Oct. 2, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURiST, 26?: 
These have bean arriving in smaller quantities, 
and have not had so much attention as heretofore. 
The advance in Colombo during the past three 
weeks is equivalent to as much as 15 per cent on 
teas costing 9d and under ; and, if the present rates 
continue, the trade will have to accommodate them- 
selves to a higher range of prices. 
We quote fair pekoe souchong, 7|d to 8id ; 
pekoes, 8^d to 9d ; tine pekoes, 9|d to lOJ ; broken 
pekoes, 9|d to Is 4d. 
Same 
Season period lasj 
season. 
Shipments from lb. lb. 
China to Colo- 
nies .. 1893-4 to 28 July 3,901,480 6,555.494 
Shipments from 
India to Colo- 
nies . . 1893-4 to 17 Jaly 404,244 143,237 
Shipments from 
Ceylon to Colo- 
nies ... 1893to 3rd Aug. 3,742,865 3,018,000 
Exchange.— Foochow on London, 6 months, 23 7gd. 
Calcutta on London, 6 months, Is 3Jd ; Colombo on 
London, Is 3|d. 
Fkeighis.— Foochow, 403 ; Calcutta, 40s; Colombo, 
B35. 
^ 
NORTH BORNEO DEVELOP. CORPN. 
(To the Editor of the L. and, C. Express.) 
Sir,— Aa Mr. J. G. T. Hassell, secretary of the 
above-named company, in your issue of 9th ult., doas 
not mention why it is 1 am no longer in the company's 
employ, and as inferences detrimental to me may be 
drawn from his remark, I wish it to be known that 
the company dispensed with my services for want of 
funds and their inability to keep me on, and not for 
any fault of mine, as the accompanying letter from 
Mr. Pryer shows, and that after I had done all the 
hard work in opening out and planting up their 
estates, though wuen engaged I was led to believe the 
company was in a flourishing condition, whicn sub- 
sequent events have shown they were not. 
My letter in your issue of 2nd ult. was written in 
the interest of the public in general, the shareholders, 
and of British North Borneo. 
Had Mr. Pryer the sprouting coconnts Mr. Hassell 
says he was in want oi, he would not even then be 
anywhere near the " about 1,000 acres in all under 
cultivation," as there are not more than 600 acres iu 
all of the company's land tilled, and about 150 acres 
of that not cleared. 
Time, and that in a few months, will show whether 
I or Mr. Pryer and Mr. Hassell are right with regard 
to Manila hemp and sugar. As to coconuts it is a 
far cry ; but all the same I am aware they pay in the 
end, if properly planted, not stuck about promiscu- 
ously auywuere, as has been done on the company's 
land. 
I certainly have a firm faith in coffee for Borneo, 
and that it will yet be an important coffee-growing 
country, and I sincerely trust I may yet see the 
company's land taken up for that purpose by ex- 
perienced and practical men. Ooffee will certainly 
pay if properly managed, and I state this with over 
Beventeen years' practical experience as a coffee 
planter ; and had the company and Mr. Pryer gone 
in for coffee ouly his and their "visions" of wealth 
and prosperity for the country would to a certain 
extent be justified. — Yours faithfully, 
Labuan, July 19, 1893, J. Hamilton Hunter, 
Sandakan, Dec. 27, 1892, 
My dear Hunter,— It is with consulerable regret 
that I have to tell you that at the end of three 
months from this date your services will no longer 
bo required by this company. In sending you the 
annexed three mouthw' notice of the termmatioii of 
your agreemout, while telling you that as matters 
are at present you must consider it as hnal, yet 1 
am not without liope that this company may largely 
extend ita operatious at some future time, lu which 
^aao 1 would give your application p.n9ther ou- 
gagement the first consideration. Aa to whea this 
may take place I am not in a position to say at 
present. 
I may take this opportunity of expressing my 
satisfaction of your work on the Byte and Weaton 
Jervis Estates, especially with regard to the largo 
acreage of coffee planted up there under very trying 
circumstances. — Yours very truly, 
(Signed) W, B, Prybr, Manager. 
(True Copy.) J. H. Hunter. 
NOTES ON PEODUCE AND FINANCE. 
JoHORK Tea. — A oontemporary, referring to the 
natural products of the soil of Johore, and tde means 
taken by the Sultan to develop them says :— " Especi- 
ally in regard to tea has the soil proved efficacious, 
giving it a delicious aroma and flavour that to the taste 
of many connoisseura placed it ahead of the origioal 
Assam, or the now famous Ceylon tea. The Sultan of 
.Johore is now in AmericaattSDding the Chicago Exhibi- 
tion where he has sent numerous samples of tea. It is ex- 
pected than an important market for Johore tea will be 
found in the United State?." There are a great many 
expectations about the market for tea in the United 
States, and it ia to be hoped the Sultan will not be dis- 
appointed. 
Indian Aghiculture and its Improvement. — The 
complete report of Dr. Voelok<^r on tbe beet means of 
improving Indian agriculture has been received by the 
Government of India, and forms the sul ject of d, 
circular addressed to tbe several local Governments. 
It is stated that in 1889 Dr. Voeloker was sent out by 
the Secretary of State " to advise as to the beat 
course to be adopted in order to apply the teachings 
of agricultural chemistry, and in order to effect im- 
provements in Indian agriculture," His prelitninary 
recommendations led to the appointment, in Ootobec 
last, of an agricultural chemist, nho takes the 
position of tbe expert asked for by the Government of 
India. In his detailed report. Dr. VoeJoker 
makes numetous recommendations for the im- 
provement of agriculture, many of them cov- 
ering the same ground as those of the Fa- 
mine Commission of 1880, which have been 
only partially carried into effect. The Govern- 
ment slate that they etill adhere to the principles of 
a oomprehenBive scheme base! upon the report of 
that commission, issued in 1881, but that they desire 
their chemist and tlie provincial Agricul'ural Depart- 
ments to take part in a organised system of enquiry 
before any schemes of agricultural improvement oa 
a large scale are attempted. The enquiry is to include 
a systematic analysis of soils, water, manures ; the 
collection of information relating to existir g agricul- 
tural practices throughout India, and the best means 
of improving them; andtlie consideration of the direc- 
tions in which experiments can beet be applied. In 
order to obtain a sufBoient discussion of the whole 
subject the Government have invited tbe local Govern- 
meuts to send representatives to a conference at Simla, 
to be opened on Oct. 2nd wbenthe principal proposals 
of Dr. Voelcker's report will be specially considered. 
The India Council and Silyek.— Bar silver for 
immediate delivery has been iu strong demand for 
India and China, and the price isSii J. As, however, 
indicating the course of the market in tbo iicar future 
it may be remarked that the metal was offered for 
delivery at the end of September at 33|1 and iwto 
October at 33d. Last week the India Uouncil sold 
nothing, but tliey had little opportunity, for there 
was prEctioally no demand- On Wednefday they 
offered forty lace, and more than forty lacs were ap- 
plied for at a price slightly over tbe exch'inge of tbe 
day, but they retused to allot. — H. and C. JIail, Sept. 1. 
Kew Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information for 
August has for contents ; — St. Vincent Arrowroot; 
Pulping Liberian Ooffee ; Fibre Investigations iu the 
United States ; Decades Kowonses, \1. ; Hentqnen 
Hemp in Yucatan ; Califoruian Fruit luduslrien ,- Piau^ 
iaduBtrioj iu the Caucasus; Miscellsueoua Ngitj, 
