May  I,  1896. J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
767 
Should  wo  obtain  the  concession,  we  propose  to 
select  a blend  of  tea  that  is  likely  to'meet  the  public 
taste  and  submit  samples  of  the  same  to  Mr.  Leake 
(or  some  other  authorised  representative  of  the 
Planters’  Association)  for  approval.  It  is  intended 
that  the  Tea  House  should  not  be  identified  with  any 
special  marks  of  tea,  but  should  be  worked  strictly 
in  the  general  interest  of  the  Ceylon  industry,  to 
which  end  as  mentioned  above  an  approved  blend 
only  will  be  used. 
The  Exhibition  authorities  have  set  aside  a very 
convenient  and  suitable  site  for  the  Ceylon  Tea 
House  (or  ‘'Ceylon  Bungalow'’  as  it  will  probably 
be  styled)  ’I'he  plan  of  the  building  itself  will  bo 
decided  upon  by  the  Exhibition  Architects,  hut  would 
be  erected  by  us  at  our  expense. 
'L'he  Tea  House  (or  Bungalow)  would  be  under  the 
personal  supervision  of  iUr.  Edward  Ijaugdalo  who 
iias  considerable  exporienee  in  such  business,  and 
whose  highly  successful  management  of  the  Indian 
Tea  House  last  year  gave  complete  satisfaction  to 
the  Indian  Planters'  Association  and  the  Exhibition 
authorities. 
It  is  proposed  to  give  the  bungalow  a picturesque 
appearance  by  the  verandahs  and  open  spaces  of 
ornamental  plants  commonly  found  in  Ceylon  Gardens. 
We  should  at  the  same  time  be  very  glad  to 
arrange  and  maintain  a separate  Exhibition  stall  for 
Teas  and  other  Ceylon  products,  if  we  can  obtain 
pecuniary  assistance  for  the  purpose.  We  estimate 
the  erection  and  maintenance  of  such  a stall  at  from 
■flOO  to  fl.'iO,  which  would  include  the  cost  of  show 
boxes,  Exhibition  bottles,  labels  and  attendant.  Mr. 
Leake  suggests  an  application  to  the  Committee  of 
Thirty  for  assistance  in  this  matter,  should  this 
proposal  be  favourably  considered,  we  should  hope 
to  receive  early  information  to  enable  ns  to  secure 
adequate  space  for  the  exhibits,  and  intending 
exhibitors  should  be  urged  to  despatch  their  exhibits 
without  delay.  I may  mention  that  we  have  in- 
formation, that  a suitable  site  would  be  allowed  us 
for  this  purpose  upon  application.  Besides  exhibits 
of  produce,  we  should  be  glad  to  receive  photographs 
and  artwork,  and  objects  of  general  interest.  Samples 
of  Teas  should  be  of  half  to  one  pound  each,  and 
should  be  specially  selected  for  appearance.  There 
would  be  no  tasting  of  samples,  as  I believe,  no 
awards  are  made  at  this  Exhibition.  Teas  would 
not  be  sold  at  this  stall  which  would  be  set  apart 
for  Exhibition  purposes  only.  All  exhibits  should  be 
consigned  to  Messrs.  French  and  Laugdale  of  ]4th 
St.  Dunstan’s  Hill,  E.C. — I am,  Ac., 
(Sgd.)  E.  Ernest  Green. 
The  Exhibition  opens  on  1st  May. 
Copn  Bearsted,  Maidstone,  Kent,  13th  March  1896. 
A.  Philip,  Esq.,  Sec.,  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon. 
De.ui  Sir, — With  reference  to  my  letter  of  28th 
ultimo,  I regret  to  inform  you  that  the  concession 
for  the  Ceylon  Tea  House  at  the  forthcoming  “Em- 
pire of  India  and  Ceylon  Exhibition  1896’’  has  been 
given  away  from  us  (Mr.  Langdale  and  myself)  in 
favour  of  Messrs.  Spiers  A Pond,  the  refreshment 
contractors. 
I therefore  beg  to  withdraw  my  application  for 
support,  nor  shall  I now  be  in  a position  to  arrange 
for  an  exhibition  of  Ceylon  products. 
With  apologies  for  troubling  you. — I remain,  sir, 
yours  faithfully,  (Signed)  E.  Ernest  Green. 
Copy  4,  Mincing  Lane,  London,  20th  March  1896. 
A.  Philip,  Esq.,  Kandy,  Ceylon. 
De.vr  Sir  — I have  to  thank  you  for  your  letter  of 
26th  nit.  with  copy  of  letter  to  Mr.  W.  Mackenzie. 
I also  have  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your  tele- 
gram of  today  “Association  supports  Green’’  which 
I forwarded  to  Mr.  Green. 
I fear  that  it  will  not  now  avail  to  get  him  the 
concession  which  he  was  seeking.  ^He  has,  I under- 
stand, written  to  you  direct  on  the  subject  — A^ours 
faithfully,  (Sgd.)  Wm.  Martin  Leake,  Secretary. 
(Copy)  Kandy,  26th  March  1896. 
To  Martin  Leake,  Esq.,  Secretary,  Ceylon  Asso- 
ciation in  London.  4,  Mincing  Lane,  London,  E.C. 
Dear  Sir,— I have  to  acknowledge  receipt  of  your 
letters  of  the  31st  January  and  28th  February  which 
shall  be  duly  laid  before  the  “ Thirty-Committee.’’ 
As  regards  Mr.- Green’s  proposal  in  connection  with 
the  Empire  of  India  and  Ceylon  Exhibition  1896. 
I sent  you  a cablegram  “Association  Supports  Green.’’ 
The  Chairman  of  the  Planters’  Association  (Mr.  A, 
W.  T.  Sackville)  in  consideration  of  Mr.  Green's 
claims,  and  your  endorsement  of  his  applications 
took  the  responsibility,  and  he  is  further  prepared 
to  move  that  the  “Thirty-Committee’’  do  grant  .fTOO 
sterling  in  aid  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  House  referred  to. 
1 have  no  doubt  that  you  are  in  communication 
with  Mr.  Green,  and  I need  only  add  therefore, 
now  tnat  a reply  shall  be  sent  to  his  letter  after 
the  Meeting  of  the  Committee  in  April. — T am,  Ac. 
(Signed)  A.  Phii.ip, 
Secretary,  'ihirty-Conimittee. 
THE  liATTALGALLA  ESTATE  COMPANT, 
LIMITED. 
SIXTH  ANNUAIj  report. 
Directors. — Edward  H.  Hancock,  Charles  A.  Reiss, 
Adolf  Zimmern.  Secretary. — Albin  B.  Tomkins. 
In  presenting  to  the  Shareholders  their  report  on 
the  past  year’s  working  of  the  Company,  the  Direc- 
tors are  pleased  to  be  again  able  to  give  a satisfac- 
tory  account. 
There  has  been  an  increased  yield  of  tea,  and  the 
sailing  price  has  been  well  maintained.  The  quan- 
tity of  tea  sold  in  London  during  the  year  has  been 
126,951  lb.,  realizing  nett  ^4,967  9s  6d.,  against 
117,209  lb.,  realizing  £4,.591  5s  lid  in  1894.  Sales  in 
Colombo  amounted  to  .39,958  lb.,  realizing  R17,904'33, 
against  25,455  lb.,  realizing  R12, 1.58-57  in  1894. 
The  total  ci'op  was  170,560  lb.,  selling  at  9'97  per  b., 
against  141,891  lb.,  selling  at  9 35  per  lb.  in  1894. 
The  average  price  realized  in  London  has  been  10'44 
per  lb.,  against  10'50  per  lb.  in  the  previous  year,  and 
6'25  per  lb.  in  Colombo,  against  5 00  per  lb. 
Exchange  has  continued  on  a low  level,  the  average 
for  Drafts  having  been  Is.  1 ll-16th  d.,  against  Is. 
IJd.  per  Rupee  in  the  preceding  year. 
The  Company’s  advance  to  the  Oolapane  estate 
has  been  repaid,  and  the  security  discharged. 
After  deducting  10  per  cent.,  or  £366  6s  lid.,  from 
the  amount  at  debit  of  Machinery  and  Factory  Ac- 
count on  31st  December  last,  payment  of  Interest  on 
Debentures  and  income  tax  for  the  year,  there  re- 
mains at  credit  of  profit  and  loss  account  a balance 
of  £2,393  12s  10.  The  Directors  propose  to  appro- 
priate from  this  amount  £2,2.50,  for  the  payment  of 
a dividend  of  15  per  cent.,  free  of  income  tax  and 
to  carry  forward  £143  12s  lOd. 
In  accordance  with  the  Articles  of  Association,  Mr, 
A.  Zimmern  retires  from  the  Board  by  rotation,  and, 
being  eligible,  offers  himself  for  re-election. 
The  Directors  again  desire  to  express  to  the  Super- 
intendent, Mr.  G.  C.  R.  Norman,  and  to  the  Agents 
in  Colombo,  Messrs.  Benham  and  Bremner,  their 
appreciation  of  their  valuable  services. 
51,  Lime  Street,  London,  E.C.,  March  21st. 
PLANTING  NEWS. 
Balangoda,  April  13, 
What  a change  since  last  I visited  this  district  ! 
Then  a scene  of  desolation  scarcely  equalled  any- 
where even  during  the  darkening  seventies  when  I 
carted  away  the  last  European,  suffering  sadly, 
from  sheer  ennui  to  relieve  which  he  had  probably 
tried  too  many  “ horns.’ 
The  locality  was  one  of  the  very  first  to  be  tackled 
by  the  European  planter.  So  early  as  1838  the  native 
0 iffee  attracted  attention  and  Pettiatenne,  Pettigalla, 
Massena,  Bamberabotuwa,Ac.  was  the  result,  Bambera- 
botuwa  was  the  first  to  abandon  hope.  Even  Hop  W-'ll 
itself  ceased  within  a year  to  longer  “ lippeii  ’’  to  pr  evi- 
dence. The  chief  causes  were  the  want  of  shelter  belts 
as  a protection  from  the  terrific  blow  with  which  the 
S.-W.  opens,  and  the  too  liberal  rainfall.  The  Wind 
simply  whirled  the  poor  coffee  plant  round  till  its 
neck  was  injured  and  there  the  rain  drowned  it.  There 
was  again  a little  spurt  in  the  district  about  1860 
when  W.  Webster  opened  Laukabarony  on  the  table- 
land to  the  east  of  the  Resthouse.  A sort  of  planting 
