6oo 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[February i, 1892. 
demanded, undoubtedly show superior value. The 
quality of the imports during the week has shown a 
slight improvement, and as reports from the island 
point to better weather, teas of good quality may be 
on the way. Java teas are much neglected except for 
export, for which the demand is rather more active. 
The arrivals for the week are :— The " Clan Bucha- 
nan," " Golconda," " Mira," and " Legislator," from 
Calcutta and Colombo ; "City of Canterbury," from 
Calcutta; and the " Oroya," from Colombo. Notwith- 
standing the near approach of the Christmas holidays, 
says the Grocer, the quantity of Indian tea brought 
forward has continued heavy, reaching 32,385 packages, 
which, it is satisfactory to say, met an active demand, 
and were nearly all taken off with a healthier com- 
petition than for some time past, at a further slight 
advance. The common sorts are gradually recovering 
from the recent depression, and are now jd to Jd per lb. 
dearer than they were a fortnight ago. The better 
and strong-liquoring kinds also have been more readily 
purchased, and still form the smallest proportion of the 
g'eneral supply. — ti. andC. Mail, Dec 25. 
DOOM DOGMA TEA *COMPANY, LIMITa ^- 
The following circular has been issued to the sh 
holders: — "I beg to inform you that at a meeting 
of the directors of this company, held on the 16th 
inst., it was resolved to declare an interim dividend 
at the rate of 5 per cent, upon the whole capital of 
the company, namely : — To the A shares, 5 
per cent. ; to the B shares, 5 per cent. ; to the 
ordinary shares, 5 per cent. In conformity with 
this resolution, I have now the pleasure to forward 
a dividend warrant for the amount due to you, as 
per accompanying statement. I am instructed by 
my directors to inform you that the total tea crop 
of this seasons, including that of the Samdang 
Garden (about 98,000 lb.) amounts to 1,120,960 lb. 
as compared with 893,890 lb. last year. The sales 
up to date of 733,337 lb. in London have averaged 
10 ■ 15-16d. per lb., as compared with the average to 
same date last year of 590,498 lb. at Is 0 3-32d 
per lb., or with the total 1890 average of Is 0^-d 
per lb. — I am, yours obediently, E. G. Kock, 
Secretary." — If. and C. Mail, Deo. 25. 
SAPPHIRES AND RQBIES IN SIAM. 
The first annual ordinary meeting of the above 
company took place on Monday. 
Lord Thurlow, the chairman, in speaking at some 
length, said that matters were progressing as favour- 
ably as could be expected in the face of the many 
difliculties they had had to contend with. 
Mr. C. Preston Gibbons, who was at the head of their 
affairs in Siam, had been dangerously ill, and the fever 
so prevalent in that country had at first attacked many 
of the men on the fields. The company, he continued, 
had now taken possession of nine square miles of 
gem-producing ground, and the result had been 
210,000 carats of sapphires and rubies, 40,000 carats 
of which had already come to hand, a second con- 
signment of 130,000 carats being expected shortly. 
Tliey had as yet not exported any expensive ma- 
chinery, trusting rather to the simple appliances by 
which the natives were accustomed to extract the 
«ems. They would not risk sending out expensive 
machinery, &o., until they had extended their busi- 
ness sufiiciently. He regretted to say that the bank 
balance in London was very small, and that they 
*■ would have to make a call of 2s. 6d. in the £ payable 
'•bn Jan. 15th. This would enable , them to keep the 
'•concern' going for six months. He did not think 
''■ft further call would be necessary, as they were 
receiving consignments of atones for disposal, unless 
they extended tlieir operations largely. He congratu- 
lated the shareholders on their excellent staff, both in 
Hiam and in London, and also on their relations with the 
Siamese Koyal i'\imily and Government, who were 
largely interested in the undertaking, and whose 
patronage would contribute greatly to the success 
of the company. In conclusion, he moved the adoption 
of the report and ii-ccounts. The motion having been 
nnanimouHly agreed upon, the meeting closed with 
UHUai voto Qf [hm\ifi.-^il- and 0. Mail, Dec, ^5. 
A GUIDE TO RICE-GKOWING. 
Near the end of the last century the reign- 
ing Emperor of China, Kanghi, the second of 
the present dynasty, impelled by the importance 
of the rice industry in the Flowery Land, and 
to show his solicitude for the welfare of his 
subjects, published a sort of guide to rice-grow- 
ing. This curious work (dated 1796), which sug- 
gests to the European mind that the Emperor 
compiled it when in a playful mood and rather 
as an amusement than out of regard for the 
welfare of his subjects, has been rendered into 
English, and as it may be of interest to our 
readers we produce the translation (kindly lent 
by Mr. Alex. Macpherson) in full. It should be 
mentioned that each of the short descriptive 
verses given below is accompanied by a picture : — • 
Soaking the Rice Seed. 
The rains have fallen and brought water to our 
cottage gate. 
Immerse yoiu- bamboo baskets of seed m the 
limpid waters, and soon the precious grain sprouts 
will show forth. 
It is now that outdoor preparations begin. 
Sacrifice the fowl to greet the opening spring, 
and offer u]p your prayers for an abmidant harvest. 
Let the plough do its work from morning till night. 
Ploughing. 
Good ! The water in the fields has accumulated 
to the depth of a plough. 
How beautiful to see the vernal foliage casting 
its shade on the land. 
Aged as I am I delight to saunter from the cottage 
door, and with the aid of my staff I come to watch the 
water buifalo laboriously wading the muddy flats. 
Alas ! in how many years gone by have I put 
my shoulder to the plough ! 
Haehowing. 
With my bamboo hat I brave the morning mist. 
"With my bamboo leaf coat I resist the rains of spring. 
See the poor buffalo. 
The mud is four hoofs in depth, but who will 
say that he works harder than I, the man behind, who 
from morn to eve stand till my legs ache with fatigue '.' 
Eamng. 
Off with yom' coat and out to your work. 
Harness the buffalo and rake all the fields. 
Such is the morning cry. 
Now, soon will the sun be sinking in the west, 
and aheady I hear the song of returning woodmen. 
Ah, my good buffalo ! thou art quickly to go home 
and enjoy yom' evening swim. 
Harrowing. 
Wo ! Steady, my beast. 
Now, gentle reader, while your rustic friend reins in 
his buft'alo, please take a glimpse at his native village. 
A single row of thatched cottages along the margin of 
a lake backed by bamboos and other foliage, and there 
you see a specimen of quiet Chinese rural life. 
Sowing. 
The land is prepared, the grain is sprouted. 
Entering the field with each a basket on his arm, 
We walk backwards, and with a wave of the hand 
deftly disperse the seed. 
Ere a few days have elapsed the tender blades 
will be bending before the wind. 
Thus by a picul of seed may a full harvest be reaped. 
The Eibst Shoots. 
The warmth of spring has started the seed, de, 
And with staff in hand and a youngster by my si 
I hobble out to see the first green blades ; 
This is the first result of this year's work ; 
But how much more is there yet to be done. 
Manuring. 
Our system of agriculture has been handed down 
to us by our forefathers. 
Without manure mother earth will not yield in 
abundance. 
Such is a portion of our labour. 
Let us hope that we shall reap abundantly. 
Transplanting. 
The yotuig plants have reared their heads ajjovewatei'i 
