also have discovered that, in addition to the healthiness of its
climate, its natural resources are confined to its timber and mineral
productions, as the soil is decidedly poor.

The appearance of the latter has deceived every one, especially the
black soil of the patina, which my bailiff, on his first arrival
declared to be excellent. Lord Torrington, who is well known as an
agriculturist, was equally deceived. He was very confident in the
opinion that "it only required draining to enable it to produce
anything." The real fact is, that it is far inferior to the
forest-land, and will not pay for the working.

Nevertheless, it is my decided opinion that the generality of the
forest-land at Newera Ellia and the vicinity is superior to that in
other parts of Ceylon.

There are necessarily rich lots every now end then in such a large
extent as the surface of the low country; but these lots usually lie on
the banks of rivers which have been subjected to inundations, and they
are not fair samples of Ceylon soil. A river's bank or a valley's
bottom must be tolerably good even in the poorest country.

The great proof of the general poverty of Ceylon is shown in the
failure of every agricultural experiment in which a rich soil is
required.

Cinnamon thrives; but why? It delights in a soil of quartz sand, in
which nothing else would grow.

Cocoa-nut trees flourish for the same reason; sea air, a sandy soil and
a dry subsoil are all that the cocoa-nut requires.

On the other hand, those tropical productions which require a strong
soil invariably prove failures, and sugar, cotton, indigo, hemp and
tobacco cannot possibly be cultivated with success.

Even on the alluvial soil upon the banks of rivers sugar does not pay
the proprietor. The only sugar estate in the island that can keep its
head above water is the Peredinia estate, within four miles of Kandy.
This, again, lies upon the bank of the Mahawelli river, and it has also
the advantage of a home market for its produce, as it supplies the
interior of Ceylon at the rate of twenty-three shillings per cwt. upon
the spot.

Any person who thoroughly understands the practical cultivation of the
sugar-cane can tell the quality of sugar that will be produced by an
examination of the soil. I am thoroughly convinced that no soil in
Ceylon will produce a sample of fine, straw-colored, dry, bright,
large-crystaled sugar. The finest sample ever produced of Ceylon sugar