July i, iSgo.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
S 
The tract pointed out to me by the Mohattal 
of the district as purchased by Your Excellency, 
is about a miles S. W. of Badulla, and is called 
Oodooroowawatte, in the Oodapalata of the Yata- 
kinde of 0 .vah. It is about 4 miles distant from 
the road leading from Newera El ia to Badulla, 
where it would be necessary to form a path, as 
it is now approached with difficulty by a track 
crossing several paddy fields and streams. 
It is supposed that a road could be made to it 
with comparative ease, as a stream of water pass- 
ing through the land in question has its course in 
nearly a straight direction towards the main road 
to Badulla; which road it crosses at about 
miles from that place. 
The general appearance of the forest as it is 
approached from the Badulla road, is that of a 
deep narrow valley with steep sides rising to the 
summit of bare manna hills ; easily accessible at 
its northern boundary, where the stream just men- 
tioned leaves it. 
The quantity of land approaching a level surface, 
is comparatively very little indeed ; bt ing confined 
to a narrow tract on each side of the stream, where 
the app' arance of the soil is on the surface, blackish, 
with a substratum rather yellow, and freely mixed 
with sand or soft stone; and must be of a very 
superior quality, necessarily arising from its 
pecu iar situation. 
There is a greater proportion of surface of easy 
declivity, where the soil is, as may be expected, 
of a quality considerably inferior to the former ; 
yet, partaking of the same formation, and this 
may be consider! d of an average quality compared 
with the soils of this coutdry The extent of both 
these descriptions may be loughly estimated at 
about 2U0 acres. 
Of the remainder very litt'e can be advanced to 
recommend it, being chiefly composed of very sharp 
or strong steeps difficult in appioach and in appli- 
cation of labour. There are also small patches of 
chena lands having been cultivated by the natives, 
but the exhaustion of land attendant on their sys- 
tem of cultivation is notorious, especially on slopes 
which is the land they have chosen in this case. 
The remainder is Patana or Manna hills and is 
unsuited for plantations. 
It is barely possible at one visit to form correct 
ideas of its extent, but I should suppose the whole 
to exceed 6C0 acres. 
Concerning the supply of labour that may be 
obtained at this spot, the testimony of the residents 
and the appearance of the circumjacent country 
suggest but a scanty or irregular supply ; perhaps 
for 8 months in the year, an adequate quantity may 
be obtained, but during the remainder or when the 
scanty population are busily engaged on their own 
land the supply of native labour cannot be other- 
wise than defective ; if indeed any could be obtained, 
and this unfortunately happens at the crop season 
when they are most required. 
A regular supply of Malabars may possibly be 
located there, but of the practicability of this 1 cannot 
speak. With respect to the 2 acres of land at Newera 
Elba, on returning last evening from Badulla I found 
that the said quantity is already nearly cleared, and 
if the weather cont nues as favourable as et present 
for 3 or 4 more days, the necessary work upon it 
for the pnseiit will be completed. 
I have the hoi or to be, Sir, Your ExceTency’s 
most obedient humble Servant, 
J. G. Lr.tn. 
liis ExC’ llei.cy the Et. Hon’ble the Governok. 
Sir, — I hud delayed reporting to Your Excelhiicy 
the condition in which I left the tract of land in 
process of clearance at Newera Ellia (now seme l.S 
days past) until I should hear how Your Excellency 
approved that report which was the result of my 
investigation of and visit to Badulla. Put not having 
yet been honored with that expected and anx’ous 
intelligence, I heg forthwith to state for Your Fx- 
ceTency’s information that the spot above alluded 
to is now ready for the recention of tea plants 
wh* never they come to hand. There were 8 Caffre 
men employed 2.S days, and the extent cleared is 
upwards of 2 acres, a good part of which is burned, 
and entirely cleared of the fallen timber. 
I have the honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s 
most faithful and obedient Servant, 
J, G. 7 EAR, 
Boyal Botanic Garden, Peradenia, Dec. 9th, 1839. 
His Excellency the Et. Hon’ble the Governor, 
Sir, — I have ♦he honor to acknowledge the 
receipt of Your Excellency’s letter of the 11th 
instant, and in answer heg to state as my opinion, 
that, the tea plar ts intended for Newera Ellia 
ronld not arrive f» t'olomho at a better time than 
♦ he month of March, to allow of their being taken 
to Newera Ellia early in Ap'iJ. With reference 
♦ o the land at Badulla, Iha'e no doubt but that 
Your Exeelleney's views, wi'h respect to other 
produce than coffee, miph^ be cnrr’ed into effect 
with promising resii’ts b 't it is w'orthy of notice 
'hat the land ohjeeted to for coffee is very pre- 
cipitate and difficult of excess, which circumstance 
embodies many other objections. I should be most 
hapry io have the horo' of areompanying Your 
Excellency lo ihe spot Shou’d Your ExceTency 
have decided upon cultivating it, (he commencement 
might he made immedia'ely, hut I wish too earnestly 
for the success of the undertaking, to recommend 
such a system of procedure as the one contemplated. 
It is murh to be doubled and feared, that the 
performance of a na'ive’s contract, in a business of 
that description, would never bear ihe test of ex- 
amination, or prove otherwise than conducive of 
great disappointment and regret. 
There is a fine tract of forest land on the range 
of mountains called h'amanakoolakanda, about 8 
to 10 miles from Badulla, and the best of it I 
believe is on the S. W. side, facing the district of 
AHipoot. T am led to believe it is well suited for 
eoffee cultivation, and that is the only land I know 
of any extent near Badulla, and there I believe 
are several thousand acres. 
I have the honor to he. Sir, Your Excellency's 
most obedient humble Servant, 
J. G. Lear. 
Boyal Botanic Garden, December 14th, 1839. 
The Et. Hon'ble the Governor, &c., &c., itc. 
Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the re- 
eeipt of Your Excellency’s letter of the 24th ins' ant, 
and seeds therein specified. 
I think it will be advisab’e to sow the tea s^cds 
at Peradenia and remove them when gfrminaled to 
Newera Ellia; in the meantime the ground there 
can be put in readiness for them. 
I have seme doubts of the success of those seeds, 
ihe albumen on examination appears unhealthy, but 
I shall sow them this morning, and the result will 
soon he known. 
It is perhaps not known to Your Excellency that 
there is a pure tea tree at CaPupa Botanic Gardens, 
and I have been told there are some young ones also; 
if so, Your Excellency might secure them. I have 
received two seeds from the original tree there, one 
of which has become a plant. 
