[November r, 1890. 
342 the tropical agriculturist. 
A difierenee of 1,194.000 lb in bark may be con- 
eidered very large; but we have the satisfaction of 
believing that our estimate was nearest the mark — 
in fact the highest framed so far we know — our 
contemporary of the ‘ ■ Times ” for instance keeping 
to 6^ million lb., while he was also below us in 
coffte and cocoa. 
As regards the leading native export staples we 
may mention the following — : 
“ Observer'’ Actual 8kip~ 
Estimate, ments about. 
Coconut Oil SEOjOOO cwt. 3(17,349 cwt. 
Plumbago ••• 350,000 „ 405,429 ,, 
Cinnamon (Quills & Chips) 2,000,000 lb. 2,266,837 lb 
We do not pretend that the figur. s for shipments 
are quite correct ; but they are near as can be 
worked out from the Chamber's returns at present 
and must be fair approximations. 
Above, we give an approximate reckoning 
of the total amount of our Staple Experts to 
the end of the season — which is now abandoned in 
favour of the calendar year,— as compared with tie 
estimates put forth a year ago. The result is 
singularly close in the case of tea to the estimates 
framed by Messrs. H. K. Euthsrford and A, E. 
Scovell, quite independently the one of the other. 
Our own est mates were not far behind, while in the 
case of coffee, cocoa, cfcc,, they were as near as 
could be desired. 
In regard to the season we are now entering 
on, although we reserve our more careful invesii- 
gatioii and estimates for the calendar year, yet it 
may be of some interest to indicate roughly, to 
what extent we anticipate shipments between Oct. 
1st, 1890, and 30th Sept. 1891. Here then are the 
figures for, — 
"Ceylon Observer” Estimates: 
Tr,A ... ... 51,000,000 lb. 
Coffee 
Cocoa 
Caedamoms ... 
Cinchona Bask 
Cinnamon 
C ocoNDT Oil 
Plumbago 
80.000 cwt. 
17,500 „ 
320.000 lb. 
6.500.000 „ 
2 . 200.000 „ 
320.000 cwt. 
400.000 
The way in which Tea exports have increased may 
be seen from the following return going back only 
6 years : — 
Season 1885 6 ... 7,170,329 lb. 
„ 1886-7 ... 12,013,686 „ 
„ 1881-8 ... 20.755,779 „ 
„ 18!<8-9 ... 32 516 682,, 
„ 1889 90 (about) 43 067,101 „ 
„ 1890.91 (Eat.) 51,000,000 ,, 
It will be observed that we have diminished the 
estimated annual increase this time, but this is in 
correspondence with a falling oli in the extent 
planted after 1886. 
In rrgard to Coffee the figures run very sadly 
the other way 
1885- 6 ... 223 693 cwt. 
1886- 7 ... 180 429 „ 
1887 8 ... 136,295 „ 
1888-9 ... 86,440 „ 
1889 90 (about)... 90,: 63 „ 
1890-91 (Eat.) ... 80,000 „ 
Last year our estimate proved exactly correct. This 
season Haputalo and some other parts of Uya are 
to have good crops, but we fear this will be 
countefbalanced by a falling-off on this side of 
Nuwara Eliya, and we doubt if our declining staple 
will even reach 80,000 cwt. 
icor Cocoa, the return is 
1880-6 
cwt. 
13,347 
1886-7 
••• 
16,638 
1887 8 
12,611 
1888-9 
••• ••• 
14.461 
1889-90 
(about) ... 
16,842 
1890-91 
(Est ) ... 
17.500 
The cocoa crop is a very difficult one to estimate 
although our last year’s prognostication was exactly 
fulfilled, and wo trust the moderate increase 
we specify will be realized. 
Of Cardamoms, the shipments have been : 
1885 6 ... 236,056 lb. 
1886- 7 ... 321,56'! „ 
1887- 8 ... 310,685 „ 
1888- 9 ... 301,706 „ 
18S9 90 (about) ... 320 994 „ 
1890-91 (Est.) ... 320,000 „ 
Then as regards Cinchona Bark, although our 
estimate a year ago for season 1889-90, was the 
highest published, yet we were found fault wills 
in several quarters for venturing so high ; but (he 
actual shipments give nearly 1,200,0001b. in excess 
of our estimate 1 Our reckoning for the current 
season is based on the annual fall already 
experienced, more than on a vain attempt to 
judge of what bark is available for shipment, 
such depending almost entirely on the prices that 
may be offered. Here are the figures for shipments 
and estimate ; — 
lb. 
1885-6 
... 15,364,912 
1886 7 
... 14,389,184 
1887-8 
... 11 704,532 
1888-9 
... 10.498,487 
1889-90 (about) 
... 8,694,452 
1890-91 (E,t.) 
... 6,560,000 
The low prices prevailing give no encouragement to 
cultivate cinchona, and unfortunately as Ceylon 
decreases her exports, those from Java are on the 
rise, so preventing the natural result of a lessened 
supply from this island. 
In respect of Cinnamon, it was hoped that a groat 
difference in the shipment of “ chips ” would be 
witnessed by this time, but such is scarcely the 
case, although for some years there has been a 
gradual decline ; w'e trust the falling-off may be 
much more apparent by and bye. Here is the 
return = — 
lb. lb. 
1885- 6 ... 1,629,548 bales; 
1886- 7 ... 1,793.893 „ 
1887- 8 . . 1,657,424 „ 
1888- 89 ... 1,N.57,865 „ 
1889- 90 about 1,830,422 „ 
1890- 91(Bst.) 1,850,000 „ 
... 548,037 chips. 
... 505,951 „ 
... 496,887 „ 
... 466,401 „ 
... 434,415 „ 
... 300,000 „ 
In Coconut Cil, we have a varying and yet on the 
whole wonderfully steady export 
cwt. 
1885-6 
234,308 
1886-7 
304,478 
1887-8 
385,758 
1888-9 
327,430 
18S9-90 
(about) ... 
307,349 
1890-91 
(Est.) ... 
320,000 
Finally in regard to Ceylon’s one mineral of 
commercial importance that appears among 
our staple returns - Plumbago — (although it is no 
secret how large and valuable is the quantity of 
precious stones dug out every year and quietly 
disposed of)— the export figures for Plumbago 
indicate a wonderful development of mining : — 
cwt. 
1885-6 
»*« 
190,163 
1886-7 
234,473 
1887-8 
Ml 
... 254,046 
1888-9 
370,290 
