PLANTATION RUBBER INDUSTRY OF THE EAST. 4G0 



In 1899 Gikiyanakande and Igalkande reported Hevea six 

 years old, and Wiharegama, trees five to six years : Rasagalla 

 had 35,000 trees, the oldest two years ; and Daisy Valley. 

 Kurunegala, had also Hevea planted {T. A., XIX., p. 93). 

 The largest tree on Culloden, sixteen years old, measured 8^ feet 

 in circumference at 3 feet in that year, and others girthed ovei- 

 7 feet {T. A., XIX., p. 108). Hevea had then been planted 

 in the Moneragala district {T. A., XIX., p. 623). 



In 1900 Putupaula estate reported 21 acres in coffee 

 and Hevea, and 20,000 plants in nurseries {T. A., XX., 

 p. 271). 



In 1901 Culloden and Heatherley had 40,000 Hevea. and 

 " an estate in West Matale " 22,000 {T. A., XXI., p. 15). The 

 Kalutara Co. reported 11,883 Hevea, exclusive of the 

 previous year's plants {T. A., XXI., p. 610). Knavesmirc had 

 between three and four thousand trees {T. A., XXI., j). 626) : 

 Moneragalla, 103 acres Hevea and Ceara (T. A., XXI., p. 628) ; 

 while Cocoawatte and Park estates each reported " a large 

 number." 



The Vogan report for 1902 states that 10 acres were under 

 rubber. Yataderia had then 55,000 trees, 843 in tapping 

 {T. A., XXII., p. 698). Rayigam had 20 acres planted in 

 that year, making, with that in tea, about 50 acres, up to ten 

 years old {T. A., XXII., p. 749). 



The report of the Kalutara Planters' Association for 1902 

 states that 360 acres were planted in rubber in the district, 

 in addition to 300,000 trees through tea. The output for 

 that year was 7 tons as against 3-| tons in 1901. 1,300,000 

 seeds had been sold, of which 414,000 had been exported. 

 The Kelani Valley took the bulk of the remainder, as well a» 

 460,500 plants. {T. A., XXII., p. 609.) 



In 1885 the acreage under rubber, according to Ferguson's 

 Ceylon Handbook, was 629 acres. His Review of the Planting 

 and Agricultural Industries of Ceylon, 1888, gives the area as 

 386 acres, the diminution being due to the replacement of 

 Ceara by other products. The Directory for 1890 shows an 

 increase to 678 acres. In 1898 the area was estimated at 

 1,071 acres {T. A., XVIII., p. 274), and la 1901 (May) 2,597 

 acres \T. A., XXI., p. 15). 



