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named Gryptosporiiim Gamellice), and others were described, and the method of treatment an 
prevention indicated. The publication of this circular, and of many more or less alarmist letters i 
the newspapers, attracted universal attention to these blights, and the planting community is now wel 
acquainted with their appearance and with the ways of treating them. There is thus every groun 
for hope that the industry will never suffer from blight in the way that coffee did, as the danger i 
much more likely to be recognized and taken in time by preventive measures. A " scientific " era i 
now beginning for this industry, and success will be to those who most intelligently apply to practic 
the improved methods of cultivation, manufacture, prevention of disease, &c., just as is the case wit" 
other long-established cultivation industries. 
Coffee. — The export shows a large increase over 1898, being 18,542 cwt., against 13,313 ewt 
The whole of this is plantation coffee, no native coffee having been exi^orted. 
Many varieties of coffee are on trial in the Peradeniya Gardens, but are still too young to bea 
Experiments in grafting the various varieties on the hardiest stocks are in progress. 
Cacao. — The absolute increase iu the export is the largest since 1895, being 5,763 cwt. Th 
total is 42,745 cwt., against 36,982 cwt. last year. The canker has given a good deal of trouble durin 
the year, but on the whole planters seem now to be able to keep it in hand, and with a fungus pes 
this is, as a rule, the best that can be hoped for. 
The new varieties of cacaos that were introduced into Peradeniya some years ago are doin 
fairly well, but have not fruited yet. Experiments in grafting on hardy stocks are being tried her 
but it is too early yet to publish any results. 
Coca, Kola, &c. — There has been no demand for coca seeds or plants during the year. The kol 
trees in the south garden at Peradeniya bore fruit for the first time, 
Gctrdamoms. — The export fell from 531,473 lb, last year to 499,959 lb. in 1899. A considerab 
area has been planted of late in the northern and some other districts. 
Otlier Sjjices. — The export of cinnamon has again increased, that of chips from 1,414,165 lb. 
1,829,127 lb., though there is a slight fall in the export of bales, from 2,534,056 lb. last year to 2,515,0 
lb, in 1899, and of oil from 183,312 to 118,778 oz. The export tables also show for the first time 
heading " Wild Cinnamon," of which 195,008 lb. bales and 628,418 lb. chips were exported. Th 
consisted largely of the bark of Litsea zeylanica, Aporosa Lindleyana, and other trees mixed wi 
real cinnamon. The fraud has now been exposed, and it may be hoped that this will also be the la 
time this heading will appear in the exports. 
Vanilla continues to be planted, though not so much as in i-ecent years. Experiments a 
being tried at Peradeniya on the suitability of various different trees and shrubs as supports. 
young trees of scented allspice, received in 1890 from Dominica, flowered for the first time, but d 
not set fruit. 
Gocoanuts. — The cultivation of this palm is still extending, and appears to be a profitab 
undertaking. Attention may be called to the fact that its cultivation is now being undertaken in Cu 
and the other new American tropical colonies, and may in time become very important there. T 
nearness of Cuba to the United States gives it one great advantage over Ceylon for that market. T 
export of desiccated cocoanut has increased during the year, but that of all the other products 
fallen off. The actual figures are for oil 400,979 cwt. against 435,933, for copra 325,401 cwt. agar 
506,277, for desiccated cocoanut 13,571,084 lb. against 13,040,534, for poonac 174,786 cwt. agar 
216,620, for nuts 11,723,392 against 12,027,714, for coir rope 12,090 cwt., yarn 75,525 cwt., fibre 91,5 
cwt., against 12,333, 75,819, and 95,779 cwt., respectively. 
Otlier Palms. — The export of palmyra fibre has fallen very much, and is barely larger than 
3897, being 16,838 cwt. against 41,522 last year and 16,793 in 1897. Kitul fibre has been exported 
the extent of 2,030 cwt. against 3,794 last year. An interesting pamphlet on the Kitul and its Uses 
Mr. T. B. Pohath-Kehelpannala was published early in the year by the Government Printing Offi 
Indiarubher. — This product has attracted considerable attention during the year, and has b 
a good deal planted in the Colony, though not so much as in districts further East, where the s 
seems more suitable. The auction sale of seeds was well attended, and the seed sold at a rate of ab 
Rs. 15 per 1,000, a good price though little more than half of what was obtained last year. 
A circular was published in April, dealing with Panama rubber (Castilloa), and pointing 
the good qualities of this species, of which there is unfortunately but little in the Island. This 
followed in .June by a large circular, chiefly containing a paper by Mr. Parkin on Indiarubber 
general, but with special reference to the species grown in Ceylon, and dealing with the new ^ 
improved methods of tapping and preparation for market. This is one of the most important pap 
on rubber which has been published in recent years. It will probably be siapplemented during 1 
by a further circular dealing with the results of the analysis and valuation of the numerous samp 
that have been prepared by the various methods tried in the Colony. 
