Nov. 1, ]901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
311 
at Colombo for Odessa at 25s in place of the 
30s quoted, which would make a considerable 
difference. Messrs. Aitken, Spence & Co. 
deserve thanks for taking up this matter in 
the public-sprited way they have, and we 
trust in further correspondence, they will 
be able to show that the economic, as well 
as every other advantage rests with Col- 
ombo. Apart from gain in time, there must 
surely be many more opportunities for 
freight between Calcutta and Colombo 
than between Calcutta and Singa- 
pore. The latter part of our telegram refers 
to liners which are willing to book tea from 
Calcutta to Odessa, for 47s 9d— that is 28s 
9d, to Port Said and 19s thence to Russian 
ports, the latter freight being guaranteed 
in vessels flying the Russian flag. But 
Colombo steamer Agents should do better 
than this. 
<^ 
THE " PODHl-TREE." 
[" The Committee will be greatly helped in their 
work of gaining knowledge of cocoa in relation to 
profitable cultivation if you will make experiments 
and carefully record notes of their results."— Ex- 
tract from memo oj suric/estions (to planters) issued by 
the Sub Committee, March 1901. 
" Mr. Carruther s has denied having seen the final 
draft of the memo before it was attempted to cir- 
culate it, which narrows the Sub-Committee down to 
Mr. Huxley, ipsissimus soZws."— "Pod" in the '-Times 
of Ceylon," September 13th.] 
The cultivator then ringed the branch with 
nine cuts over the original cut at intervals of 
three inches. From the oriti;inal cut the principal 
and from the other cuts tiie minor roots, ten from 
each, shooting forth like a network, descended 
(into the famous casket). The Theras [of the P. A.] 
on witnessiufi this miracle (with uplifted hands) 
set up a shout which was echoed by the surround- 
ins spectators. A delighted deva expressed his 
joy by shouts of "Sadhu' and the crowds of 
cultivators, waving thousands of shade-trees over 
their heads, cheered. 
Thus this (branch of the) great ' Podhi-tree 
established itself in the begrnd<i;ed casket with 
a hundred roots, tilling with delight the whole 
attendant plantinghood. The stem thereof was 
ten cubits high ; there were five branches, each 
four cubits long, adorned with five pods each 
[at the rate of 2^ cwt. per acre]. From the five 
main lateral branches (others) amountinc- to a 
thousand were formed. Thus was this great 'Podhi- 
tree' endowed with a fullness of beauty that 
entranced the mind of Peradeniya, the cnicivator. 
From the pods of the great Podhi brand', 
brilliant rays of the six primitive colour.^ issuing 
forth, illuminated the whole island. 
On the fifteenth, being the full moon day of 
the bright half the mouLh Assayuja the deva 
took possession of the great podhr branch. At 
the end of two weeks from that date, being the 
fourteenth day of the dark halt of the month 
Assayuja, canker appeared. On the first day of 
the bright half of the month Kattika, having 
compounded some hordo mitfchcha, he made many 
cuts applying the mittchcha. On the seventeenth 
day after the deva had received charge of it, its 
new leaves a turned yellow. From that circum- 
stance the deva, ho longer overjoyed, dedicated 
a third of Kalpa to the great podhi-branch. 
Thus this excellent and pleasing experiment on 
the great podhi-branch, radiant with the mingling 
of divers colours, became the means of its attain- 
ing ' Nirvana.' 
The gifted Theras, for the purpose of ascertain- 
ing the capacity of the cultivators, interrogated 
him : — 
' O Peradeniya ! what is this tree called ? ' 
' It was called a podhi-tree.' 
' Besides this one, are there any other podhi-trees.' 
'There are many cankered podhi-trees.'' 
' Besides this podhi-tree, and those other can- 
kered podhi-trees, are there any other trees 
on the earth ? ' 
' Lords ! there are many trees, but they are 
not cankered.' 
' Besides the other cankered podhi-trees, and the 
trees that are not cankered, is there any other?' 
' There is this tree.' — Worse luck ! 
Then, still for t'le purpose of ascertaining 
capacity, the gifted Theras interrogated the deva : — 
' Ipsissimus solus 1 have you any questions to 
ask ? ' 
' O Lord !— I have many ' 
' Ipsissimus solus ! are there any questions you 
have not asked ? ' 
' There are many, but they are not my questions.' 
' Besides the questions you have not asked, and 
those that are not thy questions, are there 
or are there not any others in existence? ' 
'"Well! there are always m;/ questions.' 
' Sadhu ! ' ' shouted with one accord the Theras, 
thou art wise ! ' 
A chapter in the ' Podhivansa,' entitled 'The 
introduction of canker,' calculated little to de- 
light but to afflict poor planters. 
THE INDIAN BOUNTY ON GREEN TEAS" 
The Indian Tea Association (Calcutta) has issued 
the following circular, dated 9th Sept., 1901 : — 
At the meeting of the General Committee held on 
the 30th July last, a sub-Committee was appointed to 
consider and to report upon the feasibility of inducing 
growers to manufacture green teas of like qualities, and 
of making arrangements for bulking them in Calcutta. 
2. I am now directed to sabjoin for your informa- 
tion a copy of a memo., dated 26th August, containing 
the outlines of a scheme which the sub-Committee 
have suggested. For the reasons stated in the con- 
cludicg paragraph of the memo., the scheme cannot be 
put into practice until next season. And before defi- 
nitely accepting it, the General Committee desire to 
ascertain the views regarding it of those members of 
the Association who are interested in the manufacture 
of green teas. The scheme is based upon the assump- 
tion that the money required will be forthcoming, but 
this will depend upon the measure of support given to 
the new levy for the Foreign Market Fund. I am 
however instructed to suggest that members should 
now submit samples of the green teas which they will 
Oh able to manufacture next season ; and should also 
state the quantity which they will be prepared to offer, 
and the time when it will be delivered in Calcutta. 
As will be understood from clause 7 of the memo., 
it is proposed that the bounty should be paid at the 
present rate, i.e., IJ anna per lb. 
3. The whole question is one of great importance, 
and the General Committee are most anxious that any 
scheme which may be ultimately adopted should first 
be thoroughly approved of by the industry. They 
trust therefore that if yon have any criticisms to offer 
upon the memo,, you will kindly submit them wi^ti- 
out delay. 
