205 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sept. 1, 1902, 
JAK FRUITS. 
Trinsonialee, Aug. 14th. 
Dear Sir, — "Interested," in your issue of the 
12th instant, makes enquiries of jak fruits borne 
on the roots of trees. I liear on reliable authority 
that in 1889 at Sanipeltion, a village in the 
North, a tree in the garden of one Mutar 
Kadramer, produced a ripe fruit on the root, 6 feet 
off the tree, under soil not deep, and it was traced 
by the smell and a crack on the surface earth. 
Those who ate it tell me that the pulp was 
delicious. Yours faithfully. J. B. C. 
NIYANGALA AND VEGETABLE 
POISONS. 
Dear Sir,— With reference to the ac- 
count of "deadly poisoning" as the result of 
eating a tuber of Gloriosa Sitperba, I think 
you will find that the use of the tuber " as 
an abortive for criminal purposes " (as Dr. 
AVatt puts it) is by no means uncommon 
among the Tamils of the North. 
The properties of such vegetable poisons 
and the means of detecting them, have yet 
to be studied by medical and scientific 
men who at present are. I believe, qaite 
ignorant on these points : and there is little 
doubt that many a death from " unknown 
causes" or "dysentery" must be attributed 
to the effects of vegetable poisons — the 
study of which should furnish congenial 
work for our local scientific celebrities. — 
Yours truly, 
^SCULAPIUS. 
[What do the local Medical Association 
ftnd Dr. Chalmers say to this ?— Ed. T.A.] 
TROUT. 
August 19. 
Dear Sir, — Referring to a cutting from an 
Aberdeen paper in your issue of the 18th 
re " Marked trout caught in Deveron," I 
hope the Provost and the Inspector of 
Fisheries will excuse me when I say, "Steady 
old boys," as I can only swallow that trout 
cum grano, A trout is a trout (yclept 
salmo fario, if an ordinary brown one) and 
if he ever attains the size of 6 lb. in the 
old country, my experience is that he's a 
very old trout, indeed, but no doubt there are 
exceptions to the general rule. Was that 
trout really a brown trout, a sea trout, a 
grilse or a young whale ? The statement 
would not be at all a surprising one for 
Ceylon, where the climate and abundant food 
seem far more conducive to rapid growth 
than home conditions. 
I have a well-authenticated case of a trout 
having increased from 1 lb. to 3^ lb. here in 
6 months, but perhaps better not tell this 
to the Lord Provost or Mr. Inspector, as it 
might lead to a terrible waste of salt and 
strong language.— Yours faithfully, 
PISOATOR. 
The "AGRICULTDRALLEDaER"— 1902— NcI.— 
Indian Tanning Materials. A list of the raw 
stuffs of India which contain tannin, with notes 
on their composition and the preparation of 
extracts, by Mr D Hooper, pes. 
THE KAN AN DEVAN HILLS PRODUCE 
COMPANY, LIMITED. 
The report of the directors for the year ending 30th 
November, 1901, to be submitted to the fifth annual 
meeting to be held at 22, West Nile Street, Glasgow, 
on Friday, the 18th July, 1003, at noon. 
The Directors beg to submit their report for the 
year ending 30th November, 1901. 
The tea crop obtained from the Companv's Estates 
amounted to 2,031,235 lb. compared with 1,441,695 lb. 
in 1901). While larger crops were gathered at both 
the Northern and Southern Indian properties than in 
the previous year, the yield from the latter, owing to 
unfavourable weather, was considerably short of the 
estimate. Latest reports as to the condition of the 
young plants are satisfactory, and point to the Estates 
as they come into full bearing giving a large average 
yield per acre. The price realised was 7.23d per lb. 
which is disappointing, but a distinct improvement 
in quality is expected by the local management 
as the Estates generally mature. The yield of Coffee 
was 1,49.T cwts, and the Cinchona Crop amounted to 
251,537 lb. 
For some considerable time past, in view of the 
adverse circumstances affecting the tea-growing 
industry, the Directors have had under consideration 
the terms of the Agreement between the Company and 
its managing agents. While It was recognised that at 
the time the agreement was entered into its terms were 
reasonable, the agents, on being approached, expressed 
themselves as perfectly willing to consider a re- 
arrangement, and they voluntarily offered in future, 
during the continuance of the present depression in tea, 
and, while reserving their rights under the agreement, 
to restrict their charges as agents of this Company to 
their actual outlay, plus a Commission of 3 per cent on 
the nett profits. The managing agents have also, in 
view of the disappointing results of last season's 
working, voluntarily agreed to give npto the Company, 
for the beneiit of the revenue account of 1901, the 
whole of their Commission for that year; and the 
London Agents have also agreed to return one-half of 
their Commission. 
Given effect to the concessions referred to in the 
preceding paragraph, the accounts show a balance at 
credit of profit and loss account of £15,989-4-5. Against 
this sum are chargeable ; — Commission on profits to 
estate managers and Secretaries, interest, discount on 
bills, &c., and interim dividend at the rate of 6 per 
cent, per annum for the six months ended 31st May, 
1901, paid to the preference shareholders on 15th 
June, 1901. which total £11,661-1-3, leaving a balance 
of £4,328-3-2. Out of this the Directors propose to 
pay a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum 
on the preference shares for the 6 months ended 30th 
November, 1901, payable on Monday, 28th July, 
1902, which will absorb £3,000 and leave a balance 
of £1,328-3-2 to be carried forward to the following year. 
No new tea or coffee extensions are in progress or 
contemplated, but the planting of Cinchona is being 
continued through the existing cultivation in Travan- 
core, and a few acres of specially suitable fresh land 
will be put out in 1902. The area of the Company's 
estates, which have now been practically all surveyed, 
aggregates 15,861 acres. 
The estimates of crop for the current year are 
2,962,480 lb of tea. 1,587 cwt. of coffee, and 239,,500 lb 
of cinchona. 
Efforts continue to be made to increase the con- 
sumption of Indian and Ceylon Teas elsewhere than 
in the United Kingdom, and more particularly in 
America and Russia, for both of which countries the 
Directors believe the teas produced by this Company's 
Travancore Estates are specially suitable. Producers 
in India have started an organisation for increasing 
tea-drinking amongst the native population, and it 
is hoped that in time an appreciable quantity will 
be consumed there. This scheme receives the support 
of the Directois, who are glad to report that soma 
progress has already been made, 
