48 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July 1, 18«8. 
[Copy ot minutes follow stating maximum tlie 
contribution of tlie Madras Government will be 
112,000.] 
Rka.d — the following letter fiom the Hoii'ble Mr. 
H. P. HoDusoN, Ciaigiiioro Es'ate, Nilgiris--, to the 
Secretary to Government, R venue Dep.artment, dated 
Kullakninbay, No. , September 1897 : — 
In accordance with the request contained in para- 
graph 3 of G.O.jNo. 634, Bevt niie, dated the 27th July 
1897, asking me to ascertain what was the risult of 
Mr. Newport's attempt to introduce lady birds, I ha\e 
the honour to enclose a letter from that gentleman 
which shows that he failed in getting any of the insects 
sent to him either from Honolulu or Australia, and he 
is of opinion, in which I quite concur, that, without the 
assistance of Government, the attempts of private in- 
dividuals in this direction are not likely to succeed. 
The subject of the scale pests, and the introductions 
of theirnatural enemies, was discussed at the .innual 
meeting of the United Planters' Association of South- 
ern India, held at Bangalore last month, and I beg to 
enclose for information a copy of " Planting Opinion" 
in which the proceedings on this subject appear in 
ysges 003 to 500. 
It will be noticed that the ravages of green bug. and 
the increase and rapid spreading cf the insect thriaten 
the Lower Puluey coffee estates with extinction, and 
from my own experience in this district with black 
bug I can spstak to the danger being in no way ex- 
aggerated. 
That whatever is to be done aiust be done quickly is 
therefore of paramount importance, and it is with this 
fact before me that I would bfg Government to recon- 
sider the decision contained in paragraph 1 of iho 
G.O., No. 634, in which it is considered " unsafe to 
apply for or introduce lady birds from Australia except 
under the professional advice and supervision of an 
expert." 
I can quite understand that Government would agree 
with the opinion of Mr. Marsden " that the work of 
scearching for and ii troducirg the natural enemies of 
insect pests should be entrusted only to a skilled ento- 
mologist," lest '' injury instead of benefit might arise." 
The principle is a thoroughly sound one as applied to 
the introduction of unknown insects and in searching 
for new varieties. 
I would submit, however, for consideration that the 
two species of lady birds which I asked Government to 
assist us in introducing at once, are neither new or 
unknown, but have been working beneficially for some 
time past in Honolulu, their history and habits being 
well-known. 
The objection on the score of a possible danger 
wouW not apply to the introduction of these species, and 
I would earnestly urge that Government give us their 
assistance in procuring them from Australia without 
delay. 
The urgency of the case is so strongly felt that sub- 
scriptions are already being raised with a view to send- 
ing over to Australia at once and anticipating the 
assistance and support of G^jverrmeut in the matter. 
Should Government, on reconsideration after perusal 
of the papers sent and the reasons herein set forth, 
decide on the early introduction of the two varieties 
named in niy letter dated the 23rd June 1897, Mr. New- 
port would be willing to go to Australia to collect and 
bring them over, supposing such a course bo approved 
and the planters will defray half the cost of the ex- 
periment. 
[Confirmatory letter from Mr, Howard Newport is 
appended.] 
Read — the following letter from Dekzil Ieeetson, 
E q., C.S.I., Secretary to the Governmeut of India. De- 
partment of Revenue and Agriculture, to the Secret .ly 
to the Government of Madras, Revenue Dtpartment 
dated Simla, the 18th September 1897, No. 1428/39 
—3 :— 
In reply to your letter, No. 635, dated the 27th July 
last, in which you enquire whether the services of the 
Imperial Kntomologist can be spared, to oondoot in- 
vestigations in connection with the importation into 
the Madras Presidency of lady birds and other natural 
enemies of the inspect penis whiih now iuftst Indinn 
plantations, 1 am directe'i to blate that there is at pre- 
i-eut no Imperiol Entuinolopist at the diuposal of the 
Government of India, and that tlie quistion of enter- 
taining one is awaiting the propotaU of the Uoveromi-nt 
of Madras on the suhject referred to in this depart- 
ment's letter. No. 214B/I— 11, dated the 6th Autiubt 
18'J7, regarding the appoiutmeut of a liotanitit for that 
Presidency. 
'1. I am, however, to observe that, fchould sucli a 
specialist be appointed, the field for inquiry will be so 
vaut that his hrt^t duly will be to enquire into tbc 
diseases of the main staples of India that are grown by 
those who are too poor or too ignorant to help tbem- 
eelves in the matter. Thus, while any assistance that 
can be given without detriment to the wider woik will 
be afforded, (he Government of India are of cpiniou 
that the cost of invet>tigatiou8 connected witli tucli 
products aa tea. coffee, indigo and the like, winch are 
cultivated by perFous possessed of both capital and 
intelligence, must, in the main, be borne by those inte- 
rested in tbrni. 
3. Indeed, under no circumstances would it be poa- 
aible to depute such a specialist upon a roving rouimis- 
sion outside India for an indefinite peiiod. If, there- 
fore, the scheme under coneideration is to be carried 
out, an independent expert must be tufi^^ (or the 
purpose. 
4. I am to add that a copy of the present corre- 
epondenco will be forwarded to the Trustees of the 
Indian Museum who will be a«ked to place any inforiu- 
atiou which they may porisees on the subject at the dis- 
posal of the Government of Madras, and to inform 
them whether they are in any way able to asbittt in the 
matter. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
The Fruit and Flowkr Show.— We are 
extremely {jlad to learn of the success which 
has attended the fruit and Hower nhow, which 
\vi\s held at the School of Agriculture on Wed- 
nesday and Thursday. The result must Ije ex- 
tremely gratifying to the promoters who worked 
so very hard on behalf of the exhibition and we 
sincerely trust that the ellect will be such as to 
cause an effort to be maile to hold a regular 
annual show. 
Tk.k Planting Exten.sion.— The following keen 
criticism and sensible advice are given in the 
latest Pioneer to hand, by its Calcutta commercial 
coriespondent : — 
In face of the bad results tea gardens are show- 
ing, and especially with the possibility of freFb 
currency legislation which would affect them still 
more injuriously, few companies have the temerity 
even to hint at such a thing as further extension 
at present. The Phoenix Tea Company of Cachar 
Limited is one of these few however. The accounts 
for the past year show a loss of K27,74'2 which was 
only met by the sale of the D.-rri'jgh at grant cf 
the company, which realised R27,500. There is a 
balance of R15,3G4 at the debit of profit and loss 
account, no dividend has been paid for at least eight 
years past, and yet on the " strong opinion " of 
the superintendent the agents now propose to consi- 
der way and means for a further extension, which 
it is estimated will cost Rl, 73,000. Unfortunately 
for the shareholders there is an tincalled capital 
of R15 a share, which is equal to R90.000, and this 
is referred to in the report as part of the " ways 
and means." If the shareholders coniult their own 
interests, I should think the best thing they can do 
is to emphatically protest agiiust good money being 
thrown away after bad in this manner. The present 
is clearly no time for tea garden extension especially 
in the case of a garden that has given no return to its 
shareholders for eight years. 
