814 
THE THOPICAt 
AGRICULTURIST. [Junk 1, 1900, 
reserve fund, £1,300 ; dividend, 7 per cent, on 
£50,000 ordinary shares, £3,500 ; balauce to carry 
forward, £42, 13s 9d. 
Notwithstanding that the hui'.dings, iiia- 
ohiuery, and tramway have been maintained in 
the highest state of efficiency during the year, 
the directors have written off £700 for depre- 
ciation on the machinery and tramway, and pro- 
pose, in pursuance of the policy indicated in 
their last report, to transfer the sum of £1,300 
to the reserve fund, bringing it up to £2,300. 
In regard to crops, the out-turn of tea has been 
most satisfactory, tiie quantity having exceeded 
the estimate by over 74,000 III. The total yield, 
including 5,704 lb. of bought leaf, was 
1,164,876 pounds, which realised a net aver- 
cage price of 6'lOd per pound. The yield of 
cardamoms, owing to the season being too 
dry for that product, did not reach the esti- 
mate, the quantity secured being 15,990 lb, 
which sold at a net average of 2s 0-76d per lb. 
The rate of exchange for the company's drafts 
on London for the year was Is 4-29d per rupee. 
The capital outlay during the season slighty ex- 
ceeded the estimate, owing to the purchase of 
some adjoining land and the planting of more 
cardamoms. On December 31 last the company 
had under cultivation in tea 2,867 acres, of 
which 2,375 acres were three years old and 
over, and in cardamoms 230 acres. The crops 
of the current season are estimated at — tea, 
1,168,650 pounds ; and cardaiuoms, 24,400 pounds. 
In addition to the cultivated land there is a 
large jarea .of forest, Patana, &c. 
EDERAPOLLA TEA CO. OF CEYLON, LTD, 
ANNUAL EEPOBT. 
The Directors beg to submit to the Shareholders 
the report and accounts of the Company for the 
year ending 31st December, 1899. 
Inclusive of 12,767 lb. bought leaf, the total 
out-turn from the three factories amounted to 
466,^49 lb. tea, shewing an increase of 19,123 lb, 
over the output for last season. 
The average price realised was 6'959ii. per lb, as 
against 6'375d. per lb, last year, and the average 
rate of exchange 1/4 27/64ths against l/4^d. for 1898. 
Owing to the difficulties experienced in coming 
to a satisfactory working arrangement with the 
native contractors for mining plumbago at Ardross, 
it was decided early last year to stop all work. 
Consequent on Mr. Porter's visit to the estate 
in January last, work has been resumed on a basis 
favourable to the Company, pending the drawing 
out of a formal agreement, which y»ur Directors 
hope shortly to complete on terms satisfactory to 
the contractors and the Company. 
The net profit for the year amounts to £2,921 9.^. 
5d., which with £56 17s. 7d. brought forward froni 
last year, gives £2,978 7s. Od. to be now dealt with 
and this it is proposed to apportion as follows : — 
Amonnt as above ... ... ..£2,978 7 0 
Interim Dividend of three per 
cent (free of Income Tax) 
paid in September, absorbed £765 0 0 
It is now pioposed to pay, a 
Pinal Dividend of live per 
cent (free of Income Tax), 
raaking eight per cent for 
the year, absorbing . . 1,275 0 0 
To write off Estates Account iiOO 0 0 
To place to Reseive Account 
(making it £1,. TO) .. 300 0 0 
— 2,840 0 0 
Leaving a balanos to earrylforward of. .£158 7 0 
In accordance with tlie Articles of Association, 
Mr. Kobert Porter retires from the Board, and, 
being eligible, oilers himself for re election. 
Messrs. Cape and Dalgleish, C.A., also offer 
themselves for re-election as Auditors, 
BUKNSIDE TEA COMPANY OF CEYLON, 
LIMITED. 
ANNUAL BEPOBT. 
The Directors beg to submit the shareholders 
the Report and Accounts of tlie Company for the 
year ending 31st December, 1899. 
The total crop secured from the four estates 
during the year was 378,6081b. made tea, against 
an estimate of 370,000 1b., and 62 niaunds of tea 
seed and 226 lb. of cardamoms were obtained as 
against 1161 maunds and 2021b. respectively for 
last season. 
The average yield per acre was 345 lb., the 
average price 7 .3-16d per lb., and the average rate 
of exchange Is 4 13-32 d per rupee. 
During a recent visit to Ceylon, Mr. Porter 
inspected the Company's estates and his full and 
interesting reports on them have afforded satisfac- 
tion to the Board. 
Mr. Charles M Henry has been appointed 
Manager of Midlothian estate and it is hoped 
that under his experienced management a larger 
yield, and better prices may be obtained for the tea 
from this estate. 
On the recommendation of tiie Manger of the 
Rurnside Group, your Directors have purchased 
for R500 the land at Udispattu, on which the 
Wattagalla Store stands, and for which aground 
rent of R40 per annum hashitherto been paid. This 
is the only addition co the Company's property 
made daring the past year. 
The net profit for the year amounts to £1,276 
6s 4d, which with £70 iSs 8d brought forward 
from last account, gives 1,347 to be now dealt 
with, and this it is proposed to appropriate as 
follows : — 
Amount as above 
Interim Dividend of 2J per cent, 
(free of Income Tax) paid in 
September absorbed 
It 13 now proposed to pay a 
final Dividend of 2J per cent, 
(free of Income Tax), making 
5 per cent for the year ab- 
sorbing 
To write off Estates Account 
£1,347 
£440 
440 
300 
1,180 
£167 
Leaving a balance to carry forward of. 
In accordance with the Articles of Association, 
Mr. Robert Porter retires from the Board, and, 
being eligible, offers himself for re-election. 
Messro. Cape and Dalgleish, O.A., also offer 
tlie;nselves for re-election as Auditors. 
POONAGALLA VALLEY CEYLON COM- 
PANY, LIMITED. 
ANNUAL BEPOBT. 
The Directors be? to submit to the Shareholders 
the Report and Accounts of the Company for the 
year ending 31st December, 1899. 
The net profit for the year after providing for 
Debenture interest and other charges, amounts to 
£902 2s 7d., which with £164 lis 3d. brought for, 
ward from last account, gives £1,066 13s lOd to be 
