252 
THF TROPICAL AGRiOULTURlST. 
[October i, 1890. 
THE PEOPOSED UTILIZATION OP 
MANA-GRASS. 
We so very recently wrote relative to the proposals 
of the Stanley-Wrightson Syndicate as to the 
establishment of a factory or factories in Ceylon 
for working up mana-grass into the strawboard 
required for the manufacture of the patent tea 
ohesta, that we should have hesitated to so 
soon again reverting to the subject but for the 
information received from home by the last mail. 
We have thus learned that what has hitherto 
been but a prospect is now advanced to the 
position of almost a certainty. The Syndicate, 
when the last mail left, had resolved on submitting 
fourteen hundredweights of the grass just then 
received from Ceylon to treatment at a certain 
London mill for conversion into quarter-inch boards. 
If this experiment results satisfactorily, the Syndicate 
has decided to establish a Company to start a factory 
in Ceylon for the preparation of the raw material and 
to, at the same time, acquire the rights of the paten- 
tees of the Stanley-Wrightson chests and work these 
up locally from the material prepared from the mana- 
grass which covers our hill waste lands in such 
profusion. 
This decision having been taken, and knowing 
as we do in what reliable and influential 
hands this Syndicate is, we may look forward 
most hopefully to the approaching commencement 
of operations here. These, we feel almost confident, 
cannot but prove to be as beneficial to their under- 
taking as we have every reason to expect they will 
to our planters and to the natives for whom a new 
source of remunerative employment will be opened 
up. As we have recently pointed out, our diffi- 
culties as to maintaining an adequate supply of 
wood properly suited for tea chests are now great 
and are certain largely to increase. The establish- 
ment of a factory for the manufacture ab initio of 
these chests on the spot will enable them to com- 
pete very readily in price with the wooden chests 
at present in use. The objection to some of 
these last we have of late had forcibly demon- 
strated by complaints reaching us from the trade at 
home. We must, therefore, be fully ready to wel- 
come the improved prospect presented to us of 
an alternative at once efficient and cheap becoming 
shortly available. But the hopes that may legiti- 
mately be entertained need not, we are told by a 
friend who has made close inquiry into the matter 
of the manufacture of this so-called straw board, 
be limited to this one function of usefulness. 
VihdX papier inuclw IB to the Japanese, that frierd 
tells us, this stiawboard may become to Ceylon 
and its people. Once the substaoce can be pro- 
duced cheaply it may take the place of many 
objects for which wood is now used by us, and 
scarce and dear as this latter article is becoming 
a chance ( f superseding it is not to be despised. 
The whole question of such comparative super- 
session, our friend tells us, depends upon two 
points only. The first of these is the cost of the 
raw material, the second that of — and the amount 
of — the power available. Given, as in the case of 
mana grass, an almost costless raw material,* 
aad the unlimited power which may be derived 
from our upland waters, that question, our friend 
believes, is solved as regards Ceylon. With its 
unlimited supplies both of material and power it 
would only be a question of size and strength of 
* ainuc writing ttie above we have seen in the pro- 
ceedings of the Haputale Planters’ As.sociation refer 
cnce to a charge being made for mana-grass takee 
from Government patanas, but we should think areas 
of Buch grasslands would ho leased on the most liberal 
teriHB to the introducers of a uew manufacture. 
machinery to turn out a board, absolutely joint' 
lees, of size and strength sufficient to form an 
end wall to a moderately-sized bungalow! Perhaps 
it may be that some day our upcountry planters may 
be living in bungalows altogether constructed of 
painted and varnished pasteboard 1 We are assured 
that there is nothing ridiculous in such an idea. Why 
should there be, while we know the Japanese to 
live in paper houses the material of which is formed 
by pasting sheets together. With adequate power, 
our boards would be both homogenous and water- 
proof, and by the addition of tungstate of soda 
during manufacture might be rendered practically 
fireproof. However, we must bridle our inclination 
to prophesy the possibilities of the future opening 
out to US, though when we know of railway wheels 
of compressed paper working satisfactorily, wo can 
set no practical limitation to what the Stanley- 
Wrightson Syndicate may yet aooomplish with the 
wild grasses of Ceylon. 
PLANTING IN NETHERLANDS INDIA. 
(Prom the Straits Times, Aug. 13th.) 
The Planters’ Association at Sukabumie in Java 
have petitioned the Governor-General ef Netherlands 
India for a Labour Ordinance in that island, so far as 
mining and planting go. They also urge the passing of 
a l.aw forbidding the engagement of labourers in Ne- 
therlands India for work in foreign lands, so long as 
the local demand for coolies in Java remains brisk. 
The Governor-General has returned a deaf ear to their 
prayers. 
The Residents in Java have been officially directed 
to encourage the cultivation of useful fruit trees in 
their respective districts. 
THE LATE MR. McIVOR ON CINCHONA 
CULTURE IN CEYLON IN 1876. 
The following report, copy of which was supplied 
to Mr. A. M. Ferguson by Mr. Mclvor, has never, we 
believe, been published, as it was reg-irded as confi- 
dential. It will still be read with interest as illus- 
trating the history of a great and in certain sen.ses a 
successful enterprise. We may say that ultimately 
the Poomong plantation, alluded to by Mr. Mclvor, 
turned out a very successful enterprise, and that 
on the British plantations in Sikkim Mr. Gammie 
has been very successful with the yellow barks, 
including ledgerianas. — Ed. T, A.] 
Government Gardens, 
Ootacamund, IHh May 1876. 
From W. G. Mclvor, Esquire, Supdt. Government 
Cinchona Plantations, to J. E. Cockerell, Esquire, 
Commissioner of the Nilgiris, Ootacamund. 
Sir, — With reference to G. 0. dated 27th January 
1876, No. 239, I have the honor to inform you 
that on the 10th February last I proceeded to 
Ceylon to ascertain the condition of Cinchona 
cultivation in that Island. During the last three 
ycais a large extent o£ laud has been brought 
under Cinchona cultivation by private planters ; 
but prior to this period only a few acres were 
put down on Coffee Estates here and there, while 
on many Estates the boundaries are marked off 
by linos of Cinchona trees. 
2. I shall first notice the plantation of the Ceylon 
Government at Hakgalla, begun in 1861 under the 
aele management of Dr. Thwaiies, the Director of 
the Botanic Garden at Peradenia. This plantation 
is now under the immediate superintendence of 
Mr. E. J. Thwaites. The site has been selected 
with great judgment ; it lies near the East limit 
