THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST* [February i, 1888. 
low medium grades, prices commence to recover. Fine sorts 
in all limited supply, and very tirm ; public sales Ceylou, 
11,423, import 746,280, delivery 616, 230, stock 2,054,290. 
April; — Ceylon Teas. — Pi ices shew a firmer to improving 
tendency, most marked for all quality grades of Pekoes 
and Broken Pekoes (lise of about Id to 2d perlb.); public 
sales Ceylon, 13,017, import 679,OU0, delivery 657,420, stock 
2,075,870. 
May:— Ceylon Teas. — Prices are further advancing for 
Pekce Souchongs, Souchongs-, Gocd Medium, Broken Pekoes, 
Dust and Broken Teas- and Choicest grades, but are weak 
and irregular for Gcod Medium to Fine Medium Pekoes 
and Fine Medium to Fine Broken Pekoes ; public sdes 
Ceylon, 10,444, import 886,780, delivery 779,139-, stock 
2,183,520. 
June : — Ceylon Teas. — Depressed, and marking adecliue of 
Id to 2d per lb., owing to increased arrivals and in- 
feriority of qualitv ; public sales Ceylon, 21,541, import 
1,230,240, delivery 780,570, stock 2,736,830 
July: — Ceylon Teas, — Improve for all teas of character, but 
remain weak and depressed for indifferent teas; public sales 
Ceylon 21,714, imports 1,650,270, delivery 698,590, stock 
3,388,510. 
August:— Ceylon Teas. —Quality shows decided improvement 
and prices a furiheVrise ; public sales Ceylcn, 25,795, import 
1,178,610, delivery 1,341,790, stock 3,225,610. 
September:- Ceylcn Teas. — Are in strong demand at briskly- 
advancing rates ; public sales Ceylon, 15,274, imports 781,570, 
delivery 1,197,220, stock 2,s09,960. 
October: — Ceylon Teas — Continue in active competition 
at fully pries maintained ; public sales Ceylon, 13,387, 
import 815,110, delivery 1,008,950, stock 2,615,980. 
November:— Ceylon Teas. — Evince sympfdrus of weakness 
during latter part of month, most noticeably in Medium 
to fine grades of Broken Pekoes and Pekoes ; public sales 
Ceylon, 13,702, import 872,330, delivery 790,010, stock 
2,698,300. 
December: —Ceylon Teas.— Have suffered a sharp decline 
in value, about 2d to 3d per lb. for Fair lo Fine Broken 
Pekoes, fully 2d per lb. for : the same grades of Pekoes 
and Pekoe Souchongs, and Id to ljd lb for Souchongs; 
oublic sales Ce) Ion, 13,089, import 1,193,030, delivery 741,900 
stck 3,149,430. 
THE COFFEE MARKET. 
We give (on page 557) an interesting review 
by Mrsess. Kucker & Bencraft. In round numbers 
now, theworld's production of coffee for export 
may be taken at 600,000 Ions, or 12,000,000 cwt, 
of which Brazil yields one half, all other 
countries supplying the other half. Another 
130,000 tons may be added for consump- 
tion in producing countries, of which 40,000 may be 
put against Brazil and 90,000 against ether coun- 
tries growing coffee, chiefly Arabia and North-east 
Africa. Our calculation in iast " Handbook and 
Directory " was 054,000 lor expert ; 135,000 for home 
consumption : total production 789,000 tons. 
But the yield h&s since fallen off. The fall 
from a total of 1,604,000 piculs in 1883-84 to 
614,000 w 18&7-8S shows how disastrous 
the results of leaf disease have been in Java as 
well as in Ceylon. It remains to be seen if with 
rich soil and compulsory planting, Java will re- 
cover her position as a great coffee producer. Poor 
Ceylon has retired from serious competition. The 
figures in the Eeport under review show that leaf- 
disease has reduced Ceylon coffee crops by one-half in 
five yeais, while in the same period the Indian crop 
has shown scarcely any falling-off. 
PLANTING IN MANILA. 
(Translated for the Straits Times.) 
Cocoa trees flourish in the Philippines and have 
taken kindly to the novel environment, so different 
from the tropical parts of America, their original home. 
They thrive remarkably in the Philippine soil, not- 
withstanding the careless way the trees are cultivated 
and looked after by the natives. The cocoa grown in 
the province of Albay bears a high reputation in the 
produce market, and is deemed to be quite equal to 
the Venezuelan article. Tho climate in many portions 
of the Philippines does not favour its luxuriant growth. 
With greater care in cultivation and more attention 
to turning out the product in a marketable condition, 
this Philippine export article would command wider ap- 
preciation and greater range of custom. In the Philip- 
pines themselves, the native grown cocoa fetches a high 
price, »nd holds its own against the imported article. 
EVEBLASTING SUMMER IN SAMOA. 
We are permitted to publish the following interest- 
ing latter, written by ayouug business man in Samoa to 
a relative in Southland: — 
Apia, Samoa, January 18th, 1887. 
My Dear > ,— My informs me that 
you desire to know something about the new land I 
have chosen to venture my business career upon. It 
is with very great^pleasure that I give you what informa- 
tion I am possessed of. There is a good future for 
Samoa, but with regard to us, Englishmen, it mainly de- 
pends upon what steps are taken for the good govern- 
ment of the Island. At present it is very risky ventur- 
ing much, but in a few months it is hoped matters 
will be decided. With regard to timber, — I took 
ample observations when travelling through the group 
last year. There is plenty of timber of a very durable 
nature, and which would be very valuable, but the 
difficulty of obtaining it is very great. The country is 
very hilly, and the trees suitable for sawing are not in 
any large quantites together. They are much scatter- 
ed. I do not think it will pay just yet. Re trade, I 
found on my return from the Colonies this is at a 
stand-still. All merchants are just waiting to see 
how things go. Tbe Samoans themselves are 
not working, and as the greater part of the 
business is done with them, you will perceive 
bow it is nothing much is doing. What we want to 
send the place ahead is settlement. Settlement of a 
claf-s of people who do not mind roughing it and 
who have a little capital. There is much wealth in 
the land. The soil is very rich and all tropical 
products grow luxuriantly. We have at our disposal 
tome 250,000 acres of this land, and we desire to make 
some use of it as soon as possible. To encourage 
persons to try their luck, we are forming several 
settlements. Settlers are required to have a capital 
of from £500 to £1000, and at the end of 5 years, 
providing they fulfil the stipulated conditions, a con- 
veyance of 200 acres (the amount to be allotted;, 
will be made over to them free of cost, except the 
cost of deeds. In each settlement there will be 10 
ofthese allotments the rest of the land surrounding will 
be let under the peipetual leasehold system. I am 
certain anyone coming will do well. We wiii arrange 
for a suitable outlet for ail produce. One thing, 
anyone intending to come must make up his mind for 
an everlasting summer. We have uo cold weather al- 
though plenty of rain, especially at this time of the 
year. I do not feel the heat oppressive, nor would 
anyone in good health. 1 rather enjoy it. The chief 
products, which command good markets, are coconuts, 
coffee, cotton, bananas, pineapples, vanilla, tobacco, 
oranges, lemons and limes. These are very simp'y 
cultivated ; commonsense being the only requisite 
necessary. I am sorry I cannot offer much induce- 
ment for you to come, as I am afraid the heat and 
roughing would not now agree with you. There is 
decidedly better openings here for young men than 
in New Zealand— tbe only drawback that may occur 
is what I mentioned befoie, viz., ' the future administra- 
tion of the place.' In our business we have tvtry 
prospect of doing well, but nothing much is done at 
present. We are forming a sure foundation but slowly. 
One drawback in our line is the bad money in circula- 
tion, and we have a great difficulty in effecting ex- 
changes with the Colonies. This we are endeav. ur- 
ing to overcome. It is expected that the TJ. S. S. 
Co. of New Zealand will shortly run one of their 
boats to this place. This will give a start and help 
to run the Germans off. The Germans are trying 
hard to get this place, but the Samoans proper do 
not look upon them with favour. Enclosed find a 
photo of my house and place of business. The men 
are hands we have to employ. You will notice that 
I have plenty of oranges and coconuts about me. If 
we had any means of exporting, I would willingly 
send you some ; they are delicious. We get plenty of 
fruit, and that is our chief article of diet. The Samoan 
people a'e a friendly lot and are very partial lo English- 
men — I get along with them splendidly. They are not 
savages and have uo recollection of ever being 
cannibals, so we are in no clanger of ever being pick- 
led.— Believe me, &c„— New ZealandYaper. 
