o 
The  first  Collotype  will  be  that  of  the  Governor  who  opened  t'.ie  earliest  regular  coffee 
plantation  (Gangarua)  in  Ceylon, 
H.E.  SIR  EDWARD  BARNES,  K.C.B., 
to  be  followed  by  that  of 
ROBERT  BOYD  TYTLER, 
usually  described  as  “the  father  of  Ceylon  Coffee  Planters,”  and  who  first  introduced  the  improved 
West  Indian  system  of  planting.  The  notes  of  the  late  Mr.  Tvtler  we  have  entrusted  to  the 
graphic  pen  of  his  life-long  friend  “ Old  Colonist”  (Mr.  Arthur  Sinclair)  who  will  be  sure 
to  do  full  justice  to  it. 
Third  will  be  the  portrait  of  the  late 
»R.  CHRISTOPHER  ELLIOTT, 
who  as  proprietor  and  editor  of  the  Ceylon  Observer,  took  a special  interest  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Planting  Industry,  besides  himself  making  experiments  and  owning  Sugar,  Coffee 
and  Coconut  properties. 
The  fourth  in  the  list  will  be  our  lamented  Senior 
A.  M.  FERGUSON,  O.M.G., 
who,  dating  in  Ceylon  front  the  same  year  (1837)  as  Mr.  Tvtler,  gave  his  first  work  as  a 
pioneer  planter  in  Uva,  where  he  had  Sir  M m.  Reid,  Dr.  Sortain,  Messrs.  Galland,  Bertlin, 
and  others  as  colleagues. 
The  biographical  notices  will  be  in  no  way  exhaustive;  but  brief,  concise  accounts 
that  may  possibly  in  some  cases  prepare  the  way  for  fuller  accounts  hereafter.  Among  others 
whom  we  should  like  to  include  in  our  ' list  are 
GEO.  BIRD 
(THE  FIRST), 
who  in  some  respects  was  our  earliest  British  Coffee  Planter 
Wm.  Rudd, 
Geo.  MTnter, 
Major  Rogers, 
Chas.  Pitt, 
Gabriel  Worms, 
Maurice  Worms, 
F.  Hadden, 
George  Pride, 
Cart.  Jolly, 
Geo.  Augustus  Cruwell, 
Alex.  Brown, 
John  Gavin, 
Andrew  Nicoll, 
Major  Skinner,  (“Ceylon's  great  roadntaker”)  F.  R.  Sabonadiere, 
Cart.  Payne  Gallwey,  R.  B.  Downall. 
W.  Abercrombie  Swan  (the  “BAY.” 
of  the  Observer  for  many  years), 
It  will  be  observed  that  we  confine  our  list  in  the  first  instance  to  the  pioneers 
who  have  passed  that  “bourne  whence  no  traveller  returns.”  "We  shall  have  time  to  deal] 
with  the  living  in  due  succession.  Meantime,  we  shall  be  obliged  by  relatives  or  others  sending, 
us  photographs  of  the  gentlemen  named  in  our  list  after  the  first  three ; and,  as  already  said, 
for  any  particulars  or  reminiscences  to  help  in  the  biographical  notices. 
We  wish  to  make  the  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST  more  and  more  a| 
medium  of  interest  and  information  for  Planters,  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  receive  and  consider] 
suggestions  regarding  any  special  subjects  or  topics  that  would  be  of  help  to  them  in  their  work] 
Any  suggestions  please  address  to  the  Editor,  “ T1WPICAL  AGJUC ULT UlilAT,”  Fort,  Colombo] 
1 
