( 2 ) 
The next communication has been kindly 
sent us by a gentleman connected with the 
Forest Department to whom we sent a Cir- 
cular and who responded as follows : — 
" I will take your own headings in accordanc* 
with the numbers: — 
1. This would depend on the drying machinery. 
For example, if you used Davidson's, Jackson's or 
ErO'Vo's, the fuel would vary. For the two first, 
small branch wood will get up a sufficient heat, 
•while the latter is all the better for larger timber. 
Coal is, I think, likely to develop too great a heat, 
and is not necessary for the purpose. I would cer- 
tainly advocate coko or wood. 
5. i have not sufficient data to go on ; as the 
price of imported fuel would be certain to fluctuate, 
and in a measure be affected by the state of ex- 
change. The price of firewood is directly propor- 
tional — in the case of estates— to the length of 
transport and its means. The difference in the 
qnality, or hardness of the wood does not, to any 
great extent, affect its cost of cutting, but it acis 
directly on its cost of removal. I would not lay 
down a hard and fast line therefore, and say the 
price per lb. of firewood should be so much, when, 
perhaps, certain local circumstances would completely 
filter the factors of calculation. 
'A. This is very difficult to answer. lu districts 
where the white ant does not eat up the wood as 
fast as it is felled, a smaller quantity will last 
longer, but in lowcountiy districts, especially where 
the rainfall is high, I feel sure many estates will 
be very seriously inconvenienced, if they are not 
in difficulties already. 
4. For lowcountry places, both Government and 
private owners could help the planter. The 
former could supply most, but transport is the great 
difficulty. 
!). In my humble opinion, I should say not suffi- 
ciently, generally speaking. The planter must not 
forget that it is not only his factory that wants 
firewood, but his coolies do too, to cook their food, 
and this should be provided for. 
6. Yes, I certainly do, but if the plantation is to 
be on land that is too wretched and had to produce 
tea, it is not good enough for fuel, and it would be 
very false economy to plant such places with any- 
thing but grass. 
7. This depends on altitude, soil, aspect and rain- 
fall, and, if the land to be planted is fresh or worn 
out. I can lay down no very general rule with such 
combinations as the above conditions would bring 
about. I would advocate for low places, Casnrina 
"Wa" (Cassia Siaiiiea) " Madatiya" ( Adervan- 
thera 2>oiwiina), " Gedumba" (Trema orientalis) 
and a few rubiaceous plants, such as " Rawana Idella" 
and "Unkunda," all of which are good fuel. Above 
3,000 feet I don't think one can do better than to 
plant gums and grevillea, but they should he worked 
in a proper system, and upon a rotation that would 
be greatly indicated by the growth of the tree itself. 
8. It will always bo worthwhile for lowcountry 
places to plant jakwood for building wood, but I do 
not think it will pay to grow tea-box woods for 
individual estates. If the wood is very soft it is 
liable destruction by wind; if hard, the proprietor 
won't wait long enough, so long as a quicker sub- 
stitute can be found." 
At a time when planteis are anxious to 
know how they can supplement tea, or 
economise in their outlay, the hints thus 
given should be welcome. It may be con- 
.sidered very slow work to plant jak trees 
in lowcountry reserves, not suited for rubber 
or cocoinits— but it should be remembered 
that if selling at any time, the full value 
of the Ji'ik clearing would be taken into ac- 
<'<)iirit. 
He-re then istlu; compai-atively full response 
Iroiii a plantiir in N(irtii-I']ast Matale : — 
1. — No experience of coal or coke in tea man^. 
facture. 2— Don't know. 3— Ye=i, here, from forest 
reserve; grevillea fields and grevilleas planted throngh- 
ont the tea. 4 and 5 — Depends on the estate pro- 
prietor. The Manager can easily keep up the supply 
by the judicious planting of grevillbas throughout 
the estate. So far as I know this is being done 
pretty well all over the Matale district. 6— Yes, if 
not too far from the estate, or favourably situated 
for the fuel being transported by wireshoot. 7 — 
For this district Grevillea, Pehimbiya, Dawata. Rose- 
apple. These all do well, planted amongst the tea, 
without doiug damage to the tea, unless when planted 
too close. 8 — Timber for building purposes take so 
many years to get to maturity that it would be 
hardly worth my while to spend money on growing 
such trees. For boxes the new Acme chests will, I 
trust, in time take the place of the woodeu 
chests. 
While on the subject of tree planting, I certainly 
advocate the planting of fruit trees of all kinds- 
If more of this had been done by the pioneer 
planters, most, instead of the feir, of the old estate 
Superintendents would have had a plentiful supply 
of fruit for their own use and to spare for their 
Colombo and other friends who were less fortunate. 
Even the present generation of planters, I believe, 
are doiug more in that way than our pioneers did. 
Yet more might be done, and if every planter. P.D. 
and S J). were to do a little, a few years hence 
Ceylon might become as famous for its fruit as it 
is for its tea. I think more might be done for 
Ceylon residents by the Government Gardens, by 
advertising in the local papers monthly the fruit 
tree plants and seeds they have for sale, and stating 
the elevation or districts the various plants are known 
to do well. I know that plums, which are grown in 
Haputale without any tiouble, grow, but do not 
yield any crop here, Pear trees the same. Peaches, 
I have not seen a ripe one in Matale. I have no 
doubt that the Government Gardens could supply 
fruit trees suitable to the planting distiicts were 
they to act on the suggestion. The railway ought 
to carry all plants from the Government Gardens 
free to encourage fruit culture. 
This was written before Mr. Macmillan's 
useful "Circular" on fruit trees suitable for 
the lowcountry appeared. It should now be 
supplemented by similar advice regarding 
the country from Peradeniya upward.*. Two 
other Matale residents favour us with their 
opinions, and first we have a well-known 
proprietary Visiting Agent who goes into 
figures to some purpose : — 
1 Wood for driers — oil where an engine is neces- 
sary and where ample water power is not available- 
2 The cost of wood fuel for driers is about '35 
per lb. of tea and oil about '55 per lb. Where water 
is not available there is little or no scope for re- 
duction. 
3 Quite equal to the demand from trees planted 
from 10 to 13 years ago in many instances. 
4 In private hands entirely. 
5 All estates in this neighbourhood have planted 
largely, with the result that there will never likely 
be a fuel difficulty. 
6 The planting of fuel trees on most old estates 
where there is no reserve jungle is necessary and 
economical. 
7 Grevillea, Cedrella Toona a.nd Albizzia stipu- 
lata amongst the tea and thornless dadap, not for 
fuel but for light shade and to aid in improving 
poor patches of tea. 
8 No, though in due course Grevilleas and 
Cedrella Toonas grown amongst the tea will supply 
all that is necessary for estates in the way of ordin- 
ary rafters, reepers, &c., for lines. 
Next a resident Manager on a well-known 
Matale property tells us : — 
1 I have only had exparience of wood. 
3 I have no experienca. 
