580 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 1. 1699. 
THE ONLY POLICY LEFT FOK THE 
PLANTERS OF CJ.YLON AND INDIA." 
Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Feb. 2. 
8iR, — Since writing to you, on January 25th, a 
letLijr wliicli you were fjooil enough to publi.sh 
iu the Observer of Jan. 30tli, I Ijave received 
letter.-- on tlie subject from Ceylon Planters of 
past experience and uni now more than ever con- 
vinced that the policy of judicio\i^ly abandoning 
unprolilably or only sliglitly profitable portions of 
estates in really tlie only course open to us in order 
to diminish, as far as po.^sible, thf results of the 
disastrous Currency policy of the Indian Govein- 
inent. For wiiat hope can there be of lurninf; the 
Government Irom its course?— a Government 
which practically consists ot Indian officials, who 
want to get their savings remitted home on 
the most favoraVilc terms. They started the 
movement and they will certainly jjersevere 
with it to the end, and while they have alf 
the power of the Indian Government, at 
home and in India, at their back,— wo 
liave merely the [lurely nominal power of the 
House of Commons, the members of which, 
with but very few exceptions, neither know nor 
care anything about the subject. 
Then so far from having any security that 
the oliicials will content themselves with a 16d 
Kupee, we have the Government {vide Sir David 
Barbour's speech of June 20, 1893) assurance 
merely that •' it is not attended to do more (it 
present" than aim at this rate. A hipher rate 
then is evidently determined on, and what 
that may be no oue can tell ; and 
even it the existing oflicials were contented with a 
moderate further rise, it by no means follows that 
their successors may not aim at a much higher 
rate. The whole situation in short bristles 
with uncertainty so far as the Currency is con- 
cerned, and it is therefore evident that we must 
betake ourselves to our only certain refuge — judi- 
ciously abandoning every acre we can, and there- 
Iby reducing production, labourers' wages, labourers' 
advances, and the risks of the season, whicli 
of course, are far less on rich, sheltered lands 
than on the poorer and more exposed portioEs 
of estates, — Obediently yours, 
ROBERT H. ELLIOT. 
« 
PLANTING PRODUCTS. 
(jE'rom the Northern Districts Planters' Associalion 
licport for 1S9S-99.)', 
During the year three general and fiver Committee 
meetings have been lield in Kaudy. The oil of members 
who have paid their subscription is considerably 
below that of last j'ear — viz. last year 84, this year 
seventy-three members. 
Several important subjects have been discussed by 
the association this year-notably Plague rules, Labor 
Federation, the Licensing of Boutique-keepers and 
the appointment of Blr. Kelway-Bamber. 
Tour Committee are glad to say that Labor Federa- 
tion ia now an accomplished fact and hope the 
rules -which have been made and published will be of 
benefit to the Planting Community. The Association 
gave its support to the Dimba'a Association'a reso- 
lution re the licensing of Boutique-keepers, but so far 
without any result. 
Three estates in the Northern Districts were selected 
to be visited by Mr. Kelway-Bamber, viz. Bandarapola, 
Blkadua and Knuckles Group. The Association passed 
aresolution that the districts of Knrunegala, Allagala, 
Kaduganuawa and Polgahawela be included in the 
list accepted by the Parent Association from which 
9ae estate be selected W be vieited by Mr, Kelway- 
Bamber, these districts having been omitted ia the 
list. Thie resolatioD was forwarded to the Parent 
Association, but without result which yout Coiumittee 
much regrets. 
This Association on the motion of Mr. Vii,uStart«s 
discussed the question of — iiuJ passed a recolation 
which was duly forwarded to the Hon'ble the Coloiiinl 
Secretary on the condiliuu of the roads in the districts 
wa« improved siuce your Asaociation suggested the 
desirability of appointing unoflicial laspectors. 
NOlllH ROAD. 
Your Committee deprecate the action of Govtrn- 
meiit in clossing the North road, but bore that 
it will be reopened for cooly traffic at the earlieet 
opportunity. The crop estimates have been checked 
as carefully as was po&i-ible for the year l>*'i'i. 
39,520 acres are in beating, estimated to yield, 
I5,a70,00u lb. as against 1 .0,548,(350 lb estimated in 
1898 showing a decrease of 198,650 lb. 
Your Committee h&re (or the fi st time made aa 
estimate of cacao and caid&moni crops for the 
coming year, and great care has been taken iu the 
collection of figures. 
Some gardens belonging to natives may have been 
left out, but you may tnke the following figures as 
approximately correct. The acreage under cacao in 
bearing in fourteen districts represented by this 
Association is 15.825 estimated to yield, a crop of 
346 cwt. Acreage not yet in bearing 2,5^7. Total 
under cacao is 18,412 acres. 
Y'oar Committee wish to point out that this is the 
bnik of the island's crop and ask other District AsbO- 
ciations where cacao is grown to collect similar 
i'eturne. 
CABDAMOMS. 
Total acreage under this product is 2,5%, of wliich 
2,406 acres is in bearing, estimated to yield 345,900 lb. 
ItKNE\OLKNT HIKD. 
Your Secretary baa collected R235 for this fond 
which has be»»n duly forwarded to the Treaeuror. Y'our 
Committee heartily recommend this fund for your 
further support, and would point out that a number of 
members paid direct to the Treasurer. 
CEVLON MOfKTED INFA.NTaV. 
Your Association supported other districts in asking 
for a grant to the members of this corps suggested 
by Government. 
THE cnVI'TOGAMIsT. 
Three reports of the work done by Mr. Carrnther» 
have been issued, all of them showing careful investi- 
gation of coca canker and pod disease, but proving that 
there still remains much to be done. Your Committee 
have urged the necessity for engaging a cryptogamis 
permanently on the Government Stafi and hope the 
concession will follow since Mr. Green has been 
appointed Government entomologist. Your Commit- 
tee urgently ask the attention of cacao planters to the 
necessity of destroying the diseased pods and cutting 
out and burning all diseased bark. The matter of 
a permanent cacao sub-committee of the Parent 
Asssociation is defferred from consideration, the opinion 
meanwhile being that the N. D. Planters' Associ- 
ation should undertake the work itself. Y'our Com- 
mittee, however, hope that the members will nrge on 
the Planters' Association the desirability of con- 
ceding what has been asked for by a resolution 
passed at our last Committee meeting. 
CACAO STEALING. 
Cacao stealing has increased to such an extent 
as to be a scandal and disgrace to a civilised 
Government. Your Secretary has procured a return 
of all cases of theft of praedial products instituted 
in the Matale and Panwila Courts, the return shows 
79 cases as having been instituted in Matale and 
36 cases as I'aaving been instituted in Paawila last year. 
ANALYSIS OF THE CACAC TKEE. 
At the instance of Mr. De Sanctis, the Parent 
Association had an analysis of the cacao tree made 
by Mr. Cochran for whose report and hints on 
manuring your CoLimittee passed a vote of thanks. 
OBITUA RV. 
Your Association regret the loss by Death ol Mr 
Jftaies Rigby, a member of yotir C9maiittee, 
