May  t,  1897.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
795 
They  suck  the  pieces  of  stems  and  leaves,  and  in 
large  numbers  must  do  serious  damage.  The  Frog 
Hopper,  Frog  Spit,  or  Cuckoo  Spit,  so  well-known  in 
England,  is  a member  of  the  family.” — Ed  T.  .*1.] 
THE  CACAO  DISEASE. 
Dkar  Sir,— Mr.  Vander  Poortcn's  comiminica- 
tion  regarding  tlie  cacao  weevil  Tomicus  and  tlie 
remarks  thereon  of  Mr,  Martin,  of  Yattewatte,  are 
of  undoubted  value  to  cacao  planters,  as  pre.senting 
to  them  the  separate  experiences  of  two  difterent 
planters.  And  if  you  can  collect  the  views 
of  several  Ceylon  planters  on  this  important 
subject,  such  information  cannot  fail  to  bear  upon 
the  future  successfirl  cultivation  of  cacao  in  our 
island. 
When  at  the  drafting  of  our  Committee’s  An- 
nual Report  the  consi  leration  of  this  cacao  enemy 
cropped  up,  it  was  referred  to  a Sub-Committee 
composed  ot  cacao  planters  ; and  it  was  then 
thought  that  the  subject  was  worthy  of  fuller  in- 
vestigation and  discussion  than  the  time  at  our 
disposal  then  permitted  us,  for  the  report  had 
to  be  presented  to  the  meeting  almost  immediately. 
But  the  time  is  now  opportune,  I think,  for 
the  exchange  at  leisure  of  our  different  views  ; 
aiul  the  publication  of  the  results  of  individual 
observation  with  regard  to  cacao  and  its  latest 
enemy. 
It  Ims  been  .suggested  that  it  would  be  im- 
portant to  make  a careful  study  of  the  insect. 
No  doubt  this  is  a necessary  step.  But  I con.sider 
that  there  is  even  a more  important  study  than 
the  life  history  of  the  weevil  ; and  that  is  the 
life  history  of  the  cacao  plant  itself.  For  11101 
of  experience  are  too  apt  to  keep  to  their  own  views, 
and  the  practice  of  their  own  methods  till  an  enemy 
suddenly  appears  and  disturbs  their  self- 
confidence  and  repose.  Inquiry  then  follows 
with  the  result  that  things  taken  for  granted 
previously  become  open  to  legitimate  discussion, 
It  may  be  taken  for  granted  in  this  connexion 
that  tiie  weevil,  whicli  has  become  a new  terror 
to  certain  plantations,  is  by  no  means  a stranger. 
But  the  further  acqtiaintance  and  familiarity  with 
the  iqsect  througli  a knowledge  of  its  life  his- 
tory is  little  likely  to  benclit  the  cacao  planter, 
unless  the  doomeil  plant  is  studiecl  with 
as  much  care  and  more  than  even  the  enemy  which 
attacks  it. 
My  o.vn  view  of  it,  if  it  is  of  any  value  to 
niy  planting  brethren,  is  that  the  insect  is  not 
the  cause  of  death  to  the -plant,  bid  one  of  the  conse- 
fjnences  of  it.  And  1 maintain  that  without  the 
opinion  of  a scientist  upon  the  jilant  itself,  in 
the  first  instance,  no  man  is  warranted  in  arriving 
at  the  conclusion  that  the  weevil  is  the  cause  of 
its  dealh.  I should  expect  the  planter,  who 
ascribes  the  death  of  the  plant  to  the  weevil  to  be 
able  to  exclude  all  other  cases  before  he  lays 
the  charge  at  the  door  of  the  insect  Tornicus. 
If  we  proceed  a step  further  in  the  investi- 
gation we  may  probably  be  told  ny  scientists 
who  have  studied  the  habits  of  the  insect 
that  Tommy  belongs  to  a class  of  insects  which 
delight  in  decayed  or  decayiiu'  timber.  In  which 
case  the  question  at  i.ssue  will  be  whether  Tommy 
h.as  of  a sudden  changed  his  natural  instinct  in 
tlie  matter  of  his  diet  frs  m decaying  bark  and 
wood  til  fresh,  green,  sajipy  plants,  or  whether 
the  plant  have  from  age,  exjio.snre  to  too  much 
sunlight,  poverty  of  .soil,  over-manuring,  injury 
at  the  roots  or  their  branches  at  the  hand  of 
man  or  other  causes  changed  their  condition  from 
healthy  and  unpalatable  wood  to  decaying  and 
palatable  matter ; lit  food  for  the  worm  ! The 
first  step,  therefore,  in  the  investigation  is  to 
ascertain  whether  the  tree  attacked  is  healthy 
or  decayed —dying — dead.  When  the  planter  finst 
notices  the  weevil  he  also  notices  the  fact  that 
the  tree  has  changed  its  condition  and  saltern 
he  arrives  at  the  conclusion  that  “ an  enemy 
(Toniieiis)  hath  done  this  thing.”  Now  to  argue 
liy  analogy  one  who  meets  with  a carcase  of  an 
animal  filled  with  maggots  may,  with  equal  reason 
cry:  “Behold  the  maggot  (here  insert  a sono- 
rous aristocratic  name  to  make  it  look  learned) — 
behold  the  maggot  hath  killed  the  animal  ” ! — 
Yours  truly,  JAS.  H.  BARBER. 
SANITATION  ON  ESTATES  : COOLY 
LINES. 
Kandy,  April  10. 
Dkar  Sir. — In  calling  attention  to  the  enclosed 
letter  from  the  Colonial  Secretary,  I would  endea- 
vour to  impre.ssupon  everymember  of  the  Plant- 
ing Community  the  imi)ortaiice  of  carrying  out 
the  injunctions  referred  to  in  a thorough  manner. 
We  can  hardly  estimate  what  a frightful  calamity 
it  would  be  if  the  Plague  were  to  break  out  in  our 
midst,  and  for  every  reason  of  interest  as  well  as 
humanity,  we  should  do  our  utmost  to  ward  off  the 
evil. — ^Yo)irs  faithfully,  J.  N.  CAMPBELL, 
Chairman,  Planters’  vVssociation  of  Ceylon. 
Colonial  Socretiry’s  Office,  Colombo,  1st  April. 
Sir, — I am  desired  to  inform  you,  as  you  are  proba- 
bly aware,  that  the  attention  of  the  Government  and 
the  energetic  action  of  all  local  sanitary  authorities 
have  been  specially  directed  at  measures  for  the  pre- 
vention of  the  introduction  of  the  Plague  and  for  its 
resistance  if  it  should  unhappily  make  its  appearance 
in  Ceylon. 
2.  The  Governor  feels  that  he  can  with  confidence 
appeal  to  the  proprietors  of  estates  for  their  co-opera- 
tion in  seeing  that  their  cooly  lines  are  cleansed 
and  whitewashed,  inside  and  outside,  and  that  all 
the  drains  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  lines  are 
cleansed  and  kept  in  good  sanitary  condition.  This 
duty  is  indeed  imposed  on  Superintendents  of  estates 
by  the  section  20  of  the  Medical  Wants  Ordinance, 
No.  17  of  18S0,  and  the  Governor  has  no  reason  tosup- 
))ose  that  it  is  not  ordinarily  observed.  But  at  the 
present  juncture  it  behoves  those  in  charge  of 
estates  to  adopt  some  extraordinary  measures  of 
sanitation  and,  with  this  view,  a circular  injunction 
is  in  course  of  issue  by  the  Medical  Department. 
3.  I am  therefore  to  invite  your  attention  to  the 
subject  and  to  ask  the  Association  to  use  their  in- 
fluence and  action  in  securing  the  adoption  of  such 
extraordinary  measures. — I am,  &c., 
(Signed;.  J.  J.  Thorburn,  for  Colonial  Secretary. 
To  the  Secretary  to  the  Planters’  Association, 
Kandy. 
LABOUR  SUPPLY  FROM  NORTH  INDIA. 
Dkar  Sir, — I enclo.se  a letter  (copy)  re-labour 
which  I have  received  from  India.  This  is  the 
only  way  to  break  the  back  of  the  present  Can- 
gany  system  and  monopoly,  I have  no  doubt 
we  sha'I  be  able  eventually  to  get  this  kind  of 
labour  down  from  Calcutta  at  10  rupees  . a head 
which  will  make  it  far  cheaper  than  the  present. 
Then  you  save  all  head  money  and  Canganies’ 
names;  the  Zemindars  at  R40  a month,  say  look- 
ing after  the  lot. —Yours  truly,  TRUTH. 
April  11th. 
2'me  Copy. 
Stephen,  Dass&  Co.  Factors  and  Commission  Agents 
Indentois,  M.u  ket  and  Produce  Suppliers,  Benares.  ' 
Benares,  3rd  April  1897.  Dear  Sir, — We  are  in 
receipt  of  your  kind  favour  of  the  23rd  ult.  We  are 
willing  to  supply  you  the  coolies  at  R20  per  head 
including  our  commission,  females  at  1125.  We  trust 
that  these  rates  will  not  be  considered  excessive 
now  as  labor  is  scarce,  owing  to  the  opening  of 
