Sept,  i,  1896.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
201 
$ot]respond6no0. 
To  the  Editor* 
SILK  IN  CEYLON. 
Kandy,  July  23. 
Dear  Sir, — As  promised  in  my  letter  of 
19th  May,  I now  send  you  further  particulars 
regarding  other  species  of  .silkworms  lately 
introduced. 
The  hist  which  occupied  my  attention,  after 
the  castor-oil  worms,  svas  Antlicrcea  Assama, 
the  ‘ Muga’  of  Assam.  This  worm  is  only  partly 
domesticated,  the  worms  being  reared,  by  the 
Assamese  in  the  open  air,  in  the  same  way  as 
the  Tusser  in  many  parts  of  India.  From  the 
cocoons  seat  mo  a ferv  moths  emerged  on  the 
way,  and  laid  their  eggs  in  the  bo.x.  The 
worms  hatched  six  days  later,  but  though  I 
ottered  them  leaves  of  fifteen  difterent  kinds,  of 
such  trees  as  .seemed  likely  to  suit  them,  tliey 
ate  scarcely  any  and  I was  obliged  to  throw 
them  away.  We  do  not  seem  to  have  in  Ceylon 
any  of  the  trees  on  wdiich  this  worm  feeds  in 
Assam,  though  there  are  many  closely-allied 
species.  The  Muga  worm  gives  live  broods  in  a 
year,  and  if  it  can  be  domesticated  will  prove 
a very  valuable  acquisition.  The  demand  for 
its  silk  in  Europe  is  already  very  large,  as  it 
dyes  more  easily  than  Tusser  and  yields  much 
finer  fabrics. 
The  next  species  introduced  was  one  of  the 
many  varieties  of  the  Bombt/u  mori,  the  mulberry- 
feeding silkworm,  from  Bengal.  This,  like  the 
castor-oil  worm,  is  very  prolilic  and  gives  eight 
broods  in  the  year.  The  worms  spin  their 
cocoons  about  three  w^eeks  after  hatching,  and 
the  moths  emerge  ten  or  twelve  days  liter.  I 
cannot  say  j-et  whether  it  is  adapted  to  our 
higher  elevations,  but  up  to  2,000  feet  it  should 
do  very  w’eli.  Owing  to  our  more  equable  tem- 
perature in  Ceylon,  the  cocoons  produced  locally 
already  show  a very  marked  improvement  on  those 
reared  in  Bengal. 
A third,  species,  also  a mulberry-feeding  worm, 
and  2ifoducing  about  eight  broods  in  the  year, 
seems  more  likely  to  be  adapted  to  our  higher 
districts,  though  often  reared  in  the  plains  of 
India.  My  worms  are  being  reared  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  about  700  feet  (temperature  75  deg.  to 
90  <leg.),  and  the  moths  are  very  vigorous,  but  the 
w’orms  may  be  found  to  produce  larger  cocoons 
ill  districts  with  a cooler  climate. 
As  regards  the  disposal  of  the  silk  there  is  no 
ditticulty.  Until  a silk  Filature  is  established 
here  the  cocoons  can  be  shipped  to  London  or 
Calcutta.  They  should  be  dried,  in  the  sun,  if 
possible,  a few  days  after  spinning,  to  prevent 
the  moths  emerging,  and  packed  in  bales 
of  50  or  100  lb. 
As  I am  anxious  to  resume  experiments  in 
domesticating  the  Ceylon  Tusser  worms,  I shall 
be  very  much  obliged  to  anyone  who  will  send 
me  a few  live  cocoons  of  this  species.  They 
may  be  fouud,  at  varying  elevations,  on  the  country 
almond,  casliew,  weralu,  loquat,  avocado  pear, 
kahaata  (patena  oak)  and  other  trees.  The  collec- 
tion of  wild  cocoons  in  India,  for  weaving  or 
export,  has  fallen  off  considerably,  owing  totlie 
decrease  of  jungle  through  extended  cultivation, 
and  the  demand  is  steadily  increasing. 
I am  sending  you  siiecimens  of  difterent  co- 
coons and  a rough  sketch  of  the  Tusser  cocoon, 
which  I hope  may  be  of  use. — Yours  faithfully, 
B. 
SILKWORMS  AND  RHEA  OK  RAMIE. 
Colombo,  July  28. 
Dear  Sir,  —Those  who  are  experimenting  in 
sericulture  will  find  an  interesting  paper  on  the 
subject  with  a history  of  the  Tittle  that  ha.s 
been  done  in  silkworm  rearing  in  Ceylon— by 
Dr.  J.  L.  Vanderstraaten  in  the  G.  B.  R.  A.  S’s 
Journal,  No.  23  of  1881.  Some  extracts  from  it, 
giving  the  ex^ieriences  of  Father  Falla  and  Mr. 
Alex.  Geddes  should  prove  interesting  to  the 
readers  of  the  Observer  if  reprinted. 
I see  from  the  last  T.A.  that  some  Ceylon 
planters  ha\'e  begun  growing  Rhea,  and  also 
that  the  operations  of  the  Rhea  Fibre  Treatment 
Co.,  have  been  attendeil  with  a large  measure 
of  success. 
I may  mention  that  within  the  last  year  some 
2,0!)0  Rliea  cuttings  have  been  ilistributed  by  the 
Colombo  “ School  of  Agriculture.” 
By-the-bye,  a good  deal  was  at  one  time  written 
about  the  value  of  Ramie  leaves  for  feeding  silk 
worms.  Any  one  wishing  to  try  tlie  experiment 
can  have  parcels  of  leaves  free  of  cost  at  the 
school.  — Yours  truly,  C.  D. 
BAMBOO  DOGCARTS. 
Diudigul  Club,  28th  July  1896. 
Dear  Sir, — -Mr.  W.  Turing  Mackenzie  can 
obtain  “ Bamboo  Carts  ” from  Eduljee  & Co.  and 
Nowrojee  & Co.,  both  of  Lucknou',  Oudh,  India. 
Eduljee  & Co.  make  them  from  RlGO  upwards, 
and  as  they  jiack  very  well  the  freiglit  upon 
them  is  little  as  compared  to  other  carts. 
The  cheaper  Bamboo  Cart  has  no  springs,  the 
bamboo  shaft  acting  as  such,  but  much  the 
better  cart  to  have  is  the  “Bamboo  Muster” 
Cart,  with  C springs  and  horizontal  springs. 
These  are,  of  course,  more  expensive.  I have 
one  of  the  latter  kind,  sjiecially  built  to  hold 
one  person,  with  lancewood  shafts  and  springs, 
“Bamboo  Muster” — but  no  bamboo  about  it,  and 
it  is  a first-class  cart  and  has  stood  no  end  of 
wear,  it  was  built  by  Simpson  & Co.,  Madras, 
and  cost  about  R4-50. 
For  ordinary  use  the  £160  cart  of  Eduljee  & 
Co.  is  very  good  and  serviceable. — Yours  faith- 
fully, G.  M ENG  EL. 
THE  COST  OF  COCONUT  CULTIVATION 
IN  CEYLON. 
Northern  Province,  August  1896. 
Sin,— I have  road  with  interest  what  literature  I 
could  get  hold  of  during  the  last  ten  years  or  so 
on  the  subject  of  coconut  cultivation  in  Ceylon  ; but 
I have  never  yet  come  across  any  article  which 
gives  you  some  idea  as  to  what  the  upkeep  of  an 
estate  of  say  350  acres  in  the  Northern  Province 
would  cost  per  year. 
I think  it  will  be  interesting  and  instructive  if 
some  of  your  numerous  correspondents  will  give  the 
benefit  of  their  experience  for  the  guidance  of  those 
who  wish  to  keep  within  reasonable  limits  in  regard 
to  expenditure. 
I give  the  ordinary  heads  of  expenditure  below ; 
but  the  list  is  by  no  means  complete ; — 
1.  Management.  10.  F'ences. 
2.  Overseers.  11.  Hoeing  say  l-5th  of  the 
3.  Picking  ; assuming  the  total  area. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
annual  crop  to  bo  say 
■100,000  nuts. 
Copra  making. 
Dispatch  of  crop ; in- 
cluding bagging, 
weighing,  &c. 
Collecting  and  carting 
nuts. 
Stock-keepers. 
Cattle  food. 
Horsekeep. 
12.  Ploughing  say  l-5th  of 
the  total  area. 
13.  Buildings. 
11.  Tanks,  wells  and  roads. 
1.5.  Weeding. 
16.  Manuring. 
17.  General  transport. 
18.  Nurseries. 
19.  Domestics. 
20.  Tools,  itc. 
26 
