604 IHE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 1, 1904. 
A. Coconut Oil fluctuated considerably 
during 1903, but considering the level which 
prices had reached in 1902, this is not to be 
surprised at. A feeling uneasiness and 
tension exists when an article becomes in- 
flated in value, and the decline noticeable in 
1903 only brought back prices to a more nor- 
mal value. The tendency as the year closed, 
was for a gradual rise in vahies. 
1902. 1903. 
Per ton. Per ton. 
Oa 1st Jan. cooiimt oil was worth E437*50f.o.b. & E350 
On let April „ „ 380.00 „ 325 
On 1st July „ „ 395.00 „ 310 
OnlstOctr. „ „ 365.00 „ 305 
On 31st Deo. „ „ 352.50 ,. 315 
For a short spell prices went as low as Rs 290 
per ton, but recovery was sharp. 
Prior to 1903 the year 1892 remained the re- 
cord year for export of coconut oil from 
Ceylon, viz :— 550,977 cwts., but it has now to 
rank as second to 1908. 
flxporta were in 1900 1901 1902 1903 
cwts. cwts. cwts, cwts. 
To United Kingdom... 257|655 236.514 301,647 422,024 
To America ... 65,043 27,205 92.996 107,135 
To India .. 88,148 141.139 64,370 20,327 
To Other Countries ... 33,113 48,673 53,485 115^71 
comparatively low level. Belgium and 
Germany continue to take practically all our 
export of poonac : — 
Shipped in 1901 1902 1903 
To Belgium 102,277 110,621 148.739 cwt. 
To Germany 93,577 136.823 142,011 „ 
To Other Countries 8,502 253 9,222 „ 
Total exf ort... 443,959 453,531 512,498 665,357 
B. Copra.— Values remained at a fairly 
high average all through the past year. 
Per Candy at Bridge of Boats, 
Same period 
1903. 
On Ist Jan. 1902 Calpentyn was worth E61-00 E52 50 
On Ist April do do 56 00 45 50 
OnlstJnlv do do 5700 44-00 
On 1st Oct do do 56-50 46-00 
On 3l8t Dec. do do 62-50 46'50 
Exports aggregated in 1901 1902 1903 
To United Kingdom ... 19,816 12,908 8,202 cwt. 
To France ... 98,944 110,144 95,863 „ 
To Belgium . . 68,859 22,944 64,533 „ 
To Austria ... 25,252 15,364 26,998 „ 
ToBassia ... 66,246 33.136 223 530 „ 
To Germany ... 153,335 179,819 256,299 „ 
To Other Countries ... 7,413 481 55,150 „ 
Total export ... 439,865 374,796 720,575 „ 
The former record for Ceylon was in 1898, 
viz:— 506,277 cwts. The export to India, which 
in former years was large, has practically 
ceased. 
Exceptionally low rates of freight from 
Colombo to Odessa led to a large business 
with Russia. Freight to Odessa is still much 
under rates to other European ports where 
;opra is imported. 
Several new Buyers entered the local 
market during the year, and competition at 
the Bridge of Boats is keener than ever. 
From a grower's point of view, " the more 
buyers the better." 
C. Poonac. — Larger shipments of poonac 
naturally follow a larger export of coconut 
oil. Prices fluctuated but little on the Conti- 
nent, the many competing oih (from other 
than the coconut kernels) keeping prices at a 
Total ixport 204,356 217,697 299,972 cwt. 
Locally, mill poonac in robbins ranged from 
K65 to R75 per ton f.o.b. 
D. Desiccated Coconut. —This exports 
shows an increase of about 8% and appears 
to be the record year for Ceylon : — 
1901 1902 1903 
lbs. lbs. lbs. 
To United Kingdom 10,098,226 9,97«,170 11,859,475 
To America 986,334 ^,-249,143 1,944,102 
To Germany 1,330,102 2,067,490 l,542,-298 
To Other Countries 1,640,831 1,932,762 2,139,494 
Total exports 14,055,493 16.227,565 17,485,36!) 
E. Coconuts, —show a small increase in 
export over 1902, but the flgur-es for 1901 and 
1900 show large shipments, 
F. Coir Rope Yarn and Fibre, taken 
together, show an increase in " export of 
over 10%. 
G. Plumbago. — When reviewing this article 
for 1902, it was noticed that better prices 
were paid, and during the past year prices 
remained remarkably steady. All the con- 
suming countries are every year getting more 
in direct touch with local exporters, and 
what is shipped is practically against firm 
orders. Consigments are now very few 
indeed, and are understood to consist chiefly 
of very poor dusts. America is again our 
largest buyer of plumbago, notwithstanding 
frequent reports from time to time of a subs- 
titute being found. It was recently stated 
that artiflcial graphite had been manufactured 
at Niagara and valued at £2 ton. As the 
commonest plumbago dust in Ceylon is worth 
more than this, our industry need not take 
alarm from the rumours that occasionally 
come to hand of a substitute being found. 
Shipped in 19i'0 1901 1902 1903 
cwt, cwt. cwt.. cwt. 
United Kingdom 129,516 197,443 147,020 114.327 
America 162,449 174.063 255,291 243,582 
Belgium 32,084 24,770 18,392 31,tt40 
Germany 52.362 50,630 66,051 74.003 
Other Countries 6,939 6,311 8.747 15,008 
Total export 383,350 453,267 495,501 473,860 
The following comparative figures for one 
standard of ordinary size lump, show that 
Ceylon Plumbago still commands good 
prices : — 
1895 .. E300 .. 1899 .. R750 
1896 .. E325 .. 1900 .. R9i0 
1897 .. E400 .. 1901 .. E375 •" "• 
1898 .. E60J .. 1902 .. R475 
being average prices paid per ton during the 
respective years. The year 1899 still continues 
the record year for Ceylon, export being 
616,.385 cwt. The plumbago industry of our 
island still appears to be in a very sound and 
strong position. 
Tea.— Our columns are so constantly giving 
figures and reports on this staple industry 
