March 2, 1903.] THE TROPICA.L AGRICULTURIST. 
601 
PUSSELLAWA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATON 
REPORT FOR 1902. 
Yoar Committee beg to submit to you tha tenth 
annm»l Eeport. 
Membershep. — The number of estates on the Regis- 
ter is tifcy. During the year one estate has withdrawn 
and three have joined the Association. There ia one 
private subscription. 
Finances. — The balance at credit of the Association 
is R199-41, as compared with R2W'J9 in 1902. 
Meetings. — Three general and three committee 
meetings have been held during the year, at which 
the average attendance was good. 
Chop Bstijiate for 19U3. — Acreage in bearing, 
21,042 ; Total crop (Black), 9,555,550 ; Green tea, 
215,000 ; Native leaf (M.T), 1,653,500; Native holding", 
5,000; Yield per acre, 438 lbs per acre; Total crops 
as against 1902, 11,421,050 ; Acreage in bearing 
including native, 25,305 ; Total crop, 11,248,200 ; Green 
tea, Nil ; Yield per acre, 443 lb. Fiifty acres have 
been returned as abandoned during the past year. 
Season. — The latter half of the past year has been 
generally unfavourable for flushing, especially in the 
higher portions of the district, owing to the unusually 
continuous and heavy rains of tlie North-east monsoon. 
Estimates in many cases, have not been fully realised. 
Labour. — Labour has been fairly plentiful, but 
advances show a tendency to increase, and your 
Committee regrets that the sub-Committee appointed 
by the Parent Association to consider the Labour 
question, could not see its way to recommend any 
alteration iu the present laws affecting the relations 
of employers and employed, 
Roads. — The main and minor Roads in the jJistrict 
have been maintained in'good order during the year, 
and the thanks of the Association are due to the 
Provincial Road Committee for the grants given 
towards the up-keep of the latter, and to those 
members who undertake the supervision of the repairs. 
The new grant-iu-aid cart-road between Ulapane and 
Riverside has been connected during the past year 
and is making fair progress. 
Tolls. — The deputation appointed to ask for the 
abolition of the Gampola Bridge toll was received 
by His Excellency the Lieut. -Governor in the absence 
of Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, and the latest advice 
from the Colonial Secretary (dated 5th December, 
1902) is that the matter is still under the consideration 
of Government. 
Your Committee trusts that the final result wili be 
to release the District from a portion of the heavy 
tax levied on it at present in the forfn of tolls. 
Blights and Pests. — The district has been remark- 
ably free from '' Grey Blight, or Rust" during the 
past year ; but your Committee regrets that the 
" Shot-Hole-Borer " ia still very prevalent on some 
estates, and appears to be spreading. Burning prun- 
ings baa been tried, but does not seem to have been 
of much use; at present pruuiu,^s are being buried with 
Basic Slag, but it is too early yet to form any opinion 
as to what this v/ill effect. Helopeltis was noticed 
on two or three estates round Gampola, but ic disap- 
peared without doing any harm. 
OuiTUAliY.- Your Committee desires to express its 
deep regret at the sudden death of Mr Shelton Agar, 
an old and valued member of the Association, 
(Signed) Tojr, Hvatt, Hon, Secretary, P.P.A. 
To balance taken over from Blr Fred R. 
Wernham on May 10th, 1902, in Bank 316 39 
Do Five members subscriptions at Rr2 60 00 
Do Overpaid by one subscription . , 50 
Do Kaclioheri order from Chairman, Dis- 
trict Road Committee . . . . 930'00 
Do Kachcheri order from Chairman, Dis- 
trict Road Committee, Kegalla .. 50 00 
Do Kachcheri order from Chairman, Dis- 
trict Road Commiitee, Nuwara Eliya lOO'OO 
Jannary 1st to Sulsnce 1,450-SU 
7e 
By Pail Alex. Philip 5 ostatoa sub- 
scriptions to Parent As.sociation at R7"o0 37'50 
Do Cheque donation to G W Stdrgoss, 
Houy. Secretary Society for Cruelty 
to Animals ... .. .. lO'OO 
Do Cheque to Alxe. VVardrop for donation 
to Victoria MemorialEye Institute. . 50"00 
Do District Road Grants .. .. 1,080'00 
Do Stationary, Advertising Clerk, Petties 
and Postages ... ... .. 79-93 
Do Balance at 31 December, 1902, as per 
Bank, book at credit of Association. . 199'41 
Total .. 1,456 83 
RAKWANA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR TilE YEAR 1902. 
Your Committee have pleasure in presenting their 
report for the year 1902. 
bniTUAEY, — Before passing on to the various items 
of the report, your Committee consider it their duty 
to record their deep feelings of sorrow at the irrepar- 
able loss sustained by tha District of Rakwana in tha 
death of Mr Robert Bartrum, of Stubton, which sad 
event occurred on the 25th September last. 
The late Mr Bartrum, who was one of the oldest 
residents in this district, and one of the staunohesfc 
supporters of this Association, will long be missed by 
his fellow-planters of Rakwana. 
Register of Estates.— The number of estates on 
the roll of the Association for the past year was 
fifteen (15,) which was an increase of two on that 
for the year 1901 . 
Number of Meetings. — There have been four Gene- 
ral, and five Committee meetings held during the 
past year, all of which have been very vv'ell attended. 
The amount of business transacted has been considera- 
ble, and the wants of the district have been kept pro- 
minently before the Government, with the result that, 
in nearly every instance, they have been promptly 
attended to. 
Official Estimate of Tea Crop for 1903.— Tiia 
estimate of tea crop for this year is 40,000 lbs, ia 
excess of the estimate for 1902, in spite of a consi- 
derable acreage having been abandoned. The acreage 
to come into bearing is, however, next to nothing, be- 
ing only 28 acres. 
District Roads. — Your Committee have to inform 
you that all the minor roads in the district, in charge 
of the Association, have been repaired for the past 
year, and are in order. An additional vote of RlOO 
was obtained for the Springwood-Elohioo road, bring- 
ing up the Government moiety to R300. A vote of 
R67 was also obtained from the District Road Com- 
mittee for repairing the Stubton Ford, the estates 
interested contributing a further sum of R33, briug- 
ing the amount up to RlOO. This work has been 
greatly hindered by wet weather, but is now nearing 
compltttioa. Your Committee are also pleased to record 
that the District Road Committee have voted the sum 
of R335 for the re-constiuction and repair of all tha 
bridges requiring attention on the Rakwaua-Depedeua 
road, The Superintendent of Depedene estate has 
been entrusted with this work. The lower section of 
the Rakwana-Bulatota road, from the Rakwana-ganga 
bridge to the turn-off to the Government bungalow 
has been, at the request of this Association, take- 
over by the Public Works Department from 1st Jaa, 
uary of last yoar. 
Government Cart Road. — Your Committee are 
pleased to note that the Government cart road 
through the district hss been maintniud iu ft duo 
state of eilicieijcy during the past year. 
Madajipa Pass Deviation. — Yo\u' Committee aro 
somewhat disappointed with tha progress already 
mado in connection wi^h this much-needed devi*- 
tion— only one mile of the road having been made 
ready for trallio during the year 1902, besides abons 
'i of a mile more ot earthwork conipl>3tod. i'our 
Committee hope that now, the most diflicult pot-« 
