Aug. 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
97 
India, stating that that body had been informed 
by the Madras Government that the Government of 
India was prepared to allot space to the Indian Tea 
Association and to the United Planters' Association for 
an adequate exhibition of tea and coffee at the 
Paris Exhibition. The Government of India also 
suggested that should the two Associations desire to 
avail themselves of the offer, the arrangements might 
be most conveniently carried out by a Central Com- 
mittee working in London. The Planters, Association 
wished to act as far as possible in concert with the 
Indian Tea Association, and it was asked in the 
letter if any definite plan of action had been formu- 
lated. They were also desirous that a coffee room 
should be opened in co-operation with the tea room. 
After some discussion, it was decided to forward 
copies of both the letters quoted to the Committee ot 
the dissociation in London for their information in 
connection with the arrangements being made. It was 
also decided to write the United Planters' Association 
to the effect that the General Committee were not 
yet in a position to state definitely what arrange- 
ments would finally be made for the representation of 
Indian tea, or whether the Committee in London could 
work in conjunction with the representatives of the 
coffee industry if the latter desired to exhibit. It was 
also to be suggested to the United Planters' Associa- 
tion that they should put themselves in communication 
with the Indian Tea Association, London, stating the 
amount of mohey they were prepared to spend in con- 
nection with the Exhibition and the space desired for 
both tea and coffee. The Nilgiri Planters' Association 
were to be informed in reply to their letter, that the 
matter had been brought to the notice of the General 
Committee by the United Planters' Association to 
which body they were to be referred. — 31adras Mail, 
June 13. 
^ 
THE STOWAGE OF OIL. 
The last siiliject was to present the report of 
the special committee appointed to consider the 
question of stowaj^c of oil in steamers loading 
in ('eylon, which we published in our last issue. 
APPROVED OF BY THE CEYLON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR 
THE GUID.4.NCE OF CAPTAINS AND STEVEDORES OF 
STEAMERS LOADING IN CEi'LON. 
I. General Eules. — A solid level to be laid in ship's 
hold for the ground tier where coconut oil is shipped. 
The tier to be well bedded and quarter coigned, and a 
strict cantline to be observed. 
Wings of bottom tier to be made up with dunnage 
wood. No small packages to be stowed in the wings, 
unless they can be protected from the weight of the 
next and followirg tiers above. This can be done by 
having uprights in wing, and strong cross-beds to 
rest on. 
• It is permissible to stow plumbago over oil, but not 
oil over plumbago. 
Top tier in lower hold and top tier in 'tween decks 
must be well chocked and wedged off to prevent shift- 
ing. Tins Tide should hai^e pcuiicular attention. No 
packages to be stowed athwart-ship except in top tier. 
"Vessels without 'tv/eeu decks must lay one or a plat- 
form with 2" hardwood planks not mote than 6" 
apart. 
Copra, jaggery, dates, and other cargo throwing off 
heat must not he stowed in proximity to oil, as this 
is sure to lead to leakage by the heat shrinking the 
wood of the packages and expanding the hoops and 
oil. Termeric, ginger, pepper, &c,, should be well 
dunnaged off, so as to prevent contact with oil 
packages. 
II. Coconut Oil Packages to be well bedded and 
coigned, and a strict cantline and tier to be kept. 
Casks must be well chocked off with dunnage wood 
and be stowed bung-up and bilge free. No more 
than 4 tiers of pipes to be allowed without an inter- 
vening platform as described above. No packages to 
be stowed athwart-ship except in top tier. 
III. Plumbago. — When commencing to stow 
plumbago on oil a perfect level should first be made 
with dunnage so as to form a platform. The barrels 
to be stowed in square tiers full bilge and cantline, 
and to be well bedded in the first tier. 
Particular care should be taken that the barrels 
are stowed in such a manner that the head staves 
are perpendicular. 
Old sails and (oi) mats to be put under the pliunbao-o 
so as to enable the discharging Stevedore to readily 
collect sweepings from leakage and broken barrels. 
No more than three tiers with oil, and five tiers 
where no oil, to be allowed without an intervening 
deck, and no barrels to be stowed athwart-ship ex- 
pect in top tier, and then only to make a chock. 
IV. Essential Oil should bestowed away from any 
cargo liable to be affected by smell. 
V. Dunnage Wood to be used in sufficient quantity 
to properly bed, chock, and secure cargo so as to pre- 
vent any possibility of shifting. 
VI. Ventilation requires particular attention of 
Captains. If properly carried out by removing fore 
and aft batch in cool and fine weather, it will chill 
the oil and prevent all leakage. Coconut oil will 
congeal at a temperature of fiO° F. 
VII. Packages in Bad Order and showing signs of 
leakage should not be stowed away until properly 
attended to by shipper's coopers. If the defect be 
serious and cannot be repaired on board, the package 
must be returned without delay. 
Chamber of Commerce, Colombo, 1st June, 1889. 
COPRA. 
Samoa. — During the last quarter of 1898 no invoices 
were issued at this consulate. Upon inquiry, I find 
that the contract of the German firm with the San 
Francisco merchant has terminated, and that a fair 
price for the commodity cannot be obtained in the 
United States. I am informed that only a trifle more 
than the cost of the copra at this place can be ob- 
tained at San Francisco. During the last year. Lever 
Brothers, of Sydney, had an agent here, and compe- 
tition was sharp. By the last steamer the agent was 
notified that he was no longer needed, and that they 
had constituted the German firm their sole agents. 
This indicates that the entire product of tlie islands 
will from this time go to the colonies or to Europe. 
Rates between San Francisco and Samoa have been 
such that most American commodities consumed here 
are sent to Sydney, and thence 2,800 miles to Apia, 
and delivered here much cheaper than they could be 
obtained direct from San Francisco, The tariff 
direct from San Francisco is $16 per marine 
ton, and from Vancouver to Sydney $(> per ton. 
Possibly some arrangement could be made by whicii 
could be sent to Vancouver and thence to Fiji, and 
then here by the interisland boats, which to some 
extent would relieve this place from the excessive rates 
from San Francisco. — United States Consul at Apia, 

SOUTH iMYSORE PLANTERS' ASSOCIA- 
TION. 
The annual general meeting was held at 
Munzerabad Club, Saklaspur, on the SOtli ultimo ; 
and from a speech of Mr, A.R. Park (President),wc 
quote : — 
" It is my pleasant duty to report that the some- 
what gloomy foreboding.? expressed early in the 
year have not been realised, and that the season, 
on the whole, has been a moderately good one. 
The advices of sales of East India tliat have 
reached us indicate a depressed state ot the 
market, which, owing to the increasing production 
in different parts of the world, seems likely to con- 
tinue for some time. The cardamom crop was above 
average, but prices wore lower, ruling from R50 to 
R60 per niaund. Leaf disease has been less pre- 
valent tlian for some years past. Crop prospects 
for the coming year are favorable, and the rain 
which fell in February has not on the whole been 
prejudicial," 
