Ceylon Good Enough, 
One of our representatives was able to have a farewell interview 
with Mr Hoffman to-day; and in answer to a query as to what 
he thought of Ceylon as a rubber-producing country, Mr. Hoffman 
intimated “worlds/’ Coming straight out from all the excitement 
of rubber-company-promoting at home one would naturally expect 
Mr. Hoffman to continue his tour of investigation to the Straits 
Instead, however, Mr. Hoffman does not intend to go further east- 
ward. “ Ceylon is good enough for me,” he says. 
Asked what he considered the best rubber district, Mr. Hoffman 
said, “ I have been to see all the rubber districts I could see. It is 
almost impossible to make comparisons as to which is the best. It 
seems to me really that rubber is doing good everywhere except 
above a certain height. Above 1,500 feet the growth seems to be 
backward. 
I saw the best rubber, however, in Kalutara, Matale and Kurune- 
gala. I was very much impressed by the splendid rubber on Arapo- 
lakande one of the Eastern Produce's estates at Kalutara, which 
has perhaps the oldest rubber I have seen, with the exception of 
Heneratgoda. On the former estate I saw a 95- inch tree. One of 
the finest young estates I have seen in the island is St.cGeorge’s 
which l am sorry to hear is being kept for Ceylon flotation, instead 
ot .Londoners being given a chance. 
Advice to Planters : Plant Hevea. 
Asked if he had any advice to give planters, Mr. Hoffman said: 
should think that if anyone who has the chance of planting that 
magnificent tree Hevea thinks of anything else he deserves to lose 
his money To the question of “Have you any advice to give to 
planters about putting rubber on the market?" Mr. HOFFMAN 
said “ My answer is 6/3^. per lb. or gd. above fine Para !” 
Messrs. Lewis and Peat's Letter Answered. 
Naturally this statement led to discussion of Messrs. Lewis and 
peat’s Letter, which was published in the Times of Ceylon on 
Monday last. With regard to this Mr. Hoffman said ; “ I think 
their letter was a great mistake— against Lewis and Peat's own 
interests and liable to undo the great benefit to themselves derived 
trom the recent visit of their junior partner, Mr. Devitt. Messrs. 
LEWIS and Peat in London are continually crying stinking fish 
about Ceylon rubber, continually trying to impress people that they 
are not going to get as good a price in comparison with fine Para 
as at present Nine-pence a pound over fine Para, however, speaks 
tor itself, and Ceylon planters have several years before them before 
the output will be at all large, and they will certainly themselves 
hnd out what method of curing suits them best, and which com- 
mands the best price. When plantation rubber comes forward in 
larger quantities manufacturers will instal their machinery accord- 
mgly. Now their expensive machinery is arranged for handling 
wild rubber; but this will be changed in time; and planters, in the 
