G08 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUIUST. 
[March 1, \m. 
SCHUDULE. 
The Schedule of the Association shows 76 estates, 
one private and one hon. member, as against 75 
estates, one private and one hon. mt^mber last year. 
Seven new estates have joined the Association, and 
six have ceased to subscribe. 
CB01>3. 
The estimate for 1899 is ia,011,000 lb. The acreage 
of tea in bearing is 24,817 : there are 7,747 acres not 
yet in bearing ; the total acreage in tea is 32,564, 
which gives an average for the tea in bearing of 
525 lb. per acre. 
It will be observed that the estimated crop for 
1899 is 101,000 under the estimated crop of 1898. 
This is due to the fact that owing to a bad seasoa 
in 1898 low estimates have been framed for the cur- 
i-ent year and that the returns, from some of the 
iialiiif. (/ai-dens liarc. not hern villained. 
Including 1899 extensions the returns show the 
total acreage in tea 32,501 against 32,21.') last year 
or an increase of ol9 acres. 
JIEDICAI,. 
The health of the coolies has been fair throughout 
the year. 
Large extensions have been made to the Karawa- 
nella Hospital and permanent wards bailt to replace 
the temporai-y ones, and Nurses' Quarters, etc. have 
been erected. 
Your Committee are glad to be able to record 
that Government has sanctioned the extension of the 
accommodation of the Avissawella liospital and the 
work is being prosecute.! with all possible despatch. 
KIJLANI VALLKY Ii.«.ILW.4V. 
This subject has again (as it has for many years 
past) engaged much of your a'.tentiou during 1898, 
and it is now our pleasing duty to report that the 
construction of the Kelaui Valley Kailwi'.y has at 
length been sanctioned by the Secretary of State for 
the Colonies. Your heariiest thanks are due to His 
Excelkmcy the Governor for the interest he has taken 
in this matter and the able and statesmanlike way in 
whicn he hai hupported and advocated the construc- 
tion of this line. Your Committee, however, very 
much deplore the delay in starting the same since 
labour is so plentiful in the district. Your Com- 
mittee earnestly trust that Government will consider 
the question from this standpoint aiid realize the 
necessity of making an immediate commencement. 
In this connection it may not be out of place to 
mention that the Kclaai has become practically 
nsck'Ss fcrviver transport. 
TEI,F,GR.41IIS. 
TilC lino to Yatiyaniota has been opened during the 
ypM' and Governriient has Jiiven a definite promise to 
extend the line to Ttuanwclla at once. 
As regards the opening of a tulegraph oliice at 
Uehiowisaa letter was received from Government dated 
September 19i:h, 1S9S, stating that they could hold 
ont no hopes of an otlice being opened there in 1899. 
Vonr Committee are glad to be able to report that 
since then a letter has been received from the Post- 
master-General dated December 22ud, 1808, in which 
he states that : — " He is unaw;xre of any decision of 
Government not to open a Telegraph Office at Dehi- 
ovifita. That the cost of oper.ing an office there has 
been included in the Estimates for 1899 and that he 
will make known to the Association the final 
decision of Gavernnieiit as to whetbcr the proposed 
extension has or has not been sanctioned by Govern- 
ment— sliorily." 
liOADS. 
Tlie roafls in the dislriot have been r. source of much 
trouble and disKalisfactiou and complaints of tlieirgene- 
ral staco liavo been received from all f.ides. Questions 
in reference !o Kelaui Valley r.">ads maintenance were 
a=ked in (:oui:cil and the replies have not bsen deemed 
satisfactory The Hon. the Planting Jilpmber has again 
given notice of questioiis on the subject. His Excel- 
Tonoy the Governor was interviewed by your Chair- 
man and the Hon. J. N. Campbell and their strong 
representations induced Hia Excellency to institute 
enaairies, 
Towards the close of the year the Dirictor of Pablie 
Works iuepccted the (district roads which bow exhibit 
some signs of improvement. 
MINOU UOAliS. 
The (^aestioa of improving minor a,ad other roadi 
in the district ia now occupying the altenticu of your 
Committee. 
COACH SEEVICE. 
The bad condition ut the roadii daring the year has 
handi<;apped the coach service considerably and it ia 
therefore unfair to criticize this service too closely. 
Y'our Committee howevi-r regret to note that in 
spite of repealed proles '.s ihcre is much cruelly 
Eraclised on the horees, Hud although the servioM 
live been slightly improved daring the year, there is 
still great room for a better cl isj of cOAches aiid horses. 
The proposed one-horse coach between Yatiyantota 
and Kitulgalla was found iuapraclicable as Govarn- 
rnent considered the cost prohibitive. 
i.ABorii. 
The supply has been good, coolies have come in 
very freely fro)ii the coast, possibly exceeding re- 
quirements ; but this excess of labour will correct 
itself upon the commencement of the Kelani Valley 
Uiihvay. 
During the year your Committee formed a local 
Labour Fe'luation which may eafely claim to be 
the first really succassfnl combiaulion of planters for 
dealing with 1 ibour diilioulties. 
The Labour Federation of the Kelaui Valley haa 
worked excellently : it is true that now when cooliei 
are plentiful, there has been little or no filrain upon 
its resources, but your Coiatnittee hold that the neces- 
sity for this Labour Federation was and is very ap- 
parent and its existence wilt be found to be of im- 
mense benefit to the Planters of the Kelani Valley. 
The Parent Association Labour Federation Scheme 
has not been nnanimoualy supported iu the Kelani 
Valley. There is however no reiison why Superin- 
tendents should not join both P'ederations and thua 
secure for themselvos double benefits and privileges. 
OUITUABV. 
It was with the deepest regret that your Commitle* 
learnt of the decease of Mr. H L S Ingles, of Melfort, 
Pussellawa, who was man}' years a leading planter in 
this district and sometime Secretary of your Asso- 
ciation. 
e- 
SALE OF A TEA ESTATE. 
The property of the Central Terai Tea Com- 
pany, Limitert. in Liquidation, was offered for 
sale by public auction by Messrs. Miuskeozie, Lyall 
& Co., at No. 2, Lyon's Range, on Saturday last. The 
estate is situated in the District of DarjCeliug, Per- 
gunnah Pathurghatta, and couiists of about 2,300 
acres of land held under lease from Government of 
which about 412 acres are planted with tea and with 
large nurseries of high jaf 12 months' old seedlings' 
and a large area is under forest, with a valuabl* 
bazir at Kaprail. The buildings consist of a larg* 
puccabuilt three-stoiied Factory; a convenien' 
pucca-built Manager's bungalow ; a pncca- built 
Assistant's bungalow with thatched roof, a pucca- 
bnilt withering house with iron roof; two cutcha- 
built withering houses; a pucca-built store godown 
With iron roof; two cutcha built wood scoring godovpns; 
a wood builc charcoal godown with iron roof; an 
open box-making shed, with iron roof. The ont-tarn 
for 1898 was 2,011 m.innds, and the estimate for 1899 
is 2,000 mauuds. The first offer for the estate was 
R5.000, and the bidding rose rapidly, by bids of 
Rl,000, to R31000, at which figure it was knocked 
down to Jlr. S, K. Di-s of th3 National A-^ency Co., 
3 and 4, rLire titceeL.—Liiian 2.>aih/ Sci':s. 
FiEnEs.— Bulletin of Miscellaneous Intormat'on 
Additional Series, II. Silected Pacers from the 
Ketr 'Bulletin. I— Vegetable Fibres. 'FThis is a very 
useful summary of information respectiDg soma 
ninety different fibres.] 
