opinions to respect, held very decided opinions 
of the value of salt in coconut cultivation. I 
am a great believer of the use of salt in coco- 
nut cultivation especially in inland districts 
having heavy clay or alluvium soils. Perhaps if 
Mr. Jardine gives salt a trial, say on ten acres, 
he may find the yield of nuts so increase that he 
will apply it on a large scale and will no more 
be able to say : " 1 have never known any estate 
in Ceylon where the trees have 90 nuts each, per 
annum, over any extent of land." He will then 
be under no necessity to " go a long distance to 
see it," as he will be residing on it. B. 
PAPER MAKING FOR CEYLON. 
Sir, — Will anybody tell me why ordinary 
printing papers are not manufactured in Ceylou. 
I am not unfortunately a chemist, or a paper 
expert, but I think I am right in saying that, 
within 20 miles of Colombo, there is an opening 
for this industry, not merely as regards its local 
sale, but in respect to the supply to the Far East 
and India. 
Of course Ceylon mills would have to do what 
the Indian mills have to do ; import (not 
necessarily from Great Britain) from other coun- 
tries a great part of the chemicals used in the 
manufacture. 
There is plenty of water power not far from 
Colombo, which would meet all the requirements 
of a mill working both day and night, and all 
through the year it sufficient demand arose. 
If a paper mill could be established in the 
vicinity of Colombo I need hardly say how 
valuable it would be (1) to the local papers ; and 
(2) to all other consumers of papers. Once start 
the industry and each of the several branches 
would rapidly develop. 
By simple machinery, though I do not say it 
would not be costly, the light timber on our hills 
could be floated down to a convenient point, 
and then converted into wood-pulp, and could be 
used on the spot in the manufacture of paper or 
exported to ladiau mills, 
The light wood (easily re-grown) is what is 
wanted, and mixed with constituents Ceylon 
possesses would probably prove of great value in 
the making of good paper. 
It would pay the Government to have a special 
report made by an expeit on the subject; if the 
Government decline, why should not the 
Chamber of Conimerce take the question 
up? Our fibres and grasses are not suffi- 
ciently valuable for export to other paper- 
making countries, but delivered to a paper-mill 
near at hand they would be a most remunerative 
help in producing the material required for 
«!ood paper tor writings and printings of various 
qualities. 
The volume and quality of the water available 
at the spot where tue mill is placed must also 
be taken into consideration. 
Paper is now and has been rising in price iu 
England, India and America: the paper market 
of England, if ever shut off by war with the 
Continent, will take a leap, the extent of which 
few can suspect ; and I write this letter in view 
of the possibility (and may I hope the probability 
of Ceylon stepping in the way and trying 
establish a paper mill on the banks of one of the 
rivers or canals on this side of the island that 
would at any rate feed part of our local supply 
at once, and in due course become an industry 
of considerable bensfit, not only to Ceylon but 
to neighbouring countries. ' 
It seems to me that the local Government would 
do well, as they cannot take the initiative, if they 
were to offer a prize through Ceylon, English, Ame- 
rican or Australian papers of a fairly substantial 
amount which would result in an experiment 
being carried out on lines that I have ventured to 
refer to. WANDERER. 
Herewith a cutting which I mek with after 
writing the above : — 
The offer of the New Orleana Times-Democrat to 
give 600 dels, as its share of a prize t* be offered by 
the newspapers of the United States to the inTentor 
who may find a cheap ard suitable substitute for wood 
pulp in the manufacture of paper has brought forth 
suggestions of cotton-wooel or sweet gum, bagasse or 
the refuse from sugar-cane, cotton-seed hulls rice 
straw, and pine straw as the substitute. Against 
these products of the South the objection has been 
made that they do not quite reach the market. But 
the Times- Democrat is urging chemists and inventors 
^°J° ^° '° overcome the suggested 
diflaonlties, sb^xou 
THE INDIAN. MUSEUM, CALCUTTA. 
Indian Museum, Calcutta, March 4th. 
From Geo. Watt, Esq., m.b., cm., c.i.e., etc.. 
Reporter on Economic Products to the Government 
of India. 
Sir,— I have the honour to acknowledge* with 
many thanks, the receipt of your letter dated the 
3rd March 1900, together with the marginally 
noted publications,* These have been recorded 
as presented by you and placed in the Commercial 
Room of this Museum. -I have the honour to be 
sir, your most obedient servant. ' 
[Dr. Watt having applied for one or two of 
our publications for his Museum, we sent him 
several more. Hence this acknowledgment— Ed. 
T.A.] 
» 1.— Ceylon Handbook and Directory ISqS.Qfl 
2. -The Coffee Planter's Manual. 
3. — All about Eubber. 
4. — Map of Ceylon, on rollers. 
5. — Map, Ceyloa Plantations, oo rollers, 
