April J, 1899.] THE TROPICA]^ AGRICULTURIST. 
717 
THE LONDON CINNAMON SALES. 
The inteUigence received by a recent mail 
confirms the impression which the telegram, 
annoxmciug the general results of the first 
quarterly sale of cinnamon held this year in 
London, created. The apprehension that 
Spain has not yet been able to enter the 
lists, as one of the most active competitors 
for our spice, especially of the best sorts, 
is confirmed. The Hispano-American war 
during its continuance necessarily told on 
trade; and it has left the effete old Euro- 
pean State so crippled, that it must be 
some time before it can recover froin tlife 
shock and disoi-ganisation under which it 
lies prostrate. In the loss of almost all its 
colonial possessions, it may be thought that 
it has parted with its chief sources of wealth. 
On the other hand, these Colonies have been 
for years centres of rebellion and bloodshed, 
and a constant drain on the mother coun- 
try for blood and treasure. There is no 
reason why the energies which were dissi- 
pated in intrigue and internecine struggles 
should not be devoted to the more profit- 
able arts of peace ; and while Spain itself 
affords a • by no means barren field for 
commerce and agriculture, its adventurous 
sons might prosper more under alien flags 
than they did in its priest-ridden and mis- 
governed Colonies. But recuperation must 
be slow in the case of a people so ener- 
vated and demoralized ; and until Spain has 
buckled up to her new conditions, it is to 
be feared that her needs in Mincing Lane 
will be moderate. We are not, therefore, 
surprised to learn that at the Cinnamon 
Sales on the 27th ult., there was but little 
bought on Spanish account, with a conse- 
quently slack demand and a fall in i^rice. 
Though the quantity offered, 1,649 bales, 
was less than the amount catalogued at the 
corresponding sale last year, when 1,950 
bales were broiight to the hammer, it must 
not be forgotten that that was an imusually 
heavy quantity for a February sale, and 
that the offerings, 3,901 bales, at the pre- 
vious auctions in November last were also 
unprecedeutedly large. We have been send- 
ing away increasing quantities of cinnamon 
for some years, rising from L969,90.5 lb. of 
quilled bark in 1894 to over two million lb. 
in every succeeding year; while in 1897 and 
1898 the quantity was in excess of 2^ million 
lb. ! These unprecedeutedly heavy exports of 
quilled cinnamon were accompanied by im- 
mense quantities of chips which did not find 
a place in our Export table till about 'SO 
years ago ; and although the 2,534,()o() lb. of 
quills last year show a fall as compared with 
2,67i,537 lb. in 1897, the excess of chips, 
aggi-egatiug 1,114,1(35 lb., as against 1,0(57,051 
lb. the previo\is year, places 1898 facile 
f\rimeps. AVe have thus sent away nearly 
our million lb. of our spice, while 20 yeai's 
ago two million \h. used to be reckoHcd 
over-production. It tells not a little for the 
growing popularity of the spice, and the 
new uses found for it, that this innneuse 
increase in our output has not led to a 
heavier fall in priics. Indeed, there has been 
a recovery in prices within the last ten or 
twelve years, and a I'ate of 15*5d for the Fh'sts 
of the best brands is not to be despised. But it 
must not be forgotten that the quantity 
of fine bark offei'ing was exceptionally small, 
and it is the finest qualities which have 
suffered most from the pjiucity of oi'ders 
from Spain. Even coai'se qualities met with 
a slackened demand, and tlie acceptance of 
lower prices did not ensure the clearing of 
much more than one-third of the catalogue. 
Our repeated warnings, that prices cannot 
be maintained with the growing output, 
have thus been justified ; but they have not. 
reached those who have been extending their 
plantations. These are small native land- 
owners of the Southern Province, who are 
said to be attracting the skilled workers of 
the Western Province by heavy advances, 
matching those against which tea estates 
are now banding together. It is to be hoped 
the fall in prices will induce caution in 
those whom newspaper warnings fail to reach, 
as cinnamon differs from tea in not being 
an article of diet — a necessary of life in fact 
— and a further di'op may mean serious 
embarrassment to an industry which had just 
begun to recover its former position. 
Here is what one of the leading London 
firms in the cinnamon trade reports : — 
London, 28th Feb. 1899. 
CixxAiiox.— The first auctions of the year were 
held yesterday when 1,&49 bales Ceylon offered 
against 1,950 bales catalogued at same period last 
year. There was but little buying on Spanish 
account, and the sales « ent off with a very flat 
tone, about 6.50 only being sold at a general de- 
cline of ?jd to Id per lb. Of really fine and good 
quill the record quantity of 41 bales A. S. C. P. 
offered, none of the regular brands F. S. W. S., 
only were F. S. K., J. D. S. E. etc., is being re- 
presented. Of the small quantity of fine quill, 
part sold slowly, mostly at Id per lb. decline. 
Firsts ranged from 8kl to Is 3d ; Seconds, 7d to 
Is 4d ; Thirds, 7d to Is 2d and Fourths 5d to 8d 
per lb. 87 bales Tellicherry bought in. Chips 
were in dull demand. Of 1,121 bags offered, 100 
bags only were cleared at 3§d to 3M per lb. 
Stock of Ceylon 5,239 bales against 
1898 1897 1896 
4,193 2,790 4,727 Bales, 
The next auctions will be held on 29th May 
Planting is Selakgok, Stkaits Skttlk- 
MF.NTS.— Mr. E. V. Ciuey, Cliainnan, and Mr. 
Tom Gibson, Secre'^ary — liotli nld Ceylon ))lant- 
ers — with llieir Ctmimittee, def^evve credit for 
the fail and nspful annua! Report they have 
just issnel. We extract all ilie |)rnctical 
portions elsewhere and we notice with pleasuie 
the attention {^iven to Para Kuljlier, Coconuls 
(ri>;htly spelt). Plantains and oilier minor pro- 
ducts, by way of supplenientiii;^ tlieir coil'ee 
which has fallen on evil days It is too soon 
to speculate about the Qnancial success of rubber 
planting, and \ve much fear that Mr. MacUonald's 
lamented death will interfere with a decisive 
answer to the same iiiicstioii in re.--]>ect of Haniie 
tibre. It is refreshin;,' to note the keen inteiest 
taken by the olHcials in extreniiiiatiiig coconui 
beetles and caterpillar pe«ts . a little of 
the same zeal displayed by oHioial^< of all ranks 
ill Ceylon would do a vas^t ann unit of good. How 
many semi-abandoned native gardens in our low- 
country are allowed co become nurseries for beetles 
and other pest.-*? 
