THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the C. A. 8. 



Compiled and Edited by A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 

 No. 6.] JUNE, 1912. [Vol. X. 



TOBACCO CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. 



A GERMAN EXPERT'S VIEWS. 



Mr. Priedrichsen, the representative of the 

 German Potash Syndicate, who has been con- 

 ducting a tour of Ceylon at the instance of 

 Messrs. Freudenberg & Co.', for the purpose of 

 tecuring information as to the possibility of 

 tobacco cultivation in Ceylon, has concluded his 

 visit and left for India on Monday. 



In course of conversation with Mr S Freu- 

 denberg, our representative learned that Mr 

 Friedrichsen is firmly of opinion that tobacco 

 can be successfully cultivated in Ceylon, pro- 

 vided that the native can be got to recog- 

 nise due care in its cultivation. Up to the pre- 

 sent this care has not been accorded the plant. 

 The " passive resistance " attitude of the native 

 grower has to be overcome before tobaooocan 

 be grown here successfully. 



In the expert's opinion, the soil and the cli- 

 mate is quite unsuitable for the growth of the 

 plant, but Ceylon tobacco will not be used for 

 sometime to come for the wrappings, for which 

 Sumatra loaf is famous. Ceylon tobacco will 

 provide good fillings, but Sumatra will have to 

 be used for the wrapping. Mr Friedrichsen is 

 also of opinion that Government should come to 

 the assistance of those who are engaged in fos- 

 tering this as a new industry. "Government, 

 of course," said Mr Freudenberg, "have con- 

 ducted experiments but they were unsuccessful, 

 and this in the expert's opinion was due to 

 lack of skilled labour and the fact that 

 the experiment was not of sufficiently long 

 duration." " Two to three years," said Mr. 

 Freudenberg " is nowhere near sufficient, and 

 the experiments should be spread over ten 

 years, at least, to get a representative idea. Take 

 the case of rubber, or coconuts, here : you have 

 to wait several years before you get any return, 



70 



People should not expect to get a return imme- 

 diately." 



" But in the case of rubber or tea or coconuts 

 you have a proved, paying industry," said our 

 representative, "and people are more inclined 

 to wait for their profits for an industry which 

 has proved its paying powers." 



Mr. Freudenberg agreed, but added that it 

 was absolutely necessary to get an industry for 

 the people of Jaffna. "And it has to be cot 

 ton or tobacco," he added. The tobacco, he 

 also pointed out, would improve. After the 

 first year the best of the seed grown would be 

 used for extending cultivation, and so each year 

 the tobacco would gradually become better. 

 The question of labour will have to have some 

 attention, and Mr. Friedrichsen was of opinion 

 that trained Chinese coolies should be obtained 

 from Sumatra for the work of curing, etc., which 

 needs treatment by an expert. 



Our representative asked if the cost would 

 not be very heavy for Chinese indentured labour 

 but Mr Freudenberg replied that he did not, 

 think so, and pointed out the good price 

 which could be secured for good tobacco. They 

 did not anticipate getting such a fine leaf as that 

 from Sumatra, but all they were anxious to do 

 was to get a tobacco which would be suitable 

 for the home market instead of merely for local 

 consumption. 



Capital was, however, wanted; and the amount 

 of this that would bo required would, of course 

 depend upon the area to be cultivated. Mr. 

 Freudenberg pointed out that a syndicate was 

 in existence which had been doing what they 

 could at Dumbara; but they would have to re- 

 ceive other aid. The syndicate had been grow- 

 ing tobacco at Teldeniya, and samples had been 

 sent home. The expert had expressed himself 

 in favourable terms upon the sample he saw 

 here. The Teldeniya tobacco was much better 

 than that grown at Maha lluppalama. 



