783 
May 2 , i8c;8.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
$oiiri^spondc:noi?. 

To (he EdM(^. 
PLANTING IN MYSORE AND THE NORTH 
MYSORE PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATION. 
Koppa, Mysore, March 19, 
DBAS Sir, — I enclose copy of proceedings of 
the annual general meeting of the North Mysore 
Planters’ Association, of which I have had tlie 
honor of being elected President, Some of my 
old friends during my stay in Ceylon, from 1873 
to 188.9, in Ambagamuwa, Nitre Cave, and 
for the last five years at ^Yattekelle, Madulkelle, 
may be glad to hear of me, though a good many 
liave gone. I see many still mentioned in the 
weekly Observer, which I have taken and read 
regularly since I left Ceylon. 
We are not having a very ro.sy time of it with 
coffee ju.st now, owing to very late rains, chiefly 
in May ; during the past two years crops have been 
very poor, and. with the aid of that arch-fiend 
leaLdisease, coffee is having a hard fight of it. 
We are now looking anxiously for rain, and if 
Ave get .sn early and good do.se of it, cro])S should 
bo good all round as places are in capital heart 
and having had practically nothing taken out 
of them for two years .should make us the 
amende honorable tliis year. Exchange is, of 
course, hitting us very liard and Avith the price 
of coffee fallen fioiu L5 to 20 per cent. Prospects 
for the coming year are a trifle depressing, but 
we must hope for the best. — I am, dear sir, yours 
very truly, E. C. BOLTON. 
THE RECENT IMPORTATION OF 
TROUT OVA. 
Ceylon Fishing Club, NuAvara Eliya, March 22. 
Sir,— It may interest those of your readers avIio 
are members of the Fishing Club to knoAv that 
the last lot of trout ova, imported by the ss, 
“Gera,” have proved a great success. We have 
already hatched about 11,500 out of 20,000 eggs, 
and Ave shall probably get about 1,500 more. 
The alevins are strong and healthy, and Ave 
ought to get Irom 9,000 to 10,000 fry from them, 
Avhich Avill be a most seasonable addition to our 
streams. This shipment proves that if only the 
eggs are properly and carefully treated on board 
ship, the hatchery here (under the very capable 
management of Mr. Elhart) can deal Avith them 
very efficiently. Messi's. Wickwar and F'arr, Avho 
are both going home, have kindly promised to 
do their best to make such arrangements as to 
packing and shipping as Avill secure a few more 
successes like the present.— I am, sir, your obedi- 
ent servant, S. M. BURROWS, 
Hon. Secretary. 
TEA FACTORIES AND SITES. 
26th March. 
Sir, — I n reply to “ An Indian Tea Planter ” 
Avhose letter appears in your issue of the 23rd 
inst., I Avonld advise him, either to become a 
“Ceylon creeper” for a short time, or to pay 
for professional advice. As a practical iilanter 
of over 30 yeai’s experience, I shall be gla<l to 
visit his estate, and give him the best advice 
as to factory site, etc., for a modei'(^te remu- 
neration, 
9fl 
I w’ill add a Avord of Avarning “free, grati.s, 
for nothing,” Don’t rush in for expensive build- 
inc/s and '‘up to date machinery” till you find 
your yield of tea per acre will afford the expense. 
— Yonrs faithfully, 
A CEYLON PLANTER. 
DEHORNING CATTLE. 
Dear Sir, — C an yon or any of yonr readers 
tell Avhelher the jiraetice of deliorning cattle has 
ever been resorted to in Ceylon Avith the object 
of improving tlieir condition. This is what the 
“Queenslander” Avrites on the subject; — “The 
manager of a large herd of cattle in the north, 
Avho secured one of the dehorning implements im- 
ported some two years ago, reports that he has 
used it very freely in his herd, and Avith the 
very best results. He states that dehorning has 
the effect of quietening the cattle, and his ex- 
perience is that dehorned cattle fatten more rapi- 
dly than horned cattle. In the Western and 
North-AYestern districts, Avhere c.attleare trucked 
to the coast, dehorning will be found of very 
great advantage ; bub Avhen cattle-owners have 
made up their minds to a«lopt the iiractiee, the 
operation Avill be much more effectively and less 
painfully performed on calves, either by means 
of the knife, or by cau.stic potash.” Dehorning 
has also been used Avith good effects for years 
on some of the cattle runs in the Hunter River 
district. — Yours truly, INTERESTED. 
[We have never heard of “Dehorning” cattle 
in Ceylon : only of the horns of buffaloes being 
blunted in some districts. — E d. T.A.] 
No II. 
Dear Sir, — Dehorning cattle in India and Ceylon 
is practised much and is a common thing, you will 
be surprised to learn. Dehorned cattle, it is quite 
true, fatten very quiclcly and on ordinary food. The 
practice has been introduced many years ago into 
Ceylon principally by the cattle-dealers from India. 
Dehorning is also resorted to, to show that cattle are 
younger than they really ave 1 Sheep, goats and 
other cattle are dehorned, without giving any pain 
to the animals operated upon merely by gently 
applying for two or three days heat to the horns, 
which are previously covered with human hair or 
thin fibre to secure from excess of fire. The old 
horns come off very easily, while the root of the young 
horn (reddish in appearance) remains and by the tims 
the horns have grown, the animal becomes fit for 
table and is in prime condition, generally. I should 
much like to know, through the columns of your 
valuable paper, “ the how, the why and the where- 
fore ” from soma scientific and qualified authority. 
The Patriach of Dimbula, — the late ?Ir. Wm. Smith — 
knew all about this I think. Can our amiable “Vet,” 
Mr. Sturgess not enlighten us on the point. Many 
would “ like to know, you knoAV.” The blunting of 
the horns of ferocious buffaloes by Sinhalese is also, 
as you say, in vogue, particularly throughout th« 
Kandyan country, but that does not fatten them. It 
is only for protection from being gored by them while 
working the animals. MUDALIYAR, 
No. III. 
Dear Sir, — T here niay be .said to be three 
degrees of deliorning or dishoruing : (1) cutting 
off the external horns by means of the saAv or 
shears ; (2) removing the shell of the horn and 
leaving the core described by your correspondent 
“ Mndaliyar,” and (3) totally doing away Avitli 
the horn, root and all. The third method is of 
course the most elTectual and has resulted in 
