March  i,  1897]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
643 
THE  MANURING  OF  TEA  ESTATES  : 
IN  CONCLUSION. 
The  fourtli,  aiul  linal,  batcli  of  letters,— from  the 
36th  to  the  61st  (see  pages  619-624)— on  the  iiianur- 
iag  of  tea  estates,  remains  to  be  reviewed  in  conclu- 
sion of  the  series.  The  letters  are  full  of  informa- 
tion and  suggestion,  and  represent  ahiiost  every 
part  of  the  island  in  wliich  tea  is  a leading 
product.  Thus,  in  the  first  six  of  tliem,  pub- 
lished on  the  5th  inst.,  we  have  “M.’'  from  a 
“ Higli  District,”  who  tells  us  in  a few  words 
that  manuring  is  getting  to  be  general  in  the 
island,  that  about  15  to  20  per  cent  of  the 
estates  use  artificial  manures,  as  special  facilities 
are  necessary  for  securing  bulKy  manure  ; that 
2-3rds  Castor  to  l-3id  Bones  is  tlie  usual  projmr- 
tion  ; and  that,  while  he  fears  a good  deal  of 
soil  must  be  washed  away  by  manuring  steep 
slopes,  he  thinks  manuring  increases  the  yield  by 
150  to  200  lb.  per  acre.  Now,  should  it  not  be  the 
endeavour  of  the  careful  husbandman,  by  terracing 
or  otherwise,  to  reduce  risk  of  the  wash  to  a 
minimum,  since  it  is  the  steep  slopes  that  gene- 
rally most  need  renewal  of  soil '!  “ Kelani  Valley  ” 
coniirms  “M”’s  experience,  that  more  is  being 
done  with  Castor  and  Bones  mixed  in  the  mills, 
than  with  Bulky  Manure  ; that  though  he  com- 
menced the  use  of  artificial  manures  with  mis- 
giving, he  is  now  a staunch  advocate  of  manuring, 
as  it  improves  the  yield  and  also  the  ai)pearance 
of  the  bushes ; but  he  thinks  the  quantity  of  the 
tea  suffers  somewhat,  and  he  fears  that  the  water- 
supply  is  injuriously  affected,  leading  to  the 
greater  prevalence  ol  typhoid.  This  is  certainly 
a matter  which  demands  attention,  and  if  the 
fear  is  justilied,  special  care  should  be  taken  to 
protect  the  water.  The  opinion  that  artificial 
manuring  will  need  to  be  continued,  at  intervals, 
say  of  three  years  is  shared  by  many  planters, 
since  otherwise  the  bush  deteriorates.  But  why, 
if  the  treatment  pays,  should  it  ever  be  discontined  ? 
‘‘  ^Equus  in  Arduis,”  from  an  “old  and  medium 
elevation  district,  ” reports  that  manuring  is  very 
general  in  it,  though  not  throughout  the  country  ; 
while  at  very  high  elevations,  where  transport  is 
difficult,  scarcely  any  manure  is  applied.  The 
usual  mixture  is  Castor  and  Bones,  though  Fish 
and  Nitrates  are  not  unknown.  As  regards  good 
results,  and  the  necessity  of  continuing  manures 
when  once  begun,  he  agrees  with  the  previous 
writer ; while  to  the  drawdack  of  wash  he 
adds  tfie  cost  of  weeding— a sign,  surely,  of 
enrichment  of  soil.  “Manager”  from  West 
Matale  disclaims  experience  for  a positive  opi- 
nion, as  he  has  just  begun  manuring;  but  so 
far  the  results  are  highly  satisfactory,  the  fields 
manured  with  bulk  having  yielded  950  lb. 
per  acre  and  with  artifical,  mixed  in  Colombo, 
1,0501b.  Nor  has  the  price  of  the  tea  fallen. 
“’t.  Koko”  from  Wattegame  has  a similar  tale 
to  tell,  of  yield  being  doubled  and  more,  by- 
manuring,  especially  on  old  coffee  land,  though 
he  suggests  a careful  mixture  of  artifical  with 
bulk  with  plenty  of  soil,  and  he  strongly  depre- 
cates the  burying  of  prunings  “ as  no  tree  feeds 
on  its  own  refuse.  ” We  should  wish  to  know 
how  far  this  opinion  is  supported  by  scientific 
authority  and  practical  experience.  On  what  do 
forests  thrive,  but  the  vegetable  mould  formed 
of  their  own  “ refuse” — natural,  taking  the  place 
of  artificial,  manuring?  And  are  not  coconut 
husks  generally  regarded  as  among  the  best 
manure  for  coconut  trees?  “ L.  A.  W.  ” pleads 
lack  of  experience  ; but  he  doe.s  not  doubt  the 
l^neffcial  effects  of  manures,  and  fears  their 
81 
application  is  too  long  delayed,  especially  in  the 
lowcountry,  while  artificial  alone  can  do  little 
• for  worn-out  estates. 
In  oiir  issue  of  the  9th  inst.  “ Z,  ” from  Matale 
reports  very  good  results  from  the  annual  appli- 
cation for  the  last  six  years  of  cattle  manure 
on  30  to  50  acres.  It  is  not  very  clear  whether 
the  same  field  is  meant  throughout?  If  so, 
wo  suppose  tlie  reason  for  the  annual  apiilica- 
tion  is  that  the  land  is  worn  out.  “A  Northern 
Planter,  ” from  Kandy,  expre.?,ses  confidence  in 
manures,  whether  bulk  or  artificial,  and  observes 
an  extension  of  manuring  in  the  older  districts 
with  good  results — 550  to  600  lb.  being  harvested 
from  systeniaticallj^  manured  fields,  against  300 
to  350  lb.  from  unmanured.  Last  year  adverse 
exchange  restricted  manuring  ; and  it  is  doubted 
Avhether  in  a forcing  climate,  a very  higli  jat 
will  respond  as  readily  as  a hybrid.  F'rom 
Udapussellawa,  “Querist”  can  say  nothing  from 
personal  experience,  but  he  has  been  observant 
of  his  neighbour’s  operations,  and  he  would  like 
to  see  the  experience  of  a period,  say  four  years, 
recorded.  So  far,  he  learns  quantity  is  decidedly 
increased  without  sacrificing  quality  ; but  he  e.x- 
presses  hesitation  about  adopting  artificial  manur- 
ing “after  the  deadlj^  effect  that  Matale 
manures  had  on  our  coffee,  but  particularly 
salts  of  sorts.”  Now,  is  there  any  real  proof 
that  our  Coffee  suffered  in  the  manner  indicated? 
If  such  disastrous  results  can  be  verified  and 
localized,  an  expert  should  certainly  be  con- 
sulted regarding  similar  results  with  Tea.  The 
tendency  of  W.  J.  G.’s  verdict  is  against  the 
manuring  of  vigorous  Tea,  giving  a satisfactory 
yield  ; but  in  the  old  and  worn-out  districts,  the 
benefit  derived  has  been  most  marked  ; and  yet 
again,  he  fears  quality  suffers  from  the  rapid  pro- 
duction of  leaf.  To  manure  vigorous  plants  with 
artificial  manure,  he  considers  tantamount  to  kill- 
ing tlie  goose  that  lays  the  golden  egg. 
On  the  10th  we  published  four  letters — from 
“ 1,  ” testifying  to  the  beneficial  effects  and 
splendid  results  obtainetl  by  the  application  of 
bulky  manure,  wherever,  available,  expressing 
his  conviction  that  manuring  must  spread, 
e.specially  in  the  older  districts  and  that  no  harm 
could  come  of  regular  ajiplications  at  fair  inter- 
vals. “ Ouvah  ” from  Badulla  can  speak,  hap- 
pily, only  of  the  application  of  well-rooted  bulky 
manure,  with  most  satisfactory  results  as  regards 
quantity  and  health  of  bushes  ; but  he  is  unable 
to  say  anything  about  quality,  and  doubts 
if  “artificial”  can  be  applied  regularly  and  I be.! 
stopperl  without  evil  cotisequences.  In  a [)i‘ivale 
letter,  our  correspondent,  a planter  of  largo 
experience  and  holding  a very  responsible  position, 
fears  that  manuring  is  being  done  greatly  in 
the  dark,  and  thinks  that  an  Agricultuial  Che- 
mist might  do  a great  deal  of  good  to  the 
country.  Meanwhile,  he  warmly  commends  our 
efforts  to  collect  information  and  focus  results 
for  the  benefit  of  the  planting  community,  and 
also  we  may  add  for  the  guidance  and  opinion 
of  experts.  “ yenex  ” from  Kotagala  supports 
the  generally  beneficial  results  we  have  already 
noted,  but  thinks  some  care  should  be  taken 
lest  large  doses  of  artifical  manure,  shotild  tell  on 
the  flavour  of  the  tea  as  the  natural  oils  or 
scents  of  plants  arc  known  to  be  affected  by 
cultivation  ; and  be  instances  the  wild  carrot 
or  celery.  This  is  therefore  peculiarly  a matter 
for  investigation  by  an  expert,  and  strengthens 
our  position  in  favour  of  an  Agricultural  Che- 
mist, “B”  from  the  Southern  Province  gives 
interesting  figures  which  attest  the  e.xcelleut) 
