juLY  I,  1895.1  THE  TROPICAL  AGRlCULTURlb'l'. 
45 
Speaking  generally  of  the  appeai'ancc  of  the  estate, 
there  is  an  iniproveinent  noticeable  in  tlie  condition 
of  the  hushes  in  fields  Nos.  2,  o,  and  G,  but  the  (Hhers 
are  much  the  same  as  when  last  reported  on,  and 
although  the  weather  at  the  present  time  is  most 
favourable  for  the  growth  of  leaf,  the  Hushes  are  not, 
I regret  to  say,  so  strong  and  vigorous  as  might 
have  been  expected  at  this  period  of  the  year,  stiil 
the  returns  to  date  show  (as  was  anticipated)  a con- 
siderable advance  on  the  yield  for  18‘Jl,  the  figures 
being  40,347  lb.  and  29,481  lb.  of  made  tea  respec- 
tively. The  Estimate  for  the  year  is  130,000  lb.,  and 
though  the  quantity  already  secured  is  somewhat 
disappointing,  it  is  quite  possible  that  this  figure  may 
be  reached)  or  at  any  rate  closely  approached ; a good 
deal,  however,  will  necessarily  depend  on  the  effects 
produced  by  the  South-west  w'inds  which  sometimes 
are  very  destructive  in  this  district. 
One  of  the  great  drawbacks  to  Talgaswella, 
as  has  been  frequently  mentioned,  is  the  ir- 
regularity' in  the  growth  and  developmc^it  of 
the  bushes,  and  were  it  possible  to  separate  the 
good  from  the  bad,  the  former  would  probably  not 
occupy  very  much  more  than  half  the  cultivated  area. 
This  is  the  chief  reason  why  the  returns  have  hitherto 
been  so  disappointing,  and  it  moreover  constitutes 
a serious  difficulty  in  carrying  out  manuring  opera- 
tions, the  indiscriminate  blending  of  good  and  bad 
being  such  as  to  negative  the  possibility  of  any 
general  system  of  abandonment  of  unprolitable  land. 
While  fully  realizing  the  difficulties  of  dealing  w'ith 
tea  which  is  only  partially  productive,  the  dii-ectors 
decided  a few  months  ago  to  set  aside  a sum  of  113,500 
for  manuring  two  of  tlic  best  fields  with  castor  cako 
and  bones,  (in  the  proportion  of  two  of  the  former  to 
one  of  the  latter,)  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  result  of 
the  experiment  may  be  sufficiently  encouraging  to 
justify  further  operations  under  this  head  in  future 
years. 
In  order  that  the  best  effects  may'  be  produced, 
the  fields  set  apart  for  this  treatment  are  Nos.  I 
and  4,  w'hich  have  always  given  the  largest  returns 
of  leaf  and  present  the  best  cover  of  tea.  The 
quantity  being  applied  to  each  bush  is  3 ounces  of 
the  above  mixture  in  semi-circular  holes  on  the  upper 
side  of  the  tree. 
Forking  in  the  manure  is  to  be  tried  over  a small 
area  but  the  experiment  of  turning  over  the  soil  a 
few  mouths  ago,  in  field  No.  1,  has  not  proved  bene- 
ficial. 
The  acreage  already  manured  is  about  70,  costing  R22 
per  acre,  and  the  intention  is  to  continue  operations 
until  the  R3,500  set  aside  for  the  purpo'se  has  been 
expended. 
The  quantity  of  manure  per  tree  is  very'  small,  but 
I under  stmd  that  satisfactory'  returns  have  follow'ed 
similar  doses  in  the  Udagama  district.  Re.sidos  the 
artificial  manuring,  about  12  acres  of  the  tea  in  No.  1 
field  have  been  gone  over  with  the  contents  of  the 
catile  shed. 
GeXKKAL  Co.VUITION  of  the  PKOl’miXY  as  UEdAUDS 
Field  Wouks. — The  estate,  taking  it  as  a whole,  is 
cleaner  than  it  was  on  the  occasion  of  my  last  visit, 
but  the  system  of  regular  monthly  weeding  is  not, 
I am  afraid,  carried  out  so  systematically'  as  could 
be  wished.  To  clean  an  estate,  and  to  keep  it  clean, 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  ground  shoukl  bo 
gone  over  every  month  and  the  weeds  should  be 
buried  or  otherw'ise  destroyed. 
PnuNiNo  AND  Pi.ucKiNo. — Neither  of  those  works  are 
quite  so  well  done  as  on  estates  where  Tamil  coolies 
arc  exclusively  employed,  but  bearing  in  mind  the 
material  Mr.  Rroadhurst  has  to  deal  with,  the  general 
condition  of  the  bushes  is  fairly^  satisfactory. 
Roads  and  Duains. — The  outlet  road  is  in  a very 
rough  state  just  at  the  ju'osent  time,  but  tlie  roads 
on  the  estate  are  in  pretty  good  order  and  the  drains 
have  lately  been  cleaned  out. 
Factoiiv  and  Machineuy. — Evcrytliing  under  this 
head  is  satisfactory  and  in  good  working  order,  Imt 
a new  sifter  will  pi-obahly  be  required  next  year. 
OrnEU  Rurr.mNns. — .-\n  Assistant  Superintendent 
having  iiecn  appointed,  some  reiiairs  to  the  small 
Runj'alow  will  be  required  and  the  lines  will  want 
looking  to  from  time  to  time. 
r[AE0UR. — There  appears  to  be  a good  supply  of 
Sinhalese  labour  available  just  at  the  present  time, 
but  of  Tamil  coolies  there  are  only  about  JO  left. 
ExPENDiTUUE. — The  estimate  for  the  year,  includ- 
ing Colombo  Charges  and  Directors’  fees,  amounts 
to  1110,877,  of  whici)  RIO, 058  has  been  spent  to  end 
of  April. 
This  estimate  does  not  provide  for  the  cost  of 
mairuring,  and  it  having  been  decided  to  appoint  an 
.Assistant  bujierintendent,  there  will  be  some  increase 
under  head  of  salaries,  thougli  not  very  much,  as  it 
lias  also  been  arranged  to  substitute  a native  tea- 
maker  for  the  European  who  is  now  in  charge  of 
the  Factory,  and  this  will  result  in  some  saving  of 
wages.  " 
The  estimate  provides  liberally  enough  for  all  neces- 
sary works,  and  if  Mr.  Broadhurst  adheres  to  it,  and 
maintains  a good  quality  of  tea,  there  is  reason  to 
hope  that  the  result  of  the  season's  operations  may 
not  be  altogether  unsatisfactory-,  but  a great  deal  will 
of  course  depend  upon  the  market,  and  as  regards 
the  crop  we  are  assuming  that  the  season  is  a fairly* 
favourable  one  for  finshing. 
Fuktiieii  Re.mauks. — In  taking  up  the  visiting  of 
Talgaswella  last  year,  it  was  on  the  understanding 
that  I might  not  be  able  to  continue  it,  and  I shall 
be  glad  now  if  the  Directors  will  make  other  arrange- 
ments for  c.UT-ying  on  the  work.  Seeing,  however, 
that  henceforth  until  the  close  of  the  year,  there 
will  bo  very  little  doing  but  plucking,  w'ceding  and 
pruning,  1 should  hardly  thiiiK  anotlier  visit  wi.l  be 
nc'cessary  for  some  time  to  come. 
Ed'ai).  S.  Gkilso..'. 
May  lOtb. 

A HCOTTiyil  COUNTY  COUNCILI.OR  AT 
THE  TEA  y.\LES. 
Mr.  Henry  liohcrtsoii  of  Edc-ngrove  Eifosliiro, 
■senioi-  partner  of  the  linn  bearing  lii.s  name,  which 
carries  on  an  extensive  jirodneo  bnsines.s  in 
Dmidce  is  a pa.sscngor  by  the  “ Idgnria.  ” For 
lully  si.x  months  Mr.  Uohei'lson  lias  been  tour- 
ing in  ,\us_tralia,  and  New  Zealand.  'J’oday  lie 
jiaid  a ));ussing  visit  to  Colomlio  ami  in  the  course 
of  liis  walk  j'onnd  tlie  town  attended  tlie  tea 
sale.s  at  the  Chamber  of  Coiiimeree  Rooms.  Mr. 
Hohcrtsoii  is  a memher  of  Fifesliire  County 
Uoniicil,  a stanncli  Liberal,  and  for  many  years 
has  been  connected  with  public  life  in  that  jiait 
of  Scotland  in  which  he  resides. 
n 1 11  Mj  1 1, 1 
iD  IV  1 11  r., 
LA  150  L R 
We 
1 ui  V 
SUPFLY  AND  MANAGEMENT. 
are 
—who  has 
a jilantei'- 
everytliing 
ally*  in  tlie 
gratified 
to 
had  24 
-that  he 
tliat  has 
Obaerrev  in 
learn  from  Mr.  Ski'ir.e 
years’  experience  as 
agrees  nitli  nearly 
heen  v.ritten  edilori- 
respect  of  the  Lahonr 
Supply  (jnestion.  He  does  not  believe  in  their 
being  any  siiecial  deficiency,  taking  tiie  country  as 
a whole  ; Imt  he  is  emphatie  in  ' siijiporting  ' onr 
view  that  if  thei'e  lie  a short  sup])ly  now  or 
for  the  future,  no  ]>ractical  remedy  is  worthy  of 
com].arison  witli  that  of  thromik  Jlaihirn, 
< 'imiiiniiiral  1,111  hetween  Gevlon  am'l  the  ( 'ooly 
Di.slrictsof  Sontliern  India.  ''I'he  enormous  saiiim- 
in  tlic  time  now  lost  ;iIong'  the  JNOvtli  roail,  or 
waiting  at  or  near  jmrts,  and  the  sav  ing  of  inonev 
and  extortions  to  the  coolies— alone  .should  toil 
heavily  in  lavour  id'  the  Railway.  'I’liat  a Indo- 
Geylon  railway  should  make  it  easy  for  the  coolies 
to  return  i.s  a decided  'idv.antage  : for  often  ,at 
liresent,  they  become  dis.sati.slied  in  facin--  the 
dillicnlties  attending  t heir  return,  widleif  they  were 
.ahli'to  go  promiitly  when  tiiev  liad  made  a little 
;GV-  ■■>.11  ll'o  ni  'ie  readily’  .-.hunld  they  come 
hack  auain  to  (’cNlnH. 
As  reg.ir  Is  reejiit  local  troubles,  i\lr.  Skriiie 
amiot  help  thinking  that  a great  -leal  h due 
