Oct. r 1 S 97 .] 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
269 
of evils which follow on deranged nev\e-tissue, 
it would he humane that the Legislature should 
prohibt tlie sale of tobacco in any form to chil- 
dren under the age or sixteen. In Ceylon we 
have an Ordinance prohibiting th.e sale of spirits 
to children under a certain age — and a similar 
provision should be extended to the sale of to- 
bacco. * 
It will be interesting to know the num- 
ber of prosecutions against tavern keepers for sale 
of arrack to children— for very few of the pro- 
visions of our Licensing Ordinance are enforced — 
for reasons nest known to policemen and head- 
men. Diatinguisiied travellers in Turkey attri- 
bute the change wrought in the character of tlie 
Turks to the use of tobacco. Mr. Layard and 
Mr. Crawford, whose large experience of East- 
ern people is known to th.e world, liavc 
each recorded his opinion, to the effect that the 
use of tobacco has contributed very much 
towards tlie pre.sent sobriety of Asiatics. As 
to the effects of tobacco smoking upon the 
human body, bir lienjamin Ivicliardson uouhl 
appear to see no reason for thinking that it can 
produce any organic change, though it may in- 
duce various functional di.stnrhances if carried to 
excess. These are such as all young smokeis 
experience more or less severely, according to 
their temperament and tlie quality or the stieiigtli 
of the tobacco they use. Tlie general conclusion 
Sir Benjamin Kichanhson dediic-s from his ex- 
periments is, that tobacco is irinncuons as com- 
prreil with alcohol ; it does inlinitely less harm 
than opium; it is in no sense worse than tea, 
and by the side of high living altogether, it, com- 
pares most favouraoly. But on the question of 
youths smoking, he speaks most decisively against 
even the smalle.st indulgence in tobacco before 
the system is matured. His words are ‘‘with 
boys the habit is as injurious and wrong as i 
is disgusting. The early ‘ piper ' loses liis growth, 
becomes lioarse, effete, lazy and stunted.’' 
Those who pass severe censure on the smoking 
habit seem to overlook the fact that men do 
not eat or drink tobacco ; that the prudent 
smoker is quite contented if its a nihient fuine.s 
float about him i-egaling his olfactory sense. 
Deadly re.sults follow the administration, not 
of the smoke, but of a single drop of the essential 
oil of tobacco (nicotine) to a dog. If each would- 
be smoker will in this, as in other things, be 
guided by the unfailing monitor of experience, 
and act upon the dictates of common sense, 
no harm will come to him. 
The above is a short snmniary of a paper which 
will well-pay perusal in ^exteiiso. 
PRO BONO PUBLICO. 
GREVILLEA ROBUSTA. 
Kotagalla, Aug. 16. 
Dear Sir, — Sometime ago — there was a query 
ly a correspondent, in the columns of the 
T.A. as to the <late of tlie introduction of 
the useful tree Grevillca liohusta to this island. 
[ intended to supply the infornialion ab tlie 
time, but sonietning came in the wav 
then. 
Now I give ib in so far as nieiiifiry serves. 
* Wehnvra long wished to see such a regulation 
and the Police should be instructed to prevent 
young boys in our streets or anywhere in pn’»lic 
from smoking, whetherpipes, cigars, or even cigarettes. 
— Ed, 1A.. 
My first acquaintance with the tree was at 
the R. B G. Kcw. It was a straggling, “ leggy” 
specimen, growing or rather just living in a 
large flower pot in House No. 1 . This House 
a subtropical one, or •‘Green-house,” was de- 
voted to Australian plants ; and a most 
leathery, quaint, riqkl, and uncouth looking lot, 
they were in all their Protean forms ! In those 
day.s, there was a rage on what were, some- 
what unmeaningly called “foliage” plants, and 
Grevillea, with its line feni-like leaves found 
a place in my note book — as one of 
them. 
Early in 1860 I assumed duty in the R. B. G., 
Peradeniya, under the late eminent Dr. Thwaites, 
and ha'ing copious notes on Kew jilants, for re- 
ference, ib came to pass, that in assisting to 
make out a requisition for seeds and jilants 
on the K. B. G. Melbourne (then in charge of 
Dr. Muller) Grevillea was entered as an orna- 
mental tree by me, — without a thought of its 
economic uses, and little guessing that it was 
to he of such value to Ceylon. ISo you see, — 
the introduction of tliis tree was like many 
other good things — accidental or fortuitou,s ! 
Seeds arrived duly — plants were raised, and by 
1862, I think, we had a stock of them. So ninch 
for the date of the introduction of the tree. 
It may be noted, than a sncce.ssion of plants 
has been rai.sed and distributed, from time to 
time from the Botanic Gardens, judging from 
the number of old tree.s about the country. 
The uses of the Grevillea are several : — it tar- 
nishes excellent timlier ivhich is easily worked. 
A large withering house on, perhaps, the best 
estate in Dimbnla, ha.s been built of this wood. 
The wood looks sound and dark in colour, 
altli'mih, no doubt immature — as the trees could 
not have been over 27 or 30 years old. 
Grevillea is valuable in the field, as its light 
shade if planted at say 30' to 36' apart is rather 
beneficial to tea than otherwise. But the great 
good it does,— is the bringing up of plant food 
from the subsoil, and disbributing the same in 
the form of fallen leaves, — (has an analysis of 
shed Grevillea leave.s been yet made ?)— which, 
too, are useful in preventing surface “ wash ” — 
while decomposing on the ground. 
The tree thrives best in light, porous, stony 
or sandy soil — least so in clayey soil. It is easily 
raised from seed and after being planted out — 
if badly shaken by the rude monsoon winds — it 
should be cut down to within a few inches of 
the ground — when it rvill grow afresh. We 
can’t get everything, you know ; and don’t de- 
serve to ! It would he too good if Grevillea 
furnished a good fuel? Well, it does not. It 
dries up very much after felling and although 
when seasoned burns very well in furnaces, 
the heating power is low — proliably half that 
of old dry Boon : but I can’t give figures. — Yours 
faithfully, “ SEN EX.” 
LACE BARK. 
London, 17tli August 1897. 
Dear Sir, — I have received two samples from 
you and a very brief note asking nio to give you 
my opinion. I have also read Mr. C. Drieherg’s 
letter on the Lace Bark, dated Colombo 26th 
July. I am well acquainted witli the lace hark, 
yielded by the tree Layetta lintearia, and have 
seen it put to many purposes, but the coloured 
specimens which you have sent are wry inter- 
esting. 
