Feb.  r,  1896.] 
THE  TROPICA!,  AGRICULTURIST. 
.545 
round  tho  five  atorej’S  cLosod  in  with  glasa,  stabling 
for  100  buggies  and  horses.  Tlie  driveway  from  town 
through  the  famous  Golden  Gate  I’ark,  about  5 
miles  in  length,  is  being  lighted  by  electricity,  and 
on  moonlight  evenings  tlioimaiidfi  of  bieycles,  Illoomer.s 
both  male  and  female,  go  out  to  the  famous  place. 
The  old  familiar  names  begin  to  di'op  off : I noticed 
that  of  good  old  G.  H.  Hall,  an  amusing  and  good 
fellow.  I hope  K.  P.  M.  of  Tonacombe  well  soon  be  fit 
once  more  ; I will  send  him  the  information  required 
in  a few  days. 
The  demand  for  Ceylons  does  not  improve  here 
as  rapidly  as  one  would  like,  some  of  tho  large 
people  say  “ We  have  no  use  for  Ceylons,  we  cannot 
make  as  much  out  of  them  as  we  do  on  .Tapans  and 
Chinas,  and  why  should  we  bother  with  them.”  Others 
are  again  openly  hostile  to  these  teas,  but  they  will 
in  time  be  bound  to  hold  them  in  stock.  The  lead- 
ing buyers  of  Japans  and  Chinas  told  mo  the  other- 
day  “that  I would  have  to  unlearn  all  I know  about 
Ceylon  tea  to  do  any  business  here”;  but  I took 
the  opposite  view  of  the  case  entirely,  and 
politely  hinted  that  they  would  soon  find  it  advan- 
tageous to  have  a specialist  in  Ceylon  teas  on  tho 
staff  of  each  house  on  this  coast,  and  it  will  come 
to  that  in  time. 
Some  Ceylon  teas  received  recently  have  not  been 
quite  fo  good  as  they  should  have  been,  the  quality  and 
appearance  must  be  kept  up,  for  I see  frequently 
some  magnificent  “ Formosas,”  tippy  and  beautifully 
made,  and  those  are  our  severest  competitors. 
1 w'as  asked  on  Wednesday  last  if  I had  been  out 
to  visit  tho  Memorial  Museum  at  Golden  Gate  Park 
recently.  I replied  I had  not.  I was  told,  “ You 
should  go  out ; there  are  some  lovely  things  there 
now,  just  brought  from  Europe,  wonderful  mummies 
from  Egypt,  all  tied  and  wrapped  up,  dead  ones  of 
course!”  This  is  a fact. 
Now  I have  wandered  on  without  thinking,  and 
if  the  dead  mummy  brings  a laugh  to  some  counte- 
nance about  Christmas,  my  reward  will  bo  ample. 
With  all  good  wishes  for  189(1, — Y^ours  truly, 
T.  A.  C. 
P.S. — 19th  Nov.— Just  received  2 tetters  from  Bier .ich. 
He  had  seen  A.  G.  Scovell,  who  was  much  pleased 
with  the  Ceylon  Court  at  Philadelphia;  he  has  my  address, 
so  I hope  to  see  him  soon.  Bierach  has  had  a 
letter  from  your  worthy  Delegate  from  London,  who 
says — “ I have  left  matters  connected  with  the 
Philadelphia  Exhibition  in  Blechynden’s  hands.”  This 
is  rather  amusing,  as  Mr.  Blechynden  has  no  more 
to  do  -with  the  Exhibit  than  the  man  in  the  moon. 
Ceylon  must  stand  by  herself.  Bierach  is  offered 
space  free,  for  a Ceylon  Court  at  a pure  food  show 
at  Willmiugton,  Delaware ; another  show  is  to  held 
in  Washington.  Mrs.  lloror  is  to  be  there,  and 
Bierach  can  make  tfood  arrangements  there  also,  but 
be  cannot  undertake  all  these  without  assistance 
from  Ceylon. 
An  average  of  500  free  cups  are  being  given  away 
free  daily,  and  for  2^  hours  Mr.  Bierach  “ talked 
tea”  the  other  evening  to  a large  audience  of  ladies, 
Mrs.  Roror  being  present.  Numbers  of  free  adver- 
tisements appear  weekly  for  Ceylon’s  benefit,  so  I 
hope  to  hear  soon  that  full  advantage  is  being  taken  of 
his  valuable  services.  Just  going  to  call  upon  Mr. 
Hulbert,  late  of  Ceylon.  In  haste,  T.  A.  C. 
THE  LARGE-GROWING  VARIETY  OF 
CACAO. 
Victor  Park,  Corstorpliine,  near  Edinburgh, 
Dec.  12,  1895. 
Sir, — Respecting  the  suggestions  contained  in  your 
kind  editorial  remarks  on  my  letter  of  August  21st 
in  the  ‘'Oeglon  Observer”  regarding  the  large-growing 
variety  of  cacao  tree,  I may  state  that  the  ordinary 
mode  of  “exchanges”  in  vogue  between  colonial  and 
home  botanic  gardens  might  perhaps  be  tried  in 
order  to  obtain  some  plants.  The  island  of  Trinidad, 
reported  to  have  a very  complete  collection  of  eco- 
nomic plants,  may  possibly  possess  some  trees  of 
this  large-growing  sort  of  cacao.  Purdie,  a collector 
who  travelled  in  the  low-lying  regions  of  Colombia 
where  this  large-growing  sort  has  in  places  been 
planted, — and  was  afterwards  Curator  of  tho  Gardens 
if  Trinidad, — is  reported  to  have  taken  great  interest 
in  the  cacao  plantations  of  the  island.  I know  not 
it  he  had  any  knowledge  of  tho  sort  referred  to ; 
but  it  is  possible  that  seeds  or  plants  from  this  source 
might  be  procured.  I fear,  however,  that  plants 
would  have  to  be  relied  on,  as  tho  germinating 
power  of  the  seeds  is  said  to  vanish  when  dried, 
fn  planting  in  South  America  the  fresh  undried 
beans  arc  always  resorted  to ; and  these  are  planted 
in  the  prepared  sites  at  once  where  the  trees  are 
to  remain  permanently.  But  honestly  I may  state 
that  I would  have  no  strong  expectations  of  tho 
.success  of  plants  obtained  through  the  medium  of 
exchanges.  This,  because  it  is  quite  possible  that 
the  plants  sent  would  be  the  same  as  those  already 
growing  in  Ceylon;  besides  which  there  are  other 
causes  that  might  lead  to  failure.  Undoubtedly  it 
would  be  better  for  someone  [los.scssing  the  necessary 
knowledge  to  proceed  specially  to  South  America 
and  make  a collection  of  plants  and  convey  them 
direct  to  Ceylon. 
Geographically  I may  remark  that  Ceylon,  together 
with  a piece  of  Southern  India,  occupies,  in  point  of 
latitude,  the  same  identical  position  as  the  centre 
of  the  wild  cacao  region  of  South  America.  As  re- 
gards suitability  of  soil,  I may  say  that  the  most 
esteemed  sites  where  cacao  planting  is  carried  on 
are  the  rich  deep  deposits  usually  met  with  on  the 
banks  of  streams  or  livers.  Other  comparatively 
level  situations  almost  equally  as  good  occur  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cordilleras  or  in  deep  flat-bottomed 
valleys.  These  remarks  apply  more  to  the  require- 
ments essential  for  tho  large-growing  iiroliflc  cacao 
tree;  for  the  dw'arf  and  hardier  sort  thrives  under 
very  varied  conditions,  growing  from  the  level  of 
the  sea  up  to  3,000  feet  in  every  variety  of  aspect, 
occasionally  on  bare  hill-sides  or  in  deep  ravines’ 
and  with  great  diversity  of  soil,  sometimes  a clayey- 
loam,  or  sand  and  gravel  deposit,  or  quick-running 
sands  all  of  which  usually  possess  facilities  for 
irrigation. 
For  shade  a wdde-spreadiug  sparse-foliaged  legu- 
minous tree  admitting  plenty  of  light  is  preferred ; 
and  although  the  tender  growths  and  leaves  of 
various  of  the  cacao  trees  are  as  the  natives  say 
“toasted”,  yet  no  serious  injury  appears  to  result 
therefrom.  After  a number  of  years  when  the  trees 
begin  to  yield  diminished  crops  and  the  beans  be- 
come small  they  are  coppiced.  When  the  growths 
from  the  stocks  are  one  year  old  they  are  removed 
with  the  exception  of  one;  and  the  result  is  that 
trees  treated  in  this  way  soon  become  equal  and 
sometimes  superior  to  newly-planted  ones.  When 
removing  the  young  shoots  some  care  is  exercised 
in  leaving  only  the  stoutest,  most  straight,  and  seem- 
ingly best  adapted  to  grow  up  to  form  a tree. 
In  the  drying  of  cacao  in  South  America  consi- 
derable injury  is  frequently  done  to  it  through  care- 
lessness, inattention  or  slovenly  and  protracted 
method  of  working  by  which  means  the  proper 
natural  reddish  colour  of  the  beaus  is  changed  and 
the  piice  consequently  lowered.  The  preliminary 
course  adopted  by  some  of  fermentation  previous  to 
drying  is  in  my  opinion  likewise  injurious.  Ceylon 
cacao  which  often  holds  a prominent  position  in  the 
European  market  appears  to  be  more  carefully  man- 
aged; although  as  in  the  West  Indies  planters  seem 
to  “pick”  and  “size”  the  beans,  a thing  never 
thought  of  by  those  who  plant  in  a big  way  in 
South  America.  In  conclusion  I may  state  that  I 
have  some  confidence  that  suitable  localities  will  be 
found  for  the  cultivation  of  the  large-growing  prolific 
trees  in  Ceylon.  The  flat,  more  or  less  wooded  region 
stretching  from  the  coast  inland  including  the  de- 
bouch of  ravines  together  with  the  banks  of  streams 
or  rivers  should  possess  a number  of  appropriate  sites 
Some  years  ago  when  in  Southern  India  at  Nil- 
ambur  I travelled  over  about  11  miles  of  wooded 
lands  bordering  the  river  there  where  I observed 
various  tracts  with  forest  growth  equally  as  well 
suited  for  cacao  planting  as  the  best  land  I have 
anywhere  seen  in  South  America.  Similar  sites  I 
have  no  doubt  e.xist  in  Ceylon.  I may  remark  that 
those  expressions  of  opinion  are  the  result  of  ex- 
