JUNE 1, 1»94.J 
^43 
lodiaD nod C'eyloD tras was in a position suitably 
to make tbis suggestion ; this Association alter con- 
sidetiog his propcals, quite agreeci that, if possible 
to be arranged, 6uch a oombination was desirable. 
Accordingly Sir John Muir communicated our reso- 
lution to the Ceylon Plantere' Aseo iation, who, on 
the 14th April, passed a resolution. 
I have r<;ad the discussion which took place on 
that occksion, and I was glad to notice the cordial 
and friendly teelinge displayed by the speakers towards 
their fellow-planters and our Association in India; 
like most of us, they appeared to agree with the 
theory of combination between India and Ceylon, but 
the practical difficulties were so great, that they de- 
cided that while working in harmony we should each 
be independent. For myself I feel sure tliia is the 
best plan, and your Committee has decided to (krry 
it out, and has instracted our TepresoDtative to work 
in harmony with the Ceylon Agent 
A Sub-Committee, called the Indian Tea Fund 
Committee, has been appointed to collect subscriptions 
and carry on the works well begun in conjanctioa with- 
a speoial London Committee, feeling from what we 
bad heard from Ceylon, that the proposed combiuation 
waa not likely to go though the Sub-Committee drew 
up their plans, but waited until the Ceylon decision 
was known, before definitely proceeding ; aooordingly 
on the lOih April, after receipt of a telegram from 
Ceylon notiffing the passing of the resolution they 
appointed Mr. Bleohynden to proceed to America, and 
he has left this week, together with his attendant 
kbitmaghars. I wish to draw attention to these dates 
as some of the Ceylon newspspers, learning^ of our 
proposed arrangements, were inclined to think we 
were forestalling them by our arrangements which 
waa not the case. Time enough however has been 
lost, and we feel that we are losing much by delay. 
I have every coDfitlouoe that Mr. Blechynden will not 
let the grass grow under his feet and that it will 
not be his fault it Indian tea does not make strides 
towards the favour of the American public. 
Another matter of great importance to the tea in- 
dustry which has occurred during the year is th'^ 
publication of Mr. Bamber's book on the Chemistry 
and Agriculture of tea. It is not a book perhaps, 
which all of us will read right through in our lighter 
moods, but as a text book, which brings all, that is 
known about tea, up to date, and explains the chemi- 
cal changes which takes place iu manufacture, it will, 
I hope, prove a useful addition to the library of every 
planter, and stir up an interest in the scientific dev..- 
lopmeut of the tea plant, which will lead to improve- 
ments in its treatment in the future. 
The question of insect bl'ghts is shortly entered into 
by Mr. Bamber ; but time did not admit of his going 
more fully into the subject. Our good friend the Hon, 
J. Buckingham has written a memorandum on the 
subject which you have doubtless all seen, in which he 
points out most forcibly how little Government is 
doing in the matter of entomological research, orm- 
paied with America and other countries. His 
piper has been submitted by your Committte to 
the Government of India with a strong reoominen !- 
ation to adopt the scheme proposed by Mr. Buck- 
ingham ; a reply has juat been received frcm (Jov- 
ernmont that the suggestions will receive the careful 
attention of the Government of India in contit'Ction 
with the proposals of the Agricnltnral Conference of 
October last." 
The past season has been a singularly bad ono 
both BB ro^iirdrt qimlity of crop an I the proQts da- 
tivcd. The (iiia'ility of ten pro.lnocil verified our 
ottima'.OH, almost lo n. lb., for wo OHtiuiated origi- 
nally for a total crop of 125,.'')4S,(J00 lb., and the 
actual rcaoh<!d 125,321,000 lb. After a bad seaeiou 
like the last, we naturally hopo to see a better one 
this J ear, and if energy, fair dealing and unity of 
purpose can accomplish success, wc may with good 
reason look lor Englishman. 
« 
CEYLON SEASON BEPOKTS. 
From the abstract of seaeon reports for the 
quattec ended Marob Slet labt, publiebed in the 
Government Gazette we notice that the crops 
and prospects were good in all parts of the 
island, except in Udunuwara, Tumpane, Matale 
and UdahewBheta distriots of the Central Province 
and Kurunegala and Puttalam distric's of tlie 
North-Western Province and Galboda and Kini- 
goda Koralea of the Kegalla district in the Pro- 
vince of Sabaragamuwa. The price of paldy 
during the quarter rargad from Rl to R2-40 par 
bushel, the former iu the Yatinuwara and Hans- 
pattu of the Central Provinci and the latter in 
MuUaittivu in the Northern Province ; while dry 
grain felched 50 cents per bushel for amu to E4 50 
for green peaa. 
THE PALLEGAMA GRANT ASSOCIATION OF 
OEYLON, LIMITED. 
The Memorandum and Articles of Association 
of this Company are published in the Gazette 
setting forth that its objects are to purchase or 
otherwise acquire the leasehold interest of Messrs. 
Evelyn Gordon Reeves, Edward Rosling, Dalziel 
Robs Buchanan, and Gordon Frazer in a certain 
area of -land, situsto in the Dibtriot of East 
Matale, in the Central Province of Ceylon, con- 
taining in extent 5,014 acres and 31 poles or 
thereabouts, under a certain lease dated 20th 
August, 1891 granted by the Crown to William 
Gow and the said Evalyn Gordon Reeves ; to pur- 
chase tea leaf, coconut, ooppeiah, indiarubber, and 
(or) other raw products tor manufacture, mani- 
pa'atiop, or eale ; and to manutaoture tea leaf, 
oopperab, oil, poonac, coir fibre, yarn, rope, spirit 
from teddy drawn from coconut trees or from 
the water of the iiul, desiccated coconut, compost 
minuie, and other raw products. The nominal 
capital of the Company is R200,000, divided 
into 2,000 shares of RlOO each with power to 
incress'i or reduce the capital. The subscribers 
61 e Ml ssrs. Edward Rosling, Dessford, Nanuoya ; D. 
K. Buchanan, A. Schulze, H. Creasy, and Gordon 
Fraz r, Colombo ; E. Gordon Reeves, and Arthur H. 
Thomas, Madulkele. 
PLANTING PROGRESS IN FIJI : 
TEi, COCONUTS, BANANAS, &c. 
The Chairman of the L?vuka Chamber of 
Commerce had not a very brilliant review to 
make at the annual meeting held on 20. h March, 
a report of which has just come to hand. He 
began by saying : — 
1 am sorry to say that my task is a compiratively 
easy one, as many products which used to be some of 
the principal exports have almost disappeared from the 
export list. I refer principally to peanuts, maize, 
coffee, tea, island cotton and kidney cjtton. This 
latter produce ia now only ^rown by the Government 
as taxes, and at pre=e;it prices, it would not pay any 
planter to embark iu this ii dustry. 
The products noticed are Peanuts, Bananas, Sugar, 
Tea, Vanilla, CLill'ee and Coconuts, and as the 
statement is concise as well as interesting, we 
copy it nearly all : — 
Pkanuts.— 'I'liere is only a limited demand for this 
in tbo colonies, and as prices ranged very high 
6OIU0 years ago a great many p'nntors were tempted 
to grow peanuts with the nalncal contequence thattbc 
market was flooded and thousands of bags were l^ing 
in the colonies, absolutely unsaleable. 
Bananas.— Owing to the disease of the plants near 
Suva, and leven Navua, this industry has fallen otf 
very much n tliu last two years ; the regult being that 
one of the fortnightly steamers from Sjdney has 
ceased raoning— it is to be hoped for a short time only 
— until uur banana plantations are opeuod up. 1 have 
been informed that the banana disease iu the 
