Feb.  I,  1897.J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST, 
5<^9 
I 
No.  5.  Tl;o  only  manured  tea  of  same  age 
liave,  is  wliere  soil  was  naturally  better  and  tea 
was  already  givdng  exceptionably  large  .■yields. 
My  object  'is  to  work  np  tlie  other  lields  to  same 
yield  as  nearly  as  possible  with  these,  by  manuring. 
In  some  cases  this  lias  been  already  done,  while 
in  others  it  is  gradually  being  effected.  I think 
that  all  manuring  should  be  occasionally,  at  least, 
changed  ; and  that  artilicial  manure  is  best  ap- 
idied^for  1st  or  2nd  time  in  semi-circular  holes  direct 
to  each  tree,  but  that  the  succeeding  application  is 
best  (in  many  instances)  (in  4 times  the  quantity) 
dug  well  into  the  large  holes  where  previous 
ye.ars’  juuidngs  were  buried  and  have  well  de- 
cayed. in  .any  case  where  artificial  manuring  is 
done  I think  all  iirunings  should  be  buried  and 
I have  found  that  this  alone  gives  very  good  re- 
sults, i.e..  burying  pvunings  only  in  most  soils  and 
that  in  certain  soils  I have  had  fiist-rate  succe.-?s  ; 
with  distinct  llavor  ; whore  a little  coral  lime  was 
applied  with  the  green  primings.  W.  B.  J. 
No.  XXX. 
Kotagala,  Jan.  5. 
No.  1.  I cannot  s.ay  that  manuring_  is 
general  ; a large  number  of  estates  manure  in  a 
small  way,  but  few  go  in  for  systematic  applica- 
tions, uncertainty  of  the  labour  force  is  rather 
against  this  at  present.  , 
No.  2.  I should  say  artificial  manures  are 
used  to  a much  larger  extent  th.an  bulky,  in  most 
districts.  Castor-cake  is  the  principal  ingredient  in 
most  • manures,  applied  in  the  district  (Dimbula. ) 
No.’j.  Bones,  Nitrate  of  Potash,  and  lime  are 
sometimes  added  with  good  results  .also  fish  mixture. 
No  4.  A deal  of  good  is  being  done,  in  my 
opinion,  by  the  application  of  artificial  manures, 
especiaUy  where  good  tillage  is  gone  in  for, 
when  applying;  harm  can  only  result  from  bad 
apidicaion. 
No.  5.  Tea  manured  7 to  8 years  ago  compares 
most  favourably  with  the  unmanured,  alongside 
A BELIEVER  IN  MUCK  FOR  TEA. 
No.  XXXI. 
Rangalla,  Jan.  5. 
Dear  'Sir,— In  .answer  to  your  circular  re- 
ni.anuring  tea,  I have  to  say. 
1.  Manure  (Castor-cake  and  Bones)  has  been 
anijlied  to  a few  estates  in  this  district  ; the  little 
that  h.as  been  done  has  greatly  improved  the  tea 
(mostly  on  land  over  40  years  in  continuous 
cultivation)  and  on  one  est.atc  doubled  the  yield 
in  nine  months  after  ap[)lication. 
9 Bulky  manure  has  not  been  used  to  my 
knowleil'^e,  up  this  way  ; it  is  a thing  of  the  past. 
; Th^  manure  used  has  been  Castor  Cake  and 
j3o,’,es— 4 l>arts  of  the  former  to  1 of  the  latter— 
4 ozs.  to  a tree  or  hole.  , 1 , „ r 
4 Decidedly  not  : there  is  no  doubt  the  use  of 
artificial  manure  has  been  beneficial. 
5 A "reat  difference,  the  manured  tea  looking 
greener  and  healthier,  and  flushing  much  better.— 
Yours  faithfully,  CULTIVATION, 
No.  XXXII. 
Kelebokka,  Jan.  6. 
I can  scarcely  contribute  any  information  of 
any  value  in  re  manuring  as  I have  never  ap- 
plied any  manure  to  tea  except  cattle  manure, 
coffee  pulp,  and  line  sweepings,  all  of  which 
latter  are  collected  and  carried  to  the  manure 
heaps  daily.  We  get  over  a good  de.al  of  ground 
in  this  way  with  the  best  results  the  effect  of 
72 
our  manuring — merely  forking  in,  in  lines,  as 
nearly  .as  possible  parallel  to  tlie  drains — lasting 
apparently  for  years. 
I think  all  the  estates  in  this  district,  (my 
own  excepted)  or  very  nearly  all,  apply  Cake,  Bone- 
dust,  and  Nitrates  to  a greater  or  less  extent.  I 
don’t  siqipose  much  harm  is  being  done,  but 
cannot  see  where  the  profit  comes  in  at  present 
prices.  Rutherford  and  his  co-director-  Talbot 
and  others  agree  with  me,  that  jiowerful  chemical 
manures  are  better  avoided.  PROFRIETUlt. 
XXXIII. 
Dear  Sir,  — 1.  Manuring  is  increasing  ; but  ha-^ 
not  yet  become  general  either  in  old  or  new  districts. 
2.  As  a rule  few  cattle  are  now  kept  for 
manuring  purpo.'ies  and  only  small  areas  are 
manured  with  lii|l  refuse  and  manure  from  bun- 
galow and  kanganies’  cattle,  except  where  est.ates 
have  the  use  of  manure  from  ro.ad-.side  cattle- 
sheds  and  bazaars. 
3.  The  manure  sent  up  by  r.ailway  is  mostly 
used  alone  and  Bone-dust,  Castor-cake  and  fish  iii 
v arying  proportions  are  the  iirincipal  manures  used. 
4.  Uver-doses  have  done  harm  ; but  artificial 
manure  in  small  doses  at  frequent  intervals,  say 
once  in  two  or  three  years,  mixed  in  .such  a 
manner  as  to  supply  the  constituents  which  tea 
removes,  appears  to  have  done  much  good,  both 
in  improving  the  bushes  and  the  yield. 
.5.  80  far  as  experience  goes,  the  oldest  regularly 
manuied  tea  compares  verv  favourably  with  mi- 
manured  tea  of  the  same  age,  and  bushes 
manurerl  only  once  and  then  left  unuianured, 
have  finer  frames  and  are  in  better  condition 
to  respond  to  further  manuring  than  the  same 
tea  never  manured. 
The  most  important  and  the  most  difficult 
point  to  ascertain  is  the  effect  of  manuring  on  the 
quality  of  tea  made. — Yours  faithfully. 
OYA. 
No.  XXXIV. 
Dimbula,  7th  ,Jan.  1897. 
dear  Sir, — (1)  The  manuring  of  tea  has  only 
been  carried  on  to  a limited  extent  in  this 
district  as  the  soil  here  is  as  a rule  first-class 
and  the  yield  in  consequence  is  very  satisfactory 
wthout  the  aid  of  stimulants. 
(2)  Bulky  manure  is  not  generally  available  as 
but  few  estates  keep  large  cattle  e.stablish-ments. 
(3)  The  artificial  manure  used  is  usually  Castor- 
c.ake  with  a small  addition  of  Bone-meal,  and 
occixsionally  an  admixture  of  fish  manure,  and 
it  is  generally  applied  in  small  doses  along 
with  the  burial  of  primings,  or  wh.at  bulky  stuff' 
there  may  be  in  the  shape  of  farm -yard  nianure 
or  line  sweepings,  though  1 have  seen  the  mixture 
applied  solely  by  itself. 
(4)  The  results  are  altogether  beneficial  in 
my  opinion  and  especially  so  where  manure 
has  been  applied  to  poorish  looking  tea  as 
it  improves  the  size  of  the  bushes  and 
increases  the  yield  immensely.  I do  not  think 
the  indces  suff'er  to  any  appreciable  extent at 
all  events  my  experience  which,  however,  is 
comparatively  limited,  h.as  been  the  reverse. 
(5)  Old  tea  manured  some  5 or  (j  years  aoo 
is  looking  as  well  and  doing  as  well  as  ever 
it  did — so  I have  no  hesitation  in  giving  my 
opinion  in  favour  of  manure,  bulky  or  artificial 
but  I should  think  twice  before  applyiur--  the 
latter  to  really  fine  fields  which  were  yiddin»- 
heavily  and  p.aying  well. — Yours  tiuly,  ° 
FARMER. 
