Feb. I, 1898.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
567 
WHAT TO DO ABOUT CACAO ’ A HARD 
NUT TO CRACK. 
We >jiv8 prominence to the following state- 
ment of his experience, his fears and expecta- 
tions by a well-known cacao planter ; and we would 
wish to have the other side presented to us by 
one of the fortunate ones whose plantations are 
still free of any pest, or at any rate of any 
marked attack. At the same tr.cf’, there can be 
no doubt of the strictures in the following paper 
being justly directed in regard to the Govern- 
ment ; for, it is clear that there is room in Ceylon 
plantations of all kinds, for careful scientific 
investigation even beyond that of theFungologistor 
Cryptogaraist whom our authorities failed lately to 
provide for Cacao. What is said about the freedom 
on certain estatesoftheForasterocacaofrom trouble, 
can only point to qualities of the soil present 
in one case and absent in the other. To dis- 
cover these must be the work of the Chemical 
Analyst. In fact, we shall never be able to deal 
with the many questions (and troubles) which 
turn up in respect of the cultivation of our staple 
produce in the lowcountry as well as on the hills, 
until an Analytical Chemist and Cryptogamist 
as well as the Honorary Entomologist, are added 
to the Staflf of, or made available for, the 
Director of our Botanic Gardens. 
{Comrminicated by a Cacao Planter.) 
Those who have faith in cacao as a product 
which “ has come to stay,’’ base their belief 
pretty much on the understanding that the har- 
dier varieties can resist the disease. I hope this 
IS so. The havoc which has been wrought on 
some estates, where principally the red sorts 
obtained, is sickening enough, and of late, since 
the dry weather set in, the deaths have been so 
numerous, as to greatly exceed anything rve have 
before seen. I don’t know how wide the zone 
may be that has been stricken in this way, but 
you hear of it in Matale, Kurunegala, Watte- 
gama, and the Kandy side. Well-cared-for estates, 
that have had every attention, suffer as much as 
Chetties’ gardens, if not more. Cacao under 
shade— thick or light — is equally ravished, and 
trees in the open, if perhaps they suffer less, die 
off here and there, and weakens one’s belief, 
that these conditions of cultivation have aught 
to do with the pest. If one could be but as- 
sured that the hardier varieties were disease- 
proof, to follow the advice to “ go on supply- 
ing” with those sorts would be cheery work ; 
for there would be hope in it ; but the horrid 
thought will obtrude itself, that as some of the 
Forastero have gone already, others may follow. 
It has been suggested to me that perhaps there 
may be some deficiency in the soil — such as lime — 
which is favourable to the disease, and that if 
the missing element were supplied, the trees 
would have a healthier life, and be better 
able to resist. Perhaps some one may have 
tried lime and be able to speak as to its effects ? 
Soils which were rich in manganese carrieil the 
vines successfully, while phyloxera was rioting 
where it was deficient, and it is possible that an 
added element to the soil might do a great 
work. Whatever may be said as to the dura- 
tion of cacao, it is pretty clear that at present 
they are the older trees which arc dying out. Not 
that I have not seen young trees three and four 
years old succumb ; but it is more exceptional. 
How useful it would have been if at this time 
there had been an Agricultural Department to 
refer to, and from which really good scientific 
70 
advice might have been sought ; and it cannot 
but strike the intelligent taxpayer as an extraordi- 
nary anomaly that the Colony — the first Crown 
Colony too — which depends for its revenue on 
agricultural sources, should be so far behind the 
world as to leave things to haphazard. In a case 
like the cacao disease, the planter who sees his 
estate dying out before his eyes, is not always 
in a position to launch out in experiments ; he 
sees something very like disaster before him, 
and even if he gets his supplies to come on and 
do well, he has years of outlay lying ahead of him, 
and to conserve his capital is his wisest policy. W’e 
have, of course, the enterprising example at Matale, 
where a private planter imports at his own ex- 
pense, and without much trouble in finding him 
either, a thoroughly trained Scientist to investi- 
gate, and on the otlier side the island’s Govern- 
ment with all its resources, reporting that such 
a m.an could not be had. What incapacity ! 
However, the question is, what is best to be 
done to replace the ravished cacao fields ? 
Although I feel timorous to some extent, and 
put out my new plants with my heart at my 
month and a prayer on my li))s, still I too would 
vote for “ supplies ” as the best thing I know to 
do. Supplementing with another product, tea, 
coconuts, or what you like. If the worst comes 
to the worst, there is this insurance policy behind 
as it were, — that in the event of a burst-up 
of cacao, although money may have been lost, 
some time will have been saved. Under any cir- 
cumstances, the Ceylon cacao planter who has 
suffered or is suffering, has a hard nut to crack, 
and those who report their gardens free of the 
pest, must have uneasy feelings, and an unde- 
fined dread of the future. A few years ago to 
possess a cacao garden was to be a favourite of 
the gods, and in for a good thing : now that 
the shadow of eclipse is over us, let us remember 
those good times and live in hope. 
FACTORY EXTENSIONS AND WORK. 
A few weeks ago we gave an accoust of the 
work Messrs. Brown «& Co., Limited, of Hatton, 
h.ad on hand. To this there is not much to add, 
but Mr. J. Grieve, the manager at Hatton, in 
showing a representative of ours round 
the extensive Works the other day, named a few 
points of interest that will be new to our readers. 
At these Works— branches of which are now- 
placed at Maskeliya and Norwood — there is a 
large quantity of local labour employed. 
Messrs. Brown & Co. have in hand the remodel- 
ling of the f.actory at Craigie Lea, Mr. 
Keith is doing C o brickwork himself, but the 
firm have in hand I .c iron- work and the roof. 
The building will be ;1S feet long and 40 feet 
broad, and it will be supported by iron pillars. 
The machinery of the remodelled factory will 
include — two rollers, three driers, twelve horse 
power engine and boiler, water wheel, sifter, 
packer, fourteen horse power wheel. 
Then the firm hav-e in hand an aerial tramway 
at Warwick estate for Messrs. Finlay, Muir & Co. 
It is to be half-a-mile in length and to be made 
of half-inch rope. It connects Ambewella-road 
with the factory. Loads of 1501b. in weight will 
be c.irried. It is to be worked by an indepen- 
dent motor and the motor is a Pelton, 
It is noteworthy that in spite of a good many 
other makes, Soutar’s Rollbreakers are still in de- 
mand, and sever.al are in process of construction. 
With regard to Oil Engines Priestman’s make 
— the original inventor — is again coming to the 
