398 THE TROPICAL AGKICULTURIST. [Dec. 1, 1899. 
being fixed, depends on the price on the London 
market, as is the case with all producers. I 
think we may confidently expect that the prices 
will not diminish, in fact, we may reasonably hope 
that they will considerably improve. I now move 
the adoption of the report and accounts, and be- 
fore putting it to the meeting I shall be very 
pleased to answer any questions, any, shareholder 
may wish to ask. 
ihe proposal was seconded by Mr. W Nevett. 
In reply to questions from Mr. Fort, and Mr. 
Gibson, both of whom, in the course of their 
remarks, congratulated the company on its re- 
sults, the Cliairman stated, as regarded the great 
discrepancy between the income-tax for last year 
and tor this year, the explanation was tliat on 
the one side the income-tax was worked on a 
three years average, and on the other that-* the 
previous two years income-tax came into the cal- 
culation. The cost of shipping the tea in Colombo 
is half a cent, per lb. 
lu reply to a question by Mr. Gibson as to 
the advisability of having an interim re- 
port and dividend, the Chairman said that 
he did not think they could hold out any 
hope as regarded the interim report. It was 
quite an unusual request, and he did not think 
it would be of much utility, in fact, if they took 
last year as an example, when there was a 
very bad season it would go very much against 
the shares. As regarded the interim dividend, it 
was customary for a good many tea companies to 
pay one, but he did not think either that it in- 
fluenced the shares, or that it benefited the share- 
.jholders. However, the directors would consider 
-the suggestion. 
The Chairman then proposed that a dividend 
of 8 per cent should be paid on the ordinary 
shares. This was seconded by Mr. Baumann, 
and carried unanimously. 
On the proposal of the CHAIRMAN, seconded by 
Jklr. Nevett, the retiring director, Mr. itaumann, 
': was unanimously re-elected. 
Mr. Fort proposed, and Mr. Gibson seconded, 
the re-election of the auditor. The motion was 
carried. 
J The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to 
. the Chairman. — Home and Colonial Mail, Oct. 27. 
THE WYNAAD TEA COMPANY, LD. 
The following is from the report to be pre- 
i-'6ented at the fifth annual meeting of share- 
holders, to be held at No. 20, Eastcheap, at the 
office of the Ceylon Tea Plantations Company, 
. Limited, on Monday, 30tb Oct. : — 
'■ The directors, in presenting to the shai'e- 
holders the profit and loss account and 
"balance-sheet for the year ending March 31, 
1899, Avish to explain that the reason the ac- 
counts are for eleven months only, is due to 
a request made by the managing director in India 
■ that the financial year in future shall finish at 
'^the end of March, instead of the end of April as 
i heretofore. The working for the past season has 
resulted in a net profit of £728 2s 9d, after cre- 
• diting the block account with the proceeds of tea 
f sold from the Cootacovil Estate ; this profit the 
<• directors propose to write off the debit balance 
of last season. The coffee crop turned out fully 
51 tons, and was the largest gathered for some 
years, and the directors were fortunate in having 
J sold it at the high figure of 78s c.i.f., before 
the great fall in the value of coffee took place. 
The pepper crop of about 14 tons was also 
sold for arrival at the satsfactory price of 456 6d 
per cwt., whilst the first pluc-kings of tea, viz , 
about 15 lb. , from the Cootacovil estate from the 
1895 plantings, realised an average of Ihd per lb. 
The net proceeds of tea, cott'ee, and pepper during 
the season 1898-99, after deducting proceeds of 
Cootacovil tea which has been carried to block 
account, amount to £3,957 2s 7d,and the expendi- 
ture in India to £2,413 lis 7d, leaving a credit 
balance of £1,543 lis on the season's operations in 
India. The manager in India reports condition of 
the estates as mostsatisfaclory, andthat the tea leaf 
is coming in so fast that further machinery for roll- 
ing and firing is necessary. He expects to obtain 
more than his estimate of 78,0O0lb for the cur- 
rent season. According to present a|)pearanccs, 
Mr. Walker estimates this season's cott'ee at 18 
to 20 tons, and the pepper crop at about 20 tons, 
The pro.spects for 1900-1 are so inomising that 
the directors confidently look for a yii-ld of about 
150,0001b made tea, and a cofiee crop of about 
40 tons, whilst the pepper crop is likely to be 
quite equal to tliis season's yield, but, of course, 
these are only estimates which may be influenced 
favourably or otherwise, according to the 
weather. The directors have much pleasure 
in stating they have now completed aiTange- 
ments with Messrs. Pi. and J. Hen- 
derson, of 7. Mincing Lane E.C., to finance the com- 
pany as from April 1 last. These gentlemen have 
also undertaken to subscribe for the balance of 
the £8,000 6 per cent, debentures not taken by the 
shareholders. The directors and Mr. Walker have 
subscribed for £500 each, and the shareholders are 
now given the opportunity of securing a good 6 
percent investment with ihe option of turning 
their security into 10 per cent preference shares 
any time prior to the date of repayment of the 
debentures. The acreage under cultivation re- 
mains the same as last year. Dr. In.nan retired 
from the direction during Che early part of this 
year, and according to the articles of association, 
Mr. J C Sanderson retires from the board, and 
being eligible, ofiers himself for re-election. — H 
and C Mail, Oct. 27. 
Sugar and oue North-Centeal Districts. 
— In the note, written in connection with the 
lecture delivered by Mr. Ferguson in London, 
the local "Times " has the following comment: — 
Sir 0. Clementi Smith's suggestion at the debate at 
the Royal Colonial Institute yesterday that sugar and 
palmyra should be tried in the North-Central districts 
is, doubtless, good advice as regardspalmyra, but sugar 
requires a rich soil. The subject of cotton cultivation 
might also be considered in the near future; and the 
Agricultural Department may do good work in follow- 
ing the railway line through the Wanni and the rest 
of the coznparative unknown country south of the 
peninsula. 
NiJPENTHES DiSTiLLATORiA.— Growers of these 
plants should include this interesting species in 
their collection. It was the first species brought 
to the knowledge of botanists, being found in 
Ceylon in 1674 by a Swedish phy.sician named 
Grimm. Dr. Trimen, in his " Flora of Ceylon," 
says that it grows in large quantities around 
Colombo, usually in very wet places. He also says 
the stems are very tough, and are used as ropes. 
The pitcher is about four and a-half inches in 
length, one side being flattened between two cili- 
ated ridges. The colour is for the most part green, 
but is thickly set with sm^ll dark-coloured glands. 
The lid is at first pressed down over the mouth of 
the pitcher, but later it stands erect. This species 
is, I think, synonymous with N. Khasiana.-- 
F. T. BAa.—Amatei(r Gardening, Oct. 21, 
