754 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May j, 1895. 
ESTATE RESIDENCES. 
The planters here are very good to their coolies. 
Nice little houses and gardens: unremitting attention 
to the sick ; and every reasonable consideration. On 
one place that I visited theie is a shed in the middle 
of the estate with two huge cauldrons, in which tea 
is made ; and the tea-cook visits each gang twice 
a day with light refreshments which he carries in 
old kerosine oil tins! It is very funny to hear the 
coolies say "There's the tea-cook: let's go and have 
a drink." 
WHITE" WEED. 
Another funny thing is the cultivation of white 
weed (ageratum). I have often noticed that men 
who are short-handed, advocate weeds ! But 
here is a man with lashings of labour, and his 
estate as clean as a new pin, cultivating white- 
weed with the intent to dig it in as green man in c. 
He says it is the coffee planter's best friend. And 
I think he is right. I believe in white-weed ; and I 
like a good succulent sow-thistle. But I draw the 
iine at grasses. 
FRUIT TREES. 
Some men here in the tobacco days had the fore- 
sight to plant fruit trees in their first year. Con- 
sequently I am revelling in fruit. Dmian. Buall 
Nona i.e. Lady-fruit, Papaya and many others. 
This morning I assisted in demolishing a most deli- 
cious specimen of a giant papaya. It was a foot 
in length and weighed over 4 lb. 
A GERMAN EXPRESSION. 
Here is a strange but true story. An Englishman 
who had a dreadful habit of shouting bad language 
in his sleep, while cavorting round these parts, 
stayed with a German gentleman. One morning 
the host heard his house-keeper repeating again 
and again "g — d — ." "Kenapa bilang g — d — ?" 
"What are you saying that for ? " Oh," replies the 
house-keeper "Kalan chakap German good morning. 
Kalan chakap Inggris goddam, Sanaa sama." If you 
speak German, you say good morning. If you speak 
English, you say goddam : they are both the same ! 
COSMOPOLITISM. 
This is a most cosmopolitan country. In one day 
I have heard spoken English, German, French, 
Dutch, Italian, Tamil, Malay, Javanese, Chinese, 
Madurese, Baweanese, Japanese, Hindostani 1 I only 
missed " Mookada, Mahatmeya ! " 
EXPERIENCES IN SUMATRA. 
There is a tinge of romance about life in 
Sumatra. It is of course the headquarters of 
the Malay Kace. But where I am writing from, 
we are on the borders of the Battak country, a 
distinct people, having language, literature and cus- 
toms peculiar to themselves. Within a mile of 
where I am sitting is a Kampong (village) where 
cannibalism was practised within the last 10 years ; 
while within two days journey are the " orang 
makan orang," (man eat man, i.e. cannibals). X ; 
should much like to visit them ; and if I succeed, | 
and they don't make a hash of me, I will relate j 
to you my experiences. 
CEYLON PLANTING COMPANY REPORTS, 
The mail has brought us the following: — 
BANDARAPOLA CEYLON COMPANY, LD. 
The Directors have now the pleasure to submit to 
the shareholders the accounts and balance sheet for 
the year ending 31st December, 1894. 
Since last Report was issued, the Muendeniya Di- 
vision of the property has been duly transferred to 
the Company, and the remaining portions of fully 
paid shares, debentures, and cash due to the Vendor 
have been handed to him. 
A few small blocks of native land adjoining Muen- 
deniya have also been acquired on favourable terms, 
the total acreage of the Company's holdings now 
amounting to about 1,516 acres. 
According to the new survey of the cultivated area 
the total acreage under cultivation is 716 acres in- 
cluding about 200 acres planted up in cocoa, and, in 
pursuance of the policy of A evelopment, a further block 
of from 150 to 200 acres has been marked out and is 
now in process of being cleared for ten, which will then 
bring the area under cultivation up to about !MI0 acres-. 
Mr. Hugh Eraser, the Managing Diioctor. is now in 
personal charge of the Company's property, and re- 
ports that everything is going on satisfactorily on the 
estate. 
Mr. C. J. Scott, one of your Directors, while recently 
in Ceylon, took the opportunity of visiting Bandara- 
pola, and was well pleased with "the general condition of 
the property, and with the efficient manner in which 
the clearings were being done. 
Buildings and machinery are not shewn separately 
in the accompanying accounts, but the Directors are 
getting a formal valuation of these from the Managing 
Director, and the amount will be shewn separately 
in future. In the meantime, it is proposed to write off 
for depreciation the sum of £300, which is estimated 
to be about 10 per cent ol their value. 
The crop of tea secured for 1891 was lit 1,090 lb. 
against 154,107 lb. in 1898. audit is hoped that a fur- 
ther increase will be shewn in the figures for the cur- 
rent year. 
The Directors are indebted to Mr. James Anderson 
for his attention to the Company' I interests while in 
charge of liandarapola as Acting-Manager during Mr. 
Eraser's residence in this country. 
The net profits for the year ending Hist December, 
1894, amount to i'l. 8220s* Md, which, with the balance 
of £89 8s Id brought forward from previous year, 
makes a total sum available for distribu- 
tion of .. .. .. £1,911 b 9 
An Interim Devidend of 2} per 
cent, (free of Income Tax) paid 
in Sept., 1894, amounted to . . . . £297 10 0 
It is now proposed to pay a 
final Dividend of 7J per cent 
(free of Income Tax) making 10 
per cent for the year, absorbing . . 1,065 0 0 
And to write off for deprecia- 
tion on Buildings and Machi- 
nery, as explained above . . 300 0 0 
1,662 10 0 
Leaving a balance to carry for- 
ward to next account of £248 18 9 
THE PANAWAL TEA COMPANY, LD. 
The Directors have the p leasure to submit the 
General Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Account 
for the year ending 3st December, 1894, duly audited — 
£ s. d. £ s.d. 
The net amount at credit of 
Profit and Loss Account, includ- 
ing balance brought forward at 
31st December, 1893, after pro- 
viding for General Expenses, 
Directors' and Auditors' Fees. . 1,874 9 
An Interim Dividend of 3 per 
cent on the Ordinary Shares 
for the half-year ending 30th 
June, was paid 25th September, 
1894, amounting to . . . . 510 0 0 
It is proposed to pay a final 
Dividend on the Ordinary Shares 
from 1st July to 31st December, 
1894, at the rate of 5 per cent 
(making a distribution for the 
year of 8 per cent free of Income 
Tax), which will absorb .. 850 0 0 
Dividends on the 7 per cent 
Cumulative Preference Shares 
were paid for 1894 in full, 
amounting to . . . . . . 357 0 0 
Leaving to be carried forward 
to next year a balance . . . . 157 9 9 t 
£1,874 9 9 £1,874 9 9 
The Directors recommend the distribution of a 
dividend at the rate of Five per cent on the Ordinary 
Shares of the Company from 1st July to 31st De- 
cember, 1894, making with the iuteriui dividend paid 
