March 2 , 1891 .] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
617 
“la the older gardens, the plants (a mixture of 
China and hybrid) have beau found to be planted too 
closely, being in some instances only 2' to 3' apart, 
and this has caused a slower growth, owing to the 
small amount of feeding and breathing room allowed 
for each plant ; it also appears to make them 
more subject to blight, as these bushes suffer more 
than those planted at wider intervals. Another dis- 
advantage of this close planting is that the sutface 
roots interlace with each other, so that deep oultivution 
is impossible, without injury to the plants and therefore 
the air does not penetrate so deeply into the soil. 
“ I have suggested the burning of ail prunings, espe- 
cially all blighted leaves and large wood, as it is prob- 
able that hoeing in the former, unburut, is one of tiio 
chief causes of the continuance of the disease, and if 
every manager wou'd see that this is thoroughly done 
every pruning season, the ssrious ravages of this disease 
should be considerably lessened. The larger branches, 
also, if allowed to slowly decompose in the soil, form 
a suitable home for many insects and fungi, which 
may injure the growing plants. That decomposing 
would has an injurious effect on the plant is plainly 
seen where bushes are placed near a dead stump.* As 
a rule, they flourish for a time until their roots reach 
those of the decaying stump, when the leaves suddouly 
wither up and the plant dies. It is also very iruporlant 
that the ash obtained from the prnniugs should bo 
restored to the plants, otherwise considerable loss to 
the soil would onsuo- Besides it is the best possible 
manure for the plants, as it contains all the necessary 
mineral constituents in an easily available condition. 
‘‘ Another important source of manure is the ash of 
the wood burnt in the engines ; the ash from which is 
rarely made use of, being usua’ly merely thrown out 
n heaps and exposed to all weathers, causing a loss of 
valuable plant fool; whereas if it was placed under 
cover to protect it from the rain until a sufficient 
quantity for application was collected, a cheap and 
effective manure would be always available. Its good 
effect ou the tea plant was well marked in one 
instance where it had been thrown among some bushes 
growing close to the engine house, these being of a 
healthy dark green colour, end nearly a foot higher 
than the surrounding bushes. 
“The soil of the uew oxtonsion-s, which had previously 
been covered with jungle, is more suitable for the tea 
plaut than broken-up grass land, no doubt due to the 
larger amount of organic and easily soluble mineral 
matter present in the surface soil in the former, and 
also to the burning or removal of the grass which 
causes an anunal loss of organic matter and nitrogen, 
so that probably the application of a nitrogenous 
manure to this s dl would bo of great benefit. 
“ The site of the old nurseries is plainly marked 
in the old and new gardens, by smaller plants of 
feeble growth; this ii no doubt owing to the large 
amount of surface soil removed with young plants, 
and consequently most of the readily available plant 
food, so that to these places either soil from the 
jungles near by, or some complete manure, should be 
applied to restoro them to their former condition. 
“There was only one point called for attention in 
the manufactory, which was, that in some cases the 
leaf was sifted after the first rolling, so ns to separate 
the coarser from the finer leaves, by which means a 
more even ferm. ut itiou is secured and a better sample 
of tea obtained. 
“ In noting the temperature of lent during the 
formeutatioii I foniid tlia-t there was a gradual lowering 
for about two-thirds of the time, after whicli it re- 
mained constant at a tempernluro below that of the 
surrouiuli.ig atmosphore. The high temperature of the 
leaf at first was duo to friction in the rolling, and the 
rapid cooling to evaporation of moisture from the damp 
cloths covering the leaf. The following wore the teni- 
peraturca noted for lino and coarse leaves, taken at 
inloivals of half-an-hour: — 
Fine leaf ..77')°, 7-f-3o, 73 7°, 72G°F. 
Coarse loaf ..710°, 721°, 71(1°, 70'2°F. 
“ However no definite oouclusioiia can yet bo arrived 
’ See I’l'occaliiii/i, March and May, 1837. 
at as to the best temperature tor tl;e fermentation, as 
probably in tho rainy and hot season, a different one 
would give as good or belter results, and further trials 
will he made at that time when an opportunity occurs 
for again visiting the districts. — I remain, yours faith- 
fully, (Sd) M. K. Bambee. 
It is proposed that Mr. Bamber should have an 
opportunity of seeing the districts of Assam and Oachar 
&e., before settling down to the analyses of soil. Dur- 
ing his tonr through these districts ho will collect 
samples of soils and plants to be aualysed, and organize 
all arrangements for manuml experiments. — Agricul- 
tural and Horticultural Societij of India. 
(1ROCE.EIES AND THE AMERICAN TARIFF. 
One day last week a reporter of the Public Ledger 
of Philadelphia, dropped into the store of Fiii'ley 
Acker & Co., and was forcuuate in meeting the 
unu.sually shrewd and level-headed senior member of 
llie firm, who spoke as follows regarding the effect 
of the tariff on the prices of groceries; — 
“ Ever since the passage of the bill in nearly all 
branches of trade the cry has been heard : ‘ Higher 
prices ! Higher prices ! ’ So general and familiar has 
become the cry that when a young lady was facetiously 
asked to pay five cents for a two-cent stamp which 
she had ordered she gravely paid ths amount without 
a murmur, attributing the advance to the operations 
of the McKinley bill.* * * 
OTHEK CAUSES OPERATING. 
“ Have any otlier c.auses operated to advance the 
prices of goods in your line ? ” asked the reporter. 
“Yes, there is tea. On account of the rapid advance in 
the price of silver several months ago, teas advanced 
considerably in price, but are now back again to their 
former value. Although our trade has been rapidly 
growing, we think that tea should be used much more 
freely than it is. When we consider that a pound of 
tea will make nearly 300 cups, while a pound of coffee 
makes but 32 cups, we can readily see how economical 
tea is in comparison with coffee, even if the highest 
priced tea be used. 
“ The coat of coffees have still further advanced, but 
not to an extent sufficient to affect retail prices. We 
are hoping that in time we will again be able to sell 
coffee at the very low and popular prices of several 
years ago. 
“ While speaking of beverages we must refer to tho 
development of the cocoa trade withiu the last year or 
two,’’ continued Mr. Acker. “ It has been almost phe- 
nomenal. Instead of cocoa being used on rare occbsious, 
or in the sick rooms, it is now in daily consumption in 
many families. One reason for this is that more enter- 
prise has been shown by cocoa manufacturers in popu- 
larizing this nutritious beverage, and demonstrating 
its cheapness as compared with coffee. One pound of 
cocoa is said to mako from 60 to 80 cups, and when you 
otsii buy it at 40c a pound you can readily see how 
cheap it is. Even if you buy it at §1 a pound it will 
still be as cheap as coffee. — American Grocer. 
“ A CEYLON TEA-SELLING COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 
Under the Patronage oe the Ceylon Planters’ 
Association.” 
Such is tho important decision arrived at by 
the representatives of the Oeylon Tea planters 
assembled in the Tea Fund Commiltee — namely, 
to take steps (or the formation of a Limited Com- 
pany to undertake the business of selling pure 
(foylon teas, in new lends especially. The imme- 
diate cause of this movoment bas been the enquiry 
through the Imperial Bank of Russia on behalf 
of constituents as to tho financial standing of the 
Planters’ Association of Ceylon — made, evidently 
under tho impression that the Association was a 
business Company of planters ready to sell their 
tea direct. There can bo no doubt that there is 
room for such a Company as that now proposed, 
and that if managed judiciously on business prin- 
1 ciplcs, it ought to bo specially successful in giving 
