gi6 
no single day have we been without some sunshine. 
This is very different to the average of the Ceylon 
coffee districts : there it is a frequent experience in 
both monsoons to have incessant squalls and heavy 
rainfall with a complete absence of sunshine, some- 
times for ten days to a fortnight. The effect in 
Ceylon of the heavy rains and absence of sun-heat is 
very marked, and has a most prejudicial effect both 
upon the yield and the vigour of coffee and tea. I 
have also noted that the sun-heat is of (greater 
strength here than in Ceylon, and^ii is most beneficial, 
as it acts favourably on the strong soils, pulverising 
and drying the soil down to a depth of fully 15 feet. 
This, again is of benefit in the prevention of wash. 
In Ceylon, a heavy shower in the rainy season 
simply runs over the surface ; here on the contrary, 
it passes down the sun-cracks and thus fertilises 
the soil. 
Cultivation— Weeding.— The great importance of 
keeping clearings clean and in hand, weeding from 
the commencement, has been the Waterloo ex- 
perience. The sunshine and showers, which are 
almost daily, favour a growth of weeds almost iu- 
•redible, and I am of opinion that it is a sine qua nov 
for successful planting — clean weeding from the date 
of the burn. 
Pruning and Handling. — From what I have 
observed, I believe that, with careful and judicious 
treatment of the bushes from the commencement, 
knife pruning would not be required. Handling 
is most important. Great care must be taken in 
keeping the centre of the tree for 6 inches entirely 
free of wood, and the outside branches must be 
carefully and systematically singled out so that the 
lower primaries may not be excluded from the light. 
The same effect experienced in the growth of weeds, 
caused by the sunshine and showers, is also to be 
found in the growth of young wood, and it is 
essential for the health of the bush, as well as for 
regular bearing, that the wood should be limited to 
what is actually required. 
Manuring. — The opportunities for cultivation, 
on a liberal scale are all that can be desired. 
There is an abundant supply of lime, a similarly 
abundant suppy of bat guano, and, from the fact 
that both Guinea grass and the native grass grow with 
such luxuriance, cattle can easily and profitably be 
kept. This is a moat important fact, for in Ceylon 
many a good estate dates it decline from the date 
that it could not obtain the necessary help from cattle 
manure. . „ , , , , 
Labour.— On the point of the labour supply there 
will, I expect, for several years yet be a difficulty. The 
Taniil labour will gradually increase, and once more 
estates are opened there will, I beheve, be a supply 
quite equal to the demand ; but it would be folly to 
consider planting at present impracticable because 
Tamil labour is not yet completely organised. I have, 
through necessity, been obliged to employ Malays, 
Chinese and Javanese. I have found them all most 
efficient workmen. I am exceedingly glad that I 
have had cause to employ others than Tamils, other- 
wise I might have continued in ignorance of the 
valuable labour supply locally available. I cannot at 
present ful y particularise on this subject, but I will 
So so at a later date, and will supply figures showing 
actual cost of work done by Chinese, Javanese and 
Malays, which will compare favourably with what is 
done by the Tamil in Ceylon. 
SOKGIIUM. 
Sorghum has Ijeen used as a forage for stock in this 
country for many years. As such it is adapted to 
a wide region, and its cultivation has extended 
over the entire extent of the Unito i States. In 
other countries it has been used for the manufact- 
ure of sprits, glucose, beer and vinegar. Its seeds 
have been used as a food for nioii and Ijoast, and 
in this country a large part of the profit of growii g 
Horghum consistH in the value of its seed as a stock 
food For nearly thirty years syrup has been made 
from it, ynd during that time higli liopes liavc been 
entertained of its power to produce prolilably sugar. 
Jhc attempt tg jnakg sugar k^m norghum hu,a 
1 been made almost exclusively by Americans. In 
China, where the sorghum has probably been grown 
' for thosands of years, we are told by Dr. S. Wells 
Williams, Professor of Chinese in Yale College, 
that there is no evidence that it has ever baen used 
for either syrup or sugar making. 
It is curious to read in the earlier publications 
on sorghum, the contradictory opinions and opposite 
views so positively asserted by the authors. As to 
the kind of sugar present ; the best varieties ; the 
period of growth; of maximum sugar content and the 
exact time to work after cutting, nothing was known 
definitely until the beginning of the scientific in- 
vestigations by the National Department of Agri- 
culture in 1878. Since that time this Department 
has assiduously continued its investigations in 
sorghum, and while we write the Fort Scott ex- 
pei'iments in diffusion and corbonatation are being 
brought to a conclusion by the eminent government 
chemists. The publications of this department upon 
sorghum since '78, Lave been numerous and in- 
structive and to-day every farmer has within his 
reach valuable and definite information in regard 
to this plant, the result of patient investigation 
conducted by trained scientists at government 
expense. 
BOTANICAL RELATIONS OF SOBGHUM. 
Sorghum is one of those plants, whose origin is 
utterly unknown. By long cultivation, its habits 
and characteristics have been so changed that no 
resemblance can now be found to any wild plant. 
Formerly the different cultivated varieties of 
sorghum were regarded as distinct species, but 
modern botanists have been gradually led to the 
conclusion that all our sorghums and jurphees, in- 
cluding broom corn, chicken corn, durra, milo 
maize, etc., are but varieties of a single species — 
Sorghum Vulgare. These conclusions have already 
inspired many seedsmen, farmers and scientists 
with the belief, that ultimately by selection of seed, 
proper fertilization and cultivation, a true sugar 
bearing sorghum may be obtained, which can be 
profitably grown and worked, instead of the true 
sugar cane or beet. Differentiation in plants is 
accomx^lished by extending the area of cultivation, 
taking in differences of soil, climate, rainfall 
and manures ; by careful selection of seed ; by cross 
breeding, etc. In this way varieties are produced. 
Some plants have ireater capacity for variation 
than others, and sorghum is perhaps surpassed only 
by Indian corn, in its , tendency to assume new 
varieties under changed conditions. Hence we 
find a large number of varieties of soghum on our 
market, differing in every conceivable chai'acter, 
from content of sugar to color of seed. It is there- 
fore of first importance in growing sorghum to 
select those varieties best adapted to oiu' wants, 
remembering the modifying factors of soil, climate 
and manures. — From Bulletin No. 5 of the Louisiana 
Suyar Exjierinwnt Station. 
♦ 
NEW JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. 
The following tea coaipauy has just been regis- 
tered: — I\Ieyb!oom T< a Planiation', Limited, with a 
capital of £50,(100 iu 10 shares. Object, to acquire, 
either in India or nny Colony or dependency of the 
United Kingdom or elsewhere, land suitable for the 
cultivation of tea, coffee, cinchona, &o , to stock and 
manage the same, and generHlly to carry on bueinesa 
as tea, coff ' 6, &c., planters ai d merchants, brokers, 
&e. The firs^ subscriberfi, who take one i^bare each, 
are:— B. G. Rook, 1, Great Winchester Street, B.C.; 
T. H. Trotman, 69, Highbury Qua.'rai.t, N. ; 0. H. 
WelUird, 10, Gray's Inn Square, W. C. ; J. W. Aubrey, 
55, Dallview Koad, Stamiocd Hill; T. E. Monday, 
I he Poplars, Buckhnrst, Hill ; Gr. R. D*vey, 4, Faseet 
R a'l, Dilston; O. T. Wale, Bonrue Hill, Palmer's 
GrcBU, N. 
Ttie busiupss of the company is to be under the 
coiilriil of manigingafjeiits, the first being the Planters' 
Stores and Agency Company, Limited. No particulars 
given as to qualification or remuneration,— //, and C. 
Mail, 
