2o6 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[September i, 1891. 
TOBACCO Cl'LTlVATJOX IN BATTICALOA. 
8 ir, — Tobacco cultivation wan introducod into this 
diHtrictt in the tiiiio of the Dutch Govcrmneiit, by 
some people from Jaffna belongiuif to the “ Tauua- 
kara*’ class. At tliat time Hiimll pardons only wore 
cultivated, but later on, in the time of the Knplish 
more gardens wore opened. Dux'ing the adminis- 
tration of this district, by the late Messrs. Bono 
and Atherton, largo niuuDera of tobacco cultivators 
came from Jaffna, belonging to tJio class referred 
to, and settled in tiie North and South of Batticaloa, 
and carried on tobacco cultivatiou ; but it wm until 
the time of the lato Mr. Hirclx that tobacco was 
more extensively cultivated here. Crown lands were 
surveyed and sold in small lets, thus bringing with- 
in the rearcli of every one the pOHsossion of n few 
acres of land. These lots were bought up. and the 
higher portions of it were planted with tobacco and 
the lower portions couvertod into paddy fields. Ever 
since that period up to the present it nae been culti- 
vated very largely, and those people, who arc de- 
prived of cheuas, betake themselves to thid industry, 
as it is paying well; better than paddy cultivation 
in those hard timoo. "We hope that the day is not 
far distant when tobacco ancf other products such 
as betel loaves, pepper, areoauuts ifec. will super- 
sede paddy. 
Jaffna tobaoco is preferred to what Batticaloa 
produces, on account of its fiavour, which is deficient 
m the latter. The growers of the weed say, that 
the different kinds of manure used in tho gardens 
mako all the diffoi'once. Eor in Jaffna goat and 
sheep manure is used, as a rule; but, here the 
plantation is luuaiurod by black cattle and buffaloes 
owing to tho want of an abundance of goat and 
sheep for tho ixurposo, which are rather scanty iu 
tho district. At present, th© best tobacco is growm 
at Cheukcl addy and Maraodev. in the north ; and 
at Chenget-padde and Torendlamedo, iii tiie south 
Batticaloa. If small patches of Crown land, not 
suitable for other products, aro given to the inhabi- 
tants on easier terms, than what is now' the case, 
much more land will b© converted into tobacco 
gardens which will ultimately give the means of 
living and lodging to many a poor man. This will, 
in fact, form a now colony of settlers. 
For instance, here iu Batticaloa, a poor man not 
a “Pody, with his Binall savings buys ^ of an aero 
of laud, at Uie Govornmont sale, cuts, clears and 
improves it by planting a few coconut plants, and 
after some years oi toil and labor, this, once a jungle, 
now serves as the house and hearth of himself and 
his family. It will be so, if the Governmont will 
hold out sufficient onoourageniont to tobacco growers, 
In connection with this subject, I should mention 
that a Hciou of tho family of tobacco cultivators, who 
first settled in Batticaloa, in tlie time of tho Ihitoh, 
died to-day iiij his ninety-first year, leaving behind 
a largo number of relatives. Ho was known as 
“Counter Benjamin Motto.” He was employed in 
tho Kachcbeii, as treasury watcher, for many years, 
and retired lately on a woll-earned pension. 
, J. 'W. Di: Niiisi:. 
—Local “Independent’' 
A VICTORIAN UKANGKRV. 
Bv Bjiuni. 
Over thirty years ago there journoyod out into tho 
wild forest that then covered a wide expanse to the 
westward of tho town of Waugaratta a xmin hailing 
from tho Parramatta district of New Bouth Waloa, 
who was looking for a piece of land on which he 
might form a home. It was a singular journey to 
take, for the appearance of the country was any- 
thing but inviting, the soil being cold aud poor, and 
the surface was covered with forest of indifferent 
timber, below which was a heavy undergrowtii. At 
that time there were largo areas of fertile land open 
for selection in almost every part of the north-east 
district. This man, by name James Brien, halted 
not till he reached a small watercourse close to 
where the northern end of the Warby Range sinks 
into tho plain. At th e present day the spyt whg 
Mr. Brien fixed hi.s camp, aud where his house now 
stands, has little to attract cither the grazier or the 
agriculturist, but when he made his selection ho 
had some trouble in clearing away the saplings bo 
that he might use the cover of his waggon as a tent, 
('orning from a land where orange-giowiug was ox- 
teuBively practised, and where no has many rela- 
tions still engaged in the industry, he naturally 
cast about for a spot that was suitable for an 
orangery, and ho found it. Close to his first camp 
he discovered a little plot of land (not more than 
eight acres) lying in a dell at tho foot of tho range 
which, in his opinion, was admirably suited for an 
orangery. As soon as ho got th'e land prepared 
he commenced planting oranges, and at the present 
day that little nook at the foot of tliosc ranges of 
evil repute is worth more money and will give a 
much better return than many a half-section farm 
of fertile soil in what are regarded as more favoured 
localities. 
Tho road out from Waugaratta to Mr. J. Drien's 
orangery is none of the best iu summer, and in 
winter it must bo anything but a pleasant drive. 
Tor some distance out from tho town the soil is 
excellent either for pasture or agriculture, a chocolate 
soil of great depth, aud capable of being worked at al- 
most any tinie of the year. I have often thought 
the soil would prove well adapted for growing lucerne 
but not a plot of this fodder plant could I see. On 
making inquiry I was sbowm a field that was sown 
with lucerne about len or a dozen years ago. and 
my informant said that it grew remarkably well. It 
was gradually got out of th© land by growing a 
succession or grain crops. After journeying about 
two miles the surface began to show a very slight 
rise towards the hills, and with this rise in the sur- 
face there came a falling-off in the quality of the 
soil. Tho nearer we got t > the foot of tlie range 
tho^ more pronounced oecame the rise, and the more 
indifferent th© soil. At last, when near the hills, 
W'o uiet with patches of almost pure sand, and that 
sure indication of a cold^ poor soil— -the grass 'tree- 
was plentiful. It was wiiat Sushmeu call sour, hungry 
country, that is generally regarded as useless for 
either the husbandman or the agriculturist. 
About Mr. Brien's steading there was a slight im- 
provement in tho character of the soil. 
There w’as nothing about th© homestead to distin- 
guish it from many hundreds of other old Victorian 
farm-houses — a ranihling collectioii of bniidjngs, many 
of which appeared to he suffering from the decre- 
pitude of old age. Tho house “did keep itself; ” 
BO, after admiring tho handsome poa-fowl and flocks 
of Guinea fowl, wo made our wav to the orangery 
For Bometime wo saw nothing but the melancholy 
aspect ol a poor-soil farm, with the dreary forest 
on throe Bidca aud steep range on the other. Wlioro 
a sma 1 watorcourso runs down from tho hills there 
18 11 little valley, almost henmied in by tho foot of 
the range, and looking towards this recess I saw the 
dark-green foliage of tlic orange trees, that appeared 
al^most black m comparison with the dull green 
of tho surrounding gum trees. As wo drew' nearer I 
could see tho advanced fruit just beginning to 
take a tinge of yellow. The main crop is, however, 
still of a deep greeii colour, and will not be ready for 
picking till about July. 
This orangery contains aboutoighthundrodtrees.of 
which three hundred are of large size and bear im- 
mense t have often lieard instances of the 
wonderful letmudity of the orange tree, but even after 
going tlirough the ground and taking a good look 
at the finest trees, I was greatly surprised to learn 
what immeuso crops of fruit they yield. On asking 
Mr. Brien w’hat would be a good crop from one of 
his old trees, he told me that it would be between 
six aud seven hundred dozen oranges. The fruit 
is of excellent quality, and finds ready purchasers 
in the district aud in the metropolis. For many 
years tho market price w'os Is. per dozen, but now 
it IS about 9 d. por dozen, a price at which tho grower 
makes a very handsome pront. A great many varie- 
ties of the fruit ore grown, and, as a rule, they give 
oxcellout yields. Tho navel orange is, however, an 
