6 3 6 
THE TROPICA!, AGRICULTURIST. 
[March r, 1895. 
MAURITIUS. 
l J ort-Louis, Feb. 11. 
The plantations in general are Buffering from the 
drought which at this time of the year is likely to 
retard their growth. 
We still believe that the production of the last 
crop will be from 117,000 to 118,000 tons. 
The community has hailed with pleasure and 
satisfaction the establishment of "The Bank of 
Mauritius Limited," which opened its door and com- 
menced business on the 10th December last. 
Owing to a prolonged drought at the end of 189J 
fallowed by a disease amongst certain species of 
canes, the Crop which is now nearly at its close 
will be short by about 1"> to 20 thousand tons, com- 
pared with that of the year previous. Through an 
excess in the production of Beetroot Sugar, estimated 
at 1,000,000 tons, prices have this seaso-i ruled low, 
and yet with these difficulties to face, our Sugar 
Industry is threatened with an additional burden 
in the sharpe of a Land Tax. 
Coffee. — Market bare of Keunion and Madagascar. 
Best Ceylon sells firmly at R78 to 82 and mixed 
triage at R50 to 01 per SO kilos, according to quality. 
Merchant* ami I'-lunlcr* Gazette, 
UPTON'S TEAS, 
The vicissitudes of an island, one of tha fairest 
spots on the earth, where every prospect pleases, and 
naught but man is vile, are of singular interest. More 
fortunate than Sicily in possessing a population, 
mixed in race and habits, but of less truculent 
idiosyncrasy than the denizens of this latter isle, 
Ceylon, instead of indulging in sanguinary feuds 
which stain the pages of history, has devoted the en- 
ergies of its people to cultivation and industry. Per- 
haps a comparison with Madeira would be more 
apposite than one with Sioily. Both islands enjoyed 
the prosperity consequent upon the peculiar advan- 
tages they enjoyed in producing what the world 
needed, and both alike were reduced to the direst 
straits involved by the temporary failure on the one 
hand of the natural conditions essential to produce 
a world famous wine, and, on the other, by a com- 
bination of circumstances which drove Ceylon coffee 
out of the market. The planters were many of them 
extirpated but those who remained rose to the occa- 
sion, and instead of the berry, took to growing the 
fragrant leaf whose infusion cheers but does not in- 
ebriate. One firm, like that of the diamond huntors 
in South Africa, has come to the front in a marked 
manner, and the name Lipton, with which may not 
ungallantly be coupled the portrait of the dusky but, 
in one sense, fair maiden who pictorially heralds 
his fame, has gone past the period of initiation, and 
may be fairly pronounced a nousehold word all the 
world over. Lipton's teas are now obtainable in 
Egypt from any grocer, but should any difficulty be 
experienced in obtaining them, application should be 
made to Lipton's wholesale agents for Egypt, Messrs 
Bless & Co. of Alexandria. — Egyptian Gazette. 
COLOMBO TEA AVERAGES, 
Summary of Ceylon Tea sold at public Mutton at 
the Chamber of Commerce Sales Koom, Colombo, 
between January 1st and December 31st, 1**1. ui 
tity in lbs. and averaje prices realised :— 
Nyassaland Coffee. — It will be a matter for the 
young colony of Shire Highland coffee growers to con- I 
gratulate themselves upon when they hear of the very | 
high' prices that their "Nyassaland coffee is fetching, | 
The 1894 crop is excellent. We see it quoted in Min- 1 
cing Lane as " Central African Plantation : London 
cleared," and fetching as high as 101s to 107s. By 
the last accounts the promise for the coming season 
wa3 all that could be desired, though the rains were 
anxiously awaited. Locusts have done a good deal of 
damage, but chiefly to very young trees. On the 
whole they do not take kindly to coffee. The most 
favourable circumstances connected with the indus.'ry 
is the abundance of labour, and as the natives find 
that they are honourably paid and vigorously pro- 
tected from slavers and kidnappers when working f n - 
the white men, no doubt they will continue to flo^k to 
the Highlands from afar iu still increasing numbers. — 
The Planter. I 
listate. 
Lb. 
a 
Ct-s. 
St. Helier's 
43,554 72 Rumania 
.Ul.dHi 09 Bl.u.kw,.,«l 
61,180 03 Torwood 
34,740 07 TalajMlla 
<w,83b oe i,ittic Valley 
70,115 04 \\ i-wt--i.se 
25,590 02 Clyde 
00,741 02 Nahaveena 
141,033 01 Mulpedde 
98,487 01 HarilUnd 
U3.840 oo Clone* 
70.910 00 Alnoui 
13.45S 59 Talcaswela 
61,600 59 Klla 
61,032 £9 Dickapfttm 
24,220 .18 StLsted 
S3.885 58 Ptutaalntenne 
50,5441 57 KMndl 
32,880 57 Anuii^kailde 
49,800 50 K rod's Babe 
22,400 55 Rasencath 
40,997 55 Gonawella 
68,687 54 BAKUiOala 
8,534 54 Kadella 
63,090 54 Ayr 
64,758 53 Awblakanda 
lb. f| 
< 
Ct»- 
80,428 49 
41,095 49 
49,13". 49 
59, s] 9 48 
63,1011 48 
37,500 48 
82,13! 47 
44l.7:«l 47 
17,250 47 
11,4410 47 
22,550 40 
122.UJ5 40 
44,685 45 
69,405 45 
04,040 45 
49,881 45 
60.320 i~> 
08,390 44 
22,040 44 
52,695 44 
4 ,*U 44 
49,010 44 
12.310 43 
50,445 43 
78,080 43 
43,493 43 
60,805 42 
44,653 53 Polataguma 108,870 42 
74,025 53 Lankaptira, fW) 40,570 42 
20,060 53 Gonapella 84,850 42 
•09,802 53 Blackburn 27,390 4 2 
20,545 53 Kllekande 70,124 4 2 
46,570 52 liodooUenae 01,158 4i 
58,779 52 Knavesinire 72,305 4i 
39,925 58 Chesterford 37,910 40 
25,290 52 Ivies 19,440 40 
14,147 52 Sembawatte 51,745 40 
12,195 52 Farnham 67,5s2 XI) 
Ardlaw and 
Wishfoid 
Hethersett 
Qlaaeoir 
Court Ixidue 
Mocha 
<;. P. ll 
Badella 
Kilmers ton 
Aura Ouvali 
Middleton 
Pedro 
(ilenorchy 
KlUarney 
Scrubs 
Langdale 
Auibawella 
" Anchor " 
Donkeld 
Harrington 
I re by 
Whyddun 
Macabtonia 
Glentilt 
Maria tenne 
Blamark 
Dunbar 
Kirklees 
Kelaniya 
Malvern 
Great Valley 
Glencorse 
Castlereagh 
Deaculla 
Maha Uva 
Caskieben 
Tientsin 
Chalmers 
Ottery and Stain- St Helen's 
ford Hill 81,1.56 51 We-Ov, 117,ss5 
Templestove 50,075 51 Ederepolla 70,099 38 
Queeu*laud 52,950 50 Hatale 24 036 37 
Vogan es.iiO so Lankapnra. (M) 32,670 37 
Augusta 21,787 50 Bittacy 21,485 30 
Geragama 10,944 Ml Rspenuua 8,754 35 
Konrooloogala 12,713 5o Yataderia 94,020 31 
It will be noticed that the place of honor is 
occupied by Ardlaw and Wishford with an average 
of 72 cents a pound, Glasgow coming third with 1 8 
cents, though it must not be forgotten that the 
latter estate sold 113 uly double as much tea as the 
former. Court Lo lge oejunisi the fourth position 
with a 67 cent; average, Michi co.uiug fifth with 
66 cents, while P .lmerstoae aul R lelia, are bra;ketc-d 
seventh with 62 cents, aalA; a Jvt, and Middleton 
are bracketed eighch with 61 cents, Gleuorchy being 
ninth with 60 cents. These averages all be ix testi*- 
mony to the excellent opportunities afforded by the 
Colombo muket for the sale of fine teas. Nor 
must it be forgotten that, though Agra Uva is only 
eighth on the list with 61 cents, this average is 
obtained for 111,000 lb. of tea— a quantity nearly- 
double that sold by any other estate. — Local "Times." 
IRRIGATION IN* THE "MADRAS 
PRESIDENCY. 
With reference to irrigation in the Madras Presi- 
dency during 1893-91, we learn from the Madra* 
Times : — The total area irrigated was 6* millions of 
acres, the irrigation revenue was R191-17 lakhs, and 
the working expenses amounted to R31-95 lakhs. The 
figures for the previous year ware 6'07 millions of 
acres, E171 lakhs anl R39-03 lakhs, respect: '.-el v. 
Thus, compared with 1892-93. the areas, irrigated 
under all classes of works in 1893-91 and the revenue 
derive 1 therefrom were more, while the working 
exnen--es wp"c less. 
* Corrections ottered by correspondents :— Over 100,000 lb 
of Kelaniya and 139,000 lb. of GreUt Valley teas were sold 
in 1894, realizing over 53 cents for the farmer, 
