t'EB. I, 1898.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURiSP. 
SS5 
without his leg being amputated, the Rev. G. Sprott 
and myself being with him to the last. William Boyd 
after leaving Tulloes in the Sixties went over to 
India, and for some years, managed an estate there, 
and some years after came back to Ceylon and died 
in Colombo as related ; he was, I believe, a partner 
in the short-lived firm of Ackland, Boyd & Co., who 
collapsed in the forties. A. Vallance leaving Kirk- 
lees, had charge of the Peradeniya sugar estate, be- 
fore his death and died in the island, I believe. I 
don’t know your correspondent and should like to 
exchange greetings with him and tell him that the 
first tea plants I saw were some on Kondagalla 
estate before entering Nuwara Eliya on the Eam- 
bodda side, owned by the brothers Worms and on 
my taking charge of Kahagalla estate in this district 
at the end of 1858, I found a large nursery of tea 
plants or rather trees eight or ten feet high, planted by 
my predecessors Littlejohn and Sandy Davidson, but 
prior to this the late Mr. John Nietner, who came 
to the island in 1853 as Botanist for the Baron 
Delmar to introduce new products into Ceylon (when 
I was a clerk in the office of the late Mr. J. P. 
Green) went to China, brought over tea seed and 
grew them near Negombo on land of a coconut 
estate bought from Dr. Elliott then proprietor of the 
Colombo Observer as it was called. These with some 
tea grown on Rothschild estate, Pussellawa, by 
Messrs. Worms, the history of which you have given 
in your Directories, were the first tea of the China 
sort introduced into the island ; if anyone knows of 
earlier introductions of the tea plants by private 
individuals you can I fancy tell us in your next 
Vade Mecmi the Ceylon Directory for 1898. 
J. A. 
CACAO IN CEYLON. 
Ukuwella, Jan- 6. 
SlE, -Ee Cacao dying out in 1,3 or 14 years, 
I remember seeing a tree at the lower bunga- 
low Keenakelle, Badulla, in 1876, which was tlien 
some 15 or 20 years old. Is that tree still in 
existence ? And what about the Peradeniya trees 
Avliich must be some 30 or 40 years old ? Truly 
a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Me. 
[The cacao tree on Keenakelle will be found 
described in our “ Handbook and Directory.” 
It is now not less than 40 years old and is 
flourishing 4,000 feet above sea-level ! But, alas 
for Peradeniya trees, see a report elsewhere.— 
Ed. r.A.] 
DRYING TOMATOES-AND EXTPtACTING 
FIBRE. 
Deae Sib, — I would be much obliged if through 
the T. A. I could get some information about drying 
or preserving tomatoes ; could they not be dried the 
same as fruit and in the same kind of machine and 
what machine would be the best for a small quantity 
and cost ? 
Also how to extract the fibre from the pine- 
apple leaf. Is there a machine to do it properly. 
I hear Death’s machine only partially cleans the 
fibre ; then what is the fibre so cleaned worth ? And 
cost of hand machine, output of fibre per day, &c. 
— I remain, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
TOMATO. 
[Who can tell us about drying tomatoes ? A 
“ Desiccator ” machine might suit the purpose. Ex- 
periments in Ceylon, in extracting fibre from 
pine-apple leaves, have not been successful in 
yielding a paying result.— E d. T.A.] 
DRYING TOMATOES. 
Greenfield, Bambalapitiya, Colombo, Jan. 7. 
Dear Sir, If you will put your correspon» 
dent in direct communication with me, I shall 
be glad to explain to him cheap and effective 
w’ays of drying Tomatoes, and extracting Fibre 
from Pineapple Leaves. — Yours faithfully. 
E. T. JENKINS. 
[Our first correspondent is a planter in Sumatra, 
and he will be duly advised ; but could the 
information not be given yjro bono publico to 
include in our Tropical Agriculturists — Ed. T.A.} 
CEYLON TEA IN AMERICA. 
EXTRACTS OF LETTER RECEIVED FROM MR. 
WILLIAM MACKENZIE, CEYLON REPRESENTATIVE 
IN AMERICA. 
From the Secretary, “ Thirty Committee,” 
Kandy. 
Sir,— I enclose for publication extract of letters 
received from Mr. William Mackenzie, regarding 
his work in America. — I am, sir, your obedient 
servant, A. PHILIP, 
Secretary, “Thirty Committee.” 
Kandy, Januaiy 8th. 
I send some films showing in miniature an ani- 
mated advertisement we have been flashing nightly 
in a very prominent position in New York. The 
figures are life-size and are shown in motion — just 
like the Biograph or Cinematograph in London, 
Thousands stand and look at this on the street. 
The first shows a Chinaman offering a lady a cup 
of China tea. The second shows her ordering him 
out after she has tasted it and found it disgusting 
as her face in a photo — not included — expresses. 
Next comes the loose jnece". a Japanese offering his tea: 
then No. 4 where she again shows her dislike. 
Then comes an Indian servant with pure machine- 
made Ceylon and Indian ; she tastes it, is delighted 
and has a second cup. 
The lady is an actress, and acts her part beauti- 
fully. We are trying to arrange to have the thing 
in several large cities, but it is difficult and expen- 
sive — while still novel it is very catching advertising.’’ 
I have been at Montreal to see ’s Cana- 
dian Agent. I made an arrangement with the Firm 
in London for a vigorous push in Eastern Canada 
to cost £1,500, of which our share is to be £500. 
I was led to this by the then existing difficulties of 
getting fine teas into the States. I say “ then exist- 
ing” because I am glad to say the difficulties have been 
emoved. — A 26 sieve is now to be used, not a 16. 
This is entirely due to the very clever manner in- 
which Mr. Blechynden fought our battle while the ’im. 
porters were divided and each was trying to get- 
his own in and others excluded. Mr. B. took the mat- 
ter up, and carried it d'rect to Washington. 
I have also been to Boston, where we were 
interested in some exhibits in a Food Show. 
The show was well attended and was most interesting'. 
I am sorry to say I found while our teas were being 
advertised, greens, oolongs, and mixed were being 
served and sold. The excuse was the old one “ We 
cannot pay expenses unless we give what the people 
want. Much of this has to be winked at.” ^ 
I enclose a letter showing how Salada Ceylon Tea 
(Larkin’s Brand) has been progressing in Eastern 
Canada served from his Montreal branch. You will 
note the business has trebled in a year and nis 
Manager is confident it will again treble during the 
next twelve monthsi A much smaller increase even 
will be satisfactory. 
Instead of spending £3,000 a quarter, I propose to 
spend £7,000 during first half of next year and £5,000 
during second half. Little can be done in July and 
August, as the weather is too hot, and everybody is 
away seeking cooler climes. If yon agree with me 
ai-range that £4,000 be remitted at end of December 
and £3,000 at end of March, please. 
I have sent some advertisements and other matter 
in other envelopes. 
The very low price of coffee is against ns this year 
It is being retailed at about half of its price two' 
years ago. 
