[March i, 1S98. 
598 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
WYNAAD PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATION : PRO- 
GRESS OP TEA PLANTING. 
We have receiveil co]iy of proeeetlings of the an- 
nual general meeting held on January 5th, when 
the annual report for 1897, v/as read. Among 
other things it noticed work done by United 
P.A.S.I. as to finances : — 
A Reserve Fund uf B8, 825. 12.0 was establis'aed, of 
which B5,000/ has been placed at deposit with 
Messrs. Arbuthnot & Co., and the rest kept in hand 
to meet payments voted, if certain conditions are 
fulfilled. One of these payments is R2,000/ towards 
the introduction of Lady Birds to Combat Scale pests, 
and I think this payment will have to be made, as 
the Govt, of Madras have agreed to pay half the 
cost, and the Lower Palneys are also prepared to pay 
up handsomely. Another payment (was R‘2,000/ per 
annum towards the expense of an Agricultural Che- 
mist, if District Associations and the various Govern- 
ments concerned will also contribute. I think it 
doubtful if this payment will be made, as i am in- 
formed the Mysore Govt, will engage a chemist 
and collect subscriptions for Mysore planters, and 
that the only other district which will contribute 
any considerable .sum is the Nilgiris, which promises 
B2,10O/ per annum. The Shevaroys may also sub- 
scribe, hut two districts will hardly provide enough 
money to start such an expensive scheme. The third 
pxyraent is R1,000/ towards the expenses of Mr. 
Cameron, if the Mysore Govt, will lend his services 
for the improvement of the strain of coffee, I do 
not know if this payment will bo required or not. 
The other important resolutions passed were m 
favour of reopening the Mints; of an export taxon 
Bones. 
But we are told as to the above tliat theVCynaad 
Association aitproved of the agitation for ilie re- 
opening of the Mints, hut itisapproved of the 
sjheiues for leaf disease remedies and the em- 
ployment of an agricultural chemist, and has not 
subscribed to tiie introduction of Lady Birds 
to combat Scale jje.-ts. 
From the general remarks we learn that, — 
Tea continues to be extended, and will shortly 
require an increased supply of labour, which it 
should not be difficult to get. Arabica crops are 
very short this year, as is the case in most parts of 
Southern India. Prospects for next year are, how- 
ever, very good, there being every i dication of a 
plentiful show of spike. Liberian coffee continues 
much as last year, and is not likely to be extended 
lirgely until good crops are realised. One of the 
greatest dangers to the future prosperity of the district 
lies in the action of Government in forcing up ex- 
change, while our competitors in both tea and coffee 
enjoy an unprecedentedly low rate of exchange. 
With Brazil exchange at the equivalent of 7 per 
rupee and consequently Brazil coffee in superabund- 
ance at 25s/ to 30s/ a cwt. 'we may consider our- 
selves lucky that our prices for Arabica coffee have 
fallen only from 100s/ to 80s/, although Libe- 
rian has gone down from 75s/ to 4.5s/. Any further 
fall in price, coupled with high exchange, would 
render the cultivation of Arabica unprofitable. It is 
difficult to regard with equanimity the adherence if 
Government to a policy, which threatens to ruin 
our industry, and the whole export trade of India. 
Another very great danger to our prosperity is the 
insufficient grant for the upkeep cf roads. 
Tlie election of ollice-heareis resulted in Mr. 
K. K. Walker being elected Cbairm.aii for tlie 
coming year, and Mr. de Fonblaiiipu', iioiiy. 
Secretary. 
NAIIAVILLL ESTATE COMPANY, LIMITED. 
riie annual general meeting of sbarelmldei s 
of tlie Nabaville Estates Comiiany, Limited, was 
held tills afternoon at No. 14, tineen Street, 
Colombo, tlie registereil olliee ot tlie Coiiipany. 
Mr. A. Orchard presided, and the others jnesent 
were : jMes.sr.s. J. M. Mason. William Anderson, 
Gordon I’yper, J. Paterson, J. I.ewis Gordon, and 
Mi'.T. S. Grig.son by his attorney Mr. M’. Anderson, 
Mr. A. F. Souter by his attorney Mr. F. W. 
Waldock, and Mr. W. H. Walker bj' his proxy, 
held by Mr. J. Paterson. 
Tl'.e fourth annual report of the Directors was 
laid on the table : — 
The Directors beg to submit their Fourth Annual 
Report together with a Statement of Accounts for 
the year ended 30th September, 1897. 
It is with regret that they find themselves unable 
to recommend the payment of a dividend in connec- 
tion with the past season’s work. 
The crops, though much larger in quantity than those 
of the preceding season, have, owing to the fall in 
prices realised very little more money, and as the 
expenditure has been in proportion to the amount 
of produce harvested, the net income shows a material 
falling-off. 
With a diminished income the Directors have had 
to provide during the year for the upkeep of a large 
area of land which has not reached the profit-yield- 
ing stage, and there has been some outlay in con- 
nection with the Factory now being erected on 
Nahavilla Estate, and a considerable increase in the 
Coast Advance Aceount. 
The latter has been a source of anxiety throughout 
the year, and since the beginning of the current sea- 
son there has been trouble with the labour on Gal- 
ella, which it is feared will end in a portion 
of the outstandings on that Estate having to be 
written ofi. 
The remaining advances are believed to be good 
and recoverable. 
A Factory is in course of erection on Nahavilla 
Etate. 
Me.ssrs. Mason and Orchard visited the Uva pro- 
perties in company lately, and were favourably im- 
pressed with their appearance and prospects. 
The following is a definition of the Company’s 
property as on the 30th September last - 
c3' 
c3 
“ . 
c3 ^ 
Tea in full bearing 
"> 
c5 
Ury. 
JZ d o 
le 
S O 
c3 
o 
H 
.273 
209 
195 313 
990 
Do. partial bearing . 
Do. not in bearing 
. (51 
— 
— 
61 
and in course of 
planting.. 
319 
57 3 
379 
Coffee 
..120 
48 

168 
Forest 
Cincliona, Grass, Fuel, 
Trees, Patna, Ac. 
. . 46 
66 
5 72 
189 
.101 
121 
66 244^ 
532J 
601 
763 
323 632i 
2.319J 
Mr. J. M. Mason retires by rotation from the 
Board of Directors, but is eligible for re-election. 
— By order, Geokge Steuaet & Co., 
Colombo, 19th Jan. 1898. Agents and Secretaries. 
Tlie adoption of the report was projiosed by tlie 
CiiAiUMAN, and was seconded by Mr. GoitDON 
Rypicr. The motion was ca'ried. 
It was iiroposed by Mr J. Ratijeson and seconded 
by Mr. Mason, that Mr. J. Guthrie be reap- 
pointed as Auditor for the current year. The 
motion was carried. 
It was proposed by Mr. Waldock and secon- 
tled by Mr. Ratbeson, that Mr. Mason who re- 
tired from tlie Board of Directors by rotation, 
be re-elected as Director. The motion was 
carried. 
A sum of Rl,500 was voted to remunerate 
the Directors for their services during the 
past year, but the members of the board piresent 
at the meeting intimated that it would be 
