624 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST [March 1, 1900. 
the necessary time that is required in attending to 
the business connected with these two important 
bodies. 
Government Officials. — In oonclusion, your Com- 
mittee talce this opportunity of asking you to express 
your thanks to onr worthy Government Agent, Mr. 
Baumgartner, for the very f?reat interest he has 
always shewn for advanciug the prosperity and deve 
lopment of this province: Your thanks are also due 
to the Provincial Engineer and his staff for all they 
have done for us daring the year. 
His Excellency the Governor. — Your Committee 
take this opportunity of congratulating His Excel- 
lency Sir West Ridgeway upon his complete recovery 
from his late serious illness and feel sure they are 
only echoing the voice of this Association in heartily 
welcoming him back to the Colony. 
Ceylon Contingent. — Tour Committee wish here 
to record the pride they feel, in thiit four gallant 
members from this Association have joined the Con- 
tingent which is now on its way to fight for our Queen 
»nd country ; we heartily wish them " God Speed " 
Md a Mfe retui'n back amongst us. 
PALMERSTON TEA COMPANY. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
The Directors have now to submit their Fourth 
Annual Report and Accounts being those for the 
year ending 31st December last. The yield of Tea 
during the period has been 208,828 lb., costing cts. 
28'08. as against cts. 29"55 last year, and realising 
46-63 as against 46'12. 
As will be seen from the accounts the net profits for 
the year amount to R23,727-24 after writing off the 
sum of R5,318-10 for depreciation on Factory and 
Machinery. An interim dividend of 2J per cent was 
paid on 7th August absorbing RIO, 250, and the 
Directors recommend that a final dividend of 3 per 
cent be declared, making a total of per cent 
for the year and leaving a sum of Rl,177-24 to be 
carried forward. 
Mr. W Sandys-Thomas visited the estates in Jan. 
and found everything generally in a satisfactory 
condition. A copy of his report is annexed for the 
information of the Shareholders. 
In terms of the Articles of Association Mr W 
Sandys-Thomas now retires from the Board but is 
eligible for re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor for the current 
year rests with the Meetiag. 
By order of the Directors, 
Bois Brothers & Co., 
Agents and Secretaries. 
ACKEAOB OF THE ESTATE. 
Total. 
459 
4 
463 
19 
7 
4 
493 
493 
Lbs. Per Acre. 
116,099 Tea — 456 lb. 
93,584 „ — 456 „ 
QHeeus- 
Palmers 
land. 
ton. 
Tea in Bearing .. 
254 
205 
Young Tea 
4 
Total Tea 
258 
205 
Jungle 
19 
Timber 
7 
Grass, &g. 
4 
Total Acreage 
.. 281 
212 
Yield off Queens- 
land 
Palmerston 
N. 5.— Included in Queensland is the sum of R4,700 
spent on Manure, which is equal to 4ct3. per lb. on 
Queensland Tea. 
It is curious that the yield off the two Estates 
should be tbe same per acre. Palmerston with maiiure 
will, I am sure, increase in yield more than Queens- 
land has done as the soil is better, except on small 
patolies here and there where Palmerston is poor. 
Manuring will be continued on Qneenslaml and 
commenced on Palmerston, on Queensland about 70 
acres will be tackled, and on Palmerston about 40 
Palmerston will also do about 15 acres with cattle 
manure. 
Capital Expenditure. On Palmerston none is 
required during the coming year, but on Queensland 
a new Boiler is wanted. 
The cost of Tea per pound after deducting the ex- 
penditure on capital account for buildings, i.e., R4,131. 
comes to 28 08, as compared with 29 55 in 1898 and 
32 18 in 1897. 
Both Estatec are in good order throughout. 
Coolies are sufficient on Queensland, and on Palmers- 
ton the extra 30 coolies wanted will soon be supplied. 
The estimate for 1900 is as follows : — 
Total off 459 
Acres Tea . . 2091,683 lb. 456 lb. 
Expenditure per pound of tea as per Reports is as 
( oUowB, after deducting Capital Expenditure on build- 
Queensland 28'21 
Palmerston .. «. 27'07 
Queensland 
Palmerston 
Total 
125,000 lb, 
98,000 .. 
223,000 lb. 
AUSTRALIAN OYSTERS' CULTURE. 
Australian oysters are cheap and plentiful, being 
retailed in Sydney at from sixpence to one shilling 
per plate or bottle. The consumption is enormous, 
lasting throughout the year, and amounting; to 
several millions of bivalves annually. The whole 
of the New South Wales coast is admirably adapted 
for oyster culture. The climate, the nature of the 
coastline, v itii its innumerable inlets and creeks, 
and the natural existence in several varieties of the 
bivalve itself, all combine to mark its suitability 
for the culture. At the present time, for the pur- 
pose of oyster culture, the Colonial Government 
grant leases of the foreshores of tidal waters, which 
may be defined as between the mean high and 
mean low water mark. The rental is 20s. per 
annum for every 100 linear yards. The maximum 
length for which a lease may be obtained is 2,000 
yards. There is but little doubt, says Mr. Coghlan, 
the New South Wales Government Statistician, 
that the establishment of "pares," like those which 
may be seen along the coasts of France and 
Belgium, where oyster culture is conducted on 
scientific principles, would be remunerative, as the 
demand for this delicacy is great, and continually 
increasing. There is, indeed, a wide field for le- 
munerdtive eniploynient in this direction, and ex- 
perts in tlie art of oyster culture would find every 
possible facility placed at their disposal. During 
the year 1897, 14,7ol bags of oysters were obtained 
from the tidai waters of the colony, being a satis- 
factory increase on the takes of previous years ; 
while in addition to this supply, 2,767 bags of 
oysters were imported from other colonies, their 
value being set down at £3.103. In 1898 the quan- 
tity imported was 7,110 bags, value £5,322 ; of 
which 6,236 bags came from New Zealand, 550 bags 
from Queensland, 282 bags from South Austialia, 
30 bags from Victoria, and 12 bags from Tas- 
mania. A bag of oysters contains 3 bushels, and 
at the beginning of 1899 the price per bag of good 
oysters in Sydney ranged from 35s. to 40s, — 
journal oj the Society of Arts, Feb. 9. 
