550 
TEE TEOPICAL AGRICULTUKIST. ^ [Feb. 1, 1904 
lb. 
(o) Total tea crop, excluding boceht 
leaf .. 5,601,000 
(d) Estimates of green tea to be 
made, included in 0 515,000 do 
(e) Estimates of lb of tea to be made 
from native leaf (not included in c) 149,000 do 
(f) Tea acreage abandoned in 1903 nil 
The total tea crop being 162,500 lb more than last 
lyeai's estimate, is equal to an increase of about 10 
b peracre only. 
more were expected to join. The total area of 
land represented is some 10,859 acres of which 
7,425 is under cultivation as follows :— 
Tea in bearing 6,337 
Young Tea 139 6,476 
Kubber 805 
Cacao 94 
Plantains 30 
Cardamoms 20 949 
RAKWANA PLANTEES' ASSOCIATION. 
ANNUAL KEPORT FOE THE YEAK 1903. 
Register of Estates. — The number of estates 
on the KoU for the past year was fifteen, which is 
the same as in 1902. 
Official Estimate op Tea Ckop for 1904. — The 
estimated crop for this year is 1,378,700 lb. as com- 
pared with l,a75,122 lb. in 1903. 
Labour-Supply.— Your Committee are of the opinion 
thai the Labour-supply of the District is totally 
inadequate for present requirements, and see no 
prospect of improvement in this respect, unless the 
scheme for appointing an Agent in India for the 
purpose of recruiting Labour, is adopted by the 
fareut Association, end placed on a firm and 
workable basis. 
Advances. — Your Committee regret that, owing to 
the scarcity of Labour, these have shewn an upward 
tendency ; but that, compared with some other 
districts, the rate per head is very moderate. 
Tin Ticket System.— Your Committee have noveiy 
encouraging results to report of this system, Oneir 
two members o£ the District have recruited a few 
coolies by Tin Tickets, and, generally, the coolies 
notified have arrived safely, but, until the Railway is 
extended to Katnapura, there is always the danger 
of the coolies being crimped en route from Avissawella 
to Rakwsna, a distance of fifty-four miles; this equally 
effected the districts of Balangoda and Morawakkoraie, 
and is another strengthening link in the chain of 
evidence for the necessity of tha extension of the 
Bailway to Ratnapura, 
Tea Pests. — On some Estates in the District 
Helopeltis has been very much in evidence, but your 
Committee are pleased to record that, up to the ^Ire- 
sent, the Shot-bole borer has not made its appearance. 
Rice, — Rates of rice throughout the year have 
ruled somewhat lower than 1902, although it is to be 
hoped that there will be a material redaction in the 
price of this commodity before long. 
KESOLUTIONS. 
I. Tea Cess and Salary of Labour-Ke- 
CRUiTiNG Agent in India,— Mr E Hoste . 
Turner brought forward the following motion 
with regard to this subject, viz.: "That part of the 
monies now collected by the Cess on tea should be 
devoted to the salary of the official appointed 
by the Planters' Association of Ceylon to bring 
coolies to the Island." 
Mr. Payne's amendment. — "That we do not 
meddle with the XXX. Committee with regard to 
the distribution of any monies." Secondec? by 
Mr. G W Greenshields, Carried by 5 to 4. 
7,425 
Crop Return 1904,— Green Tea 896.000 lb, Black 
Tea 2,345,000 lb.— Total 3,241,000 lb„ average 
per acre 511 lb., (exclusive of leaf from native 
gardens) From the above figures the importance 
of this district being represented by an Associa- 
tion of its own is amply justified and I take it 
as a good augury of success for the falure of this 
Association to see so many members present here to 
day ; I trust that the attendance will not diminish 
but increase and that your Association will 
become a useful adjunct to the Parent Association. 
Green Tea Bonus Proposed by Mr M H 
Reeves:— " That in the opinion of this Associa- 
tion, it is advisable that the Greea Tea Bonus 
should be continued."— seconded by Mr D S FraSER. 
The Chairman— in supporting the above, said 3 
cents passed by the •'Thirty Committee " on 
5,000,0001b will run out before June. That the 
rise in the London Market average of 7'1 of a 
penny (7'52d) and in the local maiket of 4 cts (38 
cts)onBiack Teas in 1903, is chiefly due to the 
taking off the London market 11,000,000 lb. as 
manufactured into green^ea ; it cannot but be ad- 
mitted this average would have been even higlier 
had not India's exports been some 18 to 2C millions 
over 1902. Ceylon is not likely to pass through 
such another short crop year as last, the heavy 
local sales to date and corresponding fall in prices 
already indicate this. India is ahead of its exports 
to same dale last year ; everything, therefore, 
tends to a return to the miserable state of things, 
previous to the heavier export of sreen tea. The 
green tea market is not captured by any means. 
The signs of expansion are not altogether pro- 
mising, the continuation of ihebotius is, therefore, 
the more necessary and rather than reduce or 
discontinue it, I would curtail the exploiting of 
new markets for Black Tea and ^o have money in 
hand to continue the bonus on green tea for the 
low-country and encourage the manufacture of 
Oolongs upcountry as every lb of Black Tea with- 
drawn from the London Maiket is to the advantage 
of all of us— Carried nem con. 
Edgak Smith, Hon. Secretary, Kegalla P,A, 
KEQALLE PLANTERS/ ASSOCIATION. 
Affiliation. — Read letter from Parent Associa- 
tion granting affiliation. Resolved that the 
Secretary be thanked for his letter. 
The Chairman— addressing the meeting inform- 
ed membets that 22 estates had joined and 2 or 3 
INDIAN GEEEN TEA AND ARTIFICIAL 
COLOURING. 
As Ceylon, for the most part, artificially 
colours her green teas, and as she will probably 
produce some twelve million pounds, as against our 
four or five million pounds this year, it is possible 
that Indian green tea manufacturers may deem it 
desirable to follow suit, simply for the sake of 
securing some degree of uniformity. Although 
artificial colouring has not been adopted by us 
up to date, it has several advantages which will 
considerably benefit us, so all things considered 
we may find it necessary to follow Ceylon's lead 
and artificially colour a large proportion of our 
crop. As the American and Canadian markets pre 
fer such teas and insist on having them, there. 
