[July r, 1897. 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
29 
I'Onate, though still blinded with a little chrome, and 
often with molybdena. This occurs in large masses and 
veins, one of which I believe extends for a distance of 
15 miles. Of this, millions of tons might be smelted, 
and when found near water-carriage and fuel it may 
be worked to a profit. I would lay particular stress on 
the very fine quality of the iron ore found in Ceylon, 
itisrrsily smelted, and so pure v lien reduced, as 
to resemble silver. The rough ore produces from oO 
to 75 per cent — on an average fully 50 per cent the 
iron wrought from it requires ne, puddling, and steel 
thus made cuts glass like a diamc ’..d.’ 
It appears that Spain is rapidly getting poorer 
in iron ores, and we were assured in London 
that if Ceylon ores lay within easy reach of a 
navigable stream, it would pay to carry the same 
to London or Glasgow — freight being so very 
cheap — there to have it smelted and manufactured. 
We think we have said enough to make out 
our case for a “Geological Survey.” It ought 
not to be expensive or tedious ; it ought to he 
directly remunerative ; and it ought to be the 
means of e.xtending old and developing new indus- 
tries — and industries too, of an emiuently desirable 
character in a comitry hitherto so dependent on 
its Agriculture and Planting— with their varying 
fortnnes^as is Ceylon. 
SCIENCE AND PRACTICE: PLANTING 
AND ENTOMOLOGY: 
THE WORK OF MR. KCEBELE, ENTOMO- 
LOGIST, IN HAWAII— AND HOW FAR 
IT BEARS ON PLANTING 
IN CEYLON. 
A recent number of that very u.sofnl publica- 
tion, tlie Hawaian “ Planters’ Monthly,” con- 
tained a special Report on his work as Entomo- 
logist, from Air, Albert Kcebele. It is long and 
technical, and may be deemed too dry and 
scientific for perusal by the general reader ; hut 
we have reproduced itin oxw Tropical Agri- 
culturist tor the benefit of our planting cc)mmunity. 
There are not a few thoughlful plauter.s, we ar. 
glad to say, still in the island and to them the 
account of Mr. Ktebele’s work among the 
“poochies” and other enemies of planting and 
agricultural industries, will not be uninteresting. 
Hawaii is as great a paradise for insect and 
fungoid life as is Ceylon ; but there are striking 
differences, because we find Mr. Kmbele endea- 
vouring to introduce such enemies of insects as 
rats, bats and toads. And without success, too, 
in the early trials, as regards the first and second, 
though tliere is hope that the batrachian in- 
troductimis may get on. Now, we need scarcely 
say that there is no lack in Ceylon of such 
enemies of insects as are above detailed. Indeed 
rats were at one time a great enemy of the 
coffee-planter in certain districts. When their 
food in the jungle — tlie nilhi plant for instance — 
failed them, rats sometimes invaded the nearest 
coffee plantation and nipped off the primaries 
or secondaries of the hn.shes, thus inflicting a 
terrible loss on the owner. Such experiences 
houever— as indeed, alas, coffee itself almost— 
are things of the past in Ceylon ; for, we have 
not heard of a single case in which rats have 
attacked onr later staple product, tea. 
We naturally referred Mr. Koebele’s Report 
to Mr. E. E. Green, who has been good enough to 
supply us with a series of “ Note.s ” pointing out 
the portions, and the enemies, which have a direct 
interest to Ceylon planters. This we append 
as an admirable summary for local use of the 
full Report. Rut, helore doing so, we imav 
quote froui a very interesting letter accompanv- 
ing “the Notes,” which has remniru'd by us too 
long : — 
Punduloya, l;Hh Aprd . — I return your copy 
H / Hawain.il Plauters Monthly,” containing 
A Entomologist (Mr. 
A belt Effibcle). this whole Report goes to show 
what can be done by an intelligent man— with a 
attention to the work. Not tliat everyone would have 
succeeded as admirably as did Air. Kcebele, He se-^ms 
to have been the man most exactly fitted to the task 
It may be said by sceptics that this glowing 
account of his success is merely the man’s own 
testimony. But there is ample outside witness to 
rtxT work. In a recent number of 
“Nature- (25th Alarch ’97,) Mr. E. C. L. Rerkins-the 
Naturalist deputed by a Committee of tlieEoyal Society 
and Bnti Ji Association to investigate the Fauna of 
the Sandwich Islands— speaks in th.u,iceii a praise 
ot the results of the iiitrodnction of birt their insects 
into the Hawaiian Islands. ™ -v. 
I have just received a letter fiom Mr. Kcebele 
himself in reply to my question as to whether he 
would be in a position and willing to undert.ake a 
similar work in Ceylon. 
It appears that the Madras Government has aFo 
approached Mr. Kcebele on the subject. 
With respect to Ceylon, Mr. Koebele writes “ If the 
Ceylon people should want me, my services would 
be required m Iiiaia also It would suit me to in- 
troduce all enemies I know of for any scale pests you 
may have in the respective places. I could do it— alone 
—in about two, at longest three years. I may be able 
to come at the beginning of next year if so desired- 
only for the time stated.” 
Mr. Kmbele does not answer my enquiries as to the 
cost of the undertaking and the remuneration for his 
services, I am writing again to ask for some estimate. 
In one respect I think Mr. Kcebele misunderstands the 
^'^qiiire such a general and varied 
w species as has been carried 
out in the Hawaiian Islands, covering a lone/ period 
and occupying the continued attention of the specialist. 
Ail we want at present is to see the one or two species 
of lady-bird beetles that are most likely to heln us 
aga.iust onr dominant pest (‘green bug’ Lecanium 
mnde) properly established in Ceyloiu This could 
effected within a very much shorter time 
than that suggested by Air. Koebele. As I mentioned 
l» one of my former letters, I do not advocate any 
very extravagant outlay m the experiment. I am now 
of opinion that the decay of coffee was not by any 
means entirely or even mainly due to the ravaues of 
the bug though the bug hastened the downfall bv 
sapping the systern of the trees already weakened by 
other-more deeply seated-causes, of which leaf- 
disease was the prime factor, backed up by a reckless 
waste of surface soil.— B. E. Gkisen. ^ ^ 
We quite agree with Mr. Green tlmt Mr 
Kcebele takes an exago-erated view of what is 
required in Ceylon, and indeed he niu.st iearn 
that the cultivation of “ Collee ” lias been 
SO lecluced in area in Ceylon— only a few fields 
in a few districts being left amidst tlie uni- 
versal “tea ’’-that the ...upport available for 
the mtioduction of the enemy of “ .rreen hm- -> 
IS very limited. The same may fe said '’of 
Southern India : only in Coorg and Alysoie is 
t.iere an aiipreciable quantity of collee left 
Our propi^al was tliat the planler.s ot Southern 
Imha andCeylou should unite, getting aid from 
their Government. s, in making up a suitable fee 
and the nece.s,saiy c.Npeiises for Mr. Kcebele If 
jus mission proved successful with us, it is 'rerv 
likely that iurtlicr profitable commissions mi«lit 
await him, e-s^ccially from Java, Sumatra, and 
the Straits Settlements. But he must know 
