Oct. r, 1897 .] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
249 
amount of soil ; using mamoties and weeding once 
in 3 or 4 months as in the days of coffee, loosens much 
soil which is carried away to the paddy-fields as in 
this district, benefiting the paddy growers, and elsewhere 
into the sea. I do not believe in the retention of 
weeds, even small ones, for the formation of humus. 
In weeding by hand, I would only leave moss. 
(5) Monthly weeding by hand — there can be no 
saving of labour upon this ; it is most effectual and 
cheap. 
( 6 ) I do not believe in growing anything in proxi- 
mity to the tea bushes to be dug into the soil — - 
manure is the only thing I should dig in. 
(7) I cannot suggest anything in the way of im- 
proving the drainage. I have seencuscus grass planted 
on roads, but the roots I have found weakening the 
trees alongside. 
(9) Giving coolies garden lots would entail 
much annoyance to the Superintendent as frequent 
robberies among the garden holders will arise 
and on each such occasion the Superintendent would 
be expected to give redress. By the sale of the pro- 
duce of the garden coolies will secure money and we 
know the richer they become the less work will 
they do. 
(10.) Certainly there should be no addition to 
Bazaars — each addition would mean another source of 
borrowing by the coolies, the new bazaar would offer 
greater indemnity than the old one to do so. 
(11 ) Being surrounded by villages where the 
kitool flourishes, coolies in this district drink the 
toddy of this tree in preference to arrack — the 
drink being adulterated with bad tobacco and chunam- 
lime, it quickly effects the brain. I do not see 
how the sale of this toddy can be checked. 
OLD PEOPRIETOB AND PLANTER, 
No. IV. CENTRAh Province. 
(1) We have seven wire shoots working here very 
satisfactorily. Where the land is steep they are invalu- 
able as labour-saving appliances. They might be much 
more largely utilised than they are. I have observed 
little or no damage to leaf where due care is taken. 
Minor cart roads to end of shoots might be more 
availed of. 
(2) Well-equipped factories are practically com- 
plete so far as labour-saving appliances go, but for 
transport of chests and fuel, where factories are not 
favourably situated, aerial tramways might be much 
more largely used. 
(3) Tramways as suggested are not suitable on 
average estates. 
(4) & (5) No, distinctly not ; clean weeding is abso- 
lutely indispensable on all Ceylon estates. 
( 6 ) I am starting an experiment with Seradella 
grown apart from tea. Is the Oxalis referred to the 
obnoxious weed defined by Mr. Nock as Oscalis 
rfofacea belonging to the Geranium family? 
( 7 ) As satisfactory as the conditions admit of. 
I do not know of any practical means of preventing 
loss of surface soil during heavy thunderstorms. I 
would fear more damage to surrounding tea than 
benefit from retention of soil by growth of cuscus 
unless under exceptional circumstances. 
( 8 ) Beyond aerial tramways, wire shoots and minor 
connecting cart roads, I can think of no means 
whereby labour might be saved. 
(9) Ground for gardens for the married and settled 
old coolies is certainly appreciated, and adds to their 
contentment. A boutique on the estate under estate 
control is a decided advantage where the estate is 
situated far from the market. 
(10) As perquisites, weeding contracts at III per 
acre kept thoroughly clean, leaving a good margin of 
profit to kanganies, and to the coolies payment by 
results for plucking, that is a rate per lb. or a day’s 
name for a fixed quantity and from 1 to 2 cents per 
lb. for every additional lb. plucked. 
(11) Not troubled with a liquor shop in this neigh- 
bourhood, but the illicit sale of arrack and toddy, in 
the villages seme little way off, are certainly harmful 
and demoralizing. D. 
No. V.— LmveOUNTRY Estate.s. 
( 1 ) Wire shoots are not numerous in the Idw- 
country as the lay of the laud is unfavourable. Shoots 
save labor only on long lines and if carefully placed 
do no injury to tea leaf. 
(2) The actual saving of cost of labor is not so 
much in the want of appliances but in the getting 
the day’s work done, and the competition is so keen 
that planters overlook short work in fear lest pressure 
would induce his men to give notice to quit, hence 
heavy cost. 
(3) Tramways — primary cost and upkeep together 
with interest on outlay would — only answer on large 
properties with central factory. 
(4) Tea during the dry weather does not appear 
to suffer from low-growing weeds, but if not cleared 
and cleaned after the third month, turns yellow and 
does suffer. This I attribute to surface moisture in 
undue quantity. 
(5) Tea, generally in Ceylon, will not bear the 
growth of weeds for any lengthy period. The chief 
feeders are all surface and any surface feeder starves 
the rootlets. 
( 6 ) No, I tried Sea Island cotton around germi- 
nated seed and satisfactorily for six months, but had 
to eradicate it aftjr that. 
(7) Drains cut at gradient one in thirty will carry 
off water and wash is only very heavy rain, but 
require constant removing of silt which is saved, but 
the best ingredients of the soil are wanting. 
( 8 ) A cooly can only do a certain quantum of 
work for the day’s pay and if this be systematically 
agreed to, the cost of production will not be exces- 
sive. If planters pay different rates of pay and pamper 
their coolies so that they will not want to quit ser- 
vice, cost of labor must rise. 
(9) Coolies who know masters in touch with their 
men rarely want to quit and contented coolies al- 
ways ask for plots of ground to grow their veget- 
ables, &c. When this is so, coolies generally live 
contentedly. 
(10) I have tried this and the Tamil cannot com- 
pete with the Moormen or Sinhalese boutique- 
keeper. Wherever estates spring up there the boutique 
springs up. 
(11) Not troubled. A liquor shop is necessary in 
the district and one legally established is under con- 
trol. The Tamil will have his liquor occasionally and 
why not ? The Superintendent should have it in his 
power to supress excessive drinking. 
I have never lost my cooly connection since 1857 
and have yet one alive of the original kanganies, 
whose relatives and descendants number 76 here and 
their pay is today what it was in 1857. 
B. 
No. VI.— UvA. 
(1) I have not had much experience in the work- 
ing of shoots and have seen a good many working 
and am firmly convinced that where practicable they 
should be erected. If not kept too tight and bags are 
allowed to come in slowly at end, no harm is, I think, 
done to leaf, but if kept too tight (the rope) leaf is 
considerably broken by sharp collision at terminus. 
(2) Small tramways would, I consider, pay on large 
estates where manuring is done extensively and where 
land is of a steep nature. 
(3) Yes. 
(4) I have always been of the opinion that weed- 
ing has been overdone. It is, of course, essential that 
some weeding should be done and all seeding weeds 
removed, but all mosses and weeds that do not climb 
but cling and cover ground should, I think, be left. 
(5) Yes. 
( 6 ) No, an experiment on a small field of tea 
would be an excellent idea. 
(7) The present system of drainage appears to 
work satisfactorily in taking the water from the 
ground ; but the amount of soil taken with it is 
tremendous. The allowing of the selected weeding 
would do a large extent, I think, to rectify it. If the 
