234 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Oct.  i,  1892. 
been  of  material  service  in  enabling  tbe  Secretary  to 
arrange  the  cataloguing  of  the  exhibits  in  a practical 
way,  and  the  general  result  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  found  to 
compare  favourably  with  that  of  the  Exhibition  of  1884. 
At  that  time  it  was  found  necessary  to  pay  the  cost 
of  the  transport  of  the  exhibits  from  the  various  taluqs 
to  induce  exhibitors  to  come  forward.  This  is  now  un- 
necessary, for,  though  the  prizes  offered  are  not  so 
large  as  those  offered  in  1884,  there  has  been  little 
or  no  falling  off  in  the  number  of  exhibitors,  and 
the  articles  sent  in  for  competition  are  even  more 
numerous.  In  one  point,  however,  not  much  im- 
provement has  been  shown,  that  is  in  giving  de- 
tailed descriptions  of  the  exhibits.  For  the  most 
part  descriptions  are  wanting  and  the  exhibits  are 
left  to  speak  for  themselves.  This  is  to  be  regretted, 
as  it  is  very  necessary  that  in  manufactures  the  art 
of  production  should  be  stated,  and  in  machinery 
the  art  of  production,  the  purpose  for  which  the 
machine  is  to  be  used,  and  the  cost  of  so  using  it 
should  be  stated.  In  fact,  the  more  informatien 
given  the  better.  This,  however,  is  a minor  point, 
and  it  is  hoped  that  many  exhibitors  will  be  present, 
and  will  be  able  to  give  orally  the  information  which 
they  have  neglected  to  write.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  call  attention  to  any  special  portion  of  the  Ex- 
hibition, for  in  all  the  sections  there  is  a good  dis- 
play. Much  ingenuity  has  been  shown  in  the  articles 
manufactured  in  imitation  of  foreign  ones,  and  a 
considerable  number  have  been  sent  in.  Some  ex- 
hibitors appear  to  have  confused  the  purposes  of 
the  Exhibition  with  those  of  the  museum,  misled, 
probably,  by  the  fact  that  the  Secretary  is  the  same 
in  both  cases,  and  have  sent  in  animals  which 
hardly  come  under  the  description  of  live  stock ; 
such,  for  example,  as  frogs  and  cockroaches,  birds 
and  other  animals,  whose  only  merit,  I quote  from 
the  description,  is  that  “ being  of  different  nation- 
alities they  yet  live  together  in  harmony.”  With 
regard  to  coffee,  there  is  a good  show  of  Liberian, 
which  seems  to  be  doing  well  and  which  will  prove, 
it  is  hoped,  more  lasting  than  the  Arabian  variety. 
With  regard  to  tea,  the  Committee  would  point 
out  that  the  prophecy  made  in  the  Report  of  the 
Exhibition  of  1884  with  regard  to  what  was  then 
a rising  industry  has  been  amply  fulfilled.  The  Com- 
mittee then  remarked  while  regretting  that  the 
tea  industry  was  not  better  represented,  that  “ there 
is  no  doubt,  from  the  specimens  received,  that  it  has 
a great  future  before  it  iu  Travancore.”  Au  inspection 
of  the  exhibits  now  sent  in  in  this  flats  will  show  that 
that  future  is  at  hand,  and  that  the  tea  industry  has 
been  successfully  established  in  Travancore,  and  that 
Travancore  tea  now  rivals,  if  it  does  not  surpass,  the 
teas  of  Assam  and  Ceylon.  The  committee  has  now 
to  offtr  its  thanks  to  the  ladies  and  gentleman  who 
have  so  kindly  undertaken  the  tatk  of  judging. 
Several  of  them  officiated  at  the  last  Exhibition  in 
the  same  capacity,  and  a series  of  interesting  Reports 
was  drawn  up.  It  would  be  well  if  ou  this  occasion 
greater  publicity  were  given  to  these  Reports,  for  they 
would  show  tbe  ryots  and  others  where  improvement 
is  required  aGd  in  what  way  it  can  be  attained,  't  he 
Committee  begs  to  offer  its  hearty  thanks  to  Your 
Highness  for  showing  so  much  interest  in  the  Exhi- 
bition, and  for  go  kindly  consenting  to  be  present  on 
this  occasion.  It  now  asks  your  Highness  to  declare 
the  Exhibition  operi. 
As  soon  as  the  Report  was  read  Mr.  F.  Watts, 
Chief  Secretary  to  Government,  by  command  of  His 
Highness,  read  the  Maharajah’s  reply,  which  was  as 
follows: — 
Mr.  Uannyngton,  Gentlemen  of  the  Committee, 
Ladies  and  Gentlemen, — It  is  always  very  gratify- 
ing to  the  rui?r  of  a country  to  witness  the  pro- 
gress made  by  the  people  in  their  arts  and  manufac- 
tures and  in  improving  the  productions  of  the  earth 
— and  there  is,  perhaps,  no  better  means  of  watching 
th;s  progress  than  by  periodically  bringing  together 
tie  best  of  such  in  Exhibitions  line  the  present.  Tbe 
officers  of  Government,  entrusted  with  the  duty  of 
looking  to  the  advancement  of  the  country,  have 
the  opportunity  of  comparing  the  present  state  of 
cultivation  and  manufacture  yyitb  the  record  of  tho 
past,  of  noting  defects  and  shortcomings  and  of 
applying  the  remi  dy.  The  farmer  and  the  artisan 
see  the  superior  growth  and  workmanship  of  their 
fellows,  and,  stimulated  by  the  prizes  they  have 
carried  off,  enquire  into  tbe  methods  employed  and 
strive  to  produce  still  better  at  the  next  Show,  or 
to  excel  them  iu  the  market.  Thus  the  means  of 
improvement  are  demonstrated  and  a wholesome 
rivalry  established  which  has  a very  beneficial 
effect  on  the  country  at  large.  We  cannot  hold  a World’s 
Esir,  as  London  or  Paris  or  Chicago  can  do,  but  we 
can,  aud  ought,  to  do  the  best  within  cur  power 
aud  means.  I would  suggest  as  a fur  her  means  of 
demonstration  and  instruction,  that  a series  of  popular 
lectures  be  delivered  by  competent  men  at  the  next 
Exposition,  ou  the  more  prominent  of  the  exhibits. 
Such  lecture*,  delivered  in  the  buildings  to  tho 
assembled  exhibitors  and  others,  cannot  fail  to  be  of  use 
in  directing  the  progress  we  so  much  desire.  I will 
also  order  the  Committee’s  Report  and  lists,  with 
whatever  suggestions  it  mey  mske,  to  be  trans- 
lated into  the  vernacular,  printed  and  widely 
circulated.  From  tbe  repented  Exhibitions  held  in 
Trevendrum  since  1867,  and  more  recently  iu  the 
districts  under  tbe  present  administration,  tho 
people  have  so  far  come  to  understand  their  rbject 
and  scope,  that  the  picture-show  s’age,  which 
my  predecessor  60  felicitously  referred  to  in  his  reply 
to  the  Committee’s  Address  on  the  last  occasion, 
may  now  be  safely  believed  to  have  passed,  and  the 
real  instruction  stage  entered  upoD,  the  fruition  of 
which,  will,  I hope,  be  both  speedy  and  abundant.  So 
far  as  tbe  Europeans  residing  in  the  country  are  con- 
cerned the  special  industries  in  which  they  are  engaged 
bear  clear  evidence  of  marked  improvement  and  an 
enlarged  sphere  of  operations.  The  tea,  coir-matting, 
tiles  and  cotton  yarn  appear  to  much  advantage, 
and  I trust  will  scon  rival  the  productions  of  the  most 
favoured  countries  if  some  of  them  already  do  not  do 
so.  And,  for  the  first  time,  paper  locally  manufactured, 
cotton  cloth  woven  in  the  European  style,  Liberian  coffee 
and  plumbago  are  numbered  amoDgtbe  marketable  pro- 
ductions cf  the  country.  Talc  and  iron  will  I hope 
soon  follow  as  there  is  evidence  that  they  exist  in 
Travancore.  A very  gratifying  feature  is  that  my 
subjects  have  learned  from  the  European  to  manu- 
facture some  of  his  wares — though  on  a smaller  scale 
and  more  imperfectly.  They  have  taken  to  weaving 
coir-matting  arid  rugs,  and  I was  very  pleased  to 
hear  that  the  Dewan  had  lately  received  samples 
of  khaki  aDd  cotton  checks  manufactured  by  a firm 
of  Syrian  Christians  in  Cottayam  which  is  said 
to  compare  not  unfavourably  with  the  productions 
of  the  German  Mission  looms  in  Mangalore  or 
the  Bombay  Mills.  I could  well  wish  that  tea 
was  grown  in  the  low  country  so  that  the  natives 
might  take  to  the  cultivation  of  the  plant,  which  they 
are  sure  to  do,  if  they  could  find  a curing  establish- 
ment to  buy  up  their  raw  produce.  The  projected 
railway  to  Quilon  will  probably  enable  tea  growers  at 
low  elevations  to  take  the  produce  to  some  of  the 
estates  where  machinery  is  established  for  manufac- 
turing tea.  This  railway  will  give  an  impetus  to 
production  far  beyond  the  offer  of  prizes  at  Exbib’- 
tions,  and  I sincerely  trust  my  people  will  profit  by 
the  advantages  when  they  are  placed  within  their  reach. 
The  mining  industry  whioh  the  enterprising  firm  of 
Messrs.  Parry  aud  Oo.  have  started  is  also  one  which 
my  subjects  may  profit  by,  if  they  will  learn  from  the 
Europeau  and  combine  amoDg  themselves  to  invest 
capitalinit.  The  native  Ceylonese  have  taken  kindly 
to  mining  and  I see  no  reason  why  the  people  of 
Travancore  should  not.  And  now,  gentlemen  of  the 
Committee,  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  who  have  so 
kindly  undertaken  to  adjudge  the  prizes,  it  remains 
for  me  to  thank  you,  and  that  I do  most  cordially  for 
the  wnJif®  sacrifice  of  your  leisure  to  serve  in  the 
interests  of  the  Exhibition,  end  more  especially  do  I 
acknowledge  the  service  of  the  President  and  Secretary, 
who  ha^e  bad,  no  doubt,  to  bear  the  burden  of  the 
work,  which  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  details 
of  organisation  and  execution  will  realise  to  have  been 
neither  light  nor  easy.  I trust  the  exhibitors  will 
