Nov. r, 1897. J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
317 
No. XXXVII.— High Disthict. 
1. No fictiial experience except for firewcoef, but 
propose, liaving an oveihead-rviie-traniv.ay for 
transDort leaf from sevei'al estates to factory, and 
believe this is just the kind of thing required to 
economise cost and labour, especially where labour is 
most required. 
2. I know of nothing special for this. 
3. Have not gone into I be cost of this, and much 
w uld depend rncost and lay of land, etc. 
4. Only where mareoties and suiapers are used 
and when not done by hands. 
5. No. Certainly not ; grevilleas, etc. Trees should 
be planted on road sides and on shuck hills, etc , tl e 
falling leaves wonld do good and the timber be 
useful. 
0. No. But heard of “ Scotch thistle ” having 
been tried on one of these estates, years ag', and saw 
a few here and there for a time, hut they have 
long since disappeared. It was supposed ihey would 
have kept down the weeds and taken their place. 
I fail to see much advantage even thoiigh this had 
been successful 
7. Close draining when thoroughly done and rocks 
all cleared out and leading drains and loads, etc., fitted 
to meet all this, is quite sufficient to stop all wa=h I 
have found, but it must be done well and not half 
finished. 
8 — 
9. Let them have g£ 1 dens of limited extent ; they 
like them, but this dees not positively keep them to 
the estate. 
10. No. I wculd not multiply bazaars, but prefer 
n regular market for all, not far off, but certainly 
not too near. My objection to bazaars too near is 
■ — the amount of stealing in firew'ood, gia's or any- 
thing the coolies can lay their hands on — that goes 
on when this is the case. Also if large properties, 
there might be with advantage estate dispciisarits. 
11 We have one not far off and I totally disbelieve 
in allowing one ; it is only a cause of general evil, gam- 
bling, drunkardness, etc., and it is, I consider, ab- 
solutely unnecessary. W.B..J. 
No. XXXVIIL— Mkdium Dlstrict. 
(1) Shoots save a lot of labour, and in many cases 
some pay themselves. Might be much more used. 
Don’t think they damage leaf worth speaking of. 
(2) None that I know of. 
(3) Can’t say : but coolies’ wages are low', and 
engineers’ are high, and a tramway would cost a lot. 
It would all depend on the outlay required, as 
to whether profitable or otherwise ; a big Company 
should try. •• 
(4) No. 
(5) No. At least on old estates, 'i’lied it once, 
and that was enough. Leaf returns fell off, and 
the saving in weeding was gone before you could 
wink. 
(6) Never tried but would strongly advise another 
fellow to try. 
(7) Present system of draining works well enough : 
ns the best of the soil is soluable, tiapning W'ould 
leave the silt which is not much worth. Mud taken 
from a dam, is an admirable top dressing, did well 
for coffee ; does well for ten. 
(8) Strict supervision, and eren/ cooly doing his 
full share of work would help a number of estates. 
It is a botlier', and worry to see to this, but it 
pays we'l. 
(9) Giving perquisites spoils the cooly, it is like set- 
ting a beggar on horse-back. Kind, firm, treat- 
meirt, readiness to re consider decisions, keeping in 
touch with your force, and a joke thrown in now 
and again go a long way to cause content. 
(10) More bontiqnes mean more Moormen, and 
where there is saleable produce, the close proximity 
of such gentry is to be avoided. If the estate ran 
its own botiqne it might he difficult, hut tea ]planters 
have enough to look after already. 
(11) I suffer from liquor shops licensed and un- 
licensed, with rascally toddy-sellers to boot, results 
gambling, stealing, lawlessness ; had a set of lines 
burnt down by a drunken rascal ; and thieving ; 
would vote for the abolishment of liquor shops, or 
their reduction, and a tax on teddy trees, any- 
thing to save my labour force from the temptation 
to drink, and the evil tesnlts which follow. 
HANTANA. 
No. XXXIX.— High District. 
(I) Certainly saves labour on long estates, and does 
not d.-'mage leaf if rightly managed at thereceivingend, 
( 2 - 
(3) Don’t think tramways wculd be cheaper than 
ccoly transport. 
(4) Estates n]-ccuntiy mu.st be kept clean ; for if 
allowed to grew, the 1 oeing of weeds on our hilly land 
would cause more loss of soil than ever. 
(5) Selected weeding would be a geed experiment. 
(6) Have been rece mmerided lo try a crop of clover, 
but abstained, as digging it in would also loosen the 
soil. 
(7) Rows of cnsciis grass would be good on steep 
land. On gentle slopes the litter from grevillea trees 
is a gi and prevention of wash. 
( 8 ) 
(9) Anything by which a coolie can make money 
ter.ders him more willing to settle on an estate, there- 
fore a garden and a cow, though bothersoirre, are to be 
recommended. 
(10) A cco'ie will go to his favourite boutique, 
whether near cr far array, and prefers a village, where 
he can gossip and airruse himself. 
(II) Drinking is very largely on the increase ; 
but the idea is always held that if public liquor shops 
were abolished, private and illegal ones would supply 
an equivalent quantity. A. V.R. 
No. XL. — SOLTKERN DISTRICT. 
(1) To a certain extent th.e leaf is damaged. Un- 
less there was preot saving of labour, I should prefer 
not to shoot leaf. 
( 2 ) 
(3) No, I do not think so. In exceptional insteLuces 
this might be done. 
(4) Yes. 
(5) I shculd advise hand weeding only, on or dinar ily 
clean esta.Ies. Ills ‘‘ oaraudy” weeding and 
which ruin, klosses to a certain extent are left 
but not ferns &c. ’ 
(6) I should pieferto see results lefore saying. 
(7) Yes, I think not. The ctiscns grass would be 
tire only thing benefitted by the surface wash. Ifc 
would not prevent the soil at the tea roots being washed 
down to the next drain. 
(8) Thoroughly gooCi. •supervision perhaps saves more 
labour than any method one can devise off-liand. 
(9) Most have gardens who care to. Good warm 
lines and comfor able. Inducements in cash piiicking 
over and above task for the day. A wholesome rc-gard 
and confidence in their Dnrai. 
(10) One or two bazaars on the estate are a great 
institution if properly woiked eveir by the Superin- 
tendent and each cooly’s account kept regularlv and 
explained monthly and signed by him. It is the"Clret- 
lies and Mooimen who ruin labour, and unsettle them. 
It is they who compel coolies in many instances to 
ask a “ tundu,” or fraudulently obtain their advances 
to procure coolies from the Coast. 
(11) No liquor shop on cither of my places, but 
villages are tco close, which is as bad as any liquor 
shop. I am afraid if liquor shops were abolished the 
coolies w ould migrate to where ihey could indulge iir 
drirrk i e. villages &c., &c. g. 
No. XLT. — Kandy District. 
(1) Have used wire shoot for the last 6 years in send- 
ing down leaf to factory, little or no damage to leaf, 
provided yon have a good buffer of grass to meet 
the bag. 
( 2 ) 
(3) Would probably be too expensive, irruch cheaper 
to have cart roads wide enough for single bullock carts. 
