Nov, 1, lao?.] 
THE TROPICAIj AORICUVi'C/llIST. 
THE DUCKWARI (CEYLON) TEA 
PLANTATION CO., LIMITED. 
REPOET BY THE DIRKCTOES TO THE TWELFTH 
ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OP THE COMPANY. 
17 Philpot Lane, London E C Sept. 
The Direotova beg to submit the accounts for the 
year ending Jnne 30fch, 1902. 
Inclading the balance brought forward from last 
year, and after writing off ten per cent depreciation 
in value of Machinery and Buildings, the balance 
at credit of Profit and Loss Account, oabject to 
Income Tax, is .. .. £1,506 5 6 
From this has to be deducted an interim 
Dividend of 3i per cent on Preference 
Shares, paid February 11th 1902 420 0 0 
Leaving ... ... .. £1,086 5 6 
which it is proposed to appropriate as follows; — 
(1) To pay 2 per cent arrears in 
Preference Dividend ... J;'-210 0 0 
2j To pay 3^ per cent Dividend 
on Preference Shares . . 120 0 0 
(3) To pay 2^ per cent Dividend 
on Ordinary Shares . . 200 0 0 
4) To carry forward balance to 
next year 226 5 6 
£1,086 5 6 
The returns of crop have been 320,070 lb. Tea and 
14,283 lb. Cardamoms, against 301,530 lb. Tea and 
8,779 lb. Cardamoms in previous season. 
The past twelve months have again been very un- 
favorable for Tea owing to the continued excessive 
supplies. On the other hand, the Company has much 
benefited by the large crop of CarJamoms received, the 
same being 5,2831b. in excess of expectation. 
The estimates for the coming season are 300,000 lb. 
Tea and 10,000 lb. Cardamoms. 
The machinery and buildings are maintained in a 
good state of repair. 
Mr Spench retires from the Direction by rotation, 
and being eligible, offers himself for re-election. 
The Auditors, Messrs. Beown, Fleming and Murray, 
also retire, and offer themselves for re-appointment. 
G, P. Spence. Chairman. R. Cross Aitken, Secretary. 
GA.ME PROTECTION AND HUNTING 
IN THE HILLS OF CEYLON. 
Mr W Ormiston, Hon. Secy, of the flaputale 
Branch of the COPS, writes to our contemporary 
as follows : — 
The only fault I have to find with the form of license 
agreed on at the meeting, is the inclusion of the old 
limit "over 4,000 feet elevation," 
This is the main point on which oar fight took place 
a, year ago, and it was then unanimoush/ agreed that 
the limit should be country allot ed for hunting to 
the Jcnife bij registered pads,' 
The boundarie'5 of this country, in the province of 
Uva, were agreed on by the Assistant Conservator of 
Forest, Hill Reserves (Mr Spenoe), and myself ; and I 
have sent them to the Government Agent, Uva, 
because a small corner of Uva is occasionally hunted 
by a knifing pack (I understand the Horton Plains 
were only hunted once last year^, the shooting of 
game over 4,000 feet elevation has been entirely pro- 
hibited and is now to be limited to stalking. 
Tae minority may hive their rights, but snrely 
those of the majority reqiiire some consideration. 
Another (luestion which might, with advantage, have 
been discussed is that of limiting the number allowed 
to be killed under each license. When shootin(/ in the 
Southein Province, I am limited to Wrecsambhur(two 
backs and one doe) ; if I hunt with knife in the Hills, 
there ia no limit in number or sex. 
1 have been asked to bring this qiiestion forward at 
tjjeoexc geueral meeUng. 
45 
RUBBER IN TOBAGO BOTANIO STATION. 
In April, 1000 ten plants were put out into the 
open K'ouucl, and in May, 1902 are in flower. In 
the young .state the trees assume a .shrubby ap- 
pearance, but later takes on its true aboreou.s 
character. I have seen trees of this rubber [which 
rubber?— Ed. CO.] 80—100 feet in height in the 
forest beiiincl Lagos. Even in a young state tliia 
tree produces latex wliicli readily coagulate.s. 
The following table shows the growth of the 
various rubbers at the station :— 
Castilloa elastioa plan'ed 1900 19 feet 
llevea Bruzilier.ais do ... 17 do 
Fuutumia elastica do .,10 do 
Manihot Glaziovii ... ... 15 do 
Casfcilloa and Fuutumia liave both produced 
flowers. 
RUBBER STATISTICS. 
Congo. — The British Consul at Congo, in hia 
report of the trade during the year 1901, states 
that by far the most important article of export 
continued to be rubber, which accounted for 
£1,758,683 in special and £1,807,327 in general 
commerce, out of tiie tetals of £2,019,536 and 
£2,160,302 respectively. According to destination 
the exports of rubber were divided as follows 
Value. 
Special General 
Destination, Commerce. Commerce. 
(including transit) ■ 
£ £ 
Belgium ..1,713,992 1,747,323 
Netherlands .. 43,167 56,992 
Germany .. 272 433 
United Kingdom .. '188 ],162 
Other Countries .. 185 1,417 
Total £1,758,638 £1>807,327 
German East Africa.— The prospects of the 
rubber trade here are not very promising : the 
value of that exported having fallen from £66,839 
in 1899 to £52,933 in 1900. Efforts are being 
made to arrest the depression that threatens this 
trade, and the stations in the rubber districts are 
making extensive experiments with the planting 
of new trees. 
Cameeoons.— Rubber is one of the most impor- 
tant articles of native trade, though, inconsequence 
of the falling-off of the supply in those parts of 
the country from which it has hitherto been 
obtained, it is only by the opening-up of fresh 
districts that the trade can be kept to its present 
standard. 
Vera Cruz.— Rubber passed through Vera Cruz 
during the two years from July 1st 1899, to 
June 30th, 1901, to the amount of (1899 1900) 
85 tons, value £20,406, (1900 01) 60 tons, value 
£13,512, being a decrease of £6,894. 
MOLLENDO. — Mr Vice Consul Robilliard reports 
as follows for the year 1901 : -The rubber in- 
dustry still occupies a good deal of attention, 
and altlnugh the quantity shipped this year only 
exceeds last year's output by fifteen tons, this 
is aocounted for by the fact that large quanti- 
ties are being prepared in tha interior reaily to 
ship when the dry weather sets in, which will 
be from the beginning of April. A few remarks 
on th'S dilHculties that mxy attend this industry 
may be of interest. From the time of landiiig 
here, about (ifteen days will be occupied in 
travelling by train, steamer, mule and canoe to 
get to the rubber districts. The lirst range of 
