6 3 8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March i, 1888. 
FUEL FOR TEA IN GEYLON. 
If the planters in mid-Dimbula and other 
similarly situated districts do not at once set 
about planting for fuel, it is quite certain there 
is a bad time coming for them. Already it is 
whispered that coolies are accustomed to " get a 
name" on some place or places, for going where they 
please, prowling far and near (on moonlight nights) 
over neighbouring estates and into Crown forests, no 
matter where, so long as they come back with 
a load of firewood ! The way too in which coffee 
stumps are being cleared off for firewood for 
cooking purposes by coolies is a caution. Now what 
is being done to meet the absolute necessity for fuel? 
Some men, we know, have done their duty in planting 
quick-growing trees. But the case is one for general 
and immediate effort on the part of our planters 
generally, just as much as the re-planting of 
their coffee-land with tea has been. We want to 
see every tea plantation with a belt round 
its tea fields, within the boundary, of three 
chains deep of blue gums (see " J. L. A." 's 
testimony to their value the other day), grevilleas, 
or some equally good tree. Apart from the provi- 
sion of fuel, such a planting — all over Dimbula, 
sa y could not fail to increase the value and safety 
of property in many ways. Some mea may be 
counting, as we hear, on a big central factory at 
Talawakele with machinery driven by the river 
and coal for drying purposes; but we suspect, 
even if such an establishment were erected, the 
circuit of gardens that could be economically 
served is far more limited than such planters sup- 
pose. One of the shrewdest, most particular men 
in the country assures us that, working with his 
own capital, a first-class garden and all appliances, 
with plenty of reserves for firewood, he cannot 
place his tea in Colombo under 33 cents per lb. 
He has done small parcels without counting tear and 
wear at 28 cents; but, even if gathering 500 or 
6001b. an acre, he does not consider less than 33 
cents to be generally practicable. How then will 
it be for the large expanse of old coffee land 
yielding from 180 to 350 lb. per acre at present, or, 
possibly, even lower prices, more especially if there is 
to be extra expense about fuel. 
«. 
THE BRITISH INDIAN TEA COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 
The following is the half-yearly report, January 
1888 . — The actual out-turns at the several factories 
are given in the following table, showing the com- 
parison with the original estimates, details of which 
were given in the last July report: — 
Assam Division. 
Estimates. Actuals. Increase, 
lb. lb. lb. 
Mankotta and Rhea... 76,000 80,195 4,195 
Sessa 100,000 113,505 13,505 
Total Assam lb. 176,000 193,700 17,780 
Cachar Division. 
Estimates. Actuals. Increase, 
lb. lb. lb. 
Sildoobie 84,000 86,640 2,540 
Dwarbund 160,000 178,710 18,710 
Urrunabund 100,000 123,000 23,000 
Kharspore 116,000 117,000 1,000 
Total Oachar lb. 400,000 505,350 45,350 
( lb. 636.000 699,050 63,950 
Grand Total ... \ 
(rnds.. 7,050 8,738 788 
From the above figures it will be seen that the actual 
out-turns have exceeded the original estimates by 788 
maunds, or 63,050 lb. of tea, the increases being mainly 
at Ununbund, Dwarbund and Sessa. With regard to 
the quality of the part of the crop already sold, viz., 
522,0U0 lb. the directors are sorry not to be able to 
report a greater improvement than has really taken 
place, but considering the great fall in the market 
value of tea during the past year, in which the prices 
were even lower than in 1886, added to the fact that 
the quality of the Oachar crop generally has again 
been very poor, the result is not altogether unsatis- 
factory. The price realised for the above quantity in 
9 048. per lb. gross, showing a drop of only a £d as 
compared with last season's average to the same time, 
although the market has declined considerably more 
than that. On the other hand there has been a reduc- 
tion of about jd per lb. in the outlay expenditure, 
freight, dock dues, &c, so that at the present time, 
with a lower price obtained for the tea, the company 
stands in a better position than it did last year, on 
account of lessened expenses and increased out-turn ; 
it is hoped that the cost per lb. will not exceed 7|d 
a very low figure at which to lay down tea in London, 
inclusive of all charges. The statistical position of 
Indian tea, both as regards imports and deliveries, 
being now so favourable. It is probable that prices will 
strengthen rather than decline during the next few 
months, when the balance of the crop will be sold. 
Arthur R. Oapel, Chairman. 
CEYLON UPCOUNTRY PLANTING REPORT. 
MERCHANTABLE COFFEE DROUGHT AND PRODUCTS. 
20th Feb. 1888. 
The discussion as to what is " Merchantable 
Parchment," which has come up again in the 
Observer columns, is worthy of the attention of 
planters generally. That it should crop up always 
when the market is against buyers, is suspicious 
enough, but where the shoe pinches most is, that, 
when the question arises as to whether parchment 
coffee or any other product in fact is " merchant- 
able" or otherwise, it should have to be decided 
by arbitrators of whom none are planters. Such 
an arrangement is very one- sided indeed; and only 
wants on the part of the planters a firm and 
general stand to have it righted. The instance 
which your correspondent gave of how utterly un- 
reliable some awards have been, points to the necessity 
of a reconstitution of Arbitration Boards. Merchants 
and brokers, who pretend to be alone clearly able to 
judge, and who sit in solemn conclave over disputed 
parcels, want the presence of a planter in their midst 
to help to guide them when a falling market has 
blinded their eyes, and otherwise dulled their senses. 
With the good case which your correspondent has, 
he might well being the matter before his district 
Association, so that means might be devised for 
a reform, which is certainly much called for, 
and cannot be inaugurated too early. 
The Drought, which for some weeks has been 
an everlasting topic of conversation, is somewhat 
put out now by the new theme of how to account 
for the irregular distribution of the late showers. 
When you hear of a place a few miles off register- 
ing 3-90 without counting hailstorms, — these I 
presume would require to go in by the hundred- 
weight, — while other estates in the near neighbour- 
hood tapered off from 0 25 to nothing at all and 
alike equally burnt up, you certainly have some food 
for thought. It is comforting, however, to mark 
how the men who have been overlooked, regard 
the unequal distribution, and how they establish a 
security of mind by concluding that the excessive 
downpour experienced by some must have done 
more harm than good ; while a sprinkle of a 
quarter of an inch to tea trees with a big thirst 
in could only tend to worry and fret them more. 
