Sept. 1, 1899.] THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
159 
Manihot has poor communication and very impure 
latex, containing a small percentage of rubber. 
The objects to be aimed at in practice are princi- 
pally :— 
(1) To get a good quickly growing tree, which 
will yield, a large quantity of rubber after as few 
years as possible. 
(2) Xo obtain the latex with as little labour as 
possible, and with the greatest possible clean- 
liness, as all impurity lessens its value. 
(3) To obtain from this latex as pure caoutchouc 
as possible, with the least practicable labour and 
cost. 
(4) To get the caoutchouc as dry and antiseptic 
as possible. With regard to the first point, we 
have at present three trees which do well in 
Ceylon: Hevea Castilloa, and Manihot. The 
second desideratum is best supplied by Castilloa, 
which yields latex very freely from a small num- 
ber of incisions, and also gives a very fluid latex. 
Hevea is second best in this respect, and Manihot 
worst. 
Here we must take leave of tliis very full, 
instructive aud suggestive series of papers. 
The conclusions arrived at are by no means 
final; but there is a great deal of light 
thrown on problems of much practical im- 
portance to Rubber planters who all ought 
to feel, as we do, specially indebted to Mr. 
Parkin and Mr. Willis. 
BOGAWANTALAWA DISTRICT TEA 
COMPANY, LIMITED. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
Report presented at the Second Ordinary An- 
nual General Meeting of the Company, held 
at the Office of the Company of Wednesday, 
28th June. 
The Directors have the pleasure to submit the 
balance sheet and accounts of the Company for 
the year ending 31st March, 1899, duly audited. 
Notwithstanding a deficiency of some 2.7 inches 
in the rainfall, the aggregate yield of tea exceeded 
the estimate, and the gross price obtained in 
Loudon was 8-71 per lb. against 8*20 per lb. iti the 
previous season. 
The working expenditure compares favourably 
■with the estimates, and in spite of a higher 
average rate of exchange the cost of production 
was lower, being 25J cents against 26^ cents per 
lb. last season. 
Since October last the Bridwell leaf has been 
manufactured at the Bogawana factory, and the 
sum of £954 IBs lid expended thereon to com- 
plete the extensions, has been charged to capital 
account. On the other hand, a sum of about £650 
expended on renewals and impr ^vements to ex- 
isting factories, and in opening 75 acres new laud 
to be planted with tea, has been charged to 
revenue account 
The total yield was 1,031,782 lb tea plucked 
off 2 081 acres, of which 86 acres are only in 
partial bearing, being at the rate of 495 lb. per acre 
all round, costing free on board Colombo 25| 
cents or 4 12d per lb. The gross average price 
of the 1,024,646 lb. sold in London was 8-71d per 
lb., as statr.d above. 
The crops for ti;e current season are estimated 
at 1,020,200 lb. tea. 
The gross average at which drafts were negoci- 
ated was 1/4 5-.32 ner rupee, against 1/3 9-16 per 
rupee the previous season. 
The Directors desire to place on record their 
appreciation of the services of their manager and 
his staff in Ceylon. 
The Profit for the year, inclusive £ s. d. 
of Interest and after providing for 
General Expenses amounts to . . 15,033 15 11 
To which has to be added the 
Balance from last year of . . 958 14 4 
And Icierest . . . . 54 5 8 
Less Income Tax (season 1897-' 
1,013 0 
435 1 
577 18 
15,611 14 7 
Interest on the Mortgage Deben- 
tures has been paid, less Income 
Tax .. .. 406 0 0 
Dividends on the 6 per cent. Pre- 
ference Shares for the 12 months 
were paid on the j2th October, 
1898, and 1st April, 1899, Jt^s Tax 5,394 0 0 
An Interim Dividend of 2a per cent 
on the Ordinary Shares was paid, 
less Tax, on the 11th Jan. 1899 ... 3,416 13 4 
It i* proposed ; — 
To pay a final Dividend of 5 per , 
cent, on the Ordinary Shares, 
making 7§ per cent, for the year, 
which will require, less Tax . . 4,838 6 8 
To transfer to Reserve Account . . 1,500 0 0 
And to carry forward to next year 
the balance (out of which Income 
Tax has to be paid) of.. 1,061 14 7 
£15,611 14 7 
In view of the expenditure on buildings 
and clearings charged to revenue account, and 
of the fact that all buildings and machinery are 
in a high state of efficiency, the Directors no 
not consider it necessary to write off a specific 
sum for depreciation. 
The Director who retires on this occasion is Mr. 
John Geoffrey Fort, wlio, being eligible, offers 
himself for re-election. 
Mr. John Smith the Auditor also retires, and 
offers himself for re-election. 
SCHEUDLE OP THE COMPANY'S ESTATES. 
Estates. 
Kirkoswald 
Bridwell 
Blbedde 
Bogawana 
I full 
ring. 
i partial 
.ring 
Tea, not in 
1 bearing. 
CO 
n 
OS 
1 Chena and 
Patana. 
;al acres, 
^1 
756 
S g 
o 
•109 
12 
O 
877 
382 
*71 
5 
15 
473 
559 
46 
100 
27 
15 
747 
298 
40 
4 
'70 
6 
18 
436 
1,995 
86 
104 
'277 
38 
33 
2533 
THE DLMBULA VALLEY (CEYLON) TEA 
COMPANY, LIMITED. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
Directors' Report submitted to the shareholders 
at the Third Anruial Ordinary General Meeting, 
to be held at the Cannon Street Hotel, on 
Monday, the 3rd day of July, at 12 o'clock noon. 
The Directors beg to submit the General Balance 
Sheet and Profit and Loss Account for the year 
ending 31st March last. 
After bringing forward £226 16s 9d from last 
account, and providing for general expenses, for 
* About 75 acres felled and prepared for planting 
withf tea. 
