Aug. 2, 1897.1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
131 
CACAO CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. 
At the time ^Yhe^ the fear of overproclaction 
is the strongest .sentinieiit prevailing among 
tropical planters, it is refreshing to liiul 
one exception, at least, and that is in 
respect of the cnltivation of Cacao in Cey- 
lon. On the principle of the survival of 
the fittest, we would fancy that proprietors 
not afflicted with disease in their shrubs or 
tiee.s, — or only with such passing attacks as 
Cacao is subject to, above all products up to a 
certain age’, — should feel increased conlidence in 
the value of their properties a.s they saw the 
discoirragement given to further cuUiva,tion 
around them. But the cry has_ been not 
to say too much of prevalent troubles lest the 
value of property .should be depreciated. There is 
no fear of that, after the letter Mr. J. 1\. Martin 
sends us (see page 125). Protitrs r.inging from 
12^ to 18 per cent on the capital investeil ought 
to be good enough even for the exigeant tropical 
planter. And when such are got from crops 
ranging from 2 to 3 cwt. ]i"r acre, it is evident 
that there is really much encouragement to turn 
Cacao planter ; for such croiis— returning all the 
husks to the soil — cannot be called an ex- 
haustive one. Now as regard.s the pests to 
which Cacao is liable, we .should like to know 
if Ceylon planters have really any ditlerent 
experience from their brethren in the Far \Ve.st, 
The testimony coming from the Guianas — British, 
Dutch, and French — from Trinidad and Mexico, 
goes to show that no more troublesome product 
to the planter, in reference to the number and 
variety of its enemies, exists than Cacao, 
up to the time the trees are ten years 
olil or so ; hrrt after that, few if any give 
less trouble. The enemies ilisappear or the 
trees are strong enough to resist them. Now, 
we know that there liave been individual ex- 
periences in Ceylon which contradict this \Vestern 
deliverance and we know also that “ poochies ” 
even now in some parts are injuring not only 
10 but 15 and up to 20 years’ old trees. It is 
clear, therefore, that the sooner Mr. Green is 
put to work as Entomologist, the better ; and , we 
should say he ought to begin by visiting _ and 
conferring with the planter of longest experience 
in each district : — with Mr. Martin in Matale 
North visiting the adjacent estates ; with Mr. 
Van Der Poorten in the Kurunegala side visiting 
the Polgahawela division ; and with one or other 
in Dumbara and Wattegama districts. In this 
way, the Entomologist could not fail to see and 
learn a good deal that should help in deciding 
as to the wisest course to pursue in reference 
to a systematic examination and report on local 
cacao 'enemies, their operations and the way to 
check or get rid of them. The subject of cacao 
cultivation is of so much interest at present that 
we shall treat it further later on. 
INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA. 
ANNUAL KEVIBW. 
38, Mincing Lane, 9th June, 1897. 
In accordance with custom we take the opportunity 
of the completion of another period of twelve months, 
dating from June 1st, 1896, to publish in detail the 
figures relating to Production and Consumption, and 
the development of Home and Foreign trade to- 
gether with such information respecting the results of 
the Indian crops sold in London as by the courtesy of 
our friends we are enabled to print. 
There is much in these figures encouraging to all who 
are interested as Producers in the growth of the trade 
in Prodiiotiou has been accompanied by a steady growth 
of Consumption ; not, indeed, at home, sufficient to 
absorb the increase in supply, but still, such as to main- 
tain prices, speaking generally, at a fairly remunerative 
level ; while abroad, sufficient progress has been made 
to exercise an influence upon value, and to justify 
confidence in a wider development in the future. 
It is obvious that so great a decrease in the nse 
of China Tea at home having alreadij occurred, and 
its place having been filled by British-grown tea, the 
rate at which consumption of the latter grows will 
not be rapid in the future, unless something ex- 
ceptional should happen to stimulate it. The follow- 
ing figures illustrate this ; — • 
Proportions in which the different growths were 
used in the United Kingdom. 
1891-2 1893 4 1895-6 1896-7 
Of China, &o. .. 21% 13J% 11J% 10% 
,, British-grown tea 79 ,, 864 ., 88j „ 90 ,, 
The ability of the home market to take larger 
quantities is, therafore, becoming mainly dependent 
upon the greater consuming power of the country in 
the aggregate. So far, this has shown continuous and 
steady growth ; due, we think, apart from the increase 
in population (1) to the facilities given to the public, by 
purveyors, for obtaining a cup of tea of good quality is 
now obtainable from all the principal vendors. It is 
not an exaggeration to say that to a large part of the 
population the good tea of India and Ceylon has be- 
come an almost necessary article of diet, cheaper and 
more exhilarating than any of its rivals. 
But these causes have now been for some time 
in operation in London and other great centres, 
if not in the country ; and it would, therefore, be 
unsafe to reckon upon home consumption expanding 
in the future as suhstantiallij as it has for the last 
two years. In view, therefore, of the increased 
supplies expected in future years, the need of turn- 
ing to the large and, as yet, almost unopened out- 
lets for our teas abroad becomes more imperative 
than ever ; and whichever means of finding the 
way into new markets may prove most effectual, 
there is scope for operations varied in' method and 
wide in application. As pioneers in this work, those 
representing the Planters’ Associations have done 
good service ; for their distribution of information 
respecting the production and preparation of our tea 
is in itself of the highest value — —but in the long 
run, and for large results, reliance must be placed 
upon the ordinary channels through which trade flows. 
It is, therefore, opportune that the system of 
sendiug out tea as a proprietary article, under 
a registered title, has been so widely adopted, as 
it is perhaps more conducive than any other to 
place our teas where they were unknown before and 
enable consumers to obtain a regular supply. 
The progress made in trade abroad, through the 
medium of London, is shown by the following figures 
relating to Exports from the United Kingdom : 
Out of the total ..1891-2-3. 1893-4. 1895-6. 1896-7. 
China, &c. .. 80% 76J % 62 J % 59% 
Bcitish-grown tea . . 20 ,, 23j ,, 374 ,, 41 ., 
In conjunction with the increasing shipments to Asia, 
Australasia and America direct from Calcutta 
Colombo, these statistics prove that progress is cons 
tant, if a little slow. 
Wide fields lie open before ns and the pos- 
sibilities of the future, if our taste for tea were to 
extend to those whom we influence, find a vivid illus- 
tration in the following figures : 
equal to 
5 J lb. 
per head 
per an- 
The British E-a'-o in the United King- 
dom takes annually 228 
,, ,, ,, in the Australa- 
sian Colonies an- 
nually 28. 
,, ,, ,, in the Dominion 
of Canada annully 22 
That is to say, about 48 millions 
of people take 278 
Whereas, in the United States of America, 65 mil- 
lions of people use aiiiinally less than IJ lb. p u- head. 
In Russia 100 millions of people usp aiinually less 
than 1 lb. per head. 
