452 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan.  1,  1896. 
the  most  careful  consideration  of  Government. — 
1 have  etc.,  S.  E.  J.  Clarke. 
Secretary,  Indian  Tea  Association. 
[Memorandum  re  appointment  of  Scientific  Officer 
for  the  Tea  Districts,  to  be  submitted  hereafter  to 
the  Government  of  India.] 
The  tea  industi'y  having  for  some  years  past 
felt  the  necessity  for  a thorough  scieniific 
invstigation  into  the  chemistry  of  the  tea 
plaet  and  its  cultivation  and  manufacture,  de- 
sires to  bring  the  matter  before  the  Government  of 
India  for  consideration  and  such  co-  operation  as 
may'  be  found  possible. 
2.  It  is  understood  that  ip  a kindred  subject  in:. 
investigation  connected  with  silk,  siich  co-operation 
and  even  pecuniary  support  has  actually  been 
rendered  by  the  Governments  of  India  and  Ifengal. 
It  is  accordingly  felt  that  the  support  not  only  of 
the  Government  of  India,  but  also  of  Local  Go- 
vernments where  tea  cultivation  is  pursued,  might 
reasonably  be  extended  to  an  industry  of  such 
magnitude  and  importance. 
d.  The  Tea  Association  fully  appreciates  the 
assistance  which  the  Government  of  India  have 
rendered,  and  are  still  rendering  in  the  deputation  of 
Dr.  Watt,  the  Reporter  of  Economic  Products,  to 
investigate  into  the  subjects  of  tea  blights.  Without 
anticipating  the  report  which  Dr.  Watt  is  likely 
to  publish,  it  mav  bo  said  that  he  has  convinced 
the  planter’s  in  the  districts  visited  that  there  is  as 
much  to  be  learnt  on  the  subject  of  proper  cultiva- 
tion of  the  plant,  as  in  that  of  the  remedy  of  actual 
blights.  But  this  involves  a scientific  investigation 
mainly  of  a chemical  nature,  w'hich  the  prlanting 
industry  unaided  is  unable  to  accomplish,  not  so  inuch 
financially,  as  in  the  proper  control  and  supervision 
of  the  operations  of  a scientific  officer.  , j 
4.  It  is  contemplated  that  a chemist  of  established 
reputation  should  be  brought  out  to  this  counti’y, 
or  a fixed  term  of  vears  (say  five),  to  receive  such 
alary  as  would  ensure  his  devoting  his  entire  energy 
o this  enquiry,  but  on  the  distinct  understanding 
that  the  result  of  his  investigations  should  be  the 
property  of  the  Association.  The  selection  of  such 
an  officer,  it  is  felt,  the  Goverument  of  India  would 
be  better  qualified  to  make  than  the  Association. 
5.  The  direct  assistance  which  the  Government 
of  India,  it  is  beHeted,  could  render,  would  be  in 
the  equipment  of  ft  laboratory,  since  the  apparatus 
required  might  be  utilized  by  Government  in  its 
chemical  laboratories  at  the  close  of  the  contem- 
plated investigation.  It  is  also  suggested  that  the 
major  portion  of  the  apparatus  and  oheinicals  might 
even  be  lent  for  the  purpose  here  indicated. 
6 In  venturing  to  suggest  direct  aid,  the  Associa- 
tion considers  that  supervision  of  chemical  inquiries  is 
of  the  greatest  importance,  and  for  this  purpose  the 
chemical  officer  might  be  associated  with  one  of 
the  scientific  departments  of  the  Government  of 
This  Association  believes  that  the  desired  aim  of 
the  investigation  might  be  frustrated  through  a 
scientific  officer  not  being  supervised,  there  being 
the  liability  of  his  attention  being  diverted  from  the 
main  points  at  issue.  But,  in  venturing  to  make 
this  suggestion,  the  Tea  Association  desires  mainly 
to  obtain  an  expression  of  opinion  from  the  Gov- 
ernment of  India,  and  the  final  scheme  may  be 
matured  hereafter.  J-  Buckinguam, 
Chairman,  Assam  Branch,  Tea  Association. 
Indian  Planters'  Gazette. 
SALE  OF  AN  ESTATE. 
It  is  reported  that  Gangwarily  Estate,  West 
Doloshage,  has  been  sold  by  Mr.  John  Drummond 
to  Mr.  W.  Blackett.  ^ 
SALE  OF  COCONUT  ESTATES. 
The  1 trice  jiaid  Mi’.  Jacob  de  Mell  by  the 
Ceylon  Tea  Plantations  Coinpany  for  the  coco- 
nut estates  Siringapatha  and  lursina  is  L_J-,),00(). 
Mr  de  Mell  purchased  these  estates  about  lomonths 
ago  from  Messrs.  Akbar  Brotbms  for  R’280,000. 
Mr. 
estates 
Ehves. 
GAL  AT  A GROUP. 
Tunnicliffie  has,  we  learn,  sold  these 
for  R 100,000  to  Mes.srs.  Cresswell  and 
DRUG  REPORT. 
(From  Chemist  and  Druggist.) 
London,  N ovember  14. 
Annatto  —Five  bags  of  dull  dark  Madras  sold  at  the 
low  price  of  ijd  per  lb 
Oai'fei.ne  t^uiet.  Some  business  lias  been  done  this 
week  at  19s  per  lb  on  the  spot. 
CuoxoN-SF.r.n— At  today’s  auctions  a parcel  of  15  bags 
of  seed  from  Colombo,  not  quite  so  nice  as  what  offered 
at  the  preceding  sale,  was  well  competed  for  and  again 
realised  an  advance  of  a few  shillings,  the  whole  lot 
being  sold  for  50s  per  cwt. 
OuuKiis  remain  quite  neglected.  There  was  .a  fairly 
])lentiful  supply  at  auction,  but  no  berries  were  sold  ; 
privately  32s  Cd  per  cwt  would  be  accepted  for  fair 
slightly  stalky  quality.  At  auction  a bid  of  27s  was  re- 
jected for  some  berries  of  fair  quality,  slightly  stalky. 
tSeven  bags  cubeb  s^talks  and  berries  sold  without  reserve 
subject  to  paying  charges  at  6s  per  cwt. 
Gamboge  was  in  very  good  demand  today,  medium 
qualities  being  steady.  Of  40  packages,  22  realised 
i£l()  7s  6d  for  good  pipe,  partly  blocky,  of  bright  fracture, 
and  from  K9  7s  tid  clown  to  £9  for  partly  drossy  and 
blocky  pipe  I’icey  mixed  to  fair  blocky  pickings. 
Kola— Holders  are  disposed  to  ask  more  money,  viz, 
Is  3d  per  lb  for  good  bold  w^ashed  and  Is  per  lb  for 
small  washed.  It  i.s  doubtful,  how’ever,  whether  those 
prices  given  can  as  yet  be  made.  At  auctions  today 
28  packages  were  all  bought  in,  bids  of  lod  being  re- 
jected for  good  washed  quality.  We  understand  privately 
that  ltd  per  lb  has  been  paid  for  fair  washed  from 
Africa. 
Nux  Vojiic.v— One  hundred  and  sixty-six  packages  of 
small  to  fair  pale  quality  from  Bombay  were  all  bought 
in  today  <at  5s  (id  per  cwt. 
E.ssentiai,  OH.s-Cajuput  oil  10  cases  were  bought  in. 
Cinnamon  oil  sold,  subject  to  approval,  at  4R1  per  oz. 
Jitronella  oil  is  again  dearer.  Is  5d  per  lb  being  now 
asked  on  the  spot,  while  offers  of  Is  3id  per  lb  c i f 
for  oil  in  drums  have  been  refused  this  week  by  Ceylon 
exporters,  who  say  that  there  is  no  more  oil  to  be  had. 
Lemongrass  oil  is  also  very  firm  on  the  spot  at  2d  to  2Jd 
per  oz,  without  further  arrivals  in  sight  The  market  in 
Cochin  is  said  to  have  been  cleared. 
tJuiMNE— At  the  end  of  last  week  there  was  a sale  of 
20,000  oz  German  bulk  (B  & S or  Brunswick)  at  the  price 
of  Is  Id  per  oz,  showing  a further  decline  of  fully  one- 
eighth.  .Since  tnen  the  market  has  become  slightly' firmer 
again  and  buyei-s  offered  at  is  Ijd,  which  has  not,  how- 
ever, been  accepted.  For  second-hand  German  bulk  on 
the  spot  Is  Ifil  has  been  refused  this  week.  Offer  of  Is 
Id  per  oz  for  Fabricca  Lombarda  quinine  have  also  been 
refused,  and  the  market  is,  upon  the  whole  fairly 
steady. 
Vanilla— The  supply  at  today’s  auctions  was  fairly 
large— viz  200  tins— but  almost  the  entire  quantity  was 
made  up  of  arrivals  from  France,  the  principal  portion 
con-sisting  of  stocks  which  had  been  hold  back  by  large 
French  holders,  tiood  (piality  was  well  represented,  but 
buyers  were  not  such  fkeen  purchasers  as  at  the  last 
.auctions,  and  the  iirices  today  ruled  very  irregular,  jind 
were  on  the  aver.age  *about  is  to  Is  Od  per  lb  lower. 
The  total  quantity  offered  weighed  about  4,200  lb,  and 
was  nearly  all  disposed  of. 
THE  UNITED  PLANTERS’  ASSOCIATION 
OF  SOUTHERN  INDIA. 
Follo\vii\"  up  the  acknowledgment  which  we 
made  of  a copy  of  the  proceedings  of  thi.q  Association 
f >r  the  year  we  would  mention  th.at  the  volume 
which  is  of  a very  convenient  size,  con.si.st.s  of  191 
pages  iruiluding  tlie  appendix.  The  main  part  of  the 
record  is  a report  of  the  proceedings  at  the  second 
annual  general  meeting  held  in  August  last,  and 
the  variety  of  subjects  then  discussed  sliow.s  how 
very  important  the  organization  is.  IVe  trust  that 
it  will  long  continue  to  keep  a .strict  watch  over 
all  matters  connecteil  with  the  planting  industry. 
After  the  report  comes  the  accounts  showing  a 
b.alance  on  hand  of  RSli).  then  correspondence, 
and  lastly  the  appendix  in  which  we  m Lice  is 
incorporated  a copy  of  the  Ceyhm  Lahour  0)x|i- 
nance. 
