THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[August i, 1888. 
After that there should be little hesitatioii about 
trying to grow cotton. I think you might invite 
people to go and see for themselves." The cotton, 
we should have mentioned, has been grown in 
the foundry yard of MesBrs. John Walker & Co., 
close by the harbour seaside, thra foreman in charge 
having established a hedge of the plant 1 
Mr, W. W. Mitohell we learn expects Borne 
Egyptian cotton seed by the S. S, " Goorkha" due 
tomorrow or Saturday, and the following are instruc- 
tions for those who may be inclined to try the 
cultivation : — 
Memo, relating to the Planting of Egyptian 
Cotton Seed. 
1. The cotton seed is not germinated before sowing. 
It is either planted dry into land recently watered, 
or it is soaked immediately before sowing in dry 
land which should be watered in a few days. The 
operation depends upon the nature of the land as 
known to the farmer. 
2. The land is thoroughly prepared by ploughing 
and manured when possible the manure being 
animal dung well mixed with soil, and allowed to 
rot before being put on the land. 
In the western districts of Ceylon, June and July 
would be the proper months to sow, causing the 
picking to take place from Dec. to March. 
3. Sow from middle March to end of April; if 
season is fine the earlier the better. 
4. Crop is ready 1st piokings 15th Sept. to 15th Oct. 
2nd „ 15th Oct. to 15th Nov. 
3rd „ 15th Nov. to 31st Dec. 
The exact date of pickings varies according to loca- 
lities the more north the later, there being at least 
15 days difference between the extremes of Lower 
Egypt. In Upper Egypt everything is advanced 20 
days at least on Lower Egypt. 
5. The cotton plant is an annual •' when last pick- 
ing is over the plant is pulled up. 
6. The seed is separated from the cotton by the 
Macarthy Gin. 
♦ 
INDIAN TEA COMPANIES. 
The report of the Dooars Tea Co., Ld., which 
has been recently published, states that 
The average quality of the tea showed an improve- 
ment over the manufacture of the previous year. The 
out-turn was 747,578 lb. or only 12,480 lb. less than the 
estimate, while the expenditure was well within the 
sanctioned amount. Including Sukanbari, the company 
had under tea about 3,276 acres, which would, it was 
expected, reach 3,486 acres before the end of 1888. 
The net profits for the year exhibited an increase of 
£3,642 3s lid. 
The cause of the falling-off in the outturn was a 
severe outbreak of oholera throughout the gardens, 
which seriously affected the manufacture ; and the 
plucking of coarse tea to make up quantity had, 
of course, affeoted the quality. The cost of work- 
ing was 5 annas, and the cost in London a trifle 
over 6d. The outturn for this year is estimated 
at 1,420,000 lb., at a cost of R329,000. The divi- 
dend for the year was 7 per cent. — From the 
report of the Jokai Assam Tea Co., Ld., 
It appears that the crop estimates and actuals for the 
past season show an increase of 71,727 lb. over the es- 
timate, and of 83,747 lb. over the out-turn of the pre- 
vious year. This very large increase was obtained from 
the same area, and is equivalent to 456 lb. per acre, 
against 4,111 lb. per acre yielded last season. Notwith- 
standing the necessary extra expenditure incurred in 
manufacturing, packing, and bringing to market the 
additional 800 chests, the cost of production was less 
than the estimated expenditure. The entire crop, less 
6,6811b. lost in taring, &c., being 785,046 lb. was sold 
in London, realising a gross sum of £37,795 10s 8d, or 
anaveregeper lb. of ll'65d, being a third of a penny 
less than last year's average. 
The gross profits on the working of the season 
amounted to £11,597 Is 9d, and the dividend for 
the year was 10 pec cent, 
The estimates for this year forecast a crop of 784,000 
lb. of tea for an outlay of R266 ; 650 in India, or £18,333 
at Is 4Jd rate of exchange, and of £7,800 for English 
charges, making together a total of £26,133, or an 
average cost of 8d per lb. for laying down the tea in 
London, including administration, sale charges, &c. 
— The report of the Samdang Tea Co., Ld., states that 
The quantity of tea made in 1887 was 1,300 niaunds, 
or 104,0001b. of which 1,078 maunds were obtained 
from the Samdang Garden and 222 maunds from green 
leaf purchased. The out-turn of tea from the com- 
pany's garden showed an increase of 12 per cent over 
that of the previous year, and of 28 per cent over sea- 
son 1885. The average price obtained last season was 
Is 2Jd per lb. and the cost 9fd., leaving a profit of 
4jd per lb. The estimated out-turn for the present 
season is 1,200 maunds of tea from Samdang, and 250 
maunds from purchased leaf, a total of 1,450 maunds, 
or 116,000 lb. 
The profit for the year was £1,958 Is lid, and a 
dividend of 10 per cent for the year was declared. 
— From the report of the Dejoo Tea Co., Ld., 
we learn regarding the crop for the past year that 
The quantity invoiced was 240,260 lb., showing a 
decrease of 56,494 lb. as compared with that of the 
previous season ; the gross average realised was Is 0'20d 
per lb. The cost of the crop laid down in London was 
10-14d per lb. including all charges and commissions, 
against 8|d per lb. in 1886, the increased cost being due 
to the large falling off in out-turn as mentioned above. 
This decrease was caused, firstly, by a severe attack of 
blight, which affected nearly the whole estate in the 
early part of the season ; and, secondly, by want of 
labour to take off the leaf in good time when it came 
on with a rush after the trees had recovered the effects 
of blight. This deficiency of labour was chiefly caused 
by several recruiters not returning with the coolies 
expected. The estimated crop for the current season is 
280,000 lb. and the cost laid down in London is 
estimated at about 8d per lb. 
The net profit for the year was £2,323 10s Od, 
and the dividend for the year was 5 per cent. — 
From the report of the directors of the Land 
Mortgage Bank of India we extract the following: — 
" The estimated crop of 1887 was 25,825 maunds, or 
2,066,000 lb., and the outturn was 24,614 maunds, or 
1,969,120 lb., being a shortfall on the estimate of 1,211 
maunds, or 96.880 lb., attributable to unfavourable con- 
ditions of weather and other circumstances, which 
operated principally in Darjeeling and Assam and at 
Kolabarree. The teas were laid down in London at 
9"195d per lb. being a trifle under similar cost in 1886. 
The whole of the crop has been sold at an average price 
of lid per lb. being the same average price as in 1886, 
showing a profit of £14,438 16s 4d against a profit of 
£14,831 19s lid in 1886, the difference being but trifl- 
ing, and this notwithstanding the shortfall in the crop 
of 1887, and the lower range of market values which 
prevailed generally during the season for some classes 
of tea." 
The chairman did not venture on an estimate for 
this year, but stated that an increase of 10 per 
cent had already takan place. — At the annual 
meeting of the Indian Tea Districts Association, 
the chairman spoke very hopefully of the prospects 
of Indian tea in its competition with the China 
product. He also said : — 
The question of opening a new market for tea in 
America is not advancing as rapidly as could be wished. 
Deeds have not yet taken the place of words. I will 
not say any of us are apathetic. My own colleagues, 
for instance, have signed their agreement to a money 
subscription, but on the whole more criticism is coming 
in than cash. I do not think well of the Calcutta idea 
of subscribing in kind, but would have a limited lia- 
bility company on the lines that have been laid before 
our committee. 
In reply to this, Mr. Seton said ; — 
"While a number of companies and individuals had 
given their adhesion to the project and promised sub- 
stantial support, several of the prinoipal large owners 
and companies had, before doing so, asked for details 
