164 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September 2, 1889. 
Mr. Eoberts lays stress upon the advantage to 
the producer in Ceylon of the home trade 
having large supplies to handle, and I but recently 
gave you his reasons for that opinion. Many of 
us here feel confident from a review of all the 
circumstances that, so long as you can just make 
a profit out of existing rates, Ceylon should not 
wholly follow the example set by India as to 
restriction of cultivation ; though, doubtless, it will 
be wise to exercise caution and only to plant on 
such land, and under such conditions, as are certain 
to enable you to produce fine qualities of tea. 
CINNAMON CHIPS IN CEYLON. 
Meeting of Estate Proprietors and Managers. 
A meeting was held in the hall of the National 
Association this afternoon to consider the means 
to adopt for decreasing the output of cinna- 
mon chips and for suppressing the manufacture 
of cinnamon leaf-oil. There were present : — 
Messrs. Wm. Jardine, M. D. Coekburn, R. A. Mi- 
rando, Manuel de Mel, Jacob de Mel, Fred. Sehra- 
der, J. F. Drieberg, S. R. de Fonseka, W. D. Abrew, 
D. D. H. Perera, F'. Drieberg and A. W. Beven. 
Mr. Jardine waB elected to the chair. He 
expressed his regret at not seeing more pro- 
prietors of cinnamon estates present, but said 
he had had letters from other gentlemen who 
were quite willing to give their support to the 
resolutions that would be brought forward. 
They were perfectly cognizant of everything that 
had taken place hitherto with the view of trying 
to suppress the preparation and exportation of 
cinnamon chips. Previous to 1868-69 he believed 
that no chips were exported from Ceylon. In that year 
1,427,490 lb. were exported. Now with the large 
increase of the acreage of cinnamon the total 
export was from 500,000 to 600,000 lb. of chips. 
Where they got twenty years ago the chips to 
send forward this enormous quantity of almost 
three times the present export was a problem. 
He observed also that in that year the export 
of quill bark rose some 200,000 lb. above that of 
any previous years. It was simply impossi- 
ble that all that could have been cinnamon chips : 
there must have been a lot of other chips sent away 
to make up that enormous quantity. (Mr. Coekburn: 
— " Chips of the old block.") For the next few 
years the export of chips fell, and seldom ex- 
ceeded 260,000 lb. But in 1879-80 there was an 
increase to 474,484 lb, and from 1883-84 to the 
present year the quantity exported annually was 
fluctuating between 500,000 lb. and 600,000 lb. 
From 1879-80 there was a steady increase in the 
export of quill bark which rose from 1,219,308 lb. 
in 1878-79, to 1,793,893 lb. in 1886-87, and 
the present amount exported might be taken 
at something close upon 1,700,000 lb. annually. 
With those large quantities thrown upon the mar- 
ket annually, prices which in 1881-82 ranged from 
7d to 2s 7d per lb. fell steadily year by year till 
at present they ranged from 6d to Is 5d, and 
he did not think he was far wrong in saying 
that the average price for the generality of cinna- 
mon was not more than 9d per lb. all round. 
With such low prices was it to be wondered at that 
proprietors were anxious to cast about for some 
means of remedying the present state of things ? 
(/rowers were agreed in thinking that the large 
export of chips was to blame for the present low 
prices, but without some understanding and com- 
bination amongst themselves there was no chance of 
effecting any improvement. He was, however, hope- 
ful that that meeting would help towards that end. 
He had promise of support from a large number of 
large and influential owners, who although not 
present that day would gladly join in the move- 
ment, for their letters to him stated as much. 
A few had demurred to certain parts of the re- 
solutions that would be proposed, but he hoped 
something definite would be arrived at. There 
was another subject connected with the price 
of cinnamon, and that was the manufacture of 
cinnamon leaf oil. He thought that all owners 
of estates should refuse to permit the manufacture 
of cinnamon-leaf oil upon their estates. The small 
sum that was paid for the privilege of using the 
leaf was simply not worth taking into consideration, 
whereas the loss to the estate from the leaves and 
from throwing on to the market oil which com- 
peted with their cinnamon bark should be, if 
possible, suppressed. It had been said in some 
quarters that by withdrawing cinnamon chips 
they would leave room for the introduction 
of cassia to take its place. He did not think 
they had any need to fear on that head. If 
cassia ever was to oust cinnamon it would have 
done so long ago, for he believed the annual 
export from China was sompthing over 13,000,0001b., 
whereas the export of cinnamon of all kinds 
from Ceylon was barely over 2,000,000 lb. Having 
stated the objects of the meeting he next read 
letters he had received on the subject from 
Mr. Beven, Mr. R. Piachaud (Jaela). Mr. H. P. 
Fernando and Mr. John Abevasinghe, all approving 
the proposed resolutions. There were also one or 
two letters from gentlemen who dissentied. They 
said they were quite willing to join in any move- 
ment for the suppression of the exportation of 
chips, but they could not agree to discontinuing 
the preparation of chips entirely as they have 
stills for mnufacturing cinnamon oil, but they 
would undertake only to prepare chips for that 
purpose and not for sale or for exportation. 
That was a question for the meeting to dis- 
cuss and give an opinion upon. 
Mr. S. R. de Fonseka proposed : — 
That this meeting of gentlemen interested in 
cinnamon deems it desirable to give up the prepara- 
tion, sale and export of cinnamon chips, which it is 
believed helps materially to keep down the price of 
qnill cinnamon. 
He said this subject had engaged his attention 
for the last three or four years, and in the early 
stage of the Agricultural Association they thought 
it desirable to bring the matter forward, 
but owing to circumstances over which they 
had no control they could not then suc- 
cessfully bring about the end that was desired. 
He did not think it was necessary for him to 
enlarge upon the resolution. The advantages 
that estate proprietors would receive from cinna- 
mon chips not being exported to England, and 
not being manufactured in Ceylon, would be 
patent to all. Their agents in England, as well 
as others who had studied the subject, had all 
along stated that in consequence of the export- 
ation of cinnamon ohips to such a_ large 
extent quill cinnamon had gone down in the 
market. That being so he thought all cinna- 
mon estate proprietors ought to be thankful 
to Mr. Jardine for the interest he had taken in 
the subject, and for the trouble to which he had 
lieen put in convening that meeting. Though 
there was not a very large attendance he thought 
the interests of most of the cinnamon estates 
were represented, and he was personally aware of 
the cordial support which would be given to the 
movement by many who were unable to attend 
the meeting. (Applause.) 
Mr. M. de Mell seconded the motio". 
Mr. Cockburn, before the resolution w-s put to 
the meeting, pointed out that the question 
which had to be answered was this;— If they 
