THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Appjl 1, 1904, 
from QovernmGni; on reasonable terms and it is in- 
tended to plant same np in Rubber daring the current 
year as well as 90 acres of the Company's reserve 
jungle already felled and cleared for that purpose. On 
completion of these clearings the acreage under 
Rubber alone will approximate 135 acres, a detailed 
survey of which wiU be made in'due course. The sum 
of R256'02 being irrecoverable Coast Advances has 
been written oft "Doubtful Debt Reserve," and R3,000 
has been set aside for depreciation on Buildings and 
Machinery . The Balance of Profit then remaining 
(inclnding R684-61 brought forward from 1902) is 
Rll,258*20, from which the Directors recommend pay- 
ment of a dividend of 3 per cent. This will absorb 
R8,100, and leave R3,158-20 to be carried forward. The 
Directors record with deep regret the death in 
September last of Mr E D Harrison, who as a Director 
and as Visiting Agent had rendered the Company 
valuable services for several years. Mr R W 
Harrison was spjrointed to the positions thus rendered 
vacant, and Mr Prior S Palmer, who returned to 
Ceylon towards the end of the year, has been re- 
appointed a Director. In terms of the Articles of 
Association, MrR W Harrison retires from the Board, 
but is eligible for re-electior. The Shareholders have 
to appoint an Auditor for 1904. — By order of the 
Directors. LEWIS BROWN & Co., Agents and 
Secretaries. 
» 
THE SOLUBLE TEA SYNDICATE, LTD. 
FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. 
The first annual general meeting of the 
Soluble Tea Syndicate, Ltd,, was held at the 
office of the Company, Messrs. Crosfield, Lam- 
pard& Co., Baillie Street. Mv. A Mansfield 
Forbes in the chair. In moving the adoj)- 
tion of the report, the Chairman pointed 
out that of the soluble tea in stock at 
31st December, 1903, the bulk of it had 
since been disposed of at rates above 
the value estimated in the report. Mr. 
M Kelway Bambeb then made some 
remarks concerning the initial difficulties of 
manufacture, which have now been overcome. 
Estimates for current year were been sub- 
mitted and considered satisfactory. Keports 
from Australia and Europe as to the pros- 
pects of soluble tea are very encouraging. 
The meeting then elected Directors and 
Auditor for the current year, and the pro- 
ceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to 
the Chairman. 
THE REPORT. 
The following is the report which was 
adopted : — 
The Directors herewith submit their report and a 
statement of accounts to 3Ist December, 1903. 
Work was commenced in the factory at the end of 
May. and from then till the Slat December, 192,748 
lb of green leaf has been manufactured into 36,737 
lb of black tea ; 2,363 15-16 lb of soluble tea. The 
black tea has all been realized and is embodied in 
the accounts. Of the soluble tea ; 181 8 16 lb were 
sold outright. 182 12-16 lb distributed as samples; 
1,999 11-16 lb were in stock at 31st December, 
1903. Against the balance at debit of profit and 
loss account may be put the stock of soluble tea in 
hand at Slat December, which, based on rates at 
which sales have since been made, may be valued, 
approximately, at R10,000. Loss on working 
account is chiefly attributable to the policy adopted 
by the directors of not manufacturing more 
soluble tea than was necessary until a demand for 
it had been established. The alternative was to 
manufacture black tea, which, being easily 
marketable, served to keep the assets of the 
Company liquid. At the same time it was sot 
possible to manufacture it profitably on account 
of the high cost of green leaf, salaries, &c. Further 
expenses were incurred in alterations and adjust- 
ment of the soluble tea machinery, and in 
experiments with a view to improving and 
cheapening cost of production. In accordance with 
the Articles of Association all the Direciors now 
retire from office but are eligible fot re-election. 
« 
BADULLA PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
Chops.— Estimates throughout the District have 
generally been realised. The season has been favourable 
as regards weather, there having been no prolonged 
drought, and no unmanageable rushes of leaf in Septem- 
ber and October. It is satisfactory to note the appre- 
ciation in prices obtained for teas shewing the 
characteristic flavour of Uva. 
The tea crop for 1904 is estimated at 78,929,950 lb. 
and 89,220 lb. from native gardens against 7,080,975 lb. 
and 91,000 lb. from nrftive gardens in the previous year, 
i'he total acreage under tea is 18,206 of which 16,564 
is in bearing against 17,458 in (15,829 in bearing) the 
previous year. The yield per acre on tea in bearing 
is estimated at 476 lb. 
Shot-Hole Bober. — These districts have up to 
date happily enjoyed comparative immunity from this 
pest, But your Committee though viewing with 
diflidence the current proposals for legislation would 
strongly urge members to take every precaution to 
prevent its securing a firm hold in the district. 
THE EAMIE FIBEE MARKET. 
A manufacturer of Ramie fibre decorticat- 
ing machines writes to us as follows :— " I 
have exported a considerable number of 
decorticating machines, but I am uorry to 
say the planters seem rather wanting in 
courage and perseverance, probably because 
their first efforts have not been successful. 
The fact that the demand for Kamie 
fibre is increasing enormously and that new 
works for spinning it are being erected, will 
doubtless cause planters to take courage and 
persevere. 
HIGH PRICES OBTAINED IN LONDON. 
"Another matter that i5 having an influence 
on this question is the fact that the price 
of Ramie or .Rhea has risen very much 
within the last six months. £37 10s per ton 
c.i.f. London has been paid for first class 
Ramie. The price has since gone down a 
little. Today's quotation is £34 per ton, and, 
in my opinion, it will remain somewhere 
near that price for some time. 
ONE SPINNER CLEARS THE MARKET. 
"Last year one of the large spinners 
cleared the market of the best fibres in con- 
sequence of his large requirements, having 
more than doubled his work, audit is reported 
that at the end of 1903 he had 600 tons of raw 
material in stock." 
Close Season for Whistling Teal,— This 
subject continues to excite considerable in- 
terest among our sportsmen-readers, as re- 
gards the Southern Pd:'ovince. Mr G C Scott 
in his letter advocates the termination of the 
close season as early as the 15th August and 
the evidence he adduces (partly drawn from 
Urugas.Camp) is certainly such as deserves 
fittentiou. 
