THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
[Jan. ], 1 goo- 
sensible planters say : — " What is the good of 
manuring, if we have not the labour to secure 
the increased flush ?" 
Tea Blights. — Well, we had these galore 
in May and June of last year, but they have 
had no effect on the flushing ; but they may 
eventually handicap us, and do away with 
the probable increase high cultivation natur- 
ally encourages us to expect. One who has 
passed through the Heynileia vastati-ix 
experience, remembers only too well an 
exceptionally good coffee crop after the 
deadly pest had begun to undermine the 
strength of our trees. Often and often in the 
papers and visiting agents' quarterly reports, 
you would find: "Never saw the estate 
looking V)etter. The bushes have a splendid 
cover of leaf and coffee blossom ; spike show- 
ing up well." Three months after, what a 
change would come over the spirit of the 
dream : — "I never saw a more virulent attack 
of leaf disease. The spik^e that promised so 
well has left us only a few berries on leafless 
branches," &c., &c. However, grey and brown 
blights .are very mild ones as compared with 
Hemileia vastatrix, and present scientific 
and tea fax'mers' opinions are that they will 
be kept in hand by judicious manuring and 
that they will only be very troublesome when 
seasons are abnormal. 
Caoao. — The exports are decidedly higher 
than last year, viz. by 5,0(X) cwt., but that is 
generally attributed to a large area coming 
into cultiviition. Great attention is paid to 
dealing with the fungus on its first appear- 
ance, but there is the difficulty to be faced of 
barking the trees so much, as to ring the trees, 
with fatal results to the tree operated on. 
Cinchona. — Notwithstanding better prices, 
the exports have diminished 30 per cent, 
under 1898. There is no cinchona to speak of 
in the island. I have heard men talking of 
commencing to plant ; but I have not seen any 
such planting. [Certainly, there has been 
some planting in 1898 and 1899.— Ed. CO.] 
Cardamoms.— The export is less by 40,000 
lb. Clearings have been planted in 1899, and 
some clearings, planted two or three yeai's 
ago, must be coming into bearing. It is 
>vnat you may call a "pocket cultivation," and 
only in the hands of a favoured few. 
Coconuts.— Under all the headings, except 
" desiccated coconuts ", there is a decrease in 
1899 under 1898 : why or wherefore the writer 
ca,nnot say. 
Coffee has made a dying spurt in the 
way of exports, so far as ' plantation' and is 
concerned. I should think the future crops 
Will barely satisfy the local consumption. 
,, THE TRADE OF CEYLON IM 1899, 
No. I : EXPORTS. 
( By a mercantile authority. ) 
The export trade of 1899 has exhibited a 
good deal of fluctuation both as regards 
volume and value. But, generally speaking 
it may be said to have resulted in what may 
he termed a prosperous year. 
Tea.— Our staple product has contributed 
largely in tliis direction. The excess for 1898 
l)eing about 10 million lb., three-fourths of 
the excess going to the United Kingdom. At 
the same time native products, such as pro- 
duce of the coconut pialm, copra, cinnamon, 
coir stuffs, plumbago, &c , have all to a 
greater or less degree, participated. 
A steady exchange has helped exporters, 
and this in itself has contributed to promote 
business in the minimising of risk which had 
for a long time previously hampered mercan- 
tile transactions. 
Cardamoms.— Exports are slightly under 
those of last year, but there is extension of 
cultivation going on in a few suitable 
localities ; the result of this, however, will not 
be felt for some years to come. Indian demand 
fell off during the latter part of the year, 
and prices have declined to about Rl 80 for 
first and second qualities. 
Cinnamon.— There has been a good export 
. both of quills and chips and good prices 
have prevailed throughout the year. The 
price of ordinary assortment being now 
about 58 cts per lb. The novel feature in 
connection with this article is the large ex- 
port there has been of "wild" description, 
as much as 195,(XJ8 lb. having been exported, 
chiefly to London, but the value has fallen so 
low, that the collection of spmious sorts is 
not likely to be encouraged. 
Cinchona continues to fall off in quantity. 
About 130 per cent less having been expqrted 
last year than in the previous year-. 
Coconut Oil shows a decline of about 
35,000 cwts. less than in the previous year, 
the demand for India and Singapore having 
been much curtailed. On the other hand the 
export to London and America has gone on 
briskly. The aggregate for the year is a 
little over 20,000 tons. The present value is 
R312'50 to R315 per ton f.o.b., as compared 
with 317'50 a year age. 
Coffee.— The year has been a little more 
favourable, and plantation shows an excess 
of 6,400 cwt , whereas native seems to have 
been extinguished altogether, the export 
being returned as nil. 
Cocoa.— This has continued in good demand 
throughout the year, and there is a steady 
inquiry for briglit colory sorts. The value 
bemg about 45 to 47 rupees per cwt. 
Desiccated Coconut.— This industry con- 
tinues to expand. The quantity exported 
during the last year being 13^ million lbs., 
or roiighly speaking, i a million lb. more 
than in the previous year. 
Coir Yarn .vnd Fibre continue to meet 
with a steady inquiry. The quantity sent 
away being about the same as in the previous 
year. 
Palmyra and Kitul Fibres show some 
falling-ott", the values having declined con- 
siderably in the home markets. 
Plumbago.— This article has excited the 
greatest interest during the past year. In 
the early part of the year, it was supposed 
that there would be an over-supply and a 
gi-eat decline in prices, and this did take place 
to some extent, but, it was succeeded by a 
renewal of inquiry, and prices were driven 
up to a level beyond all previous experience. 
There has since been some subsidence of 
values, but there is still a fairly good off-take 
at prices which must well repay the pit- 
owners, if not the middle-men or contractors. 
The diggifig of plumbago has attracted all 
classes of natives, and , many must have been 
reaping a rich harvest, although doubtless 
there has been disappointment amongst ths 
