April  i,  1897.]  TFIb:  'rROPr:AL 
$oiu'6spon(3cnci?. 
— — » 
To  Vie.  F.dUo?. 
CEYLON  I'EA  IN  AMERICA. 
London,  1st  Eeb.  1897. 
Dkau  Sir, — In  yonr  leader  (see  paj^o  545)  on 
the  interview  “ llrown  Paterson”  had  with  me, 
you  say  I am  inconsistent  in  depreciating  news- 
paper advertisin.n’,  wliilc  praisiiif?  tlie  linn  which 
advertises  Ceylon  toain  over  3i)0  papers. 
The  dillerence  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  latter  is 
in  Canada — a tea-ilrinkinp’  country  ; wliereas 
“ Browm  Paterson”  was  referring  to  tlie  Lhiited 
States— a collee-drinking  country.  There,  mere 
advertisinj;,  iniless  on  a scale  far  heyoml  our 
means,  would  he  quite  useless,  unless  we  drst 
induced  dealers  to  hold  o\rr  tea.s.  A strong  friend 
ot  Ceylon  lea  writes  “ I am  taking  up  a new' 
town  now,  but  will  not  advertise  till  1 get  50 
grocers  Co  hold  my  teas.”  I send  a cutting  from 
tlie  A nierirar.  Grocer  showing  the  imports  of  tea 
into  the  United  States  from  ISSO  to  1896  [already 
given  in  Obseroer.  -Ei).  C. O.j  You  will  sec  that  the 
c nsunqition  per  head  has  decreased,  although 
the  average  cost  [ler  To.  has  fallen  from  27  cts. 
(Is  lid)  to  16}  cts  (6-,';d).  This,  of  course,  arises 
from  the  great  immigration  from  coHec  drink- 
ing countries,  chiefly  Italy.  Austria  and  Germany 
about  w'hich,  see  enclosed  cuttin.g  from  Globe. 
I enclose  another  reference  to  tlie  Japan  tea 
organizer  with  .Mr.  Larkin’s  reply  to  wdiat  he  says 
on  behalf  of  Janan  tea. — Yours  faithfully, 
W.Ai.  MACKENZIE. 
PLANTING  AND  THE  AU.STRALIaN  NE\Y 
HEHUTDES  COMPANY,  I.TD. 
10  Bridge  Street,  Sydney,  Eel>.  5. 
To  the  Editor,  Tropieidj  Afirb'idlnrFt,  Colombo. 
Siu, — Wi'  giv3  you  some  particnlars  hereunder 
regarding  the  New  Hebrides  which  wo  think  will  bo 
of  interest  to  many  of  your  readers. 
The  New  Hebrides  are  situated  1,160  miles  North- 
East  of  Sydney,  and  consist  of  some  20  fertilo 
Islands,  some  of  which  are  60  niile.s  in  length.  They 
are  connected  with  Australia  by  a throe-weekly  steam 
service  from  Sydney  (a  time-table  of  which  wo 
enclose  herewith)  by  a steamer  of  1,200  tons  ,ii  12 
knots  speed.  The  Capital  of  the  New  Hebrides 
Islands  is  Port  Vdla  situated  on  the  Island  of  Sand- 
wich. The  Sydney  steamer  here  connects  with  the 
Inter-Island  steamer  of  100  tons  register. 
Our  idea  in  bringing  the  New  Hebrides  under  your 
notice  is  on  account  of  the  many  advantages  it 
aSords  for  the  “Tropical  Agriculturist.’’  Coffee,  Cocoa, 
Vanilla,  and  Bananas  are  cultivated. 
Coffee  was  introduced  some  live  or  sis  years  a"o 
and  although  cultivated  in  a primitive  way  the  export 
last  year  amounted  to  some  250  to  600  tons.  The 
bulk  is  sold  in  Sydney  realizing  from  7d  to  lOd  per 
lb.  Both  the  climate  and  soil  are  well  suited  toils 
cultivation.  The  Islands  are  hilly  and  covered  with 
vegetation  and  abundance  of  shade  for  young  coffee 
may  be  left  when  clearing  the  land  for  Plantation 
purposes. 
Banax.vs  are  now  grown  in  large  quantitie.s,  the 
steamer  on  her  last  trip  bringing  '15,000  bunches 
the  fruit  is  far  superior  than  that  of  Queensland 
and  Fiji. 
Cacao  and  Vaniel.v,— It  is  only  during  the  last 
twelve  months  that  these  have  been  introduced,  and 
the  young  plants  are  looking  remarkably  well. 
There  is  but  little  doubt  that  the  New  Plebrides 
afford  fine  fields  for  tho  Coffee  and  Tea  Planter, 
large  tracts  of  choicest  laud  may  be  purchased  or 
£)U 
AGRlCJf/rURIS  r.  717 
rented  at  nominal  cost.  Labor  may  be  had  iu 
abundance  from  the  local  labor  recruiting  vessels  who 
bring  the  labour  from  Islands  other  than  the  one 
upon  the  Planter  who  requires  the  boys  is  settled’ 
The  recruiting  Fees  for  good  strong  labourers  average 
from  T6  to  £8  per  head.  The  laborers  come  to  the 
Planter  under  an  engagement  of  three  years  and  as 
a rule  renew  the  engagement  for  an  additional  three 
years.  Tho  wages  paid  amount  to  tTO  each  per 
annum  with  Food,  q)rincipal!y  Bice,  Yams,  Taro  and 
Bananas. 
Our  Company,  we  might  mention,  w'as  formed  for 
the  encouragement  of  British  interests  in  New  He- 
brides and  we  have  large  tracts  of  land  that  may 
be  purchased  or  leased  at  nominal  figures  by  intending 
Planter.s. 
We  enclose  herewith  some  copies  of  a pamphlet 
regarding  settlement,  also  under  other  cover  we  send 
you  sample  of  coffee  grown. 
We  shall  thank  you  to  give  the  above  a pai’agraph 
iu  your  vuluiblo  .Journal  as  we  feel  sure  that  many 
of  your  readers  will  be  much  intei’ested  in  it. 
Any  further  particulars  may  be  had  by  applying  to 
the  undersigned. — Yours  very  trnlv, 
p.  THE  AUSTRALIAN  NEW  HEBRIDES 
COMPANY,  LIMITED, 
Joseph  Mitchell. 
[Copies  of  circular.s  witli  tlie  fuller  information 
cun  be  liml  at  our  office  by  any  one  interested.— 

LOCAL  FRUIT  AND  VEGETABLES. 
Kandy,  Feb.  23. 
Dear  Sir,— Can  any  of  your  readers  e.vplain 
what  part  iu  the  economy  of  nature  the 
“ Siame.se  I’wiu  ” plantains,  to  be  found  on  every 
bunch  of  the  fruit,  play  ? 
While  oil  the  subject  of  fruit,  I feel  certain 
our  new  Director  of  Garden.s  would  earn  the 
gratitude  of  the  community,  native  as  well  as 
Flnropeaii,  if  he  should  turn  Ids  attention  to 
improve  the  quality  of  the  several  de.scriptions 
of  fruit  and  vegetable.s  we  pos.sess  in  the  island, 
many  of  the  former  are  of  fair  flavour,  but  pro- 
ducing very  little  pulp.  Cultivation  has  rectilieil 
this  defect  iu  many  instance.-;  in  Europe,  and 
surely  a like  sucees.s  may  he  looked  for  from 
efforts  in  the  same  direction  out  here.  If  I may, 
I would  suggest  that  a plot  of  ground  in  the 
Peradoniya  Garden.s  be  devoted  to  the  object  I 
refer  to.  PALAM, 
TOBACCO  IN  CEYLON. 
Feb.  26th. 
Dear  Sir,— Iu  reference  to  your  very  interest- 
ing article  upon  tlie  subject  of  Tobacco  and  c.i- 
r|uiiy  as  to  the  causes  of  its  cultivation  not  being 
taken  up  by  Europeans,  may  I venture  to  make 
a few  oli.servations.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Vollar  in 
his  opinion  that  first  rate  cigar  tobacco  can  be 
(p-owii  iu  Ceylon  must  be  correct.  The  Sumatra 
e.Kpert.s,  who  commenced  the  business  of  the  Tobacco 
Company,  were  attracteil  by  what  Mr.  Vollar  had 
grown  and  they  showed  their  belief  in  it  by  becom- 
ing purchasers  to  acoiisiderable  extent,  and  as  they 
were  men  of  experience  it  seems  cFar  that  it  w'as 
not  any  defect  in  growth  that  brought  about  the 
ultimate  abandonment  of  the  enterprize  ; but  the 
curing  of  it  was  another  matter.  Still  even  that 
had  lieen  seen  to  by  their  experienced  manager 
and  jirio  to  that  Mr.  Vollar  and  others  had  had 
a measure  of  success;  hut  there  were  many  other 
difficulties  arose.  Land  could  not  ho  acquired  in 
largo  block.s  and  it  was  necos.sary  to  get  it  on 
scattered  pieces,  hence  we  .saw  Diimliara,  Katngas- 
t)ta,  Wattegami,  Uknwela,  Matale  and  Kuvu- 
negala  all  furnishing  lands  and  these  acquired 
slowly  R'-id  no  doubt  c.xponsively,  for  I hough  the 
