Sept. 1, 1900.1 , TH^E, , q:ROPI.CAL 
liOYAL Botanic Garden, Peradeniva.— Our 
Supplementary illustration shows another view 
in the famous Ceylou garden, which in macy 
points rivals the garden at Buicenzorg in Java. 
The present director, Mr. Willis, is anxious to 
offer as great facilities for scientiKc researcl;, and 
the study of economic plants as are afforded 
in the celebrated Javanese garden. The photograph 
was kindly forwarded by Mr. H. F. Macmillan, 
the curator. A descriptive account of the garden 
is ^iven in our columns June 23rd, of the pre- 
sent year. — Gardeners' Chronicle, Aug. 4. 
BbaVZLl and Coffee.— Says Messrs. I A 
Rucker & Bencraft in their report of (August 
2nd): —" In various papers we have read 
ax'ticles ou the financial situation in the 
Brazils, and amongst them, one, a column 
long, in the Times. Three impressions re- 
main :— I,— The enormous size of the 
Brazilian National Debt, viz. 1,969,077,000 
milreis. 2. — ^The mianimous opinion amongst 
experts that the rise in Jixchange is based 
on genuine improvement in revenue. 8. 
— Cost of production, say, of 3/5ths of the 
World's Coffee crop, is being rapidly and 
materially increased. The natural deductions 
fiom the "above, our friends can draw for 
themseh es.*' 
Grow Youi; Owx Orangf.s'.— A writer in the 
Gnrrlcner advises ladies wiio adniixe foliage and 
have an interest in growing their ovi-n i)Iants that 
they cannot do better than rear an Orange plant 
froiu a pip. Such plants are comparatively easy 
to rear, and although the blossom will not be so 
fine as that of a plant grown in heat, yet the foli- 
age is good, and can be easily kept clean. A 
fine, large Orange should be chosen, having good 
seeds Sow five or six: pips in a G inch pot, with 
good drainage, filling bhe pot with leaf-moaJd and 
good sandy loam. Set the pot in a warm place 
with a piece of glass over it. The seedlings will 
soon appear, and when they have made a new leaf 
they may be potted singly into 3-inch pots. Water 
sufficient to keep the soil moi«it is enough. A wet 
and sodden soil will kill the plants. If a frame or 
case can be used, so much the better, the chief 
aim being to keep the plant clean and growing. In 
winier the Orange must be kept free from frost 
and rather dry at the root. Strong shoots should 
be pinched bick to make the plant bushy. In about 
four years a handsome plant fit to adorn any room 
will result. 
Peach. — Nothing is now more universally ac- 
cepted than that the peach is an improved variety 
of the almond. The almond has a thin shell around 
the stone whicii splits open and exposes the stone 
when mature. This outer skin lias simply become 
flesh in the peach, so that is ail that gives it its 
specific character. It seems now clear from investi- 
gation in the history of ancient Babylon, that in 
their gardens — now nearly four thousand years 
ago — the peach was cultivated as it is now. It 
must have been many years before this that the 
peach was improved upon the ahnond, and this 
■fact goes to show the great antiqn'' :v of the fruit. 
Possibly, gardening in some vftj'.T.r:-. y.t le-'stso 
farasitrelat.es to many or our cuitiv.ated fruits, 
was as far advanced six, or perhaps eight or ten 
thousand years back as it is to-day. Phojiiicians, 
as is proved by the records, had in their gardens 
almonds, apiico^s, bananas, citrons, grapes, olives, 
peaches, and pomegranates ; and even sugarcane 
was in extensive cultivation. Certainly this shows 
i)ow very far advanced these nations were in 
garden culture these many years ago.- — Journal 
of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, 
AGrJCULTUPJST. 
MOCHA TEA COMPANY, LIMITED. 
The ordinary general meeting of shareholders 
of the Mocha Tea Company, Ltd., was held av noon 
today at the registered office in Prince Street, Fort. 
The Hon. Mr. .1 N Campbell presided and the 
others present were Messrs. F W Bois, H G 
Bois, and C E Haslop. Mr. F W Bois read the 
notice calling the meeting, and the minutes of the 
meeting held on the 22ud August, 1899, were read 
ar.d coiifii mtrd. 
annual report. 
The following report of the Directors was then 
subiiiitted :— 
Yhu- direetoi-3 have the pleasure to submit their 
report and accounts for the season ending 30fch June 
1900. 
The total quantity of Tea made on the Company's 
Estates was 444,030 lb which cost 28 13-100 cents 
per pound delivered in Colombo, including 3 65-100 
cts per pound for manuring, the net average price 
realized being 44 89-100 cents per pound, compared 
with 46 87-100 cents last season. 
The price of the Mocha Tea was well maintained 
and improved, vvhikt that for Glentilt, Lanka and 
Craighill receded owing to a largely increased yield. 
The netfc profit for the year (after providing E2,000 
bonus to Managers, and "R812-26 cost of Extension) 
is R81,443'S2, which is equal to fully 20 per cent on 
the capital of the ccmpanv. 
From this a sum of FvlO,000 has been written off 
to Depreciation Fund and an interim dividend of 
5 per cent has been paid, and it is proposed to deal 
with the balance amounting to Kal,243'82 as follows : — 
To Reserve Fund . . RIO.OOO 
To pay a final Dividend of 10 per 
cent (making l{> per cent for 
season) ... 1140,400 
To carry forward ... E843-83 
The Company's properties now consist of 
1,046 Acres Tea in bearing 
33 do Tea 3 years old 
52 do Grassland 
92 do Forest aud fuel trees 
43 do Buildings, Rivers, Roads, etc. 
1,266 Acres. 
The estimated crops 'for season 1900-1901 amount 
to 438,000 lb to cost R121,15fi-50 in Colombo, from 
which must be deducted the receipts from Glentilt 
Baaaars. 
Mr. Giles F. Walker retires in accordance with the 
Articles of Association, but being eligible offers 
himself for re-election. 
The meeting will have to elect an Auditor for 
season 1900-1901. 
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the 
report, stated that the Directors suggested a final 
dividend of 10 per cent, in addition to the interim 
dividend of five percent, making a total of 15 per 
cent for the season. The Directors had further 
proposed to write off RIO.OOO to Depreciation 
and K10,000 to be placed to the Reserve Fund. 
He said he wished to call attention to certain 
figures which had been prepared showing the state 
of the company during the period of its existence 
—eight, years. It was formed in 1892 and up to 
!iOw ii, liiid paid dividends amounting to 124 per 
cent. That was 24 per cent over the capital. 
During the period of eight years, R64,000 had 
been placed to the reserve fund, including what 
was proposed to be placed to that fund now. Dur- 
ing the same period B67, 888 -46 had been written 
off for depreciatioti. Including these amounts, 
the profits had amounted to 1564 per cent. The 
average annual dividend declared and paid to 
shareholders was 1.5J per cent. Almost twelve 
per cent of the earnings had been written off for 
