294 The Supplement to the 



prevent the spread of this disease. And with 

 that view we have contemplated issuing 

 certain forms for reports to different estates 

 and we wish to consult Mr. Petch as to the 

 particulars on which, and the headings 

 under which, he wishes information. Then, 

 again, I think the proprietors of estates in 

 different parts of the country will be only too 

 ready to welcome those persons — inspectors — 

 who are sent out by Government and to help 

 them in every way to do what they can, and to 

 influence the villagers and owners of small 

 properties round about their estates. Also we 

 can assure them that we will be ready to give 

 any further information, if Mr. Petch will only in- 

 dicate in what way the Society can be of use. 

 We are willing to do what we can. Gentlemen, 

 1 wish you to accord a hearty vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Petch. (Applause.) 



The Chairman — further indicated that there 

 were certain specimens of diseased trees and nuts 

 brought all the way from Negombo, which were 

 to be seen on the verandah. They were affected 

 by the kernel disease, he believed. There were 

 also different instruments used for treating them 

 «n view. 



The adjournment to "Elscourt" for the practi- 

 cal demonstration was then made. 



A TOBACCO EXPERIMENTAL STATION 

 FOR JAFFNA WANTED. 



Jaffna Tobacco Cultivators appear to see in 

 the institution of an experimental station a 

 sovereign remedy for all the evils of depression 

 which have recently overtaken their industry. 

 They express themselves as unable to help 

 themselves, and want the Government to bear 

 the entire expense of such experiments as they 

 think would place their industry on a sounder 

 and more remunerative footing. We are asked 

 in a letter addressed by the Hon. Secretary of 

 a public meeting recently held under the presi- 

 dency of the G. A., to support the claim for the 

 engagement of an expert and the institution of 

 an experimental station. We have candidly to 

 .say that our faith in tobacco experts has been 

 much shaken by our experience in the past. 

 Ceylon has paid much for ' ' expert ' ' advice and 

 got little of practical value in return. Then it 

 must be remembered that many unsuccessful 

 endeavours have been already made to improve 

 Ceylon's tobacco. The latest case was a Euro- 

 pean expert from the Straits, Mr. MacDougal 

 "Gibson, who was subsidised by keen men of 

 jfousiness in Colombo and sent to investigate 



Tropical A gricxdturist 



Jaffna tobacco ; but for some reason or other 

 the scheme soon after collapsed and the expert 

 left the island. But far more important is the 

 case of the German or Dutch capitalists and 

 experts (with experience in Sumatra) who came- 

 here to buy land and organise a regular plan- 

 tation and do justice to Ceylon tobacco, after 

 the fortunate sale of Mr. Vollar's maiden-crop 

 of tobacco leaf at a fancy price in London. 

 A great deal of money was spent in this venture 

 by men who knew all about tobacco ; much land 

 was bought, a regular plantation was started 

 and continued for some years (?), but eventually 

 abandoned and all the money lost. Tobacco 

 cultivation is undoubtedly the back-bone of 

 Jaffna, and it is true that Sir Henry Blake 

 recommended the employment of an expert by 

 the Agricultural Society; but it is equally true 

 that on the return of Mr. Kelway Bamber from 

 Sumatra His Excellency, on April 2nd, 1906, at 

 a meeting of the Board in Colombo publicly 

 announced that he did not think, in view of the 

 knowledge obtained by Mr. Bamber, that an . 

 expert was neccessary. In view of this, we con- 

 sider that the local Agricultural Society should, 

 in the first place, put their shoulders to the 

 wheel and carry out some experiments through 

 trusted agents before Government is asked to 

 launch out into the ambitious and costly schemes 

 outlined in Mr. Price's memorandum on the 

 subject. Mr. Bamber's acquired knowledge is 

 still available, and no doubt Government would 

 be willing to direct him to give the man of 

 North as much assistance as possible. 



THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY OF THE 

 NORTHERN PROVINCE. 



A public meeting was held on the 6th instant 

 at 9-30 a.m., at the Bungalow opposite the 

 Jaffna Kachcheri, to consider a proposal to con- 

 duct experimental cultivation of tobacco and 

 introduce modern method of curing with a view 

 to relieving the present state of depression in- 

 the trade. Mr. F. H. Price, the Government 

 Agent, at whose instance the meeting was 

 convened, presided and there was a large atten- 

 dance. The Chairman, after preliminaries, 

 explained the object of the meeting. He said 

 that having come to understand that great 

 depression prevailed in the Jaffna tobacco trade 

 on which the prosperity of the Northern Pro- 

 vince depended, he collected all the necessary 

 information on the subject and communicated 

 with the Government. They were of opinion) 



