March  x,  .893.]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
559 
against  1890.  Tour  unrelaxing  efforts  should  be  given 
to  forward  the  consumption  in  this  country,  and 
with  the  large  amount  subscribed  to  the  Chicago 
Exhibition,  placed  at  the  disposal  of  your  able  Com- 
missioner the  Hon.  J.  J.  Grinlintou.you  may  confidently 
look  forward  to  better  results  in  the  near  future.  The 
increased  consumption  in  this  country  and  Russia  are 
what  is  wanted  for  the  continued  prosperity  of  your 
staple,  with  a larger  output  to  be  expected  during 
the  next  three  years.  The  continued  displacement 
of  China  in  the  London  Market  by  your  Teas  is 
most  satisfactory.  Quoting  from  Messrs.  Gow,  Wilson 
& Stanton’s  report,  the  percentages  in  London  of 
India,  Ceylon  and  China  compare  as  follows  as  from 
1889  to  1892  : — 
India. 
Ceylon. 
China. 
1889  . 
..  52 
15 
33 
’90  , 
...  52 
18 
30 
’91  . 
...  49 
25 
26 
’92 
...  53 
30 
17 
Notwithstanding  the  lower  market  rates  ruling,  your 
Committee  has  pleasure  in  reminding  you  that 
your  looal  companies  have  in  all  cases  declared 
as  gool  dividends  as  formerly,  and  in  some  cases 
even  higher  dividends  than  in  1891.  With  the 
reduced  subscription  now  asked  for,  your  Committee 
hopes  that  the  Tea  Fund  will  have  your  continued 
hearty  support  as  it  has  done,  and  still  continues 
to  do  so  rnuoh  for  the  spreading  abroad  of  your 
Tea  throughout  the  world.  Labour  was  plentiful  in  all 
districts  and  good  results  are  to  be  expected  with 
regard  to  your  future  Labour  Supply,  by  the  able 
work  done  by  your  Commissioner,  Mr.  E.  J.  Young, 
backed  as  he  was  by  the  Local  as  well  as  by  the 
Madras  Government.  For  purposes  of  comparison 
and  reference  the  statements  furnished  to  the  Asso- 
ciation by  the  courtesy  of  the  Hon.  the  Collector  of 
Customs,  showing  the  total  export  and  distribution  of 
your  teas  for  the  past  three  years  are  of  much  interest. 
Cocoa. — The  aocoa  crop  for  the  year  1892  falls  a 
little  short  of  that  shipped  in  1891,  but  as  was  pointed 
out  in  last  years  report  the  year  from  the  1st  of 
January  to  31st  of  December  is  not  a very  good  one 
for  ascertaining  the  exact  annual  cocoa  yield  of  the 
island,  and  in  this  instance  it  is  particularly'  mislead- 
ing. The  wet  cold  weather  at  the  beginning  of  1892 
retarded  the  blossoms  both  for  the  spring  and  autumn 
crops,  and  a great  majority  of  the  annual  crop  of 
1892-93  will  be  picked  in  January,  February  and 
March,  instead  of  as  usual  in  October,  November  and 
December.  It  is  probale  therefore  that  the  shipments 
of  the  earlier  part  of  1893  will  quite  make  up  for 
the  deficiency  of  1892.  Taking  this  into  considerado  i 
with  the  ascertained  fact  that  cocoa  crops  show  their 
increase  in  alternate  years,  and  remembering  that  the 
shipments  of  1891  were  the  largest  on  record,  the  crop 
of  1892  may  be  looked  upon  as  progressive.  Reports 
from  all  districts  speak  of  the  healthy  condition  of  the 
treeB,  and  confidence  in  this  product  is  now  great<  r 
than  it  has  been  for  some  years.  There  is  not  the 
same  hesitation  noticeable  in  embarking  on  this  cul- 
tivation which  was  apparent  some  years  Bgo,  and  it  is 
beginning  to  be  recognized  that  with  a proper  study  of 
the  requirements  of  the  plant,  coooa  may  be  much  more 
generally  grown  than  was  supposed  at  one  time  to  be 
possible.  It  is  unneceisary  here  to  refer  to  the  neces- 
sary system  of  cultivation,  these  conditions  are  dow 
very  generality  understood  and  attended  to,  and  as 
their  benefits  are  seen,  it  is  probable  the  acreage  and 
yield  of  cocoa  will  increase.  Natives  are  planting  to 
some  extent,  but  the  proportion  of  cocoa  in  bearing  in 
native  hands  is  very  small.  Cocoa  stealing  has  as- 
sumed a very  systematic  and  dangerous  aspect.  And 
your  Committee  hopes  that  your  Association  will  keep 
in  view  the  need  for  vigorous  measures  being  taken 
for  repressing  this. 
Coffee. — The  exports  of  this  produot  whioh  was 
once  the  staple  of  the  country  have  been  again  re- 
dnoed  during  the  year.  The  amount  shipped  was 
39,013  owt.  against  an  export  oi  82,324  owt,  in  the 
previous  year.  Leaf  disease  and  green  bug  have  been 
severe  and  the  orop  has  been  disappointing,  Liberian 
coffee  from  its  hardier  nature  is  able  to  resist  the 
attacks  of  ths  disease  and  may  be  expected  to  show 
better  results.  The  falling  off  in  the  export  of  coffee 
ba9  been  very  considerable  as  will  be  seen  by  a com- 
porieon  of  the  last  five  years. 
1888  ...  137,793  owt. 
1889  ...  88,986  ,,  a reduction  of  48,807  cwt. 
1890  ...  81,334  „ 7,652  „ 
1891  ...  82  324  ,,  a slight  advance  of  990  ,, 
1892  ...  39,013  ,,  a reduction  of  43,311  „ 
Cardamoms, — The  past  year  has  turned  out  disap- 
pointing to  cardamom  growers,  both  as  regards  quality 
and  price.  The  shortness  of  yield  may  be  accounted 
for  in  a gre  t measure  to  drought  in  the  early  mouths 
of  the  S.  W.  monsoon,  which  is  the  most  critical  time 
for  blossoming.  The  following  statistics  of  exports 
will  show  that  this  has  been  the  shortest  crop  for  the 
last  three  years:  — 
Total  exports  for  1892...  ...  ...  372,5101b. 
Do  1891 408,866  „ 
Do  1890 395,576  „ 
Do  1889 466,168  „ 
Though  undoubtedly  cultivation  is  cintraoting  as 
far  as  Natives  are  concerned,  it  rs  being  largely  ex- 
tended by  Europeans,  and  particularly  to  the  North 
of  Kandy.  The  area  heing  planted  is,  however, about 
counterbalanced  by  that  going  out  of  bearing  ; 
therefore,  it  is  not  likely  there  will  be  any  large 
increase  in  the  future  exports.  Probably  the 
shipments  for  the  current  year  will  not  exceed 
350,0001b. 
cinchona. — All  interest  in  this  cultivation  has  dow 
been  given  up,  aud  even  these  pars  of  the  country 
where  it  had  been  most  largely  planted  have  been 
almost  entirely  cleared  of  bark. 
YATIYANTOTA  TEA  COMPANY,  LIMITED. 
FROM  REPORT  OF  THE  DIRECTORS. 
The  weather  during  the  past  year  was  not  favour- 
able for  flush  and  the  yield  of  tea  was  24,200  lb. 
under  the  estimated  quantity.  The  clearing  of  33 
acres  i eferred  to  in  the  last  Report  has  been  success- 
fully planted  and  the  clearing  of  30  acres  planted  in 
189i,  which  from  the  beginning  of  this  year  will  be 
treated  as  part  of  the  Estate  in  bearing,  is  ex- 
pected to  yield  about  250  lb.  of  made  Tea  per  acre 
in  the  current  season. 
The  whole  crop  of  225,800  lb.  Tea  has  been  sold 
locally  at  an  average  net  price  of  434  cents  per  lb. 
against  a cost  of  21|  cents  per  )b.  laid  down  in 
Colombo.  After  making  the  usual  provision  for 
depreciation  of  Buildings  and  Machinery,  the  net 
balance  of  profit  for  the  year  amounts  to  R36.308.47, 
out  of  which  an  interim  dividend  at  the  rate  of  15 
per  cent  (on  R90,000)  has  been  paid,  absorbing 
R13.500,  The  Directors  recommend  that  a final 
dividend  for  the  year  of  15  per  cent  on  the  present 
Capital  of  R100,0()0  be  declared  and  made  payable 
on  the  18th  February,  that  a sum  of  R7.500  be 
added  to  the  Extension  Fund  and  that  the  balance 
of  R308.47  be  carried  forward  to  next  year’s  account. 
The  capital  of  the  Company  was  increased  on  the 
20th  August  to  R100.000  by  calling  up  the  final 
instalment  of  R100  per  share. 
At  a Government  sale  held  in  May  last  the  directors 
purchased  at  upset  price  three  blocks  of  land  called 
Mugunuwala  in  extent  acres  723.  0.  26.  The  land 
contains  a large  quantity  of  good  timber  whioh  was 
much  needed  for  building  and  other  purposes  on 
Polatagama  Estate  aud  being  situated  close  to  this 
property,  will  form  a valuable  adjunct  for  further 
Tea  Extensions.  Having  acquired  this  land  the  Direc- 
tors deemed  it  advisable  to  dispose  of  the  Abamalla 
property  BDd,  with  the  oonsent  of  the  Shareholders 
at  a Special  General  Meeting  held  on  the  12th  August, 
a sale  to  the  We-Oya  Tea  Company  Limited  for  the 
sum  of  R12,323'81,  as  on  30th  June  i.892,  was  effected. 
The  sale  involved  an  apparent  lots  to  the  Company 
of  Rl,790'61  which  is  charged  in  the  Profit  aDd  Loss 
aocount  of  the  year  but  as,  in  the  place  of  Abamalla 
whioh  originally  cost  over  R30  an  acre,  the  Com- 
pany has  acquired  land  more  suitable  for  their  pur. 
