482 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Jan. 1, 1904. 
SILK CULTIVATION IN MANCHURIA. 
The American Consul at Niu-ohwang states in a 
recent report that considerable quantities of raw white, 
yellow, and wild silk, as well as silk cloth, pongess 
and cocoons, are exported from Niu-ohwang, the Ya-lu 
river, and other Manchurian ports. It is not possible, 
he says, to give even an approximate estimate of the 
amount, because from many of the places the trade is 
in native junks and through the native Customs, which 
keep no records ; but the value must be millions of 
taels per annum. Large quantities of cocoons go to 
Chi-fu and Shanghai, and are made into yarns and 
cloth. Some go to France, and are made into a special 
ribbon embroidery and re-exported to China. The 
Manchurian silk district extends from Kiaoohau on the 
coast, across the mountains to the district around the 
headwaters of the ^a-lu. The autumn cocoons are 
carefully preserved over the winter, and the silk- worms 
are hatched in April, These are taken into the hills, 
where a scrubby white oak is grown, and are placed 
on the trees to feed. About July another cocoon is 
formed and the worm from this finds abundance of 
food in the full foliage. The second cocoons are there- 
fore the more valuable. The process is cruder than 
that employed in the production of the finer kinds of 
silk, and the oak shrub does not yield such tender food 
as the carefully cultivated mulberry. The oak is planted 
on mountains and hillsides, where the ground is too 
rough and poor for food cultivation. The process of 
removing the silk from the cocoon, as well as the 
making of the cloth, is all by hand, and the labour 
is enormous. Kiaoohau is the centre of the cloth- 
making district. — London Times, Dec. 9. 
THE PRICE OF COOLIES IN ASSAM. 
(To the Editor of the " Enqlishman.'") 
Sir, — The tea planters in the tea districts of 
Assam and Cachar don't appear to realise the 
grave situation of the present state of the labour 
market. Coolies are getting scarcer and scarcer 
year by year and the present rates, demanded 
by coolie contractors, are ruinous to the tea in- 
dustry. I know for a fact a first-class coolie 
has been landed on the gardens in Assam a few 
years ago for R80, whereas the same class of 
coolie the contractors now demand R140 in the 
depot, and with his steamer fare, etc., makes 
the total cost to R160. All I can say is, that 
the coolie contractors are the only persons who 
^re benefiting by this rise in the labour market and 
reaping rich harvests, and if something is not 
done soon to keep these abnoi mal rates in check, 
the tea industry will suffer a very severe loss. I 
am really very much surprised at the apathy 
shown by the ''Indian Tea Association" in 
Calcutta in the matter of cof lies and the directors 
and shareholders of the various Tea Companies 
appear to be in the same somnolent state. — Yours 
faithfully, One Interested. 
— Englishman, Dec. 17. 
« 
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES. 
Discovery of Asbestos in Mysore.— A dis- 
covery of that useful mineral ashes os has been 
made" by the Mysore Geological Department in the 
vicinity of Avanhalli, in the Bangalore District, 
and the Mysore Government are investigatiLg 
whether the quality and quantity of the mineral 
is such as to justify its creating an industry. As- 
bestos is a common mineral in India and is met 
with in most places, but on aitempting to create 
an industry it has always been found that it is 
not available in sufficient quantities or of proper 
quality to make mining pay.— Aonee?', Dec. 17, 
Cbotalaria,— In response to a correspon- 
dpnfc in our columns, Mr. G. Drieberg has 
written a lengthy communication to us on 
crotalaria and the leguminosae generally. 
He describes the various leguminous plants, 
which are nitrogen producers, and suitable 
for cultivation for increasing the fertility of 
the soil and adding humus. Mr. Drieberg's 
letter will be read with much interest by all 
interested in the question. 
The Cardamom Mission' in Australia. 
—We direct attention to the first report to 
hand from the " Cardamom Commissioner," 
Mr. J. A. Spence, who left Ceylon about 
six months ago for Australia. Illness for 
a period of four months, delayed his work 
considerably, but apart from this it has 
proved very discouraging— the local require- 
ments being of the smallest and the pushing 
of our product a thankless task. We trust that 
as Mr. Spence pushes on himself, he may find 
his efforts meeting with better reward. At 
present cardamom planters cannot feel es- 
pecially elated, au regards Australia. 
Rubber— UP to date,— The latest circular 
from Peradeniya, deals with Castilloa rub- 
ber. It will be noted that planting is not 
advised further than 15 feet apart : Para, in 
the Straits, is put at 20. Tapping gives a 
more voluminous flow than from Para trees, 
while prices are usually about 16 per cent 
lower. As to rubber prospects, following on 
our information from Mr. H. C. Pearson 
elsewhere, we quote the following sentences 
(from our contemporary) uttered by a Loudon 
expert : — 
You Ceylon people, when you come home and see 
motor cars running about for the first time, are apt 
to get the idea that there is an enormous increase 
in the demand. This is not borne out of the figures. 
Although there is no oversupply, it cannot be said 
that there is not enough rubber, I should not be 
surprised to see prices drop another penny or two, 
with a smart recovery in the spring. 
Grass and Fodder,— It is only by bitter ex- 
perience that states, like individuals learn 
obvious truths. The South African War has 
taught its lessons outside the Dark continent 
and India is paying more attention to transport, 
and cattle and horse breeding than it did before. 
The last famine, too, has impressed the Indian 
authorities with the need of providing food for 
beasts as well as for man in ernergencies. VVe 
read in an Indian paper that "General Sir Alfred 
Gaselee, while in Bundelkhund visited the head- 
quarters of the Grass Farm at Jhansi, inspected 
the pressing operations and showed particular 
interest in the quality of the hay. The Inspecting 
Officers have been over the whole of Messrs Abbott 
Brothers' farms, which extend over a distance of 
250 miles, going thoroughly into the details and 
capacities of the business. The f irm has now 
eight hydraulic presses, pressing 2,500 maunds of 
fodder daily ; and the attention given to its 
progress by the head of the Command shows that 
it is being taken into serious consideration as an 
adjunct to the military resources of the country 
in case of an emergency." 
