March i, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
589 
TEA LEAVES AND INSECT ENEMIES. 
Tea leaves on a Nuwara Bliya garden attacked 
by a " pooohie" pronounced by a planter to 
be helopeltis, although the flush wag not 
Blfeoted, were thus noticed by Dr. Trimen 
a few weeks ago: — "The tea-leaves you sent 
me a few days since are damaged by some 
sucking insect probably a bug. The marks look 
like those caused by helopeltis, but I do not 
think th^t insect extends to so high an elevation 
as Nnwara EliyaJ^nor does it often attack old leaves, 
much preferring (unfortunately) the young ' flush." 
In another letter Dr Triraon remarked : — ■ 
" I think I see pretty well all the so-called 'diseases' 
of the crops here and sbould be sorry to do any- 
thing to further encourage the planters in sending 
every insect or fungus ttiey may cuance to find on 
tbeir plants to know if it be ' serious.' The 
practice already amoants to an absurdity. Every- 
body knows that plants are the natural food of insects 
aud the home of innumerable fungi, and must be 
aware that only in a few obvious cises, as when 
extremely abundant, any damage is done worth 
meationing. 
" I have time to do more than roughly examine 
the betel lesveg. The malady is a well-knowQ one, 
and I will see \f aaytbiog hag beea published aboat 
it in India or elsewhere. But to attempt to work 
at it myself is out of the question, at all eveuts for 
the present ; as I am quite overwhelmed with a 
multitude of lubjects, btsides th« steadv grind of 
the ' Flora' which occupies all leisure time." 
This shows the need of an Entomologist to attend 
to inseot pests which are really troublesome, 
PLANTING AND EXPORT TRADE 
INFORMATION. 
(From Annual Beportof the Planters' Associatim of Ceylon.) 
Tea. — The season has been a favourable one' 
and the Tea Orop exceeded your estimate, while 
quality has been quite maintained. The Home 
average price for the year was 9d against QJd 
last year, the decrease is, however, attributable 
not to overproduction or the falling-off in favour 
of your staple, but to the general dullness of trade, 
owing to strikes and other causes. By comparing 
the Ohsmber of Uouimerce rtturus as sppeudej, you 
will find 011180 for c<ingr»tuiaiion in the stonay 
iucreaae ot coosumpiiou iu all msrket'', notwith- 
stanaing the ver> tatisfnctory iLcre»se last year. 
Especially satisfactory is the lar^e iucre»«e in France 
— nearly double, — in Getminy, in Hjilaud, lu Kussi^ 
where Exports direct are &3,272 lb, bs ugainst 400 lb. 
last year ; in addition to which it is understood that 
uxpor(s from Loutloa have largely increased m Spain, 
in India 964,104 lb, as against 5'.i8,037 lb. last year, in 
Australia, iu Africa, in Uuiua. 'i'ne Home coujump- 
tioii 13 also highly satisfiCiory. Takii g the propor- 
tion of the various (jrowths of teas, Messrs. Gow, 
Wilson & Slaulon's tab^e liives the followiog tigures 
or oomparisou betweeu 1889 and 1893: — 
India. Ceylon China, 
per cent, per cent, percent. 
... 52 15 33 
... 52 18 30 
... 49 25 26 
... 5:1 30 17 
51 31 16» 
1889 ... 
1890 ... 
1891 . . 
1892 ... 
1893 ... 
Yo jr local 
carniDgs at 
Tet Oomptoy show a^ siitisf actor y 
formerly and the various properties 
ohangiug bauds during the ye ir have done eo at full 
pricdo. There has not beou auy appreciAble iucretse 
to the acreage planted with Tea during the year, 
although you may expect a fair lucrea'se duriog i394. 
The Cbamber of Commerce returns alluded to above 
are as toUowe : — 
* Utbtr oountzies for 1893—2 per cent. 
Countries . To 
United Kingdom 
Austria 
Belgium 
Franre 
Germsny 
Holland 
Italy 
Russia 
Spain 
Swelen 
Turkey 
India 
Auntralia 
Ami'rica 
Africa 
Claina 
Singapore 
Mauritius 
Malta 
Tea 1898 
. . lb, 75,500,077 lb. 
7,1'JO 
3,(j09 
27,992 
225,636 
10,818 
9,097 
53,272 
37,513 
3 650 
8,434 
964,104 
6,968,956 
112,440 
114,857 
188,099 
21.906 
110,079 
38.435 
1892 
64,815,075 
93,793 
605 
15.374 
123,077 
970 
4,279 
400 
13,830 
3,130 
528,037 
5.166,154 
110,079 
64,728 
103,988 
11,381 
89,617 
18,326 
Total lb. 84,406,064 71,153,657 
OoCOA. 
In the paragraph devoted to this product in 
the Report for 1892, it was conjectured that the 
Spring crop, then about to be picked, would m»ike up 
for any deficiency in the crop of that year, as com- 
pared 10 that of 1891. This anticipation was more 
than realized ; the majority of the crop of 1893 was 
Spring crop and the amount shipped for ihe year 
29,775 cwt. is some 10,000 cwt. in excess oC thut ehipptd 
ia any previous year. Piices which ruled high in 
Spring dropped h avily in Autumn, and have not yet 
recovered. This is due, partly to the unusuaily luge 
crop, partly to a long hot Summer in Europe, but 
chiefly to the cessation of the Americnn demand, 
Why this market has been inactive is ditticult to 
say, but probably the reason is not unconnected 
with the financial crisis io that country. If American 
purchaies are resumed, prices will at once riee con- 
siderably, Iq the meaniioae i'. is satisfactory to note 
uuder the above mentioned adverse circumstances, 
Ceylon cocoa was not quoted lower than 92 1. 
COFFEE. 
Owing to a favourable season, the coffee still re- 
maiuing under cultiva'ion is looking well and there are 
prospects of a better crop during the coming year. 
CARDAMOMS. 
Duriog the year no great exteusion has taken place 
in the acreage under tois product; and a corteepond- 
iog acreage, having ceased to yield remunerative 
crops in the natural couri-e, has besn planted up with 
tea and other products. The volume of exports is 
still fairly maintained as compared with last year 
and the prices throughout the year have bean satis- 
taotory and fairly steady. 
TOTAL EXPORTS. 
By the courtesy of the Hon. the Principal Cjl- 
lector o( the Customs, your Committee has again 
pleasure iu inviting your attention to the statements 
appended to this Report showing the total Exports 
from Ceylon during the year ended Slst Dec. 1893, 
and of the distribution of the Tea Orop.to the United 
Kingdom and to other markets. For the purposes o( 
comparison similar statements for the years 1891 and 
1892 are also annexed. 
OFFICIAL ESTIMATE OF THB TEA CROP FOR 1894. 
Tue returns from the varioas districts having been re- 
ceived, your Committee has now to announce that the 
total Estimate of the Tea Urop for 1894 ia 88,000,0001b. 
STATEMENT SH0WIN3 THE TOTAL KXPOBTS OF THB 
FOLLOWING PRODUCTS FROM IST JAKUARY TO 
3l8T December, 1891. 
Articles. 
Areoanuts 
Coffee, Liberian 
,, Native 
,, Plantation 
Cinchona 
Cocoa 
Cardamoms 
Oooouuta 
Quantity, 
owt. 97,879-0-10 
,, 892-2-11 
„ 6,456-1-5 
,, 82,3:J4-3-ll 
lb. 5,589-5.50 
cwt. 20,015-2-12 
lb. 408,866i 
Noe. 7,030,198 
