678 



tH£ TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, [April i, 1887. 



As far as we have noticed, the various opinions 

 and statements set forth in the work are mostly 

 accurate. It may, liowever, be questioned whether 

 " there is perhaps no instinct implanted in the 

 human breast more powerful than tlie of love admir- 

 ation," for is not that of seU'-preservation supposed 

 to reign supreme ? We would point out that the 

 term LameUibranchiata is now superseded by that 

 of Pelecypoda, and with good and sufficient reasons 

 is adopted in the latest and best manuals on con- 

 chology. The bathymetrical range of bivalves far 

 exceeds the stated limit — 200 fathoms — specimens 

 having been obtained by the Challenger and other 

 deep-sea exploring expeditions in depths ranging 

 as low down as 2900 fathoms. 



The book is printed in good legible type upon 

 toned paper, but the pictorial portion mars the 

 rest. The plates illustrating the Malleva, the 

 Meleogrina, the Unio, the Pinna, the Strombus, and 

 theTurbinella are simply execrable. They are printed 

 upon a fearful black ground (one almost expects 

 to see " Sacred to the memiry of," &c.), inclosed 

 by a thin white line with ornamental corners, and 

 seem to us to have a most common a^pearaisce. 

 We cannot see one redeeming feature in them, the 

 drawing and colouring of the shells being equally 

 bad. If another edition is called, for, fresh an i 

 accurate illustrations should be provided. E. A. S. 

 — jViiUire 



[The pearl shells are beautifully engraved in Ten- 

 nent's Natural History of Ceylon.— Ed.] 



INDIAN TEA AND TEA COMPANIES. 



We reproduce from the Calcutta Commercial 

 Correspondence of the Pioneer, a series of sum- 

 mary reports on a long array of Tea Companies. 

 The experience of the past year, in the case of 

 our Indian neighbours, cannot fail to be full of 

 interest and instruction to Ceylon planters. The 

 profits made in some eases must be considered 

 exceedingly good : indeed, fair, if not handsome, 

 dividends are the rule ; but there are some ex- 

 ceptions ; and we may be thankful in Ceylon, 

 although we have drawbacks — as the present 

 droughty season shows — that it is almost impossible 

 for us to have to chronicle such an experience as 

 that of the Holta Tea Garden where 30,000 lb. of 

 tea were lost in one hailstorm ! W^e quote as 

 follows : — 



Tfa. — The report of the Directors of the B'lasun 

 Tea Oompauy discloses aQ outturn of 1,054 maunds 

 against an estiraate of 1,000 maunds, which sold at 

 an avt-rage of As. 10-8 68 per lb. against As. 13 9 prr 

 lb. in 18S5. The gross revenue was K5t!,552 and the 

 expenditure E42,287, leaving a profit on the working 

 of Rl'l,26.'5, and after one or two small adjustments 

 the amount at credit of Profit and Loss is K14,122 

 A dividend of o per cent, has been declared, and it 

 is now proposed to pay a final dividend of 2 per 

 cent, and carry R122 forward. The dividend last 

 year was 10 per cent. The estimates for 1887 proviJe 

 for 1,000 maunds of fine tea at a local cost of R27,r)UO. 



The report of the Managing Agents of the Goomtee 

 Tea Company shows that the outturn was 802^ maunds 

 against an estimate of 750 maunds, the average price 

 realised being nearly 8 annas per lb Last season 

 r,tbe outturn was 700 maunds and the average pri 

 As. 11-2 per lb. The revenue account sliows receipt 

 of R34,5iri and au expenditure of R30,577, leaving :t 

 profit on the season's work of E3,f)39, but the loss of 

 a shipment nf tea in 1885 fell to be adjusted in these 

 accounts, and the result is a credit balance at profit 

 and loss of .Rl,207, which is too small for division. 



The estimates for lii:>7 provide fur an outturn 

 of 750 m.'iunds at a total expenditure of RSO,000 

 Last s ason the dividend paid was 13 per cint. 



The report of the Managing Agents of the Hope-, 

 towo Tea Company shows an outturn of 621 maunds 



against an estimate of 500 maunds, and an outturn 

 in 1^85 of 435 m f nds. The average price realised 

 was, however, As. 9-5i against As. 13-2 per lb. last 

 year. The revenue account shows receipts of K29,982 

 and an expenditure of R3 1,084, resultuig in a loss of 

 Rl,702 on the season's working. The amount at debit 

 of Profit and Loss is Rl,113. This coming season 

 the Manager hopes to make 050 maunds of good tea. 



The report of the Managing Agents of ttie Indian 

 Terai Oompauy shows that the outturn was 140,010 

 lb., being 24,010 lb. in excess of the estimates and 

 22, 12l) lb. more tea than was made in 1885. The 

 gross average price, however, was As. 8-1 per ll>. as 

 against As 10-9 for the crop of 1885. The receipts 

 for the year were R69,375 and the expenditure R53,014 

 leaving a profit on the operations of R 16,361, and 

 the net balance at Profit and Loss is RIG, 599. A 

 ■ lividend of 5 per ce t. was paid in September, and 

 it is now proposed to pay a final dividend of 5 per 

 c-nt. and to carry Rl,599 forward. The dividend 

 last season was 17 per cent. The estimates for the 

 enrrenr year are for 133,000 lb. at an txp^nditure of 

 R52,503. 



The report of the Managing Agents of the Korna- 

 ful As.sociation shows that the outturn was 3,948 

 maunds, or 198 maunds more than estimated, and 166 

 maunds in excess of 18S5. The average price obtained 

 was As 10-1 per lb. against As. 11-4 obtained in 1885. 

 The revenue account shows receipts of Ri,99,328 and 

 an expenditure of R 1,4-' ,848, leaving a profit of 

 R56,480 ; this amount is reduced by payment of J in- 

 terest, commission, snd sundry instalments for new 

 cultivation and machinery to R29,135 as the net pro- 

 fit for the year, and adding the amount brought for- 

 ward from 1885, the balance at credit of Profit and 

 Lo.ss is R44.672. This sum the Managing Agents re- 

 commend should be carried forward as in the present 

 position of the Company it would not be desirable to 

 declare a dividend, though if sufficient capital were 

 subscribed to pay off the Company's debt, a dividend 

 might be paid out of the accumulated profits. This 

 subject will be discussed at the general meeting on 

 9th proximo. The estimates for the current season 

 provide for au outturn of 3,92(1 maunds at an expen- 

 diture of Rl.73,000 The report of the Directors of 

 the Teesta \alley Tea Company shows that the out- 

 turn was 1,716 maunds, against an estimate of J,500 

 maunds and an outturn in 188.') of 1,523 maunds. The 

 average price realised was As. 9-3 per lb. net, against 

 As 11-10 in 1885. The revenue account shows receipts 

 for R86,112 and an expenditure of R(j'5,013, leaving a 

 profit for the season of R2O,099. But the loss on a 

 shipment made in 1885 reduces this amoaut to R17,552. 

 An ad interim dividend of .") per cent, has already 

 exhausted IClG,000 and the balance of Rl,552 will be 

 carried forward. P'or 1887 the estimated outturn is 

 1,800 maunds at an expenditure of K63,OtiO. Last 

 season the dividend declared was 10 per cent. The 

 report of the Directors of the Dehra Doon Tea Oom- 

 pauy shows that the outturn for 1886 was 384,492 lb., 

 or 57,879 lb. more than in 1885,. the percentage of 

 first-class teas being 51 against 45 in 1885. The re- 

 venue account shows receipts of ]{1, 59,316 and an 

 expenditure of Rl,04,233, leaving a profit of R45,083 

 and adding the balance from 1885 the amount at 

 credit of Profit and Loss is 1147,087. A dividend of 

 5 per cent, is recommended, carrying forward a bal- 

 ance of R3,187. Prices have ruled unprecedentedly 

 low, but the increased outturn and more economical 

 working has admitted of the same dividend being paid. 

 Messrs. Devenport and Co. have been confirmed as 

 Secretaries to the Selim Tea Company on a salary of 

 R500 a month, which is to iocUide otiice allowance. 

 The report of the Managing Agents of the 

 New Terai Association shows that the outturn m 

 1886 amounted to 183,130 lbs., or 23,130 lbs. in excess 

 of the estimate and 17,045 lb. more than the crop 

 of 188.">. It was sold at au average of Of, annas 

 against As 11-1 1 per lb. in 1885, The revenue 

 account shows receipts of Rl. 10,093 and expenditure 

 of R68.516, leaving a profit of R41,577, and adding 

 the amount brought forward from 1885, tho sum at 

 credit of Profit and Loss is R45,314. An adinterim 



