528 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. 1, 1898. 
t of CeyloD, we benefitted by the influx from the 
st. 
Tkanspoet, — The improved Mac Bride system has 
been responsible for our cart hire goinp up 55%, but 
our new District Engineer (Mr. Clemc-nii Smith) is 
putting matters right. Transport of rice and tea to 
and from estates not served by roads is a matter of 
infinite difficulty and great expense. 
Eoads. — Eiuing this year a grant-in-aid_ road from 
Deniya to Anningkanda has been finished, and 
extension will now be made to Hayes and later on, 
it is hoped to join the Rakwana road at Lauderdale. 
Rice and Supplies. — The former rose to R5, and 
was scarce even at that for some time ; other supplies 
have been dear. Supply of meat and bread is 
indifferent and uncertain. 
Grievances. — Want of a police force and a proper 
resident headman, also a telegraph station (wire 
could be taken across to Rakwana, 10 miles). Hospital 
at Deniya should be finished sharp, as the present 
system of carrying sick coolies to Matara is inhuman. 
The balance of the Government laud not leqaired 
for public purposes should be sold and the countiy 
opened up by means of cheap roads, so as to render 
it available for Tea and other products. 
KOTMALE DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather generally. — The rainfall was about the 
average, but the N.-E. monsoon was a failure. 
CEeP. — Most estates were a little short of their 
stimates. 
Labour Supply. — Was sufficient except in the very 
busy months, April and May, when Sunday pluck- 
ings for cash had to be resorted to. 
Transport. — Most estates keep their own carts, 
and as the farthest estate for Nawalapitiya is within 
13 miles, no difficulty was experienced. 
Rice and other Supplies. — Always obtainable at 
Nawalapitiya, except when the slip occurred at Ala- 
galla, then the (ihetties, Ac., raised their prices to 
exorbitant prices. 
Roads. — The main road was kept in very fair 
condition, branch read (Kataboola to Tyspane) es- 
pecially, the last mile is very had. 
Grievances. — None that I know of. Mirahile dictu 1 
Remarks. — Happy and Prosperous New Year to 
the Ceylon Observer and especially to the veteran Editor, 
PASSARA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather — Rainfall 115 inches. 
Crop 2,500,C00 made tea, bearing tea 5,821. Total 
8,700. 
Labour Supply 7,000, shortly wanted 9,800 coolies. 
Trnsport via Bivella Rail 1-45 cart '55=2 carts. 
Roads. — N. Kula Doomoo Gap Road Madulsima 
progressing. 
Rice and other Supplies very dear. 
Grievances. — Want of cheap transport. 
Remarks. — Rail charges on rice higher than on tea ; 
shameful simply- 
WATAWALA DISTRICT, 1897. 
Around here, we are not sorry to say “ eff with 
the Old Love and on with the New.” A hearty 
good-bye to Old 1897, as he fast expires! He might 
have been a good deal worse to us, and he might 
have been much better. A rather dull uninterest- 
ing old chap he has shown himself on the whole. 
Labour. — To his credit he it said that he greatly 
improved our Labour Force, so that he leaves our 
estates, and district roads, &c., in good cultivation 
and order; but, what he gave with the right hand, 
he took back with the left ; as with his gift of 
extra coolies, he gave an extra dose of wet and 
sunless weather which has left its mark on us and 
our crops. 
Crops. — Talking of crops, a few of the lucky “ to- 
tums” have got over their estimates, as many more 
have only managed to secure them : while the 
greater number seem to be just a shade on the 
wrong side ; so, on the whole, the district will 
probably be found a little, but not greatly, short, 
Transport. — Fortunately, with our ample and good 
roads, new station at Rozelle, &c., we are ab^e to 
get cur crops off cheaply, and get easily’ about, 
when we feel so inclined. 
Grievances. — The one thing we lack, in the waj’ 
of public conveniences, is a Central Telegiaphio 
Station at the Post Office, to save us having to send 
to Hatton every time we need to “wire”; and we 
look to 1898 righting this. 
Rice has been abnormally dear, as in other dis- 
tricts ; but, now-a-days, with easy transport and 
facilities for buying from European Importers in 
Colombo, the planter who pays too much for rice 
may blame himself chiefly. 
On the whole, we may close as we began,' and say 
that 1897 here might have been worse ; and had it 
and its predecessor not taken away so many of 
our oldest and well-liked neighbours, it should have 
had a fair place in the annals of “ Old Ambegamoa.” 
R. I. P. 
TWENTY MILES WEST OF THE PEAK. 
Dec. 25. 
Weather : — 
1st Quarter 1897—32-31 inches. 
2nd „ 68'2‘) 
3rd „ 51-29 
Ith „ 15-37 „ 
167-26 
20 inches above average. 
There were 35-19 inches in September, nearly twice 
the average; October 9 71 or about one-third the 
average 
November 7 20 two-thiids the average 
1897. 
3'35 in. July 12 23 above 
4 84 ,, -Aug. 20'87 above much 
7-18 normal Sept. 35-19 above very much 
18"82 below Oct. 9-71 below very much 
7'20 below ver}’ much 
Jan. 
Feh. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 11 -95 normal 
June 20’42 above 
Nov. 
Dec. 15-7C above 
Jan. 
Feb. 
March 
April 
1894 
2-12 
2-85 
4-78 
19-93 
1895 
5-72 
4-06 
9-55 
20-46 
1896 
5-27 
2-35 
1207 
10-88 
1897 
3 35 
4-84 
7-18 
18-82 
June 
July 
Aug. 
Sept. 
1894 
22-57 
6-03 
7 09 
7-88 
1895 
14-37 
5-18 
10-37 
22-81 
1899 
18-09 
6-67 
17'55 
16-15 
1897 
20-42 
12-34 
4-26 
13-09 
May 
6-48 
12-.36 
14-86 
11-96 
Oct. 
16-33 
22-08 
27-20 
, - 13-80 
Heavy squalls in S. (V. monsoon, especially in July 
and August. November ana December gloomy. ^ 
Crop. — Least said, Ac. 
Labour Supply. — Village labour chiefly, very ir- 
regular and unreliable. 
Transport.— Two miles by coolies, thence river end 
canal. 
Roads.— Private path bad ; public roads tolerable. 
Rice and Supplies. — Prices very high ; Ratnap'nra 
the dearest outstation in the low-country. 
Grievances. — None that can be mended by a row. 
ELPITIYA DISTRICT, (S. PROVINCE,) IN 1897. 
Weather generally.— Very ordinary ; rainfall con- 
sittent and satisfactory, although slightly below 
average. 
Crop.— Slightly under estimates as a rule. Yet 
deficiency due more to overestimating than to natu- 
ral causes. 
Labour Supply.— Sinhalese labour plentiful, and 
rates co siderably higher than need be owing to 
reckless competition. ° 
Transport.— Available at all times. Carts really 
to meet all demand. 
Roads. — In good order. 
Rice and other Supplies. — Supply always procur- 
able although rates are high, nevertheless they com- 
pare fairly with quoted rates in newspapers. 
Grievances.— None, but those that emanate ffiom 
imagination and self-caused indifference. 
