266 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1898. 
east, the whole of the vegetation of the country is 
passing through a continuous period of unrest. 
Insects are blown away to more slieltered spots, 
flowers are few, and when formed are rudely torn oft 
and lost, and those birds that remain are forced to 
a state of comparative privation. 
When on the other hand, the north-east monsoon 
comes in, with its sharp local tliuiiderstorni, a still 
air, and a burning sun, then bird-life is found in 
profusion. The first of the migratory species to appear 
is generally Motacilla mdanopt. This beautiful little 
Wagtail will be found often on the Ist of September, 
and in a few days, from the banks of the cold bubbling 
streams in the heart ot the ''wilderness of the Peak, ' 
down to silent rivers of the '•Jiintenna" country, 
this ever active little bird will be found in restlees 
movement in search of its food. Soon after and often 
together with this Wagtail, will be found Merops 
pfiilip2>ensis and JJinmilo rimlica, while more to the 
south, ia the swamplands and rico-fields (paddi-fields), 
the sportsman of the country hopes to record his 
bag of the " (irst Snipe of the season." The Snipe 
(Gallinago .s^eHU/a) arrives about the Sod of September 
and departs at the end of April, though it is not 
uncommon to find individual specimens so late aa 
the loth of May. In the hills, aa well as in the 
low country, migratory species begin to increase in 
number, counting among them such species as 
Cerchnei-i tinnunadns, Uierococci/x varius, J.aniux rri- 
statun, Tcrpsiphone parailini, Phylloscopus nilidut, 
and Fitia coroiiala, not to mention many others that 
are less noticeable. The stream of migration is 
difEcult to follow, as it has never been regularly 
observed at different points at right angles to its 
course siraultaueoasly ; but the impression I have 
gathered from my own observations ia that in this 
province the incoming stream strikes well to the 
soatli of the main mountain-ranges, while the out- 
going may be taken at first aa a gradual thinning of 
species in the hills and increase in the plains, after 
which the departure takes place, probably in the 
course of a few nights. I have not been able to find 
any special places or points at which birds of any 
one species congregate previous to departure, and I 
receive with doubt the statement insisted on by some 
observers that this association does take place, as it 
has not been supported by my own direct experience, 
beyond a few occasions on which I have found largo 
assemblages ot birds of one species within one isolated 
area. These occasions, • however, were not those 
Eeriods when the outward migration was commenced, 
ut rather on the contrary. I will, in its proper 
place, again refer to this fact in its relation to 
migratory as well as endemic speeies. 
A NEW FLOORING. 
Has been invented and patented by a House 
(for which Messrs. Wliittail & Co. are local Agents) 
which is likely to prove more economical, dur- 
able and efficient than either cement or concrete. 
Generally speaking it is a mi.xture of iron slag 
ground down and cement and many thousand 
yards are likely to be used by our llailway 
authorities and also pos.sibly at Hultsdorf Mill.*, 
if the tests now being applied are satisfactory, 
which we have no doubt they will be. This 
new flooring does not crack as cement often does. 
BAMBOO BASKETS: A HINT FOR 
PLANTERS. 
A "AVRINKLE." 
Dimbiila, 5th Sept., 1898', 
Dear Sir, — It may be not generally known, 
or at all, that the giant bamboo — of which there 
are magnificent specimens in the Royal Batanio 
trftrtlens, Feradeniya— makes a very good basket. 
I have tried it for roll baskets in the t«* house, 
and for manure, and itlKlikelyto hegorxl for pluck- 
ing and carrying baskets. Indee<l, it may turnout 
better than cane which is often bail. The canes 
of the bi^' bamboo when ripe, split easily, espe- 
cially when fcteepeii in water for some time— and 
with the thin "splittings" the baskets are made. 
These bend suliieiently, without breaking, for 
the work. It would still, be an iniprovement to 
boil the "splittings" in a cauldron, as basket- 
makers do at home. The big bamboo (»« hiclt, 
by the way, is not botaiiically speaking a bau»- 
]xn, but belongs to an allied genus), will grow at 
any elevation, from bca level to 5, OiX) ft. 
It thrives best in moist .sandy soil, and leaht ko 
in still clay, and does not live in bogs or where 
there is stagnation. 
The bamboo is easily propagated, by ^ivisioo 
of roots, or in hot cliaiates by catlings of the 
bamboo : canes laid in the ground etc. 
Yours faitLtnlly, 
M. K. G. 
COCONUT IN NORTH WEST PROVINCE. 
Whether the white ant attacks live wood ia a 
question that periodically ia discusssed in the preaa. 
Kvery observant agriculturist or horticulturist kao«ra 
that it does. Ihi y have evidence of it always. There 
ia an article on " White Ants as Agricultural Peste" 
in the Aygust number of the " Agricultural Maga- 
zine." . Pesls they undoubtedly are, bat under certain 
circumstances they prove to be friends to the agricultu- 
rist. In seasons like the present the planter will 
observe that the ground ia alive with white ants 
attacking every bit cf diy wood lying on the ground 
aud converting it into soil. That is benefit nomber 
one. Number two is that that the soil is liieraUy 
honey-combed by the tiny termitea and ia thua being 
thoroughly lerated now and all will render the passage 
of water through it easy when the rains do come. 
So like the humble earth worm it answers a very useful 
purpose in the economy of nature and under certain cir- 
cumstances is a very useful friend to the agriculturiat. 
THE INDIAN TEA INDUSTRY. 
The cooly " bonuses" given by the Cacliar aud 
Sylhet Gardens, the Englishmnn iuforms us, are 
very heavy and liable to abuse. It is calculated 
that if the I'lanteis there did away with the 
.system, an annual average saving ot RT.OuO i>er 
estate would be effected. Ceyloa Coast Ad- 
vances are bad enough, but there appears to be 
a much lower sink of [irincipal as well as of inter- 
est ifi Indian Gardens. 
London and Ceylon Brokers always hold up 
the average of Indian Tea to their Cejion con- 
stituents. In India, however, there are Dis- 
tricts and Districts. The average for 
Assam, where there is a large area ot young 
tea coming now into bearing, is 7 annas and a pice. 
The Surma Valley, however, gives only an average 
of 5 annas and 11 pice. The area of the former 
is 6 annas to 4 annas of the latter. 
The Indian Tea Association seems to be divided 
on the subject of telegraphing estimates of tea crops 
early in the year to London as they are not to-be 
depended on, but the Association intends to dis- 
cuss the matter fully at its next meeting. The 
following remarkable passage appears in the Indian 
Tea Association's report, and we trust our contem- 
porary of the " Times " will not have a fit wiien 
lie reads it ; — "the total planted area represented by 
the Association during the year is 308,921 acres. 
