THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTUEIST. [May 1, 1S02. 
DO TROUT BREED Ii\ CEYLON? 
A correspondent writes to our contemporary 
that a companion with him at the Horton Plains 
on April 1st caught a rainbow irout 4 inches 
long, though the last trout fry (biown) were 
turned down by Mr. John Eraser iii May 1901 and 
rainbow fry some time earlier, and wishes to know 
if itj, could have been born and bred on theHortous. 
We enquired of Mr. Fraser his opinion this 
morning, and he infoi uis us tiiai he recently took 
out trout, varying from 3 to 20 inches in length, 
from his own " stewpond, from fry put in 2 years 
ago; they had grown up irregularly and their 
ages could not at all accurately be told from 
the size. Mr. Eraser does not share the hope 
that our rivers may soon be " self-stocking." 
THE TEA MARKETS EXPANSION 
COMMISSION. 
(FROM THE .SIXTH REPORT.) 
W« have received a copy of the sixth Repoit 
of Me.ssrs Andrew Yule & Co., the Commis- 
sioners, to the members of the Advisory Com- 
mittee, referring to the operations during January 
and February, 1902. 
Teacontributionspromisedto 28th February, 1902. 
—Total 683,744 lb, the same as on the 31st Decern- 
ber last. Acting on the suggestion of the Com- 
missioners, cash has, in some cases, been given 
in lieu of tea, at the rate of 4 annas per lb. Up 
to 28th February, 1902, the following propor- 
tions of the promised contributions have been 
received : — 
lb. RB. AS. P. 
In tea about 47% = 323,98? valued 81,260 9 9 
In cash do 3%= 21,760 5,510 0 0 
Total 50% =457,347 86,770 9 0 
against 39 per cent received to 31st December last. 
The average value of the lea is 4 annas per lb, 
against 4 annas 1 pie to 31st December last Cash 
subscriptions received to 28th February, 1902 
amount to K9, 010, against Rl, 210 received to 31st 
December last. 
Purchase of Tea. — To meet the demand for 
classes of tea other than tliose contributed, to 
28th February, 1902, 26,358 lb of area were pur- 
chased at a cost of K8, 974-7-11. The teas were 
all purchased at public auction. Tea stoak on 
28th February, 1902, is approximately as follows : — 
Received into godowns from contributors 323,987 
lb ; Ditto by purchase 26,358 lb— Total 350,345 lb. 
Tea disposed of in the seven months 160,374. Tea 
in stock on 28th February, 1902 189,971, against 
168,8881b on 31st December last . 
Pice Packets. — The demand for these con- 
tinues satisfactory, the total issued to 28th 
February, 1902, being 526,015. The packet* are 
sold in any part of India at one pice each as in 
Calcutta. , , , , 
BbkWKuTea. — The total number or cups brewed 
tea sold at one pice each, to 28tl) February, 1902, 
in 116,222. Cost of workihg to 2S'li February, 
1902, is roughly K17,000 as against I{i0,ij00 to 31st 
December, 1901. 
NepAUI..-— 'I'he Prime Minister and Marshall of 
Nepaul, in reply to a letter asking him lo 
encourage the efibrt«. of the commission in that 
Dominion, stated that, while he personally wi.shed 
the movement every success, he feared not much 
could* be idone, _as„the, Nepaul Governmeutj had 
long teing uusuccessfuUy endeavouring to bring 
tea into general use with a view to fostering the 
tea plantations existing in the eastern part of their 
territory. A case of pice packets has, however, 
been sent to Nepaul as a trial. 
Other Agencirs. — Work through other chan- 
nels and Agencies has been continued. The Dacca 
Agent reports that the Commission's tea has 
gained a firm footing in Dacca, which is llie main 
supply station for the Districts of Dacca, My- 
niensing, Tip|jerah and Cliittagong, and that in the 
moie important towns of these he has established 
sub-agenciesjwhich are under the regular inspection 
of travellers, who also visit all Fairs within their 
rcrtch. An Agent of the Commission has also made 
a tour through Kathiwar and Gujerat, visiting 
Poibandar, Junaghah, Rajkot, Bhavanagar, Wad- 
wan Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Karachi and 
Cutch, with a view to introducing the Com- 
mi'tsion's tea into these places. Another Agent 
has been actively convassing Jubbulpore, Agra, 
Delhi, Jhansi, Cawnpore, and Owalior. Another 
Agent has visited several Fairs .md Melas, and held 
demonstrations and sold tea at these gatherings. — 
Madras Mail, April 8. 
CEYLON TEA IN 1901. 
Extracts from Geo. White Ji Co.'s Annual India, 
Ceylon, and Java Tea Report.) 
March, 1902. 
We would preface our usual annual report by 
offering our congratulations to those interested 
in this important industry, especially the producer, 
on the partial dispersion of the heavy cloud which 
over-hung it when we compiled our review juaf a 
year ago. From various causes a marked reduction 
in the output of the chief groiving countries has 
been apparent, and the trade would appear to be 
once again gradually emerging from a condition of 
repletion to one of comparatively healthy appetite. 
The all-absorbing question now is how to guard 
against a relapse into the lamentable stale ex- 
perienced during the season 1900-1, and in this 
connection we would draw attention to our remarks 
under " Prospects." 
Ceylon. — The comparative shrinkage in the 
total crop gathered was less than in the case of 
India, but increased shipments from both Colombo 
and London to outside ports reduced the quantity 
available for the markets within the United 
Kingdom. Elsewhere we refer to the main question 
of supply and its effect on prices. In the case of 
Ceylon it may be noted that the average in 
February, 1901, was 6^d per lb, while in the 
October following it stood at 8d per lb. Quality, 
cn the whole, was distinctly above the average, 
varying a little according to season, the most 
attractive reaching London, as is customary, 
about October. Owing to this usual variation, 
it may be here noted that seldom, if ever, 
is it possible to contrast sales made simul- 
taneously in London and Colombo, the high 
probability being that these markets are 
not selling similar tea, be it better or 
worse, there having been nearly two months' differ- 
ence in the timeof manufacture. Really low-grade 
tea, so often met with twelve months since, has 
been conspicuous by its absence. As in India, 
the production of choice quality was on a limited 
scale, and ordinary fine kinds, having a better class 
below to compete with than usual, suffered to 
some extent. Useful to good Broken Pekoes have 
often been below par, the fact of the important 
