Feb. 1, 1904.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
557 
he has a pprfect vipht to flo) he f^oes on 
to Hiipugn the motives which actuated niy 
firm in pLieinj^ this question before Hia 
Excellency the lalo Governor of the 
island. I most strongly objirot to this. 
Whether we are right or wrong, the pro- 
position was put forward, because we im 
plicitly believe it would, if adopted, hring 
an enoruiousiy increased business to the 
Port, in which every section of the Mercantile 
(Jonimnnity would share, and would, by 
gradually making Colombo the Central distri- 
buting point in the world for tea (the 
consumption of which is over GOO million 
pounds per annuiii) provide for Ceykn 
planters an immediate demand in the Foib 
itself for the whole of the crop raised. That 
London should view the adoption of this 
policy with alarni is natural, for it is on 
account of the existence there of the f icilities 
we advocate for Ceylon, thac the Port of 
London is still the largest distributing centre 
fortea. Nooljection to the blending ot Chinas, 
Javas, Indians and Ceylons, in London has 
ever been raised. It is done by every large 
London firm— including, I believe, Mr Dens- 
ham's. In regard to the blending of teas 
reiected by America and transhipped to 
Ceylon— firstly the question of transhipment 
charges render such a thing impossible. 
Secondly it wouldn't pay— for the demand 
for rubbishy tea does not exist, which is 
c"e;irly proved by the diminisliing consump- 
tion of common China tea— wliile the 
world's consumption of the finer grades is 
steadily maintained. 
Our "interest in this question as a firm is to 
see the present system maintained. We are, 
I believe, the only firm in the trade in L')ndon 
possessing a fully bonded private Warehouse 
utilised for our own business only, which 
enables us to land our supplies of tea at 
a minimum expense. If Ceylon were to 
adopt the policy advocated, in common with 
other London firms—this branch of our busi- 
ness would suffer. In the development which 
would take place in Ceylon, we should 
endeavour to share, but while we have an 
advantage in London, we should only be on 
even terms in Ceylon. 
His Excellency Sir Henry Blake, with his 
knowledge of what a free Port has done for 
Hongkong, is eminently qualified to deal with 
this subject— but if the general consensus 
of opinion is against granting the facilities 
we advocate. J, on behalf of my firm, am 
well content to see matters remain as they 
are. —Yours faithfully, 
ARTHUR LAMPARD. 
RUBBER PLANTING AND MANU- 
FACTUR15. 
Padukka, Jan. 14. 
Dear Sir, — I have read your article cn 
Rubber Plunti rs and Ma nufacturers in your 
issue of 8th inst. Most of the para rubber 
going home now is sent home in thorouRlity 
dried sheets or biscuits. I have never nttd 
acid to get the latex to coiigulate and I have 
never dried my rubber over fires or snic k( d it. 
I have only sent away a few luuulied pounds, 
but I have had no complaints and my piiets 
have been good, having got 4s Sid for my 
last lot. Perhaps some of your readers, who 
have sent home smoked and unsmoked rubber, 
will say which was reported on most favour- 
ab'y. I believe the only reason for smoking 
is that it diies quicker. I do not know if 
it helps to preserve it in any way. I am 
told, ii acid is used, the rubber does not give 
such a bnd smell when drying. No doulit 
smoking the rubber is a saving in factory 
space as it dries quicker, bu< whel her itdois 
good or- harm, 1 fancy it is more a question 
for Mr. Bh ruber to answer, I Irave heard 
th;it in very damp places acid is necessary 
to make the latex coagulate but I am not 
certain if this is a fact — Yocrs faithfuUv, 
KALUTARA PLANTER. 
CROTALARIA AND OTHER LEGUMINOUS 
PLAN! S,— I. 
Jiin 16th. 
Sir,— I am much obliged to Mr. 0. Drieber-g 
for his ready response to my request for the 
Vernacular names of all the leguminof-as that 
corrld be cultivated on coconut estates. 1 might 
en pnnsant explain that what 1 mean by culti- 
vation, is the encouragement of their growth 
instead of their being destroyed as weeds. 
To a person of observation and to one who 
take-s an interest in the subject, a very large 
number of leguminosas, especially papiliona- 
ceous plants with flowers like those of peas or 
beans will show theirrselves as common weeds. 
There are many varieties ot Pila. I am send- 
ing a few of them to Mr Bamher for identifica- 
tion and naming. Trimerr's "Flora" gives only 
three or four varieties, I believe. There is 
the ordinary pila with flat pods. A creeping 
variety with similar pods. The ' polman pila 
with cluster's of pods like those of the mustard. 
One with curved velvetty pods and last, 
though not the least, the ' han ' or leathery 
pila. I found this latter grow on the poorest 
of sandy soils, where hardly any other form 
of vegetation would grow. I regarded it as a 
very troublesome weed, as it was difliculb to 
cut with a marnotie owing to its leathery 
nature and difficult to be pulled up owing to 
the tap-root going very deep and the laterals 
very far. Since I took an interest in the 
subject of the leguniino.'te and was taught 
that to find the nodules, plants must not be 
pulled out, but must be carefully taken up by 
loosening the roots, I was very much struck 
with the large nruriber of nodules on the tap- 
root, laterals and rootlets orr it more than on 
any other kind of pila. I, therefore, look 
upon this kind of pila as a wise provision of 
nature to give fertility to a very poor soil. So 
with the ' undupiyali,' it is fourid on the snr. 
face of soil on which, owing to its comparative 
poverty, a rank growth of grass is not to 
be found 
While on the subject of 'undupiyali,' I found 
a plant very like it, but with larger leaves in 
possession of the soil in certain places. The 
5>inhalese name of it is ' Aswenna.' It is a 
very valuable plant whose growth should he 
encouiaged. ll does not stand abive the 
ground td make ;i place look weedy, it has 
a deep tap root. Its branches i un along the 
gionnd and throw out rnuis ;i t the juints, all 
ot which are rovered with nodules. * The seed 
pods are in clusters and are plentiful. 
