August i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
ordinary description, but the superior quality of our 
teas was fully maintained, and there was scarcely any 
falling off iu tho prices obtained for them. 
The following statement shows the quantity of tea 
sold from each of our plantations iu 1886, the proceeds 
of the sales, amd the average prices -.— 
lb. £ s. d. at s. d. 
Oinnamara ...182,401! ... 13,299 19 1 ... 1 5 '49 
DekhiaJulee ...109,271 ... 7,447 7 9 ... 1 4-35 
Koreekuitsa ...111,301 ... 7,378 3 0.. 1 3-90 
Bokahoola ...123,903 ... 8,109 3 0 ... 1 3-82 
Ruutfagora ... 84,512 ... 5,470 18 6 ... 1 3'53 
Ruuguiaua ...104,071 ... 6,723 3 4 ... 1 3'50 
Uoreaha-jee ... 47,983 ... 3,092 12 3 ... 1 3-46 
Hatteecnungie ... 87,275 ... 5,534 2 4 ... 1 3"21 
Sycjity ...149,993 ... 9,489 19 4 ... 1 3-18 
Numalighur ...114,814 ... 0,760 17 4 ... 1 2 13 
Oating ... 40,111 ... 2,291 13 9 ... 1 1 71 
1,155,6451b. £75,657 19 8 at 1 3-71 
The rates of Exchange between Calcutta and Lon- 
don were considerably lower in 1886 than in 1885, 
and although the drafts issued in Calcutta in 1886 
amounted to £ 33 000 against £36,000 in 1885, 
yet the difference in the rates below 2s. per rupee 
was £11,537 4s. 2d. against £9,350 3s. 3d. in 1885, 
showing an increase of £2,187 0s. lid. 
Tea seed produced £106, unclaimed wages £150, 
and profit on sales of rice £5 13s. Id., making the 
total amount to the credit of the profit and loss 
statement £87,456 16s. lid., or an increase of 
£4,423 10s. lid. over 1885. 
The expenditure on the plantations in 1886 
amounted to £34,778 3s. 2d., or £90 6s. 4d. below 
that in 1885, although the quantity of tea made 
and the area of laud cultivated were larger than 
in 1885. A larger number of labourers would have 
been of much advantage, and hence the outlay may 
be considered to be below the average. 
The general expenditure was £17,202 17s. 0d., 
being an increase of £38 16s. lOd. over that in 
1885 ; further large sums were expended upon 
permanent buildings and barracks for labourers, 
and upon machinery, whereas the cost of importing 
labourers was less thau in 1885, as there were 
fewer procurable. 
It may be mentioned that the charge under the 
heading of interest account is made up as follows: — 
Discount to buyers of tja £533 0 6 
Less: Interestjou N.S.Wales stock£135 6 8 
Interest on deposit at Bank ... 178 16 4 
Interest on credit balances in 
Calcutta 26 11 4 
£340 14 4 
£192 6 2 
The charges on tea and insurance were £8,747 10s. 
7d., being £271 3s. 7d. in excess of 1.^85, but the 
charges ou an increased number of 512 chests of tea 
ace included iu the above, 
The usual annual contribution of £200 has been 
credited to the lire insurance on buildings, and as this 
fund now amouuts to £800 it is deemed unnecessary 
to increase it, and it has been accordingly invested 
in tho purchase of £863 13s. 9d. iu 2}j per cent consols, 
redeemable in 1905. 
Thus tho totiil expenditure connected with the crop 
of 18k6 was £60,928 lis, 3d., or £219 14s. Id. above 
that of 1885. 
The total receipts were £87,4-56 16 11 
The total expenditure was ... 60,923 11 3 
GROSS EXPENDITURE AND COST I'B ! POUND OF TEA SOLD, 
after deducting the difference in the rates of ex- 
change : — 
In 1884 £57,977, cost per lb. 0s ll-58d 
In 1885 55,129, ,, 1 0 
In 1886 53,605, „ 0 11-13 
ACCOUNT SALES WEIGHT OF TEA, AVERAGE PRICES AND 
PROCEEDS. 
In 1884 1,200,538 lb. • at Is 2*8961 £74,525 
In 1885 1,102,196 „ at Is 4-01 73,568 
In 1886 1,155,645 „ at Is 3 71 75,657 
DIVIDEND. 
The directors recommend the declaration of a divid- 
end at the rate of 18 per cent, clear of income tax, 
payablo on and after the 4th July, 18S7, and the mem- 
bers will be asked to confirm this by resolution. 
On crop 1884, a Dividend of 15 per cent, was paid. 
1885, „ 15 „ „ 
„ 1886, ,, 18 ,, is proposed 
.Reserve Fund. 
On 31st December, 1885, the amount to the credit 
of this account was . . . . . . £7,211 18 6 
Transferred from profit and loss ac- 
count, 1885 .. .. .. .. 3,551 1 1 
As per balance sheet 31st Dec. 1836. ..£10,765 19 7 
To be transferred from profit and loss 
account, 1386 . . . . . . . . 4,314 9 11 
Leaving a gross profit of ... £26,528 5 8 
Groat praise is due to Mr. J. F. Lawrence (who was 
aotii g biiperintendent in Assam during Mr. Iluti- 
maui.'a absence on leave) and to the members of our 
Htuff lor tho realization of this siliefactory result. 
The f illowing comparative statements show the oper- 
ations ot the company during the past throe years:—' 
CHOPS OF TEA AND OUTLAV ON PLANTATIONS. 
In 1881 3,816 acres 1,206,6771b at 316 per aero R867.152 
In 1885 3,822 „ 1,118,891 „ at 291 „ 348,684 
In 1836 3,76o ,, 1,165,635 „ at 309 „ 347,781 
Total undivided profits . .£15,030 9 6 
£7,640 have been invested in £8,000 of New South 
Wales 3J per cent. Stock, and 
4,360 in £1,707 3s of 2^ per cent Consols. 
£21,000 
Season 188 V. 
The usual estimates for 1887 have been carefully 
prepared showing an expenditure on the plantations 
of rupees 377,486, and a crop of tea estimated to pro- 
duce 1,245,200 lb. 
The area under tea cultivation is as follows : — 
Over three years of age.. .. acres 3,905 
Under three years of age . . „ 298 
Extensions made 1886-7 . . . . „ 203 
Nurseries . . . . „ 19 
Total acres . . . . 4,425 
Every attention is being given to increasing the 
number of labourers, extending the erection of per- 
manent barracks for them, improving the water supply 
enlarging the tea-houso accommodation, and providing 
new steam machinery. 
The quantity of tea made to the 15th June amounted 
to 228,000 lb., being an increase of 49,360 lb. over 
the previous season to the same date. 
Mr. Henry Burkinyouug, who retired by rotation 
from tho direction, was re-elected, and the proposed 
dividend of IS per cent was declared. 
The chairman it justification of the policy of adding 
to the reserve fund, mentioned that in 1879 the com- 
pany with difficulty)paid a dividend of 5 per cent, and 
in 1380 gave no dividend at all. Since that time they 
had paid in dividends 31 per cent. The company has 
been formed 27 years, and the average dividend 
during t.iat time has been £14 3s 3d per cent, a very 
creditable record. — Home and Colonial Mail. 
INDIAN EXCISE AND TEA. 
[In taking over the following article from the 
Pioneer, we would remark that while fever is 
prevalent in Ceylon and quinine powders are being 
distributed, good might be done, now and for the 
future, by distributing also small packets of tea. 
Acting on the weakly frame of Asiatics, tea alone 
is a cure for fever, and the creating a taste for 
this wholesome stimulant would be a good work 
on the part of Government and individuals. 
We call the special attention of the Governor to 
the matter. If a ruler iu India finds it consistent 
with his functions to encourage tea versus spirit 
dunking, the example can be followed in Ceylou.— 
Ed.] 
