Nov. 1, 1900.1 THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
343 
No new properties have been acquired since the 
date of the last Annual Report, and the total 
acreage of the Company's Estates remains the same. 
The toUowiug statement shows how this acreage is 
diatribnted. A slight error in the acreage of the 
Sorana Estate in the last Annual Report is now 
corrected. 
Q 
a 
3 CI >H 
^ Qj ™ .9 
B H H 
o CO <a 
D s u" tiD 
O H 
Wattegodde 
Dimbula 
800 Nil 
25 
Nil 
70 
895 
Hoonoocotua 
Kotmale 
560 25 
15 
45 
117 
762 
Tallagalla 
Ealut<vra 
515 Nil 1(12 
60 
23 
700 
Ellagalla 
Matale 
223 8 
9 
38 
167 
445 
Butland 
Hewaheta 
443 6 
70 
85 
59 
663 
Warriagalla 
Nilambe 
493 61 
26 
57 
624 
1,261 
Sorana 
Ealutara 
263 158 
125 
81 
131 
758 
3,297 258 372 366* 1,191 5,484 
The capital expenditure for the purposes indicated 
in the last annual report which was estimated at 
£3,000, actually amounted to £3,012 5s. Od. thus bring- 
ing the total amount at debit of the Factory and 
extension account to £4,333 13s. 6d., while for next 
season the expenditure on this account is estimated 
at about £1,800 (chiefly for the extension of the factory 
at Warriagalla to provide for the increased intake of 
leaf on that estate) which would increase the debit 
balance to a little over £6,000. To provide for this, 
and further requirements of the same nature, it is 
proposed at the end of this year to make a small issue 
of shares and debentures, full particulars of which will 
be given in two or three months' time. The issue will 
in the first instance be offered on favourable terms to 
the shareholders then on the Register. 
A tabulated statement accompanies this report 
showing the progress of the Company since its com- 
mencement, which it is hoped will be found interesting 
to the shareholders. They will see that notwithstanding 
the fall in the price of tea and the rise in exchange, 
the Company has been able to hold its own fairly 
well, chiefly owing to the gradual increase of ciops 
arising from the extension of cultivation, and the 
General Managers recommend a continuation of the 
policy of such extension, provided the necessary ad- 
ditional capital is forthcoming. 
The Estimates for the New Season have been care- 
fully framed, and are as follows :— 
Expenditure. 
R. 
107,916 
73,044 
32,723 
59,599 
63,653 
63,502 
57,486 
■Wattegodde 
Hoonoocotua 
Ellagalla 
Tallagalla 
Warriagalla 
Rutland 
Sorana 
Tea Crop, 
lb. 
400,000 
260,000 
110,000 
230.000 
230,000 
220,000 
230,000 
Totals R457,923 @ 1/4|=£31,243 14r Od 1,680,000 
Also about 25,000 lb. of Cinchona from Rutland, 
7.500 lb. Cardamoms, and 1,680 lb. Cocoa from Warria- 
galla, and 15,000 1b. Cinnamon from Sorana; the 
value of the whole of such products being estimated 
at about i;i,500. 
The Ceylon Agents report that the Company's 
Estates are in good order and appearance and that 
the Tea seems remarkably free from pests and blight, 
though the latter has given some trouble on Talla- 
galla. Samples of the soil from this Estate have 
been sent home and subjected to a careful chemical 
analysis with a view to ascertain the most suitable 
manures to strengthen the soil and thus enable the 
bashes to throw off the blight. The recommenda- 
* Of which 299 acres are planted with Cardamoms, 
QQOoa apd Cinnamon, 
tions of an eminent Agricultnral Chemist are being 
carefully carried out and there seems to be every 
hope of their proving successful. 
The General Manager have pleasure in informing 
the Shareholders that as the result of continued 
agitation on the part of Importers, the Wharfingers have 
consented to reduce their charges on tea by an 
additional 10 per cent, all rom d to take effect on all 
shipments that arrived after lat July. This concession 
will result in a saving to the Company of about £200 
per annum. Aebuthnot, Latham & Co., 
25th Sept. 1900. General Managers. 
BATWATTA COCOA COMPANY 
(CEYLON). 
The following is the report of the Directors 
submitted at the annual meeting held in the 
Queen's Hotel, Kandy, last month : — 
THE director's BEPORT, 
The Directors beg to submit their report and 
statement of accounts for the season ended 30th 
June, 1900. 
The Directors regret to have to report that the 
original estimate of 300 cwts. cocoa has not been 
secured; this is attributable to the drought during the 
early months of the year. 
The total cocoa crop secured amounted to 208 cwta. 
2 qrs. 1 lb. which sold at an average of a little over 
R43 per cwt. 
The tea crop including 1,520 lb. made from bought 
leaf amounted to 53,510 lb., against an estimate of 
50,000 lb., which sold for an average of 30'57 cents 
per lb. against an average of a little over 33J cents 
the previous year. 
On the year's working the crop bearing portion of 
the estate shows a profit of R5,32065, which has 
been carried to credit of profit and loss account. 
The present appearance of the cocoa is very satis- 
factory ; no sign of disease and the trees looking 
healthy and vigorous. 
The prospects for the coming season for cocoa 
seem to be favourable, fine blossoms have for the 
most part set well. 
Now that the young tea clearings are coming into 
bearing, the returns of leaf should show a marked 
increase annually for some time to come. 
The estimate of cocoa for the coming year is 400 
cwts., and that of tea 750!)0 lb. together with 6,000 
lb. made from bought leaf against an expenditure 
of R33,807-50. 
The following is a definition of the Company's pro- 
perty as at 30th June : — 
Cocoa planted 
Do do 
Do do 
1893 
1894 
1895 
A. 
72 
85 
65 
Tea planted 1890 (and Cocoa) 118 
Do 
Do 
Bo 
Grass 
Jungle 
do 
do 
do 
1896 
18J7 
1898 
do 
do 
do 
4 
99 
75 
p. 
2 
29 
07 
—223 
27 
00 
27 
00 
—317 
3 
0 19 
Total caltivated 
543 3 33 
181 0 00 
Total acreage 724 3 33 
During Mr. Gordon Pyper's temporary absence 
from the island Mr. T C fiuxley is undertaking the 
duties of Managing Director. 
Under the articles of association Messrs. T C Hux- 
ley and A Gollingwood Smail retire from the 
Directorate by rotation, but are eligible for re-election. 
An Auditor has to be appointed for the current 
year. The appointment rests with th« meeting- 
