}lNE I, 1898.J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
85 7 
bs finer ; on the contrary it may be needful to make it 
coarser, as it is palpable that higher yields are neces- 
sary in the majority of cases at any rate as a coun- 
ter-poise to lower prices. If we all plucked fine 
tomorrow, fine teas would no longer be scarce and 
down would go the prices for fine teas. The wretched 
packet dealers are the cause of half the mischief, 
as I said long ago (though you would not admit the 
argument sound), cut-throat competition, and then 
absence of rival bidding by large buyers, account 
for the almost bottom prices now reached. (They are 
wise enough to see that having c,9/fil//jV;^’(narge sales 
of low-priced teas, it is against their interests to 
bid against one another as they cannot n.tisp, ret.ul 
BATES ; and their advertising costs a pretty penny). 
No sir ! we must go in for quantity more than 
ever keeping up quality as far as possible by care- 
ful plucking ; strict attention to plucking “ bhanjy ’’ 
when young and tender, and leariwj no leaf, to be 
plucked “hard” next round; and instead of paying 
off S. D.s wholesale, give them a bonus on the 
increase of yield resulting from careful plucking. 
The kanganiea, and often conductors help their fav- 
ourite pluokers, instead walking in the rear across 
the line of pluokers continually and checking bad work. 
An S. D. on his mettle is worth the whole crowd 
of native overseers, because he can throw enthusiasm 
into his work and make it contagious. And give the 
best pluckers a monthly bonus and the rivalry esta- 
blished will bring down cost of plucking more effec- 
tually and honestly than half-naming. 
What has all this to do with manuring? Well, I 
take it manuring is intended to increase yield, and 
many of us have to use manure in the abstract, 
and substitute shoe-le.ather in the concrete. In the 
absence of profits, revenue or capital, we must 
capitalise our sense, energy, ingenuity, resourceful- 
ness and see what brains and bootleather combined 
with courage and willingness will do towards tiding 
over adverse circumstances, which threaten to be- 
come worse ere they improve. We want loyalty all 
round, between employer and employe equally. 
Mutual self-sacrifl.ces, a little less play perhaps, and 
more hard intellig nt work (no crimping labour !), and 
to fight TOGETHEE for an enterprise upon which we 
can fearlessly ask God’s blessing. The supply of pure 
wholesome Tea, is more or less a missionary enter- 
prize against intemperance and drunkenness, against 
unwholesome water, and as such we can feel that 
after all, if we have enabled the poor workers 
at home to get t a cup of decent tea at .a price 
more proportiona e to their means. We have lost 
a little coin, perhaps, but gained the good-will of 
the consumer, and done some good in our lives. 
The consciousness of this should help every one 
cf us to go on and do better, and as I said before 
pray for God's blessing on, and guidance in our 
work. — I am, yours faithfully, T. K. 
SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE IN CEYLON; 
AND THE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. 
Sir. — Before very long, the state of civilization of 
a community will be gauged by the state of its Agri- 
culture and the quantity of artificial manures it 
consumes. That CeOon is on the hi,gh-v/ay of civiliza- 
tion, accepting the above as a correct test, is attested 
to by the fact that in our midst has arisen a gentle- 
man with sufficient courage and belief iu the future 
of Agriculture, to devote his time and talents exclusively 
to the sale of manures. 
Hitherto the trade iu manure, not a very large one, 
was in the hands of Agency houses with many estates 
in their books. The sale of manures was carried on 
as a subsidiary operation. EvSn at the Hulftsdorf 
mills the sate of manures was simply an adjunct to 
larger and more important undertakings. 
Mr. A. Baur with commendable courage, foresight 
and belief in the futrre, has started Manure Works to 
which he devotes himself exclusively. The difference 
between his works and those of other manure sellers, 
is that his operations are carried on on scientific 
principles and he has called to his aid Mr. Hughes, who 
is by far the most competent Agricultural Chemist to 
advise on manures suitable for Ceylon soils. 
Mr. Baur has addressed a letter to the “Observer” 
on the manuring of tea which has called forth high 
commendation in its editorial columns. The letter is 
not allogether free from the taint of self-interest and 
0 ' the advertisement of one’s wares, but the communica- 
tbn does not on that account lose one jot of its value 
I do not use the word “ taint ” in any offensive sense, 
for I am of those who do not regard it as a reproach 
for an individual or for a community to advance, 
his or their interests by all hone.st and fair means' 
Mr. Baur has supplied what he lias felt to be an 
acknowledged want. His action has not been impelled 
by philanthropy, called by cynics the guiding principle 
of fools. While benefltting himself, he wishes also 
to benefit Agriculture, the back-bone of the Island’s 
prr.sponty. He finds Agriculture rather shy and back- 
ward in the use of manures. It is a duty he owes him- 
self and his constituents to place before them all the 
literature on the subject of manures and manuring 
which he has made it a duty to study. 
Mr. Baur says, and truly, that in European Agri. 
culture, manuring is a necessity ; out here it is regarded 
as a luxury. I endorse this, but not the reasons he 
adduces for it. Competition is very great for the 
products of European Agriculture, the margin of profit, 
owing to prices lor produce and high rent, is very 
small, so that unless farms are forced to yield high 
returns, farmers go to the wall. The condition of 
things is, or rather was, different here and Planters 
have the means of extending their borders as soon 
as some fields become unremunerative, With exchange 
and prices against the planter, he may recognize 
that the time for liberal cultivation, not using the 
expression in its accepted sense, has arrived and he 
may see the wisdom of going in for scientific 
manuring. Mr. Baur mentions why this cannot be 
generally resorted to viz., the absence of Agricultural 
Chemists to guide the planter. He .sugge.sts that the 
Government keep a staff of Agricultural Chemists to 
aid the planter. That is rather a “tall order.” My 
suggestion is a more modest one, that an Agricultural 
Chemist be attached to the School of Agriculture in 
the same way that a Veterinary Surgeon is and 
that his services be made available to the public on 
p-iyment of a moderate fee ; this to be regarded as 
private practice. 
The Government re-organized the Technical School 
and transformed it into a College without much 
loss of time. A Commission has been brooding 
over the School of Agriculture for an unconscionably 
long time. Its report has not yet seen the light of 
day. No doubt technical education is very useful and 
Government can, from the College, draw supplies for 
many of its departments. But it must not be 
forgotten that Agriculture is the mainstay of 
the Island, and the maintenance of the Sohcol of 
Agriculture as a College is of paramount importance. 
The important part that agriculture plays in the island’s 
welfare can be fully realized at the present time 
when the tea industry is threatened. If at the pre- 
sent time we had an Agiioultiual College wi'h a 
properly equipped staff, the service of its agricultural 
chemist would be available to tea planters to advise 
them how to economically manure their properties, 
i.e., to advise them what manures to use to yield the 
largest possible results. The present unscientific, 
and hap-hazavd system is wasteful in that we apply 
in abundance ingredients tea plants take up in small 
quantities and which may be present in the soil, and 
in niggardly doses what is wanted in abundance. 
Besides, there is the further economy of an increased 
yield in many directions, and notably iu the cost of 
plucking and supervision. 
As in the case of coffee planting so in that of tea 
w.de aud unbroken areas a e pi anted with one single 
product. Great care must therefore be taken to avoid 
fungoid pests aud for tiiis reason specially prepared 
nvaiiures in the use of \ihich there will be no danger 
of infecting the soil, is of great importance. 
The subject cf fixing free atmosnheric nitrogen in 
the soil in supersession of nitrogenous manures oan- 
