November i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
377 
To the Editor. 
TEA-DRYING— THE BLACKMAN SVSTBM. 
Deab Sib,— I believe the “ Blackman Air Pro- 
peller ” has been introduced on one or two estates. 
Would the managers of such estates kindly favor 
your readers with their opinions of it and what 
alteration, if any, is required in an ordinary wither- 
ing loft to work it successfully ? S. A. 
FUETHEE INFOEMATION WANTED ABOUT 
A NEW FOREST CLEAREE. 
Dear Sir, — The March number of the 9th vol. 
of the Tropical Agriculturist contains at page 
642 an article headed “A New Forest Clearer.” 
Does any of the numerous readers of the periodical 
know anything more about the invention, or is 
the whole simply a humbug? By all means the 
information is not taken from an American paper. 
For any informations in the T. A, which may 
lead to know more about the matter, eventually to 
get at the composition will bo very thankful one 
who is about to become on a large scale a forest 
clearer. — Yours truly, EUGENE KASSEL. 
A PEOLIFIC COTTON TEEE. 
P. W. Bungalow, Delmar Estate, Sept. 20th. 
Dear Sir, — In one month — 20th August to 17th 
Sept.— I collected from one tree 7 oz. cotton, the 
seed 15g oz. There has been no rain for some time ; 
the tree is not at all a fine tree. I had to cut a 
large piece about 3 feet off, it was so overweighted 
with pods, and had been neglected. I would like 
to know what quantity of oil can be got from 1 
cwt. seed ; also poonao, and their value and use. — 
Yours faithfully, JAMES EOBEETSON. 
p.S The same cotton as I sent you — “kidney” or 
“ Pernamtbuco” — I gave a good number of this 
seed to the Hon. J. Grinlinton. I would like to see 
a deal of information given about this sort, for I 
feel sure it is the proper kind for Ceylon, if 
some fresh seed could be imported. [We commend 
this letter to the special notice of the Secretaries 
to the Cotton Spinning Company. — En, T. A.] 
LIBERIAN COFFEE &c. IN JAVA. 
Pussellawa, September 23rd. 
De.ar Sir, — I send you a translation of the 
conclusion of what seems to me a very interesting 
amount of Liberian coffee in Java — where accord- 
ing to Mr. H. J. Wigman it is to play a conspicuous 
part. Thera is in the same number an article on 
the production of camphor in West India by Dr, 
M. Greshoff which I think worth publishing. — 
Yours truly, JOHN DENT YOUNG. 
“ Liberian Coffee. 
“At the present time, the cultivation of Liberaa 
coft'ee ia being extended with great energy in the 
subdivision of Buitcuzorg alone. Tehrehasto my know- 
ledge, already been an extent of over 3,000 acres those 
cultivated and there is still an immense extent of 
land in the lower districts, now lying waste, which 
can by suitable culture be converted into productive 
coft'ee ostate.s.” 
The above is the concluding portion of an in- 
teresting article by Mr. H. J. Wigman in the 6th 
No. of the ‘‘ Teysmannia.” The article contains 
an account of the Republic of Liberia, and in my 
opinion is of much interest. Shall 1 send you a 
48 
translation of the whole ? How beautifully got up 
is the “ Teysmannia ’’—paper, type and all well 
worthy of the oountrymen of Laurens Kostsr. As 
far as I can learn the name of the work is adopted 
from the name of a botanist called Tes sman, with 
a Latin termination. 
[We shall be glad to have translation of both 
articles for our Tropical Agriculturist.—Eo. T. A.] 
THE STAMPING-OUT OF CATTLE MURRAIN 
Belgravia, Sept. 23rd. 
Dear Me. Editor, — If not too late, in reply to 
your excellent editorials, beginning in your issue 
of 5th August last, evidently called out by your 
correspondent “ Truth ” 's remarks on cattle disease 
and its prevalence and causes, I agree with every 
word “Truth” says, and would if able say far 
more and severe things regarding those who have 
so long stood aside and allowed murrain period 
after period to sweep over the land, kill out its 
herds, impoverish tUe poor cultivators and bring 
them by many thou.sands to misery, want and ruin. 
1 at least am convinced, after an experience of 
more than 30 years, and maybe with better oppor. 
tunities than many, while at the same time my early 
training fitted me to see and appreciate, and watch 
the progress of disease during this long period ; — 
I now say no more fruitful cause of poverty 
prevails among the native cultivators of the soil 
than that of cattle murrain, call it by what name 
you may. Cattle are the chief wealth of the rice 
cultivator, while they are the mainstay of the 
numerous cart drivers and tavalam men. 
The cry of improvement of the breeds, of their 
degeneracy, of better housing and feeding are all to 
me mere surplusage. The better you breed, the more 
you feed, the more you lay your herds open to con- 
tagion, as long as the disease is allowed to go 
rampant over the land. 
It has ever been, in the matter of cattle here, 
“ a survival of the fittest.” Hardy and untended, a 
remnant has always escaped, and pray who but. 
A MADMAN would go to any expense to improve 
stock, without the security of a single month’s 
freedom from the ravages of disease let loose 
on him at any moment and at any point of his 
surroundings? 
Your valuable discussion of the whole question 
has not, in my opinion, improved the condition of 
things one iota, Strike at the roots of the evil, 
“suppress the disease,” and render it manageable 
and thea think of improviny,feediiiy and housing; 
and not till then. I snail in another article follow 
all your reasoning so well and full and exhaustively 
done ; yet you have not touched on the mam cause 
of all the evil at least with a practical suggestion. 
You represent me as “bloodthirsty,” standing 
with a poleaxe ready to destroy half the cattle 
in Ceylon. You quite misunderstand me. I no more 
want the disease to gam a footing tnan does our 
admirable C. M. staff in re cholera when it ap- 
pears. W. tJ. 
[By all means let us hear our correspondent’s 
scheme for stamping out murrain. No one would 
more heartily rejoice at the success of suon a 
scheme than we. The diflioulty is that here in 
Ceylon, as in continental India, rinderpest is not 
merely an occasionally imported pest, but an in- 
digene of the land, lurking in the byplacea of 
bad shelter and insullioient food and every now 
and again vivnying into virulence. If the Madras 
Government has failed to extirpate the evil, we fear 
we cannot be much more sucoesslul. But let us 
have our correspondent’s remeuy lor what is, oon- 
I fessedly, one of the greatest of evils.— En, 7. .^1.] 
