120 BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN ASIA. 



many years an export of ebony {Diospyros ehenum), satin- 

 wood {CMoroxylon Sicictcnia), lialmilla {Berrya ammonilla), 

 ironwood {Mimnsops indica) and a fe\Y others. There is 

 also a large export in Palmyra timber {Borassus flahelli- 

 forniis). The exports of other forest produce are small. 



The timber trade seems to have become a regular business 

 about the year 1840. Since then, various attempts at forest 

 conservancy and systematic management of the forests have 

 been made, but somehow matters did not run smoothly. The 

 Government of India has lent one forest officer after another 

 to act as Conservator of Forests in Ceylon, but they have 

 all given it up. The fact seems to be that the Ceylon 

 Government has, in reality, never been quite in earnest to 

 carry through an efficient scheme of forest conservancy. 



According to the Eeport for the year 1900, the areas under 

 the management of the Department were as follows : — 



It is much to be regretted that better progress has not been 

 made in the formation of permanent State forests. Of 

 plantations, there were 1,763 acres at the end of the year 1900. 



The forests do not seem to be protected against fire. The 

 financial results were as follows : — 



Ilupees. 



Receipts 419,621 



Expenditure 335,515 



Surplus 84,106 



Add value of Free Grants 9,280 



Estimated value of Timber on Lands Sold ... 30,000 



Total Benefit 123,386 



