SJept. 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUKLST. 
1.77 
PLANTING JiN J'EKAK. 
SUGAK-KUBBER -COCONUTS &c. 
New and extended plantalions of sui^ai-cane were 
opened, during 1903 both by Europeans and Chi- 
nese, iu ihe coast districts; the largest ))lautations 
being those ot the Straits Sugar Company, in Krian 
and Lower Perak.aud ot the Perak Sugar Cultiva- 
tion Company in Krian. The area of estates planted 
with rubber, both Rambong {Ficus elastica) and 
Para (Hevea brasiliensis), was considerably ex- 
tended ; and recent returns of the analysis and 
value of Malay rubber, furnished by the Royal 
Botanical Gardens at Ivew, are of hopeful augury 
for the future of this product. The area ot land 
under cultivation for coconuts was also extended; 
one of the best and most flourishing plantations 
being that at Bagan Datoh, in the Lower Perak 
district, under the management of Mr John 
Symes, a retired Inspector of the Perak Police. 
Arrangements are now being made for replanting 
abandoned mining land, chiefly with Gasuarina 
trees, whicli grow quickly in the poorest .^oil, and 
produce excellent fiiewood ; and work will shortly 
be commenced in eveiy district. The Government 
plantations and gardens, in Larut and Kuala 
Kangsar, were kept in good order ; although the 
heavy rainfall of the la-t quarter of the year 
caused some damage to the Larut Hill station, and 
prejudicially affected the supply of vegetables. The 
nurseries were kept stocked with coconuis, nut- 
megs, rubber, and most of the principal fruit trees; 
for sale as well as for Government plantations. 
The Government herd of cattle was well main- 
tained. — Mr Rodger's Administration Report. 
AGEICULTURAL SHOWS, 
It has been decided, on theinitiative of Mr. Curtis, 
Superintendent of the Government Botanical Gar- 
dens in Penang, to hold properly organised Agri- 
cultural Shows, annually, in the Federated Malay 
Stales and the Colony; and the first of these Shows 
will be held in Selangor during the ensuing year. 
As far as Asiatic, or at least Malay, cultivators 
are concerned, a considerable amount of Govern- 
ment assistance will probably be necessary, in the 
first instance, to render these Shows of real edu- 
cational value. If practically managed, however, 
they should be productive of much good ; by im- 
proving the local breeds of cattle, pheep and poultry; 
ijy improving local cereals (especially rice) and 
methods of cultivation ; and by ictroducing simple 
but effective agricultural machinery. As Malays 
are at present extremely backward iu all niatteis 
connected with agriculture, and quite devoid of 
enterprise, the best method of interesting, and at 
the same time educating them will probably be 
by means of Government exhibits of good speci- 
mens of live stock ; of selected seeds, if possible 
under cultivation ; and of simple machinery in 
actual operation. — Mr, Rodger'' s Perak Report, 
COCONUT PALMS IN A CYCLONE. 
We have frequently seen coconut palms 
overthrown by a windstorm, when they 
come down with a great mass of earth all 
about their wide spreading roots. But a I'ecent 
case reported of some 11) palms, each being 
twisted oiS at the root, — or the stem torn 
away from the root, — is surely most un- 
usual and would indicate a cyclonic burbt 
right over the devoted group that thus fell 
victims on a low-country e.^tate the othe/.' 
day. — Who has had such an experience 
before ? 
^ 
INDIAN TEA COMPANIES- 
(Investor's Guardian, June 20.) 
The budget of Indian tea coTupany report.s 
which have been issued this week each arnl all 
demonstrate the deplorable result of the 1901-2 
senson. The unsatisfactory markets at this end 
were supplemented by unfavourable weather on 
the plantations, which, desidcs diminishing output 
(by no means an unmixed evil) operated against 
the efforts whicli were being made very generally 
to improve the quality of the produce. 
IMPERIAL TEA COMPANY. 
This company, the largest of the nine enumer- 
ated above, was formed in the heyday of the 
prosperity of the tea industry (1807) to amal- 
gamate the undertakings of eleven Indian tea 
companies, and one other estate. The auiluu-ised 
capitalis £1,OCO,000, and the issued ii487,960 (as 
above). The following statistics give a view of 
the company's working results since its incorpora- 
tion : — 
Prices. Area. 
Crop 
Calcutta 
Loudon 
Calti. 
In- 
vated 
crease 
lb. 
a. p. 
d. 
acres. 
acres. 
1897 
2,092,469 
6.1 
7.56 
9,026 
286 
IS'JS 
2,61 7.448 
5.6J 
7.69 
9,840 
814 
1899 
3,507.709 
7.86 
10,023 
183 
1900 
3,864,442 
4.9 
6.75 
10,029 
6 
1901 
3,814,206 
5.2i 
7.64 
10,029 
0 
1902 
3,087,398 
5.11 
7.24 
10,069 
40 
The hgures give a somewhat remarkable result. 
The a\erage price of Indian tea in 1898 was 
8.75d per lb , and the slump commenced in the 
following year. The Imperial Company at that 
time brought only about 20 per cent of its teas to 
London, and these sold at a price slightly below 
the average for Indian teas generally. During 
the last three years a much larger propoition 
(about 45 per cent) of its produce has been 
broughtco London for sale, and it is a re- 
markable fact and one which reflects con- 
siderable credit on the management, that the 
price in London during the past two years — 
which period has been.the most depressed in the 
history of the industry — has been very little 
below the lirst tvvo years (1902, with 1,600,0001b. 
brought to London, giving an average of 7'24d. 
per lb. against 7'56d. in 1897 when unrler 
500,0001b. of the best tea was sold here) and has 
been up to, oi a little better than, the average 
for all Indian teas sold in London. 
On the other hand, the production compared 
with the acreage shows that there has been a very 
large increase in the output per acre the 2,092,469 
lb. from 9,026 acres in 1897 giving an average 
yield of •2321b, per acre against 366ib. the .qvevawe 
of .S,687,39Slb. from 10,069 acres in 1902. The 
explanation would appear to be that a consider, 
able proportion of the acreage of 1897 ai;d '98 
was very young tea, which has now come into full 
bearing. 
