ApRir, r, iSpS,] 
THE TROPICALAGRICULTURIST. 
P9 
^oiir^spcndenc^. 
To the Edilor. 
TEA PLANTING IN FIJI; THE 
Wainunu Tea Estate, Wainunu, Fiji, 
22ncl Jan., 1898. 
Sir, — I note in the i.ssue of November 1st, 1897, 
of your valuable paper, your comments on “ Tea 
Plantin" in Fiji.” There seems to me to exist 
a sliglit misconception with reganl to the Labor 
question in this Colony. It is to a certain ex- 
tent correct, tliat “scarcity ami dearness” of 
labor are one of the drawbacks ; altliough I 
presume you refer to the local supply only, 
viz., Fijians and Polynesians, and not to Indian 
coolies, who have never yet been obtained 
for this industry, and for its systematic working. 
A greater drawback is scarcity of capital, to en- 
able the industry to be profitably carried on, 
by the introduction of the requisite labor sup- 
ply, viz., the Indian cooly on similar terms, to 
the working of the Sugar Companies in this 
Colony — which were last year £13 7s 7d per 
caput for five years’ term of indenture, and whose 
rate of wage is Is (one shilling) per task per 
man and 9d (nine-pence) per task per woman. 
Hy arrangement on application a good percent- 
age of women and children could be included in 
the number applied for, for tea garden purposes. 
It can hardly be said, that there is any scarcity 
in the supply of the cooly. As regards all other 
native laborers, except for certain works, they are 
out of the question, being unsuitable, unreliable, 
and too expensive in every way, and for the regular 
and systematic work of the tea garden, nowise 
adapted. But on the question of the Indian labor 
supply, there is much to be said in favour of 
this colony for tea growing, and even too favour- 
ably compare with other tea-producing countries; 
when it is taken into consideration the increas- 
ing cost and difficulties, of obtaining and keep- 
ing a trained body of labor in districts, where 
many ban is are required at one and the same 
time. And for the production of good tea, at its 
lowest cost, — trained pruners and pickers, are indis- 
pensable, the 5 years’ term of service to the planta- 
tion, and further five years residence in the Colony, 
give this requisite supply of skilled labor. It is 
true that the rate of wage is far too high, which 
is only too evident in many ways ; but it is only 
reasonable to hope, that by a combined effort 
on the part of the Planters, and with the favour- 
able consideration of the Government, that some 
reduction could be effected, and to meet the 
necessities of the various industries will be made, 
as in that direction appears to be the necessary 
alterations of labor conditions, to which you very 
lightly refer. 
Tliere is ho doubt that when coolies were first 
introduced to induce them to come to a new and 
untried country, and the purchase of their food 
supplies being an unknown quantity, the higher 
rate of Is and 91 per task respectively, was fixed 
upon ; but when it is taken into consideration 
that this Colony has been found to be s > well 
adapted to the Indian cooly, by reason of its 
extremely healthy and excellent climate, for 
working in, also the abundance of everything in 
shape of food and further the large sums of 
money and property these Indians are amassing, 
it is beyond all doubt, that 9d per task per 
man and M (sixpence) per woman would be an 
82 
ample wage, more especiilly for the light and 
agreeable nature of the work on tea gardens, and 
it is imperative that something must be done 
in this direction. 
All the other essential conditions to the success- 
ful production of tea in this Colony, are most 
favourable. The tea itself is of a most useful 
character ; in cup, it is clear an;! soft having 
sufficient body and strength without too much 
astringency or pungency, fieing in meilical opinion 
an excellent tea to use. 
There is abundance of good land —land exactly 
suitable for cultivation of tea. 
Every facility exists for means of .access and 
transport, as the tea can be loaded on b >ard 
vessels at the factory door. There is an ample 
water supply for power purposes, in the numerous 
streams that abound. Good fuel is plentiful and 
ready to hand. The climate is all that can be 
desired for tea, and for health also, which can- 
not be said of most tea-producing countries; 
the tea flushes freely nine months out of the 
twelve. 
On the que.stion of cultivation, it is found 
hero, on tlii.s estate, that the Planet “Junior” 
Horse Hoe, works very successfully, giving ex- 
cellenc results, both as regards cheapening cost 
of upkeep, and in improvement in the biislies, 
(all being 6^6 and 6 3 planting). They leave 
but little weeding to be done by hand in be- 
tween the plants; by keeping them going round 
the blocks, no weeds can grow, while tiia 
soil is kept beautifully loose and friable. There 
is no wash, and no harm to bushes in any 
way. One Indian with a horse does from 3 to 
4 acres every day. Of course for this style of 
cultivation, a suitable lay of land is necessary, 
but of such there is abundance, viz., very 
slightly undulating table-lands at suitable eleva- 
tion. The system allows the tea to be worked 
with a smaller force than would otherwise be- 
necessary; tlia tea also flushing steadily for 9 
months, permits of the flashes being taken off, 
with a smaller force of labor tlian is possible, 
where they come on with a rush and shut up 
in the cold weather. 
There is rimcli more that could be said, but I 
will not trespass on your valuable space any- 
more. — I would here like to mention, how much 
your Tropical Agricaltarist is appreciated and 
what a usefnil work it is, more especially to 
those who are engaged in new and distant 
countries. I trust the foregoing, will give you 
and your readers, a more correct and hopeful 
opinion of tea-g;owing here, and of the value 
of tea-property in this Colony ; also tliat it may 
serve to show that we have good reaso.ns for 
hoping to obtain something like a decent return, 
for all tlie years of liard work and anxiety we 
liive put in, in bringing this tea to its present 
position.— I am, yours faithfully, 
G. LE BAPJIATT. 
“ARTOCARPUS NOBILIS”— A QUERY? 
Bentota. 
Drar biR, — Can any of your readers kindly 
let me know whether there are two varieties of the' 
“Gan Del” (Artocarpus no’oilis). If .so, wliat 
difference is therebetween the trees. I have seen a 
tree with leaves somewhat like those of the bread- 
fruit, which the natives say is a young plant of the 
“ Gan Del ;” but when asked why tlie leaves are 
divided they say they change when grown np. Is it 
possible that such a transformation could take 
place during the growth of the tree J 
