February i, 1882.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
1881 IN CEYLON. 
Commercially, the year closes with marked depres- 
sion in the markets for several of our staples : coffee 
has touched a point so low that consolation is 
found in the fact that it cannot go much lower, that 
consumption is hound to increase, and that a check 
will be given to the production in Brazil even if the 
Slave Question, gradually but surely ripening for an 
outburst, does not come to ahead. Coconut Oil and 
Cinnamon are so very cheap, that nolhing but abund- 
ant crops can encourage tho native planters to keep 
up the exports. On tho other hand our New Pro- 
ducts promise well. Tea is steadily advancing in 
importance, and its home prospects are good, and in 
this connection the benefit gained from tho repre- 
sentation of the Colony at the Melbourne Exhibition is 
one redeeming feature worthy of notice in the history 
of 1 88 1 . Tho Cinchona bark market too has satis- 
factorily passed through the strain put upon it by 
large importations of Cuprea bark from South America, 
and the prospects of the cultivators of the fine 
descriptions (Crown, Hybrid, and Calisaya) con- 
tinue favourable. 
The position of our planting enterprise per se is 
certainly more satisfactory and encouraging than it was 
twelve months ago. It is acknowledged on all hands that 
a great improvement has taken place during the 
past four months in the appearance of our coffee 
field?, notwithstanding that estimates of crop have 
as a rule been exceeded and in almost all cases 
fully realized, while strict economy has been main- 
tained. For the first time for six years, a season of 
the good old normal type, with rain falling more 
or less steadily all through crop from October to Decem- 
ber, has been experienced, and the trees are now in splen- 
did condition for blossom. Pine weather may be 
anticipated from tho present appearances in Colombo, and 
certainly tho New Year breaks with much to raise 
the hopes of the coffee estate proprietor in the 
Central Province, There is no reason either to abate 
one jot of the fair expectations based on " New Pro- 
ducts." The growth of tea in Ceylon satisfies the | 
keenest critic ; tho manufacture as a whole will im- 
prove every season, and this colony is destined to be 
a groat tea-producing couutry. So with Cinchona, 
Cocoa (which is flourishing space) and Liberian Coffee 
(trees ,,1 which at four years old are yielding at the 
Tate of 2 tons por ncre), Cardamoms and Rubbor. 
Nativo industry in grain and fruit has been re- 
warded during 1881 witli more than averago returns 
and the country has beeu freo from any epidemic 
disease or lo cn ] scarcity of food. 
• THE CEYLON COFFEE CROP. 
A merchant writes : — 
" Can yo* toll mo what the estimate of last season's 
(1880-Hl) coffee crop was at t/iLi '/»»< </< ■>'■ .vis.. 
What do you estimate the present crop I ssl .*•_>) will 
turn out ? We require abovo information for the mail, 
and I know no one more able to give reliable ti.uorcs 
than yourself." 
In January 1881, our estimate of the then current 
coffee crop, or rather export, fell as low as " three-fifths 
of the total shipped in season 1879-80, " which was 
669,614 cwt. In other words, wo estimated for 1880-81 
a possible minimum export of 400,000 cwt., although 
we hoped 450,000 would be made, and even exceeded. The 
actual result on tho 30th September 1881 was a total 
export for the season of 453,758 cwt. 
For the current season it is very difficult to make 
an approximate estimate, so great has been the dis- 
crepancy between the reports of different authorities. 
In most districts on the Kandy side, estate estimates are 
being fully realized, but the Uva spring crop is to be 
a poor one. About a month ago we took a note of four 
different estimates of the season's outturn — chiefly by 
Visiting Agents — which ran as follows: 450,000 cwt.; 
550,000 to 580,000 cwt. ; 600,000 cwt. ; and 650,000 cwt. 
Up to the 5th instant, we have oidy shipped 118,689 
against 146,671 cwt., 165,926, and 209,216 cwt. up to 
the same date of previous seasons. But the present 
crop is admittedly a very late one, and in 1879 we 
shipped 600,000 cwt. for the nine months from Janu- 
ary to September. Our inclination is to adhere to 
600,000 cwt. as the safest present estimate for the total 
export of coffee from Ceylon during Season 1881-82. 
CEYLON COMPANY, LIMITED. 
Report. 
To be presented at the half-yearly meeting, to be held 
at the Cannon Street Hotel, iu the City of London, at 
2 p.m., on the 20th December, 1881 : 
1. — The Directors have reason to expect that their Cey- 
lon coffee crop for the current year will amount to about 
18,500 cwt., or about 5,000 cwt. more than that of last 
year; but it is yet too early to speak with certainty on 
this point. The prices already obtained have been good. 
2. — The Directors regret that they cannot yet report any 
very considerable diminution of the coffee leaf-disease, 
which has so very injuriously affected all estates in Cey- 
lon, and lessened their crops ; but it is satisfactory to know 
that the disease has entirely disappeared from certain 
coffee districts in India, and that it is the opinion of many 
practical planters that it has never yet killed a cotfee 
treu in Ceylon. 
3. — The crop of tea from the Company's estates will prob- 
ably be about 120,0001b. That of last year was 82,2751b. 
and better prices have so far beeu obtained than last year. 
There is a marked improvement iu the quality of recent 
arrivals. 
4th. — The directors are extending the cultivation of cin- 
chona on the Company's Estates, and from this source they 
look for considerable future profits. 
Ceylon cocoa has lately realized very high prices iu this 
market, and the Directors' attention lias lieen for some time 
turned to the cultivation of this article. Other products 
receive much attention, and already some profit has beeu 
obtained from them. 
5th. — The directors have been anxious as to a lawsuit in 
Oeylon. that has beeu mentioned before to the proprietors. 
About August this year the pluintilf obtained a decree from 
a district court iu Ceylon for the appointment of a receiver, 
and the management of several estates pas- .1 from the 
Company, but on appeal to the Supreme Court, ill October 
last, tho judgmout of tho discrict court was reverse. 1, with 
costs on Isitb sides, hikI in both courts in the Company's 
favour. The Coiii|uiuy has regained |M>s.session of nil the 
properties, mid is pressing for the objections allege.! ngninst 
the accounts, and thus every reasonable cllort is U'liig made 
to close this mutter altogether. 
II.— Mauritius. - .Most of tl sugiir is now made and being 
