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THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[May  I,  1896. 
Gamalliel  was  Webster,  at  whose  feet  the  Sinne 
Dories  sat  and  learned  to  plairt  a la  Saffragam.  In 
those  days  Keenagaha  Ella  was  opened  and  Auchin- 
toul  attempted,  but  the  locality  really  never  came 
to  much  as  a coffee  disti'ict. 
Old  Pettiagalla  was  the  best,  and  continued  to  give 
paying  crops  for  a quarter  of  a century,  only  suc- 
cumbing to  the  general  collapse. 
Today,  the  scene  is  changed,  and  thedistrict  has  come 
to  be  better  entitled  to  its  name “ a (/ood  lookout  ” 
— than  ever  before.  Thousands  of  acres  have  been 
carefully  planted  with  a good  jat  of  tea,  and  now  pro- 
mise exceedingly  well.  It  was  fortunate  for  the  present 
proprietors  that  they  resolved  to  protit  by  the  sad 
experience  of  the  pioneers  in  the  matter  of  wind 
belts,  and  also  that  the  time  had  come  when  the 
importance  of  good  jdt  is  fully  realized. 
Meddekanda  estate  has  made  much  progress  during 
the  past  year,  nearly  400  acres  having  been  successfully 
planted  on  the  land  where  poor  Lewis  planted  a 
little — and  yarned  a good  deal — 30  years  ago. 
Here  planting  has  already  begun  with  the  April 
rains  of  this  year,  and  I note  that  on  the  more  ex- 
posed portions  the  plants  have  been  pegged  down, 
a good  idea,  not  so  practicable  with  coffee. 
Bamberabotuwa  is  again  a scene  of  activity,  open- 
ing out  extensively  under  the  energetic  sujpervision 
of  Mr.  Ingram  ; here  there  is  room  for  15,000  acres 
of  tea  equal  to  any  in  the  island.  Young's  excellent 
trace  Ratnapuraward  is  likely  to  be  adopted  after 
so  many  years  by  that  rising  firm  of  pushing  plan- 
ters, Finlay  Muir  & Co.,  who  intend  utilizing  it  for 
a tramway. 
Shades  of  poor  Robt.  Dawson ! Who  could  have 
thought  that  this  district  in  which  he  lost  a large 
fortune  would  yet  come  to  be  worth  R1,000  per  acre  ? 
As  a few  years  hence  it  is  doubtless  destined  to  be. 
What  a perfect  tea  season  we  have  had  all  over. 
Around  Kandy  there  has  never  been  three  weeks 
without  copious  showers,  albeit  the  heat  has  been 
unusually  trying  at  times.  Last  night  (Sunday)  we 
had  a delightful  drizzle  amounting  to  about  '5  in. 
which  proved  very  refreshing  bringing  down  the  tem- 
perature by  3°  to  77°  during  the  night.  This  after- 
noon it  certainly  looks  as  if  the  little  monsoon  is 
approaching. 
What  has  come  over  our  old  friend  McCombie 
Murray  ? Surely  he  must  have  quite  sung  away  his 
native  Smeddum.  There  has  been  a great  deal  of  inco- 
herent writing  on  the  subject  of  this  American  in- 
vasion, but  in  the  language  of  his  mother  tongue,  this 
letter  of  IvIcC.  M.  “ Cows  the  gowau.”  Quid  Nunc. 
THE  COCCID/E  OF  CEYLON. 
From  Mr.  Philip,  Secretary  of  the  Planters 
Association  of  Ceylon,  w'e  have  received  the  follow- 
ing copy  of  correspondence  with  Government  re- 
garding Mr.  Green’s  proposed  Book  on  the  Coc- 
cidm  of  Ceylon  : — 
(.copy,)  Kandy,  26th  February,  1896. 
To  the  Hon.  the  Colonial  Secretary,  Colombo. 
Sir, — I have  the  honour  to  submit  for  favourable 
consideration,  and  it  is  hoped  liberal  pecuniary 
' support  from  Government  as  therein  indicated,  copy 
of  Minute  and  Resolutions  passed  by  the  Planters’ 
Association  at  a recent  meeting  of  the  Committee 
on  the  subject  of  Mr.  E.  Ernest  Green’s  Book  on 
scale  insects,  “ The  Coccideeof  Ceylon.” 
As  directed  in  the  second  resolution  I beg  to  trans- 
mit for  easy  reference  a copy  (printed)  of  the  cor- 
respondence referred  to  that  took  place  between  Feb- 
ruary and  October  1894  regarding  the  appointment 
of  a Government  Entomologist  for  Ceylon  (printed 
also  at  pp.  cxxvi  to  cxxxi  Book  of  Proceedings  of  the 
Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon  for  the  year  ending 
17th  February  1895)  and  to  point  out  that  Govern- 
ment was  then  clearly  impressed  with  the  import- 
ance of  the  matter,  but  regretted  that  no  proposals 
involving  additions  to  establishments  could  be  en- 
tertained. In  the  present  case  all  that  is  asked 
from  Government  is  the  grant  of  a subsidy  to  Mr. 
Green  in  aid  of  the  production  of  the  work 
now  being  arranged  for. 
The  Planters’  Association,  it  will  be  observed,  is 
doing  what  it  can,  and  for  the  information  of 
Government,  1 enclose  a copy  of  the  jirinted  circular 
letter  addressed  to  all  District  Associations  inviting 
their  support  also  in  aid  of  Mr.  Green’s  work. 
I further  beg  to  send  for  perusal  under  separate 
cover  by  post,  a copy  of  Messrs.  Dulan  A Co.’s 
Prospectus  as  received  with  Mr.  Green’s  letter  to 
the  Planters’  Association. — I am,  sir,  your  most 
obedient  servant,  (Sgd.)  A.  Pnii.ip, 
Secretary  to  the  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon 
(Jfmute  and  Jlesolution  referred  to) 
Scale  Insects  “ The  Coccidae  of  Ceylon”  by  E. 
Ernest  Green. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  E.  Ernest  Green  on  the 
subject  of  his  book  above  mentioned.  Resolved  : — 
I.  “ That  the  Planters’  Association  do  subscribe  for 
two  copies  of  ilr.  Green’s  work  and  that  a copy  of 
the  letter  be  sent  to  the  various  District  Associations 
strongly  urging  on  them  the  importance  of  the  work 
to  all  planters.”  II.  “ That  Government  be  urged 
to  review  the  correspondence  that  took  place  between 
I’ebruary  and  October,  1894,  regarding  the  appoint- 
ment of  a Government  Entomologist  for  Ceylon  and 
to  grant  a subsidy  to  Mr.  Green  in  aid  of  the 
production  of  the  work  now  being  arranged  for.” 
(Copy)  
Colonial  Secretary’s  Office,  Colombo,  10th  March, 
1896. 
Sir, — I am  directed  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of 
your  letter  of  the  26th  February,  1896,  relative  to 
Mr.  Ernest  Green's  book  “ The  Coccidae  of  Cey- 
lon ” and  to  state  that  the  matter  will  receive  con- 
sideration.— I am,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  ,1.  ,T.  Tiiokbiiun,  for  Col.  Secretary. 
The  Secretary,  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon.' 
(Copy)  Colonial  Secretary’s  Office, 
Colombo,  8th  April  1896, 
Sir, — Referring  to  my  letter  of  lOtb  March  189(i, 
acknowledging  receipt  of  your  communication  dated 
26th  February  last  regarding  Mr.  E.  E.  Green’s 
book  on  “ The  Coccidie  of  Ceylon,”  I am  directed 
to  state  that  the  Government  having  fully  considered 
the  request  therein  made  have  resolved  to  give  the 
same  support  that  the  Planters’  Association  are  pre- 
pared to  give  to  the  work  and  will  therefore  sub- 
scribe for  two  copies. 
2.  As  regards  the  proposal  that  Mr.  Green  should  be 
appointed  Government  Entomologist  the.  Governor  has 
no  objection  to  making  a purely  honorary  appointment 
on  the  understanding  that  if  Mr.  Green  is  required 
to  perform  any  duties  in  connection  with  bis  office, 
his  services  should  be  rewarded  by  means  of  fees  to 
be  paid  by  the  persons  benefited — I am,  sir,  your 
obedient  servant,  (Sgd.j  .7.  ,1.  TiroimuiiN, 
for  Colonial  Secretaiy. 
The  Secretary,  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon, 
Castor-oil  Shade. — A correspondent  asks  elsewhere 
whether  castor-oil  would  do  as  a temporary  shade 
until  the  permanent  shade  trees  have  grown  up. 
In  poor  soil,  it  is  strongly  objected  to  on  account 
of  its  greedy  feeding,  but  if  a rule  is  made  to  cut 
down  and  hury  the  young  trees  before  they  seed,  we 
fail  to  see  how  anything  but  good  can  come  of  the 
proceeding.  On  rich  soil  the  same  objection  applies 
with  less  force  still,  and  if  the  trees  are  cut  down 
before  they  seed  and  the  foliage,  etc.,  Iniried,  only 
beneficial  results  should  accrue.  What  a plant  takes 
from  the  soil  it  retains  in  its  wood,  b.irk  and  leaves, 
and  the  only  direct  loss  the  soil  undergoes  is  when 
the  nitrogenous  crop  itself  is  removed.  If,  however, 
the  castor  seeds  were  allowed  to  ripen  and  the  oil 
expressed  on  the  estate,  the  resultant  poonac  being 
religiously  restored  to  the  soil,  no  possihlo  harm 
could  accrue.  The  oil  itself  is  only  another  form 
of  carbon,  derived  from  the  carbonic  acid  of  the  air. 
As  most  quick-growers  require  a largo  supjily  of 
water,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  castor-oil  plant  is 
a greedy  water-drinker.— Ibid. 
