rHF TROPICAL AQRIOULTURIST. 
April i, 1893.J 
743 
PLANTING PRODUCTS. 
(From the Thirty-eighth Annual Report 
of the Ceylon Plantere' Association, 
held 17th Feb. 1802, J 
yea.— The season has been a most favonrablo one 
for leaf, and estimates were generally exceeded. 
Owing to the great rush of loaf during the best 
flushing months, with a labour force Insuffloiont to 
cope with it the resulting teas were poor, which 
in part accounts for the low average price ^Ing 
from May to September. This however may prove 
a blessing in disguise, as helping Ceylon toa the 
more to displace cheap China teas, and notwith- 
standing the largo increase in shipments to London, 
19,988,075 lb. more than in 1890 according 
to the Chamber of Commerce returns our teas have gone 
even more freely into consumption. In Europe gene- 
rally the advance made is most satisfactory, taWng the 
Chamber of Commerce returns for 1890 as against 1891. 
Austria shows an increase of 70,.826]b..taking 74,12Glbaa 
against 4,1001b. in 1890. France an increase ofl 1,934 lb. 
viz. 21,2101b.againat 6,2761b inlSflO. (/n iBanvan increase 
of .30,821 lb. viz. 92,2911b. as against 61,470 Ib. in 1890. 
Ituma an increase of 10,965 Ib.riz. ll,2S01b as against 276 
lb. in 1890. an increase of 16,895 lb. viz. 16,995 lb. 
as against only 600 lb. in ImOO. Turkey takes 4,2111b. or 
double that of lrt90. In thoJ^ast too progress is most 
satisfactory! ludiu taking (120,101 lb. or an increase 
over iHJMJof 175,.5aolb., Cbiuaaud Singapore 100,650 Jb., 
ov all increase of 65,003 lb. over IJ^OO. jRlsewlierealso 
the increase is satisfactory, Mauritius showing an in- 
crease of 60,283 Ib., ycwr teas practically monopolising 
this market. Australia lakes 3,210,508 lb. or an increase of 
050,007 lb. with room for more. Africa takes 70,828 lb. 
against *12,382 lb. in lvSi«) or an increase of 28,446 lb. 
Although the progress made in tliosc countries is 
satisfactory, your Committee would point out to you 
that necessity still remains for pushing your teas to 
meet not only the yeaa’ly increasing output from 
Ceylon, but to gain a market to moot the increase 
from India. No opportunity should he lost to help 
those dpaorving of iL to still further increase the 
popularity your teas have obtained in foreign countiies 
by inouey, or grants of tea from the Tea Fund ; 
which requires all the aid you can give it with the 
large field it now has to work in. Your best efforts 
should be made now more especially in Husaia, 
Austria, Germany, and Franco to take advantage of 
the ground gained there. To America, exports direct, 
show a falliiig-off of 41,080 lb. probably more than 
covered by increased shipments from Loudon. Ucro 
your Committee has called for your special help to 
support in a fitting manner your Commissioner to 
the Chicago Bxhiiijtion. Your beat thanks aro duo 
to the lion. Mr. J, J. Gnnlintoii for accepting the 
onerous duties you have imposed upon him in un- 
animously asking him to bo your ConiniisBionor. 
The total exports from Colombo, quoting the Cham- 
ber of Commerce roturus for 1891, are 68,274,420^. 
tea against from the same rotuma for 1890 46,901,554 m. 
or an increase of 21,372,806 Ib. The average price iu 
Loudon was lOjd. as against lid. in 1890 which ro- 
Hiilt in face of the largo incroa.se in vour teas 
placed upon this market viz. 19, 988, 0751b. is not 
as unsatisfactory oa might at first sight appear. 
Yoiu* CominittOQ has again ))loa‘Bure in call- 
ing your attention to the very successful dividends 
earned in all cases by your local toa companies. — 
This season has seen the floating of the Ceylon Toa 
Company, liimitod, (under the patn)nago of the 
Flautors’ Association of Ceylon) lor the purpose of 
helping to distribiito your teas throughout the world, 
and your Conuuittoo fools tliat this venture should 
command your support aa being capable of not only 
earning fair dividends, but as being a very efficient 
moans of opening up new markets. Yoiu- Coiumittoo 
appends for purposes of comparison and reference 
statements fiunnsUod by the courtesy of the lion, 
the Collector of Customs showing the total exports of 
tea for the years 1890 and 1891, to the Uiutod King- 
dom and other markets. 
, Your old staple coffee shows a slight 
upga Ihg provigun Boasgu— a which 
cannot however be recognized as any IndicatHon of 
permanent advanoomeut. It arises from a large ex- 
port of native coffee and might ho attributed to tho 
growing taste of tho native population for tea, in- 
ducing them to conaumo the cheaper tea and so 
obtain in the market the higher rates ruling for 
coffee. Liberian^ coffee is now receiving some atten- 
tion again and it is probable that its emtivatiou will 
bo extended in suitable localities. 
The exports of coffee from Ist «Tiiuu%ry to Slsl 
Decen4>or during the past three years have been 
1880 ••• 80,604 owts 
1890 81,884 
1801 „ 82,324 
Very little interest Is now taken in this 
product. Its oullivation of late years has not been 
encouraging to growers. Theexrort of hark for IftOl 
reached 6,689,560 lb only, and it is sntioipated that 
figures for 1892 will show a further large reduction. 
Mest estates in tho Uca disfict*, once considered 
the last stronghold of Cinchona, have now been 
cleaied of this product, and onitivntion of Cinchona 
hark throughout the island gctiGrally has been given 
up. 
Cocoa . — The past year has been comparatively a 
favourable one both as regards crops and prices ob- 
tained, the export Ui .January 1801 to 31st Docem- 
hor 1891 being 20,532 cwt. by the Cnslom returns, 
excess of the export of 
excess of the export 
01 1887. Ihis appears to show that the increase of 
production is extremely slow. Tho date of taking ex- 
port figures (Hist Docemher) is not very well adapted 
fnr cocoa returns, hocauso tho lime of heavy gather- 
ing varies somew’hat and in one sen, son more of the 
autumn crop may find shipment within tho month of 
Locember than at another sooson. Taking, however, 
lu-yearly crops 1888 and 1889 31,180 c\vt.; 1889 and 
IHJK) 34,891 cwt., and 1890 and 1891 30,958 cwt. for a 
fairer comparison, it. merely shows the increase to be 
gradual and slow. Moreover, although the past year 
shows tho highest figure 20, .532 cwt. shipped, there is 
every reason to apprehend a great deficiency of crop 
for the spring of 1892 in consequence of the failure 
of blossom by reason of the remarkable and unpro- 
ceaented fall of ram in tho north-east monsoon which 
was so hcAvv and continuous that only a few day’s fine 
weather in November availed for the sprinkling of a 
blossom. Tho gardens are reported aa looking well 
aud liikVG suffered less than usual from insect pests. 
Ihe natives have been stimulated a little to commence 
culttvatiug coc(^, but no very large areas have been 
plantcm up. Fitter complaints of thefts of produce 
have been made, but it is hopeless to expect improve- 
ment while Bonteuccs of lasliing are remitted. Pro- 
prietors of largo estates have oxtenaivejy improved 
their drying arrangements, and increased care is being 
taken to secure the high position Ceylon cocoa holds 
m the market, and its natm*a.l merit is enhanced by 
the grimtest possible pains nnd trouble to ensure its 
perfection in curing. Your Committee furthor 
appenas a valuable report on the position of cocoa 
kindly furnished by Mr. das. R. I^Iartin. 
( As your Committee reported to j’ou 
last year, there is no present indication of any large 
extension of the cultivation of this spice, so U may 
bo concluded that beyond the influence of any specific 
natural causes, suitablo to their production, the 
export of cardamoms is not in the immediato future 
likely to bo largely increased. Throo-fourtlis of those 
exported ate grown iu the districts north of Kandy 
whore the cultivation still continues to prosper. In 
some of the other districts of late, tho growtli of 
caraamoms has not been so generally prosperous 
during the closing season. Prices in tho Ijcmdou 
m^kot during the year have been well maintained. 
oi * ^*^'^***'' Osrdampni" from 1st Janunev to 
3l8t December during tho past three years have been 
5s follows: — 
1889 466,168 lb, 
1890 395,676 „ 
If'Ol 408,866 „ 
Mtn(^ Dnring the p^st year some of 
tho minor proUacta of estate cuUiwitiou have proved 
