March i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
639 
io 4,200 f oet above sea level. The old Malabar VRriety 
is nearly extinct, and only the Mysore kind ig now 
ever planted. The market value of Cardamoms foil 
considerably during the latter end of tlie past year. 
The Exports for the year 1st January to 31at 
December 1889 were46u\16-i§ lb and 1 pkge. as against 
281,925 lb for the year 1st January to 31st Deoeinber 
1888. 
Tobacco. — A considerable extent of land was planted 
with this produot during the pist year with fair 
success and much knowledge of the conditions ne- 
cessary for the production of a " wrapper " leaf has 
been acquired. During the coming season the culti- 
vation will be extended aud with the experience aud 
knowledge now available, your Committee auti<;iuates 
that Ceylon tobacco wili ere long have ils merits 
recognized in the market and becorn ? a valuable 
subsidiary product. 
Cotton. — The successful establishment of a cotton 
spinuing and weaving factory near Colombo his drawn 
attention to the cultivation of cotton in Ceylon. Both 
by Europeans and by Natives it is being tried more 
or less experimeutly in various parts of the Island 
and in some cases with considerables success. Valuable 
addition has been made to the literature of the sub- 
ject, notably by the prize essays published in the 
,; Ceylon Independent." The cultivation is simple and 
inexpensive, while under favorable circumstances the 
yields are quiok and very considerable. Insect pests 
bnd a wet climate are the two difficulties which will 
probably prevent any large cultivation ou estates 
throughout the planting Districts. But it seems probable 
that in the drier parts of the country the euterprize will 
be profitable to the Native inhischena and to European 
Companies in large plantations. 
Statement of Tea Exported at Colombo, to the 
United Kingdom and to the undermentioned 
countries, from 1st Jany. 1889 to 31st Deo. 
1889, referred to in Paragraph on Tea. 
United Kingdom 32,657,589| Constantinople 
British Colonies 
Cyprus 470 
Aden 790 
Australia 1,162,783.^ 
British India 383,541 
Cape of Good Hope 970 
Gibraltar 200 
Hongkong 5,202 
Malta 1,315 
Mauritius 22,750 
Straits Settlements 7,112 
Foreign Countries. 
Alexandria 475 
Belgium 100 
Barbadoes 500 
Bremen 16, 74J 
Buenos Ayres 520 
Bushire 2,884 
China 1,105; 
Prance 
Preach India 
Grenada 
Hamburg 
Holland 
Italy 
Japan 
Maldive Islands 
Manilla 
Port Said 
20 
18,093 
15 
300 
16,879 
74 
2,281 
45 J 
56 
370 
692 
Portuguese Poss. iu India 100 
Russia 
Suez 
Smyrna 
Trieste 
United States of 
America 
Total . 
3,707 
8,280 
540 
5,305 
THE HOME TEA SALE 3. 
Particular attention should, we think, be given 
by all locally interested in the growth or 
the shipment of tea to the Resolutions passed 
by the Tea Committee of the Ceylon Association iu 
London a3 given in our London Letter by last mail. 
As regards combined action with the Indian Tea 
Distriots Association, it would seem that the 
Committee representing Oaylon tea interests do not 
regard it to be necessary, at all events for the present, 
though ready t j co operate at such times as it may 
usefully do so. But while we feel we may safely 
leave tho determination as to any such action to 
those who represent us at home, we would desire 
to direot attention to the finil conclusion 
at whioh the Indian Association arrived ; because 
thero oan be no doubt that much might be done 
hero towards assisting the home trade in its desire 
to better regulate the course of the tea sales in 
Mincing Lane. The conclusion reads :— " That 
the Brokers be requested to meet onoe a week, 
and endeavor by mutual agreement to regulate 
the offorings as far as possiblo in accordance with 
tho demand at tho time, and tho members of the As- 
sociation hereby pledge themselves to support them," 
Now how far, or by what methods, our local 
shippers can contribute their quota of sup- 
port in this matter, should, and doubtless 
will, be the subjeot of careful consideration by the 
Planters' Association, whioh will doubtless have 
received by the same mail, full details from its 
home agents. It has long been felt, we believe, — in- 
deed we recollect the prominence given by Mr. 
J. L. Shand to this point at one of the earlier 
meetings of the Ceylon Association in London,— 
that the over-weighting of the market at indi- 
vidual sales is the main oause of much of the 
irregularity in price obtained for Ceylon taas. 
It appears to us desirable that local ship- 
pers should give to those to whom they 
intrust their home sales a considerable amount of 
latitude as to placing their shipments on the 
market. If this is not done — if, in their desire 
to obtain an early financial return, they confine 
their home agents within too narrow limits of 
action, it is not possible that the brokers oan exercise 
the power of discrimination whioh seems to be 
so muoh desired. Of course, a change might 
mean the incurrence of delay inimical to those 
quick returns, the importance of which to most 
of our planters and shippers oannot be overlooked. 
But, on the other hand, if such delay should 
result in improved prices being obtained, and a 
more regular condition of the market, this 
advantage might well be set against the undoubted 
disadvantage of a deferred return, and it would 
probably be found in the long run to more than 
counterbalance the latter. 
Our suggestion in this respect must certainly be 
acknowledged to run counter to the desire lately 
manifested, to secure the shortening of the term of 
" prompt." The action then contemplated had for its 
incentive a quicker return to the grower and 
shipper of the results to their industry and outlay. 
For very good reasons, to which we referred when 
that particular question was under discu3sion, the 
views of the home referees in this case, were 
deferred to. Now, as it would seem, a further con- 
cession is recommended in the interest, not, be it 
recollected of the home trade, but in that of the 
producers in this island. It will ba for the Planters' 
Association in consultation with the Chamber of 
Commerce perhaps, to settle how this can be made 
without resulting in serious inconvenience ; but we 
think that all will see how carefully considered the 
matter has been in London, and will therefore 
allow that the decision taken has been arrived 
at solely in the interest of the produoer. Several 
of the other points embraced in the Resolutions 
of the Indian Tea Distriots Association Committee 
have reference solely to the convenience of those who 
conduot or attend the sales in London ; but in- 
direotly no doubt these also have a bearing upon 
our tea-growing industry, and should not therefore 
wholly escape the attention of our readers. 
The final Resolution of the Tea Committee of 
our London Association dealt with the question of 
the beneficial or ill results to be expected from an 
entire or partial remission of the duty on tea. 
It will be seen that it records the view that a 
reduction would certainly be beneficial ; and in spite 
of some doubts whioh are shared, as we know, 
by a not inconsiderable number of those who have 
given consideration to the matter, we may well be 
content to accept the conclusions arrived at by so 
expert a body as is that Committee. Sir Roper 
Lethbridge appears to have based some of his chief 
arguments upon incorrect data, and that being 
the oase we must necessarily refuse to give weight 
to them. On the other hand, the public opponent 
of Sir Roper's views, Mr. Roberts of the Colombo 
Commercial Company, has also had to admit tho 
possible iaoorreotness of some of his data, But 
