Aug. 2, 1897.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 91 
“ HOW TO ECOJ^OMTSE THE AVAILABLE 
LABOUR SUPPLY.” 
Under this heading, we ventured, though with 
considerable hesitation, to trouble the planting 
community — some lime ago — with a third Cir- 
cular containing questions hearing on ' the 
all-important question of Labour Supply. Most of 
these were suggesteil by jjractical men for whose 
opinions we have tlie highest respect : but, never- 
theless, we much feared that our “ 11 questions” 
would meet with the fate upcountry w'hich they 
did from one Colombo merchant (with planting- 
experience) who ought to he among the earliest to 
show a good example, instead of his reply to the 
Circular being, — “ This is beyond me.” We are 
much gratified, however, to find a very liberal 
and most interesting series of answers already 
sent in from some of the most thoughtful and 
observant planters in the country and covering 
a considerable variety of districts. We, of course, 
expect a good many more and shall delay 
publication accordingly for a few days. 
That our Circular this time was rather a for- 
midable one will be seen from its terms as 
follows : — 
Dear Sir, — It has been suggested that to bring 
together the opinions of a number of experienced 
dlauters ou means of economising Labour on estates 
qeyond the ordinary routine, might lead to some 
useful practical results. No doubt, there are labour- 
saving contrievnces on some estates, not yet gener- 
ally adopted, which it would be well to make known 
because every cooly saved is a matter of benefit to 
the whole community. Hints as to wire-shoots, 
spouting, &c., ought to be useful. It is also sug- 
gested that questions might be asked as to altera- 
tions in some points of present cultivation, weed- 
ing, draining, &o. We accordingly formulate a few 
questions : — 
(1.) Have you had any experience of Wire Shoots, 
or seen their working, and do you think them appli- 
cable much more freely than at present on estates ? 
Do they damage tea leaf? 
(2.) Particulars of any other Labour-saving appli- 
ances in field or factory of which you have had experi- 
ence, or have noted among you neighbours ? 
(3.) Oonld small Tramways 18-in. or 12-in. gauge 
be applied profitably on average estates to save trans- 
port by coolies? 
Weeding.— It is pointed out that where clean 
weeding had been observed with coffee on steep land, 
it (the coffee) has gone together with the surface 
soil : and that most of the coffee still in existence 
is growing on rooky ground where a growth of mosses 
and low class plants — together -svith the nature of 
the ground — has allowed of fresh accumulations of 
leaf mould. What is suggested is that while all 
seedino- or strong weeds should be taken out, there 
are others that — taking little out of the soil- 
might be left to aid in the formation and reten- 
tion of humus. The questions then may be formu- 
lated thus: — 
(4.) Has it ever struck you that weeding (both of 
coffee and tea) was overdone in Ceylon ? 
(5.) With reference to saving Labour as well as 
saving soil, would you advise an experiment in less 
frequent weeding, or in what may be called, solected 
weeding — that is the leaving of mosses, selaginellas, 
small ferns, and other such small plants ? 
(6.) Have you ever tried an experiment in culti- 
vating any crop (of lupines, clovers— N.B., not the 
O.valis, a common and obnoxious weed like a trefoil 
— ) to be dug into the soil,— or would you advise 
such an experiment ? 
(7.) Is the present system of Drainage satisfac- 
tory? Could any practical means be devised for 
trapping or retaining the vast amount of soil that 
is annually carried away with the surface water. A 
favourable account has reached us of the result of 
la 
planliug row.s of cuscns grass (which neither seeds 
nor spreads) above the drains — these grew close and 
strong, forming a barrier af;ainst soil being washed 
down, while allowing the rain to pass through ? 
(8.) Kindly mention any means in other directions 
in connection with the usual plantation work where 
Labour might be saved ? 
Next as to keeping Labour, would you 
(9.) Suggest any special perquisites to coolies— is 
the giving of ground for gardens to each lines gener- 
ally observed — and where not, would it not make 
them more contented ? 
(10.) Would you advise the multiplying of boutiques 
or bazaars — until each two or three estates have their 
own— in order to prevent coolies wandering a distance 
and being tempted ? 
(11.1 Are you troubled with a hquorshop in your 
neighbourhood and do you think labour would be 
saved if liquorshops were abolished, or reduced in 
number, in the purely planting districts? 
Answers, opinions, or suggestions on all or any of 
above heads will oblige. 
We can easily understand the younger Superin- 
tendents or Managers being reluctant to enter 
on so wide a subject ; but apart from the fact 
that .strict anonymity is precerved, there is nothing 
like “giving” as -well as “taking” in planting 
discussions, in order that the fullest benefit from 
diverse experience, opinions and observations 
may be derived. The man who contributes — be it 
ever so little - a suggestion, o|)inion or remark on 
even one or tivo out of tlie eleven que.stion.s — 
is far the most likely to take an intelligent inter- 
est in the whole discussion and also to prove 
himself one of the leading planters of the future — 
we now refer, of course, to the younger generation 
of the community. 
Meantime we must express onr thanks to the 
gentlemen who have taken so much trouble to 
give us the advantage of their experience and 
opinions in reference to the important topics raised 
in onr questions, while to those who have the Cir- 
cular lying by them for the “convenient mo- 
ment” we would say “ Try and oblige by sending 
in your answers as early as possible.” 
^ 
THE “BULKING OF TEA” ON THE 
ESTATE- IN COLOMBO STORES 
—AND IN LONDON. 
The result of our enquiries goes to show that 
the “bulking of tea” in estate factories— where 
it can be done most conveniently and accu- 
rately — costs, if ordinary care is taken, such a 
mere fraction as to be practically nil ; in the 
Colotmboj fftctory, the estimated cost is a half- 
cent per lb. — because boxes have to be opened and 
renailed, lead cut and re.soldered, pieces of broken 
hoop replaced, ete. ; — while in the London ware* 
houses the cost runs from Jd to ^d per lb. for 
whole or half chests. The comparison may he 
still further pursued by contrasting the following 
table given by our evening con tern por.ary with 
the “ half-cent” per lb. for Colombo, and the merest 
traction (not worth counting) for e, state bulk- 
ing:— 
The rates for taring and bulking in London (less 
ten per cent) are as follows :— 
From 169 lb. to 199 lb. 2s Od 
159 „ Is 8d 
129 ;, Is 5d 
89 ,, Is 3d 
79 ,, Is 2d 
59 „ — lid 
44 „ — 8d 
„ ±1 „ 34 „ — 6d 
Not exceeding 16 lb. ,, — 4d 
But it is not the mere money difiereiice, so 
much as the treatment of our teas in the London 
130 
90 
80 
60 
45 
35 
17 
