January 2, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 493 
which, deducted from the eutire stock on the 1st inst., 
would leave 22,051) tons only, to which the probably ar- 
rivals during this period have to beadded. From Novem- 
ber 1st, 1886, to February 28th, 1887, the imports 
amounted to 128,250 tons, but as both the Brazil and Java 
orops have this year proved exceptionally small, nothing 
like this quantity can bo expected. On the whole, it 
is clear that in the present state of most uncertain 
statistics and heavy speculation, and the impossi- 
bility of evon the best-informed persons forecasting 
the actual out-turn of tho Brazil crop, on the weight 
of which so much hangs, opinions from any quarter 
cannot ho worth much in prophesying the possible 
course of tho market, and under such circumstances 
tho practice of steadily buying from hand to mouth, 
to fulfil immediate requirements, is the one usually 
adopted, and is certainly the safost, — Product Markets' 
Review, Dec. 3rd, 
♦ 
PRODUCE IN MINCING LANE. 
Tho " boom,'' to use an expressive though by no 
moans elegant, Americanism, which has Htirred up 
our produce markots since the end of November 
shows signs of waning. Few who looked at the 
sadden and unreasoning development of speculative 
tendencies from an unbiassed standpoint could fail 
to be struck with the absence of solid foundation 
for such enormous advances as took place in some 
articles within a few hours' time. When once the 
drug market began to move with quinine and quick- 
silver it was thought that the high-price times were 
about to return, and speculators wildly seized upon 
whatovor article they considered "low priced," re- 
gardless of other considerations, and proceeded to 
gamble it up as high as possible. Chillies and 
cassia ligneu are cases in point. If ever there was 
an article in which a decided advance appeared un- 
warranted, cassia is one. Our stock hero is suffi- 
cient to cover three years' average consumption, and 
is still accumulating. Consumption does not in- 
crease, but the production, according to trustworthy 
advices from China, is decidedly growing, and is 
capablo of almost unlimited extension. Yet this 
articlo was drawn into the whirlpool of speculation, 
and forced up about 20 per cent from its lowest 
point within a few dayB' time. The result, of 
course, was that at tho weekly auctions an unusually 
large quantity, was brought forward, and the ad- 
vance obtained will probably be lost altogether in a 
few days. ObillieS, the statistical position of which 
is the reverse of inviting, shot up like a sky-rocket, 
only to come down again with almost equal rapidity. 
Shellac has always been the pet article of specula- 
tors, and tho violent fluctuations which it has ex- 
perienced within the last fortnight are by no means 
raro in its history ; but it is admitted by the 
speculators themselves that, although the reports 
concerning a Bhort crop of sticklac and the statistical 
position of tho article may havo warranted a slight 
incrcaso, its recent advance, retrogression, and ro- 
newed forward movement have been governed by 
quite other than statistical considerations. It is too 
early >et to estimate how much of tho excitemont 
in quinine has been justified by legitimate demand, 
but there are already indications of an ebbing tide 
in this important product. In London, on Thursday, 
there was much confidence on 'Change in the future 
of this articlo, and a further advance was actually 
established; in Amsterdam, at the same time, large 
quantities of bark were being sold, as our cable- 
gram shows, at a fractional reduction of tho rate 
per unit of quinine. Thoro has been probably s<mio 
actual increase of legitimate orders for quinine, due 
to the reduction of the largo stocks stored two years 
ago on tho sudden breakdown of the syndicate 
which had then boon forinod ; but it must lie re 
ineiiibored that there are Urge stocks of bark in 
Ceylon awaiting shipment, and that the report of 
tho improvement of the market is certain to bring 
sonio of these forward. 
Speculative movements and sudden fluctuations in 
the prices in articles of consumption cannot bo bene- 
ficial to inu business community at large, although 
they may put money in the pockets of a few Mincing 
Lane brokers, unless it be that some of the money 
thus secured has been lost by thoso outsiders who, 
not knowing quicksilver from quinine or borax from 
shellac, periodically invade the drug market when 
they hear that there is " something good going on " 
in Mincing Lane. — Ohemiit and Druggist, Dec. 10th. 
PLANTING IN NETHERLANDS INDIA. 
(Translated for the "Straits Times.") 
In the Residency of Piilembang, planting enterprise 
has of late been speeding apace. It has been extend- 
ing considerably without any check save from the 
scarcity of labourers owing to the scantiness of the 
native population. Coolie immigration under these 
circumstances is the only resource available to meet 
the need. The Netherlands India Government has this 
time taken action before hand and has promulgated 
an Employers' and Labourers' enactment almost like 
that in force on the East coast of Sumatra. There 
Chinese coolies are becoming dearer and dearer. It 
has become high time indeed id the interest of the 
planting community to remove the hindrances in the 
way of the free immigration of Tamils thither. It is 
rumoured that after all the Netherlands Oonsul-Gen- 
eral at Singapore will be despatched on a mission to 
India for the purpose. 
A new field of enterprise will shortly be available 
for tobacco planters. Trials with the cultivation of 
that produce article are about to be taken in hand in 
German New Guinea. The New Guinea Company 
lately sent one of its directors to Deli to investigate 
thoreughly tobacco cultivation there in all its bearings, 
so as to gain information preparatory to starting planta- 
tions in New Guinea. The Locomotuf says that un- 
liapplily not much could be made of his experiences. 
He died of malarious fever after his return before 
he was able to make any use of the theoretic know- 
ledge he had gained. 
The Surabaya Courant says that in Java, owing to 
favourahle advices from British North Borneo, many 
enterprising planters have decided upon trying their 
luck there. 
MANILA NEWS. 
(Translated for the " Straits Times.") 
The Minister for the Colonies has directed tho 
Governor-General of the Philippines to take steps to 
bring home to the inhabitants of the islands the ad- 
vantages of cultivating a variety of crops. Model farms, 
(if which several have already been started, are ex- 
pected to offer the best means for the purpose, by 
showing them the working of improved agricultural 
machinery and appliances. Economic plants will he 
tried in cultivation so as to show the natives which 
of them would pay when grown. The cultivation of 
Rameh will be especially experimented with. 
♦ 
WYNAAD COFFEE AND CINCHONA. 
A South Wynaad correspondent writes ; — " Besides 
the east-wind and its usual accompaniment of lumbago 
and colds in the head, one is sorely troubled as to whether 
one is going to get in the estimated amount of crop. 
In spite of the coffee market being favourable, the uu- 
seumlyrain that foil late in the season in this district is 
beginning now to show its results ; and, with a few ex- 
ceptions, most of the planters will consider themselves 
lucky if they i i nline but half of their oiiginal estim- 
ates. To add to their misfortunes coffee thieves are 
particularly lively this year ; stripping otf an acre of 
Coffee in one night is an ordinary occurrence, in spite of 
our having from four to «ix watchmen patrolling nu es- 
tate. In fact, stolen coffee is simply being carted awsy 
This state of affairs is undoubtedly owing to thn fact 
that even |>. 1 1 s tmziar mini is allowed to i-suu cuffeo 
passes. ()ii< ■may catch a thief on one's own estate car- 
»">"•" »: aw >y a ba„' el coffee, and yet the rogue will have the 
audacity to produce u ' pass,' nnd say that he was urn- 
ply going through your estate, as it was a short 
cut to tho bazaar; and that ho was afraid to go rouuJ 
