530 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
[Feb, I, 1898. 
Remarks. — Estimate for Haputale for 1698, 4,000,000 
lb. from 10,000 acres in bearing. 
KANDAPOLLA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
We have had about an average rainfall ; the S.-W. 
rnonsoon was mild, and we did not have as heavy 
wind as usual. It has been a good year for tea 
crop ; and coffee what there is of it. has done well. 
Labour seems settled and h.'rs been fairly abandant. 
The tramway from Nuwara Eliya is the great want 
of the district. 
UPPER HBWAHETTA DISTRICT IN 1897. 
Weather. — Generally favourable. 
Crop. — Above the avetage. 
Labour Suppi.y. — Sufficient except during the very 
busy months. 
Transport. — Is also as usual except since October, 
when higher rates have been sought owing to the 
increased cost of food stuffs due to the rock-slip 
on the line. 
Roads. - The Government road from Rickelegas- 
goda to Kandy 20 miles, is in bad order, and has 
been so for the past two seasons. Too much 
metalling is taken in hand at one time, which as 
the road is of a very steep gradient over more 
than half its length, makes it hard on the cart 
cattle, and the complaints of the drivers are just. 
Rice and other Supplies. — All ample. 
Grievances. — Delay in delivery of postal letters, 
the runners taking 12 hours and more in covering 
23 miles, Kandy to Hewahetta via Deltotta, whereas 
an allowance of 7 hours, even, would be ample. 
MADULSIMA IN 1897. 
Weather. — The past year has been rather excep- 
tional in the abundant supply of moisture during 
our usually dry months, and also in the long- 
deferred arrival of the N.-E. monsoon, which really 
only set in properly at the beginning of December. 
Since then the rain has been almost incessant, 
nothing very heavy, but more continuous than I ever 
remember. 
Tea has flushed well and many places have ex- 
ceeded their estimates mainly owing to the unusu- 
ally forciug weather. Since July, prices generally 
speaking for our teas have been .good, one or two 
estates as usual showing up well in the London 
sale lists. 
Labour. — There does not seem to have been nearly so 
much trouble With labour as in previous years. Coolies 
and kanganies are, I think, beginning to realise that 
pleasant as may be the spending of that extra ad- 
vance screwed out of their unwilling Dorai, yet the 
day of reckoning comes before long, and the more 
sensible among them realise that they gain nothing 
in the end by moving about from place to place 
increasing their debts with each change. 
The extension of our Cart Road is being pushed 
on and the energetic District Engineer Mr. Arna- 
salem is deserving of great praise for the excellent 
work done. 
Had it not been for the stupid advocaf-y of another 
trace by a resident in the district, bs'ked up by a 
late Government Agent who never took the troulTe 
to examine the trace on which the road is i.ow 
being cut, this extension would probably have been 
taken i- hfind several years ago. The main sufferers 
are the estates in Hc-wa Eliya, who now transport 
their teas to Luniigala, at a cost of cts. per lb. 
for the eight miles jourrey. Such is the unfortunate 
result cf one man endeavouring to impose hia will 
on the district. 
WATTI’.GAMA DISTRICT IN 1S97. 
■.V, . ii — RaiufiiH 14 inches over average; Ncv- 
t-ir!ii..-c r- -1 Dc-cemhcr very hot. 
Citor.s- Gener-aily good all rouiu,. December rather 
short. 
IjAbc'UR Supply.— Ample generally. 
Transport. — Rates nearly doubled in some cases 
owing to state of roads ; severely tested by heavy 
plumps in December. 
Rice and other Supplies. — C ost influenced by 
slip on incline. 
Crievances. — More work wanted on roads and 
more lab'.ur to ao that work. 
Remai;ks. — An em^u-prising finn (like say Bous- 
tead A Co.,) is wai.,(;>' to slprl Motor Cars for trans- 
port on s.'-rne of tin .awful roads now common in 
Ceylon, whh cr-iit-. a- ei'. etric power station, at the 
big waterfalls in the districts. 
LOWER DIMBULA IN 4897. 
Weather — Ha.s not on the whole been very favourable 
for grow h ; especially was this the case during July, 
August, September and the beginning of October. 
Tea pruned during these months took very long to 
come into bearing again, perhaps longer than I ever 
noticed before. During November and the first half 
of December flush came on with a rush but unfor- 
tunately it shut up a good deal again from the effects 
of cold wet weather in the latter half of December. 
Crop — In proportion to acreage I do not think crop 
will be large; but I think the quality on the whole has 
been above average, notwithstanding the poor averages 
ruling. 
Labour Supply— Rather scarce the first six months 
of the year, but fairly plentiful during the latter six 
months. The outturn seems to he poorest always dur- 
ing the busy months. 
Transport. — An accommodation cart-road is badly 
wanted to the station at Kotagala from the North 
side ; the only approach from that side being a narrow 
bridle path, with a large stream to cross and the 
bridge generally unsafe for a horse. 
Roads. — The condition of the roads has improved 
of late, but more roads are required, to shorten trans- 
port to station. 
Rice and other Supplies. — In spite of the slip there 
was no actual want of supplies, though the Chetties 
and bazaar-keepers tried to run famine prices. Prices 
and Railway rates have been very high. 
Grievances. — Want of direct cart road to station 
from the North ; a road could be got to station that 
would halve the distance and make an easier road. 
Platform and waiting-room accommodation at stations 
is inadequate. 
GAMPOLA district in 1897. 
A Happy New Tear and a prosperous one to you 
all and all good wishes if not too late. 
Reviewing the past year it must be admitted 
that it was one of the most anxious for all connected 
with the tea enterprise, since we began some 15 years 
ago, when we were all glad to listen to men such as 
Armstrong and Cameron and when we devoured 
with avidity everything they told us, old planters, 
about our new “ Queen Tea.” The year without 
doubt, has been a disappointing one to very many; 
but, after all it was more the rise in silver than 
any reduction in our average prices people felt. 
Weather. — The weather generally has been all that 
could be wished ; but the N.-E. plumps were not 
quite as heavy as usual. Taking it all through, the 
S.-W. was not agood planting one; but rains in the 
N.-E. enabled those who had planting and supply- 
ing to get both done in good time 
Crops. — The estimates as a lule were pretty well 
secured though a few will be short. Prices both 
home and local have been miserable and those 
buying leaf and making tea for others had difficulty 
in making ends meet and in view of lower prices; 
the superintendent who sticks (0 his estate and 
keeps cost of lb. of tea as low as possible will com- 
mand a decent billet. There sre a great many men out 
of woik justnow — seme 54 applications having been 
made lately for one vacauce and that a temporary one I 
Cost of leaf during the year was shout 6J 
ctuls per !b. and poor siuff it was. At our P. A. meet- 
ing on the 11th December, it w’as decided to reduce 
the cost of cash plucking to IJ cent per lb. This is 
I think a fair rate to pay now and the Sinhalese 
