34S 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 1, l90L 
A FLORAL DISPLAY. 
We were very much struck, during a few 
days' stay at the Sanitarium recently, 
with the rich display of flower on a shrubby 
specimen of the " Strobilanthes" or "Nelu" 
—which we learn from Mr. Nock to be Stro- 
bilanthes gossypinus, an introduction from 
the Nilgiris. Hence, we do not find it entered 
in Trimen's "Flora," although he gives along 
list of "Nelus" and much interesting infor- 
mation derived from Mr. T, Farr who is a 
special authority on the habits, and parti- 
cularly the flowering of these plants, from 
his long residence in our hill country and 
habits of observation in respect of much 
concerning local natural history, botany, &c. 
The shrub we refer to with its profusion — a 
perfect covering of flowers — is certainly a 
notable addition to our hill gardens. Mr. 
Nock reports that a plant of it was got 
from the Nilgiris about twelve or fourteen 
years ago, and having propagated it from 
cuttings, he sent it out as an ornamental 
plant. "It has flowered in Ceylon before; 
but this year it has flowered very generally." 
One of the most beautiful of local varieties 
is " Strobilanthes pulcherrimus " and is thus 
referred to by Trimen 
'•Montane region, 4000-70U0 feec ; gregaiious, 
rather rare. Ambagamuwa ; Madulkelle ; Elk and 
Horton Plains, abundant. Fl. Noveniber-Feb. ; 
pale pink-violet, cal. bright pink. 
"A lovely plant when in blossom, the whole in- 
florescence densely covered with long pink-purple 
spreading ^land-tippedhairs, causing a rose-coloured 
halo in the sunlight. This is too striking a plant 
to be overlooked when in flowe"-, and it is pretty 
certain that there was no general flowering between 
the seasons 1881-2 and 1893-4. 
"The Nilgiri plant reterred to this by Wight, and 
figured in Wight, Ic. t. '15C'7, is different, S. 
amabilis, Clarke, and is said to be even more 
beautiful. 
Beddome in writing of the Flora of the 
Nilagiri district " makes special reference 
to the "Nelus" and speaks of some of them 
(sessilis, Kunthianus) as 
" often gregarious and covering several acres 
in extent, and when out in flower is one sheet of 
blue, and some people say that it is from this chat 
the Nilagiris, or Blue Hills, derive their name." 
But of S. gossypinus, pulcherrimus and some 
others he " says tbey are well worthy of in- 
troduction into gardens and hothouses as 
among the most beautiful plants found on 
these hills." 

PEARLING OFF WESTRALIA. 
A VALUABLE PEARL : PEARLERS' PARALYSIS. 
Broome, Sept. 10. — Mr. A E Gummow's pearling 
skipper brought to his employer today a beauti- 
ful pearl, absolutely perfect in shape and lustre, 
weighing 63 grains. The stone is valued at about 
£600. 
Several divers have been paralysed here lately. 
One, a young fellow named Tillen, who recently 
undertook diving, stayed down below too long, 
and was totally paralysed. The doctor, however, 
has hopes of pulling him round. 
London, Sept. 14. — Pearlshells. — The pearlshell 
market is firm. Australian have all been sold at 
from par to lOs advance, but West Australian in- 
ferior are cheaper. — Perth Herald. 
MOSQUITOS' NETS AND MALARIA. 
Calcutta, Oct. 8.— The experiment has been 
sanctioned of sup|)lying mosquito curtains 
to the men of the R G A doing duty at the 
River Forts, Rangoon, to ascertain whether 
any reduction in malarial fever amongst them 
can be thereby eft'ected.— M Mail, Oct. 9. 
ALGERIAN EXPERIENCE : THE MOSQUITO'S 
BREEDING-GROUND. 
Ill a paper read to the Acad<jmie des Sciences, 
Paris, M Billet shows that the malaria fever 
of Constantine. Algeria, is due to the an- 
opheles mosquito. It begins regularly at the 
end of June, when these mosquitoes appear 
in the unhealthy spots. Mr. John Chamber- 
lain, an American, believes that the Mosquito 
does not always hatch its young in pools, 
but sometimes makes shift with heavy grass 
and thick woodlands. In such places the 
food of the larva;, decaying vegetable matter, 
is abundant.— 6?/o6e, Sept. 20. 
MOSQUITOES VIRULENT IN LONDON. 
The mosquito has again appeared in Lon- 
don, and his bite is more vicious than ever. 
Every summer and autumn, the victims of 
the mosquito become more and more dis- 
figured. The swelling caused is now often 
as big as a duck's egg. The eye, head, hands, 
and legs are attacked. The cause is attributed 
to the neglect of the authorities to drain the 
marshy ground and running brooks in the 
suburbs, which, with the growth of London, 
become more and more filthy, and are the 
breeding beds of the mosquito or gnat. Un- 
less something is done to clear out these 
beds, London before long will be as mosquito- 
ridden as Ltaly.— Daily Express, Sept. 19. 
PLANTING " CASTILLOA ELASTICA " 
IN OPEN PATHWAYS. 
By Francis Child Nicholas, Ph. D. 
[To the Editor of India RuUer World :] On the rubber 
estates belongiug to The South American Land and 
Exploration Co., Limited, the following results have 
been obtained : Rubber trees (Castilloa elastica) on th^ 
company's property in the Sierra Nevada de Santa 
Marta of Colombia are now two years old. The GorA- 
pany has had the advantage of almost unlimited lands 
for its operations. The seeds were collected in Costfa 
Rica, and [reached the property in fair condition ; aftffer 
their arrival^, planting was commenced almost imme- 
diately. The plan adopted was to cut pathwayis 
through the forests by the side of streams, and along 
rivers. The seeds having sprouted before they reached \ 
the property, there was urgent necessity to plant in \ 
baste. I 
The seeds were put in the ground about the middle j 
of Jane, 1899, and the paths were cut with a view of I 
maintaining a deep shade to protect the young trees for ' 
the first four months, July, August, and a part of 
September, being; dry and hot in that region. It was 
intended, when the autumn rains should set in, to cut 
away overhanging trees and underbrush for the 
purpose of providing sufficient sun and plenty of air 
for the devleopment of the young trees. Where 
the seedlings were coo close together, cross paths 
were to have been made for transplanting. Before 
this plan could be carried out, the civil war, so 
lately disastrous in Columbia, made it nece.ssary to 
suspend operations, and for eighteen months the 
young robber trees were almost abandoned. The 
only thing that oould be done was to clean away 
the dead leaves, which falling from surroonding 
