October I, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
243 
The average imports for the four years previous to 
1880 being 90,000 lbs per year. It would appear, 
therefore, that not to shortage of the erop, but to 
largely increased consumption and competition among 
importers, vying with each other in buying in 
Mexico, is due to the advance in price. In 1886 the 
total imports were valued at $422,831, or §425 per lb. 
To June 30, 1887, the value entered was $775,423, or 
$5 65 per lb. Within the last twelve months consider- 
able arrivals of Bourbon beans were offered in the 
New York market. With the price about half that of 
Mexican, it is thought they may in time prove a serious 
competitor, even although it is generally admitted the 
flavour is not nearly so fine as Mexican. The price 
of Mexican in July, 1886, ran from £5 50 to $10, ac- 
cording lo quality ; in September, $7 to $15 was 
established, closing lower, viz., $6 50 to $12. Bour- 
bon beans ranged from $4 B0 to $5 during same period. 
The export demand for Mexican Vauillocs is small. 
Shipments to June 30 in each year were : — 
lb. Value. 
1886 9,355 1886 ... §43,174 
1887 1,568 1887 ... 11,058 
France being the only buyer. The cultiva'ion of the 
Vanilla plant appears to bo progressing very satis- 
factorily in Ceylon. Vanilla beans would have been 
higher if it bad not been for the introduction of the 
artificially prepared vauilline, which takes its place to 
a considerable extent, as proved by its increasing 
importation. 
In Tonga beans the stouk of Angostura being well 
under control, the price has not varied much during 
the past twelve months. In December last a reduction 
of 10 cents to 20 cents per lb was mado on large lots. 
The jobbing price atpresent is $1 25 to $1 40, according 
to quality, a«aiust $1 35 to §1 65, same period in 1886. 
The beans grow wild in the forests of Venezuela, and 
it is said almost unlimited supplies can be collected but 
Since 1888 the collection has become a monopoly, with 
an export duty of 10 cents per lb levied by the 
Government. The crop of 1886 was the largest for a 
great number of years, being said to be over 350,000 lb. 
The following were the shipments from the poit of 
Oiudad Holivar alone for 
Gross weight, Lbs. 
1882 89,985 
1883 ' 153,138 
1884 150,681 
1885 35,325 
1886 '. 298,000 
Imports to the United States of all kinds were: 
1886 315,000 
To July 1, 1887 5,000 
— Am orica n Gtocer, 
♦ 
Till: EALUPAHANA VALLEY, LAGGALA. 
tei.c vma-OAN'oa bridge 62 BY 1£ FBKT, COSTING R150 
—EN ROUTE TO KALUPAHANI VALLEY— THE TELGAMA 
VALLEY : WEBLEYAN MISSION AND SCHOOL — THE 
OREAT NEED OF A MEDICAL DISPENSARY — MAJOR 
FORRES ON the LAOOALA DISTRICT — THE RICHEST 
PASTURE FOR GOOD MILK AND FATTENINO CATTLE IN 
CEYLON— COCONUTS AT A HIGH ELEVATION — THE KALC- 
PA1IANI AMPHITHEATRE. 
Loaving iiattanwella to visit the Kalupahana 
Valley some ton to twelve miles farther out from 
the Laggala rango, tho early morning walk down to 
the sido of the Tolgatna rivor was a caution in 
its steop roughness, but to cross tho stream we 
had tho advantage of a capital bridge orectod 
by Mr. llurnot at a very moderate cost which 
might well he takon by planters and minor road 
Pfflwn, as a model to be copied in many other 
parts of the oountry. Its superiority to tho very 
RMt wire suspension bridge cannot be questioned. 
At my request, Mr. Burnet kindly furnished a 
sketch and few notes on Telgama-oanga Bripoe, 
which the printer has ondcavourod to reproduce 
with his type as follows : — 
Sketch of 1 Beam with Supports and Tension Rod 
ol » Tuvalaiu bndgn over tho Ttlgttnft*gM>g« ul 
Managalla in tho Laggala district showing details of 
construction. 
FIFTY FEET IN LENGTH, BY 3 (?) IN WIDTH. 
aa Planks with bevelled ends of which the beam is 
built, held together by 19 pairs of bolts kk. 
bbb Cleats fixed at tho points of lowest plank in 
beum and held in place by 0 pairs of coach screws ll. 
cc Beams (resting on posts dd) on which the beam 
lie* and through ohannols cut in top of which pass 
the iron chains uu which aro secured to holdfasts 
at each end. 
oo Cleats nailed to lower surface of beam resting 
again-it cc and preventing them from bein fc ' pulled 
inwards in straining the chain. 
IKE Straining posts kept in poailiuii by Jlruts un. 
