CO882-(3-4) — Page 695

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

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CO. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON |

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Rice up-traffic equivalent to the coffee down. The returns will not be accurate of the up-traffic. Generally the up-traffic is as to 3 is to 1 compared with the down traffic. The returns for Badulla would, as regards up-traffic, be probably higher than the returns for Haputale.

Extension to Uva will give a great impetus to all kinds of cultivation. quantity of manure will be brought up.

Immense

Madulsima.-The quantity to be dispatched of coffee will not be so good (probably 50 per cent. less) in the next three years as in the past, but the deficiency will be more than made up by cinchona and tea.

The coffee in Madulsima is nearly entirely planted up with cinchona, except in a few estates of average size. We do not look again to coffee being up to the average of the last five years.

I think that cinchona will do well for, certainly, four years. I consider it a permanent cultivation, and suitable for the product.

Succibrubra grow very well when the trees have been coppiced. The plantation can then be well kept up.

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All the coffee from Madulsima passes the Haputale station; none of it goes to Batticaloa.

The cost of transport of coffee and cinchona is 2 cents per ib. by Ratuapura, and

cents per lb. by Batticaloa.

It would not be wise to count on rice being brought up to Madulsima and Hewa Eliya by railway.

Keeping in view the proposed rates on the railway from Haputale, I think that all the down-traffic would go by railway from Madulsima and Hewa Eliya.

The Government would be justified in putting on such heavy tolls on the road that it would stop the cart traffic.

The cost is Rs. 25 per ton between Lunugala and Batticaloa. Some produce in 1883-4 went from some of my estates to Batticaloa.

There is now no responsible agent at Batticaloa. The Batticaloa route is now given up, or is being given up.

In the future I think estates will keep their own carts and send their produce to the Haputale station, and get their rice by the railway.

The railway would be of marked advantage as regards risk, especially as regards tea and coffee.

The carts can only pay if they get loads both way, and I do not think that they can reduce their charges.

Murrain among cattle has caused great delay, but I do not recollect any great increase of cost of traffic from such a cause.

Tea. (1.) My knowledge of Uva is limited to the last five years to any great

extent.

(2.) About 3,800 feet in Madulsima, about 4,000 feet in Haputale.

(3.) I consider that with regard to the elevation, soil, climate, rainfall, all contribute to render the Province favourable to the cultivation of tea. I have gone into the figures about rainfall. Drought very unusual. Rainfall is sufficient, and well distributed as a rule.

I have experience of tea in Avisawella and Kalabokka (north of Kandy). In Kalabokka my tea (160 acres) is over four years. Some fields have produced over 600 lbs. per acre made tea, and for more than one year. This is where the tea had a fair chance. In Avisawella (120 acres) the average was 400 lbs, an acre.

In Madulsima the foliage is not very rich and luxuriant as far as coffee is concerned. There has been since I knew it much leaf disease.

Tea has been planted for about two years in Madulsima and Hewa Eliya. We have not so much as 100 acres, but we are prepared to extend the cultivation of tea. I have confidence in tea in Madulaima.

(4.) I cannot say,

(5.) Samples have been considered satisfactory.

(6.) With the introduction of machinery there will be less labour, but rather more labour will be required in the field for tea than for coffee.

(7.) I cannot say,

(8.) Here the importance of the railway comes in most prominently. There would be a great impetus to tea if the railway was made. At present the two disadvantages we labour under is, (a.) cost of labour, and (6.) cost and difficulty of transport. Our labour in Madulsims costs us on the average 39 cents per head. In more favoured

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districts it is not much more than 30 cents. Our labour costs us five cents a head more than is generally the case in the Kandy districts.

I have three quarters of a million young plants of tea in Haputale for the Company's

estates.

Mr. ORCHARD, Weharegalla, Beregalla, Gonamatawa, Broughton, and Hirelovah

estates.

All would use the railway, except the last, which would probably continue to use the cart road.

On the score of economy and quickness it would be advisable to use the railway. The difference of rates, cart and railway, are quite sufficient to make it certain that I should use the railway. My estates produce coffee chiefly, I am only taking out coffee where it shows great signs of weakness. At the present time the prospects for next season crops are extremely good, and are better than have been since 1878. This applies to Kadanpola and Haldumulla districts in the autumn bearing districts.

You I do not consider it a permanent cultivation, i.e., that it will not last for ever. cannot re-plant coffee in land where coffee has already died out. My experience is that of 21 years.

I expect that the district will give as good crops during the next five years as the average of the past five years. There is a perceptible decline going on in coffee. There are no fresh plantings of coffee. There is forest land available for the purpose, but not much. If the leaf disease abated, and coffee went up in value, coffee would be planted again, but in new land.

Regarding leaf disease, the state of affairs is much about the same.

Our estates are largely planted with cinchona. We are extending the cultivation, having confidence in its future. The amount produced will be largely exceeded, and in the next three years will, I should think, average 600,000 lbs. per annum or more.

I pay Rs. 40 a ton for cart transport (cinchona).

I shall prefer to use the railway even if it cost a little more than by cart. The gain would be in quickness and safety.

My store (Welimagala) is seven miles from the Haputale Station. If the railway is opened I should keep my own carts. No one now keeps carts.

Through murrain among cattle 80 cents a bushel was charged last year,

price per bushel being 45 cents a bushel.

All my rice comes viâ Ratnapura.

the ordinary

of

In the season 1881-82, 1882-83, and 1883-84 when the crops were below the average five years, I attribute the falling off to unfavourable blossoms and not to leaf disease.

Tea.-(1.) Yes.

All elevations from 2,600 feet to 6,000 feet.

that acreage.

(3.) I have 152 acres, 46 acres, 71 acres, 106 acres, 40 acres. We are cultivating I consider Uva very favourable for tea. The soil is very rich, the richest in the Island. I have kept rain gauge for 15 years, the average at Wiharagala is 91.70 (3,000 feet). The longest drought I have experienced was 41 days (24th June to It was the longest in 15 years. Tea will be more permanent in 4th August) in 1884. a rich soil. I have experience of tea elsewhere as a visitor, Avisawella, Mainwatte. have seen tea in Uva of better growth of the same age than Manewatts (a standard estate.)

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The district of Haputale is extremely prolific as a leaf producing country. No other district in Ceylon is to be compared with it. I am talking of the Kadanpola side.

(4.) Not enough experience to judge.

(5.) Samples valued at 2s. 6d. in London. The first large break of tea went from Hirelovah about three months ago, and fetched 67 cents in Colombo.

(6.) Twice to three times as many coolies are required for tea as for coffee, same

acreage.

(7.) I have seen tea growing remarkably well in Uva, but most of the Patana land in Uva is poor.

(8.) The railway will stimulate the planting of tea, as its transport will be cheapened, as well as it will be cheaper to get the necessaries up. I cannot say that the railway will enable us to compete favourably with other parts of the country, but we have better soil and better climate for tea.

Up-Traffic (Manure).-It compares unfavourably at present with the Kandy side, because they have there more labour. Then they use more manure because they can get it so much cheaper.

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