February i, 1889.] TMF. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
547 
silage produced, the experiment was undoubtedly not 
a failure but a success. Oattle indeed did not eat it, 
but Mr. Lawson thinks that they would have eaten 
it if they had been made to do so. Mr. Lawson albo 
observes that cattle prefer the silage as it is taken 
out fresh from the pit and that it is better never 
to dry it in the sun. From some of the reports re- 
ceived by the Board, however, it appears that cattle 
refused the silate when taken out fresh from the pit, 
but ufter exposure to the sun for a short lime they 
ate it greedily, it is perhaps best to offer the silage 
fresh to cattle, and if they refuse it altogether, then 
to give it with a small quantity of palmyra jaggery 
or to expose it to the sun for a few minutes. Much 
must depend on the tact and resouroes of the officer 
conducting the experiment. As regards Mr. Johnson's 
experiment, he himself observes that the grass was 
too ripe when lie used it, and this circumstance 
accounts for his failure. Mr. Lawson thinks that Mr. 
Goodrich's silos were not of the propor dimensions, 
and the lucerne wliich he used was too succulent to 
>'p harvested done and that it should have been 
mixed with some moie wiry fodder. 
Grants have been sanctioned by the Government and 
the Board for repeating the experiments in the cum ut 
year, and the Board hope ro-ults will be even more 
satisfactory than they were last year. In the mean- 
time the Hoard would suggest that Mr. Lawso. n ay 
be requested to draw up a set of simple instructions, 
b.ised uu approved authorities aud the results of the 
experience gained during the past year. These instruc- 
tions will be translated and published in the District 
Gazettes and circulated as widely as possible, '.vith a 
brief account of the experiments now reporte I upon. 
The Government regarded the resultb attained as, on 
the whole, very fairly satisfactory, and they added : — 
The success which attended the experiments umde 
by Messrs. Nicholson and Duniergue add one or two 
other officers shows, in the opinion of Government, 
that it is quite possible, with^ sufficient attention, to 
turn out silage of good quality which will be readily 
eaten by domestic animals. The Government are in- 
clined to think that the want of such attention has, 
in more than one instance, been the cause of the 
failures. 
The Board should take care that further experiments 
are entrusted only to officer* who are likely to carry 
them out in a kareful and intelligent manner. 
It would be interesting if eaoh officer who conducted 
experiments could give financial results, i, «., the 
quantity of silage made and the cost of making it. 
Mr. Lawson will, as suggested by the Board, be 
requested to draw up a sot of simple instructions. 
WYNAAD I'LANTEES' ASSOCIATION. 
Bktrtotl from proceedings of a general mooting, Janu- 
ary and, Mr. Jowitt in the chair :— 
BotTSN's Battiiiiy Kkskiivks.— Mr. 0. A. Mackenzie 
drew attention to the nngnilicent acreage between 
'he I iramagherries and Sultan's Battery, which would 
probably grow as fine cotfee as that' in South 
Ooorg, now held as Potest Reserves by Government, 
lie .idve.l that a committee composed of Messrs. 
Jowitt, Lamb, C. A. Mackenzie, Walker, and Hono- 
rary Secretary bo appointed to draw up a memorial 
to Government pointing out that the rainfall and forest 
operatidiiB could not possibly be injured by throwing 
open these reserves, while a permanent industry would 
probably be created, which would alford most congenial 
employment- to large members nf the overcrowded 
peasantry of India for whom it is so tioccssarv tofind 
an outlet. 
OOVTBH PHHTOHTS.— Head the following letter from 
Me sr*. Andrew .< V,.,. Agents for the British India 
Stnarn Navigation Co. which, it was resolved should be 
primed ; — 
Dome ( ime 1S88-S0, and am, TnitouaK Snip- 
MFST.M IO LONIKJN lull C0MINO KKADoN.— The Hoot. 
er. Wyuaad Haulers' AHMH-iation, \ a\ it ri — Dear Sir, 
— Wo aro prepared to contract for above at the mi- 
exceptionally rate of 30/ per ton, Bombay tonnage 
scale, which includes coffee at 14 cwts to the ton, 
and whioh is equal to 38/7 per of 18 cwts for coffee, 
aud 37/6 for measurement goods coast scale, but 
not including tea which is 40/ Bombay scale. The 
cargo will be transhipped to steamers of the P. &0. 
S. N. Oo. aud the advantages offeied are, frequent 
opportunities of shipment and speedy delivery at 
London at a cheap rate of freight, thus affording a 
saving in interest and quick returns. 
SUGAE AND COFFEE PLANTING IN JAVA. 
(From the L. and O. Express, Jan. 4th.) 
Amsterdam, Jan. 2. 
According to the annual report of the Colonial Bank 
for 1887-88, the bank continued its relations with 
thirty-six agricultural undertakings and granted work- 
ing capital to fcwei ty-six of them. Of five under- 
takings the production was received without giving 
advances. To five undertakings working capital was 
granted for account of others, and shipments were 
effected by the bank's agents. To the first sort of 
undertaking belong 9 for sugar, 10 for coffee, 2 for 
cinchona and coffee, 2 for indigo, and 2 for wood 
cutting; to the second sort belong 2 sugar manu- 
factories, 1 coffee land, and 2 Indigo undertakings; and 
to the third sort 1 coffee land, and 1 indigo under- 
takings. With 8 of the 9 sugar manufactories the 
bank w s already in relation in former years, and 
of the ninth tha production was received in the course 
of this year. The bank has 2-5th share in a sugar 
manufactory, which appeared in the books for 
fl.200,000, but this amount has been reduced later on 
by fl. 102,5 Is. The result of' this undertaking during 
1887 wove very favourable, 104 piculs of sugar being 
harvested ; or bo'uyv at a cost price of fd.690* per 
picul. Uousidc in^ the quantity of the crops of 
the eight augur manufactories, the average cost price 
was fl.6.77 per picul of sugar, or fl.7.42* for No. 14. 
The average sale price was fl. 8.081 per picul, or 
fl.8.74 for No. 14, for showing a profit of A.1.31J, making 
on 311,447 piouls sugar (being the production of eight 
undertakings) fl.409,502. The interest on the capitaf 
debt is not included in this calculation. In conse- 
quence of the sereh disease the crops of three of the 
undertakings were such smaller. Effective measures 
aro practised, and the directors trnst that the conse- 
quences of the disease may be limited in this way, 
that the result of these manufactories may still be 
remunerative. The coffee estates produced 5,014 
piculs washed coffee, aud 8,935 pieula m parchment. 
On two estates there are 180,000 cinchona trees. 
Disease of the leaves only appeared to a small ex- 
tent. The profit on iuterest, commission, and doubtful 
debtors ia fl.603,410, less expenditure 11.191,505, aud 
writing off on one sugar undertaking tl. 102,548, 
balance fl.246,356. 
This amount, tho directors observe, could be oarried 
to tho account for writing off, but this has not been 
done, as the directors will not allow that the debt ia 
increasod by those undertakings whicti are already 
under hoavy financial burdens, and of which the 
debt would reach in tho books the amount of 
fl.829,477; being fl. 251, 107 for sugar and fl.78,310 for 
coffee. The directors, therefore, have taken U.S3120 
from the account for writing off, by which the total 
amount written off on agricultural undertakings ia 
(1.492,026, The balance of the profit and loss account 
of tho head agency ia fl.191,755. 
Java securities havo all shown a considerable im- 
provement in price*. During tho past year some of 
thom, as the Trading Company llaudels Vereon 
Amsterdam paid largo dividends, aud others did tho 
same, though on a moro moderate scalo. All of 
them seem to havo favourable prospects, and especially 
those with whieh coffee cultivation is the chief bn-i 
ness. Several newly-established at mpaiiics umde an 
appeal on the Money Market which they found there 
on behalf of undertakings for cotfoo and cinchona 
cultivation. 
