Nov. 1, 1898.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
347 
CACAO CULTIV^ATION AND ITS ENEMIES: 
MR. CARRUTHEE'S FINAL REPORT. 
We nui.sb direct attention to this interesting 
and able Keport given on page 359, al- 
tliougli ive have yet to give it tliat careful perusal 
and consideration which should alone entitle 
one to deal with its contents. We niay be 
permitted, however, to refer to some of the main 
))oints wliich even a glance over its paragraplis 
makes evident as of special interest. In tlie first 
place, it is a great relief to Cacao projirietors 
and the Ccdony generally to learn that, in Mr. 
Carruthers' opinion, the presence of the canker 
on estates in no way threatens the profitable culti- 
vation of cacao in Ceylon ; and though it means an 
extra outlay, this and the additional attention 
required may yet tend to such improvement in 
methods of culture, as to secure an increased 
yield of crop. Nevertheless:. Mr, Carruthers has 
to confess that among the 40 cacao estates visited 
by him, while some have not suffered at all, 
yet others have been practically wiped out by the 
canker. This, we infer, is due to the disease 
not being dealt with in time, the great matter 
being to excise the diseased part when first 
observed. Mr. Carruthers shows vei-y clearly 
that the roots are not affected, only ilie stems 
and branches; ^^hile the iiods are subject to 
a distinct enemy. A complete life history of 
the canker fungus is afTorded in the jiresent 
Ecport and Mr. Carruthers emphasizes all that 
has been said as to the superior robustness of the 
Forastero variety which can also be brought 
to a higher state of cultivation than the Ked 
or Criollo. The current opinion is that the life of 
Cacao in Ceylon is limited to fifteen years ; but 
Mr. Carruthers points to plantations twenty years 
old, which are, so fai-, the more flourishing the older 
they become ; and he thinks that not eveii forty 
years should be placed as a life litnit. We have 
frequently mentioned that in the Guianas — 
Dutch, French and I'ritish, but especially the 
first-nanieil,— a well-established Cacao "Walk" 
or Plantation was considered safe to last and 
produce prolitable crops for one Inuidred yean, 
that is, if once the tenth year be passed ; but that 
no cultivation gave more anxiety, if not trouble 
to the planter until that period was left; behind. 
Let us liope that wherever soil and situation 
are favourable, " hundred years " old flourishing 
Cacao i)lantations may prove to be the rule in 
Ceylon, carrying us on to 1970-80 ! Mr. Car- 
rnther.s gives excellent ))ractical advice in re- 
gard to " shade and also as to the use of 
"fungicides" and again in respect of the growth 
of " suckers," and what to do with shade trees 
allccted by the canker. Finally, the "pod 
disease" is dealt with and very clear warning 
as well as advice how to act, given to the 
planter on the .subject. Mr. Carruthers calls 
Uiis his "Final Ileport" and so it is, accord- 
ing to iiis i)resent engagement with the planters. 
But it is quite evident that prolonged observa- 
tion and experience would enable ^Ir. Carruthers 
to convey a good deal more cf useful informa- 
tion and practical counsel to aid Cacao planters. 
But this is not all : other staple jiroilucts have 
to be examined and dealt with for fungi ; and 
we, therefore, trust that Mr. Carruthers will 
not be allowed to leave the island by thetJov- 
ernnient without an extended engagement— m) 
that even if he has to run home temporal ii \ , 
he may .speedily return to resume his nmst im 
portant investigations in respect of our stap'e 
i'roducts and tlieir fungoid enemies. 
Since writing the above, we are glad to learn that 
Mr. Carruthers has put olF his departure till 
the end of tlie month and tliat he is now in- 
vestigating some new i)esb that is attracting 
attention in the Kelani Valley. 
EXPERIMfcNTS IN TEA MAKING: 
MPv. KELV/AY-BAMBER'S APPOINTMENT. 
HINTS TO THE P. A. 
[We direct the serious attention of the Committee 
of the Planters' Association to the following jjaper 
by Mr. John Hughes received by a recent mail, 
—Ed. T.A.] 
After writing for twenty years and recom- 
niendiDg the scientiiic manufacture of tea in 
accordance with the Chemical piinciples involved, 
it is very gratifying to the writer to learn that 
the appointment of a distinguished and able 
Chemist as expert has at last been made. On 
reading in the last " Overland Observer " the 
account of the meeting of the Dikoya Planters' 
Association however, in reference to Mr. Bamber's 
proposed work, I could not help thinking that 
the terms of the appointment were either mis- 
understood, or that the beneht to be derived from 
Chemical researcli in the manufacture of Tea had 
not been fully thought out by those who made 
the appointment. 
So far as the analysis of the soil or samples of 
different soils are concerned the work which is 
long and tedious, can be more readily and cheaply 
jierformed here than in Ceylon, with the ailvan- 
tage of having a great number of previous ana- 
lysis for coiiqx'.rison ; and I am sure that Mr. 
Bamber, witli whom I am personally acquainted, 
will fully bear me out in this remark. 
What cannot be done however at all by home 
Chemists and what I have endeavoured for so 
many years to imjn'ess upon planters is the work 
of local, personal and daily research into the 
Chemical principles of tea-making by a perse- 
vering, industrious and fully qualified man such 
as I believe the Planters iiave in Mr. Bamber, 
It would be a most unfortunate mistake if the 
time of such a man were to be taken up in the 
analysis of soils from difFerent estates. 
It i< not so much the making of soil analyses 
that is diflicult, but rather tlie difficulty of hav- 
ing suflicient previous knowledge of the composi- 
tion of really good estates, so that one can make 
a practical comparison, 
i am reminded of a distinguished Dimbula 
Planter who met me during my official tour 
through the planting districts in 187 1 and was 
very anxious that I should visit his estate in 
order as he said that I should analyse the soil 
on the spot antl who was greatly disappointed 
when informed that such an arrangement would 
be impossible on account of the absence of the 
requisite ai.paratus for performing the chemical 
analysis ancl the time that such analysis would 
require. 
If the plan ers would take my suggestion about 
a uiatter tli it I have been thinking out for 
years, Mr. Bamber should be allowed to make 
his own selection of a well-appo;nted factory in 
reasonable distance ot his bungalo.v at liatton 
and where day by day he would superintend 
the manufacture of tea according to his own 
\iew<, carefully analysing the natural leaf and 
the prepared leaf ilnring the dill'ereiit stages of 
manufacture, witii due regard to the temperature 
ttud the humidity of the air iu the several jirocesse«j 
