April i, 1891 .] 
THF TROPICAL AGRICULTURiST. 719 
in high situations particnla,rly, and the power sought 
by the Municipal Council in Suggestion II. and Bye- 
law II does not seem to me what Government is likely 
to grant. 
“ Bye-law III. would staud or fall with Bye-law II. 
Bye-law IV. would bo useful in many cases : but might 
be a dangerous instrument of annoyance. Is it not 
already sufficiently provided for under the present powers 
of the Municipality in case there is danger to be ap- 
preheuded from the growth objected to? 
“I think it would be useful in many cases to save 
people in spite of themselves, for nothing strikes one 
with such astonishment as the callous way in which 
people build or live in bouses, under trees which a 
moderate cyclone would bring down to the entire 
destruction of the buildings 
“ Bye-law V. would be most useful il practicable- 
If the Municipal Council is prepared to compensate 
owners for eradicating yellow wattle there is not one 
word to urge against what would be a most useful 
provision. If however the Counoil is not prepared to 
give compensation I think that an order to eradicate 
the pest would be rather despotic. That it is a pest 
1 agree most cordially, but I do not see that there 
would be much chance of getting powers from Govern- 
ment to do more than keep the thickets cut down 
at intervals. 
“ It might be possible to get Government to rule 
that no trees of yellow wattle should be planted, and 
even that all trees (as distinguished from wattle thickets) 
should be cut dowu, in order to ininimizs the danger 
of au extension of the roots. I do not think that 
black wattle Acacia melanor.ylon, comes under the same 
category, except under very exceptional circumstances. 
Bys-law VI. would be useful in many cases, though 
even that might cau.se irritation.” 
So far Mr. Peot. To quote again: — 
Mr. George Oakes in his minute remarks : — “That 
iu 1883 the Special Sanitary officev, Surgeon-Major 
Nanney adopted vigorous measures for the eradication 
of the Acacia Dealhata or ye low flowering wattle, 
which were fairly successful, but as he was unable to 
legally insist on land holders clearing their land, eeveral 
large areas were left to spread. The Acacia JJealbata 
appears to have been introduced some 50 years back, 
when owing to the scarcity of trees in the station, it 
was largely planted by holders of property as avenues, 
and to mirk the boundarie.? of their holdings. The 
trees originally planted having been cut, and the roots 
left in the ground has led to the present dense growth 
of brushwood, which is as unwholesome as unsightly. 
As regards the value of the tree for fuel and timber, it 
ranks among, St the lowest of tho imported Auetrahau 
trees, a straight well growing tree being the exception. 
On these hills it seems liable to canker, which attacks 
the tree just at the junction of tho stem and the 
roots, and is the cause of their suddenly failing. From 
the roots left in the ground thousands of suckers 
spring up, and continually spread. It is notice- 
able that these suckers seldom grow up into 
trees, but seem to expend their force in 
extending their roots, which form as dense a 
net-work under ground as the suckers do above. There 
are very dense growths of this tree at Bisbopsdown, 
Greenway, Koodah Cottage, and at tho back of tho 
Club; but hardly any property in this station is en- 
tirely free. 
“Immediate and energotio steps should be taken to 
eradicate the pest ; stem, root and branch. 
“The Acacia 3Iclanoxylon grows a dense handsome 
tree, and i.s useful for fuel and timbsr if tho trees are 
mature and the wood after being sawu up allowed to 
season. The great drawback to growing the tree, in 
tho station, is the extent to which it throws out roots 
— frequently 25 to 30 yards from tho trees, from which 
other young trees spring up which again extend their 
roots, it is therefore one of the worst trees to plant 
near buildings. 
“ The JAtcalyptus Globulus was iutroduced subse- 
quently to the Aciioias, and is now of the three species 
mentioned, the only cue planted to any extent. Witliiu 
the last fifteen years the very extensive planting of 
this tree in the etatiou in many oases 3 foot by 3 feet 
and within six feet of dwelling houses has had a de- 
trimental effect on the health of the inhabitants. 
“ The tree in itself is most harmless and the essential 
oil distilled from its loaves, a mo.st valuable addition 
to the Pharmacopoeia ; but the dense plantations of it 
preventing the sun from reaching the ground and the 
free cireulalion of air are inimical to the health of 
those residing iu the vicinity. Apart from the above 
reasons it is noticed that any springs or wells in the 
vicinity are quickly dried up ! 
“ The roots of the Eucalyptus though large and 
spreading and dangerous when planted too near build- 
ings have not the habit of throwing up suckers aud 
spreading as do the acacias. The wood is the best 
fuel we have and timber sawn from trees thirty years 
old is suitable for beams and rafters of roofs ; but is of 
uo use if subjected to damp. 
“If planted iu moderation by these of the residents 
who wish to have a few trees for shelter or fuel the 
Eucalyptus is the best they couid plant, but they should 
on no account be planted c!os :r than 20 by 30 which 
will give 48 trees to the acre.” 
I think it will occur to readers that where the 
object is to bind loose soil, such as road and 
especially railway embankments, A. dealbata\tiW bo 
of great value ; while, finally, although tree planting 
ought to be carried on with discrimination in Nuwara 
Eliya, it will be very long indeed before dwellers 
m our Sanatorium will imitate the Ootacamundites 
in their complaints against too much shade and 
shelter from the planting of exotic trees. The 
bareness, rather, of many parts of the grassy Plain 
needs redeeming by judicious arboriculture; 
HAILSTORMS IN MASKELIYIA. 
March 13th. 
Tho hailstorm on the 28th February must have 
been very local, or some notice would have been taken 
of it. I send by post some tea and cinchona leaves 
perforated that will give you an idea of what the 
force and quantity of hail that came down was. It 
made the dogs and fowls hop. In the back verandah 
half-an-inoh of hail stones were on the mats, and 
some of the largest I have ever seen almost as large as 
a pigeon’s egg. The noise on the siiingled roof was 
a caution. * A few estates down the vahey from here 
neither hail nor rain fell though it poured (“buck- 
ets”) up the valley. You perceive it went clean 
through old and hard tea leaves. A carpenter showed 
me a paper umbrella that the hailstones had gone 
through, and I must say it looked like it. The 
perforated holes were from the outside and the 
appearance of being holed as he described. 
■ MIJII 
COFFEE FROM ABOUT KORAT, SIAM. 
It seems likely that a new industry will be added 
to the wealth of Siam, and that the cultivation aud 
sale of coffee will become an important trade iu 
Bankok. 
The more we hear about Korat, from those who have 
visited that part of tho coautry, the more we are cou- 
vinoed that this large area offers favourable conditions 
of elevation, soil aud climate to open out plautatioua 
for the cultivation of the Arabica coffee berry. The 
ouUnveuow seems, says the Bankok Times, to have been 
superseded m (Jeylou by tea, (or vva uo longer hear 
auy mention of coffee from the famous old plautations 
that for so loug a time commanded the coffee marts 
of Europe. Thus the world’s supply is diminished 
by the amouut of the falling off from that source. 
Then year by year the taste for coffee has extended 
until it is uo longer looked upon as an article of great 
* The leaves — large ones too — are completely rid- 
dl' d with holes as if shot through. We are fortunate 
in Ceylon in having a visitation of this kind, so rat oh 
leas often than tea planters iu North India,— En, T, 4- 
