Jan. i, 1895.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
463 
being punched into shape at one end of the machine, 
the material for a second is being poured into the 
receptacle at the other, and so on. All the tabloid- 
machines are made in the firm's own workshops, 
where I had an opportunity of examining two of them 
destined to increase the tea-tabloid plant. A singular 
feature in connection with the manufacture of these 
tabloids is that the dies used in the stamping-process 
have to be removed almost daily, the constant pres- 
sure upon the gritty matter present in the powdered 
tea (for the leaf is reduced to an impalpable powder 
before being placed into the tabloid-machine) wear- 
ing out the hardest steel. The hardness and smooth- 
ness of the tabloids have been greatly improved 
since the first batch was turned out in October, 
1892 ; a fact of which Mr. Rogers afforded ocular 
evidence by producing a handful of the first tabloids 
made and placing them alongside of others of recent 
manufacture. Mr. Rogers has also invented and 
patented a spoon with a double detachable bowl, 
into which the tabloid may be placed for solution. 
The hot water freely penetrates the metal gauze 
mesh of which the detachable bowl is made, but 
nono of the dust of the dissolved tabloid can escape, 
and when the tea is made the gauze covering may 
be removed from the spoon, and the latter used in 
the ordinary way. According to Mr. Rogers 30,000 
lb. of tea have been worked up into tabloids since the 
manufacture was commenced. — Chemist and Drugyist 
CINNAMON. 
(From Forbes, Forbes & Co., Limited.) 
London, Nov. 27. 
The concluding Auctions of this year were held yesterday 
when the total offering was much heavier than of late, 
the quantity of Ceylon amounting to 2,516 bales, against 
517 bales in August, and 2,387 bales at this period last 
year. Notwithstanding the heavy supply, a good demand 
was experienced and, the market being met by holders, 
about 2,200 bales were sold at or immediately after the sales. 
Privately a fair, speculative business has been done since 
August to "arrive" at a slight advance on the last sales 
prices, but at yesterday's Auctions that small rise was lost 
and although the prices obtained were somewhat irregular 
— some marks going higher and others lower — yet on the 
average very little alteration can be reported on the values 
ruling at the preceding Auctions. 
Fine and superior '•Firsts" realized lOd to Is 3d per lb., 
fair to good 8d to 9Jd, "Seconds" 7d to Is 1(1, "Thirds" 
6|d to Is 2d, and " Fourth's " 5.U1 to 8§d per lb. Chips sold 
at 2jjd, to 2.Jd, quillings, cuttings, &c. 5Jd to 7d per lb. 
Stock of Ceylon quill, 3,567 bales against 1893-3,700, 
1882-3,742, 1881-5,377, and 1880-5,785 bales. 
The next sales will be held on 25th February, 1895. 
THE RECENT CINNAMON SALES. 
In discussing the position of Cinnamon 
lately we confessed ourselves puzzled by the 
magnitude of our exports of the article 
during the current year, notwithstanding com- 
plaints of the disastrous effects of the failure of 
the last North-east and South-west monsoon rains, 
and we also expressed ourselves curious in re- 
gard to the details of the last quarterly sales for 
the year, then just held in London. There has 
been no information available on the first point; 
and we can only conjecture that the outturn from 
the Southern Province has compensated for the 
deticiency from the best estates in the Western 
Province, and that native gardens, in which 
bark is harvested under almost any and every 
condition were laid heavily under contribution 
during the year. The uprooting of bushes, too, 
to make way for more remunerative products — 
chiefly coconuts — and the removal of bushes from 
coconut tops, in order to increase the pro- 
ductiveness of the latter, also probably account 
to some extent for the volume of our exports. 
Whatever the cause, the quantity of spice ex- 
ported this year is, up to date, almost on a par 
with the figures for recent years ; and there is 
on reason to apprehend -or rather hope ? — that 
1894 will compare unfavourably with its pre- 
decessors. In these circumstances — the production 
of the year showing no appreciable deficiency, 
if any, in comparison with recent years — it is 
not surprising that the advance in prices, ex- 
pected as a result of short crops, was no* 
realized. Indeed, looking to the quantity 
offered, 2,516 bales against 2,387 at the cor» 
responding sale last year, the wonder is thai 
the advance made in August last was generally 
maintained, and that brings us to the details of 
the sale of 26th November last to hand by the 
mail of 30th ultimo. 
Notwithstanding the heavy catalogue, there 
seems to have been fair competition, the good de- 
mand being due to the very small offerings at the 
previous quarterly sale, when only 517 bale» 
were catalogued. As a result 2,200 bale* 
changed hands out of the total offered, either at 
the auction rooms or immediately after the 
sale. The prices for No. 1 of the finest bark 
ranged between lOd and 15d — against 9£d to 16d in 
August, for No. 2, 7d to 13d ; for thirds 6£d to 
Is, and for fourths 5.U1 to 8id. On the whole, 
there was no falling-off to speak of ; but certainly 
there was no advance. As usual, Goluapokuna 
estate bark headed the list ; but it is noteworthy, 
as supporting the complaints of poor crops in 
the Western Province, that fine qualities were 
scarce, and that the number of bales which 
realized Is and upwards per lb., was even not one- 
twentieth of the whole. W T e have in past issues 
advanced reasons for anticipating a small harvest 
between now and the 25th February, the date of 
the next Quarterly Sale. In the ordinary course 
this ought to lead to an advance in prices ; but 
recent experience disinclines us from prophesy. 
The stocks, too, are lower than for five years past, 
being 3,567 bales against 3,750 in 1893, and 3,742, 
5,377 and 5,785 for each of the previous years. 
This, too, is a factor which in ordinary circumstances 
should influence prices ; but since the opening of 
the Suez Canal and the increasing direct ship- 
ments to the Continent, London stocks have 
little influence on the market. As evidence of 
the extent to which this one product has been 
diverted from the old channels by altered com- 
mercial and shipping arrangements, we may point 
to the fact that up till the 17th instant, the 
Chamber of Commerce Circular shows the ship- 
ments to United Kingdom London this year 
aggregated only 852,429 lb., out of a total of 
1,878,092 1b.; while over 400,000 1b. have gone 
direct to Germany ; over 211,000 lb. to Spain and 
172,000 lb. to America. Before the Suez Canal, 
all but an infinitesimal fraction of our cinna- 
mon went to London — the great emporium of 
the world. The advantage, however, which 
would have accrued to the producer by the 
establishment of direct relations with the 
consuming countries, has been lost by overproduc- 
tion, and to some extent by the telegraph which 
lias helped to reduce the chances of successful 
speculation in produce to a minimum. 
GERMAN EAST AFRICAN VANILLA. 
Norember 20. 
The first sample consignment of ranilla cultivated in 
German Kast Africa (Kitopeni plantation) has recently 
been received in Hamburg and was very favourably com- 
mented upon, both in regard to natural quality and to 
preparation. The pods, it is true, are not equal to the 
best Mauritius vanilla, but the shipment was of thoroughly 
marketable quality, the nods being from 0} to 10 inche* 
in length and well crystallised. The great drought of the 
last season has been very injurious to the development 
of the fruit, but shade trees have now been planted and 
irrigation works started, and it is expected that next year 
the output will be much in excess of the present. The 
present season's crop, however, which amounts to about 
10,000 poils, is expected to cover the cost of production, 
—Chemist and Druggitt. 
