June 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL AGKICULTURIST. 
855 
age; but prices were lower, ruling from B50 to R(30 
per maund. Leaf disease has been less prevalent 
than for some years past. Crop prospects for the 
coming year are favourable, and the rain which 
fell in February has not on the whole been preju- 
dicial. 
AciKicuLTURAL Chemist.— The outcome of the 
various discussions that have taken place, as far 
as Mysore is concerned, is the appointment of Dr. 
Lehmaun, the Dewan exhibiting in the matter his 
accustomed liberal-mindedness. All those who are 
interested in agrieultui-e cannot fail to be gratified 
at the appointment of so highly qualified a Chemist. 
U. P. A. S. I.— I refer you to the " Proceedings" 
for full particulars of the business of the year. 
Since their publication two matters of interest 
have been the subject of correspondence :— (1) The 
Classification of Coffee. As Reuters now quote Mj'- 
sore, as well as other qualities, our wishes in 
this respect have been met, and as regards uniform 
sizing, it appears that the meshes in use are as 
nearly similarly as the variations in size and shape 
of beans will admit. (2) Co-operation. This idea 
is a natural result of bad seasons, low prices, and 
high exchange. Whether practical or not, is 
worthy of consideration, but if any scheme should 
take siiape, it seems to me it would be wise at first 
to limit its operations to distribution, or say to 
promoting the sale of our produce in India, Eng- 
land or elsewhere. 
SPEECHES, &C. 
Mr. Graham Anderson, c.i.E., said :— I feel 
sure tliat every planter in Southern India is re- 
joiced to find that after nearly :{0 years of nego- 
tiations the Government of India has been fully 
impressed with the justice of all that has been 
represented after studying the elaborate report 
of the Soutliern India Planters' Enquiry Com- 
mission. In due course the various Planting 
Associations of Mysore will doubtless have oppor- 
tunities alforded of studying drafts of the improved 
legislative arrangements which are to be sub- 
stituted for the unsatisfactory and unintelligible 
laws whicli have hitherto existed and which 
have frustrated the objects for which their pro- 
visions were specially extended to the Planting 
Districts, by encouraging unscrupulous individuals 
to become dexterously dishonest. We in Mysore 
are specially gratified to learn that the beneficial 
influences calculated to result from the peculiarly 
favourable position of the Mysore Pi'ovince, which 
is entirely .surrounded by the territories of the 
Paramount Power, will in the future cease to 
be neutralised by the absence of equitable and 
reciprocal facilities for the execution of warrants 
and extradition. We feel sui-c that .sympathetic 
consideration will be bestowed on all arrangements 
which will ha made for this Province in which the 
conditions under which industries are conducted 
differ considerably from those existing in Ceylon, 
Assam and other Planting Districts. We may 
feel perfectly confident that, in consultation with 
the Durbar, the Government of Madras will not 
experience any insurmountable difficulty in arrang- 
ing for the maintenance of cheap, prompt and 
eflicient justice as between man and man, be ho 
employer or employee, and that with the clearly 
delined object of restraining unscrupulous iii- 
dividiials nothing will be perniltted which he 
distasteful to those who have constant congenial 
employment always to oiler, or wliich will in any 
way unduly sacrilicc the freedom and I)ost iii- 
tcrests of hundreds of thousands of the labouring 
peasantry u|)i)n whose welfare and work thcdc- 
velopnients of industrial success entii'ely ilepcnds. 
A vote of thanks to tlit; retiring Honorary 
Secretary was proposed by Mr. II. X. AiirUTsoii 
and unanimously cairiod. He said: W'l- arc 
ahoul to •■'ay good hye for a time to Mr. Harris, 
our Honorary Secretary, who leaves shortly to 
enjoy .l well incrited holidav in I'aigland. ' Mr. 
Harris has |)erforme<l tin- (duties of Honorary 
Secretary ol our A'a^ocialiyu tor several vcars 
past, and has won the esteem, regard and gratitude 
of our community for his devotion to his work, 
his provei'bial courtesy and the untiring energy 
with wliich he has maintained the usefulness 
of this Association. During his term of office 
he has had to deal with many most difficult 
subjects, and whether we remember his speeches 
or peruse his written communications, we cannot 
fail to admire him as a most tactful and pains- 
taking man of business in every way worthy of 
the unqualified confidence which he has always 
enjoyed. 
NEW OFFICERS. 
Mr. Park was elected President and Mr. Playfaii' 
Honorary Secretary.— if. Mail. 
HIGHLAND TEA COMPANY OF CEYLON. 
Tiie report of the directors for the yeir ended 
December 31 last state.s that the net profits for 
the year amount to £1.879, to wliicii has to be 
added £75 brought forward from last acoount.«, 
giving a total to be dealt with of £1,955. An 
iiterim dividend of 2^ per cent, was paid in 
September, and it is now proposed to pay a final 
dividend of 3 percent, (free of income-tax), making 
5i per cent, for the year, and to write off new 
clearmgs £125, leaving a balance to carry forward 
of £70. The directors regret that, owing to 
various factors, climatic and otherwise, the profits 
for the year show a falliug-otf from those earned for 
the previous season. The total tea .secured from tlie 
company's properties, including a small quantity 
of brought leaf on Chrystler's Farm, amounted to 
212,415 lb., against 220,2(15 lb. in 1897, showing 
a shortfall of 7,790 lb. Glenorchy Estate, owing 
to abnormal weather, has given a very disapponiT- 
ing return, the decrease on that property alone 
amounting to 14,155 lb. Chrystler's Farm cr >p, 
on the other hand, shows an excess over th.'it 
of last year. The average yield per bearing acre 
was 352 lb., against 335 lb, for the previous 
twelve montli.s. The tea sold in London realised 
an average price of 9d per lb., against 8-669d, 
tor the previous year, and the rate of exchange 
was Is. 4 5 16 I., against Is. 3 21 i2A.—H. d- C. 
Mail, April 21. 
ALLIANCE TEA COMPANY, LIMITED. 
REPORT OF tup: DIRKCTOR.S. 
The following report was submitted at the 
annual ordinary general meeting of the share- 
holders, held at the Company's Offices 9, 
Fencliuvch Avenue, London, E.G., on Thursday. 
27tli April 
The Directors have pleasure in submitting the 
balance sheet and profit and loss account for the 
year ending 31st December, 1898. 
The Nett Profit, after payment of De- 
bentare and other Interest for the 
year, Bnionnts .. ..£5,207 11 2 
To which has been added the Balance 
brought forward from 1897 ,. I6i 2 3 
£5,368 13 5 
An Interim Dividend of .S per cent, was 
paid on the 29th September, 1898, 
absorbing .. .. ., 1^9=7 0 
Anil the Directors now propose to deal 
with the balance as follows : — 
(1) In writing olf from co^i; of Proprie- 
tors of Depreciation of -M.ichincry, ito. 300 0 0 
(2) In payment of a final Dividend 
(free of income tax) of 1 per cent. 
(oiaking 7 per cent, for theycar) .. o^mo s 0 
(3) In carrying forward to next year 
the balance of ... 500 3 5 
£b;i6!i 13 5 
