694 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April 1, 1904. 
614,483 lb. but prices were better, the average being 
40'26 cents as compared with 35'4B cents last year. 
Cost of production was a little higher at 29"60 cents 
against 28"11 cents. Coffee is a gradually dimioishing 
quantity — R6,789'40 was realised for this product last 
year, but now only K4,792'30. Fans have been erected 
in the Ury Factory since last Report, which, it is 
hoped, will prove of great benefit. The purchase 
of a small property called " Newburgh Clearing " 
adjoining and lying into Nahavilla has to be recorded 
M shown in the accounts. It consists of 62 acres^ 
of which 60 acres are in bearing and the price is 
E.16,000, the money for which was obtained from 
the present Mortgagees of Nahavilla. Its position 
with respect to Nahavilla made it a very desirable 
acquisition. The Estimates for next year are on 
much the same lines as last. Much will depend on 
the supply of labour. A small clearing of 16 acres 
was opened for Tea on TJry last year, and 15 acres 
is proposed to be planted this coming year. This 
helps to give work to some coolies in the slack 
season. Manuring operations are estimated to cost 
about 1'45 cents per lb of Tea out of a total cost of 
production of 27'43 cents. The acreage of the Estates 
is now as follows, the " Newburgh Clearing" being 
included with Nahavilla : — 
Naha- 
villa Ury M.P.G, Galella Total 
Tea in full bearing 422 521 252 287 1,482 
„ in particular bearing 42 — — — 42 
„ not in bearing 53 16 — — 69 
Coffee .. 27 41 — — 68 
Cardamoms .. — — 5 — 5 
Forest ... 45 41 — 71 158 
Grass, Fuel trees, 
Patana, &o. 74 147 84 254 550 
Total.. 663 766 341 613 2,383 
Mr W Anderson retires from the Board by rotation, 
and is eligible for re-election. The appointment of an 
Auditor for the ensuing year rests with the Meeting, 
— By order of the Directors, Geokge Steuart & Co., 
Agents and Secretaries. 
result from realization of the assets shewn in their 
balance sheet. Mr W MacGregor retires from the 
Directorate and does not seek re-election. The ap- 
pointment of an Auditor rests with the Meeting. 
By order of the Directors, BAKER & HALL, 
Agents and Secretaries. 
Colombo. 29th February, 1904. 
THE TALGASWEL.\ TEA CO, OF CEYLON 
LIMITED. 
KEPORT OF THE DIRECTORS 
ACREAGE. 
Tea in full bearing 
Abandoned 
Cinnamon and Tea abandoced . 
Kavines 
Forest boundary belts 
New clearing 
Forest 
Total ... 2,028 acreage. 
The Directors beg to place before the Shareholders 
their Sixteenth Annual Report with a duly audited 
statement of the Company's affairs to 31st December, 
1903. During the past season 141,541 lb of tea, have been 
secured against 143,131 last year, 44,447 lb tea were 
manufactured and sold on behalf of the Gallinda 
Estate. The cost of the tea laid down in Colombo is 
cents 25'55 per lb and same has realised cents 36'50 
nett against cents 30*68 last year, all tea having been 
sold in the local market. Profit and Loss account 
shews a profit on the year's working after writing off 
R2,294-17 to Depreciation, of R12,819 78, to this has to 
be added R313'10 brought forward from last ynar, and 
after payment of interest to preference shareholders 
viz. R2.100, there remains the sum of Rll,032-88. The 
Directors have set aside R12,500 in respect of debts 
due by Agents and Secretaries, and this results in 
profit and Loss Account shewing a debit balance of 
g,l,467'12. The Shareholders will be asked to consider 
proposal made by the Agents and Secretaries of a 
g^mposition of Re 1'50 in rupees ten payable within 3 
ontbs, together with any further balance there may 
YATADEEIYA TEA CO. OP CEYLON, LTD. 
THE REPORT. 
The Directors have pleasure in submitting the 
Balance Sheet and Profit Loss account for the year 
ending 31st December, 1903. The profit for the year 
is R74,928-37 equal to 39'43 per cent on the Capital of 
the Company, to which must be added R6,025'll 
balance from 1902. The Directors recommend that a 
Dividend of 25 per cent, absorbing R47,500 be declared, 
R25,000 reserved for Working Capital, and the balance 
R8,453 48 carried forward. It will be seen that the 
Property representing Capital stands in the Balance 
Sheet at approximately R194 per acre of tea, the same 
figure as in the previous year's accounts, and tbat the 
Piofit is R76'38 per acre in bearing. The total Tea 
Crop secured, originally estimated at 541,5121b was 
537,100 lb Green Tea, which was sold on Contract at 
35 cents per lb the Thirty Committee bonus acoru- 
ing to the Company. The nett average price (in- 
cluding bonus) realised for 545,039 lb tea sold was 
37 "02 cents per lb of this quantity 7,939 lb was 
from purchased leaf. The season on the whole 
was an unfavourable one for crop, the shortage 
on Estimate being attributed to lack of sunny 
flushing weather. The cost of Tea per Superinten- 
dent's Estate Report wa'. 20'80 cents per lb. and the 
total cost delivered to buyers including all charges was 
22'96 cents, per lb j or exclusive of Depreciation 21'05 
cents, per lb. The 1904 Tea crop estimated at 580,000 
lb. Green Tea has been sold on Contract at 38) cents 
per lb, the Thirty Committee bonus accruing to the 
buyers, The share-holders were informed of this on 
completion of the Contract. The general condition of 
the Estates is satisfactory and the labor supply snffi- 
cient, Coasfc advances standing at R5'37 pethead. 
Manuring was undertaken over some 237^ acres at an 
outlay of R9,100 or 1-68 cents, per lb tea, the benefi- 
cial result being already noticeable in the healthy 
appearance of the bushes. It is proposed to spend 
R10,000 or 1 '72 cents per lb tea on manuring opera- 
tions in 1904. Estate Buildings, Factory and 
Machinery are all in good order. The installation 
of a New Engine and Boiler referred to in the 
last report was duly carried out ; and these with 
the addition of a Hydro-Extractor have brought 
power and equipment up to present requirements. 
The re-arrangement of shafting and machinery and 
the renewal of Dryers, etc.. with the above mentioned 
new machinery cost R15,815'36, and it may be men- 
tioned that with the exception of the Hydro Extrac- 
tor (and. Green Tea Steamer installed in 1902) the 
whole outlay was necessary to enable the crop to be 
properly manufactured as either black tea or green 
tea. The actual extra outlay solely for green tea mak- 
ing was therefore inconsiderable. A small extension 
to Factory and addition to shafting is contemplated 
in 1904, beyond which there is no further outlay on 
Buildings and Machinery Capital account in view. 
Paba Rubber. — At the close of 1902 the growing 
plants and trees on the Estate were estimated at 
66,000 and a census is now being taken of all trees over 
one inch in circumference ;in 1903 the tea was planted 
through with Rubber seed at stakes 30' x 30'. The 
mature trees have been only lightly tapped so as not 
to affect seed crop — of which 404,000 seeds realised 
R2,459'14, the balance being put into nurseries for use 
in 1904. 183 lb rubber was collected and gold for 
R512-12. 
Pests. — Helopeltis and Shot hole Borer have been 
noticed on a small acreage and steps taken to keep 
them under. 
