February t, 1883. 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



653 



Ostrich Farming; in Australia. — The ijeasimistic 

 views in regard to the future of ostricli farming at 

 the Cape, which during the last few years have 

 been struggling for acceptance, will receive a severe 

 check in the news of the third successful attempt 

 at ostrich farming in Australia. Following the ex- 

 ample set some time back at Adelaide, and later 

 atill by Sir Samuel Wilson at Ercildoune, the Ac- 

 climatisation Society of Victoria has been making 

 Successful efforts to establish Hocks of tliese valuable 

 birds in the warmer parts of the Colony. A few 

 old birds were originally brought out by the Society, 

 and so well have they thriven and increased and 

 multiplied upou the sandy soil of the Murray Downs 

 that the flock now numbers a hundred, developing, 

 indeed, from a scientific experiment into a commer- 

 cial enterprise. Messrs. Officer Bros., who have rented 

 the flock from the Society, have lately sent to 

 London a shipment of feathers, plucked from these, 

 and prices realized on the market unmistakably 

 showed that the quality is quite equal to that of 

 Cape feathers. We understand, however, that it is 

 not intended to consign the "raw material" to the 

 Home country, aud that an establishment has been 

 started for the preparation of the feathers in Austra- 

 lia, where the projectors entertain the hope of com- 

 peting successfully with the large American and 

 English manufacturers, who now monopolise the 

 trade. This double addition to the sources of her 

 prosperity is a matter upon which the island conti- 

 nent is to be warmly congratulated. — Coto7iies and 

 India. 



Sugar and Tea in the Melbouenk Market in 1882, 

 are thus noticed in the annual review of the Age : — 

 " An extensive trade in sugars has been done during the 

 period under review, and as stocks have, as a itde, 

 been light ill importers' hands, fau' values have been 

 obtained. Large purchases of brewers' ciystals have 

 resulted from the aunomicemeut in adrices from 

 Maiu'itiuB that planters this season will make a much 

 smaller quautity of this description of sugar than for- 

 merly. A feature in the market has been the intro- 

 duction of the first shipment of brewers' crystals from 

 Queensland. Some little time will doubtless have to 

 elapse before these sugars overcome the prejudice which 

 the trade always s'uow when offered something new. 

 But the evidence of experienced brewers is in favor of 

 Queensland before long competing with Mauritius for a 

 branch of the sugar trade long regarded as solely the 

 property of the latter. The shipment refen-ed to was 

 gi'owu aud manufactured at Messrs. Wm. Sloane and Go's 

 Palm Plantation Estate. In the coming year Fiji is 

 expected to increase her shipments to Victoria. The 

 imports of tea this season have been excessive ; con- 

 sequently prices have declined to such an extent as to 

 leave a considerable loss to importers. Messrs. Everard 

 and Son's remarks fully discount the situation. They 

 say, " As the hulk of the tea for the season has now 

 an-ived, it may not be out of jilace to refer to the 

 unsatisfactiiy natm'e of the trade dm'uig the past year 

 or two, aud if possible, to trace the cause. In the 

 first place there cannot be a doubt that the trade has 

 been gi-adually assuming a new phase — the old merchants 

 finduig competitors in the Krms that were fonnerly then- 

 customers, reducing the competition among pm-chasers 

 aud increasing considerably the imports ; while the large 

 quantity from India is also a factor in disananging the 

 calculations of importers, as there cannot be a doubt 

 that Indian tea has largely taken the place — chiefly 

 for mixing pui-jioses — of medium I hina tea, and, if 

 prices remain moderate, must continue, with probably an 

 increasing consumption. This must be specially borne 

 in mind in operations for the coming seasons. We 

 cannot, however, forbear, before closing these remarks, 

 to refer to the imbusuiess-like way of buyers in China 

 entrusted with orders for this market. Instead of 

 83 



waiting patiently for prices to come to a moderate level 

 before ' opening a season' or purchasing, freight engage- 

 ments are made and competition for buying is com- 

 menced, when it is well known that at the most a few 

 chops only can, by the greatest stretch of imagination, 

 show profitable residts : wlule the mUlions of pounds 

 bought under these conditions must inevitably show a 

 loss. This cannot but he seen hy buyers, but they 

 recklessly enter into unprofitable engagements in a 

 market of their own making, forgetting the old adage 

 that it is much easier to buy than sell, thus throwing 

 all the responsibility of this absurd pm-chasing, on those 

 for whom they act." The Tea Act has been in force 

 dm-ing the year, but in opposition to the wording of the 

 act the Commissioner of Customs has permitted other 

 than pure teas to pass into consumption. There was a 

 strong aud favorable market throughout the year for 

 Indian teas, the consumption having largely increased, 

 Ceylon also coming into notice. — Argtis. 



The Madras Government Cinchona Gardens on 

 THE NiLGlRis, their proceeds and expenditure form 

 the subject of estimates published in the Madras 

 Mail. The Government of Madras write: — 



Regular Estimate, 1882-8.3— -Ktrt:j>!«s.— The receipts of 

 the current year are ealcvdated at K6,ll,000, being in excess 

 of the sanctioned estimate for that year, and the actuals of 

 1881-82, by R1,11,000 and S9,000, respectively. The increase 

 occurs in the following items : — 



1882-83. 



(a) Value of bark sent home... 

 (6) Do supplied to I he Madras 

 and Bombay Medical Depts. 

 (c) Value of bark sold locally 



Budget 



Estimate 

 4,88,500 



4,000 



Regular 

 Eaum. 

 5,32,000 



1,500 

 70,000 



Total ... 4,92,500 6,03,500 



Difference 1,11,000 



The Couservat'r presumes that the Inrge increase under (a) 

 is due to the expected reilization ufa larger revenue from 

 the sale of ihe products of hark sent home. Tliereis reason, 

 on the con'rary, for believing that the credit under this 

 head will lie reduced owing to smaller con.sigumenta of bark 

 being shipped to allow of local sales. The estimate will 

 be reduced to 1(5,00,000. Up to date only 70,00-31b. have 

 been shipped to Euglard, and nothing is said as to contem- 

 plated shiiiments. The increase under (c) represents the 

 amount realized by local sales of bark already held and sanc- 

 tioned for the current year wilh tbe view of Jevel.iping- alocal 

 demand. The amount, however, sliould b- Rl,19,000, the 

 additioBal sale of 280 bales having been sanctioned hy G.O., 

 dated 2nd Decemher 1S82, Mis. No. 4053. The regular 

 estimate of roci-ipts then will he RiJ,'.'S,000. 



Regular EsTniATE, 18S2-S3— Charges. — The Deputy 

 Cimservalor and the Conservator of Forests estimate the 

 charges of the current year at R1,0C,614. The correct total, 

 however, of their figures is 1,06,114. 



HuuoET Estimate, 1883-84— Ecieipis.— The receipts for 

 the ensuing year are estimated at E5,00,000, hy the Conserv- 

 ator, being the same as the sanclidned but R1,11,000 less 

 than the regular estimate for the current year, and K 70 000 

 less than the actuals of 1881 82. The average revenue of 

 the last 5 years i* R4, 40,724. Ci iiservator's estimate in- 

 cludes a sum of R70,I'0J exiiccted to he realized by local 

 sales of hark, but this amount will he omitted as no sales 

 have been ordered for the coming year. The tiudget esti- 

 mate of receipts will tlierefore amount to K4,09,000 or in 

 round numbers R4,10,000. 



liuoGET Estimate, 1883-84— CArtr^es.—Tliii charges for 

 the ensuini: year are estimated in round figiu'es at R93 500, 

 being R12 614 less than the regular e.-stimate for the current 

 y ar. The Conservator's estimate includes a prevision ol 

 Rl,200 for the purchase of a pres- for packing bales, and of 

 R;,000 f'T water- su]pply to tbe Superintendent's bungalow. 

 Of these provisions the second ivill lie strnek out and the 

 fir.st can only be all wed to stand subject to the submission 

 of an estimate and subsequent .'•aucUou. The reiuavksmade 



