Feb, 1, 1901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
THE LATEST TEA ROLLER. 
TRIAL OF PERMAN'S EXPRESS. 
There was quite a large musf.er ofaentlemen in- 
terested in the tea industry, who were courteously 
invited at noon on Saturday by Messrs. McLeod 
and Company to witnes's a public trial at Messrs. 
Jessop & Company's Works in Clive Street of 
Perman's " Express " roller. Among those present 
were Mr. Ormiston, of Messrs. Balmer Laurie & 
Co.; Mr. Macdonald, of Messrs. Duncan Brothers 
& Co.; Mr. Walker, Mr. Milne and Mr. 
Home, of Messrs. Finlay, Muir & Co.; Mr. 
L>anby, of the Planters' Stores ; Mr. Kings- 
ley, of Messrs. Shaw Wallace & Co.; Mr. 
Traill of Messrs. Octavius Sleel & Co.; Mr. G F 
Piayfair a;id Mr. F H E Lamb, of Messrs. Barry 
& Co.; Mr. liall, of the South Syihet Tea Co.; 
Mr. G Jatnieson, Mr. Staples, of the Carron Tea 
Estate, and numerous other planters. Perman's 
'.'Express" roller claims to be the latest and 
most improved addition to tea machinery. The 
special advantages claimed for it are that it is 
simple in construction and easy to work efficiently, 
rolls 300 lb. of leaf in twenty to thirty minutes, 
occupies small space in the factory, and requires 
little driving power and attendance. Perman's 
"Express" roller has been designed by a well- 
known Assam Planter Engineer, and it is justly 
claimed by the Inventor, after series of exhaustive 
trials, to be the only machine on the market, 
which combines rapidity of work, a perfect roll 
and a moderate cost. The whole construction 
is extremely simple, merely consisting of a 
stationary table, to which is bolted a circular 
leaf box, the bottom of the latter is a revolving 
disc, and at right angles to same there is a 
fluted cone. The leaf on being emptied into the 
box from the top is immediately carried round 
by the revolving disc, the cone in the centre 
which, turning in an opposite direction, causes 
the leaf to climb t'le middle and side of the box 
and to fall again to the botfconi, keeping up a 
continual ebullition, by which means the leaf is 
thoroughly aerated and heating effectually 
avoided. No pres.?ure cap is required, as the 
weight of the leaf naturally causes it to fall to 
the bottom of the box. where the diameter of 
the fluted cone is greatest, and thereby gives the 
necessary twist and pressure effectually breaking 
the cells of the leaf, "the most important function 
in rolling. The " Express" does not " ball" the 
leaf, consequently the above object is attained 
completely, The time occupied in rolling is from 
20 to 30 minutes, thereby enabling one roll extra 
to be completed within the hour. The leaf is 
readily discharged from the door on the side of 
the leaf box. The roller has been inspected by 
Planters of repute, and in all cises lesu'ta 
proved most sati>factory, the machir.e giving the 
leaf a good twist in a shorter time than is taken 
by other machines now on the market, costing 
nearly dou'de tha price of an "Express." The 
trial ' on Saturday pi oved eminently satisfactory, 
and several questions put by the gentlemen 
present anent the working of this new and latest 
machinery elicited a ready response by the in- 
ventor. Two hundred and twenty pounds of leaf 
were emptied into the box, and within half an 
hour were turned out with apucca twist and quite 
cool. Con^iderin.2 that the leaf had to be brought 
from the Dooars, and that it was hardly in con- 
dition for rolling, the trial was very satisfactory 
indeed under the circumstances. — Indian Daily 
News, Nov. 19, 1900. [Messrs. Brown & Co.- 
have been appointed ^agents for the above roll^c 
which will shortly be on view at Hatton — Ej>». 
T.A.} 

TEA AND CACAO ESTATES COMPANY. 
COOPER, COOPER & JOHNSOiV, LTD. 
Directors.— Hector P Monro (Chairman), 
Hamilton A Hancock and William Johnson, 
Managing Director : Edward H Hancock. 
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS 
to be submitted to the Ordinary Annual 
General Meeting to be held at 2 o'clock on 
Thursday, 20th December, 190L at Winchester 
House, Old Broad Street : — 
The Directors beg to submit to the Shareholders 
the Report and Balance Sheet, together with 
profit and loss account for the year ending 30th 
June, 1900, also the revised accounts to 30th June, 
1899. 'I'hey much regret that the results are so 
disappointing, but they feel confident not only 
that the revenue should not be taken as an index 
of future profits, but that the expenditure also 
will be very materially reduced. With regard to 
the estates, the crop of tea, which is about 
•2,450,000 lb., has exceeded the estimate of 2,322,000 
lb., and is about 350,000 lb. more than that of the 
previous year ; it has also been produced at a less 
cost than the estimate of 28 cents per lb. and at 
about ^d per lb. less than the previous year. It is 
anticipated that the production for the current 
year will be 2,550,000 lb. at a further reduced cost. 
Shareholders are, of course, aware that prices have 
been abno.'mally low, probably lower than they 
have ever ruled before, and when it is pointed out 
that Id per lb. means £10,000 to tlie Company, it 
will be seen how much depends upon the expected 
improvement in the market. The cocoa crop was 
not a heavy one, and the board are advised that 
lajger results are already assured for the current 
year. The same applies to coffee and other 
products. Fresh arrangements have been tenipor* 
anly made for the management of the wholesale 
and retail departments, and the Board are advised 
and believe that, if further capiral is provided to 
extend these businesses, substantial profits will 
bb released. The Directors have also re sold to 
Mr. Johnson the greater part of the business 
purchased from Messrs, Johnson, Dodds & Co., 
they have closed the American business, and 
have sold the Irish Branch, both of which were 
purchased from Cooper Cooper & Co. The tibove 
changes in these departments have been made 
with the .approval of the ('ommittee, and they 
not only do away with the recurrent heavy losses, 
but they have also given the opportunity of 
ofl'ecting very considerable economies in the work- 
ing. There is no doubt that Trading Charges, 
as well as the Establishment Charges, will be 
very materially reduced in the future. In Sept- 
ember the Board and Committee asked Messrs. 
Jackson, Pixley & Co. to investigate the books 
from the iiiauguration of the Company ; they 
have in consequence prepared amended accounts 
ror he period ending 30th June, 1S99, whicli 
they think show more accuiately the position of 
the Company on'that date, the chief differences 
being on technical questions (whereby £9,830 3s 
lOd is brought forward to the debit of Profit and 
Lo-^s Account instead of £2,005 4s 3d to the 
credit) relating to purchases of businesses ac- 
quired — which will be explained to the share-. 
