( 3 ) 
As  regards  Kandy  the  pods  seem  to  have  been  distributed  entirely  to  Ratemahatmayas  and 
a few  Kachcheri  clerks  (not  at  all  the  sort  of  people  it  was  desired  to  benefit),  and  it  is  stated 
that  the  poor  villagers  in  Pata  Hewaheta  did  not  like  to  take  the  seed,  thinking  that  they  would  be 
called  upon  to  pay  for  it.  Failure  is  generally  reported,  and  the  last  lot  of  100  pods  which  I sent 
in  December  were  returned  to  me  as  “ not  required.” 
In  Matale  South  cacao  trees  may  now  be  seen  growing  in  many  native  gardens,  which  it  is 
supposed  are  the  result  of  the  large  quantity  of  seed  distributed.  In  this  district  the  subject  is 
unfortunately  rather  complicated  by  the  great  prevalence  of  stealing  cacao-pods  off  the  trees  on 
estates  and  selling  them  to  the  small  village  shopkeepers.  It  is  to  be  feared  that  too  many 
villagers  prefer  this  means  of  obtaining  cacao  pods  to  growing  them,  and  that  the  few  trees  round 
their  cottages  are  often  used  as  a pretext  to  account  for  the  possession  of  stolen  pods.  Still  I do 
not  regard  this  as  a sufficient  reason  for  ceasing  to  encourage  cultivation  by  the  free  gift  of  seed  ; 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  means  may  soon  be  found  to  show  the  people  that  it  is  more  to  their  interest 
to  grow  cacao  than  to  steal  it. 
In  response  to  a request  from  the  Queensland  Government  a case  of  4,000.  seeds  was  sent  to 
the  State  Nurseries  at  Cairns  in  that  Colony. 
Cinchona. — It  is  astonishing  to  observe  that  the  export  of  bark  for  1892  (6,793,320  lb.) 
actually  exceeded  that  for  1891  by  more  than  a million  pounds.  As  cinchona  trees  seem  nowhere 
now  numerous,  it  is  difficult  to  understand  whence  all  this  quantity  has  been  derived  ; and  one  is 
driven  to  suppose  that  much  of  it  is  bark  that  has  been  for  some  time  stored  at  Colombo  in  the 
expectation  of  better  prices  or  reduced  freight. 
Indiarubber. — Para  Rubber  (Hevea).  Our  plantation  at  Henaratgoda  supplied  the  Forest 
Department  with  30,000  seeds  for  the  extension  of  the  experimental  plot  in  Sabaragamuwa,  and 
about  16,000  more  seeds  were  sold  to  private  purchasers. 
A further  bleeding  was  made  this  year  of  the  tree  at  Henaratgoda  which  was  tapped  in 
1888  and  1890.  The  mode  of  procedure  was  the  same  as  on  those  oocasions,  and  the  amount  of  dry 
rubber  obtained  was  2 lb.  13  oz.  This  tree  is  now  fifteen  years  old,  and  has  a circumference  of 
6 ft.  5 in.  at  a yard  from  the  ground.  Its  yield  has  been  as  follows  : — 
In  1888  ...  ...  ...  ...  1 lb.  Ilf  oz. 
In  1890  ...  ...  ...  ...  2 1b.  10  oz. 
In  1892  ...  ...  ...  ...  2 lb.  13  oz. 
giving  a total  of  7 lb.  2f  oz.  in  six  years.  The  tree  is  in  vigorous  health,  and  in  no  respect  the 
worse  for  the  treatment.  The  interval  of  two  years  between  the  tappings  allows  the  bark  to 
completely  heal  over  the  incisions.  I have  sent  home  2 lb.  of  the  rubber  that  its  present  market 
value  may  be  ascertained.*' 
Panama  Rubber  ( Castilloa). — This  is  not  so  promising  in  Ceylon  as  Hevea.  The  largest  tree 
at  Henaratgoda  is  but  3 ft.  7^  in.  in  circumference,  and  its  yield  of  rubber  is  here  much  less  than 
that  of  Hevea.  We  had  occasion  in  March  to  cut  down  a tree  at  Peradeniya — a healthy  male  specimen 
which  had  been  planted  as  a cutting  in  1882,  and  had  a circumference  of  stem  of  about  3 ft.  7 in. — and 
the  opportunity  was  taken  to  obtain  from  it  as  much  rubber  as  possible.  The  result  was  very  dis- 
appointing : very  little  “ milk  ” could  be  obtained,  and  this  consisted  chiefly  of  a black  watery 
fluid  in  which  was  suspended  a white  flocculent  matter  which  did  not  solidify.  From  this  a small 
quantity  of  caoutchouc  spontaneously  separated,  but  we  could  not  get  half  a pound  from  the  whole 
tree.  The  little  obtained,  however,  appears  to  be  of  first-rate  quality,  very  pure  and  elastic,  but  has  a 
very  dark  colour.  This  result  is  much  the  same  as  that  at  Henaratgoda  recorded  in  my  last  Report. 
Cubebs. — Three  of  the  plants  from  Buitenzorg  were  planted  out  at  Henaratgoda  and  two  at 
Peradeniya  against  Erythrina  trees  in  March,  but  they  make  scarcely  any  growth.  Two  have 
produced  flowers,  hr  t unfortunately  the  plants  prove  to  be  male. 
Gambir. — The  plants  at  Henaratgoda  have  flowered  well,  but  little  seed  was  matured  owing, 
I think,  to  their  being  in  too  shaded  a situation.  This  can  be  easily  remedied,  and  I hope  to  form 
a nursery  of  seedlings  soon. 
I may  call  attention  to  a very  useful  and  nearly  exhaustive  account  of  this  product  by 
Mr.  Ridley,  Director  of  Gardens  and  Forests  at  Singapore,  which  was  published  as  No.  2 of  the 
“ Agricultural  Bulletin  of  the  Malay  Peninsula,”  dated  February,  1892. 
Kola-nut. — I suspect  the  climate  of  south-west  Ceylon  will  prove  too  wet  for  this  Two 
trees  at  Henaratgoda  are  now  28  ft.  high,  and  have  never  flowered,  and  I believe  the  only  ones  in 
this  country  which  have  produced  fruit  are  four  on  an  estate  in  Matale.  These  were  planted  in 
1876,  and  first  flowered  in  1883.  They  continue  to  blossom  profusely,  but  rarely  set  any  fruit.  This 
* The  Report  of  Messrs.  Heckt,  Levis,  & Kahn,  dated  7th  February,  1893.  on  the  sample  is  as  follows,  and  most 
encouraging  : — 11  The  quality  of  this  Rubber  is  very  good  indeed,  and  the  curing  of  the  same  seems  to  have  been  effected 
in  the  proper  manner.  This  quality  would  be  easily  saleable,  and  we  estimate  its  value  to-day  as  being  about  2.9.  3d.  tc 
2.9.  6 d.  per  lb.,  according  to  whether  the  Rubber  would  be  dry  or  damp.  It  would  be  easily  saleable  in  large  quantities. 
[Note  added  14th  March,  1893.] 
