THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST [May i 1888. 
for the U. S. Although the market opened high, 
prices continued to rise regularly, and the highest 
figure was attained in the September subscription, 
when, for instance, series of "Firsts" weight and 
no weight, out of the best parcels brought together 
350 c. D. crcy per \ Ko. Taking into consideration, 
that a certain quantity of these were not at all 
faultless, it can be reckoned that the best marks 
among these series brought 380 and 396 cts. for 
some "Seconds" also nearly 300 cts, was paid. 
These bi^h prices were carried over through the 
October and November sales without any percep- 
tible rise, ' 
The good demand for " Firsts " at the duty of 
35 cts. as well as 75 cts. for flue qualities, prevailed 
throughout the entire s ason. The consequence was, 
that the figure realized for this crop considerably 
over-reached that of its predecessor, notwithstand- 
ing the quality being ioferior. Considering the out- 
turn of the crop, we have met with many faulty 
colored tobaccos. Where the color was often not 
motley, it showed fallow and greenish. Of course 
with such a number of parcels as we received this 
year, there were many which in this respect made 
a very favourable exception. In some parcels, the 
leaf are somewhat tender, in otheis the nature of 
the tobacco was too dry, and the leaf therefore 
lacked the desired elasticity and stretch. On the 
other hand, this crop possessed the good quality of 
being light in weight, compared with that of 1885, 
and with less holes in the leaves, thus working more 
economically, and allowing the importation at the 
75 cts. duty to become remunerative on account of 
the large number of leaver going to an Amer. 
pound. The burn of the tobaccos from Deli and 
Lankat was good ; that of the other districts, of 
Serdang, Bedagei and Bftoe Barah was again less 
efficient, which was all the more to be regretted, 
because the greater part of these tobaccos contain- 
ed the finest colors combineJ with sound leaf. All 
conditions of colors, leafiness, and even burr, can- 
not be put down to any fault of the planters, as 
being too closely connected with the quantity of 
rain falling during the growth, or the special situa- 
tion of the grounds. But we do find fault with the 
assorting by the planters, which in only too ma"ny 
parcels showed a want of such care, as, with such high 
prices ruling, buyers are more or less entitled to. 
It is with pleasure, however, that we noticed the 
improvement in this respect in some mark«, for in- 
stance, the parcels of- the Deli-Batavia-Maatschappij, 
imported by the Dutch Trading Company, were much 
better assorted and especially betttr packed, which 
no doubt greatly influenced the prices realized. If 
planters will follow the matter up, experience will 
show them, that, with continued careful treatment, 
assorting and packing of their tobaccos, even should 
the production increase considerably, their goods will 
readily find buyers. As a proof, we mention that 
the Tobaccos of Deli Maatschappij's and Amsterdam 
Deli Compagnie's plantations are always most readily 
sold. 
The first question asked by the important buyers 
from across the Atlantic invariably is : How is the 
Tobacco packed, are the bales square and firm ? 
During the season, all cu: old American friends put 
in appearance, with many others visiting our market 
for the first time. With varying results, the large 
buyers competed for the different parcels, so that the 
shipments to the U. S. came up the considerable figure 
of about 36,000 bales. The 1886 Crop produced about 
15,000 bales more than that of 1885; the pioportion 
of " broken leaf " being pretty much the same, viz., 
25 per cent against 28 per cent for the former crop. 
The average sale price of this crop was 56 cts. 
U. 8. Crcy., or <J| ct j , equal to 10 per cent advance 
over the former. The parcels were readily realized 
by subscription or by private sale with the exception 
of a few lots sold in auctioti, chiefly consisting of 
Tobaccos of deficient burn. The total unsold amounts 
to 771 bales, not for want of buyers, but an account 
of carelest) treatment or other serious faults. From 
Assouan, for tbo first time, some small parcels came 
to our market, and also to Bremen : color and na- 
ture were very good, but the burn was not desir- 
able. 
Reviewing the .imports of Tobaccos, competing (?) 
as Wrappers with Sumatra, we can name the 
following: — 
From Borneo, a few small parcels, of fine leaf, 
and good color, which fetched a high figure. Burn 
and flavour this year were very satisfactory and com- 
pared with the crop sold last year, a coi siderable 
improvement is observable, as far as it is poFBible 
to judge by such small quantities. Only with larger 
receipts it will become possible to determine, whether 
this produce can count as a competitor of Sumatra. 
From Ceylon 170 bales arrived, of which 52 bales 
of excellent quality and colors and suitable for wrap- 
pers fetched a high price. The last import of 55 
bales, ouly fit for binders and fillers, remained un- 
sold when offered by subscription, and only partly 
found buyers when brought to auction afterwards. 
The burn was satisfactory, the leaf rather thick, 
coarse and green. 
At Botterclam 53 bales were imported from Menado 
(Island of Celebes). The leaf was good, but the 
tobacco seemed to have been hardly or not fer- 
mented ; hence unripe and greeu colors and bad 
taste. If the planters wish their undertaking to be 
successful, their first duty is to treat the tobiccos 
in conformity with the requirements for attaining a 
useful produce. From Malacca 301 b des were im- 
ported of very inferior quality, only fiuding buyers 
at a very low price. 
The American papers brought us the news, that 
a Company has been founded at New York, to re- 
commence the culture of the formerly well-known 
Florida tobacco. The new Company seems to have 
a very sanguine opinion of the success of this under- 
taking, 
We, for our part, do not think Sumatra has any- 
thing to fear from it, because the ground is 
not so suitable as in Sumatra, and, as far as we 
know, the experiments with Sumatra seed under 
different climates have never given satisfaction. 
The soil in Florida is at a disadvantage, inasmuch 
as it is too poor to produce without fertilizers being 
added , moreover, the climate promotes the growth 
too quickly, whilst in Sumatra, Tobacco matures 
gradually, and with a normal growth, the leaves at- 
tain regular proportions. The former Flo ida Tobacco 
always showed wild, large and irregular leaves, which 
is not an advantage in manufacturing. This jear 
several new Companies were again founded for the 
cultivation of Tobacco in Sumatra, in districts not 
yet under culture, and if tbey succeed, a much larger 
import can consequently be looked for. 
The record of this year, so favourable for Sum- 
atra Tobacco, finishes with a great disaster. The 
Steamer " W. A. Scholten, " which left Rotterdam 
on Nov. 19th bound for New York, with a costly 
cargo of Tobacco, consisting of the most select 
marks of the subscription of Nov. 4th, was run 
down near Dover, causing the loss of 1,617 bales 
Sumatra Tobacco amongst which the well-known 
marks : 
DELI MAATSCHAPPIJ/A, TR/DELI, 
„— /B.DELI Ba. MIJ/ TL 
/DELI, 
„ /H, 
valued at about $ 280,000. 
The fine Tobaccos lyingin America will no doubt profit 
by this loss. The reports concerning the new Crop are 
not unfavorable, the quantity however is inferior ; but 
at present it is impossible to give any definite prediction 
of the outturn. 
S/d. Binder & Herchel. — British North Borneo Herald. 
Ceylon.— Dr. Trimen has rendered good serviceby 
the publication of a classified list of the plants, both 
native and exotic, growing in the Royal Botanic Gar- 
dens, Peradeniya, Ceylon, the two categories of plants 
being carefully distinguished. The citalogue is ar- 
ranged after the sequence aelopted by Bentham and 
