August i, i8qo.] 
THE TROPICAL AQRiOULTURlST. 
143 
THE LAST CINNAMON SALES. 
Cinnamon planters seem doomed to disappointment, 
not only tlirough the absence of any material geiieral 
improvement in the price of their spice, but especially 
in their efiorta towards that end. The Chamber of 
Commerce in its last half-yearly Report, made pointed 
reference to this, as about the only native product 
which had not shared in the upward tendency which 
had been established with almost every other product. 
It was, however, hoped that a new experience was 
in early store for it, which would dawn with the next 
Quarterly Sales, which stood fixed for last Monday. 
The ground of the hope was the combination which 
Planters had entered into, to step the soraphig of 
Chips; but so far has the hope been from realization 
that an actual fall in price has been registered . The 
experience is not dissimilar to that which puzzled pro- 
ducers when the initiation of more frequent sales was 
also followed by a fall in prices five or six years ago. 
The cause then was the combination of buyers in 
London to oppose every obstacle against proceedings 
which might imperil the monopoly which a few London 
Firms enjoy, of being the distributors to Europe and 
America of the finest kinds of Ceylon Cinnamon. The 
cause of the present disappointment is the continued 
failure to arrest production. Over-pro 'uotion being 
the very obvious cause of the fall in price of an article, 
the consumption of which cannot be stimulated by cir- 
cumstances like those which operate with necessaries 
of life, the reasoning was that the cessation in the 
scraping of Chips, at least over a considerable area, 
would lead to a better demand for quilled bark, by 
reducing the total output. So far there has been no 
falling off in Exports. On the contrary, the current 
commercial year shows, up to last week, an actual in- 
crease in the quantity of bark shipped, both Quils and 
Chips’ as compared with last year, while the diminution 
in the weight of Chips exported, as compared with the 
two previous years, has been compensated for by a 
material increase in Quills. The cause of low prices 
being thus yet in operation, it is not to be wondered 
at that the anticipated rise in price has not yet been 
realized. The following figures relating to the export 
of Cinnamon from 1st October to 20th February in the 
years named below, will explain bow matters stand: — 
Year. 
Quills. 
Chips, 
Total. 
1889-90 . 
.. 813,494 ., 
.. 242,771 .. 
,. 1,056,265 
1888-89 .. 
.. 929.296 ., 
.. 242,771 .. 
,. 749,153 
1887-88 
,. 654,840 ., 
.. 119,857 .. 
814,390 
1886-87 
.. 701,127 ., 
,. 259,550 .. 
,. 1,045,444. 
The foregoing table shows at a glance that the total 
Exports of Cinnamon during the current year are higher 
than in any of the three previous years, being 300,0001b. 
more than last year, and about 25,0001b. more than 
the year preceding. In the face of ibis it is unreason- 
able to expect a rise in price ; but there is no reason 
to despair. True, the Chips shipped up to date this 
year are more than double the quantity for the cor- 
responding period of last year, but the engagement not 
to scrap Chips had not full operation more than a 
quarter. Since then, as just before, the quickened 
demand for the article has led to all the available bark 
being rushed into the market. Not only cannot this 
be continued much longer with reference to the supply ; 
but the ruling prices for Chips in London are a dis- 
couragement to the continuance of shipments thither 
at present local prices. Before many months elapse 
this will probably appear, there being further hope in 
the fact tliat, notwithstanding circumstances which 
have stimulated the output of Chips this year, the 
quantity of Quills shipped, far in excess of previous 
years, is more difiScult of explanation. Probably, the 
season has^ been favourable for the harvesting of bark 
in some districts, and in others the necessities of 
growers, through low prices, have compeUed them to 
cut all the bark they could t but it is to be feared 
there has been a gradual extension of the acreage 
under Ciimamoa in village gardens. It this surmise 
be correct — m no other way can the large exports for 
years past be explained in the absence of new Estates— 
the fact shows with how small profits the Native grower 
o»n bo content, and bow difficult it is to ootupete with 
him in product; which ha can himself grow and prepare. 
We have often leTu, and have to some extent experienced, 
how illusory are the projects which some benevolent 
people are fond of urging on others, of farming, fruit- 
growing &c. A scheme might look well enough on 
paper, but when account is taken of the fact that 
competition has to be faced with villagers to whom 
time is of no importance, who give their own spare 
labour, and who spend little or nothing on the upkeep 
of stock, buildings, &c., one should think twice before 
making small larming one’s solo dependence. 
The fall of j^d per lb. in low and medium kinds, 
referred to in toe telegram received yesterday, added 
to the fall of §d to Id experienced at the November 
sales, will be seriously felt by producers of low-priced 
medium bark. The heavier fall of Id to 2d in fine 
back, following a similar fall in November, must be 
a great disappointment to those who began to think 
the taste for superior bark had been fairly established. 
But we must not forget that, at the November sales, 
an exceptionally large quantity was offered ; and 
although the 2,000 Bales catalogued this week, of which 
1500 were sold, are below the previous offerings, they 
represent a full catalogue for this time of the year. 
We await further particulars by Mail ; but meanwhile 
counsel Planters to be firm to their engagement not to 
res irt to Chips. Before two years, the period of pro- 
bation, shall have expired, it may be possible to record 
a victory — Local “ Examiner.” 
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2197 
9409 
3632 
1616 
171 
242 
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