250 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Oct, I, 1897. 
cuscus grass were put above drains on steep land (lO) A multiplication of bazaars would do no harm, 
where wash is great, it would do good; but on land of more cspeically if run on co-operative principles 
the easier lay nothing is required. but what is to prevent the tempters from fre- 
(8) quenting these and moreover Ramasamy, like a sen- 
(9) Every estate should set aside a small acreage eible man, w’ouldn’t trnst his own mother further 
round lines for the coolies to have small gardens to than he could see her — so I fear the co-operative idea 
grow cabbages and the such like. is impracticable. 
(10) Distinctly no. The present labour troubles (ii) Liquor shops are an abomination and lead to 
have, I consider, largely to be attributed to the debts breaches of the peace and such like and should there- 
run up in the boutiques and the unmerciful prices charged fore be discourage J; but there is no means of prevent- 
by the botique-keepers and interest charged on loans ing the illicit sale of liquor in the lines, in a quiet 
made by them to coolies and kanganies on surround- sort of way, as the low-caste cooly nowadays insists 
ing estates. The farther the botiques are away from the on having his stimulants. 
estate the better. Coolies then only go less often, and On the whole I think your queries might be answered 
though perhaps the estate loses a day by their having thus : — What is, is best. “ Farmeb ’’ 
to go a distance, it is best in the end. 
(11) There are several liquor shops not far distant 
from here; but other than that coolies have a good No. VIII. — Low COUXTKY, 
deal of secret selling amongst themselves. They do 
not give much trouble. If the regulation were made 
in all liquor shops in the planting districts that all 
liquor were to be drunk on the premises, and the shop- 
keepers only allowed a license to that effect, it would 
do considerable good. C. 
No. VII.— High District. 
(1) Wire shoots are very advantageous for large 
estates or groups of estates where the lay of land is 
suitable. If pi'operly fixed up, damage to leaf should 
not occur. 
(2) Nil. 
(3) Certainly not. Initial cost prohibitory. 
( 4 ) Weeding . — Poor coffee was not given a fair 
chance in many cases, but to give clean weeding 
credit for killing it is really too outrageous. 
On steep land drains were usually conspicuous by’ 
their absence and as on many estates weeding had 
to be discontinued during crop time, through insuffi- 
ciency of labour (no new song this you see) and of 
course weeds grew apace and doubtless for months 
they helped to prevent wash; but, as they had to be 
ultimately exterminated by that useful implement 
yclept a mamotie, during the dry weather tons of 
soil trickled down the hillsides of its own accord or 
aided by the gentle influence of a North-East gale 
and when the rains descended and the floods came, 
poor old coffee, as well as its planters, felt sick indeed. 
Rocky ground has natuially unusually rich soil 
and rocks tend to lessen wash: so it is not surprising 
that coffee under such favourable circumstances 
should struggle through, and I therefore decidedly 
repeat certainly not, in reply to No. 4. 
(5) Certainly not, once more; and as for leaving 
mosses, selagiuellas and ferns which so readily attach 
themselves to the stems and branches of tea, I would as 
soon think of advising a fellow to discontinue bathing 
for his own health’s sake and the general pleasure 
it would provide for his friends and neighbours, as 
encourage this. 
(6) With over-production continually staring us 
in the face, why try to go one better seeing present 
I'esults are sufficiently satisfactory for most, if not 
all, of us. 
In any case, I would not advise experiments with 
lupines or anything else of that sort except on the 
easiest lay of land. 
(V) Where drains have been cut at an easy gra- 
dient and are periodically attended to, there is prac- 
tically no loss of soil. In steep graded drains silt 
pits would prevent loss. 
Guinea-grass was planted in the crff.o days to 
revent wash and ic did so to some extent; but it 
illed the coffee near it and your cuscus will pro- 
bably have the same effect on tea or at all events 
render it unproductive in its immediate neighbourhood. 
(8) Nothing to suggest. 
(9) Coolies are invariably allowed garden ground 
and in many instances are permitted to keep goats or 
even cattle where grass is plentiful or grazing lands 
are on or adjacent to the estates: so what more they 
can want to make themselves comfortable I fail to see. 
(1) I have had no experience of wire shoots; and 
my observation of them has been very occasional 
and superficial, as I am seldom in the hill country. 
(2) None. 
(3) Small Tramways, I should think, could be pro- 
fitably used only 011 Estates of considerable extent 
where labour is scaice. Original cost is the stumb- 
ling block. 
(4) It always struck me that weeding was overdone 
on steep coffee lands, as on Tea. The few weeds 
industriously scraped off could do less harm in 
exhausting the soil, than the scraping in helping it 
to be washed off. The pulling out of strong weeds 
should generally do. 
(5) Yes ; less frequent weeding of the surface 
weeds, involving selected weeding. That is, the deep 
strong weeds would be taken off regularly, and the 
others at less frequent intervals than now. Their 
retention always, especially in damp and shady fields, 
would sour the soil. 
(6; No experience; but would not the success of 
cotton (some years ago) with Tea on some estates, 
justify experiments '! 
(7) In the absence of experience in the hill coun- 
try, I hesitfite to offer an opinion; but it has often 
suggested itself to me that traps should prevent the 
carrying away of much valuable soil. Tliough the 
wash is less in the lowcountry, I have silt traps, 
and have also found cuscus useful in rugged patches 
and on broken ground. 
(8) No suggestion to offer. 
(9) Certainly, a patch of garden to each set of 
line would be an advantage ; and I always regard 
the beginning of horticultural operations with pleasure, 
as suggesting a compaiatively’ permanent settlement. 
Gifts of cloth or cash to the best workers on the 
estate, on peranals, are highly appreciated. Rl'iiO to 
a Sinhalese for his poll-tax was welcomed as a 
royal gift. 
(10) The less boutiques the better, unless the 
keeper is a good man, or can be bound down as 
your tenant to give no credit. Indebtedness is the 
cause of much unrest, and perhaps bolting. 
(11) I am not troubled with liquor shops ; but the 
illicit sale of toddy and arrack is a nuisance Taverns 
at regular intervals are a necessity. The cooly 
likes an occasional drink ; and if he cannot get 
it fairly, as master does, why ’ — he must en- 
courage the illicit uncontrolled seller. 
F.B. 
Siyaue Korale, Aug. 10. 
No. IX.— Southern District. 
(1) It has long been recognized by planters that 
wire shoots are most helpful in the working of an 
estate, and that in the long run they greatly reduce 
the cost of expenditure in the transport of le.ff, 
firewood, manure, &c., and on estatej where the lay of 
the land is suitable, feeders to a main line of wire are 
easily adjustable ; and the more this principle is 
adopted the greater will be the saving in labor. As 
regards damage to leaf, this could be avoided, if the 
gradient at the terminus be so arranged as to diminish 
the fall, and prevent the loads coming down with too 
great a shock. 
