Edible Products. 



168 



for the year. Fewer nuts have set and the prevailing drought (from middle of 

 November-December having given only | an inch !) will bring down a good lot of 

 immature nuts." 



In regard to Mirigama division, Mr. Wright remarks :—" From the general 

 appearance of the district from what I can see and hear the crops this year 

 will be larger. This will all depend on the rains we get." 



From the Southern Province the expectation is of an average crop, and a 

 good deal is expected from additional trees coming into bearing, planting having 

 extended greatly during the past decade. From the Eastern Province Ave are, so 

 far, without exact information as to condition and prospects ; but in reckoning the 

 total outturn for the island, the North- Western, Western and Southern Provinces 

 of the island have mainly to be taken into account, and on the whole, we think, 

 so good a supply of copra as was experienced in 1905 can scarcely be hoped for 

 during the current year, unless indeed the high prices tempt growers to divert to 

 this purpose what usually goes to the desiccating mills or the local retail market. 

 — Ceylon Observer. 



OUR EXCESSIVE TEA CROP: AND HOW TO MANURE. 



We seem to be once again face to face with an over-supply of Tea to 

 the London market. For 1905 the Ceylon exports amount to 13 million pounds 

 of tea in excess of the previous year. Under the stimulus of artificial manures, 

 as usually applied, I presume we are likely to see a further increase this year, 

 and, with the probability of a larger Indian crop, a disorganised Russian 

 demand, further shipments from Java, and the rehabilitation of the Japanese 

 tea industry after the war, the tea outlook for 1906 is not a particularly bright 

 one for Ceylon. The higher rates ruling for common teas during 1905 are also 

 bound to have an effect in inducing heavier imports to London of China teas 

 during the coming season. Under these circumstances, is it not time that Ceylon 

 should curtail shipments ?— and instead of working for quantity, rather endea- 

 vour to manufacture a better quality of tea ? 



I have not the Customs figures by me; but I understand that for 1905 

 the imports of artificial manure are likely to show a considerable increase over 

 those of 1901. During the present year a still further rise may reasonably be 

 expected. There are now few estates in the Island that do not spend from 2 

 to 3 cents per lb. on manuriug, while many allow from 6 to 8 cents per lb. 

 This expenditure is moreover on the increase. 



To maintain the stamina and vigour of the tea bushes, artificial manure 

 is almost universally necessary, but the present system of working is rather to 

 depend upon the increased crops to pay for the cost of the manure, than to 

 so utilise the manure as to raise the quality of the tea. The system has many 

 disadvantages, foremost among which is the fact that as a considerably larger 

 crop has to be harvested, little improvement in the frames and growth of the tea 

 is secured. This is especially the case with lightly manured estates. 



The gradual drop in prices of many estates, formerly at the top of the 

 market, is also remarkable, and it would seem that, as generally carried out, 

 artificial manuring tends to lower, rather than to raise, the average quality of 

 the crop. 



Much experimental work has been undertaken with a view to improving 

 quality, by applying one or more ingredients in excess. I have personally tried 

 many mixtures of this class, and in certain instances special manures were 

 imported into the island for the purpose. The results were throughout unsatis- 



