THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Nov. 1, 1899. 
this sort of tliinp; in England, or Ceylon, an'l I 
mast confess I do not see how Hagenbeck's 
wisiies are to be met. 
CEYLON TEA AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION. 
I have liad a lonj; interview with the manager of 
Messrs. Lipton, Limited, tea Department. He has 
agreed to sell and advertise a blend of pure CoyloH 
tea, to advertise Ceylon tea extensively at his tea 
house and all over Paris, and to appoint agents all 
over France for the sale of liis teas and Ceylon teas. 
In addition to the Blends of Ceylon Tea, he is to 
sell a Blend of Ceylon and China, and he is to 
give a guarantee that this blend will contain 50 
per cent of Ceylon tea. If he carries out these 
promises, I have agreed to give him a grant next 
year, for advertising purposes. We must never 
forget that Ceylon tea made its way at first in 
Great Britain by being mixed with China, and I 
think we must follow suit in France and (iermany, 
but at the same time get men to advertise pure Cey- 
lon tea and keep it asked for. — Yours very truly, 
(Signed) J. H. RENTON. 
F. G. A. Lane, Esq. 
DDKWARI (CEYLON) TEA PLANTATION 
CEYLON. 
The Directors have pleasure in submitting tke ac^ 
counts for the year ending June 30th :— 
The balance of profit and loss account, after writ- 
ing off ten per cent. Depreciation on value of machi- 
nery and buildings, is . . . . £2,914 8 4 
which the Directors propose should 
be applied as follows : — 
(1) In payment of seven 
per cent. Dividend 
on preference shares. . £840 0 0 
(2) In payment of seven 
per Cent. Dividend 
on ordinary shares , . 560 0 0 
1,400 0 0 
Leaving .. .. £1,514 8 4 
to be carried forward to next year. 
The returns of crop have been 277,408 lb. tea and 
10,012 lb. Cardamoms, against 229,670 lb. tea and 
12,655 lb. cardamoms last season. The large increase 
in tea is to be attributed to the free use of artificial 
and bulk manures. 
The estimates for the coming season are 300,000 lb. 
Tea and 12,000 lb. Cardamoms. 
The only Capital Expenditure during the year has 
been the purchase of a Roll Breaker and Sifter, cost- 
ing £5 153. 20d. 
Mr. Spence retires from 'ihe Direction by rotation 
1- and. being eligible, offers himself for re-election. 
The Auditors, Messrs. Brown, Fleming and Murray, 
also retire, and offer themselves for re-appointment. 
CEYLON TEA IN MELBOURNE. 
ALFRED HARVEY & CO.'.S EKPORT. 
Cetlon.— Shipments from Colombo are 6,980,000 lb., 
as against 6,410,000 lb. at same time last year. 
Locally, arrivals have not been heavy, but have been 
painfully lacking in flavour and character, and in 
combination with high lay-down costs have been 
difficnlt to move. The want of careful manufacture 
has again been decidedly in evidence. The latest 
shipments, however, have contained a few breaks with 
good point, which indicate improved production. The 
market in Colombo is reported to have made a 
strong advance in sympathy with London buying and 
the increased demand from all parts of the world. 
Stocks in bond on the 10th instant were 449,986 lb. 
In Sydney during the month imports consisted prin- 
cipally of low to medium broken pekoes, ruling from 
7id to 9d ; the few lines showing c|uarlity realisetl fuU 
rates from lid to Is Id. Pekoe Bouchonga and pekO'^B 
were not in full supply, and were neglected by buyers 
in favour of Indian leaf, which showed better value in 
comparison. — Sept. 27. 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
Planting in Centeal Africa. — There are worse 
places for planters in some respects than British 
Central Africa. Of course capital ia wanted, but the 
labour market is the cheapest in the world, the rate 
being about three shillings a month — paid in calico. 
Land is cheap, and will grow anythiug, and give 
enormous crops. On the other hand, it cannot be said 
to be a healthy country. There is a heavy, continuous 
rainfall for eix months, the climate is malarious, and 
as black- water fever is prevalent, the death-rate is high. 
Whites fare well ; Indian cooks, veritable chefs, are 
employed. There is no variety in the food, the staple 
is " chicken," but the game is excellent. Order 
is kept by a stand army of 300 Sikhs with white officers. 
The Deputy Commissoner commands the British 
Central Arican Rifles, which consist of two battalions of 
natives, one of which is at the depot in Mauritius. The 
best coffee in the world comes from Nayasaland ; 
it fetches the highest prices, and so does the tobacco. 
The planters are mostly Scotch, A good deal of 
rubber is also finding its way through the Protec- 
torate from the Chartered Company's territory 
north of the Protectorate. 
Tea Retailing Dodgers. — The competition in tea re- 
tailing must be acut? indeed, Judging by the dodges 
resorted to for the purpose of inducing sale. " The 
Grocer " refers to a circular issued by a gentleman 
who announces that he has just returned to the home 
of his parents. His relatives were generous to places 
of worship, one of their gifts being an organ." 
Having come to reside in his native town he trusts 
his fellow-townsmen — especially Christians — will buy 
his " fine teas." It is his intention not to call for 
orders unless requested. In another instance some- 
body's brand of tea is referred to, to push the sale 
nf which the "somebody" is '• giving away " £300 in 
money prizes. The tea rauges from Is 4d to 23 8d per 
lb. and senders of the fir^t forty orders opened each 
morning will have the amount sent returned with 
the goods, and two or three shillings to boot. 
Planting Teoubles in Brazil. — Financial trouble 
in Brazil is having a serious effect on the coffee 
industry. The rise in the value of the milreis and 
the uncertainty of the power of the Government to 
maintain it paralyses trading in every direction. — 
Borne and Colonial Mail, Sept. 29, 
" All ABOUT Rubber." — The further title of this 
handbook mentions that it deals with " all varie- 
ties in all countries, with harvesting and prepara- 
tion, and gutta-percha.'' Therefore, Mr. J. 
Ferguson has launched out upon a large and im- 
portant subject, with which, as editor of the 
Cei/lon Observer and the Tropical Agriculturist he 
has proved himself qualified to deal. The volume 
is destined to be the India-rubber Planters' Manual, 
and it " includes the latest statistics and informa- 
tion, more particularly in regard to cultivation 
and scientific experiments in Trinidad and Ceylon." 
Havinj^ mentioned the scope of the book, and the 
fact tliat Mr. Ferguson may be trusted both as 
regards original writing and the sources from 
wliich he draws his quotations, it is merely neces- 
sary to add that all directly or indirectly interested 
in the India-rubber industry must acknowledge the 
convenience of obtaining so much valuable in- 
formation in a handy form. Publishers— London : 
J Haddon & Co.; Lnzac & Co.; Kegan Paul, 
Trench, Trnbner& Co. Also issued from Colombo, 
Singapore, and i&y&,— Gardeners' Chronich, 
Sept. 16, 
