Jan. 2, 1899.] THE TEOPICAL ' AaRICULTURIST, 
481 
Some cranks may take the advice given them by one 
writ a- and destroy good sound tea by making it into 
Oolong or green, and they will be wiser ai^er the 
event ; but anyone with an expert knowledge of tea 
who expects Indian unferraented teas to I'rive out 
Japans is only fit to herd with those who for the last 
years have been shouting the parrot-cry, " Capture 
the American market," 
In conclution, let me repeat the advice to investors 
and producers, not to allow themselves to be influ- 
enced by anonymous scribblers, but rather to con- 
sult experienced tea or shire brokers, who have an 
expert knowledge of the producing and distributing 
conditions of the great tea industry.— I am, sir, youra 
faithfully, John McEwan. 
10, Lime Street, E.G., London, Nov. 21, 1898. 
— Hand C Mail, Nov. 25. 
Sat.f, of Tka Estates. — The sale of the Binaguri 
and Dim Dima Tea Estates by !Me3srs. Gow, Wilson, 
and Stanton, at the Commercial Sale Kooma, Mincing 
Lane, on Wednesday last, was well attended, and 
created a good deal of interest. The reserve price not 
being reached, the properties were withdrawn to be 
treated for by private negotiation. — 11 and C JIail 
Nov. 23. 
THE CALEDONIAN (CEYLON) TEA 
ESTATES, LIMITED. 
The Fir.«t Annu.al Ordinary Meetinc; of thi.s 
Company was held at the ottice of the Company, 
11 Old Koail Street, London, on Thursday, 24th 
Nov., Sir Alfred Dent, K.C.M.G., in the chair. 
The Secretary read the notice convening the 
nieetini^, and the Directors' Keport and Accounts 
to .30th June last were taken as rearl. The Board 
vecoin mended the ])aynient of dividends at 6 per 
cent per annum on the Fi eference Shares and 6s per 
share on the ordinary share.s. 
The Chairman stated tha*-' the Company in 
common with all other Ceylon Tea Connianie.-. had 
durinf.; the pa.st season exceptional difficulties to 
contend with— drought, extremely cold weather, 
low jirices in London and high exchange. The 
rise in exchange had been anticipated in the 
pro.spectus, the rate having been taken in the 
estimate at Is 4d., but the unusual dryness and 
cold of the season could not of course be foreseen. 
The crop owing to the causes named had fallen 
considerably short of the estimates, and the 
dividend on the ordinary shares was therefoie not 
so good as anticipated when the Company was 
formed. 
The prospects for the cui rent season were how- 
ever, mucli more promising, and a cable received 
from the Manager in Ceylon on the IGth inst. , 
reported a very sati-sfactory increase in the yield to 
that date, over the corresponding period last year. 
The price.** of the te.as sold so far on account of 
the jjresent .season also showed an improvement, 
and if these piices were maintaineil, the next 
annual accounts would show a very different state 
of things. 
The statistical position of Ceylon tea was satis- 
factory ; notwithstanding the increase in imports 
the stock in London at 31st October was nearly 
one and half million lbs less than last year, and 
the way in which the ronsumption was being 
)mshed all over the woild was shown by the large 
(|uantity shipped to countries other than the 
United Kingdom. 
With regard lo the Co.'s Estates the Manager 
In Ceylon reported that they were all looking well 
and he (the Chairman) felt sure tliat the Company's 
interests were (juitc safg in the haudij gf their 
?9 
General Manager— (Mr. J Stanley M llo.ss) who 
was himself a considerable shareiioliler, and was 
doing all his in power to make the Coiupany a 
success. 
He concluded by moving the adoption of the 
Directors' lieport and Accounts, and the lesolution 
having been seconded by Mr. Alexander Ilo.'-s was 
carried unanimouslv- 
The election of Messrs. Singleton, Fabian & Co. 
as Auditors and a vote of thanks to the Chair- 
man concluded the proceedings. 
RUSSIA AS A TEA.-GROWER. 
Serious attempts are now being made, says the 
St. Petersburg correspondent of The Financial News, 
to introduce in Russia the cultivation of tea, espe- 
cially in the Caucasus, where, according to ofScial 
statements, experiments so far made have given very 
satisfactory results. 
During the current year about 400 Chinese fami- 
lies have settled down in Southern Russia with the 
special mission of initiating Russian planters into 
the secrets of this branch of agriculture. The tea 
fields are situated in the immediate neig'abourhood 
of the sea, running along the Batoum-Tifiis line. 
The harvest, on a grand scale, is to begin shortly, 
with the help of the Chinese, who are kept here 
by contract, and are already getting accustomed to 
the climate. 
At the same time, I may mention the announce- 
which I have been unable to verify, that a 
German syndicate, including well-known capitalists, 
is about to found colonies in the Crimean regions of 
Alma, Katscha, and Balbeka, where tea, cotton, and 
sugar-cane plantations are to be established. — 11. and 
C. .Vail, Nov, 25. 
Tower Tea. — The directors have declared an in- 
terim dividend of T^d per share on the ordinary 
shares for the half-year ended September l-iOth. The 
transfer books will be closed from Thursday, Nov- 
24th, to Thursday, December Ist, and warrants 
for the dividend will be issued on December Isti 
— //. and C. Mail, Nov. 25. 
FLORIDA BEANS; AN ENORMOUS CROP 
NEAR BENTOTA, CEYLON. 
KaUitara South, Dec. 12. 
I send you per train today some velvet beans, 
part proceed.? from the dozen seeds you sent me^ 
I never saw anything like it, the crop is enormowi, 
I think one good creeper will keep a family 
going — this climate seems particularly well suited 
for it. [The beans kindly sent u.s are of a 
large size, welMilled. — Ed. T.A.'\ 
THE CEYLON HANDBOOK AND 
DIRECTORY. 
I have your new Directory and the maji here, 
and can only repeat opinion.s formerly expressed 
in regard to their predeces.sors as to their get-up, 
completeness and usefulncs.s. The general ajipre- 
ciation of your work must be very gratifying to 
you and your statt, and some recoiiipense for the 
trouble and ])ains taken. — Cc//lon Colon isf now 
settled in London. 
The Secretary (Mr, J. S. Callie), of the Finan- 
cial Reform Association of Liverpool (established 
1848— and just holding its jubilee), writes : — 
''Many thanks for j-our (Jeylon Handbook and Direc. 
tory. It is a wonderful compilation and reflects credit 
not meiely to you the compiler, but also to the colouy." 
