324 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. 1, 1901. 
' WHAT IS THE MOST CONVENIENT 
AND PROFITABLE SIZE FOR A 
TEA GARDEN IN CEYLON?" 
This is a questiou which lia.s recently come 
before us from several directions and owing 
to differing circumstances. For instance, it 
has been said that one reason why certain 
Limited Companies do not prosper as chey 
ought, in proportion to the total area, and 
quality, of their tea planted land, is that 
some of their "gardens" are very much 
detached and of too small an area to be 
worked profitably. Again, in answer to an 
enquiry as to why So-and-so does not make 
more out of his property,— we are often told 
that his acreage is too limited and he is 
weighted with a fully-equipped factory equal 
to double the leaf he has to bring in. All this 
makes one ask in turn as to what may be con- 
sidered the proper average of extent planted 
to constitute a really profitable plantation. 
Now, of course, we are aware how great is 
the diversity in soil, in jat, in climate and 
other conditions in Ceylon, and how 200 
acres of tea at a high elevation may be 
more fitted to be worked as a profitable 
property than 400 acres in the lowcountry, 
both being supposed to have adequate factories 
and sufficient labour supply. VVe directed 
an enquiry ns to our problem to an ex- 
perienced Visiting Agent and had, for 
answer, that in his opinion, " 100,000 lb. of 
made tea " was the proper gauge of a really 
profituble plantation if turning out fairly 
good teas, and that the nearer the outturn 
was to 200,000 lb. the more certain the 
Eroprietor should be of an adequate, 
andsome margin of profit- That would 
clearly mean, estates of not less than 200 
to 250 acres in bearing under any circum- 
stances ; and we suppose that this may 
really be taken as a minimum area tor an 
efficient Superintendent and well-equipped 
factory? How then £xbout detached estates 
in the hands of Limited Companies of as 
low an area as 150 acres? Should these be 
sold or exchanged as a favourable oppor- 
tunity occurs, and would it not be a wise 
policy generally to aim at amalgamating 
small adjacent properties, so as to save in 
superintendence and factory working. The 
subject is one on which we should like to 
hear from practical planters. 
PROGRESS IN B. C, AFRICA. 
A RAILWAY TO BLANTYRE SANCTIONED. 
(From Our Planting Correspondent.) 
Mlanji, B.C. Africa, 22ncl Auj>., 1901. 
A telegram was received last week by the 
Manager of Shairer's Zambezi Traffic Company 
that the Foreign Office had granted the neces- 
sary concession for the construction of a railway 
from Chiromo to Blantyre ; but no further in- 
formation has been received to date. Shairer's 
Z. T, Company have been pressing the honie 
Government for 3 per cent. <»uarantee on the 
capital required for the construction of our 
railway for some years and it has doubtless 
been granted. For some years back it has been 
known that Mr. Sliarrer had the proriii«e of the 
capital to build our railway, provided 3 per 
cent, guarantee was given by Government. 
Lord Staainore, formerly Sir Arthur Gordon, 
Governor of Ceylon, is one of the Directors, and 
has been using his best efforts for years back 
with the home Government to secure our much- 
needeii line. Gie.it ciedit is due to Mr.'diarrer, 
the Managing Diiecror of this enterprising com- 
pany, for sending out a Mono-Kaihvay to 
relieve the hiunan traffic on the road from the 
lower Shire to Blantyre. It is now being laid 
down from Katuugus to Blantyre. Ar. attempt 
was made to lay this line from Chiromo ■ or 
Maqneras some rniies further up the river to 
Blantyre, but it was found that the gradients 
were too steep and now there will be no need 
for it on the Chiromo-Blantyre route. The 
L;aHge of our line is likely to be .3 ft. 6 in., 
the same as in all the South African Railways. 
The opening up of the country from Chiromo 
to Blantyre should do much good, leaving out 
of the question the capital to lie spent and the 
libour set free for a;;riculture. H. B. 
RUBBER FROM YOUNG " FICUS 
ELASTICA" TREES. 
In recent ))roceedinc;8 of the Selangot Planters' 
Association, we read : — 
Letter, dated 20th June, 1901, from Mr. Derry, 
Govern iiient Plantation Office, Perak, to the Hon 
•^ecretarj-, Selaogor Planters' Association, enclosing 
copy valuation of sample of rnbber sent some time 
«go by Mr. Tan Chay Yan. of M-ilacoa. from Ficus 
elastica trees four years old. The following is the 
valaatioa uiad« by Messrs. W. J. and H. Thompson: 
— ''This is a ^' lod rnbber and well prepfired The 
value is about 3/- per pound, provided the bulk is 
fully equal to the small sample (one kati), equally 
clean and equally dry." 
« 
IMPERIAL RUBBER. 
It 18 stated that the present annual consumption 
of ru.;ber all over the world is about 54,000 tons, 
with a production of only 54,600, so that the margin 
between censumption and pioduction ii extremely 
»m*ll, and may easily vanish altogether in a year 
or two, says a contemporary. In looking thtoagh 
the list of countries which supply the world with 
rubber, it is rather annoying to note that Imperial 
Britain takes a very small share in the trade : a 
share which could surely be greatly increased, were 
attention and capital to be drp.wn to the inda»>ry. 
It is_ one of these occupation wherein a brisk market 
at high prices is a matter of practical certainty, and 
hence the risk of sinking capital is reduced to a 
minimum. We have many colonies where rubber 
could be grown ; and especialy is the colony of Queens- 
land suited for the business. In many parts of that 
great country conditions exist similar to those in 
Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, from which countries at 
present half Ihe world's supply of rubber is drawn. 
The value of the material produced by these South 
American States cannot be far short of £8,000,000 
sterling per aunum— a sum sufficiently tempting to 
induce the employment of capital on a lar^e scale. 
We have yet hopes of seeing a big Qaeenslund rubber 
trade established which shall rival the Brazil and 
Peru in quantity and quality of exports.— 7nrfj«-?-«6ier 
Trades' Journal. 
