February i 1889.] THF. TROPICAL. AGRICULTURIST. 
TOBACCO PLANTING 
Pin. bonn j Intention, East Ooast, Demerara, Bi itish 
Guiana, S, A, November 24th 1888. 
Dkar Snt, — In several of the later issues of the T. A. 
I have Been such enticing references to the exceedingly 
profitable growth and curing of the well-known Sumatra 
tobacco, at Deli, that it has made me very curious to 
know more about it ; will you therefore be kind 
enough to answer me the following questions, and if 
possible to let mo have :i copy of the handbook relat- 
ing to the place which I fancy I have seen referred to 
in your paper. 1. How far the tobacco district is 
fid. >i the nearest availuhle seaport, and whether 
transportation is easy and relatively cheap ? 
2. The probable cost, in detail, of opening up an 
estate, for the purpose of growing tobacco, say of 
from 50 to 100 acres, whether the crops begin to pay 
during the first 12 mouths, and the usual clearance 
abovo working coat per aero per annum ? 
:i. The labour question — Malays are probably 
e mployed 'i Whence obtainable and whether hard to 
obtain, what the average wages are, and whether such 
wages include rations? 
f. Whether the land is cultivated by horse plough or 
hand Tork ? 
5. Whether the necessary agricultural implements 
inust be imported or are obtainable on the spot? 
6. Whether the land is drained artificially or 
naturally. 
7. The direct route from London, via Colombo or 
Singapore. 
Faithfully yours. 
0. MlTFOBD SURCIESS. 
Mr. SugeSB will be booked for a copy of our Manual 
" All about Tobacco " in which he will find many of his 
requirements met; but we reprint his letter in order to 
attract the attention of our Correspondent (A.F.)in 
Sumatra who may notice the questions. — Ed. T. A,] 
THE HAST P.OKNEO PLANTING Co., LIMITED. 
Bbe following report has been circulated among 
the shareholders of this Oomp&ny, the first meeting 
ot which is to b« held at the Hongkong Hotel on 
the 99tfa inst. 
Sandakan, 18th October, 1888. 
2b ilestri. E. E. tlbrahamson if Co., Managing 
.1 n itt s/ the East Hnrnto Planting Co., Limited, 
Sandakan, 
Dkaii Sins, — Herewith I have the honour to inform 
you that, after my inspection of the laud situated ou 
the riinabataugau Itivor commencing at Kanipong 
Mclapi ami belonging to your company, 1 am convinced 
thai the soil of said laud is suitable for tobacco, and 
if the rainy seasons occur at the proper time there 
may bo expected a good tol»eeoo crop on your estates 
there. 
During the five years I was planting in Deli on 
the same kind of soil as I Rod on your land, I bad 
very good success ou it; tin- Boil consists of 'humus' 
about two inches thick, with whitish clay below it. 
D is vciv convenient that steam launches cau come 
up the Kinabatangan Kiver and up to the place I 
BID Opening for your Company, as that the great 
expense oi making roads to the i>ea has not to he 
incurred. 
1 believe that the population, which is not very 
large, may, by good treatment, become of great assist- 
ance in cutting jungle, making ataps, etc. 
It deems tleil the place is healthy enough for the 
coolies, as there is good drinking water to he had on 
the place and the land is high and dry. 
In conclusion I nifty add that with tho large labour 
FOrCe already on the estato we should be reudy to 
plant us anon as tho MMOD puts in and he ready to 
receive the Ohiuese coolies in themiddlo of January, 
laSll l remain, De >r Sirs, Yours faithfully, (Signed) 
I lis Kuril .st .\Uimner East llornoo l'lantmg 
Co., Limited * Estate.— i>tr,ut$ Timet. 
SUMATRA TOBACCO CROP, 
Review of the imports and proceeds of Sumatra 
Tobacco 
from the beginning of the cultivation; — 
AvGrc^o 
Prooeed 
Crop. 
Bales 
pricB About 
about 
1865 
189 
c 140 
f 10,000 
1 800 
174 
c 113 
£ :io,000 
1867 
224 
c70 
f 20,000 
18G8 
890 
c 142 
f 200,0' Kl 
1869 
1,381 
cl29 
f 250,000 
1870 
3,1 14 
c 122 
f 500.000 
1S71 
3,922 
c 137 
f 760,000 
1872 
0,409 
ol32 
f 1,000,000 
1873 
9,238 
c 182 
f 2,500,001) 
1874 
12,895 
c 160 
f 2 860,000 
1875 
15,355 
el70 
t 3 S»00,< i( l( I 
1H7G 
29,034 
c 152 
f 6.5001000 
1877 
36 517 
0 126 
f ( ; wi k hi ii ii 1 
I < >,cv niA M hi 
1878 
48.545 
o 126 
f 9,200,000 
1879 
57,59(1 
c 117 
f 10.350,000 
1880 
64,965 
c 112^ - 
1 11, 2511,1100 
1881 
82,356 
cll5 
f 14,750 000 
1882 
102,047 
C 137*: - 
f 21,500,000 
1883 
93,533 
c 133§ - 
f 19,150,000 
•1884 
- 125,496 
c 144J - 
f 27.550,000 
1885 
- 124,911 
cl41i - 
f 26,975,000 
tl886 
- 139,512 
o 154 
f 32,600,000 
1887 
- 144,400 
c 120| - 
f 26,650,000 
Annual review of the 
The following quantity 
1887 
has 
crop of Sumatra Tobacco, 
arrived : — 
At From 
Amsterdam Deli 
Lankat 
Serdang 
Padang 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Rotterdam 
Do 
Do 
Bremen 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Batoe Bahra 
Bedagei 
Pagoerawan 
Beugkalis 
Deli 
Padang 
Bedagei 
Deli 
Lankat 
Batoe Bahra 
Bedagei 
I'agoerawau 
Asahan 
Bilah 
Bales 
68,071 
32,047 
19,742 
1,580 
2,649 
1,475 
815 
36 
9,560 
820 
2,729 
295 
30 
479 
523 
734 
2,547 
278 
Average 
price about 
c 126* f 
c 125} 
c95 
c81 
c 62 
c864 
c 84i 
c34 
cl62} 
c 122i 
cl07£ 
c 371 
c30.\ 
c 108j 
c I l.s; 
c 102} 
c 105 
c50 
Proceeds 
about 
13,095,000 
f 6,146,000 
f 2,850,000 
f 196,000 
f 250,000 
f 195,000 
f 106,000 
f 2,000 
f 2,450,000 
f 157,000 
f 172.000 
f 16,600 
f 1,400, 
f 78,000 
f 94.000 
f 114,000 
f 406,000 
f 21,000 
Total 144,400 o 120} f 26,650,000 
Unsold: — At Amsterdam, 6,659 hales; at Rotterdam, 
1,082 bales; at Bremen, 271 bales. At Amsterdam 
lol hales are expected. — London and China Etprtss. 
HIGH AND LOW-GRADE CINCHONA. 
The editorial remarks iu our issue of November 10 
regardiug the buyers of high-aud low-class cinchona 
bark at recent Loudon auctions have apparently been 
appreciated in various Wftya by different purchasers. 
Messrs. dimmer & Co., of Fraokfort-on-Maine, for 
instance, upon the receipt ot our journal containing 
the article in question, sent us a complimentary 
telegram, conveying their thanks for what they termed 
our " able ami conscientious article." Mr. Thomas 
Whitreu, on the other hand, asserts that our figures, 
so far as his firm is concerned, appear to him incorrect, 
inasmuch as ho purchased a much greater number of 
packages than we gave him credit for. Mr. Whiffen 
has handed us, by way of pieces de conviction, bis con- 
tracts of the last two auctions, from which it appears 
that ou November (> he purchased one hundred and 
' Iu the i 'up.., t, I quantity of 1881 are included 
13*388 bales lost by the Teucor. 
t In the imported quantity of !»»•; are inciudid 
881 bales lost In the Oder. 
