634 
THE  TROPICAl.  AGRICULTURIST. 
[March  r,  1897. 
tinues  in  a small  way,  and  the  demand  of  Tea  seed  is 
yuite  as  strong  as  it  was  in  1895.  Labor  was  short 
during  the  busy  months — March-May — in  some  dis- 
tricts, notably  where  estates  lie  some  distance  from 
the  main  road.  Extension  of  cart  roads  is  a matter  of 
necessity,  and  should  be  pushed  on  with  activity,  as 
not  only  do  coolies  dislike  the  carriage  of  Tea  chests, 
but  U'ausport  by  coolies  takes  away  a considerable 
force  from  the  pluckers. 
Coco.v. — As  anticipated  in  last  year's  report,  crop  for 
1896  exceeded  that  of  1895,  the  figures  for  the  last  four 
years  being:  1893—29,775,  1894—22,791,  1895—27,522, 
1896  cwts  33,890,  from  which  figures  it  may  be  inferred 
the  crops  for  1897  will  probably  be  the  largest  yet 
picked,  cwt.  35,000  being  perhaps  a fair  estimate.  Some 
anxiety  was  caused  during  the  past  two  years  by  re- 
ports received  of  cocoa  trees  dying  out  in  rather  a 
wholesale  way  by  the  ravages  of  a small  borer  beetle, 
and  your  Committee  considers  the  matter  worthy  of 
the  moat  careful  attention.  The  position  of  the  home 
market  is  encouraging,  the  demand  having  largely  in- 
creased whilst  the  imports  have  not  done  so.  Eor  the 
first  time  for  some  years  the  deliveries  from  Loudon 
and  Havre  show  more  signs  of  catching  up  the  imports. 
The  following  extract  from  Messrs.  Wilson,  Smithett 
& Co.’s  circular  of  recent  date  gives  interesting  statistics 
regarding  Imports,  Consumption  and  Stock.  (Already 
given  in  the  Observer). 
Caudamoms. — The  forecast  of  your  Committee  in 
last  year's  report  has  been  borne  out — Exports  being 
in  1895  435,0901b.;  in  1896  463,233  lb.  The  prices 
realised  have  also  been  exceptionally  in  favour  of 
growers. 
Auabian  Coi-FBE. — Where  this  cultivation  is  main- 
taiued  there  is  little  encouragement  to  increase  the 
area  by  planting  up  fresh  land  or  keeping  up  old 
bushes  in  first  class  order. 
Libkkian  Coffee. — A very  small  area  of  this  product 
has  been  planted,  and  its  success  may  be  hoped  for. 
Rhea  Fibre  has  so  far  only  reiched  the  stage  of 
striking,  cuttings,  nurseries,  &c.  Kuruuegala  so  far 
has  been  the  basis  of  such  operations.  Keen  in- 
terest is  taken  in  the  matter,  and  if  sufficient  evi- 
dence is  forthcoming  of  its  profitable  culture,  there 
are  many  enterprising  planters  who  will  take  up  land 
for  its  cultivation. 
Croton-seed. — The  fine  prices  ruling  two  or  three 
mouths  ago  made  the  fortunate  possessors  of  this 
product  pay  some  aDtentiou  to  the  cultivation. 
Officevl  Estim.atf.  of  the  Tea  Crop  for  1897. 
— -Your  Committee  has  decided  to  estimate  the  tea 
crop  for  18b7  at  119,000,000  lb. 
New  Products,  Forest  Reserves. — Your  Com- 
mittee feels  that  the  present  prosperity  of  Ceylon 
generally  affords  a favourable  opportunity  to  invite 
renewed  attention  to  the  important  rpiestion  of  new 
products  in  connection  with  which  a Commission  was 
appointed  in  1881  by  Government  at  the  instance  of 
your  Association.  As  an  Appendix  to  the  Report 
of  the  Commissioners  {vide  Rook  of  Proceedings  of 
the  Association  for  the  year  ending  17th  February, 
1882)  there  is  printed  a memorandum  on  the  part 
taken  by  the  Royal  Rotanic  Gardens,  Powdeniya,  in 
the  introduction  of  useful  plants  into  Ceylon  in 
which  the  late  Dr.  Trimen  remarked  as  follows  : 
“ Appended  to  this  memorandum  is  an  advertise- 
ment from  one  of  the  local  newspapers  of  the  plants 
and  seeds  on  sale  at  the  Gardens  in  June  1881.  Such 
advertisements  are  now  prepared  quarterly  by  the 
Director,  and  have,  it  is  believed,  considerably  ten- 
ded to  the  spread  of  ‘new  products’  in  the  Colony.” 
Your  Committee  would  bring  this  matter  before  Go- 
vernment, and  urge  that  the  “ advertisement  referred 
to  ” should  again  be  regularly  prepared  quarterly 
and  prominently  advertised  in  the  “ Govern- 
ment Gazette,”  in  the  local  newspapers,  and 
by  printed  circulars  in  the  vernacular  for  dis- 
tribution widely  among  cultivators.  As  regards 
forest  trees,  your  Committee  would  remind  Govern- 
ment that  the  late  Dr.  Thwaites  in  the  year  1879 
asked  that  he  should  receive  instructions  to  form 
both  at  Petadeniya  and  at  Hakgala  Gardens, 
nurseries  for  supplying  at  a moderate  rate  of  charge, 
young  plants  of  suitable  kinds  for  the  convenience  of 
planters  vyho  may  require  them  for  reservations. 
Dr.  Thwaites  further  annexed  under  lists  A.  B.  & c! 
those  species  he  considered  most  suitable,  both 
indigenous  and  exotic,  of  which  seeds  could  be 
obtained  without  any  great  difficulty  at  their  proper 
seasons. 
Your  Committee  desires  in  this  report  to  record 
the  universal  regret  felt  at  the  untimely  death  of 
the  late  Director  of  the  Royal  Botanic  Gardens 
Peradeniya,  and  the  sense  of  loss  that  has  been  thereby 
sustained  not  aloue  in  the  departments  of  learn- 
ing in  which  Dr.  Trimen  was  conspicuous,  but  also 
among  the  Planting  Community  in  whose  interests 
he  at  all  times  evinced  the  keenest  regard,  and  for 
whose  progress  he  laboured  in  so  many  ways. 
L.ABOUR  Laws.— Some  recent  decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court  have  been  the  subject  of  consideration 
and  discussion,  and  while  it  cannot  be  said  that  any 
remedy  has  been  found  for  such  mistakes,  or  that  a 
solution  of  the  difficulties  that  follow  has  been 
arrived  at,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  by  your  Com- 
mittee that  it  would  be  unwise  and  inexpedient  to 
endeavour  to  re-open  the  existing  Labour  Ordinances 
which,  on  the  whole,  when  reasonably  interpreted’ 
afford  considerable  protection  to  all  interested  in  the 
Labor  Question. 
Supply.— Your  Committee  appends  Abstract 
of  the  Official  returns  showing  the  arrival  and  depar- 
ture  of  coolies  for  1896,  also  for  comparison  the 
similar  table  for  1895. 
[Table  given  already  in  Observer.) 
Committee  is  further  able,  by  the  courtesy 
of  Government,  to  invite  attention  to  the  following 
Jmmigration  Returns,  compiied  by  the  Master  Atten- 
dant,  Colombo,  showing  the  number  of  Indian  coolies 
that  have  come  to  Ceylon  annually  for  the  past  five 
years,  1892-96,  via  North  Road  and  via  Tiiticorin 
respectively  : — 
RETURN  SHOWING  THE  NUMBER  OF  INDI.AN  ESTATE 
COOLIES  W'UO  HAVE  COME  TO  CEYLO.N  rid  THE 
^ NORTH  ROAD  I'OR  THE  PAST  FIVE  YEARS. 
Numlier. 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895  . . . . ‘.I 
1896  (up  to  30.h  November  1896) 
RETURN  SHOWING  THE  NUMBER  OF  INDIAN^  ESTATE 
COJLIES  WHO  HAVE  COME  TO  CEYLON  FROM  TUTI- 
45,687 
34,564 
36,062 
31,448 
29,442 
Year. 
Men. 
1892 
. . 21,583 
1893 
. . 12,235 
1894 
. . 12,864 
1895 
. . 28,519 
1896 
. . 36,135 
Year. 
Children. 
1892 
. . 4,689 
1893 
. . 2,710 
1894 
. . 3,038 
1895 
. . 9,259 
1896 
. . 9,015 
Suggestions 
FOR  Inure 
Women. 
7,381 
3,975 
3,936 
9,717 
11,906 
Infants. 
3,665 
1,455 
1,267 
2,687 
3,412 
Total. 
28,964 
16,210 
16,800 
38,236 
48,041 
Grand  total. 
37,308 
20,376 
21,095 
50,182 
60,498 
TO  COOLIES  FROM  iUTICORIN  TO  CoLOMBO  BY  StEAMF.R 
— THROUGH  Booking  of  Coolies  from  India  to  Ceylon 
— Blackmailing  of  Coolies  at  Stations  on  thf 
South  India  Railway  and  elsewhere. — All  the  above^ 
mentioned  subjects  have  received  a large  share  of 
the  time  and  attention  of  your  Committee  during 
the  past  year,  and  satisfactory  results  have  been  at 
tained  In  the  matter  of  the  alleged  Blackmailing 
of  coohes  especial  y,  the  thanks  of  the  Association 
are  due  to  both  the  Ceylon  and  Madras  Govern- 
•ments  for  the  keen  and  effective  interest  and  action 
that  have  been  taken  with  a view  to  putting  a stop 
to  Blackmailing,  while  inte  resting  and  valuable  re- 
ports  have  been  transmitted  for  your  information 
and  giudanco  bv  Government. 
Quarantine  Regulations  at  Colombo.-I,,  view  of 
the  fact  that  the  course  of  immigration  is  now  being 
largely  diverted  from  the  land  to  the  sea  route  it 
would  seem  acivi sable  to  look  to  some  other  port 
than  Colombo  for  a terminus.  During  areeont^.,V 
break  of  cholera  on  the  Mainland  quarantine  had  to 
