278 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[October i, 1882. 



land as has already been brought under the plough, 

 and drained of its fecundity, shoiiUl be reinvigorated 

 for productive purposes by those artificial resources 

 whicli modern science has placed within our reacli. 

 It sliould be cheaper to renew an exliausted soil than 

 to break up virgin soil, except where it lies in tlie 

 ^'icinitv of cultivation ; for the poverty of the agri- 

 cultural classes generally would prevent them from 

 sliifting their homesteads to new and more distant 

 sites, even if their prejudices allowed them to remove 

 from localities to whicli they are already bound Viy 

 many close associations With agricidture in so bacli- 

 ward a state as it is in tliis country, it is surpi-ising 

 that our large and wealthy Zemindars do not endeavour 

 to secure the services of tliese passed students to in- 

 troduce agricultural improvements on their estates. 

 But, unfortunately for this country, our Zemindars are 

 optimists, and think tliat the present condition of 

 things is the best condition possible, and needs no 

 cliange. While ready to waste unconsidered sums of 

 money in hopes of gaining titles, tliey will not spend 

 a rupee in contributing to the advancement of their 

 couatrynien and tlie welfare of their country. Ratlier 

 tlian avail tliemselves of tlie services of the j'oung 

 men, trained in agricultural science and capable of 

 lienefiting themselves, their tenantry and their estates, 

 they prefer the traditional {lomaxhta who knows no 

 better tlian his fathers, ami likes things to run on 

 in their old groove. It is very mucli to be regretted 

 tliat in Bengal, tlie most agricultural Province in a 

 purely agricultural country, a similar scliool was not 

 established. If Sir (ieorge Campbell had remained at 

 the head of tlie (Tovernment of Bengal for the full 

 term of his office, we have no doubt but that he would 

 have seen his way to the foundation of such an in- 

 stitution. But unfortunately for this Province, neither 

 tlie (Government nor the Zemindars take th.at interest 

 in agriculture which is its staple industry and its 

 surest source of increasing wealth. It is gratifying 

 to observe that Maliarajah Holkar with his ususal 

 intelligence, has laitl down the germs of an Agri- 

 cultural Department for his State in the State Farm 

 which is working witli some success under a super- 

 intendent, trained in the Madras Agricultural College. 

 We should be glad to see His Highness' example 

 followed by other Feudatoiy Princes. — Madrax Mail. 



LEDGERIANA CINCHONA COMPANY. 



London, 18th July. 

 When last writing, my letter mentioned that the 

 prospectus of the Ledgeriana Cinchona Company had 

 been printed. A few extracts from it may be of 

 interest to the many in Ceylon who desii'e to see 

 the introduction into your colony of fresh capital. No 

 later information has readied me since last -writing 

 of further progress with this un<lertaking, the ob- 

 jects of whicli are stated to be :— " To ac<iuire by 

 purchase, or by lease for long periods, freehold lands 

 in Ceylon, .Jamaica, and in .Tava : and to plant and 

 cultivate upon them trees of the different varieties 

 of cinchona. To acquire by purchase, or by lease 

 for long periods, freehold lands In the above-men- 

 tioned islands, upon wlilcli cinchona trees have al- 

 ready been planted." The prospectus then proceeds 

 to discuss tlie cost of proilucmg cinchona Ijark, pre- 

 mising ■■ tliat by the time the cinchona bark, which 

 the Company Is now about to grow, Is marketable, 

 the prices will still be considerably In excess of what 

 their bark has cost them to place In tlie market." 

 The estimated expenditure for bringing an acre of 

 ledgeriana into the sixth year of growtli in Ceylon 

 is £80, laud being estuiiated at ±"5 per acre. The 

 cost for suocirubra ia estimated at £52. Fifteen hund- 



red Ledgeriana trees are rated to the acre, and the 

 return is averaged at 1 lb. of l)ark each, the total 

 return of 1,.>00 lb. beuig priced at os per 11)., or 

 £375 for the whole. Tlie succirubra is iiresumed to 

 give li lb. of bark per tree, equal to '2. "i.'iO lb., ex- 

 pected to sell for Is 6d per lb., or £168 in all. 

 These figures are based on the assumption that, at 

 the end of the sixth year, tlie trees are completely 

 uprooted, but tlie prospectus then proceeds to con- 

 sider the results of gradual harvesting -by "shaving." 

 " Treated In this way, the return from an acre of Ledger- 

 iana would lie, during tlie three years from six to 

 nine (Inclusive) of the plantatlon'.s history, a total 

 of £125, or about £40 per annum, anived at thus : — 

 500 trees i Ledgeriana) giving ^ lb. e.icli of bark, 

 (. e. !()() lb. at 3s (abnnL — £40.)' After that period 

 the reii'wed b.irk will, the pr.iinoteis write, fetch 

 higher prices. Tlieu, dealing with snccirnbia simil- 

 arly treated, ihe pios|jeclus under review continues: — 

 " An acre of succirubra In this way would in tlie 

 Hrst tliree yfara from the sixth year of the |daut- 

 atiou's life, yive from ^rd of the trees. ."ilO lb. i^f 

 baik at Is Oil = to £37 ; m adiliiion to ot^U lb. nf batk 

 from anotlier |i'd of tl:e trees, which inusi be "l)- 

 rooted gr.idually, as sueciiuhra trees .-ire of too vigor- 

 ous a nature to allow nioi-p than one thous.atid trees 

 to cover the groun^l after the ^lxth yfar — to £37 

 more, or a total nf £74." This will I In' tqual to 

 about £25 per au! uin. The history of cinchona planl- 

 ing in Ceylon is then reviewetl, and the failure of 

 the delicate othciualis kind ivfcrri d to. It is thought 

 d'jsirablc that growing cstales, heavily in bearing, or 

 in full Ijearlng, should lie purchased to ensure im- 

 mediate reiuru on capital, and the embarrassed pos- 

 ition of many Ceylou idaiiters is advanced as encour- 

 aging the hope that many properties coidd now be 

 purchased on advantageous tt rnis ; it being believed 

 that, when trees are fmm 2 to 3 years old, an estate 

 could be jiurchased for an average of nbout Is per 

 tree. A focond part of the prospectiu'', or au ad- 

 dendnm to it, is devoted to the consideration of ihe 

 probable future prices of cinchona bark. Into this 

 space forbids my entering, and tlie suliject too ia rather 

 of a speculative character, and does not possess ihe 

 iutPie.5t of clie figures .as to cost of production, which 

 have been above given, and which will doubtless 

 evoke criticism, either for or sgainat them, from ex- 

 perts among you. As the (Jompany is not yet matured, 

 it is not open to me to send you the copy of the 

 first prospectus, but 1 am permitted to make extiacts 

 of the foregoing Hgures. — London ('or. 



UVA COFFEE COMPANY. 



The follnwing are the principal statemeuts of the 

 Uva Coffee Couipauj's report ; — 



The season produced the smallest crop yet gathered from 

 the Company's estates ; 4,042 cwt of coffee, exclusive of in- 

 ferior pickings, sold in the island. The sales in Ceylon and 

 Loudon aggregated £14,478 Is Tid only, owing to the tall 

 in tlie value of cotfee during the year, but for which a 

 small bargain of profit would have been .shown. Cinchona 

 bark strijiped from the old trees ou the estates, and weigh- 

 ing 48 cwt, lias realized to £548 lis 2d. 



The net result of the year's operations is a loss of 

 £1,0IJ7 2s, which lias to be set against the balance of 

 profit carried forward last year, £8,MS4 lUs, leaving 

 £7,1177 14s to credit of revenue. Out of this the dirrct- 

 ors declared aud paid in .January last a dividcncd of 

 2,7 pt r ct-ut, or £2,50li, .so that there remains an utulivided 

 baliiuce of £4,57/ 143 as shown in ihe statement. I'uder 

 more favorable circumstiinces tliey would, as they hopCLl to 

 tlo, recoiiiinend a further distiiliuti 'n at the pre.-enl time; 

 but lookiiii; to the serious fall experienced in the cidfee 

 market diiraig the current year, auil to the excessive stocUa 

 held ill Europe, they are uuwilling fur her lo entrench upou 

 the funds at their disposal, until the realisation of the crop 



