Feb. 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
571 
CACAO AND TEA CULTIVATION -AND 
SCIENTISTS. 
A slirewil, observant planter of both pro- 
ducts olTers tho following suggestive criticism : — 
" Mr Carruthei's' work 1 lock upon as invalu- 
able thouoh open to severe criticism in some points. 
We knotv now tliat fungi are at the bottom of cacao 
troul)les ; before, we were all niakinj; wild guesses 
and confusing cause witli effect. We do not kno\Y 
yet whether llie s-^me species of fungi live on jaks 
andery thrinas, andjn our junglesandelienas whence 
insects oi all descriptions may convey infection to 
healthy cacao. We do not know how long the 
spores can live without a congenial host, and we do 
not know ho\v pods become infected. 
" It would be worthwhile trying to find out if 
the West Indies had this self same blight and 
wheth;r Forastero varieties survived after all 
Caraquez were killed out. [We must at once ask 
Mr. Hart of Trinidad to answer these question*. — 
Ed. T.A.] 
" As regards tea, I think Mr. Kelway-Bamber 
may learn a lot, but question if he can teach us much 
of practical value. Suppose he could and we did 
all improve the quality of our teas, prices would 
be worse than ever, since fine teas would become 
common, e'-</o cheap? His system of firing was 
known ten years ago. He cannot alter climatic 
conditions and he cannot improve withering ar- 
rauiiements so long as men are told to do the best 
with what they have. Davidson & Co. are now 
elaborating a machine-witherer, and we must hope 
it will meet with more success than Gow's huge 
revolving " tun " on Mariawatte some years ago. 
" Bambcr and Watt do not agree on the subject 
of shade trees for tea — vide Watt's valuable remarke 
172-173 regarding absence of blight under the shade) 
of albizzias. Banjber on the other hand (p. 178 
disparages the ' sau ' shade. 
" Dr. Watt condemns burying prunings (and 
rightly so I considei). Bamber on the other hand 
says burying prunings ' fresh' is no doubt the best 
method 1 have found buried prunings covered 
with fungi. 
" For supplying vacancies Bamber recommends 
twoorbhiec baskets of cattle manure placed at 
the bottom of the holes (what sized baskets and 
holes?!!) after digging a large hole and mixing 
soil removed from old hole with quicklime !! Great 
Scot ! what would Companies say to estimates 
based on such methods of supplying vacancies. 
'• No. Some books are interesting reading, but 
I guess we shall not learn much that is new from 
Mr. Bamber. When you have time you will find 
it interesting to refer to Hughes' report to the 
P. A. on Ceylon ColFee Soils and Manures," 
November 1877 he arrived— 21 years after, 1898, 
and coll'ee becomes historical and the costly 
visit ? Kelway-Bamber is to go to some 
two dozen estates in various districts, during the 
12 months of his engagement. Possibly tho 
estates he visits may get a little benefit from his 
personal experiences, but what earthly benefit 
can you ]iicture all Ceylon gaining, i.e , all tea 
planters I tnean ; and what is to prevent other 
countries gaining the same benefits by the publi- 
citj that must be given to such results ? 
" Buyers may get better value taken for their 
money, but unless the Direct Stippli/ Association 
is a success he shall not seme a single cent ! 
" When I have time I will try and send you 
Bome remarks on Dr. Watt's book, which I regard 
as a most valuable one to careful enquiring 
planters." 
72 
We had recently a very interesting account of 
Mr. Kelway-Bambers's modus operandi, and li.ave 
no doubt that his visits to the several estates 
and his work for them in the laboratory must 
be of benefit to such plantations, and by in- 
ference to others similarly situated. Before mak- 
ing any analysis of soil, wa believe, Mr. Kelway- 
Bamber always likes to visit the estate concerned. 
One suggestion we would make to the " Tiiirty 
Committee" is that ad interim Keports might 
be published. After six months' experience and 
observation, Mr. Kelway-Bamber might have 
something to say, worthy of attention ; and time 
is an important element in these days of depres- 
sion for so many planters. 
THE INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION, 
LONDON. 
The following is an abstract of the proeeedings of 
a meeting of the committee held on Tuesday last 
Present: Mr. W H Verner (in the chair), Messrs. 
A Bryans, G W Christison, R Lyell, A G Sfcan- 
toD, C W Wallace, T Carritt and A Thompson (of 
the firms of Messrs. Lloyd, Matheson, and Carritt 
and Messrs. W J and H Thompson) were present 
by invitation, 
The Secretary read the notice convening the 
meeting. 
The minutes of the last meeting, held on De- 
cember 13, 1S9S, were read and confirmed. 
Correspondence with Calcutta and New York 
which had been previously circulated, was laid upon 
the table. 
A letter from the hon. secretary London Wholesale 
Tea Dealer' Association, with circular as to fiie in- 
surance claims, was read, and it was resolved that a 
reply should bs sent intimating that two members 
will be deputed to attend the Conference which it is 
proposed to hold at the end of this month to consider 
the question. 
A letter from Mr. Robert Hart, dated January 3, 
was read, with reference to 
The Conditions of Public 5a?«.— These were dig- 
cussed at considerable length, and it was finally 
resolved that the questions raise! shoald be post- 
poned, with the view of taking the opinion of the 
Broker's Association on the subject. 
—Ed: C Mail, Jan. 6. Eknbst Tye, Secretary. 
THE CHINESE-KUSSIAN TEA TRADE. 
i From a French official report. ) 
BY EDWARD CONNER. 
The Russians anticipate an extensive commerc, 
in tea with China, when the Trans-Siberian railway 
shall be opened. Despite the activity of the works, 
the communications between Russia and the Extreme 
East are very difficult. Thfi railway is being con- 
structed from both ends of the line simultaneously, 
two trunks or sections are already open : the longest' 
at Moscow terminus, crosses the Volga at Syzrane' 
onwards to Tchelabinsk, Omsk, to Krosuoi'arsk', which 
it has passed by a few hundred verstes (one verste 
equals two-thirds of an English mile). The secone 
Bectiiin is very short; but 174 verates h.ive been 
constructed, from Vladivostock to Imaue. Airsady 
commerce benefits largely by the constrnctiou, and 
has not waited for the full completion of the works : 
a matter still of several years. But tho break, 
not the less, is a great drawback to business relations 
between Western Russia and her Pacific ports. In 
fact, a Russian merchant, who desires to send a bule 
of goods from Vladivostock to Moscow, must take 
charge of the transport himself, through the region 
which the Trans-Siberian line does not yet pass ; 
that is, from Krasnoiarsk to Imane, a di'otxnce of 
several thousands of verstes. Id order to lessen this 
