June 1, 1900.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
811 
The total crop of Tea secured from the Company's 
Estates was 259 2331b-, against 212,-115 lb. in 1893, 
and the average yield per beaiiag acre -V-'aa 4i31b., 
against- 352 lb. for the previous twelve months, shew- 
ing the satisfictoi'v increases of 46,818 lb., in the 
total and 91 lb. ill the average. ' - , 
The Tea BOid in Lorjdon realized an average price 
o£ par lb., against 9d for the previous year, and the 
rate of exchange was 1/4 25/G4th3, 
3t 1/4 5/lDfchs. 
Duriug the past year about 1S5 acres have been 
manured at acost of about £350, vfhioh has been debited 
to 1899 expenditure, although theinll benefit ¥/ill not be 
derived until current season. The estimates for tha 
new year provide for the further treatment of 144 
aorss, and it is the Board's intention to go on with 
the systematic manuring of the Company's Properties, 
from which they anticipate good. results to accrue. 
PUNDALOYA TEA CO. OF CEYLON LTD. 
ANNUAL RErOET, 
The followiug is from the report pre- 
sented at the third ordina.ry annual gener.il 
meeting of die cjinpany, lield iifc thi oflico of the 
company oa Tluusday, tlie iOth March : — 
1 Tlie director.? now sn.bniit tlicir Ksi'ort for 
tlie year ending 31st Deoeinber 1899 togetiier 
witli the balance .sheets and accounts of the 
company made up to that date aiKl duly audited. 
• ■2 The tea crop amounted to 644,5B51b,' of 
which 64-!,03'db, shipped to Ljudon realised a 
gross average cf 9'28d per lb. The crop ex- 
ceeded that of the previous year by 16,679 lb", and 
as it was plucked from the same acreage the in- 
crease is satisfactory. But the most satisfactory 
feature is the decreased cost of production, and al- 
though this is chiefly due to fortuitous circumstances, 
still a saving has been effected in the principal 
items of expenditure, and the board have much 
pleasure in recording their appreciation of the suc- 
cessful efforts of the estate managers in this direc- 
tion. During the year thirty-nine a'.res of forest 
land have been planted with tea. On surveying iko 
clearings opvmed in this and previous years how- 
ever it h is been found that the acreage planted in 
1897 and 1898 turns out to be less than v/as esti- 
mated, and the total planted since the formation of 
the company is therr^fore 192 acres. Dili lag lyUO it is 
proposed to plant a further clearing of about fifty acres, 
for which there is an ample supply of plants in the 
nurseries. 
Tha following statement gives details which may 
be of interest : — 
>■ 
13 
a 
a 
ao 
■ ts I r§ 
S5 S -g .2 S--; S° .£M 
acres. lb. lb. d. d. s. d. per ct. 
1899. ..1,640 644,565 393 4-31 9-28 1 4 9-32 6 
1898. ..1,640 627,886 383 5 29 9-27 1 4 3-16 G 
18y7... 1,640 623,699 380 5 22 9 52 1 3 3-8 6 
The net profit for the year amounted to £8,902 
93 9d, to which has to bo ad'led interest, £129 
10s 4d, and the balance from last year of £127 Os lid, 
making a total of £9,159 Is Od. The directors t ave 
already paid out of this interest for tho year upon ,ha 
mortgage, less income-tax, £) 11 17a 4d ; dividend for 
the year upon the 6 per cent, piefeience shares, lehS iii- 
oorae-tax, £1,914; income-tax, £216 lis 8d., and 
they propose to deal with the balance as follows : — 
To pay a dividend of six per cent, free of inooisie fax, 
oa the ordinary shares, requiring £3,9iiO; to tiansfer 
to reserve for depreciation and general purposes 
(increasing this account to £4,500). £2,000: and to 
carry forward the balance of £o2G 9s. It will be seen 
that the abDve balance, which it is proposed to carry 
forward, is considerably larger than usual. The direc- 
tors deem it expedient to do this in order to provide 
for special expenditure on various works, which are 
necessary or desirable in 1900. The Director re- 
tiring on this occasion is Mr. Frederick H. Christian 
who Lieing eligible offers himself for re-election. Mr. 
John Smith, the Auditor also retires, and offars himself 
for re-election. — By order of the Board, 
ROBERTSON BOIS & CO , 
Agents and Secretaries. 
SCHEIJULE OP THE COMPANi''s EST.\TES, ON 31sT 
DECE.MIiER, 1899. 
Estate. 
12 
2-2 
^ CO 
Sheen 
Puiidaloya . . 
Vy'ootton 
Deeside 
482 16G 
452 ^ i\i 
306 4 
400 — 
d ts S S 2 
150 
2^ Z 
Total .. 1,640 213 
—H. Mil C. Mail, March 23rd. 
45 52 895 
25 19 95 634 
— 40 28 »78 
10 — 2G 436 
185 104 201 2,343 
BATTALGALLA ESTATE CO., LTD. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
Tlie following is a copy of the tentli annual 
report snb:nitted to the Shareholder.s at the annual 
meeting liekl in London on March •28th : — • 
In presenting their report on the working of the 
Company's business for the past year, the Direc- 
tors are [ileascd to be able to give again a satis- 
factory account. 
The quantity manufactured shows a slight 
increase on la.st year, being 221,803 lb., against 
222,411 lb. in 1S98., The average selling price in 
Loudon has been 8'43il., against 9'13d. in the 
previous year, and in Colombo 37'04 cents, against 
32 cent-B. 
London sales amounted to 191,350 lb., reaiizinc 
net £5,835 7s., and Colombo sales to 32, GOO Ib^, 
realising R12,075'20. This compares with 184,055 
]b., realizing £6,153 15.?. Id., and 37,430 lb 
realizing K12,016T0, sold in 1898 in London and 
Colombo respectively. 
The average rate of e,\'change has been Is. 4j§d., 
against Is. 4/T;d. in 1898. No further expenditure 
has been incurred on capital account. ; 
An interim dividend of five per cent on the 
shares, free of income tax, was paid in September 
last, and, after writing off £221 15s. from machi- 
nery account, the Directors have a balance of 
£856 Os. 2d. at credit of profit and loss account left 
to deal with, They propose to pay a final dividend 
of five per cent, free of income tax, absorbing 
£750 and to carry forward £l06Os. 2d. 
In accordance with the Articles of Association, 
Mr. Edward H Hancock retires from the Board liy 
rotation," and, being eligible, offers himself for 
re-election. 
The Directors wish again to express their lesfc 
thanks to the superintenilent an the estate, Mr. G 
C It Morman, and to ihtir Colombo Agents, 
Messrs. E Benhani & Co., for the altention sliowq 
to the Company's interests, 
