28a 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
(2) Endless rox^es, or aerial tramways, for uphill 
transport in the field, and all machinery in the fac- 
tories are labour-saving appliances. 
(3) On most upoountry estates, I should say the 
gradients are too steep for gi-ound tramways, but 
wherever an easy gradient is obtainable they might be 
very useful. 
(-1) From long experience, my opinion is that 
weeding cannot be overdone, provided it is done care- 
fully, With the minimum of scrypiing of the soil omy 
allowed. Of course, it can be greatly overdone when 
lieo.vy , SCI’,. pel’s and lUamoties are in use, 
(5) 1 do n.t think any savi\,g of labour can be 
effected by weeding less frequently, but just the 
reverse, as if the w'eeus were left for some months, 
one weeding would pirobably cost a great deal more 
than two or three monthly weediugs. As to selected 
weeding, I am afraid it would be hopeless, as the extra 
supervision and trouble it would entail would be 
infinite. The weeders would most certainly le^ve 
obnoxious weeds, in the shape of grasses, &c,, amongst 
the ferns and other selected weeds, which in time 
would lead to no end of trouble and ex^iense. I have 
personally tried it and found it a failure. 
(6) I have never tried any experiments in luxiines, 
&c. 
(7) If the estate is liandweeded, or practically so, 
the present system of draining, on our .steep hill sides, 
cannot well be improved upon, if the drains are close 
enough, say half-a-chain apiart, and traced at proper 
gradients, say 1 in 12 to 1 in 16. 
(8) The use of bullock and hand carts as much 
as x^ossible. 
(9) I think the coolies ought to be allowed more 
space f , 1 ' gardens &c. than they generally have at 
presenc. Some Superintendents, in my opinion, are 
very parsimonious in this direction. All coolies ap- 
preciate a good plot of ground however small, and 
at present I fancy not more than 20 % of our 
I'.ibour force have anything of the sort. Those who 
have not, very often feel the want of this conve- 
nience and have to go to the villages, and other 
places, to buy vegetables &c. instead of having a 
supply at their doors. 
(10) In some districts bazaars are plentiful and 
in others they are insufficient, but it is almost 
impossible to get coolies to take their supplies from 
any one place. They will go miles to get their 
currystnffs at a fraction less cost than they could 
get the same articles on, or near to, the estate for 
an insignificant extra cost. 
(11) Not much trouble about liquor shops in this 
district, but there is no doubt the fewer there are 
the better, although I think it would scarcely do to 
abolish them altogether. G.J.E. 
No. XXVI.— I,otv District. 
(1) Wire shoots are iu use for firewood and leaf on 
many estates, but the formation of the land and situa- 
tion of the factories render them impracticable on 
many other-. 
(2) There is no work so hard on coolies c.r which 
disgusts them so much as carrying chests of tea. Light 
narrow hand carts would obviate this very much and 
ought to be in more general use than they are. 
(3) On the majority of estates, no practicable, 
would pay on very few. 
(4) No, but often underdone. 
(5) There ought to be 11’ tie weeding. Clean the 
land thoroughly to begin with and never allow weeds 
to get to a length that the soil would be disturbed 
by taking them out. Mosses should never be disturbed 
— they grow in »et seasons— and go off when heat and 
drought set in having served a good x>urpose while 
they lasted. 
(6) No, nor do I believe it would be advisable in 
Ceylon where our lands are so steep even though we 
had the Irr our, nor do I believe it would return 
the cost. 
(7) The present system, I believe, is as good as we 
could get but the distance between the drains is often 
too great ; with 16 to 19 chains drains to the acre 
[Oct. I, 1897. 
according to soil and lay of land, there won’t be 
much wash. 
(8) Hand carts for transport of tea. lead, building 
materials, everything, where practicable will save 30 
per cent to 40 per cent in cost and be much easier for 
the coolies. 
(9) Certainly give coolies plenty of girdeu .space ; it 
makes them more at home, and if thsy barter a 
pumpkin or a few tweet potatoes for a coconut at the 
caaies, why not ? In the low country it i.s a wise 
thing t ) dot the estate over With jak trees — :n.';v will 
begin to bear at 6 years. Set apart a diviii. u for 
each set of lines to get the fruit and lease out the 
balance— the Sinhalese will readily take it up. — 
Estates with plenty of jak trees will never be snort 
of coolies. 
(11) Liquor shops— especially illicit — are unmiti- 
gated evils in every district and Government Agents 
and Police Superintendents are powerless to suppress 
them, — though the places are pointed out to them. 
They are above detective work themselves ; the 
supposed detectives they send are well entertained 
and bribed and report “nothing wrong.” 
^ W.M.U. 
PICKINGS. 
Indian Ink, says the Tnrhan Forester, is made in 
China as follows: — 
SESAMTJM (GINGELLY) OB COLZA OIL 
or oil extracted from the seeds of Dryandra Cordate 
varnish and pork fat. The lampblack got by burning 
these is mixed with glue and made into a paste 
which is beaten on wooden anvils with steel ham- 
mers. Generally some musk or campnor is added 
for the odour, and gold leaves to give a metallic 
lustre. Two good hammers can prepare 80 pieces 
each weighing half a pound. The price varies from 
2s or less per lb. to as much as ±7 per lb., there 
being over a dozen different grades. In 1895, about 
two tons of Indian ink were exported to foreign 
countries from Shanghai valued at £564, but the best 
part of the manufactured ink laud the best qualities) 
are used in China and not exported. 
According to tho Ay ricultiiral Gazette of N. S. Wales, 
“ Experiments with 
RHEA 
have shown that this fibre plant will thrive to perfec- 
tion in the loose, well-drained, sandy loams of onr 
Northern river districts.” The Government is anxious 
to encourage the cultivation of the crop on a com- 
mercial scale and intends offering a special prize for 
quantities of the product suitable for export. It is said 
that numbers of farmers have already arranged to put 
small areas uud.r Rhea this year. 
Ceylon Tea in Ameeic.a and on the Con- 
tinent OF Europe.— The “Thirty Committee” 
have re.solved tluat the Tea Advertising Cam- 
paign must be vigorously pressed in America 
for another year, at lea.st : £12,000 liave accord- 
ingly been voted for Mr. Wni. Mackenzie to 
spend during 1898, and attention is to be given 
to the Western States. For Russia £2,000 liave 
been voted ; but we were not told who are to 
be the Adverti-iiig Agents. For the re.st of 
Europe, but more particularly Austria and Hun- 
gary, the great tea bouse of Messrs. Cooper, 
Cooper & Co., are to be assisted in advertising! 
Wliat will “ Horniinaii'.s ” and other rival liouses 
say to this? However, the woik ol advei tisino- 
is to go on merrily and that much good may 
come of it must be the earnest wish of ail 
in Ceylon. We only hope the Indian Tea estate 
propiietors will do tlieir duty as fully as tlieir 
Ceylon brethren. If Ceylon expends £12 000 in 
America, India ought to lay out £16.000 to 
£18,000 ; and in same proportion in Russia, &c. 
If further warning as to the need is required! 
Ave would just point to tlie latest deliverance of 
the Investors’ Guardian quoted on page 283 et scq. 
