•June i, 1900.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
815 
now dealt with, and this it is proposed to appro- 
priate as follows : — 
' £ 8 a 
Amount aa above 1,066 13 10 
Interim Dividend of 2-j per 
cent, (free of Income Tax) 
paid in September, 
absorbed £437 10 0 
It is now proposed to pay 
a final Dividend of 2; per 
cent, (free of Income Tax). 
making 5 per cent, for the 
year* absorbing 437 10 0 
87510 0 
lieavlug a balance to carry forwar l of £191 13 10 
The total Tea Crop secured amounted to 302.614 
lb. made Tea, against an estimate of 300,(KX) lb., 
showing an excess of 2,614 lb. over the estimate, 
and an increase of 41,450 lb. on the crop for pre- 
vious year. 
The following figures afford further comparison 
between the season now closed and the preceding 
year. 
Total 1899. 1898. 
Tea Crop secured 302,6141b. 261,1611b. 
Coffee Crop secnred 960 bushels 724 bushels 
Average 
Price realised for Tea 7-509d per lb. 81S2d per lb. 
Rate of Exchange Is 4 29-643 l.s 4 9-32d per 
per Eupee. Eupee. 
; The new central Factory at Poonagalla is now 
practically complete, except for an important ad- 
dition to the withering space, which is now being 
carried out, and wlien this is in good working 
order an improvement in the quality of the Tea 
made is confidently expected. 
As intimated in the Circular issued to the Share- 
holders on 1st February, Catton Estate, adjoining 
the top Boundary of Lunugalla, has been purchased 
for £3 250, and towards providing the necessary 
funds for this purchase and for extending and 
equipping Poonagalla Factory, a Call has been 
made of £2 per share on 2,500 shares. 
Mr. Porter has recently visited the Company's 
Estates, with the condition and appearance of which 
he was greatly pleased, and was confirmed in the 
opinion held by the Board, that the new purchase 
will prove of considerable benefit to the Company. 
In accordance with the Articles of Association, 
Sir George A. Pilkington, M.P., retires from the 
Board, and being eligible, offers himself for re- 
election. 
Messrs. Cape and Dalgleish. C.A., also otter 
themselves for reelection as Auditors for the cur- 
rent year. 
« — 
AUGUSTA TEA ESTATES COMPANY, LTD. 
ANNUAL REPOBT. 
Tlie following is the report submitted at tlie 
third annual general meeting of the shareholders 
of this Company held at the offices of theCompany, 
51, Lime Street, E.C.,on4th April : — 
The directors beg to submit the audited accounts 
for the year closing 31st December, 1899- The 
accounts show a profit of £349 Ss, after paying 
fixed charges ; out of this amount the preference 
dividend has been paid, and the directors propose 
to writeoff the remainder of the preliminary 
expenses account, viz., £130, and £50 off machinery 
account, and to carry forward the small balance. 
The quantity of tea manufactured during the 
year has been 119,596 lb., of which 104,905 lb. 
have been sold in London at an average price of 
6.94 per lb., and 14 691 lb. in Colombo ab an 
average of 31 cents per lb. The average rate of 
exchange has been la 4 13-32d, and the average 
cost of production 28 cents, or 4-60d per lb. f.o.b. 
Colombo. 
The year has been a more favorable one, prices 
have been higher, and the garden has produced 
more tea, and it is hoped that the coming season 
will also prove satisfactory. 
By the articles of Association, Mr. T J Lawrance 
retires by rotation trom the Board, and, bein^' 
eligible, offers himself lor re-election. 
VISIT OF MR, SMITHETT TO CEYLON. 
Mr. Sniithett, senior (of the well-known 
Mincing Lane Firm) who arrived in Ceylon 
some time ago, returned to Colombo 
after a very pleasant visit upcountry. He 
went as far as JBandarawela, and also travei- 
led through Maskeliya, Matale and Dolos» 
bage. He is very much pleased with his 
visit, which has been a most enjoyable one. 
He walked through a number of tea 
and cacao estates, among them being Warla- 
pola where he was shown over by Mr. 
Dickinson, and Pallekele and many others. 
As his trip was mainly on pleasure, he did 
not occupy his time in closely inspecting any 
of the estates or taa factories, although 
during his short stay upcountry, he travelled 
a great deal, covering 20 to 25 miles a day. 
Regarding the future of tea, Mr. Smithett 
is of opinion that Ceylon will hold her own 
for a long time to come, and he does not 
think too much tea is yet made in the island. 
Every pound of tea manufactured is put 
in the market and finds ready buyers, and 
the product is being pushed on in almost all 
parts of the world. Speaking of China tea, 
Mr. Smithett thinks that the Celestials as a 
body are not an exporting nation, hence the 
great fall in their teas. Ceylon is alright in 
his oiDinion as far as tea is concerned. It is 
most probable, Mr. Smithett added, that the 
price of fine teas may keep up and the 
average altogether for last year for Ceylon 
teas was a very good one. On the subject 
of cacao, Mr. Smithett says that the pro- 
duction and consumption of this pro» 
duct is extending in every direction. At the 
beginning of the current "cacao" ye.artheie 
was a shortage in crop and in stock ; but it 
is very likely to be made good before the 
close of the year. 
Mr. Smithett, who is accompanied by the 
Misses Smithett and Miss Wardell, left for 
London on 10th April by the P. & O. ss, 
" Malta." The plan previously made 
was to visit Calcutta and Darjeeling; 
but owing to the prevalence of the plague 
in Calcutta, the arrangement had to be 
altered. 
We trust Mr. Smithett and his party will 
have had a safe and enjoyable return home 
and carried away pleasant recollections of 
their visit to this 
"Eden of the Eastern wave." 
Oranges aku Lemons in profusion (in the Ri= 
viera) han? on their parent trees, and bananas 
ripen, in their second year, in the open air ; the 
ponderous bunches, however, have to be protected 
in wire cages from the depredations of rats, which 
live chietty in the upper branches of the orange 
trees, and take heavy toll of the golden fruit.— 
Travel, 
