( 7 ) 
Again, those estates that are now experiencing diffi- 
culties, e.g., the Kelani VftUey, are erecting oil engines, 
and the improved dryers that are now on the market 
only use a small quantity oi fuel per lb. of tea. 
The cost of fuel psr pouad of tea on all thoaa 
estates that I am interested in, is not more than 
1 ot. psr lb, of tea, and some of these estates pur- 
chase half of their supplies from villagers. 
One of tti3 great difficulties is not the cost so much 
as to transport, which unsettles labour, as coolies 
hate the,cou-tant hard work inseparable, where long 
traiispoft is experieucad, and especially in hot 
climates. 
There is a great deal of truth iu this : any 
extra work for coolies should be made as 
easy as possible. 
Our first answer is from a proprietary 
resident planter : — 
1 Hard wood is the beat I know. Have no ex- 
perience of coal or coke. 
2 Good hard wood costs here 95 cents per cubic, 
yard, and will go higher in price. 
3 At present ves, in the future no. 
4 Both. 
5 Not that I hsard of. 
6 Yes, if v/a could at a qniok-growiag hard wood. 
7 Don't know a quick-growing hard wood. 
8 Lunumidclla for tea-chests; don't koow any 
quick-growing building timber. Tried Hal ten years 
ago; some are now six feet high. 
Next follows that by a Manager in the 
middle of the district 
1 Wood, unless coal or coke can be procured 
cheap. 
2 From half-cent to one cent per lb. in the low- 
country. 
3 Yes, although of course some estates have to 
buy firtwood. 
4 Mo3tl>- in private hands. I know of no estate 
buyi g from Government 
5 Not BO much as might be done iu the Kelani 
Valley. Albizzia moluccaua is a fast-growing tree and 
makes a fine firewood. 
6 Yes ; I think all estates should plant up more 
trees than they do. 
7 Albizzia and Ingasaman grow the quickest. 
8 They might be planted, I believe, in planting trees 
about the estate in the lo vcountry ; but any tree for 
building purposes would be too long growing. 
This is a mistake : the property is improved 
in value by useful trees being put out in 
judicious utilisation of reserve or waste 
land. 
The Morawak Korale is well ol¥ for 
timber to judge by the following reply 
thence ;— 
1 Wood ; coal is unauited for many of the firing 
machines. The smoke and fumes from it and coke 
make their use objectionable, where steam is the 
motive power: OvSO cents to 0 80 cents per lb. made tea; 
without steam 0'20 cents approximately. 
3 Yos. ' 
4 In private hands. 
5 No. - . . 
■6 Not here. 
8 No; supply is ample for long to come. 
Next, we give the views of the veteran 
coconut planter who watches the widespread 
cutting of fuel for railway purposes near 
the railway : — 
1 I know nothing of tea, so cannot give my 
opinion, 
3 1 fear before long wood will ba very scarce, fti 
Government use all they can get for the railway. 
4 All depends on Government: we p ly for 
supports 3 feet long at R3 per i.'JOO, the cost to 
cut 1,000 supports is R5, and removing the 
same from jungle Rl'.50 psr 1,000, and pay Govarn- 
ment for a permit each time 25 cents. 
5 Government has planted some acres with D raba. 
6 I would oeitainly plant any land I have lying 
waste with trees for fuel had I it. 
7 Keeni, Domba, LunumidsjU?., Ketakela and any 
other fast-grovv'ing trees. 
8 Certainly, Lunnmidella,Kata Imbal, Hal, Keena, 
Sapu, wild mango, Bombu, Hulauhik. 
And he adds : — 
My opinion i^ that in course of time, the natives 
will have nothing in the shape of timber to sell. Even 
now they are cutting their Jak, Kaju and other trees 
and selling tbeni to Government in order to got a 
little money for the time being. My belief is that by 
find bye the natives will not be able to provide any 
timber for the railway ; and unless Government used 
coal or other fiu-i, it will be tho ruination of the 
country. Government have planted a little Domba, 
but it is not suited for fuel. If I had 150 acres 1 
would plant them for fuel. 
It is certainly a question whether land 
suitable for growing casuarinas in the low- 
country would not prove a good investment 
for fuel purposes, if at all near the railway 
line or the city of Colombo. For year by 
year, ho doubt, the available sup^ily will 
become less, and year by year the fuel clear- 
ing would become more valuable. 
A Visiting Agent reports :— 
1 Experience only with wood. 
2 Where procured from Government, capab'o of 
reduction, if estates' requirements received more favour- 
able consideration. 
3 & 4 A rather heavy acreage dependent upon Gov- 
ernment for the supply of fuel. 
5 Receiving attention and being energetically pro- 
ceeded with. 
6 Under certain circuni'itanaes, an undoubted eco- 
nomy ultimately. Patana land in this di.strict should 
grow timber. 
7 Robusta gum, toona, acacia decurrcns. 
8 Not quite necessary, perhaps, as a speciality 
in either case, especially as the amount of un- 
cultivated laud other than Government or military is 
limited. 
Mr. Nock favours us with the follow- 
ing :— 
1 Wood, in this locality, as the transport of coal or 
coke would be a heavy item. 
2 Cannot say. 
3 Yes, and likely to be for many years. 
4 Altogether in private bands. 
5 Yes, but to nothing like the extent I think ad- 
visable. 
C Most decidedly. 
7 Acacia decurrons, acacia melano.xylon, acacia 
dealbata, eucalyptus robusta, frenella rhomboidea, and 
grevillea robusta (the fivst five above 4,000 and the last 
up to 5,000 feet elevation.) 
8 Yes, certainly ; and cupressus macrocarpa and 
cupressus knightiana come first for elev,3.tion abovs 
3,500 ft.; they yield excellent timber for . tea chests, 
and for all general building purposes, rinus chin- 
ensis and pinus masionia are also well worth 
planting for this purpose : and for general timber 
acacia melanoxylon, eucalyptus robusta, grevillea 
robusta cupressus toulosa and sapu. 
