THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb.. 2, 1903. 
KNUCKLES, KELEBOKKA AND 
PANWILA P. A. 
Report fok the year. 
There are now 28 estates on the re^teter. 
Tea,— Acreage io tea is 10,109 acres, of which 
9,880 are in bearing. , . , 
Estimated crop for 1903 is 4,047,000 lb. which 
shows a yield of 409 lb. per acre. 
Native leaf, 689,0001b. leaf. 
Accounts were laid on the table, and show a 
credit balance of R98-52. 
DIMBULA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION, 
SEASON 1903 : TOTAL ESTIMATE OF TEA CROP 
IN DIMBULA DISTRICT. 
a 
O CD 
a . 
-s ce y 
O CD 20 
111, Estates total 45,925 45,r47i 21,786,535 483 
Previous year, 
1902 45,8061 44,718J 22,647,619 506 
Increase IISJ 829 — — 
Decrease — — 861,084 23 
B. & O. B. 
75 Acres were left to rest. 
Eleven (11) Estates have not sent iu retains for 
this year. 
One (1) Estate sent only the acreage ar.d did 
not mention the crop. 
1902-1903. 
THE DIMBULA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION : 
COMMITTEE'S REPORT PRESENTED TO THE 28TH 
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. 
19th Jan., 1902. 
Membership.— The subseribera for 1902-1903, 
number 96 estates :— The total is (4) four Subscrib- 
ers less than 1901-1902; (3) three estates and (1) 
one private. The three (3) estates have failed to 
pay. although two (2) had promised to do so. The 
private subscription was not paid owing to absence 
in Europe of the payer; 
FINANCE. 
By Balance brought forward from 
1901-1902 
96 Estates Subscriptions at 115 
'„ Bent on Doctor's Bungalow, 
" I5elgravia" ... 
,, District Road Grant for 1902-1903 
Total 
Less. Spent on District Boads and Sign 
Posts, 1902-1903 
Less. D. P. A. Expenditure Account in 
1902-1903 
Balance (o be carried forward— Total 
11 
c. 
192 
25 
480 
00 
10 
00 
1,000 
00 
1,682 
25 
1,004 
67 
677 
58 
B540 
19 
B137 
39 
B585 
35 
Expenditure in 1901.1902 ... 
Meetings.— There have been (4) four Committee 
and (4) four geneial meetings during the year. 
Several members of Committee have only attended 
•(1) one meeting and it is to be regretted that 
keener interest is not taken in tho affai^ of the 
Association and of general import. The average 
attendance for the year has been for Committee, 
12. General meetings, 23. It will be observed that 
the average attendance in Committee for the year, 
has been less than half of the members appointed: 
a most disappointing result ; whereas, the average 
attendance in general meetings has been consider- 
ably greater than in the previous year, which is 
satisfactory ard encouraging. 
Acreage and Crop Estimate for 1903. — The total 
Acreage of the District is 45,925 in tea ; in bear- 
ing, 45,047| acres. The estimated crop for 1903, as far 
as it has been possible to collect, is 21,786,585 lb. 
of Black Tea, or an average of 483 lb per acre. 
These figures show a decrease in tea of 861,084 lb. 
and a dfecrease iu yield of 23 lb. per acre 
under 1902. 
Season, 1902. — The bad flushing weather during 
the latter part of the year, has caused low yields, 
consequently estimates are short in most cases, 
Prices throughout the district have been generally 
well maintained and in a fair number of instances 
are higher than those during last year. Plucking has 
been careful, but owing to the shortfall, profits are 
probably less than in 1901 on the majority of 
estates. 
Labour.— Owing to less crop being harvested 
during the year, labour has been enough to 
cope with work done on estates generally ; 
which is satisfactory. "Sour Committee would, how- 
ever, impress on employers of labour, the necessity 
of recruiting more labour from the Coast during 
1903, in order to maintain their labour forces to 
required strength and to avoid as far as possible 
issuing further advances to those already in 
Ceylon, That Fpecial efforts be made to tap new 
districts and if considered advisable to appoint a 
special recruiting agent. 
Labour Federation. — There has been one case 
brought before the District Sub-Committee during 
the year between Ambegamnwa and Dimbula 
planters ; the final decision exonerated the Dim- 
bula planter as having been decided by one of hia 
kanganiea. 
District Minor Roads. — The amount granted 
by Government towards the upkeep of these roads 
for this year was R1,000 ; out of this B288 15 was 
spent on sign-posts. Consequently after paying the 
votes granted for District Koads amounting to 
R716'52, there is a debit balance of B4-67 which 
the Association is obliged to pay pending supple- 
mentary grant to meet the expenditure on sign- 
posts from District Road Committee. Your Com- 
mittee would point out that owing to the heavy 
expenditure on sign-posts during the past two years, 
grants for upkeep of District Minor Roads have 
had to be reduced to a minimum, which has been 
detrimental to proper maintenance of the roada 
throughout the district. 
Sign-Posts poe District Minor Roads in 
Dimbula. — Your Committee have to report that u 
to 31st December, 1902, R288-15 has been spen 
on the "completion of the sign-posts undertaken. 
The total spent iu 1901 and 1902 under this heading 
has been R757-33, which, so far has been deducte 
off the Annual Grants, allowed by Government fo 
upkeep of District Minor Roads in Dimbula. I 
ia hoped that the District Road Committee will be 
able to pay us an extra vote in 1903, towards the 
outlay under this heading. Your Committee would 
adviee that the chaining of the Bridle Roads should 
be undertaken directly funds are available, in 
order that each District Minor Road may receiva 
its Annual Grant in proportion to its mileage. 
Main Roads. — Your Committee are pleased to be 
able to report that the Main Roads in the Dis- 
trict have been on the whole, well maintained 
during the year. It is satisfactory to note that the 
improvements suggested by the Association ara 
likely to be provided for in the 1903 estimate?, 
