May 1, 1900.] tHfe TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
TEA IN THE ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 
CONVICT-WOEKliD TE\ GARDENS ; 
DEAD LOSS IN EACH CASE. 
An experimental tea gardeu was first comraenced in 
the Andaman Islands in the year 1876, tea seed being 
planted in nursery beds in February of that year. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Berkeley took charge of the plaut- 
Btion on the 12th April, 1880, and found, on taking over 
charge, that the trees had growing very tall, soma 
being as much as eight feet high. The experiment 
proved a success, and a source of profit to Government 
at tho time. The " Report on the Administration of 
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for 1898-99," jast 
published, furnishes us with some interesting informa- 
tion relative to tho present condition of tea cnltivation 
in the Andamans. There are three tea gardens : oue 
at Navy Bay, one at Goplakabang, and one at Kalating. 
THE GARDEN AT NAVY BAY 
was in charge of Mr. A J King during the year 1898- 
99. He reports that the season was very unfavourable, 
due entirely to unseasonable weather. The year 
opened favourably and continued so until the 8th 
of May. Unfavourable weather was then experienced 
for the rest of the year, with small breaks. The total 
area under plant is 301J acres. No new land was 
cleared. The whole garden was as well cultivated as 
circumstances permitted, and portions were manured 
with cow-dung and castor cake respectively. 
The outturn was 48,300 lb. only against 55,021 lb. 
during the previous year. The shortage was due to the 
very unfavourable weather experienced daring the 
greater portion of the year, as also to inadequate 
supply of labour, whereby the necessary cultivation 
had to be restricted. The cost of manufacture 
averaged nine annas 2J, pies per lb., against five annas 
10 pies per lb. during the previous year a id five 
annas 8J pies duriug 1896-97. There was a loss, as 
was to be expected. The report states that: — ''The 
sale proceeds of 47,286 lb. was a little under six annas 
one pie per lb. against six annas one pie during 1897- 
98 , so that the net less per lb. equalled three annas Ij; 
pie after charging for convict labour and local material 
in addition to cash expenditure. The profit per lb. 
during 1897-98 was three pies." The garden being 
Government property, situated in a penal settlement 
and worked by convict labour, it matters little whether 
it yields a profit or not as it is simply a case of taking 
money out of one packet and placing in the other. 
"With regard to prospects, Mr. King states that if 
anything like favourable weather is experienced during 
the remaining months of 1899-1900, he anticipates 
manufacturing 64,000 lb. of tea. It is to be hoped, 
however, that tlds will again not be at a net loss of 
three annas per lb. The contract rate at which tea is 
supplied to the Burma and Madras Commissariat 
Departments is five annas 11 04 pies per lb. BIr. 
Minto held charge of the 
GOPLAKABANG OAllDEN 
to the 2ad of February, 1899, when ho proceeded on 
leave, handing over charge to Mr. A J King, who 
reports that the first eight months of the year under 
review were fairly favourable, This was followed by 
heavy rain, which did considerable damage. 
From December 1898 to the end of March, 
1899, the season was most unfavourable, no rain 
falling. This was the longest and most severe drought 
experienced for very many years, and to this, and 
other causes, is due a deficit of 23,745 lb. in the 
outturn during the year. The chief cause, however, 
was insufficiency of labour. Thread Blight has also 
been steadily increasing yearly and causing great 
damage. The total area of this garden is 187 acres. 
The gardeu was cultivated as much as an inadequate 
labour force permitted. The yield of leaf taken 
off the nurseries was not good. The crop of tea 
manufactured was 25,460 lb. against an outturn of 
49,2051b. during 1897-98, showing thus a deficit of 
23,745 1b, The cost of manufacturing the year's crop 
averaged 12 annas 7| pies per ib. against 5 annas and 
6'i pies per lb. during the previous year. The sale 
proceeds of 13,192 llj. of tea, says th? rejJort, y/as 3 
P3 
aunas and 9i pies per lb. against 5 annas per Ib.- 
during 1897-98, so that the loss per pound was 8 annas ; 
and 10 pies, against 6 aunas and | pies during 1897- ' 
98, after charging for convict labour cost of machi- 
nery and local material. Comment is superfluous 
further than to remark that we do not understand 
why this garden is not abandoned. The total loss on 
tho year's transactions, according to the accounts 
submitted, was 1116,976. Mr. A. J. King held charge 
OF THE KAL.\TANO GABDEN 
also from the 2nd of February, 1899. This is an 
indigenous planted garden. The season, on the whole, 
was unfavourable. The area of the garden is 30 acres 
only. It was attacked by Thread Blight, which, how- 
ever, disappeared after a time. The outturn of tea 
from this garden exceeded its estimate by 4,600 lb. 
The bushes were regularly clipped throughout the 
year, and the yield was 21,6001b,, as against an out-;- 
turn of 16,830 lb. duriug the previous year. This 
yield gives for the 30 acres, 9 maunds per acre, a very 
satisfactory crop. The cost of manufacture was 3 . 
aunas and 5 pies xier lb. against 3 annas and 4 pies 
per lb. last year. The sale proceeds of 13,480 lb. was 
4 annas and 2* pies per lb. against 4 aunas 9Jpie3 per 
lb. during the previous year and 4 annas 9J pies per 
lb. duriug 1896-97, so that the net profit per lb. equalled 
9i pies, after all charges, against a profit of 1 anna 
5i pies per lb. during 1897-98. The report, however, 
states that — "After deducting these book charges, the 
account exhibits a loss of Bl,052 as compared with a 
net profit of R625 during 1897-98. This is said to be 
due entirely to the failure of the Burma Commis- 
sariat Department to fulfil its part of the tea contract. 
Mr. King expects an outturn of 22,000 lb. of tea daring 
1899-1900 if the conditions are at all favourable. 
Taken all in all the conditions of tho tea industry as 
at present existing in the Andaman Islands are by no 
means inviting.—Planter. 
PLANTING IN BRITISH NEW GUINEA. 
Some months ago two younp; men asked me to 
<^\ve them some information on British New 
Guinea and what likely success would attend them 
on taking up a block of land. Within the last 
few days I oboained particulars from the Surveyor- 
General, Queensland, of land now open lor settle- 
ment, and, as the |>rice and condilions are so 
favourable, I have extiacted fronj the documenk 
the following particulars :— The blocks of land on 
the south coast ot the Central district range 
from 1,280 acres to 4,500 acres, and I classified as 
agricultural and pasturage. They are situated on 
Cloudy Bay, Cape Kodney, Velerupu Kiver, 
V/ aipara River, and Kemp Welch River. In the 
Central district the area of the blocks range from 
5,000 acre.s to .326,000 acres, and ara situated on 
Brown and Laloke rivers, south of Laloke Eiver, 
Vanapa River, Galle.y Reach, and Cape Suckling, 
and are similarly classified as the above. In the 
Western district only one block of 21,200 acres, on 
the Oriomo River, of agricultural and pasturage 
lands is gazetted. The price is subject 
to arrangement with the Government, but not to 
be less than 2s 6d per acre for agricultural land,, 
free hold ; 6d per acre for jjasturage land, freehold ; 
6d per acre for agricultural land, leasehold ; Id per 
acre lor pasturage land, leasehold. The 
improvement conditions, also under the same con- 
ditions as price, are 2s 61 per acre agricultural 
land, to be effected within live years ; 23 per acre 
pasturage land, to be elfected within five years, 
exclusive of residential buildings. The latter, in 
respect of large pastoral blocks, is far too exces- 
sive. For instance, on the 326,000-block adverti- 
sed, which is classified agricultural and pasturage, 
the outlay would mean something like £40,000, 
or £8,000 per year. In the inesenc state of pro- 
gress BO individual coinjpauy could see its way 
