( 4 ) 
diminution is further exhibited if we take the figures for the calendar year 1889, which are only 
9^179,280 lb., and the process must now continue at a rapidly increasing progression. As a 
consequence, the price of bark may be confidently expected to rise, though it must be remembered 
that our place as dominating the market is being taken by Java. The question, however, arises 
whether a revival of cultivation here should be recommended, and it is well worthy of considera- 
tion. Speaking generally, I consider it has been sufficiently proved by experience that neither the 
soil nor the climate of Ceylon are well suited for cinchona trees, which have shown themselves 
here to be, as a rule, short-lived and unhealthy. I refer especially to the wet and windy localities 
so frequent in the planting districts ; the mortality here is indeed so great among young trees as to 
render it almost impossible to cultivate cinchona with success. But in the drier districts the case 
is different, and in places where C. officinalis and C. robusta hybrid do well the cultivation is 
likely to again prove very profitable. But with the large consignments of bark of high quality 
from Java to compete with, it will be more than ever useless to grow inferior varieties. 
Coffee. — An export of 86,440 cwt. for the commercial year — 84,749 for the year 1889, a 
decrease of over 50,000 cwt. — shows coffee to have at length come down to the position of a quite 
secondary product. Nor — in spite of the encouragement of high prices — are there any signs of a 
general attempt at a revival of this cultivation. Reports, however, of the great improvement of 
coffee under shade in Coorg and Mysore have led to the planting up of some estates with trees, 
especially with the native Ficus glomerata, which is considered in India to be peculiarly suitable. 
The effects of shade on the appearance of coffee are undoubtedly striking, and in very dry climates 
(as the districts of India mentioned) particularly so ; diseased and exhausted bushes are doubtless 
kept living and retain their leaves longer when shaded, but the quantity of blossom and crop is, 
I should suppose, not likely to be increased. Moreover, it should be remembered that the shade-trees 
themselves are an additional burden on the land (an important matter on a poor soil). On the other 
hand, they undoubtedly afford some protection against continual and excessive infections by the 
spores of Hemileia ; and their general absence in Ceylon in the past doubtless helped on the very 
rapid spread of leaf -disease through the Island. 
Cacao. — There has been a considerable increase in the export of this for the commercial 
year 1888-89, 14,461 cwt.; and that for the year 1889, 17,164 cwt., is the largest yet recorded. It is 
much to be regretted that so small an area of the country appears suited to this cultivation. Even 
in suitable localities cacao still suffers somewhat from the attacks of Helopeltis ; and larger enemies 
that have to be kept down are squirrels and wild cats. 
Caoutchouc Trees. — With reference to the remarks I offered in my last report as to the great 
desirability of Government taking up the cultivation of Hevea (Para rubber) on a large scale, I 
have now the satisfaction of being able to record that the Forest Department has made a commence- 
ment by the selection of land near Nambapana, in Sabaragamuwa, a portion of which is to be cleared 
and planted during the ensuing season. This decision was not come to till too late in the year to 
enable the seed of 1889 to be used for the purpose. We had a large crop at Henaratgoda, and a 
smaller one at Peradeniya. As I have often had occasion to point out, these seeds quickly 
lose their vitality and have to be sown immediately. About 8,000 were sold, a considerable number 
sent properly packed to Queensland, and the remainder sown at Henaratgoda, where there are now 
several thousand seedlings, which, when " stumped," can be rendered available for planting out. 
I have supplied the Forest Department with such information as our experience of this tree 
at Henaratgoda has afforded us. It may be useful, as showing the rate of growth, to bring together 
the records taken at the end of each year of one tree at Henaratgoda for the past ten years. The 
tree was four years old in 1880 ; the circumference is taken at 3 ft. from the ground. 
ft. 
in. 
ft. 
in. 
1880 
1 
4 
1885 
3 
7 
1881 
1 
9 
1886 
4 
1 
1882 
2 
H 
1887 
4 
1883 
2 
6 
1888 
5 
0" 
1884 
3 
0 
1889 
5 
5 
The Panama rubber trees {Castilloa) do not now grow rapidly ; the best tree at Henaratgoda 
has mci-eased during the year half an inch only, being now 3 ft. 5 in. in circumference. At 
Peradeniya the trees of this species are not looking healthy or thriving well. 
In March last the conductor at Henaratgoda experimented on the rapidity of the flow of 
rubber from a Para, a Castilloa, and a Ceara tree respectively, and reports that to obtain 4 oz. rubber 
it look, from a Para tree 2>\ hours, from a Castilloa 2 hours, and from a Ceara 5 hours. 
To illustrate the importance of the caoutchouc trade, I may quote some figures of the imports 
Ironj Brazil into the United Kingdom. In 1887 no less than 113,955 cwt. were imported, valued at 
1 >-k I 1 5, orabout ,£14 per cwt.; the greater part of this was Para rubber, the price of which during 
the paisi three years has varied between 2s. and 3s. Qd. per lb. This enormous quantity is wholly 
