838 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June 1, 1900. 
cial manures— Thomas' phosphate, sulphate of 
ammonia, sulphate of potash, kainit— which I 
applied to trees, alongside others which were t reated 
with cattle-manure and bone-dnsfc in the manner 
above described, and 
A SEPARATE EECOED 
was keptof thecropspluckedoff the trees thus treated 
at twelve pluckings, extending over two years. My 
Superintendent duly sent in his Report on the 
experiments ; but here, too, no marked difference 
was observable, either in the appearance of -the 
trees or the crops gathered. Probably, more con- 
tinuous experiments are necessary. 
It must not be forgotten that; just as the coconut 
tree is much longer coming into bearing than 
tea or coliee, .so the efl^cts of manure must be 
watched for during a longer period. Speaking 
roughly, improved crops cannot be expected 
during the first year, as it takes a year tor all the 
nuts on the tree to ripen ; and it is during the 
second year that the "benefit which a tree has 
derived from the application of manure will show 
itself in fruit. If the quantity applied is suffi- 
ciently large, the third year, too, may show 
results ; but I prefer not to put doivn too much, 
manure at a time, and think the discurbance of 
the roots in alternate years is not too frequent. 
I share Mr. Jardine's scepticism regarding the har- 
vesting of 
90 NUTS A TREE 
over any considerable undivided acreage. 
Not that such a return is inconceiva- 
ble, or outside reasonable expectations in a 
good district, on estates intelligently opened up, and 
planted with carefully selected seed ; but it is 
only recently that attention has been paid to good 
seed nuts for nurseries ; and the inequality of the 
trees— whether througli bad seed, early neglect, 
or a treacherous subsoil— in vigour and as crop- 
bearers, even on the best estates, is one of the 
most disturbing experiences in coconut cultivation. 
Then, it is one thing to put an average of 90 
nuts on the trees over extensive fields, and quite 
another thing to keep them there during the try- 
ing droughts vi'hich denude the trees of tender 
nuts, twice or thrice a year in the best districts. 
An average of 40 nuts to the tree is not to be 
despised ; and most people will be sontent if they 
can attain to 50 a tree, or 3,500 per acre, which 
systematic cultivation can secure in an average 
district, and which should represent a very 
satisfactory return on a safe investment. As to 
trees, of which Mr, Cochran has been informed, 
bearing 400 nuts for years together, they should 
be worth going a Ion? way to see. I have 
some trees here whi ch carry 200 to 300 nuts ; 
and it is difficult to see where the extra nuts 
are to be packed and maintained. As for 900 
nuts on a tree— well, they may be arecanut.s ! 
I have not lost the faith in 
SALT, 
as a manure for coconuts, which I first felt, reason- 
ing from analogy, and looking to the splendid growth 
of trees along the sea-borde. True, that there are 
trees in inland districts which look as vigorous 
and bear as heavily as those on the coast line ; but 
look at the difference in soil, and it will be clear 
that salt plays an important part in building up 
and maintaining the productiveness of the tree 
on poor soil. As against Mr. Jardine's doubts, 
I may set the confidence of a Pioprietor in 
Henar'atgoda, who has used salt with the best 
results, which he may be induced' to make 
public. His example would be very readily fol- 
lowed by many, if only the Government purtued 
an enlightened policy by issuing salt at cost pri-ie 
for agricultural purposes. And there is hope now, 
after Sir West Ridgeway's recognition of the need 
of scientific experts to help on agricultural indus- 
tries. Meanwhile, in husk, the Planter has a 
waste product, rich in potash, which he can 
utilize, either by packing trenches with it, or 
reducing it to ashes. — Yours truly, 
F. B. 
WHAKEHOUSE CHARGES ON TEA 
LONDON 
London, April 12th, 
Sir,— I venture to trouble you with the en- 
closed copy of correspondence, and if you can 
find room to publish it, you will, I think, confer 
a favour on the tea planting community, as it 
throws a flood of light on the reasons why the 
charges on tea warehoused in London are main- 
tained at so high a level. 
I must explain that when the wretched draft 
dispute was forced upon the trade, by rhe ill- 
advised action of the Ceylon Association in 
London, I, with others associated with me in 
adjoining offices, wrote a letter to the Associa- 
tion protesting against their bringing on the 
dispute (unfortunately without avail). We then 
strongly urged the Association to take up the 
dock charges question, as being a much more 
important matter. 
The Secretary replied that the Committee had 
tried in 1893 without success, and then made 
the statement referred to in the enclosed corre- 
spondence, which, from the sequel, he is likely 
to regret. 
Yon will now see that the dock company, who 
warehouse about a fourth part of the entire im- 
port of tea into London, have always been in 
favour of reducing charges ; but they are outvoted 
by the other members of the " Ring," who among 
them, take charge of the other three-fourths. 
The manager of Cutler Street tells me that 
one great obstacle to a reduction in rates aiises 
from the fact that Syndicates are formed for 
importing tea, in which some Wharfingers take an 
interest, and that some of those interested in 
such Syndicates do not object to the very pro- 
fitable nature of the business of warehousing tea, 
because it fosters such operations and gives com- 
missions all round. 
How the planters, who must inevitably pay 
these exorbitant charges, benefit by such business, 
I fail to see. The tea required for consumption 
in the United Kingdom must come here, whether on 
Growers' or Buyers' account. What the planter 
has to do is to endeavour to reduce the cost ol 
putting his tea on the London market. The ex- 
istence of this " Tea Clearing House," or "Tea 
Warehousing Ring," as I prefer to call it, is a 
deliberate tax on the grower of tea. That ring 
ought to be broken up, and the sooner it is done 
the better.— Yours faithful! , 
DUNCAN W. H. SKRINE. 
From Ceylon Tea Association in London, to 
A. Thomson, Esq. 
9th April. 
Dear Sir, — In reference to correspondence with 
yourself and others in May last, I have the 
pleasure to en close for the informatiori of yourselt 
and the other gentlemen associated with you, 
copies of letters that have passed between myself 
