776 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRiCULTURIST. 
[May  1,  1897. 
bash  have  been  duly  considered,  there  has  been 
a distinct  improvement  in  quality  ; and  careful  ex- 
periments by  “D.K.”  have  led  him  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  manuring  does  not  spoil  quality.  “ B.” 
summarises  eli'ectively  the  requirements  of  the  day, 
in  (1)  attention  to  the  constitution  of  the  bush  by 
careful  cultivation  and  plucking  ;(2)  care  as  1 o what 
leaf  is  plucked  ; and  (3)  even  and  (^uick  withering. 
If  these  are  attended  to,  factory  work  is  ren- 
dered c:isy  ; and  he  has  ohserved  no  want  of 
attention  in  factories,  “ D.”  agrees  in  this  ; biit 
thinks  the  rc([uircments  suited  to  varying  condi- 
tions of  climate,  position  of  factory  ainl  tlie  needs 
of  consumers,  are  little  understooil  ; while  in- 
sullicient  accommodation  is  a considerable  griev- 
ance. “D.K.”  too,  testilies  to  the  attention  be- 
stowed in  factories.  The  views  e.xprcssed  by  “D.” 
on  the  absence  of  fertility  in  old  worn-out 
soils,  and  the  forciui.'  climate  of  the  low  country, 
render  authoritath’e  advice  on  manuring,  such 
as  Mr.  John  Hughes  tenders  on  the  next  page 
all  the  more  urgent. 
{Letters  Continued.) 
No.  LVH. 
Maskeliya  Feb.  13. 
(1)  Coarser  plucking  does  affect  the  drop  in 
\n'\ceH‘,for  all  rjrodcs,  coarse  and  fine,  have  gone 
down  equally— indeed,  if  anything,  the  liner 
grades  most. 
(2)  Neither  does  manuring  affect  prices  so  far 
as  can  judge  and  I’ve  ilone  a good  deal. 
(3)  This,  in  my  opinion,  does  so.  Low  severe 
cutting  down  especially  so,  and  ton  frequent  prm*- 
ings.  This  is  an  easy  and  simple  method  of  in- 
creasing your  gicld ; but  it  is  long  ere  the  loood 
matures  sufficient  to  give  a good  class  of  tea. 
(4)  Far  better  and  more  elaborate  machinery 
is  now  used  in  factories  and  much  more  (msy  I 
call  it)  scientific  tea  making  brought  to  bear  on 
the  manufacturer  now  than  of  old:  so  I can’t  see 
well,  how  it  could  be  from  less  care,  speaking 
a vjholc,  that  prices  are  affected.  Of  course, 
well-plucked  leaf  mag  be  spoiled  in  factory, 
but  tnis  would  apply  to  isolated  ca.ses  only.  Given 
a reduced  output  all  over  the  ^^orld,  ])rices  would 
jump  at  once 
6 This  last  remarks  under  No.  4 applies  twice. 
6.  Overproduction  and  the  usual  law  of  sup- 
ply and  demand  are  the  factors. 
See  Kandapola  tea  and  prices ; as  a rule,  they 
allow  the  bushes  to  run  as  long  as  3 gears  un- 
priined.  Tlie  wood  is  old  and  well  matured,  and 
produces  good  liquor.  I don’t  say  this  is  possible 
everywhere — unfortunately,  it  is  not  so.  ^ 
No.  LVIIT. 
Agrapatana,  Feb.  27. 
1.  On  some  estates  at  lower  elevations  there  is 
no  doubt  that  coarser  plucking  has  influenced 
the  price.s  of  tea,  but  I do  not  consiiler  that  at 
liisdier  elevations  the  tendency  has  been  to  pluck 
coarser,  but  in  many  cases,  the  reverse. 
2.  f have  never  found  manuring  affect  tlie 
nuality  of  tea  at  this  elevation,  but  that  it  rather 
imiiro'ves  it,  if  properly  and  judiciously  done, 
thomdi,  of  cour.se,  in  certain  soils  and  climates 
indiscriminate  maiiuiing  may  giveyicld  only  and 
reduce  (luality.  . 1 1 1 , 
3 I iielieve  severe  priiiiing  to  be  less  iHovalent 
than  formerly  and  that,  on  the  whole,  more  care 
is  taken  in  this  work. 
4.  I consider  there  is  room  for  improvement 
in  manufacture  and,  in  .some  cases,  want  of  more 
machinery  to  prevent  night-work  or  more  room 
for  withering.  With  the  rapid  increase  in  acreage 
opened  for  tea,  there  has  been  corresponding  in- 
crease in  number  of  factories,  and  the  necessary 
experience  has  been  often  missing  to  keep  up  with 
all  this.  Good  tea  is  made  both  in  field  and 
factory  and  10  show  good  results,  and  give  good 
profits  there  should  alwa5's  be  experienced 
management  in  the  field  and  supervision  by  those 
who  know  how  to  make  the  most  of  this  in  the 
factory  and  direct  those  there. 
5.  At  certain  times  of  tlie  year  when  the  “ rushes” 
come  on,  shortness  of  labor  would,  of  course,  affect 
the  work  in  field  and  factory.  It  has  not  been 
so  in  my  case,  as  I have  always  had  sufficient 
supplj'  of  labor.  But  I know,  that  in  somecascs 
with  all  this  increased  tea  coming  on  of  late 
years,  this  has  seriously  affected  the  quality  of 
the  tea,  but  to  what  extent  generally,  I cannot 
say.  As  a matter  of  fact,  I do  not  believe  that 
the  tea,  made  of  recent  years,  has  been  worse 
than  previously,  in  any  well-ordered  factory.  I 
believe  that  I make  better  teas  than  ever  I did 
and  yet  get  lower  prices.  This  is  corroborated  both 
by  local  and  home  reports  on  the  teas,  and  I have 
no  doubt  very  many  others  have  found  this  to 
be  the  case.  Is  it  not  a fact  that  actual  profits 
on  estates  per  acre  have  been  larger  on  most 
estates  with  increased  yields,  &c.,  than  when 
highest  prices  ruled,  and  w’ould  it  not  be  so  now 
if  exchange  had  not  risen,  and  allowing  for  in- 
creased prices  paiil  for  estates,  and  it  is  for  each 
one  to  find  out  wliat  gives  best  profits  per  acre, 
allowing  liberally  in  factory  for  all  machinery 
and  manufacture  to  secure  best  prices  for  leaf 
received  there,  and  in  fiehl,  for  proper  cultivation 
to  keep  up  quality  of  leaf  on  trees.  W.  B.  J. 
No.  LIX. 
Nortli  Matale,  Feb.  27. 
(1)  Overiiroduction  more  than  anything. 
(2)  Have  no  experience  in  manuring  tea — so 
did  not  answer  first  letter. 
(3)  Would  not  think  .so. 
(4)  Do  (agreed). 
(5)  In  a rush  of  leaf,  the  tea  cannot  be  so 
good  as  generally  we  are  then  short-handed. 
(6)  No.  M. 
No.  LX. 
Rangala  Feb.  16. 
Manuring  in  this  (medium)  district  very  little; 
and  only  this  year  is  one  estate  doing  a good 
deal  with  artificial. 
jBc  yours  of  12th  instant. — (1)  I think  bad 
and  coarse  plucking  is  one  of  the  primary 
causes  of  Ceylon  teas  being  so  low  in  price. 
(2)  and  (3).  With  careful  work,  this  has  little  to  do 
with  it.  (Manuring  may  take  off  flavour,  this 
I’ll  be  better  able  to  judge  12  months  hence.) 
(4)  Mamifaeture. — Want  of  care  and  attention 
has  a great  deal  to  do  with  poor  teas. 
Many  factories  are  left  to  tlie  charge  of  some 
cooly  or  teamaker,  who  is  equally  ignorant  of 
the  first  jirinciples  of  manufacture  of  tea.  Green 
leaf  comes  to  f.actory  from  fields  and  in  a few 
days  it  is  manufactured  by  rule  of  thumb  into  so- 
c.allcd  tea  and  soon  despatched.  How  some  I 
have  seen,  finds  a s.ale,  I can’t  think.  Such  is 
the  history  of  tea  manufacture  in  a few  factories 
1 know  !!  S. 
