My Indian address is Bartchinhulla, Saklaspur, Mysore State, and home address, Clifton Park, Kelso, Roxburghshire.

ROBERT H. ELLIOT.

[1] Dr. Voelcker, Consulting Chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society of England, was, by the permission of the Society, employed for upwards of a year by the Government in India; and his "Report on the Improvement of Indian Agriculture" is an elaborate, work, of upwards of 400 pages, and contains a large body of carefully digested information, remarks, and opinions which will be of great value to the Government, and of much practical value to planters, and all tropical agriculturists.

CONTENTS.

[CHAPTER I.—INTRODUCTORY.]
Myself and the route to Mysore in 1855.[1]
The pioneer planters of Southern Mysore.[4]
The life of a planter by no means a dull one.[5]
Effects of English capital on the progress of the people and the finances of the State.[6]
The value, in times of famine, of European settlers.[9]
A deferred native message of thanks to the English public.[10]
The causes that have led to an increase of famine and scarcities.[11]
Measures to promote the digging of wells by the people.[12]
A line of railway from Mysore to the western coast sanctioned.[13]
Wanted, land tenures which will promote well digging and other irrigation works.[14]
The late Dewan's opinions in favour of a fixed land tax.[16]
Evidences of irrigation works made by occupiers being promoted by a fixed land tax.[17]
Famine question of great importance to settlers in India.[17]
The number of European and native coffee plantations in Mysore.[18]
Probable annual value of coffee produced in Mysore. Manufactures in India.[19]
Manufactures in Mysore.[20]
Endeavours by the Dewan to develop the iron wealth of the province.[20]
"The Mysore and Coorg Directory." Value of the Dewan's annual addresses in the Representative Assembly.[21]
The Dewan's efforts to promote improvements of all kinds.[21]
European settlers favourably received by officials of all classes.[21]
Hints as to representing any matter to a Government official.[22]
Native officials are polite and obliging.[23]
[CHAPTER II.—THE SCENERY AND WATERFALLS OF MYSORE.]
General description of the Mysore country.[24]
The climate. A healthy one for Europeans.[26]
The beautiful scenery of the western borderlands.[27]
The falls of Gairsoppa.[29]
Height of the falls; difficulty of getting at them; the Lushington, Lalgali, and Majod Falls might be visited-when on the way to Gairsoppa Falls.[30]
The best time for visiting the falls.[31]
Description of the falls.[32]
Startling sounds to be heard at the falls.[33]
To the bottom of the gorge below the falls.[34]
Wonderful combinations of sights and sounds.[35]
The scene on the pool above the falls.[38]
The beautiful moonlight effects.[39]
A flying squirrel; a tiger bounding across the road.[40]
The Cauvery Falls and the route to them.[40]
General description of the falls.[42]
The Gangana Chuckee Falls.[43]
The Bar Chuckee Falls.[44]
The Gairsoppa and Cauvery Falls contrasted.[46]
Interesting bridges built by native engineers.[47]
Leisure, solitude, and repose necessary to enjoy scenery.[48]
[CHAPTER III.—MYSORE—ITS GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY.]
The early history of Mysore.[49]
The Hindoo and Mahometan lines.[50]
The Hindoo line restored by us in 1799.[50]
The insurrection of 1830.[50]
The Maharajah deposed and the country in 1831 administered by the British.[51]
The State restored to native administration in 1881.[51]
The people at first generally disliked the change; causes of this.[52]
Value of an admixture of Europeans in the Mysore service.[53]
The alleged breach of good faith as regards conferring appointments on natives in British territory.[54]
The constitution of Mysore; terms on which it was transferred not to native rule but to native administration.[55]
Mysore as practically under British rule as any part of British India.[56]
After deducting sum allotted for Maharajah's personal expenditure, the remaining revenues to be spent on public purposes only.[57]
The advantages possessed by settlers in Mysore.[57]
The Mysore Representative Assembly.[57]
The notification by which the Assembly was established, and the system of nominating members.[58]
Contrast between it and the Egyptian General Assembly of the Legislative Council.[59]
First meeting of the Assembly, Oct. 7th, 1881.[59]
Rules of 1890 announcing a system of electing members in future.[60]
My election in 1891 as a member of the Assembly.[61]
Am appointed chairman of preliminary meetings.[62]
Measures agreed to at the preliminary meetings.[62]
Rules to regulate discussions in preliminary meetings.[63]
Organization desired to be established; funds for working the proposed organization.[64]
The lady students of the Maharanee's College.[65]
The Assembly formally opened; the Dewan's address.[65]
Gold mines, railways, roads; interference of Madras Government with proposed Mysore Irrigation Works.[66]
Measure to promote digging of wells.[68]
Value of the Assembly as a means of communicating intelligence amongst the people.[69]
Forests. Elephants. Female education.[69]
The Archæological Survey. The Census. The municipal elections.[70]
Reform of religious and charitable institutions. An irregular meeting of members.[71]
A marriage law proposed. Great excitement caused thereby. Proposal adjourned.[71]
Proposal to store grain against times of famine.[72]
Revenue should be remitted in full when there is no crop.[72]
My speech in the Assembly as chairman of preliminary meetings.[72]
Members called up in order to represent grievances and wants. The marriage question again.[73]
Influence of public opinion as regards age for consummation of marriages.[74]
Opinion of two native gentlemen as regards my speech.[74]
An important concession gained by the representatives.[75]
The admirable working of the Mysore Government. General appreciation of the Dewan's administration.[76]
Representatives have no power and do not want any. Causes of the absence of any demand for parliamentary institutions such as those in England.[77]
Absence of general interest in the Assembly. Causes of this.[79]
Great value of Assembly in bringing rulers and ruled together. Such Assembly more necessary now than formerly. Causes of this.[80]
The Indian Congress. Causes of the creation of.[81]
Started in 1885 by a small number of the educated classes.[82]
Seditious pamphlets circulated by the Congress.[82]
Copies bought for the Athenæum Club.[82]
Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji, M.P. one of the sellers of the pamphlets.[82]
Proceedings of the Congress legitimate till it fell under guidance of Mr. Hume. Excuses for Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji.[83]
The composition of the first and second Congresses.[83]
The third Congress. The members desire to make the laws and control the finances of India.[84]
The Congress declares that as Indians in rural districts are not qualified to elect members, these should be elected by an electoral college composed of the flower of the educated classes.[85]
As the desired powers are not likely to be obtained in India, the people of England must be made to believe that India is being misgoverned.[85]
The Congress' schemes for bringing about a revolution in India. Native volunteers to be enrolled to bring pressure to bear on the Government. The Repeal of the Arms Act demanded.[86]
The seditious pamphlets issued by the Congress.[87]
The sums of money collected with the aid of the pamphlets.[88]
Opinions of Congress that natives are wanting in the qualities necessary for governing India.[88]
[CHAPTER IV.—NATURAL HISTORY AND SPORT.]
The advantages and pleasures of big game shooting.[90]
Comparative risks from tigers, bears, and panthers.[92]
Boars and other wild animals more dangerous now than formerly. Advantages of this for sportsmen.[93]
The natural history of Mysore.[94]
Elephants. Tigers much more numerous in former times in Mysore.[96]
In a short time 118 caught in traps. Remarkable cessation of such captures. The balance of nature destroyed.[97]
The spread of intelligence amongst wild animals. Tiger passes. Difference of opinion as to how tigers seize their prey.[98]
The use of the paw in killing animals and people.[99]
The carrying powers of tigers and panthers.[100]
Reasons for not sitting on the ground when tiger shooting.[101]
Illustration of risk of sitting on the ground.[102]
Caution should be exercised when approaching a tiger supposed to be dead.[103]
Another illustration of the risk of sitting on the ground.[105]
Illustration of the importance of sitting motionless when obliged to sit on the ground.[106]
An exciting rush after a wounded tiger.[107]
Coolness and courage exhibited by a native.[108]
Estimate of danger of tiger shooting on foot. Should not be pursued by those whoso lives are of cash value to their families.[109]
People killed by wounded tigers. Difficulty of seeing a tiger in the jungle.[110]
Distinguishing sight of natives superior to that of Europeans.[111]
Tigers easily recover from wounds.[112]
Effects on the nerves and heart from the roar of a wounded tiger.[113]
Precautions that should be exercised by sportsmen with damaged hearts.[115]
The lame tiger. Met in the road at night.[116]
Tying out live baits for tigers.[117]
Interesting instance of tiger stalking up to a live bait.[118]
Another illustration of risk of approaching a tiger apparently dead.[120]
Importance of using a chain when tying out a bait. Sport spoiled from a chain not being used.[121]
Tigers eat tigers sometimes. Illustration of this.[123]
The tiger's power of ascending trees.[125]
Interesting instance of a jackal warning tigers of danger.[126]
Tiger put to flight by the rearing of a horse.[127]
Effect on a tiger of the human voice. Tigers often undecided how to act.[128]
Tigers form plans and act in concert. Illustration of this.[129]
Tigers of Western Ghaut forests, if unmolested, rarely dangerous to man.[130]
Very dangerous man-eating tigers have existed in the interior of Mysore. Man-eaters enter villages. A tiger tearing off the thatch of a hut.[131]
Great courage and determination shown by natives in connection with tigers. Illustrations of this.[132]
The life of a planter saved by a dog attacking the tiger.[134]
Interesting behaviour of the dog after Mr. A. was wounded.[135]
Treatment of wounds from tigers. A native recovers from thirteen lacerated wounds and two on the head.[136]
A mad tiger. Position of body that should be adopted when waiting for a tiger. Importance of this.[137]
Tiger purring with evident satisfaction after having killed a man.[138]
[CHAPTER V.—BEARS, PANTHERS, JUNGLE DOGS, SNAKES, JUNGLE PETS.]
Bear has two cubs at a time. Bears rapidly decreasing. Said by natives to be killed and eaten by tigers. Instances of tigers killing bears.[140]
Bears dreaded by natives more than any animal in the jungle. Probable cause of their often attacking people. Illustration of this.[141]
Attacked by an unwounded and unprovoked bear.[142]
If suddenly attacked by an animal at close quarters rush towards it.[143]
Wanton attacks made by bears on people. Approaching caves and getting bears out of them.[144]
Great value of stink balls.[146]
How not to attempt to get a bear out of a cave. Am caught by a hill fire.[147]
Amusing incident at a bear's cave. A man wounded.[149]
Value of having a good dog when out bear shooting. Am knocked down by a bear.[151]
Panthers. Should be hunted with dogs.[152]
Panther probably feigning death. A man killed.[153]
The wild boar the most daring animal in the jungles. Illustration in point.[154]
The great power of the wild boar. My manager charged by one.[156]
Boars make shelters for themselves in the rains. The flesh of the boar not a safe food.[157]
Jungle dogs. Said by natives to kill tigers.[158]
The use, said by the natives to be made by the dogs, of their acrid urine.[159]
A cross between the jungle and the domestic dog.[160]
Curious incident connected with jungle dogs.[161]
Great increase of jungle dogs. A reward should be offered for their destruction.[161]
Many reported deaths from snake bites probably poisoning cases. Reasons in support of this view. From 1855 to 1893 only one death from snake bite in my neighbourhood.[162]
The cobra not an aggressive snake. Unless hurt or provoked will probably never bite. Illustrations in support of this view.[163]
Snakes keep a good look out. Tigers and snakes run away.[165]
Many snakes are harmless, and some useful.[166]
Wild animals probably require to be taught by their parents to dread man.[166]
A tame stag. A tame flying squirrel.[167]
A tame hornbill.[168]
Probable cause of pets not caring to rejoin their wild congeners.[169]
Some remarks on guns. The Paradox.[170]
[CHAPTER VI.—BISON SHOOTING.]
Unless molested the bison never attacks man.[171]
An attempt to photograph a solitary bull.[173]
Description of the bison.[174]
Height of bull bison. Account of an interesting friendship between a tame sambur deer and a bull bison.[175]
Bison are often attacked by tigers.[177]
Interesting instance of a tiger stalking up to a solitary bull.[178]
The tiger and bull knocked over right and left.[180]
Precautions that should be taken when following up a wounded bull.[181]
A tracker killed by a bull. Following a wounded bull.[182]
Stalking up to a herd. The value of peppermint lozenges.[183]
How a wounded bull may be lost.[185]
The value of a dog when following up a wounded bull.[186]
Wonderful bounding power of the bison. A narrow escape from a charging bull.[187]
Special Act required for preservation of cow bison.[188]
[CHAPTER VII.—GOLD.]
The earliest tradition as regards gold in Mysore.[190]
Explanation of gold being found on the ears of corn. Lieutenant Warren's investigations in 1800.[191]
Native methods of procuring gold by washing and mining.[192]
Depths to which old native pits were sunk.[193]
Probable cause of the cessation of mining at considerable depths.[194]
In 1873 leave first given to a European to mine for gold. Remarkable absence in Mysore of old records or inscriptions relating to gold mining.[195]
Mr. Lavelle in 1873 applied for right to mine in Kolar.[196]
Of the mines subsequently started all practically closed in 1882, except the Mysore mine, which began to get gold in end of 1884.[197]
Had the Mysore Company not persevered the Kolar field would probably have been closed. Depths to which mines have been sunk. The Champion Lode.[198]
General description of the Kolar field. Notes by a lady resident.[199]
Life on the field. Gardening. Visitors from England.[200]
The volunteers at the mines. Sport near the field.[201]
Servants and supplies. Elevation and the climate. A healthy one.[202]
Mining and the extraction of gold.[203]
The rates of wages. No advances given to labourers.[204]
Expenditure by the companies in Mysore in wages. Consequential results therefrom on the prosperity of the people.[205]
Measures which the State should take to encourage the opening of new mines.[206]
Royalty on mines that are not paying should be reduced or abolished. Act required to check gold stealing.[207]
Some summary process should be adopted to check gold thefts.[208]
Want of water on the field. Measures proposed for conserving it.[209]
The want of tree planting. Other auriferous tracts in Mysore. Mr. R. Bruce Foote's report.[210]
Brief analysis of Mr. Bruce Foote's report on the various auriferous tracts. The central group of auriferous rocks.[211]
The west-central group.[212]
The western group. Expects that many other old abandoned workings will be discovered in the jungly tracts.[213]
An inexhaustible supply of beautiful porphyry near Seringapatam and close to a railway.[214]
[CHAPTER VIII.—CASTE.]
Valuable to rural populations.[215]
My inquiry limited to its rural and practical effects on life.[210]
Its moral effects as regards the connection of the sexes.[217]
Its value in limiting the use of alcohol.[219]
Morality in Manjarabad superior to that of England.[220]
Widows may contract a kind of marriage. The value of caste in socially segregating inferior from superior races.[221]
The mental value of the separation caused by caste.[222]
The separation caused by caste has not hindered advancement amongst the rural population. The Coorgs an instance of this.[223]
Disadvantages of caste as regards town populations.[224]
Instances of the evils of caste amongst the higher classes in the towns.[225]
Inquiry as to how far caste has acted beneficially in opposing the existing interpretation of Christianity.[227]
Worthlessness of pure dogmas when adopted by a degraded people.[228]
Native Christians readily revert to devil worship in cases of danger or sickness.[229]
Native Christians neither better nor worse than the low-classes from which they are usually drawn. Experience of the Abbé Dubois.[230]
The upper class peasantry having to give up caste would be injured by being converted.[231]
The town population would not be injured by conversion.[232]
Causes of the outcry against caste.[233]
Its alleged tendencies.[234]
The way to retain the good and lessen the evil of caste.[235]
To become a Christian our missionaries compel the entire abandonment of caste. Their version of Christianity wisely rejected.[230]
Mischievous action of our missionaries as regards caste. Their erroneous views a bar to the progress of Christianity.[237]
Bishop Heber's "Letter on Caste".[238]
Bishop Wilson's fatal "Circular" requiring absolute abandonment of caste by Christians.[240]
Secession of native Christians in consequence of the "Circular." Erroneous views contained in the Report of the Madras Commissioners.[242]
Views of the Tanjore missionaries as regards caste.[243]
Mr. Schwartz's opinions.[244]
The Tanjore missionaries not unfavourable to the retention of caste by their converts.[245]
Inquiry into the origin of caste.[240]
No connection between caste and idolatry. They may and do exist apart.[247]
Caste as it exists in Ceylon.[249]
The way in which caste probably did originate.[250]
The Jews a strictly guarded caste.[251]
Caste difficulties as regards taking the Sacrament.[252]
Its sanitary advantages.[254]
Caste no bar to the exercise of hospitality and charity.[255]
Advantages of caste in increasing hospitality and charity.[257]
Caste has a levelling as well as a keeping down tendency.[260]
Instances of people rising into a superior caste.[261]
Rigidity of caste laws much exaggerated. They vary in different places. Occasional violations of caste law condoned. Remarkable instance of this.[263]
Infringement of caste when out tiger shooting.[264]
Instance of variation in caste law. Caste apt to be made the scapegoat of every Indian difficulty.[266]
Mr. Pope's remarks on the effects of caste.[267]
Mr. Raikes's remarks on the evil effects of caste. Thinks that it is the cause of infanticide.[268]
Instance to show that infanticide can exist amongst people free from caste. Polyandrous habits not necessarily a cause of infanticide.[269]
Summary of principal conclusions arrived at.[270]
Curious customs of the Marasa Wokul tribe in Mysore.[273]
The effect of caste on the transmission of acquired aptitudes.[274]
[CHAPTER IX.—COFFEE PLANTING IN COORG.]
Description and the history of Coorg.[275]
Conquered and annexed by us in 1834. My first visit to Coorg in 1857. The pioneer planters.[276]
Planting without shade caused the failure of many of the plantations.[277]
After shade was introduced coffee flourished.[278]
European and native plantations. Their number and the probable yield from them. Expenditure per acre.[279]
The kinds of manure used. Experiments by an analytical chemist.[280]
Proportions of manure varied according to the condition of the coffee. The time in which manure should be applied. Applications of burnt earth.[281]
Widespread results arising from the expenditure on plantations in Coorg.[282]
Rates of wages, and system of procuring labourers. Leaf disease and Borer.[283]
Remedies experimented on as regards leaf disease and Borer.[284]
Primary cause of the existence of so much Borer. The terms on which Government lands are sold for planting.[285]
Reasons why certain of the reserved State forests should be given out for planting.[286]
Cinchona and Ceara rubber planting tried and abandoned. Coffee seed introduced from Brazil, and other countries, without any apparent advantage. Liberian coffee tried experimentally.[287]
The capital spent on labour and the consequential results of this on agriculture. My visit to Coorg in 1891.[288]
The route from Mysore. The coffee works at Hunsur. Interesting adventure with a panther.[289]
To Mr. Rose's estate near Polibetta. Description of Bamboo district.[290]
Life in the Bamboo district. The club, church, and co-operative store.[291]
Visits to plantations. Left for Mercara.[292]
The Retreat. Mr. Meynell's house. Its kitchen arrangements, etc.[293]
Mr. Mann's coffee garden at Mercara. The large profits from it. To the Hallery estate six miles from Mercara.[294]
Visits to several estates. To the Coovercolley estate. Mr. Mangles's.[295]
Left Coovercolley for Manjarabad in Mysore.[296]
General observations on coffee planting in Coorg. Its flourishing condition. More attention should be paid to shade.[297]
Defects as regards shade. More attention to it would lessen Borer.[298]
Manures used on the best kept up estates.[299]
The profits that may be expected from good, well-managed estates. The great want of a Game Preservation Act.[300]
[CHAPTER X.—COFFEE PLANTING IN MYSORE.]
An agreeable life for an active intelligent man who must work somewhere.[302]
Qualities necessary to make a successful planter.[303]
The work not hard. The climate agreeable and healthy. The elevation of the coffee districts above sea level.[304]
The changes that may be taken in the slack season by planters. The durability of well-shaded plantations.[305]
Shaded plantations a very permanent property. The profits of coffee. Case of an estate bought with borrowed money.[306]
Analysis of yield, expenses, and profits on a Manjarabad estate.[307]
Probable profits on estates in the northern part of Mysore.[308]
From want of information coffee plantations in Mysore not saleable at good prices. Failure of coffee in Ceylon. This gave coffee generally an undeservedly bad name.[309]
Early notices of coffee in India. Its early history in Mysore.[310]
Failure of the variety of coffee first introduced.[311]
The successful introduction of the Coorg variety of coffee.[312]
Mysore coffee fetches the highest price in the London market. Original Mysore coffee land tenures.[313]
The new Coffee Land Rules introduced in 1885.[314]
In the south of Mysore all coffee land probably taken up. In north, land reported to be still available. Planters well satisfied with the Government.[315]
Advances to labourers. Legislation as regards them much needed.[316]
Proposed measure to meet the advances to labourers difficulty.[317]
Legislation required to amend the extraditions laws.[318]
The New Cattle Trespass Act. The want of a Wild Birds' Protection Act. The neglect of game preservation.[319]
In consequence of game destruction tigers forced to prey heavily on village cattle. Great losses in consequence.[320]
Cruelty of native hunters. Evidences of extermination of game birds.[321]
The want of a Government Agricultural Chemist. The discovery of a new hybrid coffee plant.[322]
Enormous yield from it.[323]
[CHAPTER XI.—SHADE.]
General remarks on the importance of shade.[324]
The governing principle as regards shade for coffee.[325]
The most desirable kinds of shade trees. Those of less desirable kinds.[326]
The Jack. Its merits and defects.[327]
The Attí. Good when young, less desirable when old.[328]
The Noga. The objections to relying on this tree.[329]
Other kinds of less desirable shade trees.[330]
Albizzia Moluccana. Said to be a valuable tree for shade.[331]
Methods adopted when forming a shaded plantation.[332]
Great advantages of clearing without burning the forest.[333]
The order in which shade trees should be planted.[334]
The young shade trees require shade. The charcoal tree a good nurse.[335]
The management of young shade trees.[336]
The evils arising from excessive trimming of side branches of shade trees. Planting under the shade of the original forest trees.[337]
The value of leaving marginal belts of forest. The danger of a running fire.[338]
The quantity of shade required for varying aspects and gradients.[339]
The great differences between northern and southern aspects as regards heat.[340]
Western and eastern aspects.[341]
Importance of attending to the gradients, the quality of the soil, and its exposure to drying winds.[342]
Elevation and rainfall govern quantity of shade that should be kept. The thinning, and lopping lower boughs of shade trees.[343]
Much knowledge and experience required in judicious thinning.[344]
More shade will be required as trees become lofty.[345]
Importance of at once planting up spots where shade is deficient, in order to keep out the Borer insect.[346]
Planting out young shade trees. The removal of parasites from shade trees.[347]
Preparation of shade tree cuttings before planting out. How to grow young charcoal-tree plants. Valuable as nurses.[348]
[CHAPTER XII.—MANURE.]
How shade complicates the economical and effective manuring of coffee.[350]
Bulk manures as a rule should not be applied to land directly under shade trees, but to more open spaces.[351]
Less manure should be applied to coffee directly under shade trees.[352]
Manure should be varied on different aspects. The quantity that should be annually supplied.[353]
Bones may be seldom used if lime is regularly applied.[354]
A considerable amount of manure required even though the loss from crops is small.[356]
A test of land being sufficiently supplied with manure. The quantity of manure probably required.[357]
The quantity of manure that should be put down at a time.[358]
Danger from over-manuring, especially in ease of light soils.[359]
Ridges should be more heavily manured than hollows. The time of year when manures should be applied.[360]
Advantages of manuring at the end of the monsoon.[361]
Bearing that the time of applying manures has on leaf disease. Mr. Marshall Ward's remarks as to this.[362]
The various methods of applying manures.[363]
In the case of steep land the manure should be buried in trenches. Farmyard manure. Its great value for coffee.[364]
Substitutes for farmyard manure.[365]
Value of forest land top soil as a manure, and as a substitute for farmyard manure.[366]
The comparative cost of farmyard manure and top soil. Remarkable result from an application of pink-coloured soil.[367]
If top soil costs the same as farmyard manure the former is better. Reasons for this being so. A compost of pink soil and manures may be made, which will equal good farmyard manure, and cost but little more.[368]
The manurial value of pulp, and of dry fallen leaves.[369]
Manurial value of green twigs of trees, ferns and wood ashes.[370]
Night soil. Lime.[371]
Bonedust. Fish manure.[372]
Oil-cakes. Proportion of phosphate of lime in castor cake.[373]
Nitrates of potash and soda.[374]
Potash. A manure of doubtful value in the case of Mysore soils.[375]
Attempt to ascertain value of potash as a manure for coffee.[376]
How to grow young plants in old soils. Coprolites, discovery of, in Mysore.[377]
An agricultural chemist wanted for the province. A careful record should be kept of manure applied.[378]
Bringing round a neglected plantation. Steps that should be taken.[379]
Manurial experiments.[380]
Native manurial practises should be studied. Application of various soils as top dressing by native cultivators. The best and most economical way of manuring coffee has yet to be discovered.[381]
Manurial experiments need not be costly.[382]
[CHAPTER XIII.—NURSERIES, TOPPING, HANDLING, PRUNING, ETC.]
The selection of seed.[383]
Irrigated coffee near Bangalore. Mr. Meenakshia's gardens. The selection of a site for a nursery.[384]
The best time for putting down the seed.[385]
Plants should be grown in baskets. The pits for vacancy plants.[386]
Topping. The best heights for.[387]
The time when trees should be topped.[388]
Handling and the removal of suckers. Its importance as regards rot and leaf disease.[389]
Pruning.[390]
Management of pruning, with reference to rot and leaf disease.[391]
The removal of moss and rubbing down the trees. The cultivation of the soil.[392]
Difficulties connected with the proper cultivation of the soil.[393]
The best tools for digging. Renovation pits.[394]
Renovation pits valuable as water-holes. Their value in connection with water conservation.[395]
[CHAPTER XIV.—THE DISEASES OF COFFEE.]
Leaf disease, or attacks of Hemeleïa Vastatrix.[396]
Mr. Marshall Ward's report on leaf disease in Ceylon. Leaf disease probably always existed in Mysore. Said to have caused much loss on some estates.[397]
Losses of leaves from other causes commonly attributed to leaf disease. No reason to fear it if land is well cultivated, manured, and shaded. Evidence that shade can control leaf disease.[398]
Bad kinds of shade trees cannot control, but increase leaf disease.[399]
Conditions under which leaf disease is liable to occur in the cases of good soil under good shade trees.[400]
The importance of manure and cultivation with reference to leaf disease. Mr. Graham Anderson's, Mr. Marshall Ward's and Mr. Brooke Mockett's opinions. The Coorg plant not so liable to be attacked as the Chick plant.[401]
The Borer insect.[402]
Borer is worst under bad kinds of shade trees, but can be controlled by good caste trees.[403]
Conditions favorable to attacks of the Borer.[404]
Reasons for thinking that the usual practice of destroying all bored trees is of little use.[405]
The Borer can only be suppressed by adequate shade. Rot, or pellicularia koleroga. Aggravated by want of free circulation of air.[406]
Measures for lessening rot. Importance of meeting monsoon with mature leaves on the coffee trees.[407]
Green-bugs. None in Mysore, Receipt for killing them used on Nilgiri Hills.[408]
[CHAPTER XV.—THE SELECTION OF LAND FOR PLANTATIONS, AND THE VALUATION OF COFFEE PROPERTY.]
Much uncleared land available in northern part of Mysore.[409]
The various classes of forest lands.[410]
Much land unsuitable from over heavy rainfall. Mr. Graham Anderson's return of rainfall. His interesting memorandum.[411]
Elevation of plantations above sea level. With a few exceptions not much difference in value of the coffee of various estates.[412]
The especial importance of aspect in Mysore.[413]
The most favourable gradients. Various kinds of soil.[414]
Comparative healthiness of the different coffee districts in Mysore.[415]
Various considerations to be taken into account when valuing land.[416]
An old established estate may not necessarily be an old plantation.[417]
The quality of the shade ought largely to affect a valuation of a property.[418]
Facilities that should be considered when valuing a property.[419]
Impossible to offer opinion as to value of coffee property, till facts as regard it are widely known, and the line is opened to western coast.[420]
[CHAPTER XVI.—HOW TO MAKE AN ESTATE PAY, AND THE ORDER OF THE WORK.]
Inferior parts of estates should be thrown out of cultivation.[421]
The losses caused by giving advances.[422]
Advances not so necessary as formerly, as labour rates are higher now.[423]
Advances to Maistries to bring labour.[424]
Minor sources of loss. The order in which the various works should be performed.[425]
[CHAPTER XVII.—THE MANAGEMENT OF ABSENTEE ESTATES.]
"The fact is, we all require a little looking after."[428]
Advisable to give manager an interest in the estate. Managers for estates in Mysore require to be very carefully selected.[429]
A clear understanding essential between proprietor and manager.[430]
Powers of attorney should be carefully drawn up. The proprietor entirely in the power of the manager.[431]
The value of the eye of the owner. Every estate should have an information book.[432]
Points to be entered in the information book.[433]
Hints to managers.[435]
[CHAPTER XVIII.—THE PLANTER'S BUNGALOW AND THE AMENITIES OF AN ESTATE.]
The best form of bungalow.[440]
The kitchen arrangements.[441]
The aspect of the bungalow and ground around it.[442]
Cash value of the amenities of an estate. The flower garden.[443]
Building materials.[444]
How to keep out white ants.[445]
Coolie lines.[446]
Tree planting for timber and fuel.[447]
Precautions for the conservation of health.[448]
Hints as regards food, and the table generally.[449]
Suggestions as to books and newspapers.[451]
Importance of having some interesting pursuit.[452]
The minor amenities of an estate.[453]
The conditions of a planter's life now ameliorated by railways.[454]
Mysore out of the reach of House of Commons faddists. Advantages of this.[455]
[CHAPTER XIX.—THE INDIAN SILVER QUESTION.]
On June 26th, 1893, gold standard introduced and mints closed to free coinage of silver.[456]
Movement originated in India by the servants of Government, and from no other class whatever.[457]
Some merchants afterwards joined in the agitation. Gold to be received at the mints at a ratio of 1s. 4d. per rupee. Sovereigns in payment of sums due to Government to be received at the rate of fifteen rupees a sovereign.[458]
Cash effects of the measure. For benefit of English reader figures given in pounds sterling, a rupee taken at 2s. Rupee prices little changed in India, China and Ceylon. Difficulty of forming exact estimates as to this.[459]
If gold value of silver can be forced up from 1s. 3d. to 1s. 4d., Indian Government will gain about one and a half million sterling on its home remittances, and the people lose about seven millions on their exports.[460]
The Indian Finance Minister contemplates a rise to 1s. 6d. eventually.[461]
A rise to 1s. 6d. would give the Exchequer a gain on home remittances of £4,500,000 and entail on the people a loss £21,000,000, equal to a tax of 21 per cent. on the exports of India. Effects of this on the producers.[462]
The producers of coffee in Mysore alone would lose £56,000 a year were exchange forced up to 1s. 4d., and £156,000 a year were it raised to 1s. 6d. All producers in other parts of India of articles of export would be similarly affected.[463]
If the rupee is artificially forced up by the State, the shock to confidence will repel capital and injure credit. The first effect will show itself in a lessened demand for labour.[464]
The effects of increased employment on the finances. The bearing of the measure on famines and scarcity. It will intensify the effects of both, and make them more costly to the State.[465]
The measure has arrayed all classes against the Government, except its own servants and a very few of the merchants.[466]
The effects of the measure on the tea-planters of India and Ceylon. It must heavily affect both. If Ceylon establishes a mint, tea-planters there will have advantages over their rivals in India.[467]
Coffee planters of India and Ceylon will he prejudicially affected in their competition with silver-using countries. Evil effects of the measure on the trade, manufactures, and railways of India.[469]
The measure rotten from financial, political, and economical points of view.[470]
The Viceroy and the supporters of the measure have admitted that it must be injurious to the producers of India. Sir William Hunter's admirable survey of the former and present financial condition of India.[471]
The Viceroy has publicly declared that cheap silver has acted as "a stimulus" to the progress of India.[472]
The unfair action of Lord Herschell's Committee. Not a single representative of the producing classes examined. But the majority of witnesses were dead against the monetary policy of the Government. The Currency Committee reported against the weight of the evidence. The most important points not inquired into at all by the Committee.[473]
The Indian Government and Currency Committee financially panic-stricken, and in dread of effects of repeal of Sherman Act. The financial condition not such as to warrant panic. Taxational resources not exhausted.[474]
Sir William Hunter's statement proves that the financial conditions were full of hope. The dread that the repeal of the Sherman Act might reduce rupee to 1s. Examination of the subject on that supposition.[475]
By a rate of 1s. a rupee the Government would lose about seven millions on its home remittances, and the people of India gain fourteen millions on their exports. Mr. Gladstone's Government adopted Home Rule Bill, and Currency Measure in one year. Both forced on by tyrannical action. Gladstonian action as to Opium Commission equally tyrannical.[476]
The monetary measure a policy of protection for the benefit of the silver-using countries that compete with India.[477]
Some of the evils the measure, if successful, must cause. The Indian Finance Minister declared that "it ought not to be attempted unless under the pressure of necessity." No necessity arisen. An independent body wanted to efficiently check the Government. The Duke of Wellington's opinion.[478]
India and Mexico compared. Mr. Carden's Consular Report.[479]
Cheap silver advantageous to Mexico. The losses to the Government and railways which arise from gold payments are, comparatively speaking, a fixed quantity, while the gain to the people from cheap silver, produces consequential benefits far beyond reach of calculation. These remarks equally applicable to India. Wanted, a Government that can see this.[480]