March i, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
633 
time to be mentioned iu the report. It would appear 
ia the curreut year's accounts and while he was 
aware the shsrebolders present concurred ii tliis 
policy, the Company would have the opportunity 
of confirming this decision at the next meeting. The 
balance oarrifd forward thus curtailttd would exceed 
RIO, 000. The roasin for dtclaring a divideud 
of 25 per cent and a bonus of 5 per cent 
instead of a dividend of 30 per cent waa that 
the directors hoped to see dividenfls cf 25 
per cent maintained, bnt not more, and if there 
should be more aviilahle it was deemed better to 
regard it as extraneous to the dividend, otherwise 
there might bo disappointment when iu an nn- 
avorablo year the returns fdU short. The bonus 
therefore should be regarded as exceptional. He 
was glad to be able to say that the labor force 
was aniplo, and that coist advances had btien 
reduced to R8 per head, which was a modei'ate 
captation for the district. There had been 
virulent fever throughout ICegalle last season, anl 
thoaKh it was likely to cost the company railier more 
the directors and superintf ndeut were arranging 
for a resident dispenser (tor wbon a house was 
being built) a neighbonring estate sharing ia the 
expense. The average of leaf pluokod per cooly 
had improved on the year by nearly § lb. leaf. 
The factory outturn was J lb. per cooly less than 
in 1892. Besides the addiiions to the machinery 
reported there had been iron troughing and eilt 
boxes supplied for water c:)nrae, and a Jam is 
under ooubtruction to collect w-iter a*^ night, which 
is now wasted, though badly wanted. Further 15 per 
cent had been written off the Now Oriental Biuk 
Corporation debt, in the expectancy of receiving 
ullimately R6 per RIO. The capital account per 
acre ha'i increased by R7 per acre to R286, due to more 
maohii ery. Ample provision is made for depreciation 
on the ium of K12,8-19, and this provision is R2,500 
less than in 1892. The estate had been supplied 
throughout with basket plants, and no more of this 
would be at'.empted in the old tea, In regard to 1894, 
the estimated crop is 765 lb per acre off the increa-ed 
area of 700 acres 70 to 80 acres new clearings are 
contemplated, of which 30 acres cleared. 51 acres bad 
been purchased, and the purchase of 50 acres more 
was arranged ; so that the total acreage would be about 
1,050 acres. The rates for rice transport 
this year have been reduced. The estimated 
outlay on capital amount for the year is 
nearly R15,000, which justifies the reserve fund. 
The number of shareholders is 41, and the la.-t price 
paid for the shares in R287'50, which may be 
regarded aa equivalent to R778 per acre culti- 
vated. The Directors had considered the advi- 
eability of planting cocoa, and it had now been 
decided to acquire, if possible, a small reserva- 
tion for experimental planting, and it was hoped 
that nearly 25 acres might be set out, which would 
be sufficient to test the question, and hereafter it 
might be determined to invest the reserve fund in 
Buch cultivation. 
Mr. J. A, Marti.\ proposed that a dividend of 
R12'50 per share for the half-year ended December 
31st, 1893 ; (making with the interim dividend of 
R12'50 per share paid on August 1893) 25 per cent 
ioi the year 1893, and a bonus of E.5 per share, 
or 5 per cent for the year 1893, be declared and 
made payable on Fobruary 23r.l, 1894. Mr. A Oiighard 
seconded, and it was carried. 
Mr. J A Waiitin proposed that Mr, John Helps 
Starey, who retired by rotatiou. be re-el(cted. Mr. 
J R Fairweatuek seconded, und it was carried, 
Mr. C M GwATKiN proposed that Mr. John 
Guthrie be re-elected auilitor at a fee of RlOO per 
uuuuni. Mr. J A Mautin seconded, and it was 
carried. 
Mr. A, Ohchakd proposed a vote of thanks to the 
Boanl auU officers, and especially to the snperin- 
toiident of estati'B, Mr, J. R. Fairweathee. Seconded 
by iit.J.A. Marti-N and earned. 
The u-ual vote of tbauka to the Chairinau was then 
tendareJ. 
PASSARA PL.\NTING PRODUCTS. 
Tea is becoming more and more the staple of the 
district. The cultivation steadily increases and pro- 
mises to give'good and regular returns. The yield per 
acre is excellent, quite equal to that from any other up- 
country district, while prices have been quite satis- 
factory. There is a lar^e acreage available for tea still 
untouched, and if the market remains fairly firm and 
silver steadv. tea cultivation iu the district will 
rapidly develcpe. Statistics were collected of the esti- 
mated yield for 1894 and the total yield was 1,700,000'b. 
from 7,400 acres of all ages. 
Coffee on the contrary is fast disappearing, though 
3,366 acres are still shown as under that product. 
Your Committee can hold out no reasonable hopes 
of any revival : green bug has firm hold of the few 
remaining fields and even high cultivation is found 
powerless to combat this pest successfully. 
Cinchona is almost a thing of the past; no healthy 
fields remain and the few estates that have any 
left growing in tea or coffee are rapidly removing 
it to make rooms for a more paying product. 
Cacao however, is rapidly coming to the front 
about 1,000 acres being under that cultivation, 
Monaragala especially having proved itself admir- 
ably suited to that product. The fields are regular 
and well grown, and compare favorably both in 
appearance and yield with any in the country. 
Crops for the past year have been most satisfactory 
and have realized very full rates. Considerable 
clearings have just been completed and there are 
prospects of very large extensions during 1894, 
Your Committee are of opinion that there is a very 
great future before the lower parts of this district, 
both in this product and also in Liberiau coffee; 
• ♦ 
EXHIBITION OP VICrORlAN PRODUCTS. 
The !eshibition of these products took place at the 
premises of the Wharf & Warehouse Company at 
Leyden Bastion on the 16th Feb. The products were 
neatly arranged upon four lengthy tables, one being 
devoted to wines from a nuoaber of leading vine- 
yards in the colony, another brandy, alee, and 
seasoned timber. On the other two tables pre- 
served meats, jams, sweet biscuits, forage, corn 
cake, soaps, &a, were attractively arranged. All the 
various produots were shown in their original 
paokages. and were without exoeption neatly de- 
signed and labelled, while for handiness, for 
transport purposes quite equal to what is used with 
European or Amerioan similar foods. Besides 
being exhibited under their original ooverinss, 
opportunity was afforded to visitors to practically 
test or sample the goods. For this purpose Mr. 
Raden of the G. O. H. . arranged to serve a 
lunoheoQ on a table placed at the head of theothere, 
and a large number of the oflSoial, mercantile and 
the general community availed themselves of 
the opportunity thus afforded. 
The Exhibition was opened by His Escellenc7 Sir 
Arthur Havelock, Governor of the Colony, who was 
acoompauied by Mr. Ogilvy, P, S. Besides His 
Exoellency the following gentlemen were present ; — 
Hon. 0. P. Layard, Attorney-General ; Hon, B. 
Beid, Principal Collector of Customs ; Hon. R, K. 
MacBride, Director of Public Works : Hofl. J. J. 
Grinlinton, Chicago Commissioner ; Hon. W. W. 
Mitchell, Mercantile Representative ; Hon. L. 
H. Kelly, Planting il9preaentativa ; Mpsars. 
W. T. Pearce, General Manager, G. G. R. ; W. L. 
Crawford, Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary ; 
Lieut. Col, Surgeon Maturin, and Mrs. Maturin ; 
Messrs. Pole Fletcher, Assistant Chicago Ooiiimia- 
sioner ; Geo. Wall, Editor, " Indepcuiient" ; V. 
Booth, Manager, Wharf and Warehouse Oompany ; 
S. Bowloy, P. A' 0. Comp.ioy ; V. A. Julius; Majors 
Forbes and RIgg ; Mr. and Mrs. 0. E. Symooa ; H. 
YanCuylonberg ; Mr. 0. Drieberg, Prinoipal, School 
