April 1. 1899..1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
709 
THE AGRICULTURAL MAGAZINE 
FOR MARCH. 
The contentB we gave previously. We are {.'lad 
to hear that the locust fundus, which is beinf; 
used with such succes.s in South Africa, will be 
shortly tried in Ceyhm. . 
The visitor mentiored in the companion be- 
tween Ceylon and Jamaica is no doubt 
Astwoocl who lately come over from the latter 
Colony and spoke in iho highest tei nis of its ex- 
cellence from an agricultural point <>f view. 
Th« striking difL'erence in the distribution ot the 
rainfall in 1897 and 1898 is shown by placing the 
monthly records for these two years side by side. 
In 1897 the rainfall was more evenly d'stributcci, 
while 1898 no less than 25 in, fell in April, which 
though the wettest month in 1897 also had lest 
than half the amount in tliat year. 
UVAKELLIE TEA COMPANY. 
THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS. 
The directors have now the pleasure to aubmit 
their report and accounts for the year ending 3l8t 
^Th^^amou^nf'of tea secured was 139,000 lb. costing 
30-82 cents per lb. against 29'89 cents per lb for 
1897 On the other hand the tea after estimating 
that" still unsold at a low figure has realized 4510 
cents per lb. as against 42i cents for the pre- 
Tious year. ,. , , j • ii. 
In view of the low prices ruling for teas during the 
year iust ended the directors think the increase of priee 
ieflects a good deal of credit on the Superintendent. 
After writing off 7i per cent for depreciation cn 
buildings and machinery the profit amounts to 
T?i7 9fll-41 Out of this an interim dividend of 3 per 
feut was paid absorbing U7,200 leaving R 10,051-41 to 
be dealt with. -, ^ ^. • j- 
The directors recommend that this amount be dis- 
posed of as follows :— ■-, t » 
That a final dmdend be paid of 3 
per cent (making 6 per cent for 
the year) absorbing . . ... 
That a sum be carried to ReserTeof 
That a bonus be paid to the Sup- 
erintendent of • • 
and that the balance of 
be carried forward. 
The estimate for the current year is 144,000 lb; 
tea to cost R46,091-50 . . „ „, ^. 
In terms of the articles of Associatien Mr. W Kings- 
bury retires from the Board, bat being eligible offers 
himself for re election. . j.^ , 
It will also be necessary to appoint an Auditor tor 
1899 _By order of the Board of Directors. 
J M. RoBiKTsoN & Co., Agents and Secretaries. 
The Directors beg to submit to the Shfiraholderi 
the aci ouuts of the Company for the year ending 31st 
December. 1898. 
The crop secured amounted to 150,510 1b. made tea, 
realizing R51,8fi0-14, or nn kverii^fe p: "ce of cents 34-11 
per ib., as ufciinst an expentiir.nrci exclusive of item 
unrl»r Ci-pital Account of RH7. 52609, or »n average 
coBt'jf cents 24-9:-i including K2,614-74 upenton manure. 
The balance at credit of pri tiw and loss accoaut 
after allowins; for depreciation on buildings and machi- 
nery is RG,301'94, 
The Director" ?nggest that a dividend at the rate 
of 2 poi cent pei annum hp dec'nrod iibso;bing R6,000, 
and that the b dance R301-94 be carried forward to 
next account. 
The estimate for the current season is 185,000 lb. 
made tea. A small return is expected from the 1896 
clearing o£ 52 acres. The Directors propose during 
this season to open 10 acres to afford employment to 
the coolies during the dry months. The application of 
manure during the last two years has improved 
the constitution of the bushes, where applied, to an 
appreciable extent, but the abnormal weather during 
the last season together with the attack of helopeltis 
resulted in a short crop. The Directors hare every 
confidence in the ability of the estate to produce the 
estimated crop under ordinary circumstances. 
Mr. E. P. Willisford retires from the Board in terms 
of the memorandum and articles of Association, but he 
is eligible for re-election. 
The appointment of an auditor rests with the 
meeting. 
CARSON & Co. Agents & Secretaries. 
Colombo, March 8rd, 1899. 
R 
7,200 
2,000 
350 
601 
00 
00 
00 
41 
41 
TttE K^LANI TEA GARDEN COMPANY, 
LIMITED. 
THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS. 
ACRIAOE. 
282 Acres Tea in full bearing 
52 
30 
34 
398 
179 
11 
158 
planted in 1896 
,. 1897 
1898 
Reserve 
Ravines, Waste and Grass 
New Purchase 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
The Rubber Forests of the Congo. — King Leopold 
at Belgium is fully alive to the importance of main- 
taining the present high output of rubber or caout- 
chouc in the Congo State, An important order has 
just been signed by the King whereby a certain 
number of treesi or caoutchouc-beai ing lianas are to 
be planted each year in all the forests of the domain. A 
new forestry staff of one inspector, six controllers, and 
six sub-controllers is to be organised for the purpose of 
seeing that the new order is fully enforced. 
Tea Gardens as Assets. — At an adjourned sitting 
for the examination of .Mr. H :\I D'Este, China and 
East India Merchant, of 16, St. Heleu's-place, held 
last week, the statement of affairs showed liabilities 
£2,343 28 od of which £980 gs 5d were unsecured, 
and assets estimated at £796 173 4d comprising ae 
to £650 two tea gardens at Assam and Chittagong. 
On examination by Mr. E L Hough, Official Receiver, 
the bankrupt said he had also passed under the name 
of Esteve. He was born in this country, and his 
proper name was D'Este. He had assumed the name 
of Esteve for political reasons. In November, 1S96, 
he commenced business at 16, St. Heleu's-place, E.G., 
nnder the style of Middleton, D'Este, A Company, 
and had not since then used the name of Eateve. 
His business was chiefly in tea and mica, and when 
he started he had about £500 in cash, which he ob- 
tained from Mr. Edgar Morris. He had a partner 
until January, 1897, bu- he did not bring in £250, 
his share of the capital, as arranged. Witness was 
not formerly a tea bvoker. Since January, 1897, he 
had traded alone until April or May, 1898, and being 
then pressed for capital he discontiued the business, 
and had since acted as agent for others. He had 
embarked in certain acconiinodatiou bill transactions, 
but ouly for the purpose of putting his orders throngb. 
— H. and C. Mail, March 3. 
PLANTlNt; NOTF.S. 
746 Acres. 
RunBER HARVK.STiN'(i. — We diieci attention loan 
extract from the Indian Fun .itir, giviii;: details of 
tapping e.vperinienls ; hut iIk; resiik.< .so far xi we 
can judge are nothing very wonderful — the return 
being esliuiatcd atnot much inorethan R3-Jiperacrft 
