November i, 1887] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
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AGRICULTURE IN MANILA. 
(Translated for the Straits Times.) 
Tho Caroline islands, the possession of which ho 
nearly brought on a war between Spain and Germany, 
turn out to be a worthless acquisition for the present. 
Their only recommendation lies in the group becom- 
ing of commanding importance, in the event of the 
completion of the Panama (Janal. The Comcrcio having 
suggested that the Carolines might offer a field for 
Spanish commercial enterprise in the direction of copra 
dealing, a correspondent throws cold water on tho 
scheme. He points out that the islands in question 
bear none of the characteristics of a laud of promise. 
The islands themselves, small and insignificant, stand 
no comparison with the many isles of the Philippines. 
The coconut palm only grows on the sea shore of the 
Carolines. Spaniards in the Philippines, in his 
opinion, would do well to shun the Carolines as a copra- 
yielding field of enterprise. The distance alone is a 
standing discouragement. The islands are remote in- 
deed. Steam communication with them does not 
exist. Communication by sailing vessels is unfre- 
quont and irregular. The matter was lately put 
fairly to the test by an employee of the General To- 
bacco Company who was specially deputed there to 
start some kind of business venture. He soon found 
out the hopelessness of setting about anything of the 
kind. The impossibility of competing with the British 
and German traders there came quickly home to him. 
Of them, there were evou too many for the little trade 
that happenod to be going. The revenue of the Oaro- 
lines offers so few prospects of elasticity, that they 
bid fair to be a burden on the Philippines for many 
a year. 
Manila hemp, besides being useful for ropes, has been 
also found serviceable for making paper. In Spain, 
paper has actuilly been niado from it, and turned to 
account for newspapers. At Madrid, the refuse por- 
tion of the fibres has been successfully utilised for 
the purpose. The paper produced is rather brown iu 
colour, but seems to answer press requirements fairly 
well. It only remains for enterprising individuals to 
start nulls iu the hemp yielding provinces for supply- 
ing both the Philippine and Spanish Press with papor. 
The matter is important ouough for inquiry. 
SIZE OF SAMPLING BREAKS OF TEA. 
To THE EDITOB OF THE " Homk and Colonial Mail." 
Sir, — You are no doubt aware there has been a 
conference on this subject between the represent- 
atives of tho buyers and sellers, at which it was 
decided to pass over all lots of tea in public sale under 
12 chests, 18 half-chests, aud 30 boxes, and sell thorn 
at the end of the day. Whilst some members of tho 
conference would have been in favour of raising these 
limits even higher, I think the compromise, which 
has been arrived at will, for the present, meet tho 
geuoral convenience. 
But before tho question gots out of sight, I should 
like to place before your renders the result of a vory 
careful analysis of last week's catalogues iu regard to 
tho avorage number of packages in each break. 
The total number of packages offered was as fol- 
lows : — Indian tea, 971 breaks; 22,13(1 chests; 2,r>2 
half -chests ; 227 boxes. Ceylon tea, 810 breaks; 2,613 
cheats; 3,415 half-chosts ; 51 boxes. Java tea, 3-1 
breaks; 1,140 chests. China Oougou tea, 75 breaks ; 
10,907 half-chests. 
Of the above 971 breaks of Indian tea, 21 were 
under 8 packages ; 353 were on garden account, aver- 
aging 29 packages to tho break ; and 597 were Cal- 
cutta bought tea, averaging 24'4 packages to tho 
break. 
Of tho 310 breaks of Coylou tea, 90 were uudor 
S packages and consequently omittud, and the '220 
largo breaks averaged 22 1 packages to the break, but 
as almost -me. halt consisted of half-cheats, tho aver- 
age quantity of tea to each break was only about 
1,0001b. as against '.',700 lb. Indian on garden account 
oud 2,300 lb. Calcutta bought. The latter is smaller 
ou account of splitting up the breaks iu Calcutta. 
