( ) 
Several points connected with ^r'/o^^i^ZZ/.v (it is better to employ this nnme than "tea biig," which 
though correct is apt to mislead, or "mosquito," which is absolutely incorrect) have come up 
during the campaign. The insect is stated to be by no means restricted to low elevations, but as a 
pest on tea there is no doubt that it is cltiefty to be found below 3,000 ft. At higher elevations it 
is more of a straggler ; I have assurance of an attack at about 4,000 ft., but it was slight. There 
appears to be some good evidence that it is the inferior " jats " of tea especially that suffer, and that 
high-class plants, even when grown alongside the inferior, to a large extent escape. This has been 
observed also in Assam. As regards catching there is really little difficulty ; the immature ones are 
wingless, and the mature ones fly only a shoi't distance at a time. A good suggestion is the use of a 
small stick tipped with jak-milk or other glutinous substance, by which the insects may be picked 
quickly up ; a bi-oad band of similar substance might be smeared round the base of the stems to 
catch any of the young ones that may have fallen to the ground and attempt to again crawl up to 
the leaves. As regards the eggs of Helopeltis, it has been stated that they are found on the very 
common wayside weed , Stacli ijtarpheta imlica called " nai-oringi " by the Tamils and '• bala-nakuta " 
(dogs-tail) by the Sinhalese : but I have not been able to obtain any confirmation of this, nor does 
the insect seem to have been raised from the supposed eggs. As, however, the eggs have been 
tindoubtedly found on tea itself as well as on cinchona and cacao, the discovery of an additional 
locality for them is of no great signiticance. With the exception of Helopf'ltix the tea plant is 
remarkably free from serious enemies. 
Coffee. — There was an increase in our now small export of this product to 55,190 cwt., but this 
is not due to any increased cultivation of Liberian. I regret to see as yet no revival of this culture 
in the moist Ioav districts, as it is one which, having an eye to the future, is much to be recom- 
mended. It is cropping well and proving profitable in many portios of Malaya, especially in portions 
of the peninsula and in Java and N. Borneo ; and if estate proprietors are not inclined to take it ujd 
here, I think it most desirable to stimulate and encourage it as a native cultivation. I have urged 
this for many years past, and this year have made a gratis distribtition of seedling jilants from 
Henaratgoda Garden to the neighbouring villagers ;I am prepared to do so on a large scale if desired. 
A small plot of Coff'ea hengaleusis was made at Peradeniya in September. This species vj, a 
native of Assam, Biu-ma, and Siam, and was at one time mitch cultivated at Calcutta ; but the 
product is poor in qiiality. Like all the genus here it suffers from "leaf -disease " {Hemileia). 
Cacao. — Very much the largest export yet made from Ceylon has taken place in 1893 ; 
30,658 cwt. (against 17,327 cwt. the previous year). This, however, is not so significant as it looks, 
as owing to the 1892 crop having been late and the 189-1 crop early, the total for 1893 is unduly 
swollen. Still there is a satisfactory increase. 
In April I despatched direct to Mr. Hart, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, 
in response to his request, a Wardiair' case containing 5G plants of our " Old Red " cacao, for the 
purpose of comparison with the varieties in cultivation there, so as to determine, if possible, whether 
it be the " criollo " of the West, and also to ascertain if the white colour of the seed will be there 
maintained. A few of the plants survived the long journey, and I hope in time to hear something 
definite as to their relationship with the Trinidad varieties. Mr. Hart has recently visited Nicara- 
gua in Central America, a great cacao-growing country, and it is interesting to note that he found 
there the seeds to be usually white in section, and that after curing they acquired an appearance 
" identical with the best strains of Ceylon cacao, but Avith beans more than double the size." It is 
possible that we may have here the original of our Old Red,'" and I have asked Mr. Hart to com- 
pare our plants witli it. I hope also he may be able to spare a few of tliis fine Nicaragua sort, and 
especially of a variety of it known as "Alligator " cacao. 
A packet of seed of Forastero cacao was sent to Mr. .1. \V. ^loir at Milanji, Ih'it. Central 
Africa, for experiment. 
(^incJiona. — It is wortli a note to mark that at last the end of this product in Ceylon is 
ciuuing. Tlie exi)ort for tlie yeai-, 3,571,321 lb., was very little above half that of 1892, ai\d it will 
now so rajjidly fall that Ceylon bark will soon be a thing of the pust 
Iiidianililjfr I^Hevea hr((sil icnais). — As the Forest Department did not take any seed, we 
were able to make a large distribution to planters. I advertiscil it at Rs. 5 per I.OltO, and the 
demand so exceeded my expectation that thougli I restrictctl the number to 2.(HI(t for each estate, wt- 
were unabU' to supply all the aiiplicants. The crop was a large one, the Henaratgoila i)laniation 
all'ording about 75, 00(1 seeds, and the few trees at Peradeniya about I6.0(.i(> The estates supplied 
were mostly situateil in the moist low-country of the Western Province ; wc also sent seeil to the 
Assistant Government Agent at Matara. Our largest tree at Henaratgoiht is now G ft. li in. in 
circumference. 
