Oct. 1906.] 



317 



Edible Products. 



Generally 12 leaves are cut in a plant, and the 4,000 plants give leaves of the 

 1st Sort 20,000 leaves sold generally at Rs. 17'50 per 1,000 . . Rs 350 

 2nd „ 12,000 „ „ ... „ „ 10-00 „ „ ... „ 120 



3rd „ 8,000 „ „ ... „ „ 3-75 ... 30 



4th „ 8,000 „ „ ... „ „ 1-25 „ „ ... 10 



- , , ■ n j , . T ° tal - RS- 510 



Which can be realised if the crop is successful. 



CONCLUSION. 



It may well be considered now in what manner the cultivator could 

 improve his cultivation and make it a profitable concern. I have described in 

 detail the process of cultivation, which I think can hardly be improved upon. 

 There is little to be taught to the Jaffna cultivator, who bestows the greatest 

 care and attention on this cultivation. But the Agricultural Society can render 

 him assistance in other directions in which he badly needs advice and help. 



First.— In the matter of Irrigation. This is a large question affecting not 

 only tobacco plants but paddy plants and other plantations. There are 

 in Jaffna no large tanks as in the Vanni for storage of water and 

 for distribution when required. The entire supply of water is from wells 

 and considerable time and labour are spent in raising water. It may be good 

 to introduce some machinery for this purpose. The 'Nona' pump tried last 

 year at Vasarilan was found to lift too great a quantity of water at one time so 

 as to make it useless to the cultivator, and the well ran short of its supply in a 

 short time. 



Secondly. — The Diseases to which the tobacco plants are occasionally 

 subject have never been investigated, and I think it will do a deal of good to 

 invite scientific opinion and suggestions to prevent or remedy them. 



Thirdly.— As regards Curing of Tobacco much remains to be done in this 

 direction. The present mode of curing is not at all satisfactory. In August 

 last year when H. B, the Governor was in our midst, he undertook to send us 

 a tobacco expert who would be able to instruct the cultivators how to cure 

 their tobacco well. We have heard nothing more of it. It is perhaps our own 

 fault. The tobacco curing season is already passing away, and we have not asked 

 Government for the expert assistance we were most in need of. 



Fourthly. —Markets for Jaffna Tobacco.— At present the sale of tobacco is 

 almost confined to South India. It is known from existing records that Jaffna 

 tobacco was sold in Penang, Singapore, Malacca, Java and Sumatra as long 

 ago as the early Dutch times. If the highly pungent aroma peculiar to the Jaffna 

 tobacco leaf were overcome by scientific curing and the leaf rendered thinner and 

 of better flavour, I think it may fetch higher prices in markets other than Travan- 

 core and Cochin. If the product could be sent to better markets, tobacco 

 cultivation would be found to be a very remunerative concern. At present it 

 cannot be said to be a remunerative occupation. 



Fifthly,— and the most important in my opinion, is to devise measures to 

 save the poor cultivator from the ravages of the local money-lender. In Jaffna 

 the majority of the cultivators are poor people. They get lands for cultivation on a 

 rental of Rs, 40 per acre per annum, which they pay soon after their tobacco leaves 

 have been sold. They want money for buying cowdung, green leaves, coconut 

 husks, and further expenses. They usually go to the local money-lender whose trade 

 it is to get the money immediately from the Cheddi at the usual 12 per cent interest 

 and give to the cultivators the small sums they want, the latter agreeing to repay 

 the money with interest at 20 per cent as soon as their tobacco leaves are sold. 

 Oftener than not, it is the money-lender who is also the trader in tobacco. He goes to 



