March 1, 1900.] THE TR0PICAL AGRICULTUKIST. 
609 
Badulla-Namunakula minor road be included in the 
ep( imates for 1901. 
Your Committee trust that the extension of the 
important road from Taldena to Alutunuwara via 
Bubule will be undertaken at an early date and a 
cart btidga built over the dangerous Loggal )ya, thua 
completing this mosc important and necessary link of 
conuectioti with the lower povticn of the Province. 
Minor Roads have been maintained in a satisfactory 
condition throughout the year. The Chairman of the 
Provincial Road Committee addressed this Association 
with a view of reducing the number of minor roads in 
the district, but after full and careful consideration of 
this matter it was resolved that uo reduction of these 
important lines of communication could be recom- 
mended at present. 
Agricultural Chemist. — Mr. Kelway Bamber paid, 
two visits to the district during the year. Members of 
the Association had an opportunity of meeting that 
gentleman on both occasions and were able to elicit a . 
good deal of important information in connection with 
tea manufacture, &c., and your Committee look forward 
with interest to the receipt of Mr. Bamber's report 
which will doubtless contain much valuable informa- 
tion relative to our chief industry. The thanks of the 
Association are due to H.E. the Governor for the 
appointment of a Mycologist. 
Labsur. — The labour supply has been fairly good 
during the year, but there are indications that demand 
has overtaken supply and your Committee view with 
some apprehension the increased demand that must 
necessarily arise when the construction of the lines of 
Railway to the North and to Udapussellawa is begun. 
Your Committee earnestly trust that Government will 
take steps to recruit from outside the island all labour 
required for railway construction. 
Railway Extension. — Your Committee regret that 
no progress has been made in the matter of railway 
extension during the year, but sincerely trust that the 
construction of a light line from Bandarawela as far 
as Passara will be undertaken before many years have 
passed. 
Benevolent Fund. — Your Committee regret that 
hitherto this fund has not received from members the 
support it deserves. They, however, trust that every 
member of the Association will become a subscriber to 
this most important fund during 1900. 
In Conclusion your Committee would earnestly 
impress upon every member of tho Association, the 
necessity for continued efforts being made to obtain 
such reforms and improvements as may be of lasting 
benefit to the district. 

THE KALUTAKA COMPANY, LIMITED. 
ANNUAL REPORT, 
Acreage. 
Tea in bearing . . . . 518 acres 
Tea in partial bearing. . .. 140 do 
Arecanuts, Grass, Ravines, &o. .. 10 do 
668 do 
Forest . . . • . . 416 do 
Total.. 1,084 do 
The Directors now submit to the Shareholders the 
accounts of the Company for the past year. 
The crop secured was 305,433 lb. Tea against an 
estimate of 285,000 lb. while 5,833 lb. Tea was manu- 
factured from purchased leaf. The average nett price 
realized was 36'89 cents per lb, against 33'08 cents per 
lb. in 1898. The expenditure on the estate amounted 
to 22-93 cents per lb. which included a sum of R5,347'27 
for manuring. 
The Rubber trees are growing satisfactorily and the 
supplies which were found necessary owing to damage 
by cattle are coming on well. Sinhalese are still 
prospecting for plumbago, but no definite arrangements 
have yet been made for working it. 
After making full provision for depreciation of 
Buildings amd Machinery, writing ofi a bum of K1,000 
to Coast Advance Reserve Account and paying the 
interest on the Preference Shares, there remains a 
balance at credit of Profit and Loss Account on the 
year's wcrkins of R30,147'13, equal to 7'54 per cent on 
the capital of the Company. To this falls to be added 
the balance of R3,774'66 brought forward from 1898. 
During the year under review a further 20 of the 
Preference Shares were issued, making the total Pre- 
ferential capital R27,500. 
On 28th August last an interim dividend of 2 per cent- 
was declared and the Directors now recommend the 
payment of a final dividend of 5 per cent, making 7 per 
cent for the year, and that the balance of R5,921'79 be 
carried forward to the current season's account. 
The capital expenditure for the past year amoanted 
to R10,98138 on the upkeep of young tea not in bearing 
and additions to Buildings, including the final payments 
on account of Withering House. 
The estimate of crop for this year from the Com- 
pany's estates is 333,000 lb. Tea on an expenditure of 
R75,532 65, including the sum of R5,756 to be spent on 
manuring, while expenditure on Capital Account is 
estimated at R6,268'75, lor the planting up of 25 acres 
with Tea and the erection of new lines which are 
much required. 
Duriua the year BIr. J G Wardrop resigned his seat 
on the Board and the remaining Directors appointed 
Mr. R S Templer in his place. On Mr. W H Figg'a 
departure from the island Mr. Wardrop was re-appoin- 
ted. In terms of the Articles of Association Mr. G H 
Alston now retires from the Board, but is eligible for 
re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor for the current year 
will rest with the meeting. 
THE RUANWELLA TEA COY., LTD. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
ACREAGE. 
Tea in full bearing .. .. 358 aorea 
Tea not bearing . . . . 16 „ 
Jungle and Wasteland .. 199 „ 
Total .. B78 acres 
The Directors have now to submit to the Shafe» 
holders the Accounts of the Company for thd 
past year. 
The crop secured amounted to only 161,100 
lb. Tea against an estimate of 200,000lb. The 
shortfall is mainly due to the deficiency in rainfall. 
The average net price realized was 34'66 cents per 
lb against 30 90 cents cer lb in 1898 ; the cost delivered 
in Colombo was 26 58 cents per lb, Jwhich includes 
the cost of manuring, amounting to 2'22 cents 
per lb. This high cost per pound is attributable t» 
the small crop. 
In view of the fact that the balance at credit 
of Depreciation Account now represents about forty, 
per cent of the original cost of Buildings and Machi- 
nery the Directors do not consider it necessary to 
write off anything further for depreciation at present. 
After transferring the sum of R500 to Coast Ad- 
vance Reserve Account and writing off a bad 
debt of R73'67, the profit for the year amounted to 
1110,543 01, to which falls to be added the balance 
brought forward from 1898, Rl,381-26 and a surplus 
of R861-46 over the estimated value of 16,690 lb. 
of 1898 crop. The total available for distribution 
is therefore R12,585'73, and the Directors recommend 
that a dividend of three per cent be declared for the 
past jj-ear, and of tho balance of R4,635'73 carried for- 
ward to the current season's accounts. 
The estimated crop for 1900 is 180,000 lb tea on an 
expenditure of R41,763-93. which includes a sum of 
Rb, 616-84 for manuring. 
During the year Mr. W H Figg resigned his seat 
on the Board, and the remaining Directors appointed 
Mr, G H Alston to the vacancy, who now retires, bat 
is eligible for re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor for the current year 
will rest with the meeting, 
