June 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 84 f) 
TO JAFFNA BY BAIL?" 
we remarked in rising to depart. 
" I'm sure I hope so," said the Doctor. " But 
it will be an awfully monotonous journey, 
will it not ?" " No doal)t, but being no sailor 
anything is better than that trip hy steamer ; 
beside it the dhoney crossing is comparatively 
pleasant. However, both these must be repeated 
a few timffs before the Northern Railway is 
ready. I shall be returning here in time 
for my annual second visit to Delft before 
the end of the year." 
FACILITIES FOR MAKING GOOD 
TEA :-IV. 
We purpose dealing today with three re- 
plies to our circular, which reached vis some 
time ago, from Nawalapitiya and Dolosbage. 
On the subject of di'awbacks to making better 
tea than the average now turned out in the 
district, one correspondent knows of no 
drawback, as finer plucking than ever before 
now obtains, and has resulted in the outturn 
of better teas. A second, whose experience 
has evidently not been so progressive de- 
mands finer plucking, and more withering 
acconnnodation, especially where leaf is 
bought for manufacture ; and in this he is 
supported by the third, who holds bad 
plucking, and bad withering (especially be- 
tween 15th March and 30th June approxi- 
mately) when leaf comes in with a rush, as 
responsible for much ; while he also men- 
tions scanty supervision. As regards jat, 
one report considers it good, as a whole— 
a good hybrid v.'ith some indigenous — saving 
perhaps, about 500 acres in little patches 
which are inferior China. " Generally good," 
s«ys the second, while the third declares 
jat very poor on some estates, and on many no 
more than fair ; only portions of a few estates 
being planted witli good indigenous. The 
verdict on soil, too, similarly varies — from 
poor generally, to about an equal division 
of land suitable for tea, and poor chena and 
patna which, perhaps, had better have been 
left alone. Another classes one-half as poor 
worn-out soil which once grew coffee, and 
the other half very fair soil. On virgin 
land tea continues to flourish, and promises 
to be a permanency ; while worn-oiit places 
must have been worked at a loss, or scarcely 
gave any proht, when low prices ruled. On 
the effect of Manuring in improving the 
tea, all three correspondents are agreed ; 
but while one holds that, to be pro- 
fitable, it must be carried on regularly in 
alternate years to prevent a falling-oft of 
the bushes ; the other two (piestiou the re- 
numerativeiiess of manuring excoj)t on good 
land, which would respond readily to treat- 
ment. We can q\iite understand that tlu're 
must be a certain extent of land past 
mending, except at a prohibitive cost ; but 
is there not a tendency to lielp on the really 
good fields i)i'rhai)s to force them on 
mululy and to i)lead the sniallness of 
jrolits ag.iinst exix'ndilui'c on l)ackwai-d 
ields which nevertheless, might i-espond to re- 
gular cultivation? If it is not so, perhaps 
it is the way some writers i)nt it which 
causi's mi^ai)preh(Mision — as wncn they say, 
manuring would be desirable, but prices are 
agau)st its profital)le adoption. 
Most factories are considered fully equipped ; 
but with the important reservation that 
more withering room is needed during wet 
weather and when there is a rush of leaf. 
How can tea be even in quality if the 
withering is imperfect at certain seasons? 
But then there is "a good time coming" 
(according to engineers now experimenting 
with a patent machine) when the process of 
withering may be dispensed with ! The 
' patent ' has, however, yet to be practically 
proved. In machinery, there seems to be no 
deficiency, except in a few places which adhere 
to primitive methods. The consensus of 
opinion as regards a sufficiency, and even 
a superabundance, of labour, is most strik- 
ing, after years of grumbling, and heavv ad- 
vances, and fear of scai'city. Already there 
would appear to be a turn in the tide ; for 
what with the reaction after the drought, 
and the South India cooly crimping scare, 
Planters in some districts have begim to be 
uneasy. Severe pruning is still an evil, and 
its practice on woruout estates to induce 
flush, is justly condemned ; but its day is 
rapidly passing away. Generally, both rain- 
fall and soil are suitable for tea, and the 
District should be able to hold its own if 
only the patches which should never have 
been planted up, be abandoned; but it can- 
not be expected that the tea produced 
should be of the flavour and class of the 
higher growths. Such is the general verdict 
aTid we see no reason why Ambagamuwa 
and Dolosbage should not maintain a fair 
reputation for good medium tea and yield 
satisfactory returns to the prudent, obser- 
vant planlier. 
» 
NOTES OF A TRIP TO PUTTALAM. 
( By a planter. ) 
What an unbroken stretch of 
SPLENDID COCONUT PANTATION9 
one passes through between Toppu and Ma- 
dampe. It is such as delights the heart and 
pleases the eye of the coconut planter. The 
soil is a red, friable, sandy loam, which seems 
peculiar to this part of the country. The 
trees are all bearing splendidly and the 
branches are borne down with the heavily- 
bearing bunches. Drooping branches are a 
peculiarity of the trees here and have been 
a subject of adverse comment. But drooping 
branclies are one thing and branches and 
bunches which are almost broken and limp 
against the tr\xnk are another. The one 
is a peculiarity ; the other a sign of inherent, 
constitutional weakness. I have a theory as 
to this peculiarity in the growth of the 
coconut tree and to the yellowish color of 
th(> fronds. I have an idea that although 
the color of the soil betokens the presence 
of iron in it, it is either poor in iron or has 
iron in a not readily avjiilable or injui'ious 
form. Iron plays .-is important a part in 
vegetable as in aniin:il i)hysiology. The 
green coloring m.itter of leaves is regulated 
by the availai)Ie sujiply of iron or of iron in 
a non-injurious form. 1 h;ul an opportunity 
not very long ago of observing cDconut trees 
grow on a caljook soil with j)lenty of avail- 
able iron in it jnid was struck l)y the ilark 
green c()l(u- of t he leaves and of the vigoi-ouij 
gi'owth of the trees, 
