356 the tropical AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. i, 1 S 97 . 
“ Mei'cliant-Planter ” shares the opinion that 
shoots niif^lit be more lai'f^ely nsed for fuel, as 
well as for leaf which is not ininrecl in trans- 
port vvi:h care; anil, while disclaiining knowled<_e 
of tramways, he acU-ocates the widening of exist- 
ing roads for single bullock carts as a means of 
saving tians])ort labour. “ G.” from a medium 
district brushes off our questions as evidently 
altogether out-of-date. d he labour supply in 
most districts, in his view, being ample lor all 
requirements, the need ot economizing labour does 
not seem to him to arise. Where labour is 
wanting, honest dealing will secure it ; and the 
present is regarded as a good time for men turn- 
ing over a new leaf— not the leaf in regard to 
the transport of which other planters are exer- 
cised ! — and placing the Indian labour centres 
under contribution honestly for an adequate sup- 
ply. Having persuaded himself of the general 
sufficiency of labour, and prescribed the best way 
of securing a supply in the exceptional circum- 
stances in which it may be insufficient, “ G.” 
feels that those who can get coolies can keep 
them, through the recognised agency of good 
treatment, and he declines to ofi'er any opinion 
about working. The conclusion whereof is, that 
“ G.” i.s a happy man with hi.s labour, save when 
a crimp is about, at sight or sniff of whom he 
waxes grumpy ; and that he wants neither to learn 
more than he know's, nor to teach those who 
may wish to know, you know! “ Lawyer Planter,” 
is somewhat of “G.s” way of thinking; for he would 
much rather have been asked for an essay on 
labour troubles, on which he would seem to 
hold strong views, than for suggestions on the 
utilization and economizing of the existing labour 
force. ‘‘J, W.”, however, although in far-off 
Aberdeen, has been carefully following the dis- 
cussion in our columns, and he votes for the 
more extensive use of shoots, but not for leaf 
In the absence of the unmanufactured leaf in 
England, the people there are manufacturing 
amusement out of shoots, by hanging on to the 
liook attached to the pulley, and transporting 
themselves from one ] lace to another (presumably 
terrestiial) ; and from the safe distance of the 
granite city he contemplates the pos.sibility of 
providing for rapid locomotion from bungalow 
to factory ! Whether the general adoption of 
the sugge.stion may not lead to a reduction in 
the extravagant rates nowi charged by Insurance 
Companies on planting lives, is a question rve 
should like to see discussed I Though tramways 
tnay be laid and worked profitably on an easy 
lay of land, “J. W.” believes that hand carts and 
light bullock carts should meet all requirements 
equally well at a smaller cost ; and he also ad- 
vocates the use of saws, instead of axes for 
cutting fuel ; the use of the best tea-machinery, 
including a packer; and also aemfe chests, as a 
means of saving labour. 
On the question of Weeding, “ D. E.” feels .sure 
that weeding is overdone, and that selected weed- 
ing might be adopted, as also experiments with 
green crops to be dug in ; wdiile he favours us 
with a sketch showing how' soil pits in side- 
drains and at the foot of the main ravines might 
conserve soil to be ajqjlied to the fields at each 
clearing out. Cuscus he welcomes as a good idea ; 
he w'ould have telephones between bungalow and 
factoiy to save coolies as messengers, and also 
a district tappal cooly, or a cooly for each group 
of estates ; he would give plenty of ground for 
gardens, and allow' goats, (dgs and cattle to be 
kept liy coolies ; he would have more bazaars 
and do away altogether with liquor shops. 
“ Merchant-Planter ” recognises the impossibility 
of doing more than reducing liquor shoiis ; but 
he would not create a iiionopoly which would 
lead to the sale of bad liquor and exorbitant 
prices : on the other hand, lie would multiply 
boutiques. In addition to liumouiing coolies wilii 
gardens, he would give them good rice, of 
fairly even quality. While always holding that 
small weeds could never do harm either to tea 
or coffee, at the same time that they prevent 
wash, he regards it cheaper and a greater eco- 
nomy of labour to keep an estate quite clean 
than to allow small weeds to grow ; but mosses 
he would let alone. Terracing is useful, 
but wash is inevitable on cultivated hill sides 
"Lawyer-Planter’s ” experience of jak and arccanut 
trees for their own sakes, and as supports for 
betel vines, as inducements to coolies, is inter- 
esting ; and while he thinks that the multiplication 
of boutiques is not an unmixed blessing, lie 
holds strong views on the mischief done by 
arrack especially when illicitly sold, as it is 
athen impure, and w hen ganies are in kau the 
illicit trade. " J. W. holds strongly that weeding 
is not overdone, and he would even weed thrice 
in two months, as cheaper than monthly weed- 
ing ; the present system of drainage has his ap- 
proval as an improvement on that of the old 
coffee days when the drains were witler ajiart ; 
he would save labour by making the leaf car-’ 
riers spread the leaf in the factory, and by 
weighing the leaf thrice a day ; and' he woulil 
humour the coolies with garden patches which 
help to keej) them on an estate, together with small 
perquisites ; he would allow a few boutiques on 
a large estate, and w’ould check the illicit sale 
of arrack and toddy, as more demoralizing even 
than so-called coast advances. 
'1 hese, then, brietly are the substance of the 
final batch of latters and our comments on them; 
and it may be well to indicate, in a few words’ 
the impression left on our minds by the series of 
letters as a whole which our circular elicited ;— (1) 
Tramways are unsuited to most estates, and their 
initial cost stands in the way of tlieir use, except 
under very excejdional circumstances. (2) Wire 
tramways are doing good work on the few 
places on which they have been erected, 
and their extended use should follow the liigh 
appreciation of them which our circular has eli- 
cited. (3.) Wire shoots are in tolerably ex- 
tensive use ; and their use is likely to spread 
through the removal of the prejudice against 
them for the transport of leaf, on the strength 
of the testimony of experienced planters who 
have reduced the damage to leaf to a minimum by 
the exercise of ordinary care. (4) Among other 
labour-saving apiiliances must be included roads, 
earts, telephones, up-to-date machinery and a 
W'ell ordered Factory— all directed by stiicst, 
yet considerate oversight. (5.) The great 
majority of planters preler clean weeding, partly 
on the principle that what is, must be best, 
and, partly, because the kangany must be pro- 
pitiated, and weeding contracts 'have been his 
immemorial and most welcome perquisite ; but 
a few who are not afraid to tackle a new diffi, 
culty are experimenting with water lioles and 
selected W'eeding, as a means of reducing wash 
and conserving the soil-constituents. (6.) The 
principle is sound of the system of drainage ; 
but modifications, called for by local circum- 
stances, should be more readily adopted. (7.) 
The multiplication of boutiques carries with it 
risks of theft of produce, illicit sale of arrack, 
and growing indebtedness. (8.) .Arrack Taverns 
