6 3 8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March i, 1890. 
would approximately stand as follows : — 
716 acres at 3,500 per acre... . . 2,506,000 
Supplies, say ... ... 650,000 
3,150,000 
Plants at present in the nurseries estimated at 250,000 
3.400,000 
Roughly speaking three and a half million 
plants have been raised from 253§ maunds 
tea seed purchased during 1887, 1888, and 1889. 
This gives an outturn of about 13,000 plants per 
rnaund, which may be considered as fairly successful. 
Arecanuts planted throughout the ravines and along 
boundaries, etc. are doing remarkably well. A few 
coconuts planted close by the New Bungalow also 
seem to thrive well. 
Mining operations for Plumbago and other Minerals 
were being carried on at the time of my visit by Mr. 
W. M. Youug. He is prospecting on his own account 
with the understanding that for three months he is 
free to take all he can find, after the expiration of 
whioh time he gives a l-10th share to the estate of 
any minerals, etc., that are found on Talgaswela. Mr. 
Young in the course of his mining operations has 
come on several minerals which he tells me will pay 
well. I have askrd the Superintendent to forward 
samples to the Secretary to be placed before the 
Directors at their next meeting. Plumbago has been 
found on many portions of the Estate ; but the indica- 
tions are not sufficiently pronounced, owing possibly 
to the pits not being sunk deep enough for me to give 
a decided opinion. Mr. Young however appears very 
sanguine that plumbago in paying quantites will even- 
tually be found. 
There is a craze at present in the district for Plum- 
bago digging which has raised the rates of daily wages 
for able bodied men, but I do not attach much im- 
portance to this, as Talgaswela is surrounded on all 
sides by villages, and I feel confident that all estate 
works can be carried out at low rates. There has 
been a saving on several field works during the past year. 
^ 
THE PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION OF 
CEYLON. 
Thirty-sixth Annual Repoet. 
PLANTING PRODUCTS: 
Tea — Coffee— Cinchona — Cocda — Cardamoms— 
Tobacco — Cotton. 
Tea. — The cultivation of this product still continues 
to increase, and the area under tea may now be put at 
200,000 acres as against 187,000 last year. The past 
season is remarkable as having caused at one period 
a panic, dissipated almost as soon as created, by the 
as steady rise as there had been fall in price, and 
the greater firmness in the market. During the 
months May-June, the average price fell till during 
June it reached as low as 81d to however at once 
beg in to rise till in September it reached Is 2d, and 
iu November it was jd higher. The average for 
the year ending September was, notwithstanding the 
unprecedently low prices ruling during the earlier 
portion of 1889, only Jd lower than the previous 
year, or lid as against Hid. This temporary fall 
proved however a blessing in disguise, as it caused cost 
of production to be more seriously looked into than 
ever, and the more sanguine to cease planting opera- 
tions on soil that was not suitable. Your Committee, 
hopes that the lesson then taught may not be for- 
gotten. The low rates ruling and the increased quan- 
tity going into consumption, helped also to further 
displace China Teas, and your Committee congratu- 
late you on the excellent position of your staple, a 
position, so far as human foresight can foresee, it is 
likely to maintain. Total Exports for season ending 
September 30th, 1889, reached 32,516,682 lb. as against 
20,755,779 lb. for the previous season. Your Committee 
Iihh pleasure in drawing your attention to the large 
increase in Exports to markets other than that of tho 
United Kingdom. For the season ending September 
30th, 1888, 616,258 lk were exported to foreign markets 
whereas season ending 30th September 1889 shows 
r sports to markots othor than that of Great Britain 
1,572,004 lb. The Australian market took 1,134,156 lb. 
as agaiust 479,626 lb. the previous season, America 
49,770 lb. as against 28,247 lb., India and Eastward 
295,4331b. as against 23,746 lb. the previous season. The 
Ceylon Planters' American Tea Company Limited, has 
recently been floated for pushing your Teas in America 
and other foreigu markets, and your Committee trusts 
it may meet with the success it merits, still further 
aid in distributing your Teas over the world and thus 
lighten the home market. 
The Exports for the year 1st January to 3ls'r 
December 1889 were 34,345, 752g lb. as against 
23,820,472 1b. for the year 1st January to 3lst De- 
cember 1888. A statement courteously furnished by 
the Hon'ble the Collector ot Customs winch ia of 
much interest as giving authoritative data of the export 
of Tea to the United Kingdom and to the other Markets 
is annexed to this Report. 
Coffer. — During the twelve months there has been 
a gr«at falling-off in the exports of Coffee. The 
Chamber of Commerce returns lorseason 1887 88 showed 
the exports to be 136,295 cwt. of Plantation and Native. 
In season 1888-89 :-- 
Plantation .. 78,433 owt. 
Native .. 8,007 „ 
Total . . 86,440 „ 
This gives a deficiency of almost one-third from the 
Export of the previous season. Green bug which caused 
so much consternation a few years ago is undoubtedly 
less prevalent than formerly, especially in tboce paits 
where it first appeared and from a consensus ot opinion 
it would seem to be less virulent in i!s attacks than u 
was at first. This has encouraged many, iu view also 
of the high priefs now ruling to decide upon keeping 
some of their remaining coffee iu cultivation and not 
allowing it all to make way lor tea. Leaf-disease 
shews little abatement, although there are many who 
hold the opinion that it is not s . severe as formerly. 
It is highly probable that in some district* coffee may- 
still receive the attention that it has had in the past. 
In further confirmation of this there are some now 
who believe that if well selected shade ot certain kinds 
had all along been grown amongst the coffee bushes, 
in every way the coffee would be more permanent and 
in support of this opinion shade of approved kiuos is 
being planted in good coffee iu several places, especially 
the drier coffee districts of the island. 
The Expo'ts for the year 1st January to 31- 1 Decem- 
ber 1889 were 88,986 cwts. as against 137,793 cwts. for 
the year 1st January to 31st December 1888 
Cinchona. — The exports of this product during the 
year have continued on a smaller scale than for tome 
years past. Notwithstanding the h> a%y reduction in 
exports the price ot bark has luled at a very low 
average in the home markets throughout the y tar viz. 
lfd to lfd per uuit, but towards tue end of the year a 
slight improvement has t ikeu place. At these pric s 
it is needless to say that Cinchona cannot be planted 
and grown at a profit in Ceylon, except in possibly one 
or two favoured spots, and tLe cultivation a'l over the 
Island has been given up, to a very large extent, in 
favour of Tea. Ti e existing stock of tark in the Island 
is rapidly decreasing, and iu a very few yej-iv Oejlou 
will be able to supply but a small proportion of the 
World's consumption of Quinine. 
Tbs Exports for the year 1st Jinuary to 31st Decem- 
ber 1889 were 9,455,641 lb. as against 12,482,817 lb. for 
the year 1st January to 31st DecemLer 1683. 
Cacao. — This product has a^aia regained its export 
average ; the last year being favourable on account of 
the well apportioned rainfall. The area cultivated is 
not being increased, simply because laud suited to its 
growth is not procurable. 
The Exports for the year 1st January to 31st Decern 
ber 1889 were 18,849 cwts as against 12,231 cwr. for the 
year 1st January to 31st December 1888. 
Cardamoms. — The area under this cultivation has 
been steadily maintained during the past year by 
planting of small acreages on estates where it has 
been found Cardamoms can be successfully grown. 
It is a capricious plant, and only thrives and fruits in 
certain favored localities, and at an altitude of 2500 
