616 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March ], 1902. 
were again on the decrease, and have only been 
about half of what they were last year, and values 
were consequently well maintained. 
Imports from Ceylon were again insignificant ; 
buf, wiiatever small quantity reached this market, 
itproved very attractive, as the quality and con- 
dition continued to bo excellent, and many buyers 
were anxious to secure even the small arrivals 
owinf to the specially clean condition of this 
rubber. We confidently expect that if larger im- 
ports could be arranced a great circle of con- 
■nmers would come in and pay full prices for 
these grades, especially if the quality be kept up. 
It would be advisable to encourage the planters 
and others interested in this product in giving 
particular attention to this most valuable rubber. 
High prices were realised, and 3? QJd was recently 
paid for fine, and 23 4d for the Negroheads. It is, 
of course, known that this rubber should practi- 
cally be of the same kind as the one coming from 
the State of Amazones, being grown from Para 
seed. 
Rangoon and Penang has also been in much 
reduced supply. Of the latter description we 
practically reseived no further shipments this 
year ; but, in spite of this, all the old stocks held 
were most difficult of sale, and what was disposed 
of showed an enormous decline, and thus rubber 
that was quoted at 3s 2d a little more than a year 
ago sold at about 2s 2d to 2s 5d per lb 
according to quality. If good quality of 
those descriptions could be imported to 
sell at present rates, it is certainly worth en- 
couraging, as with scarceness of good red Mozam- 
bique Ball, the demand for these red Penang 
kinds would again grow gradually. 
Small quantities of Assam were shipped, but the 
quality was very poor and sandy, and consequently 
aid not meet with any requirement or interest. 
Borneo. — Of this rubber the supplies have not 
been excessive, but in sympathy with the general 
tendency of the market prices declined. These 
grades are still held for higher prices, and with a 
continnance of the lower quotations all round we 
must also look for much reduced values in these 
grades before one will be able to effect larger sales. 
PoNTlANAK.— Supplies were about the same om 
those of last year and sold readily, prices showing 
very little change at the close of the year 
Rubber from the French Cochin China and from 
Lower China have continued to seil well, the 
quality and the condition of nearly all arrivals 
were satisfactory, and the small trade done must 
have been profitable for the importers. 
Java rubber and New Guinea have been very 
scarce but generally speakiner these qualities were 
not in great demand, and quotations were only 
nomiua.].— India Rubber Trades^ Journal, Jan 20. 
RCBBSR Culture in Crylon— is spreading 
steadily. In the Kalutara district the Para 
plant is nearly universal as a by-product to 
taa, and now the same is fast becoming true 
of the Kelani Valley ; while a good deal 
has been done in other districts. This being 
so, we make no excuse for giving 
in our daily issue as well as T. A. 
a valuable Annual Review on the Rubber 
Trade for 1901, from which rubber planters 
ought to learn a good deal. Ceylon rubber- 
has a full paragraph : " its product being 
excellent in quality and condition." 
E P CRT OF THE PLANTERS' ASSO 
CIATION "AND THIRTY 
COMMITTEE." 
PLANTED AREA AND TEA CROPS. 
We give as usual the main portions 
of these Reports in a ispecial Supplement ; 
but in the meantime, we may draw 
attention to certain salient features in 
both Reports as they reach our hands 
today. From the former which is for the 
year ending 17th February, 1902, we 
learn that the .shortage of crop last year — 
due partly to finer plucking, but chiefly to 
unfavourable climatic conditions, — would 
have been much greater were it not for a 
large amount of young tea that must have 
come into bearing during the year. The 
Committee might have verified this belief, as 
well as the probable maximum, by reference 
to the " Handbook and Directory" where the 
approximate area planted each year is given. 
For instance here are the figures for area 
planted for 1896 and onwards :— 
Year, Total under tea. Year. Total under tea. 
Acres. 
1896 ... 330,000 1899 ... 378,000 
1897 ... 850,000 1900 ... 384,000 
1898 ... 364,009 1001 ... 387,000 
The 34,000 acres planted between 1896 and 1898 
must have told to some extent on the crop 
of 1901, just as the 14,000 acres additional 
put in during 1899, should affect the current 
year's crop ; but after that, the additions 
are insignificant. We are therefore, in 
Ceylon, very much in the same position as 
India, where there has been little or no ex- 
tension of tea since 1898. Only therefore 
let this present year be " weathered " and 
the prospect for tea planters should be a 
good one. Very important, however, is the 
advice given in the Report, before us for atten- 
tion to " careful medium to fine plucking 
leather than the manufacture of large quant- 
ities of common qaality teas," during the 
present season. The comparative freedom of 
tea from blight during 1901 and at present is 
noted. Cacao holds a strong position with low 
stocks and increasing consumption ; but the 
need of a "cacao-stealing ordinance" is em- 
phasized. A warning note is struck with re- 
ference to " cardamoms," the extended plant- 
ing of which threatens overproduction and 
unremunerative prices. The unprecedented 
prices ruling for the products of the 
coconut palm justify the statement that 
" the industry is on a very firm footing " — 
a fact which will no doubt lead to an 
extension of planting wherever suitable 
land is available in the Batticaloa and 
Puttalam districts for instance ? There is 
not much else in the P.A. Report calling 
for notice ; but we are glad to see the 
reference to the Ceylon Contingent which 
went to South Africa and that a permanent 
memorial is to be erected in the Victoria 
Oarden, Kandy, 
Turning to the Report of the "Thirty 
Committee," we find some figures that 
must bo of special interest at this time. 
The total amount rai.sed by the Tea Cess (Jan. 
1895 to 31st Dec. 1901) is Rl,768,©42 ; and 
