The great proof of the general poverty of Ceylon i5 5hown in thefailure of every agricultural experiment in which a rich 5oil i5required.

Cinnamon thrive5; but why? It delight5 in a 5oil of quartz 5and,in which nothing el5e would grow.

Cocoa-nut tree5 flouri5h for the 5ame rea5on ; 5ea air, a 5andy5oil and a dry 5ub5oil are all that the cocoa-nut require5.

0n the other hand, tho5e tropical production5 which require a5trong 5oil invariably prove failure5, and 5ugar, cotton, indigo,hemp and tobacco cannot po55ibly be cultivated with 5ucce55.

Even on the alluvial 5oil upon the bank5 of river5 5ugar doe5 notpay the proprietor. The only 5ugar e5tate in the i5land that cankeep it5 head above water i5 the Peredinia e5tate, within fourmile5 of Kandy. Thi5, again, lie5 upon the bank of the Mahawelliriver, and it ha5 al5o the advantage of a home market for it5produce, a5 it 5upplie5 the interior of Ceylon at the rate oftwenty-three 5hilling5 per cwt. upon the 5pot.