April 2, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
cent of tVie world's requirements, or say, 6.000,000 
baps. The 1894-95 Brazil crop is variou^lv esti- 
mated, but none figure less than 7,000,000 bag^ 
Guaterra'a, iij spite of crop injury, will have a crop 
ahpad of last year. 
The onl'ook at this t'me is highly encouraging 
for large supplifs and lower priops. A hull specula- 
tion under the circuros'ancps would be the maddest, 
sort of folly- Ohe»p ooffee is a boon to the dealer as 
well 88 the consumer. It affords opportunty to 
push a profitable branch of the retail grocery 
bupiness and is a splendid advertising factor. 
Coffee is a trade winner, and it is the popular 
national baverage.— .Imer/can Grocer. 
A COLOMBO COMPANY TO MAKE TEA 
LEAD. 
We call attention to the advertisement on 
this Bubjpct. When onoe the Customs duty on 
pip-lead is taken off, no doubt such a project 
will be desirable in planting interests, and 
planters ought to support it. 
We may state the intention of the Oompsny to he 
formed, if, to make tea l°ad cn the spot, from the 
raw material imported, and it is expocted ibis ran 
be done at a g'od profit, independent of the dif- 
ferfnce between importpd tea lead cases, and cases 
m»de in the country. Machinery will be imported 
with all tbe lutest improvementg with »n expert in 
charge. The Ooropai^y will taltoover the Mittakkuliya 
Mills belonging to Messrs. Steveoson & Co. at valua- 
tion. The CKpitdl required will be considerable owing 
to heavy stocks teinjj required. Planters taking an 
interest in tbe Oompnnv will certainly benefit by it. 
The capital will be R26O.OOO with power to increase; 
RlOO shares. Mr. Alexander Stevenson, senior, will 
be Managing Director after tbe formation of the 
Company. 
The letter from Government on the subject 
ol the duty is as follows : — 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, Jan. 22. 
Gentlemen,— In arknowledgioK the receipt of your 
letter of tbe 30th Novembct 1893, sufrgestins that 
pig-lead imported Cor mannfacture in tbe island, should 
be passed throaph tbe Customs Free ol Duty. I 
am directed to infcarno yon that a decision cannot he 
given immediately, but that the subject is under 
coneideration. — lam, gentlemen, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) H. L. Crawfoed, 
for Colonial Secretary. 
Messrs. Stevenson & Son". 
. ^ 
WYNAAD PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
We have received a copy of tbe proceedings of tbe 
annual general meeting held at Pootliacoolie bungalow, 
on Wednesday, lith February, when a report was 
submitted of tbe proceedings of the Association 
since 1st October 18i»2. The report stated that the past 
year had been made memorable by the fact that 
a conference of representalives of all planting As- 
aociatioua had been held and that the foundation- 
stone had been laid of a United Planters' Association 
of Southern India ; also that their political status 
in tho country had been so far recognised that 
H. R. the Govoruor of Madras had promi.sed that, 
if nothing unforeseen should occur, he would nomi- 
nate a member of their community to the next 
vacancy on his Ijogialativo Council. They complained 
that they could not Kct coolios owing to tbe im- 
punity with which a class of dishonest contractors 
wan ablo to rob thcso men who took advances without 
meaning to brmg in coolies and they were told in 
japly that when they did get coolios, they should 
pay them and treat them better. Since a con- 
fidential letter from the Government of Madras to 
the Government of India was published the Madras 
JJatl had advocated their cause in a leading article 
which bad elicited from the Private Secretary to 
the Governor a disclaimer on the part of Govern 
ment of ever having intended to impute to them ill- 
treatment of their coolies. The correspondence had 
resulted in a promise from His Excellency to receive 
a deputation of planters to further discuss the 
matter with him. The Government of Madras had 
responded favorably to their memorials representing 
their grievances caused by the recent Revenue 
Settlement of the District and had promised 
redress to those who had suffered hardship. 
With regard to minor matters, they had this year 
been given a Telegraph Station at Meppadi and a 
grant bad been made of K37,400 for the improve- 
ment of the Mysore. Chundale road, which though 
inadequate in itself is a step in the right direction. 
Though, as far as the secretary was aware, no 
receivers of stolen coffee had been convicted during the 
year, yet there had been increased activity among 
the police ; conslables who were also coffee planters 
had been removed from the district and the composi- 
tion of the force had been generally improved. 
As regards their prospects Arabian coffee was still 
doing well in places, and where it had failed Liberian 
and lea were rapidly taking its place. There was a 
scare at one lime that Liberian coffee geed taken 
from trees of the second and third generation from 
the oriuinally incipotted ones, had deteriorated, but 
on a reference to Mr Tbisleton Dyer, Director of Kew 
Gardens, they were assured that this was not likely 
to be the case. Young tea clearings were growing 
Inxnriantly and the reports and valuations already 
made on samples of the leaf, held out promise 
that they should be ablo to hold (heir own with 
the host estates in Assam. So it was to be hoped 
that Wyuaad bad at last passed through tbe lowest 
B de in its fortunes and would soon recover the position 
that it nsed to hold among planting district. 
INDIAN TEA DISTRICTS' ASSOCIATION 
CHICAGO EXHIBITION. 
A oiroular to the following effeot is about to be 
issued to the members : — 
The Cbiobgo Committee have considered a pre- 
lim'nBry report by Mr. Blecbynden, tbe Special Com- 
missioner at thii Eihibition, of tbe operations he had 
conducted during tho past year. They are of opinion 
that the results obtaiiied so far are satisfactory, but 
that immediate steps should be taken to keep Indian 
tea before the American public for another year or 
two, as otherwise the Oomaiitfee think that tbe expen- 
diture already incurred will have been waited, and 
that the knowledge of Indian tea gained by the work 
done at the Exhibition will soon die out. 
Under the circumstances, the C mmittee desire 
me to recommend to your earneit atteuti >n tbe neces - 
sity of the fitms and Companies in London interested 
in Indian tea advising their Calcutta agents to support 
the resolution a copy of which is tubjoined." 
Resolution of Chicago Committee, passed at a 
meetiiig held ou February 13;h, 1894: — 
" That Messrs. Reid, Murdoch, and Oo.'b proposals 
for the oontinuauce of tlie efforts to push tbe sale of 
Indian tea in Amfrica by advertising, giving away 
"samples, &o., are generally approved of by the Com- 
mittee, and that the Calcutta Association be re- 
quested to arrange for tbe supply of funds by a levy 
on the members ou tho same 6c»le as Ust year, the 
funds subscribed to be remitted to this Aisociatiou 
for dispocal. 
" That a copy of this resolution be sent to all mem- 
bers with a circular explaining the advantajjes of a 
continu nce of tbe work already doi e in America, 
and a rtquis' that inatruotions be sent to their 
Oalcuit% n^oiits to meet tbe proposed levy on members 
to hupplj funds." EaNKST Tvk, Secretary. 
London, February 14th 189-1.— Local t'Timo*. ' 
