18 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



different parts of Colombo. Its cultivation, 

 however, as an article of commerce, seems to 

 be a comparatively recent event, for I notice in 

 an old Ceylon Directory of 1875 it is scarcely 

 mentioned; the edition of 1881 gives 7,000 

 acres, and the edition of 1887 12,500 acres as 

 planted with cocoa. In 1902 the acreage in 

 cocoa including native gardens is estimated at 

 31,136. In 1878 the export of cocoa is quoted 

 as only 10 cwts, 1897 we have 34,500 cwts, 

 and 1898 39,982 cwts, in 1901 it rose to 

 49,459 cwts. 



To Mr. Tytler of Pallekelly Estate in 

 Dumbera, belongs, I believe, the honour of 

 having first grown and prepared it systemati- 

 cally for exportation. All parts of Ceylon are 

 not favourable for its culture ; the high eleva- 

 tions are too cold, and in the low country 

 bordering the coast, it appears not to be so 

 productive, as in the rich valleys of Dumbera, 

 Matale, Kurunagala and Uva. Even here it 

 has many natural enemies in the shape of ants, 

 a disease called Helopeltis, and two kinds of 

 fungus, one of which attacks the bark, and the 

 other the pod, and through the pod stem 

 reaches the tree. Of late years, the bark and 

 pod diseases have become so serious, that a 

 scientific expert was obtained from England, 

 who has done much in studying the evil, and 

 in (it is hoped) finding a remedy. The cocoa 



