July i, i8gi.] 
rm TROPICAL AQRiQULTURIST. 
4i 
We now turn to the Kelani Valley and 
the lowoountry generally. A return send round 
the premier lowcountry district was only im- 
perfeotly filled up ; but adding in for the 
estates left blank as well as oar means of informa- 
tion will permit, we get a total outturn of 5,527,300 
lb. and we fancy that the six million lb. will be 
sent away. Again for the Kalutara district, the 
estimate furnished to us is for 1,750 000 lb. which 
will also no doubt prove below the mark. For B;ila- 
pitiya and Ambalangoda we got an estimate of 
155,000 lb. ; for Udugama and the rest of the 
lowoountry, we suppose we may add a million lb. 
giving a grand total for the lowcouctry par excellence 
of about 9 million lb. We have still the Bulan- 
goda, Kuruwita, Rakwana, Kukulu and Morawak 
Korale tea estates to take into account- The 
estimates furnished to us, were as follows : — 
B ilangoda 
Raliwana 
Kurawita 
Kukuiii Korale 
Morawafc „ 
345,000 lb. 
900, ono „ 
80,0 0 „ 
MO,OUO „ 
700.000 „ 
Total 
2,825,000 lb. 
We find one omission in not allowing for some 
700 aores of tea in Kegalla and Polgahawela which 
may bring the above up to 2J million lb. 
We may now attempt a summing-up of our divi- 
sional figures as follows : — lb. 
Northern and Midland districts . . 22 millions. 
Dimbula, Dikoja and Maekeliya (say) 21 „ 
Nawata Elijn Division .. ..3 ,, 
Uva „ .. 3* „ 
Kelani Valley, Kalutara and low- 
cunotry generally . . . . 9 ,, 
Rakwana Group . . . . . . 2J ,, 
Grand Total 
.. 61 
It is interesting now to contrast these figures with 
the estimates oftored at the beginning of the year 
for the whole island : — • lb. 
Mr. H. K. Rutherford's .. .. 52,750,000 
Mr. A. E. Scovell .. 54,000,000 
Mr. R. Porter (max. 57, min. 53) .. 55,0011,000 
Mr. W. Mackenzie .. 54 to 56,000,000 
Ceylon Observer .. .. .. 56,000,000 
Mr. G. Annatrong— over.. .. 56.OU0,UO0 
Mr. W.F. Liurie (max. 60, min; 56 ) 5ti,OuO,000 
To this we may add the fact of shipments up 
to 18th May reaching to nearly 26 millions, 
pointing to a total for the year of not less than 
63 to 65 million lb. Of course long-continued 
unfavourable weather during the present and next 
monsoons may make a difference and cause a 
considerable falling-off in shipments; but judging 
by the experiences of the past four years, we 
moit fully expect to see today's detailed estimate 
of 61 millions exceeded by the total shipments of 
tea for 1891. 
As regards the future, we can only at present 
lay the following extract from the letter of an 
experienced planter before our readers, and we 
believe there is enough in it to cause serious thought 
to all interested in "Ceylon T«a " : — 
" Were I able to spot one block of land similar 
to Mariawatte's original 100 acres, I would have 
bought it any time within the last seven years, for 
I have been all tiiat time looking out for it 1 Maria- 
watte had never grown coffee as all such land at 
average elevation had don^, which was not often 
chenaed. In Dimbula and Dikoya, I believe there 
are 20,000 to 30,000 aores, whn:h, if planted originally 
in tea, would havo given 800 to 1,000 lb. per 
acre. In the older districts, there ia a similar 
area which under the same circumstances would have 
given X.OOOlo 1,200 lb. per acre, Some virgin land 
in the highest part of Kelabokka or Eaat Matale 
is now giving over 900 lb. per acre. Ukuwala 
neighbourhood can be worked up to this yield. 
Tea is not yet in full bearing in these coft;e 
districts ; but already we hear of fltilds, nay whole 
estates, giving 480, 500 and 550 lb. per acre, and 
o£ one, from which 600 lb. are expected. With culti- 
vation and manuring even to a small extent, I 
believe 40,000 to 50,0' 0 aores in the coffee dis- 
tricts, would average GOO lb. — the best 10,000 acres 
giving 800 lb." 
This means that 60, 0^0 acres of our best tealand 
are to yield 32 million lb. 1 What then are we to put 
down for the other 200,000 aores ? Certainly not 
less than 75 millions, so here we are face to face 
in a very short time, with a possible export from 
the island exceeding 100 million lb. Who would 
plant more tea in Ceylon after this ? 
Coffee — Cocoa — Cabi>amom8— Cinchoka Babe. 
In our notice of the Estimates and probable 
Crops of other Produots — apart from Tea — our re- 
marks may be very brief at this time. Tea haa 
become of such overwhelming importance in the 
planting enterprise, and the acreage under other pro- 
ducts is so comparatively limited, that there is 
not room for muoh disouasion or speculation about 
district leturns. First ol all, we may give the 
estimates of two experienced Visiting Agents in 
respect of the Export of Coffee during 1891 : — 
Probable 
Maximum. Minimum. figures. 
Cwt. Owk. Owt. 
Estimated ... 60,000 ... 50,000 ... 55,000 
Do. ..,100,000 ... 80,000 ... 90,000 
Here there is a wide discrepancy ; but judging by 
a certain number of carefully compiled district 
returns we think it will be safe to take 75,000 cwt, 
as the probable outturn. This would iaoluda some 
22,000 cwt. from Haputale, and perhaps 20,000 cwt. 
from the rest of Uva. Of more immediate iotereat 
is the return of shipments to date as contrasted 
with the rest of the year, thus : — 
Coffee Exports. 
Up to 2oth May. Rest of year. Total. 
1891 .. cwts. 35,471 (say) 40,000 (say) 75,471 
1890 .. ., 48,945 37,000 86,009 
1889 .. „ 32,276 56,000 88,082 
1888 .. „ 72,781 67,000 139,663 
At present there are heavy pickings of crop in 
Haputale and it will be disai-pointing, if our 
moderate estimate is not realized. 
As regards Cocoa or Cacao, two estimates for 
the island before us come a good deal closer than 
in the case of the estimates for coffee, namely,— 
Exports op Cocoa in 1891. 
Maximiim. Minimum. Probable. 
Owt. 18,000 16,000 17,000 
„ 17,000 ' 14,000 15,000 
A detailed estimate for a large proportion of the 
districts adds up to 12, 230owt. (including 7, OOOewfc, 
for Dumbara, 2,500 for Kurunegala, 1,000 cwt. for 
Matale North and 780 cwt. for Monaragala) but 
about one-fourth of the acreage is unrepresented 
and that would lead us to place the estimate at 
about 16,000 owt. Here again, however, is the 
comparison between shipmants to date and the 
total for four years, poiu-.ing to a probable export 
for 1891 up to, if not in excess of, the highest 
estimate ! How is this accounted for ? 
Exports of Cocoa : 
Up to Kest of 
25lh May. Year. Total. 
1391 .. lb. 11,388 (say) 0,000 (say) 17,388 
1890 .. „ 8,588 7,400 15 981 
1889 .. „ 7,535 11,500 19.054 
1888 ., „ 7,641 5,500 13,15» 
