Sept. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
207 
in Loudon should merely be required in order 
to check the quality purported to have been 
exported. Messrs. Schimmel & Co.'s statement 
(rjie their report for April, 1900; also alluded to in 
Mr. Parry'a book on " Essential Oils ' ) regarding the 
two different kinds of grasa ia quite correct. The 
grass from which Winter's oil is distilled is, we be- 
jieve, identicfll with that from which Fisher's oil is 
obtained, and it is known locally as the " Maba 
Pangiri " ; while the oil which forms the whole export 
of the island, with the exception of Winter's, is 
distilled from another variety, called the " Liena Batu 
Pangiri." We think that the differences noticeable 
in many oils of undoubted parity may be due to the 
varying soils and climates to be found in the districts 
where the grass is grown. — Yours faithfully, 
Chas, p. Hayley & Co. 
Galle, Jane 22 
— , «■ 
A CHEAP TRIP IN ITALY : 
AND HOW TO MANAGE IT, 
(By an ex- Ceylon Resident.) 
Though I have several times on my way to and 
from England, landed at Naples, the generally 
accepted idea of the great cost of an " Italian 
tour " had prevented my indulging in such a 
luxury, and, consequently, 1 originally contem- 
plated only a stay in Naples until " winter had 
gone away " in old England and which I learnt 
before leaving Ceylon was feasible on moderate 
terms. So December saw us settled in the capital of 
Southern Italy, in the Via Carracciolo, which is 
the fashionable drive of the Neapolitans, border- 
ing the bay to the West of the Castle Novo 
beyond which lie the Port and the Docks. The 
" Pension Baker," kept by two English ladies, 
is a very comfortable establishment ; the terms 
are moderate and che .situation excellent, com- 
manding a fine view of the bay right across to 
Capri and Vesuvius ; trams run from close 
by to all over the city and an English penny will 
take one a long way. Here we met very 
agreeable fellow-tourists who had been in 
various parts of Italy, and soon heard of 
numerous similar Pensions in other towns, 
equally good and moderate. Vv'^e found too that 
those we met usually travelled second-class* (by 
the quick trains) and the fares are fairly 
moderate and the accommodation good. Under 
these circumstances we determined to swrk our 
\vay, not being tied to time, entirely by land to 
En>;land, instead of crossing by sea to Genoa 
and thence by rail. Having found how much 
additional pleasure and sight-seeing can thus be 
got for a moderate extra outlay I send you these 
few notes in hopes they may be useful to your 
readers and encourage others to follow our ex- 
ample. 
One must live wherever one is, and my ex- 
perience is that to do so in Italy, adds practically 
nothing to one's necessary and usual outlay on this 
account, indeed if it does not effect some saving 
to those who have not a house to keep up else- 
where. The Pensions already referred to are 
not, as a rule, mentioned in the leading guide 
books, chiefly because tliey do not advertise in 
such publications ; they have not liveried porters 
at their doors or 'busses to meet the trains, the 
* " Only princes and fools travel first-class in 
Italy ' is an old saying,— EDj T^A. 
cost of wliich must eventually come out of the 
traveller.?' pockets ; — they are none the worse 
for their less showy appurtenances and are now 
largely used by a good class of travellers with^ 
perhaps, moderate means, buc of good social posi- 
tions and desirable as acquaintances. 
Tlie rate.5 vary from 8 (Liras) Francs a day to as 
low as 6, and, indeed, for prolonged stays even less 
can be secured, while of course, " in the season," 
c. g. Easter at Rome, slightly more may be asked, 
but rarely al-ove ten a day. These prices in- 
clude three regular meals a day — say, (1) 
early breakfast of coffee, eggs, bread and butter. 
(2) Lunch (12'30 to I p.m.) of meat, pudding, 
cheese and - fiuit. (3) Dinner (about 7 p.m.) of 
soup, fish, meat, vegetables, puddintr and desert 
In most places afternoon tea with cake is included 
and in some the wine of the country, a very 
palateable liquor, is supplied free and if not can 
be got at one Lira a bottle. 
The food is good and well cooked, some of 
the vegetables are made up into a separata 
course, and poultry forms an item about twice a 
■week. On leaving the servants all expect tips 
but these do not add disproportionately to tha 
outlay except, perhaps, when the stay is for a 
couple of days only. Our average outlay spread 
over five months including tips and liquor I 
find averages 8J francs a day, while the simple 
pension rates varied from 8 including wine, to 
six in a house kept by Italians at Florence, 
said to be the cheapest place in Italy.^' 
Railway Fares.— That from Naples to London 
second class via Rome, the San Gothard Pass, 
Basle and the Hook of Holland to Har- 
wich is ... .. ... £7 14s 9d 
From Genoa to London via 
Mount Cenis . . . . £4 7s 2d 
Difference £3 7s 7d 
represents the additional cost of such a trip under 
this head. All luggage has to be paid for aa 
extra in Italy except what can be catried on 
the hand and placed in the racks in tha 
carriages, but this is fairly liberal and no ono 
interferes unless a large box is noticed. 
Washing in Italy is cheap and promptly done. 
No "dress clothes" are required, but most men 
get into a black coat of some sort for dinner. 
So a small wardrobe suffices. 
Besides the above our additional outlay for sight- 
seeing came to just £12 for two, and one-third 
of this was spent on a 16 days' trip in the 
environs of Naples to Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi, 
Pastum and Pompei, largely in carriage hire 
and other fares, besides the usual charges for 
admission and tips to guides and attendants. 
It also includes the cost of going to the top 
of Vesuvius SOs for one. The lialance went in 
charges, tips, tram fares, carriage hire, etc. in 
Naples, Rome, Florence and Milan— where we 
* One season in Vichy we were able to board 
in a first-class hotel for 5 francs a day ; but 
that was exceptional, due to a badly-attended 
season. In the same way at Carlsbad, towards 
the end of a poor season, W3 had all we wanted 
in a very good hotel (two of us) for \2h guldens, 
— Ed. T.A, 
t We are glad to see our correspondent has 
no complaint to make about thefts on the Italian 
Railways.— Ed. ,A 
