AtiG. 1, 1903.J 
THE THOPICAL 
AGlRtCULTURIST. 
99 
ME. J AS. SlNCLilR O:^ THE 
" SHOT-HOLE BOREE." 
Tlie most importanb conimanication from 
home to hand today is that which Mr. 
James Sinclair sends iis, regarding the 
" shot hole Borer." His proposals are drastic 
and far-reaching, in principle as well as in 
their probable effect. Coming as they do 
from one so ranch interested in the matter, 
they deserve very careful consideration 
on the part of jolanters generally and 
especially of those in Dimbnla (whom Mr. 
Sinclair takes to task for what he observes 
as his fellow-planters' ancient apathy, but 
which is as much in our opinion the result of a 
wish to limit public attention to the district's 
troubles as much as possible) ; not to men- 
tion the Parent Society, to whose notice 
home measures to stamp out rinderpest are 
brought as an example. The matter deserves 
perhaps further discussion in every district 
affected than it has at present received ; 
but especially should Mr. Sinclair's views, so 
emphatically stated— in the cause of the whole 
tea planting industry— be carefully examined, 
and thrashed out, when the Parent P. A, 
Committee meet at Kandy next month. 
WHAT CAN BE DONE WITH RHEA. 
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] 
All who are interested in rhea and there are 
many such now-a days should, if possible, pay a 
visit to Messrp. Jules Karpeles and Company, No. 
J Pollock Street, Calcutta, who are the agents for 
the Bengal Rhea Syndicate, in order to view the 
shipment of goods which they liave lately got out 
from the Continent made from rhea grown in the 
District of Beliar. Those who have seen rhea when 
it has just been decorticated, a bundle of long 
dirty, yellowy-green stalks, will hardly believe 
that tne selection of articles on view are really the 
outcome of those same dirty-looking stalks. Plie 
texture of the articles is hne and silky, though 
somewhat heavier than silk, but at the same time 
delightfully cool and comfortable to v/ear. An- 
other point which strikes the visitor is the extra- 
ordinary variety of articles which can he made 
from rhea. He picks up a line piece ot lace 
or a delicately coloured tiimsy shawl and then on 
the other hand is shown a hawser for a ship's 
anchor, all these goods having been manufactured 
from the same Hbre, All kinds of underclothing, 
velvet, tray cloths, incandescent gas mantles, a 
very pretty imitation straw are all on view at No, I 
Pollock Street. The consignment that Messrs 
Jules Karpeles have got out is not for sale, but 
simply to show the public the utility of this 
wonderful fibre, which amongst its other advant- 
ages is guaranteed to willistand the ravages of 
the rf/io6i— another great point in its favour. The 
Bengal Kliea Syndicate have already got 5,000 
acres under cultivation, and are always extending 
it, so that at the end of two years they hope 
to supply the Calcutta market with all the above 
goods. There seems every probability that rhea 
will compete very severely wilh both silk and 
cotton in the market. It is much stronger and 
easier to work into cloth than line cotton, and is 
cheaper than silk and for lustre and texture runs 
13 
that material very close. The present price of 
rhea is about llie same as American cotton. 
Another gre-it advant-^ge of the rhea fibre is that 
it never rots, and may be left for years in water, 
so that for fisiiing nets it is invaluable. — Pioneer, 
June 14. 
NATAL, AND CEYLON TEA PLANTERS. 
Recently there has been more tiian one letter in 
the papers pointing to alleged drawh'acks in the 
Natal tea industry, and there has been ageneial 
contention that ihe Natal estates should engage 
the services of men experienced in the methods of 
India and Ceylon. It has been set forth that such 
men would work wonders if they were employed. 
VveU, I happened to hear from a prominent} 
planter that he has applications for billets from 
men of Indian and Ceylon experience every week, 
bub his opinion of them is not very encourac;ing, 
for he has tried them. "Why do not some of 
these clever men," he pcriineiuly asks, "come over 
from In Jiaor Ceylon, and buy land, and taking the 
risks on their o ivn shoulders, show us a more ex- 
cellent way? There is plenty of roam, and Natal 
tea-planters would not grudge them any success 
they might achieve." — "Man in the Moon." — Natal 
Mercuri/, May 23. 
[The only conclusion from the above is that it is 
not the pick of Ceylon or Indian Planters who 
offer their services for NAtal, but probably 
rather those who have not succeeded here and 
wish to try fresh fields and pastures new. — 
Ed. T.A.] 
CALCUTTA TEA COMPANIES. 
INDIAN TEA IN 18 YEAES, 
_ Messrs Barry and Co, Calcutta have just com- 
piled a summary of the Audited Accounts of the 
Joint Stock Tea Companies registered in Calcutta 
seasons 18So to 1902, which shows the financial 
record of tea during each of these 18 years. Each 
District is given separately and every item is given 
with minute detail, which must have cost an 
enormous amount of painstaking labour. The last 
line in the statement gives the total for 1902. It 
runs thus :— 60 Companies, Paid-up capita', 
Rl, 99,63,068, -Crop, 18,034,020 lb. Realised gro?s 
average, As. 5-9'-16 per ib Cost, including sale 
charge=, As, 5-3 73 per lb Gross Income, B65,24,098. 
Gross expenditure, R59,86,473. Profit, K5,37i625, 
Profit per lb As. 0 5"72 Per cent on capital, 
2 69. Dividend paid 1885-1892, 2-yo per cent. 
Approximate cultivated area, 48,356 acres. 
Capital per acre, R413. — M Mail, June 17. 
THE ADVANCE IN RUBBER PRICES. 
The " Engineer " makes the following very 
satisfactory comment on the recent advauce in 
prices ;— "The circular recently issued by the 
India-rubber Manufacturers' Associat^iou notifying 
an advance of 10 per cent in the price of mechanical 
good^, which may be roughly described as packing, 
belting, and hose, has no doabt come as an uc- 
walcoraa surprise to the buyers chiefly elfected and 
yet a mere glance at the facts which have led to the 
issue of the notice nuj">t assuredly \va tiiink, bring 
c inviction to the keenest buyer that the trade has 
ample justifieation .or its action. It goes almost 
without saying that it is to (he rise iu price of raw 
