THE TROPICAL AGEICULTUEIST. [March 1, 1904. 
ClTRQNELLA— developed considerable strength 
during the last few months of the year, which 
end d with a higher value than has obtained since 
1899 For a loiig tin.e cheap grades of the oil had 
found a market here, but of late buyers have 
demonstrated a greater discernment, with the 
result that the unsatisfactory qualities were dis- 
carded and the producers exescised more caie in 
tlieir treatment of the oil for this country— OiZ 
Reporter. 
SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
Part IV. of the fiist volume of this inter- 
esting publication, the org;an of the Colombo 
Museum has come to hand. The contents 
include a treatise on the Nenaatodes in the 
Colombo Museum collection, by Dr. vou 
Linstow, illustrated by two large plates ; and 
An article on the Crystalline Rocks of Cey 'on 
by the Government Mineralogist, Mr. A. K. 
CoomaraswHmy . Notes are also given on 
various subjects including the symbiosis 
between bees and mites. 
INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION. 
Calcu ta, Feb 2. 
Scientific Department.— The Committee 
noted from a letter dated York, 7th Januaiy, from 
Mr H H Mann that he had engaged as his assist- 
ant Mr Claude M Hutchinson, a graduate of 
Cambridge Universty. The appointment had 
been made on the recommendation of Dr J A 
Voelcker and Professor Middleton of Cambridge. 
Mr Hutchinson had been, from 1898 to 1902, 
lecturer in Agricultural Chemistry and Geology 
at the Colonial College, Hollesley Bay. Since that 
time he had been engaged in lecturing on soils 
and manures in the Agricultural Department of 
Cambridge University. The London Committee 
of the Association had approved of the appointment. 
H. C. BEGG, Chairman. 
H,' M. Haywood, Assistant Secretary. 
—J. T. A. Minutes. 
THE DUMONT COFFEE COMPANY, LTD. 
The following circular has been issued :— 
45, Leadenhall Street, London, E. C, Jan 28. 
Dear Sir (or Madam), Since the issue of our 
circular letter dated 28ih December last, the 
Directors have received information from the 
Manager that the 1903 crop of coffee has weighed 
out 122,000 cwts., or an increase of 7,000 ewts over 
the quantity advised in December last. We are 
also requested to inform you that, owir g to this 
unexpected addition to the crop, and the steady 
advance in the price of coffee, it may ije possible 
(should markets remain firm) lor the Directors to 
modify their previous views in regaid to the pros- 
pect of some payment on account of arrears of 
preference divirtenH. By Order of the Boaro, 
P R Buchanan & Co., Secretaries. 
PLANTING AND OTHER NOTES. 
The Whistling Teal in the Southern 
ProVINCK. — We cmilted to note elsewhere 
the very well justified desire of the Galle 
Planters that the close season for Whistling 
Teal, the Indian Dendrocygna Javanica, 
should be extended later than August 15th. 
"We cannot understand the G. A. 's objection 
to this, as shown by the mmutes (vide bis 
' letter of November 2istl903"), for thei-e is no 
greater single authority than Captain W V 
Legge, R A., and the passage in his book, 
referring to this bird says : — 
The Whistling-Teal is by far the commonest of 
the Duck tribe in * eylon, and in some localites is 
very numerous at certain seasons of the year. In 
the wesr, of Ceylon, where the country is devoid of 
artificial irrigation-waters, it frequents thp rivers 
and paddyfifllds in their vicinity ; on the Bentota 
river, the Gindurah ganga, the Nilwella ganga or 
Matara river, and other estuaries it is to be found, 
more esppcially in the latter part of the year, 
keeping to those parts which flow throHgh a large 
extent of paddy land ; and on the first named river 
excellent Teal shooting is to be had in September 
and October. 
Tea Company Reports, — Three more 
satisfactory Tea Company results have to be 
added to those already recorded, of work 
during 1903. Tabulated for 3 years they 
are as follows : — 
1904 Forward 1903 Forward 1902 Forward 
High R R R 
Forests 10 5,561 6 21,810 5 20,950 
Maha Uva 8 2,973 8 2,485 7 3,012 
Kalutara 5 507 2i 3,934 2i 4,885 
High Forests shows a big advance— the 
crop having fetched 7^ cents more per lb, 
than in 1902, though it is still 6 cents behind 
the "57" of 1900, while the crop was about 
11,000 lb. over the estimate ; in 1902 it was 
22 945 lb. in excess of, and in 19(il about 
36 OUO lb. behind, the estimate. Expenditure 
on capital account (in 1902, R26,808) was only 
Rll,837; R21,590 was the figure in 1901. The 
estate is to be connected with the Udapus. 
sellawa Railway — a great convenience. Crop 
this year is estimated at 24.000 lb. more 
than last. RM,0u0— a handsome sum — goes 
to the equalisation of dividends ; the manage- 
ment, as they deserved, received a very special 
vote of thanks.— In the case of Maha Uva — 
tlie dividend remains the same, but R500 more 
is carried forward: the price was 4 cents 
better. The crop was 11,951 lb. in advance of 
1902, but about 8,000 lb. short of the estimate. 
—The Kalutara Meeting, with double the divi- 
dend of the p;ist two years, passed off 
peacefully and without the extensive heckling 
from Mr. Alex, Stevenson of last year. The 
price rose remarkably— by lOJ cents, or 40 
per cent-over the 26 cents of 19(i2. This 
year 115,000 is placed to extension account 
— largely for Rubber, no doubt, so that the 
smaller balance H507 (against R4,0i!0, nearly, 
last year) carried forward lends no de- 
traction : F8,04l is to be spent this year on 
new Rubber clearings and Rubber planting 
in tea, against R,3.016 in 1903 (the e.'^timate 
having been Rl 888 ) Rl,975 in I9(i2 and 
R3,143 in' 1901. The prospects of the Com- 
pany are very sound, with so much promise 
from Rubber and the prospect that tea 
prices will be favourable this year,— We 
congratulate all concerced with these re- 
sults, in each caee. 
