< TO OUR READERS t> 
In closing the Thirteenth Volume of the " Tropical Agriculturist," we 
would once more direct attention to the large amount of useful information aiibrded and 
to the great variety of topics treated in the several numbers. From UKjnth to month, we 
have endeavoui'ed to eml)ody in these pages the latest results of practic;il experience and 
scientific teaching in all that concerns tropical agriculture ; and our anibitiun has been 
to make our periodical not only indispensable to the planter, l)ut of service to 
business men and capitalists, never forgetting that agriculture trenches upon every 
department of human knowledge, beside being the basis of personal and communal wealth, 
While directing our attention chiefly to the products prominently mentioned on our 
title-page, Ave have always taken care to notice minor industries likely to fit in with 
sub-tropical conditions ; and our readers have an ample guarantee in the pages before them, 
that, in the future, no pains will be spared to bring together all available information both 
from the West and East, the same being examined in tlie light of the teachings of common 
sense as well as of prolonged tropical experience in this, the leading Crown and Planting- 
Colony of the British Empire. 
Special attention has, during the past year, been given to the extension of the 
planting enterprise in coft'ee, cacao and rubber in Mexico, Central and some parts of 
South America ; to the Avide field for coffee and other products in British Central, 
and by and bye in British East, Africa ; to ncAV developments in coffee in the Malayan 
Peninsula, North Borneo, Sumatra and Java, in Avhich last Dutch Dependency several Ceylon 
planters have been investing largely. 
The Tea-planting Industry has sprung into so much importance in India and Ceylon 
that a considerable amount of space is naturally given to this great staple, and we think it 
Avill l)e admitted by impartial judges that the Tropical Ag r icul f u ri s f slionld be filed, for 
ready reference, in every Tea Factory in this Island and India, 
" The Manual of Chemical Analyses " prepared by Mr. M. Cochran specially for 
the benefit of planters, and Avhich Avas begun in January 1893, cannot fail to instruct all 
Avho give it a careful persual. 
The present volume is enlivened by the Collotype Portraits and interesting 
Bio.c(raphical Notices of a number of the Pioneers connected Avith the development of 
the Planting Enterpi-ise in this island, the Avhole forming an instructive chapter in the 
history of the Colony. 
A full and accurate Index affords the means of ready reference to every subject 
treated in this, the thirteenth volume, Avhich Ave noAV place in our subscribers' hands, in full 
confidence that it Avill be received Avith an amount of approval, at least ecjual to that Avhich 
has l)een so kindly extended to its predecessors. 
We are convinced that no more suitable or useful gift can be made to the tropical 
planter or agricultuiist, whether he be about to enter on his career, or Avith many years 
of experience behind him, than the thirteen volumes of our periodical Avhich we have now 
made aA'ailable. They are full of information bearing on every department and relating 
to nearly every product within the scope of sub-tropical industry. 
In conclusion, Ave have to tender our thanks to readers and contrilmtors, and our 
Avish that all friends may continue to Avrite instructively and to read Avith approval ; for 
then, indeed, must the " Tropical Agriculturist " continue todoAvell. 
Colombo, Ceylon : ist July 1894, 
J. FERGUSON, 
