470 



PETCH : 



The subsequent development is shown by the following 

 table : — 



Year. 



1902 

 1903 

 1904 

 1905 

 1906 

 1907 



Acres. 



4,500 



7,500 



11,000 



40,000 



100,000 



1 50,000 



The exports of rubber from Ceylon are given in the following 

 table. ' As there is no " wild " rubber in Ceylon the figures 

 represent the plantation product, and practically all Hevea 

 lubber : — 



l^Vom 1897 to 1901 the older estates found that it paid them 

 l^jttor to sell seed than to tap the ti-ees ; hence the lack of 

 increase in the exports during that j^eriod. 



The rubber first exported was in more or less inegular 

 lumps and cakes. After Parkin's expt^riments in 1898-99 

 the biscuit form was generally ado])ted, and this was readily 

 taken by the market. (JuUoden, Kepitigala, Heatherley, 

 H^dangoda, Clyde, Nikakotua, Yatipawa, Igalkande, Kumara- 

 dola, Tudugalla, Aberdeen, Deviturai, Arapolakande appear 

 in the sale lists about the end of 1902, the consignments teing 

 generally " fine thin biscuits." Figgis & Co.'s report for 1901 



states : " Of Ceylon, small lots sold at high prices 



(hy\ou is much liked and sells readily."' 



The exports of rul))x)r seed increased U) such an extent in 

 1898 that they were considered worthy of separate enumeration 

 in the Customs' returns. The export of rubljcr plants has 

 not been kept separate, but the total export of plants increased 

 fiom less than 150 packages per annum prior to 1898 io the 



