Fed.  I,  1897.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
567 
reported  to  Pe  injuriously  aflected  difVers 
from  tea  plucked  trom  unmauure  l (ie!ds,  or  frvui 
lield.s  to  wliicli  otiier  manures  than  castor  and 
bone  have  been  applied.  We  hesitate  to  quote 
the  experience  ot  our  numerous  conespoiuleuts 
■\vlio  have  nothing  but  good  to  report  ot  artilicial 
manr.res  and  of  this  special  combination  of  them  ; 
for  “A  Novice  ” retorts,  in  anticipation,  that  “ half 
his  brother-jilanters  know  nothing  about  the  sub- 
ject,” ■while  he  challenges  anyone  to  say  that 
“ their  prices  have  increased  since  they  c imnienced 
regular  manuring  with  castorcake  and  bones.” 
Rut,  then,  who  can  report  any  recent  improve- 
ment in  prices,  whether  after  manuring  or  before  ? 
We  should  say  such  estates  miglit  he  counted  on 
the  lingers  of  one  hand;  and  it  would  be  scarcely 
fair  to  lay  at  the  door  of  manuring  the  general 
declension  of  prices  which  has  been  experienced  for 
the  past  few  years.  On  the  other  iiand,  we  by 
no  means  discredit  the  verdict,  but  would  ask 
for  more  light  on  the  subject,  and  for  closer 
investigation  ; and  this  is  one  of  the  benefits  which 
we  anticipate  may  result  from  the  Circular  we 
have  issued  among  the  more  thoughtful  and  ex- 
perienced of  our  planters  in  the  various  districts. 
Intleed,  the  side-lights  thrown  on  the  tea  en- 
terprise hy  the  correspondence  we  are  publish- 
ing, ai’e  (juite  as  important  as  the  direct  infor- 
mation which  is  placed  at  our  disposal  ; ami  the 
side-issues  which  so  many  raise  are  quite 
as  interesting  ami  suggestive  as  the  answers 
to  our  specilic  questions.  Thus  “ A Novice,” 
despite  his  verdict  against  castor  and  bones,  as 
injurious  to  the  flavour  of  tea,  concedes  a greatly 
increased  yield  from  their  application — cstiniatedat 
‘2001b.  jier  acre,  tor  ten  years;  but  he  inquires.  What  is 
the  good  of  all  this  manuring  when  many 
Estates  cannot  do  justice  to  the  piucking  of 
the  leaf  they  have,  for  want  of  labour  ? The 
question  is  a very  pertinent  one,  as  also 
wliether  it  would  not  be  better  to  be  content 
with  450  lb.  per  acre  than  to  force  out  GOO 
lb.  and  not  be  able  to  take  it  all  in  ? 
The  prime  importance  of  the  labour  question 
is  emphasized  by  “ Old  Planter  ” who  pleads 
lack  of  labour,  not  only  for  harvesting  enhanced 
crops,  but  even  for  the  Iransiiort  and  ap]ilica- 
tion  of  manures  ; and  the  Government  would  do 
well  to  note  in  connection  with  the  discussion 
of  this  question,  the  way  in  which  the  shortness 
of  labour  comes  constantly  to  the  surface,  and 
the  demand  for  more  roads  and  better  roads  is 
urged  from  many  quarters.  If  the  prosi)erity  of 
the  Colony  is  intertwined  with  tea,  the  con- 
tinued success  of  tea  clearly  depends  on  abundant 
labour  and  eflicient  means  of  communication  ; 
and  these  should  receive  the  special  attention 
of  Government,  as  we  are  glad  to  think  they 
have  begun  to  do  with  the  Governor,  whose  pro- 
posals for  the  extension  of  roads  we  recently 
commended. 
An  “ Old  Planter  ’’  however,  deals  thoughtfully 
with  certain  side-issues,  which  we  should  wish  to 
see  discussed  by  other  planting  friends,  and  on 
wiiieh,  we  fancy  the  Agricultural  Chemist  will 
be  able  to  throw  a good  de.al  of  light.  Among 
these  are  the  the  burying  of  green  teaprunings, 
against  which  “Old  Planter*"  is  particularly 
strong,  and  the  careless  heaping  or  burial 
of  the  husks  of  cacao  pods.  We  can  quite 
understand  harm  being  done  by  the  accumula- 
tion of  fermenting  pods,  both  from  a sanitary 
point  of  view,  and  as  a nidus  for  insect 
and  fungoid  pests,  which  wouUl  attack  the  solt 
vyood  of  the  tree  with  fatal  etiect.  We  should 
jike,  however,  to  hear  more  on  this  and  the  other 
subjects  we  have  indicated.  Meanwhile,  we  woul  d 
make  one  reservation,  in  view  of  a possible  mis- 
apprehension ot  our  own  leanings.  While  con- 
vinced belie^ers  in  tb.e  eflicacy  of  manures  and 
their  need  on  most  Ceylon  estates,  we  do  not 
counsel  their  blind  application,  or  any  forgetful- 
ness of  the  fact  that  the  soil  on  some  local 
plantations  may  not  need  renc’w’al  for  many  years. 

[Letters  Continued. ) 
No.  XXIV. 
Dear  Sir, — With  regard  to  your  questions  re 
manuring  tea,  I should  have  thought  that  this 
subject  was  so  simple  that  more  ventilation  was 
unnecessary.  If  we  have  viigin  soil,  or  rich 
alluvial  lands  like  the  Assam  fields,  then  by  all 
means  save  expense  by  abstaining  from  manuring. 
Rut  with  our  played  out  cofiee-estates,  if  we 
wish  CO  make  ends  meet,  we  imist  manure.  It 
hardly  matters  what  manure  is  used  so  long  as 
facilities  are  considered.  One  estate  near  this 
has  become  a mine  of  wealth  to  its  proprietors 
by  bulky-manuiing.  Pub  it  is  not  every  estate 
that  can  stand  the  costly  arrangements  which 
bulkyf  manure  entails ; such  as  cattle-sheds, 
grass  fields,  &c.  I have  found  fish  manure  veiy 
ell'ective  ; but  I have  had  very  little  experience 
in  manuring  tea.  I would  avoid  manuring  if  I 
couhl  possibly  do  so.  The  wash  on  our  steep- 
hillsides  means  a very  wasteful  system  of  manur- 
ing. If  we  consider  the  distant  future  of  our 
staple  then  I should  say  that  manuring  means 
the  draw'ing  on  the  capital  of  the  “ unearned  in- 
crement ” of  every  estate.  Rut  we  must  consider 
the  present,  a.nd  at  present  we  must  make  ends 
meet. 
The  local  “ Times  ” has  been  very  much  exer- 
cised that  we  area  half-penny  or  two  behind  India  in 
prices.  Is  India  struggling  with  old  ■washed-out 
coffee  estates  ? Is  India  attempting  to  cultivate 
every  acre  of  hard  gravel  or  cabook  ? Is  India 
jiruning  all  the  year  round  and  reducing  expenses 
as  Ceylon  has  done  ? Let  us  hear  what  India 
is  putting  tea  P'.O.R.  for.— India  has  its  rich  loam 
and  its  regular  season  of  annual  pruning,  so  all 
the  resources  of  an  est.ate  are  concentrated  in 
a short  busy  season. 
iSurely  every  Ceylonese  knows  that  tea 
is  made  in  the  field.  Supposing  the  critical 
editor  had  his  way,  and  the  European 
changed  places  with  the  Tea-maker,  then  what 
about  close  and  irregular  jducking,  and  coarse 
leaf  ? The  very  essence  of  the  science  of  the  matter 
is  a smooth  revolution  of  the  wheels,  a steady 
careful  round  of  the  fields — careful phicking.  The 
routine  of  the  L’actory  is  properly  placed  in  the 
hands  of  an  educated  native.  Tlie  routine  of  tire 
plucking  rounds  should  be  in  the  hands  of  a 
European.  Are  we  all  wrong  and  the  editor, 
“Times  of  Ceylon  ” right  ? 
I89T. 
No.  XXV. 
Sir,— i?e— manuring  tea.  My  own  experience  is 
rather  limited  ami  peculiar,  my  tea  beino-  all 
young  I have  not  begun  regular  manuring  but 
permitted  the  Municipalit.y  a “ free  coup”  of 
Kandy  refuse,  the  only  result  being  that  all  tlie  tea 
with  wdiich  it  came  in  contact  sickened  and  died  f 
—and  no  supplies  will  now  grow  on  the  spot 
where  the  stulf  was  emptied. 
Rerhaps  one  of  the  most  methodically  manured' 
estates  in  the  Central  Province  is  New  P'eracleniya. 
I have  visited  the  fields  and  examined  the  care- 
fully kept  returns,  noting  that  cattle  manure 
comes  out  an  easy  first,  doubling  the  yield  j— thg 
