182 AGRICULTURE IN THE TROPICS [PT. Ill 



its maximum in 1875, when almost 1,000,000 cwt. of coffee 

 were exported. About 1870 the plants began to be noticeably 

 attacked by a fungus blight Hemileia vastatrix, the coffee leaf 

 disease which spread steadily and irresistibly over the vast 

 sheet of coffee plantation in the mountains, and was disregarded 

 until too late, if indeed any practicable measures could have 

 been adopted against it at any time in its history. By 1880 the 

 industry, though still considerable, was in a parlous condition, 

 and the planters in great distress, but with the most com- 

 mendable pluck they set themselves to redeem their fallen 

 fortunes, aided by the efforts of the Botanical department of 

 the Government. Cinchona trees the source of the valuable 

 alkaloid quinine introduced by Government years before, but 

 disregarded so long as coffee was profitable, were now the 

 salvation of the island. Large areas were planted with this 

 product, and at first large profits were realised, but soon over- 

 production rapidly brought down the price of quinine, to the 

 incalculable benefit of sufferers all over the world, but to the 

 ruin of the profitableness of the Ceylon bark industry a ruin 

 consummated by the attacks of a canker disease, and the com- 

 petition of better barks from Java. The gap, however, was 

 bridged, and by the time that cinchona had passed its zenith, 

 it was clear that tea was the industry of the future, and large 

 areas were being planted up in it, while an export was already 

 commencing, Ceylon tea being favourably received upon the 

 markets of Europe. The rise of the tea industry has been 

 phenomenal, and it is not safe to assume that it has even yet 

 reached its maximum. The height of the tea boom was perhaps 

 in 1896, and during the last few years over-production has caused 

 some depression in the trade, while the new industry of Para 

 rubber growing has sprung up, and already (December, 1907) 

 no less than about 150,000 acres are planted in this product, 

 which has proved to be extremely remunerative. 



Not only have these larger industries sprung up, but also 

 considerable industries in other things, as for instance cocoa 

 and cardamoms, while the area under coconuts has continually 

 spread, until now it is the largest area under any one product 

 in the island. 



