to this Dafs haue- 
Tie Planters' Association of Ceylon, 
FORTYSlXtH ANHOat REPORT. 
P0« THE VEAB BSDINC \™ IBBBIIJHV, rJW, 
,( II,, work ol Ibo pul je»r. „Mbll.hal .1 « 
Th. P A„.»l „ of Ccj « 
imcimion "™ mannj- communleaiion ivUb ibo 
nnd growing npctflaiij i"' >< j nuesHon deemed 
■a. oomil, ll.«t 1«, Oolomlo, So ™' ! , ° ,v|ug ,„ 
IbBl Ibo Iben of « 
uiumnco "tb.l lo ol)l«m " ""l™', , „„, ,h,t an 
..port do.y b. ..np.»^i ™ '"f J„;;',",'„„,„ „.j b. abl, 
.mount ■", """Ij"' bo orediled Bml Hnllwaj-- 
of Ibis tbo iinneKed eUtement from Ibo AiiminiBirauon 
KepoVl (RaUway., 1898) l« bI™. •1>"I»,8 "l" '"To" Ibrn.l 
b,.b. Itoilw.y trou,Jlm. o J^^^^^^ 
W, oapUal oul.r.nding on RaiLw.y loan. 
Ilmas beiaeldeuUllynolieed h»l 11.0 w.Jl-1.1 TO l^^^^^^^ 
ft^nr ihn Muliawl 1 Gaugii at kalugiisloU \va3 eULLCSSiuiiy 
~ rfoSy the W.ul.'s- A^^ocintrou ,.bo.t 1S55. Anut .or 
. ;n-.tinrthnt I'lirlv enira»;i'il, lis il lias couliiinuil to ungiigc, liie 
a™V.i;Sr»of ffi l'lanl.r^ A...ela.i.n ™ .be dimouU 
□UmUou of labour eupply and Ho .no of road or .mm., 
oraut coolies i-.Vr Mannar. I., tbl. couueeliou rn.Kraj 
«bm.ion norlbwunlo Inioly «.netion.d will lend lo gr«.l y 
improve focililioi (or Mmlling, and bo llio means p.obaWy 
ofmslniaininganallomuli.oro.ile lo Ib.l ma lul.ooun for 
immlKrant ooolies. Asregar.laolher means of co.nm.iniu.t.on. 
(bfl Plsnters' Assoo.ulion bas alway s Iskeu a l.Tcly mler .at in 
wluTtUo reiull Ibat uUimtiU'ly n» Oriliiinucp wnfl fraiiiod aud 
tSronKli whicU Bubslmiluil bmioEfs lii.v« accrued Closoly 
oonnaded with tUoaobjeot of 11.0 labour supply b»9 boui. thai 
of ihu LaUnr Uws wbiuli from oiiwiraa lias from (.uit. 
lo timH OL'capiml a uliare of llio icirnost ■''tuiil.oii oi tiiij t um- 
l.biiidillicuULf 
rL^latio.ifl belwi 
. by 
"i'loj«r ' 
ii Labour FviUt 
pen tUa <!.-,[.ib1i»hu 
I of clieL-kiiiii lliu sH'tnly i"otease 111 iiio iimuiim 01 =0- 
\ ''CuaKt AavoiK'tfl", atul formulual co-iipLiMliou and 
rfiwo. Olio oIlitTiiinltur ofauoiyiil liistory [bat may be 
ioiiwi i* Ilje privilege extended to tho I'lunteiV As.socia- 
jy Sir Uciiry Ward dni-iug bis term of office hs QoTeriior, 
' 1 member to represent I'luuting 
irith 
1 tlie l.egjululive Coi 
successive Oovoc 
lug to the work of tbo past y 
be4 
;;ir, yunr CoiuuilttCl) 
>ti;jtiiriE> compares well witli 
1 tbo Roll iH (late being 'Ji6, 
of the Committee ropresciila- 
f.^iiarcilfy and the 
ring tbc year 
iiiu>ioi>« years, tbe n 
There have been eight 
of all Dlfllriots, aim l.v.. 
AeHocUlioii. On Agritultiinil 1 
vnrioQS qaeHtioi.e that b^t*e boeu 
jour Couimllleo records the followiiif; i-eaume : — 
PLANTING PRODUCTS. 
oomwi'Ml wUh the Vevioiis year, with tlie rescilt that Uie Tea 
UatvMied exceeUeil esUmalLa gBiierally. \Dur Committee 
ostimaled the Tea Crop for 1S99, after allowing l,,'iO«.000 lbs. 
for load consampiion, iit 12,i,OUfl,000 lbs. nviiilable for export, 
but Ihe exports, aecording to tho Chamber of Commerce Rotunis, 
amounted to r2!l,894,l50 lbs. or nearly 5,00«,000 lbs. raorothan 
the estimate. Yonr Committee appends interestiug statiBtica 
from T.iriona eources for raferouoe. Under date London, 
December, 1899, Messra. Gow, Wilson i Stanton report : 
Tho increaae in Home Consumption durlng_ the past 11 
monlhfl is vcrr murkad. ViDins luoro than S inillionB above Ibe 
correBiionding yeribd IIstTMP'r ino taet tbat all gi-owtiia show 
au iQcrease, and not only those from India and Cujlon, is 
probably due to the istrong demand for low priced Teas. 
Movements of Tea in United Kingdom from lit Janoary, 
to 30'lh November, as shown by Cnstom Honse Retnrns. 
iMPonTS. 
1899. IS'Ja. 1897. 
Indian ... 12M09,6G3 119,520,&28 ll.'>,225,02l 
Cev on 95 206 980 90,816,321 89,342,340 
China ... 30,830,.=)51 24,818.037 26,232.319 
Other Countries. 8,803,48-1 7,102,095 6.364,973 
Total lbs. 
Ceylon 
Other Conutries. 
259,250.G78 
'J,10J,171 
.'i.52a,8S2 
C.3Gt).204 
242,i5G,981 237,164,653 
224,780,128 210,373,416 213.518,611 
1,121,U71 
33'154,872 
AjialyBiB of above export of Tea from U. K. daring the Ii 
ro years (.not including tronBliipmonU), 
.Countries in Europe 
^United Slates 
erilish N. America 
New foand land 
Other ConntrioB 
TOTAb lbs. 
Countries in Europe 
United StBt«s 
BriliBh N. Aiuorlca 
Vewfoondland 
Otber Countries 
TOTAL 
Conntrlea in Europe ... 
United Stales 
British N. America 
Newfoundland 
Other Conntrim 
Total 
Slock of all Tea in Uni 
1899. 103.348,000 Ibfl. )8?«,9 
The most noticeable feati 
dnring 1899 vrns thL. ndvi.in-r 
commenced p:irly in tlio y. .ir, 
thing • ■I' .iri rtl,,,,', 1, 
mainly broui'Ni .ii,<,in ir, tli- 
which thurt tfr.'lu Illy l 
mocli advcrtisod cheap t 
lastlnK benefit lo tbu trade. 
u fact which may jirovo o( 
not*»3'«nc«d to tho exUnt which i^^t i»ve been expected, 
Prodaeliou of Too in India and Ceylon daring 1899 
l>arely equalled consnmption, while although estimates of the 
1899 crop point to a larger supply, consamptlon both at hoiJe 
and abroad baa bo materially inorcaHud (hat it is doublful 
whether the enrplns will bo heavy. Tho outlook for producors 
is decidedly more cheerful than a few years ago, when over- 
prodnotion waa feai-ed. IlOUE COS8UIIPTION.— Tho elasticity 
su long noticeable has again been remarkable, coming as it 
baa done after recent increases. The total of all Tea consumed 
In theUniit^ Kingdom during 1899 was about 214,000,000, ll«, 
against 23.1,414,10.1 ll>s. in 18;i8, and lbs. 2.11.399.788 in 18b7, 
British Grown Tea contributing 221,000.000 lbs. In 1899, 
against 215,902,090 lbs. in 1898. and 210,027,748 lbs. in 1897. 
The following table shows the increase in the varioSs 
growth B :— 
lS9g. nrccDlaga. 1899. pcitcnbuu. 
Indian ... 136,000,000 56 133,430,351 57 
Ceylon ... 85.000,000 35 82,471,745 35 
China ... 16,.TO.0OO 7 14,695,334 6 
Other Conntriee 6,500.000 2 -1,816.675 2 
Total lbs. 244.000.000 
235.414,105 
Iddian ... 124,534,194 54 122,941.098 94 
Oeylon ... 85.493,554 37 80,294,475 35 
China ... 17,242,247 7 19,831,680 9 
Other Couulries 4,129,783 2 4,718,256 2 
Tolal IbB. 231,399,778 
l.aguinit 
The qiinnlilv per head of population In 1891! wasGOl, 
5-85 lbs. in 1898, and 5-8l lbs. in 1897. NEW Mari 
Considering Ihe higher prices rnling for the lower gradcB, 
much increnw* could hardly have been expected In foroign 
outlets. The substantial progi-ess mailo is therefore tho nioro 
gratifying, iho total qoantily exported to these markets 
during lS9il being about 63,000,000 lbs. against 63,429,832 
lbs. in 1898. and 5lil48.124 lbs. in 1897. Tho development 
since 1890, when only 14,000,000 lbs. were takon oulbido thu 
United Kingdom, has been very niHrhed, a circuinsfaneowliioh 
goes far to show the ostimalion In which BritiBh g?own Tea Is 
held. Trade Dispute.— The trade was conBidembly disturbed 
in July through a dispute between Importei-s of Indian and 
Ceylon Tea aud ihcir buyers; this was cbii-fly owing to 
economy necessitated by tJie poor results obtained by producers 
daring Ibo last few sepaons. Importers wished to do away 
with the nllowauco for draft. Trade was almost entirely 
checked for abont a month, when a reaumpHori look place on 
Iho belief (but a e:ai.-factory soltlement had been arrived at 
to come in force a few nionihs later, but delays have since 
occurred so that the aetnai time has not yet been definitely 
lixed. Ceylon Tba.— The quality of Iho crop was somewhat on 
11 par with that of 189S. Tho quantity oxpnrl.;d from Ceylon 
in that y«ar \m3 119,769,071 lbs., of wbicli 9l!,13:!,a33 lbs, came 
lo London, while tho supply in IS'l'J will probably total 
127.000,000 lbs., of which lOI.OQO.OOO lbs. niav como to London, 
The flvcriige price for Tens sold In London on garden 
account >siis 7 ll6il. In 1899, agnlnat 7-7lid. in 1898. 
Exchange averaged I -IV" during 1899, rigniimt 
inVSSS, 
' AfeainfTSeorsS^'cVhKd & Co., London, in ihotr Oeylon T3b 
Meujoranda of Januor;, 1900, state that the quantities oHored 
at IHblio Siilo in the pasl three years were :-- 
Seid in London from 
lit Jan. to 3lBt Dee. 1899... 1.133,100 pkgs. realizing 8d. per lb, 
„ 1898. -.1,108,800 ■' " 7sd.perlb. 
„ ,. 1897,-l,138,0tt0 ■' nearly 8d. per lb. 
MO that a slightly largoi- total was disposed of in 1899 at a 
fractionally higher price than in the year before, which is 
encouraging, considering some of iho adverse coiidilionif 
encountered, nolably the dispute rygardiiig the 1 lb, dnift, kc.i 
which ]wwly/ed trade Ihronghonf .Inly, :.nd biter on dea^ 
money. The quality of Ihe crop did not differ materially froirj 
Hint of the foregoing season, and wapof fniruvoi-age. "Colonry^ 
li((Uor or briskness and pungency in cnp was appreciated hg 
ilealtrs and blenders alike, Continental and American orderi 
at limes cnuie in freely for nearly alldescriplionaof IcafvTenii 
Exports from here ii> other countries are growing, ni'id bifl 
fair 10 mark an increase on those of 1898 when made upl 
A firm Market ruled for Pekoe Souchong, and Pufcoea up tq 
71il. per lb, in Decenilmr, the quotation for useful Commoi} 
sorts of tliP former e?p.(-iidly gr.idually hardening, so that at 
tlie tlose very liiile Louid })e purchased at (>}d. per lb. MediuDl 
Pekoes aiid Uniijt'f.- IVkiii's iiid not receive so mnch^ snpporl 
Iho whole, Bleady rate.-i. Broken Pekoea met an irregulu 
demand, thoitgli desirable lots under 8d. per lb. were usually 
in good request. Above that range, however, values were nil 
certain and sellers often had lo accept a reduction on Ihffit 
previouslv current to effect sales. The higher grades wcri 
somewhat scarce, which no doubt detrimentally altected la( 
For delennining the clus under which tho break is 
chargeablej the average grosa weight must ba ascertained. 
When the fraction of the average weight is half a pound or 
more; the dock companies or ware house- keepers take the bene- 
fit. Thns, the average of a break being 79^ lb. gross, Iho 
whole break will be rated at 80-89 lb,, but the avetugo being 
leas than 794 lb., (he whole break will bo rated at 60-79 lb. 
For the" sake of bringing the lable into manageable shape, 
wo have deleted the rates upon certain exceptional sizes whioh 
are seldom nsed by importore. The general size of the 
packagea is from 90 lb. to 129 lb., and in all calculations ma<le 
in these articles we have taken the rates upon these weights 
as onr basis, allowing the usual deduction of 21 lb., for the 
weight of the tare. The charges of most importance to the 
importer are "management rote"— the working of the 
tea — "bulking and laring,"and "rent," The management rate 
includes tho landing and housing rate, and a large importer has 
defined tho services rendered for this charge in the following 
"Landing, wharfage, convoynnce to warehouse, houfllng, 
eampling for importer and broker, sorting to marks and 
descriptions, weighing, examining for damage, laying down 
for broker's inspection, and attendance on broker, laying out 
In showroom for public sale, attendance while on show and 
sampling, adjusting to weights after sale, coopering, nailing 
down, trucking and piling for delivery, re-weighing and 
delivering to land conveyance. The nito also IncIudeH fur- 
nishing warrants and landing accounts." 
Although this sounds formidable, an examination will 
prove that the greater portion of it represents work whioh is 
quite Buperflcia!. For instance. In "sampling for Importer and 
broker" only one chest in a break Is sampled, and wheti it ia 
considered that a break conslels more often of fifty chests than 
less, it IS apparent that this entails no groat amount of work. 
"Sorting to marks and descriptione" is for the convmiiininH 
of the wharf in dollvering. "Weighing" is only weighing 
the chest gross, as ir arrives. " K:<amining for damage, hiyrug 
down for broker's inspection, and attendance on broker, laying 
out in showroom for public sale, attendance while on show 
and sampling," are quite small iicms in dealing with a largo 
number of chests. " Coopering and nailing down" applies lo 
the wimpled chests only, and although the role includes fur- 
nishing the warrants, It does not include the warrant stamp 
(3d. per wrranl), 
" Bulking and taring" are rales that do not apply lo overv 
package. Teas are not infrequently bulbed on tho estate, and 
when Ibis is done they are very mroly re-bulked. In regard 
to taring, according to the- Cnstoms regulations, a certain 
number of chests in every bre.ik umst be tared from the gross 
weight of the package, in order to ascertain the amount of 
duty to be collected. Should -tlere be a variation of moro 
than a couple of ponnds in tho wiight of tho chest, nails, and 
lead— I.e., tho tare— each chest.of the entire break roust bo 
tared. Involving the heavy chargoof Is. pur package through- 
out. In regard lo " rent," all tensaro sold on a " three months 
prompt," and rent is charged for fiieao tliirtosn weeks, loss five 
weeks, the rout for which is Included hi tho "management 
rale." In most cases buyers lalia delivery of the tea within 
two or three weeks of the andiMi : but, however soon they 
maj- do this, Ihe eight weeks' renl cl^irged upon tho tea, lo 
makunp the three months, fias'to be paid by tlio importer. 
Wo have bean at pains to ox])lnin tho aotnal charges com- 
plained of by producers, and will now proceed to point out 
why they are conaidortil onerous.: but before doing so must 
first draw attention to (he fact that Ibo whole of tho bonded tea 
warehouses in London are in a "ring." Treating the London 
and India Docks Joint Committee as one body, there are 
ninoleon tea warehousing firms In the Tea Clearing House, 
which clearing house has a largo number of snbscribors. Includ- 
ing all the princlple'bnyers and Drokei*s in tho trade. Accord- 
ing to the rules of the Clearing Honse, no subscriber shall 
bu entitled to warehouse or deposit tea with, or employ in 
connection with tea, any dockcou)p;uiy or (e;i warehouse-keeper 
who is not a mt-niber of the Clearing House, or to purchase or 
sample any tea from the warehouse of any non-niember." Tho 
"Ring," therefore, is most complete, for should a dlssatisGed 
body of imiiortcra attempt to start a co. operative warehouse of 
I- find that 
banded agal ___ 
clearing house. 
We shall have more to siiy about ibis matter later on. 
Returning to the subject ofiliu charges, it is dear, bolh from 
internal and external evidence, tlint jliey are excessively high 
Cocoa. 
The estimate for the year 1899 w.is about -10,000 cwls. 
The anioiml actually shipped was 42,.'i27 cwts., being the 
largest crop on record ; probably 42,r)00 cwts. would again be 
a safe estimate. The ugriculluml position of the product may 
be summed up in the statement that owing to the ravages of 
canker, ibo red variety is being steadily superseded by Fonisloro. 
The various meana of combating canker are well known, and 
the matter now remains with the Planters, It is a satisfactory 
point that since 1894 crops have 9le.adily increased. As regards 
Ittflsof Cocoa, Government refused to consider any scheme of 
al legislation nnlil existing means had been tried and 
II to ibo h 
From Messi-s Wilson, Smilhett & Go's London Tea circular 
for last month the subjoined llgures of monthly shipmentB 
fronr Ocyhn to tho United Kingdom during the past lue 
In ruterence to tea uiainuntion from Ist January to .jlet 
December, 1899, Messrs Forbes & Wallter, Colombo, in thou 
lea Clrcnlar give the undermeniionud figures. 
proved a failure, 
rural Police, under Oi-dinanc 
sidered by s ome o f those who have mral Police in their 
disErict's fhat the number or [hetis ima iii-crease.i, ..niic tui.ciB 
think that such Police have bad no cffeut in checking crime. 
YoiirCommittee would urge on Oovernniont the necessity of 
providing and removing the Police without going through all 
the formalities required by tbo Ordinance, as it is only during 
Crop time that their presence is required. The demand for 
Cocoa of inferior class bas huctuated considerably during tho 
past year. Really fine Cocons have I ■ - - - 
demand for them continues, and price 
cohiiiher. The position of the London 1 
iatisftctory, the supply has been larger than usiuil, but sc 
been the demand, tho stocks are lower than they were a 
ago. Year Committee annexes various tables and statu 
returns as usual giving useful data regarding Cocoa. 
npllinr!'--'!^,' Mnli", Mat.ril.uH, Bu»iii, ShiBttpore, Bwedi^u, ami Unid^ 
Aa rcgirds the quantity of tea sold in Colombo the "Geyloii 
Observer" quoted recently the annexed figures for a series of 
SSI 
Other Coustiiieb. 
1699. 1898. 
■);'8,672 614,656 
20,433 l.'i7.53l 
46,291 118,fl25 
Hsiilb 230,859 
~019!4i;j 1,121.071 
)m at Ihe end of Nov. 
s. )i('.'7, 91,095,000 lbs, 
iaiory of the Tea trade 
low priced Teas which 
Adverting to Ihe foregoing rouiarka regarding the 
Trade Dispute", your Connuitteo feels that the action taken by 
the Ceylon and Indian Aesociations in I.oudon would havo 
stood a better chance of being antcessfnl if iliey had arranged 
for combined action in Calcutta and in Colombo before 
embarking on a crusade against such a powerfnl body as tho 
London Tea Dealers' Association. 
TEA B1.IOIITS. 
During the first half of tho year great uHeiition was paid 
throughout the Planting Community lo the then prevailing 
blights on Tea. Your Commitlco feels that, although great 
attention should still bo given, and all blights and posts care- 
fully watched, there is at present no need for extreme anxiety. 
It would appear that tho offucta of tho various blighta uro 
largely minimized by high cultivation, and that there is good 
reason to believe that last year's climatic conditions were 
lUiforlnnalely favourable for tho propagation and existence 
of Tea pesls. 
London CHARoiis op Tea Compasies, 
With reference lo this imjjj 
thinks that Iho timo has g; 
With a view to this end, t^ 
from an article in " The la^ 
! if ij J J Hi 
1 proi 
> deal 
and dock charge upon min .ip>iiiiiiiBi]Li||.. „„„ 
complaint, and. to start with, OOifij'riPdWUblUr than quol* 
the sehe,lule of rates supposed to apply to every package 
of tea that goes through the Tea Clearing House. This Is 
TEA. 
reirorting 
owing to Tower qnotitloiu (or batter clue gradw. 
Landing and housing rate I 10 
Management ralo ... 2 3 
Bulking and taring <- 1 8 
Bulking, toring; or weigh- 
Ing nut Bei>antcly ... 1 3 
Rent per week ... 0 
Tbo Bbovo charges will b« subject 
o«nt, to Impoiten onlf. 
0 d 
11 and attei- 
0 U 
0 oj 
it g£ 10 i« 
market. ICxports lo ii<iiiiii 
havo fallen oil couaider,.! 
Plague restiictiouB, but m.i 
supplied from Southern I 
COCOASUTd. 
^ 1899 has been on the wholo a good average year aa regards 
crop. Judging from exports, it has given a better total crop 
than any previons yc.ir. with the exception of 1898, which was 
a record one, but the increaauil acreage coming into bearing 
must bo taken into consideration. Tho price of nuts has kept 
up well all through tho year and the average price was quite 
as good as 1898 and better than previous year. The rainfall In 
tho West Coast was some 20 inches leas than in 1898, and this 
caused young nuts to drop oK in the drought, so lessening the 
crop. This short rainfall may effect the crop in 1900. aa 
cocoanula tuko B year to malnro from blossom. For tbo total 
exports of ooooanut products for 1899 as compared with 
previous years, reforoneo should bo made to appendix A and B 
of your Committee's Report. 
Dnring the past v.-.ir the culiiv.iion of Car.lamom^, your Com- 
mittee understand-^, b.is I1..-..11 Uvly exleiideil bulb in Ceylon 
and in Sonlhem huliii, i,.irlii il,irly about North Travaiicore. 
where a large acrr-iii;<- of suil.dili buid has been reeeiitly cleared 
and planted, while in Ceylon iialive gardens have been opened 
np in almost every village iu iIk Central Province. It seems 
probable that the planting of this product may be ere long 
considerably ovoidono, and that prices m.ay fall below a p.iying 
point. Compared with tho year i^9.S, prices locally have already 
the Hoi 
irkels appear lo 
is still duo to 
0 is being freely 
r of Commerce 
ports in 1897,,',:i-J.Wtl lbs. in 1898. 531,473 lbs. 
and in 1899, 499.959 lbs. ovideQcing a decline in the past two 
years' orop, although cultivation has largely IncreoBed during 
the post two ywrs. Whathor this may be Bocoanted for by tba 
fact that on many of the older estates the crops Ibi^ f^c.isOD 
have fallen off very considerably — some of them bi-ing aa nioch 
as 50 to 60% short of estimates, prohibly due to a very wet 
season and blossoms not setting, is matter for observ.iliou. 
Rubber. 
Your Committee has very little new informiUon locally. ■ 
lo report aa regards this product, as it is dilScull to obtain 
reliable data. Th>} demand for seed stilt continues but mainly 
for export. The Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens. Peretlo- 
niya, has issued from time to timo circularsgiviug details of 
experiments carried on under his instructions as to Ihe host 
mode of cultivation and extracting the juice from the Ireoa. At 
an appendix C, an interesting extract is given from iho Report 
of tho Secretary of Agriculture, United States of America, forthe 
year ending June 30th, 1899. under the heading "India Rubber". 
ArPBSm-'C C.—E-XTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE SEOBC* 
TARY OF AORICCLTDHE, UNITED STATES OF AUGRIOA, 
FOR THE YEAR E5DIS0 JOSE 30TH, 1899. 
INDIA RUBBER. 
iMPORTAXCB OF THE TRADE. 
"The India-rubber trade is of great importance to tht 
tFntted States, and has shown a rapid inoroase during the- Jaat' 
few years. For the fiscal year ended June 30th, 1890. tbo total 
lmport.itiDns of crude rubber amounted to 33.842,374 pounds 
valned at $14,854,512, while that of manufactured rubber 
was valued at $ 367.647. In the fiscal year 1S98 the Imports.^ 
of crude rubber and gutta-percha amonutod to 46.055,497 
pounds, valned at $ 25,386,010, while that of manufaotnred ■ 
articles aud waste or scrap rubber was 9,438,327 pounds, 
worth S 805,951. This shows not only a decided locreaso 
ill the quantity imported, bnt also a i-.tpid rise in price. 
In 1890 about two-thirds of the entire amount imported oamo 
from Brazil. In 1898 about three-fifths came from that counti^, 
A recent United Stales consular report shows that the 
importations into England for 189S amounletl to 20.026 tone, 
about half of this being Brazilian. Now hue Para rubber was 
qnoled at Now York from 66 to 69 cents per pound in IS93, 
tj9 to 71 cents per pound in 1894, 73 to 77 cents in 1895, 74 to 
W cents in 1896.80 to 87 cents iu 1897, and 82 to 83 cents 
January 1st. 1898. A single cargo of rubber, conBistiDg of 
1,167 tone, shipped from Para, Fobrnary 23nl, 1893, was vaTneJ 
10,000 in United States gold. The exports of rubber from 
Uiazil in 1893 amounted to S 38,400,000 gold. 
Collection and TnE.\TMBXT and Sources of Supply. 
Rubber is derived from (he milky sap of a number ol 
trees and shrubs, all native to tho tropical regions of South 
America and the Old World. There are many plants with, 
milky sap which contain small quantities of rubber, but nono 
are known which produce it in commercial qnautiilcs any- 
where outside ot the tropics. The methods of coUeolion and. 
treatmont of rubber are, in tho main, very crude. Tborolsa. 
great deal of waste and conjiderablo doleriorotiou ibiongh 
improper methods of treatment in the field and iu transit and. 
through impurities. Tho only successful experiments at, 
cultivating rubber plants whioh have thus far boeu made wora 
undertaken by tho English Government in Ceylon, India, antl 
some of tho other tropical colonies. By following ths 
most improved methods of cultivation, and by giving tha 
rubber plantations Iho same careful attention which is dovotoi 
to other crops, it appe.irs possible lo mako (liia an oxcemlinglj- 
profitaLlo invoBtmont. 
Tho larger part of tho BroKilian rubber is produotd by tho 
Para rnbber tceo. Hevea bratilienaU, which grows unleralLy In 
the deep ahado of the swampy forests of tho Amn^ou. whore, 
the air is fevordaden and the land ia uusuiled far humaQ 
habitation. Experiments have been made with Ibia tros In 
various of tho British possessions in the East InJio". bat 
withont any marked degree of success, because tho two altalna 
its full development only in Ihe shade of deuso tropic»l jnnglo 
lands, and not in tho solid planlaiions. Its auccessEulliiuidllng 
appears to lie in tho direction of a proper Rystem of forest 
management. The Central American rubber tree. CustiUoa. 
eliiaCkit, grows only in tho dense tropical foresia from Southerii 
Mexico to Northern South America, on riub, well-di-aincd bot- 
tom landaalong tho rivers. This tree has been found logrow 
luxuriantly under cultivaiion, but in tlio oxpcrimoniB thus far 
tried it develops a bark much thicker than in its native state, 
and this has been found a decided drawback to the buccobb- 
f ul drawing of tho sap. 
Tho Ceara rnbber tree, Manihot gkiziuvii, is a uallvo of 
one of the driest portions of Southern Braxil, where the moan 
temperature ranges from 77° to i'o' F. Thero are now many 
plantations of it in India and Oeylon, and it is probiblo that 
this tree will be the first lo produce an important ajjiiion to 
tho natural supply of India rnbber. there are 50 or more 
species of trees, vines, and shrubs which are a coaimorclal 
source of India-rubber and gutta-percha, aud the list is annu- 
ally increasing. Experiments should bu Irici in tho culti- 
vation of every one of them. GutUvpercba ia derived almost 
entirely from tho tree Isoiiaiidru f/ulbi, a native of the Islands 
of tho Malayan Archipelago. The careless methods of the 
collectors have resulted in killing ofE moat of the plints from 
which this subst.ince is derived, so that a serious shortage haa 
occurred during tho last few years. Tho feasihilitj of culti- 
vating this plant iu the Philippines should be very carofully 
investigated," 
Through tho courtesy of the Hon'bb; tho Princiiwl Colleci- 
as usual, submits also for purposes of comparison and reference 
tho lieturns for tho same period drawn up by tho Cbamber of 
Commerce. (B.) 
OPFiriAL Estimate op the Tea Crop for the year 1900. 
Your Committee estimates the Tea Crop for Export dnr- 
in" tbo year 1900 at 138,000,1100 lbs. As regards the distribu. 
lion of the Crop the following is submitted :— " Russia 
6 000 000 lbs ; Australia 16,000,000 Ib.s ; America 5,r)ll0.f.00 lbs ; 
othor countries 2,500,000 Iba, leaving, for the United King lom 
10S,UUO,000 lbs." 
Railway ExTENSrorr. 
Members are aware that in General Meeting on tbo Iith 
February last yiiar your Association endorsed its previous 
Uesolntious on thoqneslion of Railway Extension Northwanls 
aud thereby reaOirmed your approval of His Excellency Ihe 
Governor's policv as slated to the Legislative Council 011 the 
5th November, 1897. His Excellency's policy is a policy of 
progress in reference to Railway Extension in Ceylon, and tho 
particular Railways, the construction of which hepropoEed,ara 
tho Northern Railway; tho Kelani Valley Railway ; and the 
ijda Puasellawa Railway. By the courtesy and consideration 
of tho Governor, your Commllteeisable to submit tho following 
oxlracls from recent progress Reports by the Chief Hesident 
Engineer aa laid before His Excellency. In eacli rate Mr, 
Oliver's report upon tbo work done ia together with statement 
of oxpendlture as al the end of December, ISlli). As rfg;irils 
tbo Northern Railway the jdans sbowitig the land ri'i|uifod for 
this Railway have all been jirepareJ, and all. with the evcoplion 
of those for a distance of Hi mile.s near llie K;da Ova, which 
is about 50 miles from Kurunegala, have been forwarded to 
Government for transmission to the Surveyor-Geneial. At the 
Kalu Oyo a deviation of the original lino lias been I'roposed 
and sarveved with tho object of placing Ibo railway on ground 
freer from flooda. Plans of this deviaiion have been sunt to 
England for the Consulting Engineers to consider. A large 
number of pegs which marked the centre line of the railway 
have been destroyed, some by people intheucigliboiirliood.Qnd 
aomobydecay, consequently mosc of the line lias (n bo lesol 
out A length of IG miles from Kurunogala. and half ot the 
length of the line in the Jaflina Peninsular, have now been done. 
There are four Assisiant Engineers engaged in tbo work. A 
contract has been entered into with some Singhalese contractors 
to build the combined upstairs Passengera" Station and Station 
Master's dowellings at Ranganm Road, Balalla, Galgamawa, and 
Talawa. The work has been begun at Hangama lioad. These 
buildings were excluded from the railway contract in order 
that they might be put np in hand before the works were let, 
so as to provide accomodation for tbo Engineers, A largo 
quantity of material for this railway has arrived in tbo Island 
and has been, or is now being, slacked at Ku.-unegala. This 
material inoludcs most of the iron work of the bridges and all 
tho Permanent Way material, rails, fastenings and Hleejiers for 
tho firet twenty miles. Indents for the Permanent Way 
Materia! and iron works for bridges for another bixty miles, 
of which 40 miles are from Kankesanturai Koulliwards) 
havo been prepared and forwarded to England. TLo B^\ilch- 
03 aud croa-aings for Stations on the first twenty miles 
from Kurunegala northwards and twenty miles from Kan- 
kesanturai southwards havo also been indented for. Mr. P. 
A. Mackintosh, owing to ill-health, left the Colony on November 
23rd laal, having previously handed over charge of this 
r.iilway to mo on the 6th November. As regortla ihe K.>laui 
Valley, railway all the plana of the land requireil for this 
railway have been prepared and sent to Government for 
transmission io the Surveyor-General. 1 have received Ibo 
preliminary plans of tbo land as surveyed for the first ten 
miles out of Colombo. A deviation of Ihn lino at Kirilopanc 
at 3 miles 10 chains has been made for tho purpose of geHini; 
belter foundations for the bridge over the canal at ili" place. 
The dlviation shoriens the length of the line by sf-ve\i chains 
what^reducod. Another deviaiion of aboul a mile in lriit,'th has 
been surveyed and will be marked out as soon as I luivt-aii 
Assistant to do tbo work between 33 and 34 milts. Thin 
deviaiion will cause a considerable reilnction in (hu earth- 
work, and u biirlgi. of 20 feet span to bo dispensed with. Tho 
Permanent W;iy material, niila, fastenings and sleepern lor 211 
miles have been ordered, aiid conlracia havo been erileri'd iut.i 
February, and'tlie sleepers, which are to ciuii- fr.iiii ,V n-n.-l i-i. 
iii_ Colombo, ill March and May. Tli- lu.n i.- ii. i- ■ H'^'- 
have been imlentcd for. Aa regards tin- I' l.^ I " - Niv.ii 
Railway, I took charge of this railway on n.y :irriv.>l m lln 
Colony iu tho beginning of October lasl, and in ib-.- i^nlv j-.tri 
of November two Assistnnt Engineers, Messrs Ko-^ and Carl- 
wrighl of the Northern Railway, were lent for the work of reset - 
liuir onl this line. The last survey ot this railwar wfi^ niado in 
il of SI 
uillio 
Mr. 
assisUints Messrs. Robs and Cartwnghl, above mciilioiied. and 
Messrs. Fowke and Dlssaueyska, private surveyors, engaged 
locuUy. TUellDQis now^iroperly marked oat, end tbo;ilaiiB 
