Dec.  2,  1895.1 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
397 
VARIOUS  PLANTING  NOTES. 
Planting  and  Life  in  Nva.ssaland. — We 
direct  special  attention  to  the  letter  of  Mr.  J. 
W.  Moil- of  Lauderdale  estate,  answering  certain 
criticisms  directed  to  ns  hy  a Ceylon  visitor  to 
Britisli  Central  Africa  in  the  early  part  of  thi.s 
year.  As  we  said  at  the  time,  experience  on 
the  coast  and  u])  the  river  is  very  different 
from  tliat  of  the  resident  at  Blantyre  and  in  the 
coffee  hill  region.  Mr.  Moir’s  life  statistics  are 
eminently  satisfactory ; and  .so  arc  his  r-ainfall 
and  temperature  tables, — given  on  pp.  300-354 — as 
to  the  suitableness  of  tlie  hill  country  for  coffee 
glowing. 
Tea  Cui/itv.\tion  and  the  Olde.st  Tea  in 
Ceylon. — It  may  surprise  a good  many  to 
find  that  whereas  in  1892-9.3,  only  23,000 
acres  were  added  to  the  total  in  tea  in 
Ceylon,  in  the  past  two  years  (1894-95)  the 
total  of  land  planted  with  tlie  staple  is  32,000 
acres. — We  are  accustomed  for  each  new 
edition  of  our  Handbook  to  get  a report 
on  the  oldest  field  on  Loolecondura  (now  in  its 
27th  year).  Mr.  Bonner,  the  present  manager  is 
good  enough  to  respond  toour  requestas  follows  : — 
Loolecondura,  Sept.  21. 
To  the  Editor,  Ca/loii  Observer. 
Dkau  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  letter  re  the  Oldest 
Tea  hold  on  Loolecondura.  This  field  is  still  very 
vigorous  though  one  or  two  patches  on  the  ridges 
are  decidedly  poor.  The  yield  1st  January  to  31st 
August  is  at  the  rate  of  382  lb.  per  acre  and  though  not 
so  good  as  1893,  this  may  in  a great  measure  be  ac- 
counted for  by  its  being  only  recently  pruned. — Yours 
faithfully,  C.t.  dONNER.^ 
Lady  Bird.s  and  Coffee  in  Hawaii.—- We 
take  the  following  imjjortant  paragrai»h — impor- 
tant to  Ceylon  Planters  ivitli  coiiee — from  the 
Hawaiian  Commercial  Journal,  Augt.  13th  : — 
What  has  given  the  Kona  people  more  encourage- 
ment than  anything  else  is  the  rapid  disappearance 
of  the  blight,  which  in  the  early  part  of  the  season 
threatened  to  destroy  the  whole  crop.  The  ladybird 
recently  introduced  in  the  district  did  not  begin  opera- 
tions on  the  coffee  trees  until  about  six  weeks  ago, 
confining  themselves  at  first  to  the  guava  bushes. 
They  lay  dormant  all  winter  and  when  the  warm 
weather  set  in,  appeared  in  small  numbers  on  the 
guava  trees.  When  they  first  appeared  the  planters 
feared  they  would  not  spread  to  the  coffee  trees  but 
a few  weeks  later  when  the  warmer  weather  set  in 
myriads  of  the  bright-ivinged  strangers  swarmed  the 
coffee  trees  clearing  them  completely  of  all  blight. 
The  result  will  be  that  whereas  the  whole  crop  was 
threatened  with  total  destruction  more  than  half  a 
crop  will  now  be  saved  with  the  prospects  for  future 
seasons  exceedingly  bright. 
ItUuiiER  Cui/l’UKE.— Nob  alone  in  coffee— -ami 
Liberifiii  coiiec  espccicilly— cire  our  fetiiiits  iieigli- 
hours  leading  the  way  ; but  also  it  seems  in 
respect  of  the  cultivation  of  rubber.  \ V e have 
had  a call  from  the  proprietor  of  a plantation 
in  Lower  Perak  on  alluvial  riverside  soil,  where 
there  are  either  planted,  or  about  to  be  planteil, 
some  500  acres  of  Para  rubber.  The  climate 
and  soil  ought  to  be  as  good  for  Para,  as 
its  native  Amazonian  region,  and  we  look  for- 
ward Avith  much  interest  to  hearing  from  Mr. 
Baker  of  the  progress  of  his  clearing  and  his 
eventual  harvests  of  rubber.— There  has,  how- 
ever in  the  i>ast  two  years  been  a good  deal  done 
in  Para  rubber  in  Ceylon,  e.spemally  111  the 
Kalutara  and  other  lowcountry  districts.  ihe 
Conservator  of  Forests  does  not  tell  us  much  of 
his  Sabaragamuwa  plantations,  but  they  appear 
to  be  groAving  all  right.  Perhaps  1,000  acres 
altogether  are  jdanted  Avith  rubber  trees  m 
C'ej’loii. 
Meai  for  Planters. — Never  add  lime  to  a manure  con- 
laiuing  nitrogen ; and  when  lime  has  been  applied 
to  the  land,  do  not  use  such  manures  until  about 
three  weeks  afterwards. — The  Agrieulliwal  Magazine. 
Pl.vnting  Enterpki.se  in  North  Traa'AN- 
CORE. — The  folloAving  is  from  the  Madras  Mail 
We  publish  froji  the  Ceglon  Observer  .an  interes- 
ting account  of  the  lands  w'hich  have  been  bought 
in  the  Kanan  DeA'an  District  by  Messrs.  Finlay, 
Muir  & Co.  from  the  North  Travancore  Company. 
We  understand  that  it  is  the  present  intention  of  the 
proprietors  to  put  10,000  acres  under  tea  within  the 
next  four  years.  Mr.  H.  M.  Knight  is  the  General 
Manager,  and  the  property  will  be  opened  out  under 
him  in  a throughly  ))ractical  manner.  We  should 
like  to  see  as  vigorous  a spurt  in  other  planting 
districts. — M.  Mail. 
Hydraulic  IMortai!.— May  be  obtained  by 
mixing  brick  dust  Avith  quicklime.  Blocks  of 
such  mortar  half  an  inch  in  thickness,  after 
immersion  in  Avater  for  four  months,  bore 
Avithout  cru.sliing,  crumbling  or  splitting,  a 
pressure  of  1,5001b  per  .square  inch.  It  is  asser- 
ted that  the  use  of  mortar  of  this  composition 
largely  prevails  in  Spain,  and  that  it  is  found 
here  to  be  superior  to  much  artificial  cement 
in  the  construction  of  drains,  tanks,  or  cisterns. 
The  proportions  used  are  one  of  brick  dust,  one 
of  lime,  and  tAvo  of  sand,  mi.xed  together  dry,  and 
tempered  Avith  Avater  in  the  usual  way.  There  must 
be  many  occasions  in  Avhich  you  Avould  find  thisneAv 
mixture  useful.  It  is  not  knoAvn  to  me  if  it  AA’ill 
absolutely  set  under  Avater,  bu,t  probably  a 
somewhat  larger  proportion  of  brick  dust  might 
ensure  this.  It  seems  reasonable  to  think  .so,  for 
we  knoAV  that  artificial  cements  are  made  almost 
entirely  of  burnt  clay  and  lime.  Very  little 
exiierimenting  Avould  be  able  to  decide  your  local 
architects  and  engineers  on  this  point.  It  may 
Avell  bo  recommended  to  your  Direetor  of  Public 
'Works  to  make  some  trials  in  the  direction  men- 
tioned.— London  Cor. 
The  E-xport  of  Ceylon  Teas. — The  figures  given 
in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  Price  Current  this 
Aveek,  relating  to  the  exports  of  Ceylon  tea  to  all 
parts  of  the  world,  arc  more  than  usually  interest- 
ing, and  show  a most  gratifying  increase  in  the  output 
of  our  staple  (to  26th  Sept).  The  American  shipments 
have  risen  from  163,4101b.  to  272,2901b.  The  export  to 
Australia  exceeds  that  of  last  year  by  1,487,284  lb. 
But  by  far  the  most  interesting  increase  is  shoAvn 
in  the  figures  relating  to  the  Russian  market. 
The  importance  of  that  country  as  an  outlet  for 
oiu'  teas  has  long  been  recognised,  and  an  ener- 
getic campaign  has  been  carried  on  there  against 
merchants'  and  dealers’  prejudices  in  favour  of  China 
tea.  From  .January  to  Se})tcmber,  1.893,  the  direct 
shipments  of  Ceylon  tea  to  Russia  wore  15,410  lb 
From  .January  to  September,  1894,  there  Avere  33,3281b. 
Tho  shipments  ujHo  September  26th  this  year,  however 
have  been  206,8951b.,  an  increase  of  650  per  cent! 
This  is  a noteivorthy  rise,  and  one  we  are  heartily 
glad  to  see.  For  it  we  owe  thanks  undoubtedly  in 
a very  great  measure  to  M.  Rogivue,  Avho  has 
done  good  work  on  behalf  of  our  staple;  but  to 
Mr.  Lampard,  the  latest  addition  to  the  ranks  of  our 
local  tea-buyers,  credit  is  also  due,  for  since  his  arrival 
in  Colombo  he  has  been  helping  to  develop  foreign 
markets,  and  in  regard  to  Russia  avo  hear  that  he  is 
now  sending  off  something  like  fifty  tons  of  our  tea  a 
month.  27  tons  were  shipped  by  him  in  the  “ Viude- 
bona”  the  other  day,  and  his  shipments  to  Russia 
this  mouth  will  be  fully  up  to  fifty  tons.  This  is 
good  news  for  our  planting  community,  and  Ave  are 
glad  to  draw  attention  to  it  and  hope  to  see  the 
increase  maintained. — Local  “ Times.” 
[Mr.  Lampard  is  as  strong  as  other  large  tea- 
buyers  liere  in  tlie  belief  that  the  tracle  direct 
Avitli  Russia,  Australia,  'America,  etc.  could  be 
increased  manifold  Avere  the  absurd  Customs  re- 
strictions Avhich  kecji  Colombo  in  SAvaddling 
clothes  removed.— Ep.  T-A.] 
