Oct. 1, 1903.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUmST. 
279 
STOCK-BREEDING AND AGRICULTUHE IN 
INDIA AND CEYLON. 
RETURN OF DIRECTOR VON DRATHEN 
OF SAXONY. 
AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW. 
After some weeks' absence from Ceylon Herr 
von Uratlien, the Director of cattle bieecliufir 
in the Agricultural Chimber of Saxony, re- 
tuined to Colombo from India via Tuti- 
corin, and stayed wich his Assistant, Herr 
Huuzinger at " (Tuyscliffe " Cinnamon G'J-r- 
dens. Herr von Drathen kindly gave us 
an interview and related some exceed- 
ingly interesbina; particulars of his recent 
tour through India. This Indian trip was not 
included in the Director's original programme ; 
but, reading the history of India in its relation- 
sliip with Ceylon, lie came to the conclusion that 
a tour of inspection through certain ya>'ts at 
least of the vast peninsula must be undertaken, 
and he has nob in any way regretted the step. 
Herr von Drathen, had greatly enjoyed his 
visit to Ceylon, which was the first introduction 
to the tropics and the wonderful tropical scenery, 
so it is not surprising to find that he is parti- 
cularly pleased with this Colony, its people and 
marvellous scenery. Indeed he said that return- 
ing to Colombo after a tour through many parts 
of India, where much inconvenience and hard- 
ship liad to be endured, was like coming home, 
and t, comforts and luxuries of Colombo life 
li« pT'j.-itly appriciates. Thanks to Mi, Freuden- 
ber^,' ihe German Con^iul here, and the Hdu. 
John Feiguson, C.M.G., who gave him nuni' rous 
introiluet'.ons, and also to the Garinia 
ConsuUGeneral at Simla, Herr von Dratii'^u 
found himself readily welcomed at all 
the Governmeub and Military farms and cattle 
and agricultural stations throughout India 
He said he could not too gratefully acknow- 
ledge the assistance he received from al! the 
authorities. He expressed himself as particularly 
pleased with the booklet "Notes by the Way, ' an 
account of a brip through India, by our Senior 
Editor, which proved most useful; it conveyed the 
idea that the writer was a man of broad views and 
one who observed much, and he was led much by 
these notes. It was hardly just or even possible, said 
Herr von Drathen, to compare Ceylon and India 
agriculturally ; one might as well strive to 
compare the music of a single instrument to that of 
a full orchestra. In Ceylon there is the one principal 
industry — planting ; in India there are planting, 
cattle raisin JT, horse-breeding and a great dive sity 
of agricultural methods, so that comparison is im- 
possible. The historical development of India 
from ancient times has had much intiaeuce on its 
agriculture. In contradistinction to Euiope tlieie 
has been in India no interchange of ideas and 
methods, or very little, between different localities ; 
each little division, in some instances each village, 
has L'one on its own lines, and in consequence 
there is little or no progress, but an 
infinite nuniber of varieties and differences in 
methods, and in varieties uud breeds or stoek. So 
that to generalize on agriculture and cdltle breed- 
ing in India is, in fact, impossible. 
Herr von Drathen was greatly pleased with the 
Agricultural Departments of the Government, and 
the systems in vogue in different parts of the 
country ; and no less was he .struck with the 
political Government of this vast Indiai> Empire. 
35 
The Director's principal interest was stock' 
bieedin'.;, while tillage and cultivation of the soil 
also received considerable attention. Tillage of 
soil, said the Director, is the great basis of 
Indian produotioa. 
At Darjeeling the object of the visit was a 
scientific one ; it was desired to settle a scientific 
dispute concerning the difference between the 
Indian bison and the gayal. From Darjee- 
liug a move was made to Kalimpong where Herr 
von Drathen and his assistant Herr Hunzineer had 
under observation the splendid lie'id of a Thibetan 
Chief consisting of the Siri mountain breed 
crossed with the Mibhun cat'ie or gayal. This fine 
herd was careful inspected, many interesting 
photographs of the cattle were taken, and a 
number of animals were carefully measured 
and noted. It was their plan to proceed into 
Sikkim, but for some reason, possibly frontier 
troubles which are very frequent there, the Govern- 
meiit refused to allow tiiem to enter this district. 
At Kalimpong Herr von Drathen found great 
interest iu the philanthropic work carried on there 
by the Rev Mr Graham at the .so-called Eurasian 
homes, where children from different cities in the 
North of India are being educated especially in 
agricultural pursuits, and this the Director describes 
as " a splendid philanthropic scheme. ' 
The scenery around there, he says, it is impossible 
to forget', the siuhb of bhe huge Kinchin junga, 
towering up 27,000 feet was " one of bhe sublimest 
moments of my life "; and the mountain scenery 
and the great tea estates proved most attractive. 
INDIA vs. C.>?YLON TEA CULTIVATION. 
Iu regard to tea cultivation iu India and Ceylon 
Herr von Dr-ithen could not, of course, speak 
authoritatively— not being a planter ; but the 
opinion of an eminent agciculburist who has 
studied agriculture from a scientific poiiit of view 
is worth recording. In the first- place the Indian 
cultivation is not so intense as that practised in 
Ceylon. Another great difference noticed was, 
that whereas in Ceylon the estates are kept most 
carefully weeded and cleaned, in India they are 
nob cleaned nearly so much. Grass and weeds are 
allowed to grow and periodically turned into the 
ground to act as green manure. The Indian 
planters hold the view that keeping the ground 
so clear encourages drought, and exposes the tea 
hushes to winds and draughts among the stems. 
Though the Director has given some attention 
to the subject he has not yet arrived at any definite 
conclusion as to the better system. Going straight 
to the Indian tea districts from Ceylon's 
"exceedingly clean and neat estates," the "great 
green wastes " of the Indian tea gardens struck 
him at once. 
Asked as to his opinion on the comparative 
qualities of Ceylon and Indian teas, Herr von 
Drathen said that personally lie preferred th3 more 
delicately-flavoured Ceylon product, though here 
again he spoke as a layman whose taste possibly 
was deviated by European mixtures of different 
teas. In comparison with the Hill districts Calcutta 
looked very dreary, dusty and steiile. Here a 
stay of about a week was mude, and coi)siderable 
interest w:rs foun ' in the Museum, especially the 
agricultural and economic products departments. 
Tiie economic products in the Museum aie 
exceedingly «'ell displayed, and in the Directors' 
opinion should lie shown every where on the same 
principle. This system was originated by Sir 
George Watt, who also issues the very useful 
Government Agricultural Bulletins, 
