Oct. I, 1897.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
265 
productiveness of such marine plants as the coconut 
tree whenever grown far from the sea coast. The 
addition of a handful of salt to the roots of the 
coconut trees in the Kandiau Province is ^ always 
attended with marked beneficial results. Tnere are 
however few points more easily or closely ascertain- 
able by an analyzer of soils, and it would be interest- 
ing and valuable to have the result or analysis of 
soils at different altitudes and distances from the 
sea. If the soil of the interior be rich or moderately 
well provided, with muriates, the alkalies could be 
furnished in some other form than in that of salt, 
which in that case might be injurious. 
With reference to the action of salt when intro- 
duced into the sap of plants, we must consider the 
theory of chlorides, which is this. Common salt (and 
other chlerides) is frequently found in the sap of 
plants, supposed to enter into the roots dissolved into 
water, but without having undergone any previous 
decomposition. Sprengel and Meyen state that when 
plants grow in soil containing much common salt, 
they have been observed to evolve chlorine gas 
from their leaves as some plants give off ammonia 
and other emit from their leaves pure nitrogen 
(Danbeny). The evolution of chlorine implies the 
previous decomposition of the chlorides which have been 
absorbed from the soil. The green leaves under the 
influence of the sun, have the power of decompos- 
ing common salt, and of giving off their chlorine 
into the surrounding air. When chlorides have been 
introduced into the sap therefore by the roots, the 
plant appropriates so much of the chlorine they con- 
tain as is necessary for the supply of its natural 
wants, and evolves the rest. When common salt 
is thus decomposed, Soda remains behind in the sap, 
and this is either worked up into the substance of the 
plant or performs one or other of those indirect 
functions of alkalies, for the performance of which 
these are so indispensable in the economy of nature. 
In the soil itself, in which organic matter of 
animal and vegetable origin is present, comrnon 
salt is fitted to promote certain chemical 
changes, such as the production of alkaline nitrates, 
and probably silicates, by which the growth of 
various kinds of plants is in a greater or less degree 
invigorated. In the soil also from their tendency to 
deliquesce, or run into fluid, all these chlorides attract 
water from the air, and thus help to keep the soil in a 
state of moisture. 
In the ash of the coffee bean there is no less 
than 70 per cent of alkaline matter, and 122 per 
cent of chlorine. Soda often takes the place of 
potash, if not altogether at least to a very large 
extent. We do not know all the functions these 
alkalies perform in the living vegetable. They render 
soluble silicide, &c. and are connected with the pre- 
paration and absorption of food from the soil and 
with the changes which the organic substances undergo 
in the circulation of the plant. Soda and potash 
are equally fitted to perform these functions, as 
has been confirmed by analysis which shew that 
the alakaline matter present may be either all potash, 
or half potash and half soda. If soda can in re- 
ference to the living plant perform the functions of 
potash, without injury to the health or usual mode 
of growth, then the greater abundance of soda will 
render the manufacture of artificial saline manures 
much more easy, and place them within reach of 
every agriculturist. We moreover know how important 
a part the nitric acid produced in the atmosphere 
or in the soil may be supposed to perform in the 
general vegetation of the Globe. This acid is ob- 
served to be more abundant either fixed, or actually 
produced in the soils or composts, which contain 
much potash or soda. It may be therefore that in 
giving these to the fields wo give to the soil the 
means of bringing within the reach of the roots of 
our crops a more ready supply of nitric acid, and 
hence of Nitrogen which is so necessary a part of their 
daily food. 
The above is almost entirely embodied from 
Professor Johnston’s works on agricultural chemistry. 
It occurs to me very forcibly, that salt is calculated 
t9 be an ingredient peculiarly well fitted fet' mauur?^ 
to be used on the Kandian hills — for coffee ; as well 
ns for native grains. I have suggested the sinking 
a bag of salt, well wrapped in gunny cloth to pre- 
vent its too rapid dissolution in the canals which 
lead to the water for irrigating the native rice lands. 
In most cases this might lead to stronger straw, the 
plant assimilating more silica would have a stem less 
liable to being laid by the wind and rain, while 
the crops of grain might be heavier, where the 
fields are so much washed the soluble alkalies must 
be greatly exhausted. For coffee manures on the 
wet hills of Ambegama, &c., where the soil is 
so much wasted by incessant rains, silt should be 
a component. For Rajawella and Dombera, and 
similarly dry localities, especially mixed with lime, 
poonac or with sulphate of ammonia which is the 
chief constituent of soot affording a highly 
deliquescent manure, salt would be a valuable 
application of peculiar value for coffee lands. Heaps of 
vegetable refuse, earth, pond and ditch mud, burnt 
clay, &c. would absorb and retain all the saline 
deliquesence and as this would go out in the shape 
of a compost these need not be lost. Salt ammo, 
niac and saltpetre are used much in this way to 
make what is called Perindorge manure, and in so 
far as the nitrates are concerned it is valuable, 
though open to the objection that its ammonia is 
too volatile, and very soon escaping from the soil into 
which it is placed. 
Do the cattle and buffaloes near the sea coast 
suffer as much as those of the Central Province 
from murrain, and other epidemical attacks or would 
the health and strength of the horned stock generally 
in the interior be improved by having salt sup. 
plied to them with their food ? Witnes the salt 
licks of America : how eagerly animals far from 
the sea seek a supply of salt — and how fond all 
beasts wild or tame are of this natural element, 
In the form of Rook Salt it, ought to be within the 
reach of all domestic animals kept upon estates, 
and this at least should be passed by the Custom 
House duty free. At present its importation is pro- 
hibited. Its value as an ingredient for manure for 
coffee may be questioned. My own opinion is that it 
is highly fitted for this purpose, but I trust the 
question will be well discussed, opinions exchanged, 
experiments tried, and if it be deemed expedient to 
bring it within the reach of the coffee Planter and 
native for agricultural purposes there can be little 
doubt but that a mode could be devised of polluting 
is so that its issue as a manure would in no way 
affect the Salt Revenue. 
Requesting that this paper may be laid before the 
committee of your Association. — I remain Sir, you£ 
most obedient servant (Signed) R. B. TYTLER. 
CACAO CULTIVATION : PRACTICAL 
RESULTS. 
Dbah Sir, — I was surprised to read of one oncnq 
planter insisting on “ toraicus ” beirg t.ie c.ui .r 
of some cacao trees dying back if neglected, and 
other planters making out that the a’lowing of ever 
so many suckers on the Caracas cacao stem had been 
the saving of the trees. We also have one planter 
condemning the jack tree as bad for cacao and 
the home of the weevil “ tomicus,” and giving 
the average bearing at 2 cwt. per acre, valued at 
£5 lOs ; expenditure at £3 per acre ; profit £2 lOs 
per acre ; and with this another planter finds 
fault. I now send you an account of crops 
and expenditure of a small estate at one time 
said by several planters and others as not fit to 
grow cacao or anything else, and it is on that ac- 
count I am now proud to supply you with figures 
from .July 1392 to July 1897 to show what, careful 
cultivation can do in spite of helopeltis and weevil, 
and the estate has been worked by my third soi 
under my supervision. Cacao has no disease a- 
yet ; it has, however, enemies, viz ; — 
1. Helopeltis and paddy fly which suck the sr" 
from the stem of the leaf, twigs, then brand's. ■ 
also puncture over pods, etc. 
