March  i,  1897.]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
621 
and  there  are  cases  of  Tea  Estates  wlierc  very 
fine  crops  have  been  regularly  got  by  tlio  system- 
atic use  of  artilicial  ’manure. 
(5).  I have  not  had  any  opportunity  of  making 
a comparison  ; I have  only  seen  the  wonderful 
improvement  in  tea  and  its  yield  on  old  and  pom- 
soil  after  tlie  application  of  bulky  manure. — Yours 
faithfully,  I. 
No.  XLVII. 
Badulla,  Jan.  1. 
Dear  Sir, — I have  little  or  no  knowledge  of 
what  is  being  done  in  the  way  of  manuring  tea 
outside  this  district.  So  far,  a very  limited  area 
has  been  treated  in  this  neighbonrliood  and  that 
has  been  cliietly  with  bulky  manure. — The  results 
of  a fairly  liberal  application  of  well-rotted  bulk — 
cattleshed  and  street  refuse  chiefly— have  been 
most  satisfactory  as  regards  increased  yield,  but 
whether  quality  has  in  any  way  suffered  I can- 
not say. 
Kepeated  doses  of  artificial  manures,  such  as 
Nitrates  or  Bone  Dust  might  show  good  results  for 
a time,  but  I fear  a sudden  cessation  of  these 
doses  would  leave  the  bush  in  a worse  condition 
than  they  found  it.  There  can  be  little  doubt, 
however,  that  a liberal  application  of  suitable 
bulk  brings  the  bush  into  a healthy  and  vigorous 
condition,  largely  increasing  the  yield  and  presum- 
ably— until  the  contrary  is  proved — nob  interfering 
with  the  quality.  The  cost  of  such  manuring  is, 
however,  high  and  for  this  reason  it  is  not  likely 
to  become  very  general.— Yours  faithfully, 
‘•OUVAH.” 
No.  XLVIII. 
Dear  Sir,— I send  you  the  following  replies 
to  the  queries  in  your  circular  of  26th  ult.  : — 
No.  1 My  experience  is  very  local — (Kotagala 
Valley).  A little  manuring  is  being  done  on 
some  estates. 
(2)  Bulky  manure  is  no  doubt  always  used, 
where  procurable,  bub  the  supply  must  be  very 
limited. 
(3)  .Bone-dust,  Castor-Cake  and  Nitrates,  &c., 
are  mostly  applied  alone — well-mixed  with 
the  soil. 
(4)  None— that  I know  of— altho’  it  may  be 
prudent  to  guard  against  loss  of  “ flavour  ” by 
the  indiscriminate  use  of  artificial  manures,  — or 
by  too  large  doses  at  one  time. 
It  is  a fact  that  many  plants  lose  their  natural 
scents  or  oils— by  manuring  or  cultivation.  Take 
the  wild  canot  or  celery,  for  instance.  These 
are  nauseous,  naturally — but  become  edible  when 
cultivated. 
In  my  experience — the  tea  made  after  manuring 
with  our  ordinary  manure — has  lost  some  of  its 
“ pungency  ” — while  it  has  gained  in  “ body  ” 
and  “ maltiness.”  The  yield  is  increased  at  least 
one-third. 
For  tea,  our  soils,  as  a rule,  arc  too  deficient 
in  potash,  and  this  is  difficult  to  remedy  by 
manuring,  the  salts  being  so  very  soluble,  that 
much  I0.SS  may  be  sustained— by  their  getting 
too  deep  in  the  soil— ere  the  plant  can  assimi- 
late them. 
(5)  Tfie  oldest  manured  tea  is  twice  as  good  in 
appearance— as  the  unmanured  of  the  same  age. 
Without  manuring  (where  required)  tea  will 
hardly  pay— in  future. 
Analysis  of  the  soil  and  of  the  manure  to 
suit  it,'  is  indispensable.  Or  one  may  “ be  carry- 
ing coals  to  Newcastle.”— Yours  faithfully, 
® “ SENEX.” 
No.  XLIX. 
Southern  Province,  Jan.  14. 
Dear  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  favor  of  8th 
idem,  my  experience  of  manure  is  as  follows  : — 
1st  As  I have  not  worked  tea  estates  in  the 
old  Districts,  I can  only  write  of  the  new. 
2nd.  No  artificial. 
3rd.  I use  2 oz.  Castor  and  1 oz.  Bone-dust  to 
each  bush  Avell  mixed  with  the  soil. 
4th  On  the  contrary;  bub  it  must  be  kept  up. 
5th  (Jnmanured  lea  compares  unfavourably  both 
in  wood  and  leaf  -.vitli  manured. 
Ileferriiig  you  to  statement  below. 
100  acres  gave  in  1894,  1901b. 
^lanured  in 
March  1895  ,,  1895,  272  ,,  gain  82  lb. 
Not  mamtred  in 
March  1896  „ 1896,  420  „ 230  „ 
Increase  over  1894  312  ,, 
I am,  yours  faithfully,. 
B. 
No.  L. 
Udapussellawa,  .Jan.  8. 
Dear  Sir,— The  following  are  my  replies  to 
your  questions  about  manuring  tea  ; — 
1.  A few  estates  in  this  district  have  applied 
manure,  bub  as  yet  it  has  nob  become  general. 
2.  Bulky  manui'e  is  being  used  where  it  is 
obtainable  at  a reasonable  cost ; but  on  most 
estates  the  conditions  are  unfavourable  for  the 
keep  of  live  stock.  There  is,  however,  little  doubt 
that  cattle  manure  is  the  best,  as  it  gives  good 
returns  and  does  not  force  the  bushes  to  such 
an  extent  as  artificial  manures  do.  Ihe  effects 
last  a fairly  long  time,  and  regular  flushes  are 
secured  ; but  the  difficulty,  in  most  cases,  is  to 
produce  and  apply  it  at  a paying  figure. 
3.  The  manures  priiicipally  used  are  Castor- 
cake,  Fish,  Crushed  Bones,  and  Bonemeal.  Sul- 
phates and  Nitrates  are  to  be  given  a trial  on 
a few  properties,  but  they  are  to  be  mixed  with 
Castorcake  and  Bones,  and  in  some  instances 
the  prunings  will  be  buried  at  the  same  time. 
In  my  opinion  when  these  manures  are  applied 
every  effort  should  be  made  to  bury  all  prunings 
and  dead  leaves  obtainable,  as  I think  they 
materially  help  to  carry  on  the  bush  after  the 
artilicial  manures  are  exhausted,  especially  in  thin 
gravelly  soils,  and  in  a comparatively  dry  climate! 
4.  On  this  .side  of  the  country  I do  not  think 
any  harm  has  been  done  by  manuring  yet,  but 
this  may  happen  in  time  if  large  doses  of ’arti- 
ficial manures  have  to  be  resorted  to.  The  ques- 
tion which  presents  itself  to  me  at  present  is  — 
AAlll  the  bushes  continue  to  give  satisfactory 
yields  without  increasing  the  quantity  at  each 
application  ? If  they  ivill,  my  opinion  is  that  little 
or  no  harm  will  be  done  (but  the  reverse);  if  they 
will  not,  then  larger  and  larger  applications  ’will  be- 
come the  order  of  the  day  until  the  cost  becomes 
prohibitive.  This  may  be  a danger  looming  ahead 
of  us,  <as  if  manuring  is  suddenly  stopped  the 
bushes  which  have  become  accustomed  to  it  will 
doubtless  suffer  considerably. 
5.  As  far  as  we  have  got  in  this  district 
(the  lower  and  older  end  of  it)  there  can  be  little 
doubt  tlitit  in  most  casos  the  manure,  whethev 
bulky  or  artificial,  has  worked  w’^ouders  upon  the 
frames  of  the  bushes,  and  also  has  given  a fair 
profit,  but  as  it  is  only  within  the  last  few  yeai^ 
