9i6 
tHE TROPICAL AQRlCULTURIST, 
[June i, 1892. 
no single day have we been without some sunshine. 
This IS very different to the average of the Ceylon 
coffee districts : there it is a frequent exporienuo in 
both monsoons to have incessant squalls and heavy 
rainfall with a complete absence of sunshine, some- 
times for ten days to a fortnight. The effect in 
Ceylon of the heavy rains and absence of sun-heat is 
very marked, and has a moat prejudicial effect both 
upon the yield and the vigour of coffee and tea. I 
hare also noted that the sun-heat is of creator 
strength here than in Ceylon, and.ii is most beneficial, 
as it acts favourably on the strong soils, pulverising 
and drying the soil down to a deptli of fully 1,5 feet. 
This, again is of benefit in the prevention of wash. 
In Ceylon, a heavy shower in the rainy season 
simply runs over the surface ; here on the contrary, 
it passes down the sun-cracks and thus fertilises 
the soil. 
CunxivATioH — Webdino. — The great importance of 
keeping clearings clean and in hand, weeding from 
the commencement, has been the Waterloo ex- 
perience. The sunshine and showers, which are 
almost daily, favour a ^owth of weeds almost in- 
credible, and I am of opinion that it is a nine ijuu n<ni 
for successful planting — clean weeding from the date 
of the burn. 
PmiNiNo AND Handlino. — F rom what I have 
observed, I believe that, with careful and judicious 
treatment of the bushes from the commencement, 
knife pruning would not be required. Handling 
is most important. Great care must be taken in 
keeping the centre of the tree for 6 inches entirely 
heo of wood, and the outside branches must be 
carefully and systematically singled out so that the 
lower primaries may not be oxcluded from the light. 
The same effect experienced in the growth of weeds, 
caused by the sunshine and showers, is also to bo 
found in the growtli of young wood, and it is 
essential for the health of tlie bush, as well as for 
regular bearing, that the wood should be limited to 
what is actually required. 
Manurino. — The opportunities for cultivation, 
on a liberal scale are all that can bo desired. 
There is an abundant supply of lime, a similarly 
abundant snppy of bat guano, and, from the fact 
that both Guinea grass and the native mass grow with 
such luxuriance, cattle can easily and profitably be 
kept. This is a most important fact, for in Ceylon 
many a good estate dates it decline from the date 
that it could not obtain the necessary help from cattle 
manure. , , , ,, 
Labour.— On the point of the labour supply there 
will. I expect, for several years yet he a difffoulty. The 
Tamil labour will gradually increase, and once more 
estates are opened there will, I believe, be a supply 
quite equal to the demand ; but it would be folly to 
consider planting at present impracticable beoause 
Tamil labour is not yet completely organised. I have, 
through necessity, been obliged to employ Malays, 
Chinese and Javanese. I have found tiiom all most 
efficient workmen. I am exceedingly glad that I 
have hod cause to employ otliers than Tamila, other- 
v^se, I might have continued in ignorance of the 
valuable labour supply locally available. 1 cannot at 
S resent fully particularise on this subject, but I will 
OBoat n later date, and will supply figures showing 
actual coat of work done by Ohmose, Javanese and 
Malays, which will compare favourably with what is 
done by the Tamil in Ceylon. 
SORGHUM. 
Sorghum has been used as a forage for stock in this 
country for many years. As such it is adapted to 
a wide region, and its cultivation has extended 
over the entire extent of the United States. In 
other connlries it has been used for the manufact- 
ure of sprits, glucose, beer and vinegar. Its seeds 
have been used as a food lor men and beast, and 
in this country a largo part of the profit of growii g 
sorghum consists in the value of its seed as a stock 
food. For nearly thirty years syrup lias been made 
from it, end during that time high hopes have been 
entertained of its power to produce profitably sugar. 
');ite attempt to make tugat from sorghum has 
been made almost exclusively by Americans. In 
Cliiua, where tho sorghum has probably been grown 
for thosnnds of years, we are told by Dr. 8. Wells 
Williams, Frofossor of Cliiuose in Yale College, 
that there is no evidence that it has over boon used 
lor eitlier syrup or sugar making. 
It is curious to rcsid in the earlier publications 
on sorghum, the contradictory opinions and opposite 
views so positively asserted by the authors. As to 
the kind of sugar present ; the beat varieties ; tho 
period of growth; of maximum sugar content and the 
exact time to work after cutting, nothing was known 
dofinitoly until tho beginning of the scientific in- 
vestigations by the Natioual Department of Agri- 
culture in 1878. Since that time this Department 
has aasiduonsly continued its investigations in 
sorglium, and while we write tho Fort .Scott ex- 
periments in diffusion and corboiiatatioii are lieiiig 
brought to a conclusion by the eminent government 
chemists. The pablications of tliia department upon 
sorghum since 78, l ave been numerous and in- 
structivo and to-day every farmer has within liis 
reach valuable and definite information in regard 
to this plant, the result of patient investigation 
conducted by trained scientists at govoiiimont 
expense. 
bota.nk;ai. relations of horohum. 
Sorghum is one of those plants, whoso origin is 
utterly unknown. Uy long cultivation, its habits 
and characteristics have been so changed that no 
resemblance cm now be found to any wild plant. 
Formerly the different cultivated varieties of 
sorghum were regarded as distinct species, lint 
iiiouern iiotauists have been gradually led to the 
conclusion that all our sorghums and jurphecs, in- 
cluding broom corn, chicken corn, diirra, milo 
maize, etc., are but varieties of a single species — 
Sorghum Vulgare. These conclusions have already 
inspired many aoedsmeii, farmers and Eoiontiata 
with tho belief, that ultimately by selection of seed, 
proper fertilization and cultivation, a true sugar 
bearing sorghmn may bo obtained, which can tie 
profitably grown and worked, instead of the true 
sugar cane or beet. Differentiation in plants is 
accomplislied by extending tho area of cultivation, 
taking in differences of soil, climate, rainfall 
and manures; bv careful selection of seed; by cross 
breeding, etc. fn this way varieties are produced. 
Some plants have roator capacity for variation 
tlian others, and sorghum is perhaps surpassed only 
by Indian corn, in its tendency to assume new 
varieties tinder changed conditions Hence we 
find a largo nnmber of varieties of sogbum on our 
market, differing in every concolvablo oliaractor, 
from content of sugar to color of seed. It is there- 
fore of first importance in Rowing sorghum to 
select those varieties best adapted to our wants, 
remembering the modifying factors of soil, climate 
and manures . — Fnnn BulU'fin Xo. 5 of tho LonUioim 
Hiujar h'rperinu'ut Station. 
NEW JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES. 
The following tea company has juat been regis- 
tered: — Mayhiooin Tia Plauiations, LimtU'd, with a 
capital of £60,11(10 in 10 shares, Objeet, to acquire, 
either in ludia or any Oolony or dependency ot the 
United Kiegdum or elsewhere, land suitable for tlie 
cultivation of tea, oeffee, oiuebons, &c , to stook and 
manage the same, and generally to carry on business 
as tea, coff-e, iie., plaiilera m d merchants, brokers, 
icc. Tho first Bubscribirs, who take one share each, 
are; — E. G. Rook, 1, Great Winchester Street, E. C.; 
T. 11. Trotmaii, 61), Highbury Quadrant, N. ; O. H, 
Wellard, 10, Gray’s Inn Square, W. 0. ; J. W. Aubrey, 
65. Dallview Road, Stam'ord Hi-l; T. E. Mnnday, 
I ho Poplars, Ruokhnrst, Hill; Or, R. Dvvey, 4, Fasset 
R a-l, Dviatoii; 0. T. Wait', Bourne Hill, Palmer's 
Green, N. 
The business of the company is to be under the 
oonir -1 ot managing agents, the first being the Planters’ 
Stores and Ageuoy Oompuny, Limited. No particulars 
given as to qualifloatioa or remuueralioD,— i/. and t'. 
Mail, 
