608 
THE TROPICAL AGKICULTUKIST. 
i March ], 1900. 
UPPEK MASKELIYA ESTATES CO., LTD. 
ANNUAL REPOItT. 
AcBEAGE 31sT Deckmbee, 1899. 
Brunswick and Caskie- 
BlooBifield. ben. Total. 
Tea in full bearing .. 446 .. 200 .. (J U; 
Do not bearing . . — . . 7 . . 7 
Grass, limber Trees, &c.. 72 .. — .. 72 
518 207 72.T 
The Directors now submit to the Shareholders the 
accounts of the Company for the past year. 
The crop realized amounted to 329,814 lb. Tea (beinp; 
29,814 lb. Tea in excess of the estimate) against 256, 0.-!-2 
lb. secured in 1898. The average price realized for all 
tea sold, including the grant of 10 cents per lb. on 
green teas, was 42 86 cents per lb. The expenditure in 
1899 on capital account amounted to R3,242 96 for new 
lines, and for additions to machinery. 
After writing off 10 per cent on original cost for 
depreciation of Buildings and Machinery and a sum of 
R50 for bad debts, the profit for the year amounted to 
E42,340'17 equal to 12-10 per cent on the capital of the 
Company. To this falls to be added R624'36 brought 
forward from 1898, and surplus of R742'95 over the 
estimated value of 12,020 lb. 1898 crop, making 
E43,707'48 available for dividend. An interim dividend 
of 3 per cent was paid on 2nd September last, and the 
Directors now recommend the payment of a final divi- 
dend of 5 per cent, making 8 per cent for the year, and 
that the balance of Rl£,707'48 be carried forward to the 
current season's account. 
The crop for this year is estimated at 300,000 lb. 
tea on an expenditure of R91,305'05 which includes 
the sum of R12,033 for manuring 310 acres. 
The attention of shareholders is drawn to the accom- 
panying notice of an Extraordinary Meeting to be 
held, to pass, if approved, a resolution empowering 
the Directors to pay an interim dividend, which power 
is usually given to Directors and obviates the necessity 
of calling a General Meeting of the Shareholders solely 
for that purpose. 
In terms of the Articles of Association Mr. A E 
Wright retires from the office of Director, but is 
eligible for re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor for the current year 
will rest with the meeting. 
THE COLOMBO TEA TRADERS' 
ASSOCIATION. 
REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DEC. 1899. 
The Committee have pleasure in presenting their 
report for the year 1899. 
Prom many estates the packages are still very in- 
different, especially where local woods are used. Of 
these, experience shows that Kakuna, Mango, and 
Imbul are particularly unsuitable. 
The outturn of weights is now more satisfactory 
than last year, but there must always be trouble in 
the trade in this respect after sampling, so long as 
estates which do not bulk their teas, simply put in 
the bare weight stencilled on each package. 
The general opinion of buyers is that the outturn 
of machine packed teas is better than those packed 
in other ways. 
The larger portion of tea sold locally is encouraging, 
and the quantity shipped to America and Russia is still 
increasing, as is evidenced by the comparative figures 
for 1898 and 1899 given below. So far as Russia is con- 
cerned, the demand is almost entirely for leaf teas. 
The total exports for the year were, as per Chamber 
of Commerce retarue. — 
1899. 189&. 
United Kingdom . . 103,851,614 . . 96,133,833 
Australia 15,606,833 .. 1.5,126,891 
Russia .. 3,949.740 .. 2,714,003 
America .. 8,080,002 .. 2,180,188 
Other Countries . . 3,309,457 . . 3,614,156 
The following figures show the quantity offered 
locally in public sale for the last four years, with the 
average price obtained for complete invoices sold. 
Average, 
lbs. cents. 
1896 .. 32,083,163 ... 41 
1897 .. 33,S86,809 ... 37 
1898 .. 35,958,819 ... 35 
1899 .. 38,377,318 ... 38 
The following is the present Committee: — 
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. 
BuYEHs:— Messrs. Tarrant, Henderson & Co., P P 
Street, Darley, Butler & Co,, and Finlay. Muir & Co. 
Releehs:- Messrs. Bosanqnet & Co., Whittall & Co., 
J M Robertson & Co., and Geo. Steuart & Co. 
The number of raembpr.s bsilongin;?; to the Asso- 
ciation is 43, against 44 in the previous year. 
The accounts for the past year made up to 31at 
December, 1899, and submitted" to you shew a credit 
balance of Rl,247-51. 
129,797,646 119,769,07 1 
BADULIA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL REPORT, 
Your Committee have much pleasure in submitting 
their annual report for the year 1899— the sixteenth 
since the formation of the Association. 
During the year two Committee meetings and two 
general meetings have been held. 
Membership.— Forty-seven estates and three pri- 
vate members are on the roil, being the same num- 
ber as last year. 
Finance.— The books of the Association are laid on 
the table for tiie inspection of members and show 
a balance of R156-29 at credit against a balance of 
R4'53 at the end of the previous vear. 
Estimate of Tea Crop 1900 — Tlie estimated tea 
crop from the district is 4,683,150 lb. as against 
4,516,090 lb. in 1899— an increase of 167,060 lb. The 
total acrage in tea is 15,(84 acres of which 11821 
acres are in bearing and 3,963 acres young tea 
estimated yield for tea in bearing 
of 396 lb. per acre. ° 
Tea. — The season was not a favourable one for tea 
The rainfall being short and badly distributed 
throughout the year. Two periods of severe drought 
were experienced, viz,, February and March and May 
to September. The latter was the most severe 
drought experienced for many years. Owing to these 
abnormal climatic conditions the estimates framed 
for 1899 were not realized on many estates. 
Coffee.— Fortunately the district is not dependent 
on this product now. Good crops were harvested on 
a few estates during the past year, but prices have 
fallen very low and green bug continues its ravages 
so that the prospects of this product are far from 
good. 
Minor Products.- Cacao and cardamoms continue 
to be cultivated iu the- district. The latter product 
is being extended considerably. 
B-Iain Roads and Bridges.— Your Committee have 
pleasure in reporting that the improved conditions 
of the mam roads mentioned in their last annual 
report has boen maintained. Your Committee con- 
gratulate you on the completion of the extension of 
the Madulsima cart road to Cocogalla Factory ■ also 
on the completion of the very handsome cart bridge 
over the BaduUa Oya atTalaena. Both these impoi-t- 
ant works have been carefully designed and thorono-hlv 
well-constructed and will be of great benefit to" the 
general public and to the estates they are intended to 
serve. Great credit is due to Mr. Christie, the Pro- 
vincial Engineer, and his staff, for the hiobly satis- 
factory state of public woi ks throughout the district 
It may well and truly be said that never before have 
the roads in Uva been in such excellent order as at 
the present time. 
New Works.- Tour Committee are pleased to' be 
able to announce that in response to a resolution 
passed at the last general meeting of this Associa- 
tion, His Excellency the Governor has ordered that 
provision for a bridge over the Badulla Oya on the 
