September, 1912.] 



237 



though the average crop (1903-07) has slightly increased by 90,000 bushels 

 of which 26,000 has to be credited to Irrigation. 



In the Central Province and Uva there was an increase of 41% prior to 

 1892 inclusive of 44,000 due to Irrigation, Of the subsequent advance, 

 191,000 is due to irrigation, chiefly in Matale, leaving only 41,00C bushels 

 to other causes. 



In the Galle district of the Sothern Province the advance up to 1892 

 was 235,000 bushels or 87% and though the subsequent increase in the 

 average crop of 61,000 (of which 20,000 is due to the Irrigation works at 

 Dedu we, 2,000 act es) the record lor the district in 1879 has not been ex- 

 ceeded. In the Matara and Hambantota districts there has been an 

 advance of 235,000 bushels which is entirely attributable to irrigation. 



In the Eastern, North- Western and North-Central Provinces there have 

 been very considerable advances in production, which are solely ascrib- 

 able to the large expenditure on irrigation. 



In the Northren Province though the figures show a net advance of 

 13,000 bushels when the increase in the Vanui, due to irrigation, is allow- 

 ed for, the result discloses a large reduction in the home Jaffna district 

 during the last period (1903-7). The completion ot the Karachehi scheme 

 will doubtless remedy this, provided reasonable terms are offered to 

 attract settlers with small means. 



The net increase in non-irrigated districts, exclusive of Kegalle (due 

 to favourable climatic influences in recent years) is consequently about 

 156,000 bushels or only 2^% on the crops of the period immediately prior 

 to the abolition of the grain tax (1893). The obvious inferences are that this 

 concession has not realised the expectations on which the policy was 

 based, namely, that the import " debarred the community from availing 

 itself to the full of the resources of the soil," was erroneous. 



Irrigation on the other hand is to be credited in the same interval 

 with an advance of 2h million bushels paddy, double what it was in 1892, 

 or 80 per cent, of the subsequent increase. This great share in the devel- 

 opment is due to its help, not only in raising the maximum crops in 

 years with an ample rainfall and the minimum in unfavourable years, 

 but to its influence in increasing the average production 50 per cent., as 

 the following statement discloses. 



Maximum Years. 



Years. 



Rain- 

 fall 



inches 



Acres 

 culti- 

 vated 

 in 000. 



Crops 

 M.B.P. 



Bushels 

 per 

 acre. 



Years. 



Rain- 

 fall 

 inches. 



Acres 

 culti- 

 vated 

 in 000. 



Crops 

 M.B.P. 



Bushel 

 per 

 acre. 



1863 



96 



474 



61 



128 



1862 



60 



478 



5-1 



107 



1871 



118 



443 



6*4 



14-4 



1873 



62 



531 



6 



11 



1878 



114 



610 



10 



163 



1881 



56 



549 



7-3 



133 



1890 



106 



536 



y 



16-8 



1893 



63 



546 



9-3 



17-2 



1897 



107 



627 



11-5 



17 



1902 



73 



702 



12-7 



18 



1903 



114 



716 



13 7 



19 



1907 



66 



674 



115 



17 



Minimum Years. 



Subsidiary Causes. 



Amongst the subsidiary causes which have contributed to this grati- 

 fying expansion is the avidity with which all natives of Caylon avail 

 themselves of facilities of acquiring land, especially when it is suitable 

 for paddy cultivation, such as the instalment system o f payment in tour 



