126 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [August i, 1888. 
duction of coffee in the Brazils, and this will 
mean a rise in price in all the European markets ; 
surely it will in one way be better lor the Brazilian 
planter himself to have less coffee at a well paying 
price, than an overplus wherewith to swamp the 
market. We must, of course, have a little patience 
before the full effects of the emancipation in 
Brazil can be fully realized ; meanwhile it will be a 
good plan for these of my old friends in Ceylon 
who still have coffee fields to nurse and manure 
tbem and do their best to keep them in bearing, 
and when tea and other growths predominate, per- 
haps leaf disease and green bug may disappear. 
I must now congratulate you, the Uva planters, and 
the inhabitants generally of the old principality, that 
the extension of the railway to Haputale i is at length 
sanctioned : certainly the Observer has fought the 
battle most manfully and persistently, I sincerely 
congratulate you on this happy event, and am 
sure it will tend to the further restoration of 
prosperity in the dear old island where I have 
spent very many happy years. Would that we 
had such facilities of transport: even a good cart 
road from here to Gordon Town, our present 
cart terminus, would be an immense boon, but 
there is not the least chance of our ever getting 
it, so we must be content to go on in the old 
groove : even as they now do about coffee pulpers, 
using the same old-fashioned machine Laborie 
had on his estate some 100 years ago. Our own 
railway scheme of extension is again in abeyance 
until the Council next meets, but I doubt 
much whether it will be sanctioned ; perhaps 
it may be commerced in short sections, not but 
that with a Government guarantee the money 
would be oversubscribed at 4 per cent interest. 
Though the railway would do us Blue Mountain 
coffee planters no good, 1 should be the last to 
veto it, as I believe it would indirectly benefit 
the whole island immensely, and enable our low- 
country brother planters to compete successfully 
with other sugar and fruit-growing countries, and 
also enable " pen" keepers to send their cattle 
and airy produce to market, and cheapen living 
generally. 
I have read with much interest the letter 
on Ceylon which appeared in the London Times 
of 3rd March, and also your comments 
thereupon, and as it alludes to subjects 
which are now burning topics with our community, 
tuch subjects as railway extension, enlargement 
of elected members of the Council, extension of 
franchise, import duties, and taxes direct and in- 
direct, I have sent copies to the Gleaner and hope 
they will be published. The late session of our 
Council as regards the Bill for the re-adjustment 
of the tariff ended in a fiasco : this bill, it was 
said, was drafted by two of the elected members 
at the suggestion of Government, all went smoothly 
at first, new import duties, raising most of them 
from the present \2\ to 25 per cent, and a tem- 
porary law was passed making these new duties 
at once leviable, so as to prevent people rushing 
in their rums and other commodities to escape the 
enhanced tax, the shopkeepers stuck on additional 
prices on the goods that had paid the old duty, 
and, as you may well suppose, there was a general 
outcry at such sharp practice. But not until the 
vexed question of the land tax came upon the 
"tapis" did the collapse eventuate. It was pro- 
posed to tax all lands held by whites, browns, or 
blacks at the rate of Is an acre for the first 100 
acrep, Od an acre for the next 400 acres, and Is 2d 
an aero for the balance: this would be most un- 
popular and will never become law, still if the 
Government must have the money to balance their 
Budget, and to carry out certain reforms such as 
penny postage, increase of schools, extension of 
railway, bridging dangerous rivers, and other much 
needed improvements, a moderate and reasonable 
land tax would not meet with opposition, say one 
shilling an acre on cultivated land, and Is 2d an 
acre on all useless and uncultivated land as at 
present, a certain rate for pens and pimento pro- 
perties ; it would be as unfair to make " quasbie " 
on his 10 or 20 acres pay one shilling on the 
whole when, perhaps, be only cultivated two or 
three, as to make the planter and large proprietor 
pay Is an acre on his 1 ,000 or more, 100 or 200 
of which were only cultivated. 
Our Governor has gone home on short leave, 
the senior military officer, Colonel Justice, is 
acting, not the Colonial Secretary, as in Ceylon. 
W. S. 
4. 
DRUG TRADE REPORT. 
London, July 12th. 
Annatto. — It is very doubtful whether the present 
prices will induce shippers to send us any further sup- 
plies. One parcel of fair Ceylon seed sold at Id per lb. 
Brazilian roll neglected; lid per lb. would now be 
taken for some lots which have been offered repeatedly. 
Cardamoms. — Altogether 184 packages were offered 
for sale today, but the proportion sold was smaller than 
usual, several holders preferring to keep back their 
parcels at rates above those now current. Prices were 
somewhat irregular, as usual, but ou the whole very 
steady, with ateudency upwards. 
Cinchona. — The usual assortment of South Atrerican 
barks was offered today, and showed no special features. 
Crown bark seemed rather dearer, lOd being paid for 
fair thin rusty M. O. Z. quill. Ten bales cultivated 
Calisaya iu thin flat pieces, rather dark, were bought in 
at Is 6d per lb. Several packages ordinary very dusty 
flat red bark are in the market at Is 3d to 3s 3d per lb. 
according to quality. Another parcel of 88 bales flat 
Calisaya bark, very broken, was bought in at 2s 2d per 
lb., only two damaged lots selling at Is 9d per lb. 
Goto Bark.— Five bales (about § ton) true coto, of 
cinnamon-like odour and pungent taste, recently im- 
ported from Bolivia, but rather sea-damaged in transit, 
were bought in at Is 9d per lb., no bid being made at 
auction. There has been none of this bark offered for 
sometime. Some years ago it came into repute as a 
specific for Asiatic cholera, and the demand for it 
brought into the market a substitute — para-coto bark — 
which, however, differs from the true bark in having a 
much less pungent taste aud an odour of nutmeg in- 
stead of cinnamon. 
Oils (Essential). — Star anise quiet, and since the 
recent sale, when 6s od per lb. was reported paid, no 
further business has transpired. Oil from Russian seed 
is cbeap at present, and may possibly advance consequent 
upon the improvement in the .Russian exchange. Bitter 
almond oil is scarce and dear, and higher prices may 
shortly rule, on account of the growing scarcity of the 
crude material. Good Cujuput oil was bought in today 
at 2s 4d. Cinnamon oil quiet. Ordinary quality may 
be had at 8d per oz., but for fine strong oil 2s per oz. 
is asked. The Ceylon shipments (including leaf oil) 
from October 1st to June 14th are: 1887-8, 107,293 
oz.; 1886-7, 52,505 oz.; 1836-6, 89,248 oz. (Jitrone.Ua 
neglected at Jd to 15-16thd. for native brands. The 
Ceylon exports are enormously heavy. Lavender is 
becoming- more and more scarce iu France. Lignaloes 
(Mexican) : 26 10-lb. tins taken out at today 's auctions. 
Otto of Hose, the crop has not been quiet so large as 
last year's as regards quantity, but the quality is said 
to be fine. Prices have not been fixed yet. Peppermint. — 
Japan quiet. American HGH quoted at 12s 9d, and 
firm threat. At auction today 40cases were shown, but 
bought in, and 9 cases common "Newark, Wayne Co." 
bulk oil were also bought in at 9s Gdperlb. 
Patchouly Leaves. — Considerable quantities have 
arrived lately, and several lots rather common leaves 
were offered today's auctions. For one of these of 13 
t ales greenish leaves, without 6talk, but of peculiar 
apptaranoe, 6d per lb. was suggested.' 
