Oct.  I,  1895.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
269 
CRAPE  (!Ci;nVATtOX  [N  ('CLOMP, o, 
{Coill.llIHlliratcd.) 
We  lui VO  before  referred  to  an  experiment  in  grape 
culture  that  was  going  on  in  the  nei;hbourhood  of 
the  Agricultural  yclio)!  in  the  Cinnamon  Gardens. 
The  vines  were  collected  by  Mr.  Zaiietti  in  ililferent 
parts  of  the  Central  Districts  of  Victoria,  a.id  the 
cuttings  taken  from  selected  healthy  plants  under 
his  supervision.  Packing  for  transit  was  of  course  a 
mo- 1 important  matter,  and  puirticular  attention  had 
to  b-.-  given  to  the  vines  during  the  voysge,  in  keep- 
ing the  roots  moist  and  at  the  same  time  preventing 
mildew.  Ninety  ijer  cent  of  the  rooted  vines  that 
weie  brought  over  are  tluiving  well;  the  other  ten  per 
cent  canno'.  yet  be  said  to  be  t.itai  failures  as  they 
may  in  all  probability  strike  from  tiie  bottom, 
though,  of  course  in  such  cases,  the  crop  will  be  de- 
layed by  two  reasons.  In  conneclion  with  the  Colombo 
experiment  there  are  two  nurseries.  One  nursery  con- 
tains : — ■ 
125  Cuttings  Gordo  Blanco 
125  ,,  Champion  Muscat 
125  .,  Black  Prince 
10  ,,  Lady’s  Finger 
10  ,,  Snow  jMuscat  Ambro 
10  ,,  GrussColmau 
10  ,,  White  B'larillion 
100  ,,  Golden  Chasselas 
making  a total  of  740  cuttings. 
A second  nursery  contains  150  cuttings  chasselas 
(golden)  250  cuttings  Muscat  of  Alexandra.  Making 
a total  of  400  cuttings. 
Tne  planted  vineyai’d  contains  vines;  two  years 
old  and  under,  of  the  same  varieties  as  the  cut- 
tings excepting  the  Muscat  of  Alexandra,  plants  of 
which  could  not  have  been  secured,  and  the  Cham- 
pion Muscat.  A bundle  of  50  plants  of  the  latter 
variety  were  unfortunately  stolen  from  Mr.  Zanetti 
two  days  after  their  arrival  in  Colombo,  and  all  at- 
tempts to  trace  the  thieves  proved  unsuccessful. 
The  following  notes  the  chief  characters 
varieties  that  are  being  tried. 
The  ‘.  use at  of  Alexandra;  A very  e-asily  grown 
grape,  very  prolific,  fine  flavour,  small  bunches  but 
well  filled,  generally  a very  good  cropper  in  hilly 
land  of  a rocky  nature  where  patches  of  loose  soil 
ai'e  obtainable. 
The  Ch.vmpion  Muscat  : does  not  grow  very  rank 
or  strong,  but  is  a fair  cropp)er,  very  large  red 
berries  with  splendid  flavour. 
The  vineyard  contains  about  750  plants  of  the  fol- 
lowing : — 
Uortlo  Blanco. — Vines  two  years  old,  in  their  first 
bearing,  very  strong  grower,  good  cropper,  large  bun- 
ches, though  not  very  well  filled,  fine  Muscat  Savour, 
a white  gr.ipe. 
Blar.h  llamhroor  iraiabiiirih. — .V  medium  grower,  fair 
c>‘opper,  splennid  l.ivge  black  oorries,  verj'  .sweet,  bun- 
ches large  ami  lull. 
Prinre. — B,,ire  variety,  large  oval  blackberries 
oirong  gro.ver,but  must  be  expected  to  fail  to  c»op  once 
every  two  years. 
Uuldeii  C/utss-  las- — The  earliest  grape  iir  Australia, 
brought  over  originally  from  tne  South  of  Spam, 
splendid  cropper,  easily  grown,  affects  sandy  soils, 
medium  sized  soft  golden  berries  with  sweet  juice, 
large  and  well  tilled  bunches.  This  Mr.  Zanetti 
thinks,  should  be  the  most  successful  in  Ceylon,  and 
liked  most  for  its  flavour. 
iPhite  .Uarillou  or  Dovadilloit. — Very  strong  grower, 
good  cropper,  though  late,  good  sized  berries  of 
amber  colour  and  tine  flavour. 
Gro.ss  Colman. — Strong  prolific  grower,  large  sized 
lilack  berries,  poor  cropper,  of  very  superior  flavour. 
Vines  two  years  old. 
Snow  Muscat  Hamuuo.— Strong  Muscat,  good 
cropper,  not  very  large  berries  but  of  very  delicious 
flavour,  very  late. 
Lady’s  Finoru. — A strong  grower,  magnificent  oval 
goiflen  grape,  came  originally  from  Sicily,  large 
bunches  but  loose,  lierries  of  exceptionally  large  si’ze, 
very  fleshly  and  of  delicious  flavour,  hardier  and  more 
vigorous  than  any  of  the  above,  and  all  round  the 
best.  Vines  two  years  old.  The  vines  which  were 
over  (■)  weeks  out  of  the  ground  were  planted  during 
the  first  week  of  August,  and  the  750  do  not  occupy 
much  more  than  an  acre.  Supports  have  already 
been  supplied  and  the  vines  tied  on  to  them.  Alto- 
gether the  miniature  vineyard  of  a month  old  pre- 
sent.? a very  pleasing  sight,  and  it  is  as  novel  as  it 
is  intore-sting  to  see  some  of  the  little  vines,  two 
three  feet  in  height,  bearing  blossom  and  a few  ac- 
tually with  fruit.  The  experiment  is  one  of  vast 
importance  to  the  Colony  and  svill  be  watched  with 
much  concern  by  all.  We  heartily  wish  it  all  sucess. 
(f.UININE  FOR  THE  MILLION. 
M’e  are  very  pleased  to  find  that  the  Ceylon 
Govenuiieiit  is  at  length  to  follow  that  of  India 
in  a direction  wo  liave  often  reconnneniled. 
Tlie  following  is  from  Dr.  Kynsey’s  Medical 
Re[)ort  : — 
“ A scheme  has  been  sanctioned  by  the  Governor, 
and  is  in  course  of  being  introduced,  for  the  sale  at 
dispensaries  and  post-offices  throughout  the  I-^land  of 
quinine  in  small  packets  at  a little  over  actual  cost 
price.  I anticipate  that  much  good  will  result  if  the 
scheme  proves  a success  ; this  valuable  drug  will  be 
placed  within  the  reach  of  the  poorest  village  at  trifling 
cost.” 
THE  AGRICULTURAL  MAGAZINE. 
The  following  ai’e  the  contents  of  the  September 
number  just  out — I.  Grape  Cultivation  in  Ceylon. 
II.  L iws  of  Ceylon  reiaiiug  to  Agriculture.  III. 
Labour.  IV.  Palinyrah  Faim  Frodiiot.s.  V.  Daily 
Froduce.  VI.  Black  Smut  oil  Orange  trees.  VII. 
Abortion  in  CIow.s.  Vfll.  Gambago  and  Benzoin. 
IX.  .A  Now  Crnit  Tree.  X.  Fouitry  Diseases.  XL 
Royal  Commission  on  Tuberculosis.  XII.  Chemical 
Examination  of  Ceylon  Plants.  XIII.  Vines  and 
Live  Supports.  XIV.  Ceylon  Woods.  XV.  Rainfall 
taken  at  the  School  Agriculture  during  August  1895, 
and  XVI.  General  Items. 
Some  discussion  has  been  started  in  the  pages 
of  the  Magazine  on  the  subject  of  Grape  cultui’e 
— the  outcome  of  the  experiment  at  the  School  of 
Agriculture,  where,  from  all  reports  nearly  a dozen 
varieties  of  Australian  vines  have  made  a very 
promising  start.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  these  experi- 
ment will  be  the  means  of  discovering  the  best 
varieties  for  grapes  in  Ceylon.  The  article  on  Dairy 
Frodnee  is  interesting,  and  the  note  on  black  smut 
on  orange  trees  should  prove  of  value  to  fruit 
growers.  It  is  somewhat  amusing  to  read  of  the 
high  opinion  in  which  the  Carambola  (a  much 
despised  fruit  in  Ceylon)  is  held  in  Australia. 
— 
NEW  TEA  COMPANIES. 
THE  CEYLO.N  I’liOV I .■(CIAL  ESTATES  CO.,  LTD. 
The  MemoLanduin  and  Articles  of  Association  of 
the  Ceyion  Provincial  Estates  Company,  Limited,  are 
publisiied  in  tlie  Gazette.  Anioag  the  objects 
lor  which  tiie  Company  is  established  are — To  pur- 
chase, or  lease,  or  otherwise  acquire  any  estate  or 
estates,  land  or  lands,  machinery,  implements,  Ac. 
in  the  island  of  Ceylon  ; to  purchase  tea  leaf  and 
(or)  other  raw  products  for  maufacture,  manipula- 
tion, and  (or)  sale;  to  manufacture  tea  leaf  and  (or) 
other  raw  products  ; to  plant,  grow,  and  produce,  buy 
sell,  trade,  and  deal  m tea,  coffee,  cinchona,  cacao’ 
cardamoms  and  other  plants,  trees,  and  natural 
products  of  any  kind,  or  any  of  them.  The  nominal 
capit.il  of  the  Company  is  one  million  rupees 
(Ri,OJl),000),  divided  into  two  thousand  shares  of  five 
luindred  rupees  (R500)  each,  with  power  to  increase 
or  decrease  the  capital.  Tlie  following  have  already 
taken  a share  each  ; — Messrs.  John  Paterson,  Stephen 
Brown,  John  N.  Grant,  F.  J.  de  Saram,  M.’  Bremer 
Andrew  Murray,  and  R.  W.  Paterson.  ’ 
TUE  HIGH  FORESTS  ESTATES  CO.,  LTD. 
The  Gaz’dte  also  contains  the  Memorandum 
and  Articles  of  Associatiou  of  the  High  Forests  Estates 
Company,  Liniitel.  The  following  are  among  the  ob- 
jects stated  for  which  the  Company  is  established 
