28 o 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Oct. I, 1897. 
On drainage, too, there is niueli useful informa- 
tion in the letters before us, all which agree in 
condemning deep drains far apart, and in giving 
preference to the more modem system of shall- 
ower drains at more frequent intervals. •' G ” cer- 
tifies to the help he has obtained irorn cuscus 
ill preventing wash ; and he therein confirms 
the testimony of the low-country planter in the 
first batch of letters we last reviewed. On re- 
ference to the same planter we learn that he 
has found suitable permanent barriers in logs of 
ivood or blocks of stone buried in the drain at in- 
tervals which would arrest soil and gradually 
clear the water of matter in suspension as it 
approaches the wells he provides at more distant 
intervals. But what answers for tolerably level 
land may not do for steep fields. On the ques- 
tions of boutiques and taverns there is consider 
able diversity of opinion, traceable, we fancy, to 
differing conditions ; but vegetable plots for coolies 
find warm supporters. There is one point to 
which we would invite special attention— the ex- 
planation which we have from Uvaof the Arcadian 
happiness of the Principality. Its freedom from 
labour troubles is chiefly due to the length of 
time estates are under the same management. 
The cooly knows his master ! 
(Letters Continued.) 
No. XVIII.— Lowcountry. 
(1) Don’t know enough to give any decided opinion. 
(2) No experience in tea, so have had no oppor- 
tunity of observing. 
(3) Only in exceptional cases I should say. 
(4 and 5) Yes ; I have often thought so, but never 
could think of any weed that might be employed to 
protect the ground and save wash without being in- 
urious to the tea or coffee. The entrance of grass 
would have to be carefully guarded against. Mosses 
etc., would do on high estates, but they would not 
grow to any extent below 4,000 ft. Some imported 
plant, of very low growth, would have to be tried. 
While this system would I believe be beneficial, I 
doubt its being labour saving. 
(0) No. I am entirely against loosening of soil on 
even moderately steep land. The loss in soil is in- 
finitely more than the temporary gain by loosening 
the soil for the roots to have a larger feeding surface. 
(7) While not satisfactory i know of no better to 
take its’ place. Some such plan as that you mention 
of growing cuscus above the drains would be advan- 
tageous. I have seen bundles of maana staked across 
the hill side, answer well. 
( 8 ) 
(9) During the months of heavy flushes a rupee 
per head might be given to every cooly who worked 
24 days in the month. I tried this in the coffee days 
and it answered very well. So far as my experience 
extends any cooly who wishes for a plot of ground 
for a garden could have it ; many, however, prefer 
to pilfer the fririt of the labour of others. I think 
that those coolies who do make a garden and attend 
to it are more loath to leave than those who have none. 
(10) I cannot answer this question. If coolies are 
compelled to buy goods at any particular bazaar, 
though the goods may be first-class and reasonable in 
price they will grumble and think they are being 
imposed upon. They like to traffic where they 
please. 
(11) I reside in the lowcountry where liquor shops 
are numerous ; but illicit sale of toddy is the worst. 
It is cheap and a cooly cau get drunk for a few cents. 
It is the sourse of no end of rows in the lines. The 
muster of coolies would decidedly be larger if liquor 
shops were fewer. (Signed) W. J. 
No. XIX. —High District. 
(1) No practical experience ; have seen them work- 
Dg. Said to damage leaf, but I should not 
think damage would equal the advantage gained by 
be® a“?rea t labour. There must 
I. ttisp?rt,4 
tavaiams, wire tramways, cart 
coSry 
and would be too expensive on a majority of places. 
5 D^?il ^ “ m, Sometimes very undeidone. 
th a 
imS.cfe.bff ‘(.‘’•p”''"' “ 
oneLd^^^H® inches at least) drains are 
’1 ^ satisfactory-. Grevilleas 
hiif ns Pi’event wash, and keep up soil • 
of the land prevent easy wLking 
inp in labour ypg]i occupied, preventing loaf. 
more apt, when more work will be done and so 
economise those available. Good and suitable tools 
this end materially-a matter to which 
suffieiem consideration is not always given. 
in tL coolies having gardens matters 
m the least, one way or the other, to make them 
more contented. If they intend to stay on a place 
they will almost always have or make a garden. 
My experience is that they ask for and requirl S 
line room than they did formerly. require more 
favourable to the increasing of 
qoutiques or bazaars on estates as I think they are the 
next temptation to liquor shops for coolies not to 
Tu^ ^ happy to say troubled here 
elsiiherr disadvantages of a liquor sho . 
mneh I k’ quarrels would be prevented, aiiP 
much labour to an estate would be gained by theid 
reduction or abolition. In this connection 1 Im 
aiTack, than is thought, 
gO 0 s on on ostsitos. y J) j) 
No. XX. — Mid-District. 
he satisfactorily, and should 
their present on tea estates, 
their great cost lies in “Kunners ” which are very 
expensive and wear out quickly, surely something 
moie enduring could be provided ? cost so long al 
the ru7i7ier is lasting could be met. Have not found 
leat damaged. 
(2) None. 
(3) Don’t think so. 
(4) Certainly not. 
(5) No. Anything covering the surface of the soil 
preve^uts light and air reaching the feeding roots of 
the bush, and the plant sickens, even Grevilleas 
grow better where the surface of the land is kept 
free from weeds. I have a section of an estat^e 
that always gets covered with moss during the 
South-West monsoon, you would be surprised how 
the coffee used to, and now the tea improves when 
this moss IS cut away with carandies in the earlv 
part of the year. ■' ■ 
(6) No. 
labour were always 
available -would be to cut drains at a gradient to take 
off the water only, and at frequent intervals top 
dress with the aconmmulating silt. The sourness 
from cuscus or grass of any kind is objectionable 
to any kind of cultivated bushes. The roots also 
would injure one line of tea the whole length of 
the drain. 
(8) Nil. 
(9) On old estates where there is plenty of spare land 
gardens are large, but those who cultivate them are 
geneially friends of the kangani and seldom do any 
other work. The good estate cooly, who kept his little 
patch of ground and worked it for a few beans, chillies 
etc , and never dreamt of its interfering with his 
ordinary day’s work, is a man of the past. The more 
garden available, the less work there is from a 
cooly now. 
