THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST [Dec. 1. 1898. 
where consumption of thi.'s animal is one of tlie local 
cust^)ins so di.stastef 111 lo Englishmen. In (Queens- 
land, however, Mr. O'Coi.nor introduces it cluefly in 
the interests of science. "Tiiere," he said, some- 
what regretfully, "we do not want more food, 
only more nioutlis to be filled— that is, of men 
who are not afraid to work, not loafers from 
English towns." Mr. O'Connor, before leaving, 
promised to .send us word, on his arrival, of the 
condition of his croakiiii' charges. 
GRAFTING CACAO. 
(Trinidad, 13th Sept. 1S98.) 
It has no more than one occasion been asked whether 
it is possible to graft Iheohroma Cacoa and hitherto I 
have not been in a position to reply in the affirmative. 
I have now to report for the information of The 
Society that experiments have been carried out at the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, by inarching several varieties 
of Cacao upon young Seedlings with all the success 
that could ba desired ; and I hope that the grafted 
plants will be sufficiently hardened to be sViown at the 
next meeting of the Society. The course pursued has 
been to inarch a branch of a desired variety upon a well 
grown and hdalthy Saedling, and the result has been 
that the union has taken place very freely, and there 
C-in be little do'ibt that in future any desired kind or 
variety can be perpetuated by this means. 
I desire to point out the opening this process will 
afford for the extensive planting of any desired 
varietj or kind, and that it will enable the planter to 
put samples of Cacao upon the mai-ktt with le^s varia- 
tion in size and quality of the Bean than has hitherto 
been possible. 
I also desire to point out, that it may be possible, as 
it is with apples and pears in a temperate climate — 
by grafting weaker growing varieties upon kinds 
having a larger amount of vegetative vigour — to in- 
crease the yield of such kinds as that known as 
"Criollo," to as much as that of the more commonly 
productive varieties. 
It will also be possible to maintain perfectly true, 
any kind which may have arisen frcm seed, on any 
plantation, and to preserve indefinitely any particular 
kind that may be desired. We have yet to prove, 
however, how the grafted plants will thrive, but Judging 
from grafted plants of other kinds I see no reason to 
anticipate that there will be any difficulty nnder this 
head. I recommend the practice as well worth the 
attention of planters who have on their estates single 
trees, which are noted for the quality of the Bean and 
the quality they produce, 
CACAO DISEASE. 
I have been requested by a successful and prominent 
planter, to bring up before The Society the question of 
Disease among Cacao trees in Trinidad for discussion. 
This gentleman has forwarded to me several specimens 
of (so called) diseased Cacao, but after a careful and 
lengthy microscopical examination, I have not been 
able to say that the pods have been destroyed by 
disease. I am free to confess, however, that there is 
possibility of disease arising in any culture, and 
therefore in Cacao ; but I must reprehend as strongly 
as possible the spreading of views that we have 
disease of certain kinds until it has been fully proved 
that such do exist, as it is calculated to do an 
Immense amount of harm to the Cacao Industry. A 
strict watch, however, should be kept for any thing 
which appears to be of a pernicious character, and 
planters w"uld, I think, do well to forward affected 
Bpecimsus to me, to be transmitted to myco!ogical 
authorities, if necessary. So far, I may say, I have 
not found anything of a pernicious character, and I 
should be glad to hear my idea confirmed, that a,i 
present there is little cause for alarm. 
J. H. Hart, f.l,« 
THE GOOMEKA (CEYLON) 
TEA ESTATES COMPANY, LIMITED. 
The following is from the fourth annual report •— 
Ihe accounts, after paying debenture interest 
show a loss of £131 IBs, which, when deducted fiom 
the credit b.-ilance brought forward from last year 
leaves sufficient to pay the pref.-reuce dividend and 
tins has accordingly been satisfied. The resmt of 
Uie year s workiufj has been moht disappointing A. 
drought of ainjost unprecedented seventy, covrrir.K 
the best plucking mouths of the year, rcducfd 
the quantity of tea niannfjictured in Goomera so 
that It turned out 58,000 lb. below last Tear'e 
crop figures. There was also a shortage on flunu- 
galla from the same cause. This large falling-cff 
caused a great increase in the cost per pound of the 
actual crop harvested, so that the pi ices realised 
left a very small margin of profit. Markets for the 
company's class of tea were poor throughout the 
year but had the estimated ctops been obtained » 
dividend would have been earned for the ordinary 
•harcholders. The estates of the company are re- 
ported to be in thoroughly good order. The directors 
believe that the poor results of the last year's work- 
ing do not affect the producing power of the com- 
pany s properly,— i/. and C. Hail, Not. 4. 
KORALE TEA ESTATES, LIMITED. 
The following is from the report of the directers 
to be submitted at the sucond annual ordinary general 
meeting Of sharehoiders, to be held at the office of 
the company on Tuesday next : — 
The net amount at credit of profit and loss account 
after providing for geneml expenses, is fl.CH 19s 2 ' 
to which should be added the balance brought forward 
from June HOlh 1897, i.31 83 Sd. It is pronosed to pay a 
diTidend of 3 per cent., vihich will absorb ^^'l }3fi lu 
and to carry forward a balance a £218 168 lOd The 
year ending J uue oUth has been generally the worst so 
far, experienced in the history of Ceylon tea • in addi 
tion to the upward tendency of the rupee, rice'ha=, a«ain 
been dear and freight higher, owing to the port of 
Calcutta being closed from fear of sprea ins the 
plague In addition to these causes, the islaud has 
suflered from a most unusual drought, and the Ouvah 
side of the country, :where Wewesse is situated 
has not for many years been known to have so 
small a rainfall. This has checked the flush of the 
tea and caused a smaller yield than was expected, 
not only there, but at Glenloch and Karagastalawa 
A new factory with improved machinpry lias been 
erected on Wewesse, and this will enable the tea to 
be better made than hitherto, resulting, the directors 
hope, in a better price in the market. During the 
past year 126 acres have been planted with tea 
on the company's estate. This year the directors 
did not deem it prudent to clear an interim 
dividend but owing to the improvement shown 
in the litter part of the year, are glad to be 
now able to recommend one of 3 per cent for 
the past year on the preference shares, which judg- 
ing by the experience of many other companies dnrin" 
the same period, may be considered a satisfactory 
result. Dur ng the year the directors hare negoti- 
ated a mortgage for £6,000, at 4i per cent, which 
sum is being devotea to the extension of the estates, 
principally VVewesse, and building the new factory 
on that estate, thereby releasing the revenue f-oin 
charges strictly capital. Though the directors fe»l 
great disappointment at the full dividend of 6 per 
cent not having been earned on the preference shares, 
they feel that these shares are an improvi.g pro- 
perty, and that better results may be looked for in 
the future. In concluding their report the directors 
have to expre.-s their general satisfaction with the 
work of the staff in Ceylon, and trust that year by 
year a better result will rew*rd their labouri.-.^, 
and O. Mail, Nov. 4. 
