[Feb. r, 1898 . 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
527 
The Planting- Districts in 1897. 
HANTANA DISTKICT IN 1897. 
Weather. — On the whole it has been a fair average 
year. A capital season for planting and supplying 
though it was perhaps a little late before it could 
be begun. There has heen an absence of very heavy 
rain; and burst drains, washed away roads, and scoured 
out ravines, have not been in evidence to any ex- 
tent; land-wind has been wanting in energy, and not 
so prevalent. 
Crop. — Estimates ought to be secured if they have 
been carefully made. 
Labour Supply. — Has been sufficient, and of a good 
quality. 
Transport. — Many estates have their own cartsi 
and those who have not. had to pay enhanced rates 
owing to the rise of price in ail foodstuffs. 
Eoads. — Nothing to brag about, and those in and 
about Kandy were never worse. 
Rice and other Supplies have been at famine 
rates pretty much. When the derangement of trade, 
owning to the plague precautions, had made itself 
felt in a general advance of price, the situation was 
intensified by the rock-slip on the railway, and any 
rag of conscience which the Moormen traders had left 
was then lost for good. There was no attempt to 
get a fair profit, and so grasping did the traders be- 
come that there was more than one occasion when 
the kaddies were in danger of being looted. This 
fear was the only thing that there was to check their 
capacity, and even with it, what they did demand was 
unmerciful. 
Grievances. — I have not any. If I were only to think 
a little no doubt something might come to my mind 
whicU might serve as a plaint ; but like the nation 
which is happy in having no history, so is the dis- 
trict happy which has no grievance. But Hantana 
is not quite that yet. Round about Kandy, there are 
a number of planters who have to serve on the jury, 
and too close to town to get any batta at all from 
Government for their work. When the Court is sit- 
ting they have to use their own horses to come in 
with : when it adjourns for tiffin they have to spend 
their own money or go without the meal: and if the 
trial be a long one, and the sitting is late, they have 
to find their way home in the dark, or pay for hotel 
accommodation. The Government takes every thing 
out of them, and gives nothing. They are the hardest- 
ground section of the jury world which I know of — 
and deserve some consideration, but get none. A 
man may during the time he is a juror have to travel 
100 miles or more, and get no allowance, may have to 
eat half a score of Queen’s Hotel’s tiffins, while labour- 
ing for the public good, and have to do it at his own 
expense : have three or four nights in town, and yet 
if he asks for batta, or suggests carriage hire, he is 
smiled blandly at by a Civil Official, and is told the 
thing is not possible. Why not possible 'I Ah 1 that’s 
the rub. It would be difficult to establish the justice 
of the act, or give sound reasons why the elect 
few should be so systematically neglected and 
preyed on. 
LOWER HEWAHETA AND HANTANA SOUTH. 
Weather this year has been favourable. 
Crop. — All the year the crop has come in well and 
estimates were generally exceeded. 
Labour Supply. — Owing to the district having its 
own federation, labour seems more settled and the 
supply seems ample for all requirements. 
Transport has been as usual. 
Roads have been in very bad repair all through 
the year. 
Rice and other Supplies have been sold at in- 
creased rates on most estates owing to heavy prices 
ruling. 
Grievances have been few and far between ; but 
what have arisen, have been due to arrack. 
Remarks. — The area in tea in this old district 
must nearly equal the coffee area of the old days. 
65 
AMBAGAMUWA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather generally not unusual for this district. 
Crop.— E stimates have been a little short, but not 
to any material extent. Finer pluckiug business 
for it ! 
Labour Supply very good. Advances a b't stiffish ; 
a certain firm alone has to be blamed for this 
cause, which never existed before. 
Transport and Roads.- — Roads were never in better 
order. Great credit is due to Mr. Ward and his staff 
for the upkeep of roads. 
Rice and other Supplies very expensive. Unless 
the Chetty and Moormen clique are overcome by some 
other means it will be disastrous to the tea enter 
prise to let it go on longer. 
Grievances. — A permanent Magistrate for Gampola 
and Nawalapitiya a sine quo non and medical officers 
stationed in the district should on no account be 
taken away to act for others, and this vast dis- 
trict left to the tender mercies of under-strappers, 
and why do not the Medical Department have a man 
stationed in every province for relieving duty ? 
Surely he can be well employed when not acting for 
a D. M. 0. 
KNUCKLES DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather. — Rainfall: — January 6’48, February 3 55i 
March 208, April 14'40, May G‘05, June 1515, July 
4 80, August I1'03, September 9'01, October 9 5, Nov- 
ember 17’51, December. 
Crop. — The tea flushed well to June, but the flush 
has been very short the last six months. 
Labour Supply. — Short. 
Transport and Roads. — Expensive owing to the 
railway slip and the bad condition of the roads. 
Rice and other Supplies. — Rice has been very 
dear. 
PUSSELLAWA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather— generally has been favourable for tea. 
There was a marked absence in comparison with pre- 
vious years of high wind in the early part of the year. 
The advent of the South-West monsoon was rather 
abnormal, but when once clearly established we had 
some very severe bursts of strong wind which did no 
little damage. Rain has been more evenly distributed 
than usual aud in comparison with former years con- 
siderably more has fallen. 
Crops have been up to the mark and estimates 
generally secured. 
Labour Supply has been ample throughout the 
year, employers generally combining to help one 
another. 
Transport.— In some cases there has been a good 
deal of foot-and-mouth disease and carta have not 
been so freely available at all times as previously. 
Roads are going from bad to worse, and though 
attempts have been made towards repair, these have 
been of a very temporary and inadequate character. 
Rice and Supply.— 1’, ices for these have ruled 
exceptionally bigh throughout the year, reaching 
famine prices duting the first short period after the 
Railway slip at Alagalla ; Chetties and traders through- 
out the district taking advantage of the ignorance of 
the native population in keeping up prices long after 
the necessity, so called, to do so. 
Grievances. — Telegraph station at Ramboda is 
very desirable. Hospital accommodation and a new 
dispensary for Pusseilawa District absolutely neces- 
sary. More adequate grants for upkeep of roads 
keenly wanted. A resident Police Magistrate urgently 
required, and the abolition of tolls at Gampola 
bridge and Pusseilawa town longed and prayed for 
the necessity of such obsolete and barbarous taxtion 
being out of all proportion to any advantage gained 
in having easy lines of transport communications. 
MORAWAKA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Tea Crops. — M stly short of estimates, chiefly 
owing to want of Irbor early in the season. 
Labor Supply — has been very short on many 
estates till quite recently, when in common with the 
