Sept.  2,  1895. J 
THE  TKOPICAI,  AGRICULTURIST. 
There  were  something  less  than  fifty  grocers  taking 
part  in  the  contest.  The  fact  tliat  one  contestant 
marked  the  10  cents  tea  up  to  .55  cents,  ami  that 
there  was  a range  of  marking  covering  the  whole  range 
of  price  of  teas,  shows  in  a degree  how  many  grocers 
simply  make  a stagger  at  guessing  at  the  real 
value  of  the  tea  they  buy.  Now,  not  one  of  these 
grocers  would  thiuk  of  taking  some  other 
niau’s  word  on  the  grade  oi  butter  they  buy. 
Yet  where  a cent  a pound  is  saved  on  butter 
by  knowing  how  to  test  the  grade,  10  cents  a pound 
can  be  saved  ou  tea,  and  this  means  8 dots  on  a 
chest.  The  grocer  who  does  not  learn  to  test  his 
own  pui'chases  of  tea,  5'et  insists  on  testing  his  own 
butter,  simply  wastes  at  the  bung  what  he  saves  at 
the  spigot.” — H.  and  C.  Mail,  Aug.  9. 
TKAVANCOKE  PLANTERS’  ASSOCIATION. 
Minutes  of  proceedings  of  an  extraordinary,  meet- 
ing hold  at  the  Club,  Trevandrum,  Wednesday,  1 1th 
August,  1895. 
Present: — INIessrs.  H.  M.  Knight  (Chairman),  J.  S- 
Valentine,  H.  S Buist,  W.  O.  Milne,  C F.  Ewart, 
R.  T Miller,  C.  Cary-Elwes  and  R.  Ross,  Hony.  Secy. 
Visitors  : .J.  E.  Fowler,  President,  K.  D.  Association, 
and  A.  D.  Adams. 
The  notice  calling  meeting  having  been  read,  the 
Chairman  and  Honorary  Secretary  resigned,  but  were 
unanimously  re-elected. 
The  following  resolutions  were  then  put  before  the 
meeting  and  carried. 
I.  Proposed  by  Mr.  .7.  S.  Valentine  and  seconded 
by  Mr.  K.  T.  Miller: — “That  subscriptions  to 
American  Tea  Fund  be  continued,  viz.,  four  annas 
per  acre  under  tea,  and  half  an  anna  per  maund  ef  tea 
produce  bbing  rates  fixed  by  Indian  Tea  Association,” 
II.  Mr.  Ackworth’s  letter  re  Association  paying 
half  share  of  delegate  s expences  to  United  Planters’ 
Association  conference  having  been  read.  It  was 
proposed  by  the  Chairman  that  the  following  telegram 
be  sent  to  Mr.  Ackworth  : “ Travancore  Association 
request  you  will  act  as  delegate  in  terms  of  your 
letter  3rd  Aug.  Reply.” 
III.  Proposed  by  Chairman,  that  a considerable 
deficiency  exi.sts  in  the  current  year’s  accounts.  Each 
estate  be  asked  for  a donation  of  RlO  for  the  year 
1895.  also  that  subscriptions  for  year  1895  be  now 
called  for. 
rV.  That  the  attention  of  Government  be  drawn 
to  the  resolution  passed  at  general  meeting  held  in 
1894  re  giving 'notice  to  owners  of  estates  on  which 
arrears  of  tax  are  due,  and  that  an  English  translation 
accompany  the  vernacular,  also  that  the  Secretary  be 
asked  to  revise  the  scale  for  calculating  the  duty 
on  Liberian  coffee  the  present  rates  on  Easteruside 
being  equal  to  double  duty. 
V.  That  the  following  resolution  be  added  to  tele- 
gram to  the  Delegate  “Trust  that  prompt  action  will 
be  t.aken  in  laying  the  subject  of  Act  XIII.  before 
the  Secretary  of  State  by  the  United  Planters’  As- 
sociation.” 
VI.  Proposed  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Valentine  and  seconded 
by  Mr.  H.  M.  Knight  : — “ That  this  Association 
views  with  apprehension  the  evident  determination 
of  Government  to  refuse,  011  the  plea  of  forest  being 
reserved  the  granting  of  extensions  to  owners  of 
present  holdings,  who  have  put  all.  their  available 
land  under  cultivation  and  that  Government  be 
urged  to  grant  applications  for  such  extension  within 
reserves. 
VII.  Proposed  by  Mr.  R.  T.  Miller  and  seconded 
by  Mr.  H.  S.  Buist  : — “ That  with  reference  to  the 
new  medical  grant-in  aid  regulations.  Government  be 
requested  to  extend  the  grant  to  medical  practitioners 
in  residence  in  the  tea  districts.” 
VIII,  That  Government  be  requested  to  put  in  re- 
pair the  bridle  path  from  Kalthuritty  bandy  road 
via  Shalakarey  to  Patanaveram,  also  that  Gov- 
ernment he  asked  to  make  a yearly  grant  of  R120 
to  pay  for  boatman  at  crossing  of  river  on  the 
Rockwood  c.ait  road,  the  erection  of  Myuall  and 
Kildonnan  bridges  as  jier  estimate,  and  former  appli- 
cation.s  ; that  the  attention  of  Government  be  again 
called  to  the  fact  that  no  travellers’  bungalow  exists 
207 
between  Coullapooly  and  Naduvangnad,  a distanc 
to  the  great  inconvenience  of  travellere 
on  that  road.  5 
ho?o!f"h  meeting  the  Chairman  said  he 
hoped  before  tney  met  again  next  January,  that  a 
^°™‘^lated  for  combining'the  three 
^ Travancore  into  one  Association.  'The 
aiiangement  would  not  interfere  with  the  present 
existing  Associations,  which  would  control  their  local 
business,  but  would  strengthen  their  hand  when  deal- 
lUg  in  matters  with  Government  in  which  all  were 
equally  iiUerested,  and  it  must  be  obvious  to  all 
members  of  the  Association,  that  it  would  be  advan- 
tageous to  have  a becretary  near  the  Capital,  who 
would  act  in  coinmon  for  the  planting  community. 
Unity  IS  strength,  and  he  W'as  sure  that  this  f.act 
would  not  be  overlooked  by  any  planter,  at  a time 
when  Tnwancore  seemed  fairly  launched  into  pro 
perous  times;  and  provided  fair  justice  is  given  us 
over  Act  XIII,  he  saw-  no  reason  why  Travancore 
should  not  become  the  premier  tea  district  of  India. 
„ ^ Ross,  Hon.  Secretary. 
(Signed,)  H.  M.  Knight,  Chairman. 
THE  RIVAL  MANUFACTURERS  OF 
CAFFEINE. 
We  {Chemist  and  Druggist.)  understand  tha 
Messrs.  Boehriuger  and  Sons,  of  Mannheim 
have  just  opened  a factory  in  London  where 
they  have  put  up  a plant  for  denaturing  tea, 
sweepings  for  exportation  to  Germany,  The  two 
English  name  manufactureis  offered  to  take  the 
entire  supply  of  sweepings  from  the  docks  on  con- 
tract at  10.1.  per  ton  above  the  regular  quotation  of 
Gl.  10s  per  ton,  but  the  Dock  Company  refused  to 
entertain  this  proposal,  and  supplies  all'  makers,  Bri- 
tish or  foreign,  equally  at  the  old  figure  so  far 
as  supply  goes.  Four  tons  of  denatured  leaves  are 
said  to  have  juat  been  shipped  to  Germany, 
THE  PU\NTIN0  DISTRICTS  OF  CEYLON 
IN  1895.— NO.  I. 
HOW  IT  STRIKES  AN  “OLD  COLONIST.” 
“ Together  let  us  beat  this  ample  field 
Try  what  the  open  what  the  covert  yield.” 
7 lie  gentleman  who  ohjecteil  to  liis  estate  being 
tlescribeil  as  abandoned,  merely  because  it  ceased 
to  glow  eoftee,  had  some  reason  on  his  sido^ 
especially  if  Ids  estate  lay  at  a moderate  alti- 
tude in  one  of  the  fertile  valleys  of  Central  Ceylon, 
riieie  are  few  more  interesting  scenes  tlian  a 
wild  maze  of  vegetation,  and  this  may  now  he 
seen  in  perfection,  wliere  years  .ago  the  land 
was  ilevoted  to  one  product — 
A THOUSAND  V.VKIETIKS 
where  erstwhile  only  one  reigned  supreme  The 
rugge.1  liill-side  \yith  its  stifl,  forced  and  formal 
coacing  of  coflee  is  now  dres.sed  in  the  softest  of 
dni[iery,  plants  growing  witli  a spontaneity  and 
arranged  with  an  effect  wldcli  makes  us  inarvei  atthe 
liand  of  nature,  'fhere  stands  out  like  a gi»antic 
prince  .s  feather,  the  grand  old  Kitul  overtoiiping 
the  noble  Jak,  tlie  siveet-scented  Howers  of  the 
k>apii  perfume  tlie  air,  wldle  the  leaves  of  the 
hiiiily  rooted  liogaha  quiver  in  the  morning  sun. 
Iheie  too  tlie  shafiely  Toon  has  taken  its  ap- 
p.mited  place,  more  at  home  than  i:i  its  own 
native  country  wh(>re  with  characteristic  perver- 
sity It  is  called  a ced.ar  ! The  umbrageous  Inqa 
has  also  found  its  way  here  and  throws  a re- 
freshing shade  over  the  tangled  net-work  of 
lovely  creepers  covering  every  iiu-li  of  ground 
the  Tropn-olnw  tr.ails  through  the  L anfana  while 
the  black  peeping  eye  of  tlie  Thnnberqia  looks 
out  from  amongst  the  sendtivc  jdunts, 
