124 
ttft TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [August t, 1888. 
Sumatra tobacco has been experimented with 
for cultivation purposes in Virgipica, The 
plants look well and yield fifteen leaves 
each on an average. The outturn is expected to 
be 300 pounds an acre. 
Tobacco growing in Deli, profitable as it is, brings 
no end of trouble to the planters. They have to 
count upon incendiarism as an element of danger 
to guard against. The Battacks who inhabit the 
inland country take readily to fire raising to pay 
off any grudge they may against the planters. On 
the Arnhemia estate, recently, this form of revenge 
has taken such an alarming shape that the neigh- 
oouring planters feel uneasy and are preparing for 
the worst. Fire raising has ever been a formidable 
weapon in the hands of aggrieved natives. 
The shipment of the tobacco crop from Deli has 
this year been later than ever. Half of last year's 
outturn had not been shipped by May last. Plan- 
ters, so it seems object to be first in the market on 
the ground that low prices may be expected early 
in the season. Hence they put off forwarding their 
produce as long as possible. 
THE OMENTAL BANK ESTATES COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 
We have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr. 
Charles Grant, pro tem. agent, of a copy of report 
and balance sheet of this Company which was to 
be submitted to a meeting of shareholders on the 
25th ultimo. We quote as follows : — 
The Directors have much pleasure in submitting 
to the Shareholders their Second Annual Keport, 
with the audited accounts, showing the continued 
satisfactory progress of the Company, notwithstand- 
ing the severe drought which prevailed iu Ceylon 
during a considerable part of the year. 
The net profit for the year to 31st March, 1888, 
amounts to £25,841 Os 8d, (including £2,191 brought 
forward), as against £17,398 4s 8d last year. An In- 
terim Dividend on the paid-up capital of the Com- 
pany at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum on the 
Preferred and 5 per cent per annum on the Ordinary 
Shares for the half-year ended 30th Septem- 
ber, 1887, was paid in February last, and the Direc- 
tors now recommend a further dividend at the rate 
of 7 per cent, per annum on the issued Preferred 
Shares, and at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on 
the Ordinary Shares, in proportion to the capital paid 
up thereon, for the half-year ended, 31st March, 1888, 
payable on the 1st August, 1888, at the London 
Office of the Company's Bankers, the New Oriental 
Bank Corporation, Limited. 
During the past year, besides valuable cocoa estates, 
a few additional minor estates have been purchased on 
behalf of the Company, which form important adjuncts, 
whether for the supply of fuel or otherwise, to the 
property already acquired. Tbe large tea extensions 
in Ceylon, already made, are gradually coming into 
bearing, and the erection and enlargement of factories 
and equipment of machinery now necessary has been 
effected. The condition of our Mauritius Estates is 
reported excellent, the Britannia Estate especially 
has been materially improved, and the prospects for 
the coming year are reported to be unusually favourable. 
Tinder the provisions of the Company's Articles of 
Association the Board have appointed two of their 
number — Mr. Alex. William Crichton and BIr. William 
Cotton Kohde — to be Managing Directors, feeling 
that it is desirable that these gentlemen should be in 
aposition to continue to give their constant attention 
to the interests of the Company, and they propose 
that the remuneration of a Managing Director be 
fixed at the sum of £500 per annum. As Managing 
Directors of this Company are not entitled to accept 
their remuneration as ordinary Directors, this will no 
longer be charged to the Company, and thus the in- 
crease of animal expense from the appointment of 
Managing Directors will not exceed £500 so long as 
the Board remains at its present strength. 
Balance Sheet 'io 31sr Maech 1888. 
Dr. Liabilities. 
Paid-up Capital — £ s. d. 
226,3152 Ordy. Share £1 each fully paid 2iG,3U2 0 0 
1,000 „ £\ „ part paid 155 0 0 
40,002 Pre. „ £5 ,, fully paid 204,510 0 0 
£131,027 0 0 
Suudry Creditors — 
Acceptances ... ... 
Accounts Payable 
Balance (as per profit and loss account). 
Assets. 
c . 
Prime cost of estates, claims, shares, 41c. 
acquired by the CompaDy ... 
Less recoveries, &c. 
Stock of sugar in hand 
Slock of tea, cinchona, cocoa, coffee, and 
cardamoms iu hand 
Office Furniture, stationery, &c. 
Sundry accounts receivable ... 
Suspense account — 
Balance brought forward £5,000 0 0 
Additional stamps on 
Warrants ... 1,773 6 0 
12,192 
70.4H8 
13,033 
io a 
7 4 
14 2 
£556,751 12 2 
£ s. d. 
567,167 
156.255 
£110 
22 
,91 1 
681 
032 
322 
880 
1 8 
17 7 
1 8 
2 « 
12 8 
Less written off 
Cash in hand 
£6,773 6 0 
2,773 6 0 
4,000 
3,923 
0 U 
16 1 
£556,751 12 2 
1888. 
Promt, and Loss Account to 31st Maech 
Dr. 
To Expenditure — £ s. d. 
Upkeep of estates and charges in Ceylon, 
Mauritius and London (including amount 
written off suspense account and allow- 
ance for description on machinery and 
buildings ... ... ... 89, 008 0 7 
Interim dividend for half-year paid in Feb. 
1888 ... ... ... ... 12,807 6 6 
Balance ... ... ... ... 13,0X3 14 2 
Or. 
By income : — 
Balance of protit from last account after 
payment of the dividend 
Proceeds of produce sold to 
31st March 1888 £57,381 0 2 
Produce in hand estimated 
to realize net ... 42,713 19 3 
£115,749 10 3 
2,101 0 0 
Balance of interest, Commission, &c. 
100 
13 
,o;a 
,463 
10 5 
10 10 
£115,740 10 3 
Estates in Ceylon and Mauritius : the Property of 
the Company. 
Ceylon. — Bellwood, Oraigie Lea, Dangkaude, Darra- 
wella, Delmar, Dene, Dodangalla, Donoughmore, For- 
est Creek, Glen DevoD, Havilland, Haddington, He- 
negabawelle, Huuugalla, Kondesalle, Kudaoya, Liudu- 
patina, Lonmay, Loolecondura, Mahaberiatenne, Ma- 
hawatte, Naranghena, Newmarket, Nilloomally 3 iths, 
Sinnapittia, Stellenberg, St. Coombs, Summerhil), 
Waloya, and Wattewella. 
Total acreage 12,953 acres, under tea 4,129 acres, 
under coffee 637 acres, under cocoa 604 acres, under 
cinchona 1,158 acres, under cardamoms 80acres, grass, 
forest, &c. G,345 acres. 
Mauritius. — Britannia, Cent Gaulettes, acreage 
3,547 acres. The Company is also interested in the fol- 
lowing estates : — Beau Sejour, Constance, La Paix, Mon 
Ohoix, Mon Songe, Mont Pitou, Bon Air, Highlands 
and Combo, acreage 9,572 acres. 
Wuather in Jamaica. — Mr. W. Sabonadiere, 
writing at end of June, says: — "We seem quite 
to have had your weather : dry from December to 
middle of April, then had little monsoon ; still un- 
settled now." 
