228 



The importance and progress of the business may be estimated 

 by the following figures : The number of stills in use for citronella 

 in 1886 was 290. In 1896 the number had increased to 476, and 

 in 1898 to 600. The progress consists not only in the increase in 

 the number of stills, but also in their improved construction and 

 their larger size. 



The exports from Ceylon during the last twenty-three years were 



as follows : 



Lbs. Lbs. 



1881 ... ... ] 2 1,906 1893 ... ... r)68,530 



1882 ... ... 183,7.53 1894 ... ... 938,471 



lS8:i ... ... 244,755 1895 ... 1,182,255 



1884 ... ... 312,333 i896 ... ... 1,132,867 



1885 ... ... 4i 0,633 I89(- .. ... 1,182,867 



1886 ... ... 421,612 1898 ... 1,365,917 



1887 ... ... 551,780 1899 ... ... 1,478,756 



1888 ... ... 659,967 1900 ... ... 1,409,058 



18 89 ... 641,465 1901 ... 1,4:^.0,168 



1890 .. ... 909,942 1902 ... 1,294,750 



1891 .. 7"3,974 1903 ... ... 1,062,594 



1892 ... ... 844,502 



The falling-off in the figures in recent years is attributed to the 

 fact that several large plantations in the Akuressa and Baddagama 

 districts have been discontinued owing to a decline in the price of 

 the oil (brought about by excessive competition with grossly 

 adulterated oils), and the fine quality and purity of the Java product 

 (specially distilled for Messrs. Schimmel & Co., of Miltitz), which 

 has attracted many large buyers. 



In the year 1902 the produce (1,204,750 lbs.) was consigned to 

 the following countries : 



England 

 America 

 Getmauy 

 Australia 



Lbs. 



556,096 



5:;8,970 



146,518 



26,408 



Inaia 

 France 

 China 

 Singapore 



Lba. 



5,400 



2,376 



17,115 



1,867 



These figures do not, however, exactly indicate the real consump- 

 tion of the countries named, as a considerable part of the oil des- 

 tined for Germany and France arrives in England merely in tran- 

 sit. It is very probable that Germany takes one-sixth of the entire 

 production, and the consumption in France is very large. 



The citronella-grass, which, in India, is so common in the plains 

 and on the lower hills of the North- West Provinces and Punjab, 

 and also abundant about Travancore, has not yet been botanically 

 identified with certainty, but specimens may shortly be obtained 

 by the writer, and will then be submitted to expert judges of the 

 particular genus. 



In the vernacular, the grass is known under the following names, 

 which, of course, can only be approximately expressed in the 

 Roman character and English spelling : Ganj-Ka-ghds, Hind Kama- 

 kJicr, Beng. ; Shunndrippallti, Tam. ; Kamakshi-Kasiira and Kamanchi- 

 gaddi, Tel. ; Clwra-pulla, Mai. ; Ganda-hanchi-khaddi, Kan. / Sing-ou- 

 mid Burm. 



