February 2, i8qi.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 583 
it sliglilly grey ia colour. This would, however, hardly 
apply to “ first class damaged.” If pepper were re- 
packed it would be classified as third class. Mr. Cnthhert- 
aon having been recalled, stated, in answer to Dr. 
ftaikes, that he might have oi’dered the sale of pepper 
at Singapore on account of sea damage when acting 
surveyor of cargo. He did, not however, remember 
having dono so. 
The plantiffs’ case having closed, BIr. Otto 
Bliihry, a member of a firm of merchants at 
Singapore, and now on a visit to this country, was 
called, and examined by Dr. Raikes, on behalf of the 
defendants. He had been engaged in the Eastern pro- 
duce trade for about seventeen years. The “ August ” 
was chartered by bis firm, and was put up as a general 
ship, and he remembered her loading. Boustead & Co. 
loaded the pepper, which was consigned to Eiward 
Boustead & Oo., London. The captain had instruc- 
tions as to what firms he was to apply to iu 
case the “ Augmst ” should be obliged to put 
into any ports during the voyage. On August 15th, 
1889, witness received a cablegram from Thom- 
son, AYatson & Co., Capo Town, the charterers’ re- 
presentatives at that port. The contents of the 
telegram wore communicated, through witness’s clerks, 
to the shippers, who were asked whether they had 
any instructions regarding the cargo. On August 
27 the witness received a second cablegram, which 
stated that part of the cargo was seriously damaged, 
and that the surveyors had ordered the same to be 
sold without delay. This news was also communicated 
at once to the shippers. On November 4 witness got 
a’. other cablegram, stating that the expense.s of tho 
“August” at the Cape amounted to 2,(i00h and suggest- 
ing th.it the shippers should be asked to advance that 
sum, or a portion of it, to avoid a bottomry bond 
having to be resorted to. Witness sent round a 
circular to the shippers, who, however, declined to 
contribute anything t- wards the expenses. AYituess 
thereupon cabled to Thomson, Watson, <k Co., “ Ship- 
pers decline.” In witness’s opinion such pepper as 
that shipped in the “ August” is liable to damage by 
sea-water, but, perhaps, not so much as other goods. 
He had known eases of sea-damage to pepper, and 
remembered instances in which pepper had been 
recommended to bo sold. 
Sir Robert Phillimora having replied upon the 
argnments put forward on behalf of the defendants, 
the President said ha would deliver his decision upon 
this point of the case at an early date ; but, in 
any event, he would like to have translations of 
those decisions of the German Courts upon which 
reliance had been placed by the expert. — London Grocer- 
PLANTING NOTES IN CEYLON FOR 1890. 
The year that has just closed has been in most 
districts an exceptionally favourable one for flush- 
ing, and from nil I have seen of 7 years old tea, 
with ordinary cultivation, I think a maximum yield 
has been secured. If 1891 is an equally mild 
and gonial one, it strikes me, we are safe to see 
56 million lb. shipped for tho year. Coolies have 
gonerally been plentiful, and, with tlie exception 
of the wave of influenza, healthy. AVith so much 
really light work on tea estates there is not 
likely to ha any great labour difficulty. AYith tho 
judicious use of real Coast advances coolies will bo 
forthcoming for all our needs. I have found more 
difficulty in regulating my labour force so that there 
shall he no short time than in actually securing the 
number required. AYith high cultivation in tho shape 
of manuring this difficulty would bo readily overcome, 
83 tea over 6 years old in old colfee land with good 
soil and one-third manured yearly is safe to yield 
400 lb. per acre per annum. The greater portion of 
the younger districts show growth equal to an average 
yield without manure of 500 lb. per acre off all 7 years 
old fea. ITva generally gives o.xocllont promise, the 
higlier fields showing as lino a growtli ned stvlc of 
bush as I have seen anywhere, nnd inucli of the 
lower lields in Haputale that were so doubtful some- 
time ago will in my opinion bo oxcollent tea yot. All 
that is necessary hero is more caro in planting and 
shading, than what is required at higher and more 
moist elevations, and patience to wait an extra year or 
two for results. Good mana and guinea grass laud, 
p'anted iu tea. continues to yield very satisfactorily. 
The planting out of timber trees on waste land and 
along roads has been extensively carried out during 
the y'ear. For easy and rapid growth, with almost no 
li, ability to die off, the grevillea takes the palm, while 
it appear.s to do little or no damage to the tea and adds 
a largo quantity of fallen leaves annually to the coil. 
It would be interesting to know v,'hat these fallen 
leaves contain and give back again in fertilizing matter 
to tho .s il. Oidiela toona (red variety) and sapu 
are excellent for medium elevations, but the latter is 
fatal to tea if planted amongst it. 
TEA AND TOBACCO IN MATALE. 
ArVo have got excellent tea crops in Matala — 
20 per cent over estimates in soma oases, and I 
personally am pleased with the result of the year’s 
working, and yet it has been one of the driest 
seasons for many years. Dry seasons are however 
becoming monotonous, and I will welcome a ohange. 
It has not been very successful so far, and this 
season in particular has been very unfavorable for it. 
The Tobacco Company Directors hope to do well in 
tea, cacao and coconuts, and I wish them every success. 
THE SCHCOiT^OT AGRICULTURE. 
The school ope.io , i o 1800 w h tae ui- complement 
of stu ieats, cla-ites and oas'es b-jiug well reproseute'L 
Mr. J.'iyawarden^-', who sucoeeiioi! Blr. Lewis as he;: ’■ 
master continued :o inetiuet the boy? in praciioBl 
!ts ho had heeu doing since ihe foundatiou of the sch. Oi; 
Mesers, de Silva and Rodrigo (acting for Mr. J, S. de 
Saram) being the other assistants. Under the super- 
vision of the pi'actical instructor a variety cf crops were 
raised ou the grounds attached to the school, such 
8S paddy, cotton, dhall, Indian, corn, arrowroot, sugar- 
cane, yams, beans, and other vegetables. The object 
of such cultivation is maiuly to demonstrate to the 
students the best methods of growing these crops so 
that they may help to introduce or extend their cul- 
tivation iu the rural districts, in place of less nutri- 
lious food products. The headmaster h.ss also done 
much towards showing the boys the be.st methods of 
housing and feeding cattle kept lor dairy purposes, while 
he has no doubt proved that the milk trade is not to be 
despised when properly set about, with a view to profit. 
The superintendent has endeavoured to mske their 
agricultural studies as interesting as possible to the 
boys by the formation of classes in elementary geo- 
logy, zoology, entomology, veterinary, and field sur- 
veying in 80 far as these services bear ou agriculture, and 
it is satisfactory to note how much the students 
appreciate the instruction in these branches, and 
strive to excel in a knowledge of them. The boys taken 
generally were a very satisfactory lot last year, and 
among them were some of special ability, notably 
J. A. Kodippily among the seniors and E. Johan- 
nes among the juniors. The agricultural in- 
structors in various parts of the island have reached 
the number of thirtseu ; of these seven are paid by 
Government and six privately. It is gratifying to find 
that the managers of the Prince of AAMes's Oollege 
have introducecl agriculture into their curriculum, 
and that a large number of students attend the class. 
Tho Buddhist community have also started agricultural 
tesebing iu their school at Hatton. In both cases 
passed students of the school of agriculture have 
been chosen an instructors. Such private and voluntary 
efforts are most praiseworthy, and the benefits 
arising from them must be very great. It is satis- 
factory to find that a good few of the old boys of 
the school have started cultivation on their own 
account— some on a tolerably extensive scale. To 
make the work still further attractive excursions to 
Botanical Gardens, plantations, manufactorie,s and 
other places of interest are periodically ma<le. ’i'tie 
school also has its own reaiiing-roora, museum dis- 
cussion society and magazine. Lacked at from an 
unprejudiced point of view, and with an intimate 
