March 1, 1900.] THE TROPICAL 
AGEICULTURIST. 
COOLY IMMIGRATION FROM THE INDIAN 
FAMINE DISTRICTS. 
Here is an answer to our enquiry as to 
coolies from the famine districts, written 
by the Rev. H. G. de St. Dalmas who has 
had long experience as Missionary in Central 
India and also knows Ceylon well:— "Yours 
of 1st February has reached me here (Poona) 
tod;iy— only five days from Colombo! Some 
of the famine people would certainly be 
glad to go to Ceylon and some are actually 
going to Assam (Sylhet) and tea planters 
come to Rutlam to select coolies. Many were 
disappointed at not being passed by the 
doctor. I wrote to the Rutlam Missionary, 
f lie Rev, J. Fraser Campbell, D.D., Canadian 
Mission, Rutlam, C.I., to invite ihe planter to 
come to Sehore, but I got no reply — this 
was only a few days before we left Sehore. 
I have also heard that Government is 
sending Marwaris back to their own country, 
Jodhpur, Rajputana, and that 1,600 were 
sent away from Indore. 
" There has been a great emigration and 
some, who are ready to perish, would be glad 
to go anywhere. Some well organized effort 
by Government or by a Syndicate might 
succeed in getting some hundreds of famdie 
to emigrate. I doubt if this could be success 
fully accomplished without the presence of an 
agent from Ceylon who had time and money 
to go about to the various centres and collect 
suitable families and arrange for their trans- 
port. If such an agent were known to be 
coming, the Missionaries in Central India 
could get lists of volunteers from whom 
suitable ones could be selected. At Sehore 
we have relieved thousands, helping many to 
go to the other Provinces to look for work, 
and I think the most successful hunting 
ground might b« the relief works in the 
Central Provinces. The new Chief Com- 
missioner, A. H. L. Fraser, Esq., C.S.I., 
Nagpur, is a good Christian man (son of old 
Dr. Fraser. formerly of Poona.) [f a large 
number could be taken, how would it be to 
Avrite to Mr. Fraser, the C.C., and get Govern- 
ment help to hunt up coolies and families at the 
chief relief centres in the CP. ? My successor 
at Sehore, Mr. A. Taylor I fear could not help 
much, but would get lists prepared— if the 
Marwaris, &c., are not in the meantime sent 
away. Mr. Fraser Campbell, editor Gyan Pat- 
rika, Rutlam, C.I., could puta para in his paper 
about coolies for Ceylon and Mr. Evans, 
now at Dhar, C.I., care of the Rev. F H Russell 
(his son-in-law) has been writing about these 
famine wanderers in Central India and might 
take an interest in the scheme." 
Mr. St. Dalmas himself is about to leave for 
England. His information ought to be useful to 
Government and the new Railway Contractors 
and later on, perhaps to Sugar growers hei'e. 
TEA LAND IN JAVA. 
An advertisement in the Ceylon Observer 
shows that two fine blocks of land, suited for 
tea, are for sale in .Java at what seems not 
too high a rate. We do not like in Ceylon to 
hear of more tea being planted ; but the re- 
deeming features in this case are found in the 
fact that there is a large local demand for 
Java tea, and that the exports are more and 
more taking the place of coffee in Holland 
and Western Gex'many, 
74 
CASTLEKEAGH TEA COMPANY OF CEYJ 
LON, LIMITED. 
ANNUAL REPOKT. 
The Directors submit herewith the balance sheet 
and profit and loss account for the year ending 31at 
December, 1899, duly audited. 
The balance of profit (including R2,407'89 brought 
forward, and after providing for depreciation of 
buildings and machinery as shown in the accounts) 
is R8i,157 25. Of this sum R9,600 has been absorbed 
in paying an interim dividend at the rate of 4 per cent. 
The directors propose, after placing R718-73 to reserve 
fund, being 2k per cent, on the profits, asreselvedon 
in general meeting, to declare a further dividend at 
the rate of 8 per cent, payable on the 13th February, 
absorbing R19,200 and after paying a bonus of 5 per 
cent, on the profits divided, including reserve fund, 
for the year to the superintendent, in terms of a pro- 
mise made to him, absorbing Rl,475'93 to carry for- 
ward to 1900 account R162-59. 
The total tea crop was 175,755 lb. against the esti- 
mate of 195,000 lb., the season having been unfavour- 
able, in the earlier months. The cost of the tea 
delivered to buyers was 24'82 cents per lb., or 22-82 
cents exclusive of provision for depreciation on 
buildings and machinery. The tea was sold locally, 
realising 42 51 cents per lb, leaving balance of gain 
17'69 cents. Cost in 1898 was 24.68 cents, and value 
39 cents per lb. 
The Company's Property consists of : — 
476 acres tea under leaf. Yield in 1899— 3691b, 
tea per acre. 
4 ,, planted in 1897. 
4 „ „ 1898. 
42 „ forest. 
Total. .526 acres. 
The estimated crop for 1900 is 185,000 lb. tea, or 
389 lb. per acre. 
It will be seen that the property representing 
capital stands iu the balance sheet at approximately 
R495 per acre cultivated, and that the profit per aora 
is over R60 as compared with R39 in 1898 and R28 in 
1897, the profit upon capital being Rll-97 per cent, or 
including the sum reserved against depreciation 
R13 44 per cent. 
Mr. J H Starey retires from the Board. 
The shareholders will be requested to elect a director 
and also an auditor for the current year. 
THE KELANI VALLEY PLANTERS' A?. 
SOCIATION. 
FIFTEENTH ANNUAL BEPORT OP THE ASSOCIATION. 
lour Committee have pleasure in submitting their 
15th Annual Report. 
Meetings. -Five Committee and four General Meet. 
inga have been held during the year, 
T..^^nn-^^'~'^}^'^ b-.ilance in hand ia R567'80 against 
RbOO'7o at credit last year. 
ScHEDULE.-The schedules of the Association shows 
78 estates, one private and one honorary member 
against 7ti estates, one private and one honorary mem- 
ber last year, two new estates having joined the Aa- 
sociation during the year. 
Crop.— The estimate for 1900 ia 15,303,800 lb The 
acreage, of tea in bearing is 31,228 acres; there are 
4,bJl acres Hot in bearing total 35,919 acres, the 
average yield per acre is 490 lb. The large increase 
over last year both in acreage and crop, is ac- 
counted for by the more accurate collection of returns. 
Tea PBicEs.-The price of low-country teas has. 
your Committee is glad to note, been very satisfactory 
'he year, being from id to id better than ii 
1898, the prices during the first six months were 
?f,^'?'rK^/7f'^-^-^" .^"^"'' ^f'^"^ conclusion of 
the 1 lb. draft dispute the average price of Ceylon 
tea fell to the lowest point, and since then, though 
there has been a recovery, prices hare been much 
below the corresponding rates of last yeir. Your 
Oommittee regret to note that the concessioa R3 
