454 
[Jan.  I,  1896. 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
astatki  is  available  for  the  purpose,  if  we  eliminate 
the  refined  oils,  burnt  in  so-called  petroleum  stoves, 
which  arc  practically  lamps,  the  cost  of  which  is  too 
high  to  enter  into  competition  with  coal  for  industrial 
purposes.  The  demand  for  illuminating  and  lubricat- 
ing oils,  as  well  as  for  other  distillates  of 
crude  oil,  is  equal  to  the  supply  at  present  but  is 
increasing  day  by  day,  and  the  produce  of 
the  new  discoveries  is  being  absorbed  by  the  grow- 
ing demand  for  the  va  ions  petrolemu  pro  lucts. 
Among  the  uses  of  these  distillates  must  be  re- 
membered the  oils  used  for  enriching  gas,  and  in 
peti'oleum  engines,  which  though  not  applied  directly 
as  fuel,  replace  a certain,  but  a comparatively  small, 
amount  of  coal. 
Under  these  circumstances,  it  seems  futile  to  look 
upon  petroleum  as  a competitor  of  coal  as  a fuel, 
at  any  rate  for  the  present  or  the  near  future.  It 
is  somewhat  curious  to  note  how  slowly  the  already 
known  petroleum  lields  are  opened  out  in  the  face 
of  a large  demand  and  a lucrative  trade.  It  is 
really  only  in  the  United  States  and  in  South  Rus- 
sia that  the  deposits  arc  worked  to  any  great  ex- 
tent. Crude  oil  has  been  known  to  exist  in  abun- 
dance in  Peru  for  many  years,  yet  the  production 
does  not  seem  to  increase.  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  deposits  of  .Japan,  .lava,  Sumatra,  and  other 
fields  in  the  far  East  which  have  been  left  in 
abeyance  until  quite  recently.  In  Mexico  and  other 
South  American  States  very  good  indications,  to  say 
the  least,  have  been  discovered,  but  they  have  not 
been  practically  followed  up  by  the  expenditure  of 
any  capital.  The  European  fields,  other  than  South 
Russia,  are  being  opened  out  with  much  reserve, 
as  if  an  opinion  prevailed  among  capitalists  that 
petroleum  was  but  an  ephemeral  product,  with  not 
much  present  and  no  future  profitable  life.  Yet  the 
United  States  raise  2,000  millions  of  gallons  of  crude 
oil,  and  dispose  of  it  all  to  advantage. 
So  long  as  this  reticence  of  speculation  in  petro- 
leum development  prevails,  the  production  will  not 
become  formidable,  and  oil  will  not  be  extensively 
amplied  to  industrial  purposes. — Indian  and  Eastern 
Engineer. 

CEYLON  PRODUCE. 
Coconut  Oil. — The  market  is  very  treacherous, 
leaving  the  brokers  in  the  “ high  seas.”  Even  our 
old  friend,  “ Peruma  ” is  staggered  at  the  present 
status  of  the  market.  Very  conflicting  reports  come 
from  all  quarters  re  coconut  crops  and  the  Ijattalion 
of  millers  and  dealers  take  them  for  what  they  are 
worth — often  swallowing  an  occasional  “pill”.  A few 
days  ago,  the  market  was  steady  at  RyST'oO  per  ton 
f.  o.  b.,  and  after  gradually  showing  a tendency  to 
on  increase,  reached  the  climax  of  R340 — but  only 
to  fall  back  immediately  in  two  ranges  to  R33d. 
Copra. — The  arrivals  are  few  ; and  the  quality  is 
not  much  to  be  admired.  For  some  weeks,  hardly 
anything  has  come  for  the  manufacture  of  white  oil. 
Prices  range  from  R38'50  to  R47. 
PooNAC. — What  a fall,  compared  with  the  prices 
fetched  sometime  ago  ! Good  mill  can  now  be  had  for 
from  R45  to  47'50  per  ton  f.  0.  b. 
Coffee. — Plantation,  new  season's  crop  is  quoted 
at  R84’b5  ; but  a parcel  changed  hands  last  week 
at  R82  per  cwt.  f.  o.  b.  In  Native  firm  offers  arc 
given  at  R72  and  R71 ; but  this  is  all  mooiiBhine 
as  at  those  prices  no  mortal  with  a spoonful  of 
braing  can  operate  upon.  R6S  is  nearer  the  mark. 
Cocoa. — The  season  is  in  full  swing,  and  since 
the  middle  of  last  month  hundreds  01  hundred 
-weights  are  almost  daily  brought  down  to  houses 
of  Europeans,  Binhalese  and  Tamoios.  The  latter 
two  have  representatives  upcouury,  who  are  buying 
liirgely  for  them.  I’rices  locally  range  froniR32  to 
45  per  cwt.  A fine  parcel  froni  “ Woodsley”  changed 
bauds  yesterday  at  R43  ; while  “ Gangoruwa  ” and 
beans  from  other  well  known  estates  are  in  the  hands 
of  brokers. 
CakdamOiMS. — The  season’s  crop  has  not  been  .a  suc- 
cess, and  this  is  due  it  is  believed  to  the  circums- 
tauce  that,  off  and  o u during  thu  whole  year,  there 
have  been  pickings.  There  is  a very  great  demand 
for  Malabar  from  Bombay  and  the  Borah  and  Parsee 
mei'chants  have  run  up  prices  from  Rl-06  to  Rl'28 
to  30  per  lb.  The  European  market  supply  w'ill 
almost  be  nil  in  “ Malabar.  ’ It  is  only  recent  by  that 
Bombay  has  taken  a fancy  to  Malabar.  In  the 
)>ast  its  |>et  w’as  the  well  bleached,  white  bold 
Mysore. — Local  “ Examiner.” 
FEXGERANG  PLANTING  GO, 
The  ordinary  general  meeting  of  the  Pengerang 
Planting  Co.  was  held  in  the  Exchange  Rooms  to- 
day at  noon,  the  Hon’blo  G.  S.  Murray  (chairman) 
residing.  There  was  also  present  Messrs.  W'.  Hutton 
and  E.  -I.  Nanson,  directois,  and  Messrs.  A.  P. 
Adams,  McBain.  Dittmir.  Eckhardt,  W.  ^V.  Bailey, 
Manager,  and  Mr.  A.  J.  Gunn,  Secretary. 
The  Chairman  said  in  adopting  the  report  they 
would  at  the  same  time  adopt  the  propositions  that 
were  put  forward  in  it,  that  w'as,  a dividend  for 
nine  months  at  the  rate  of  20  per  cent  per  annum, 
absorbing  a sum  of  #10,500,  and  that  the  amount 
p>assed  to  rest  account  should  be  #4,000,  which 
would  leave  a balance  of  #14,052-04  to  be  carried 
forward  to  new  account.  He  hoped  that  the  share- 
holders would  look  upon  that  report  as  a satisfactory 
one.  The  Company  had  now,  he  trusted  g t to  such  a 
stage  that  they  might  hope  to  continue  to  prosper. 
It  had  not  in  the  past  been  a very  prosperous  con- 
cern, and  there  were  many  reasons  why  in  the  early 
days  of  their  enterprise  they  paid  no  dividends  at 
all.  They  made  many  mistakes  as  a pioneer  com- 
pany in  these  parts,  and  they  had  other  difficulties 
to  contend  with  which  he  need  not  enter  upon  at 
that  meeting.  He  hoped  they  were  in  smooth  waters 
now.  The  only  thing  which  occurred  to  him  as  at 
all  likely  to  mar  their  progress,  and  it  was  cer- 
tainly a very  important  one,  was  whether  the 
price  of  coffee  was  to  be  maintained.  That  was 
a point  which  everybody  interested  in  a coff'ee  ven- 
ture should  keep  clearly  in  mind.  At  present  the 
price  of  coffee  ruled  very  high  ; some  were  of  opinion 
that  the  price  would  still  improve,  others  held  a 
contrary  view.  He  was  not  prepared  to  say  much 
with  I'egard  to  the  views  which  had  been  express- 
ed as  regards  the  cultivation  of  coffee  in  other 
parts  of  the  world  falling  off,  as  no  definite  and  reli- 
able information  could  be  got.  They  had  to  accept 
the  good  things  as  they  came,  and  hope  for  the  best 
in  the  future.  He  did  not  think  it  was  necessary  in 
the  meantime  that  they  should  start  any  account  for 
the  depreciation  of  the  estate.  As  a matter  of  fact 
the  property  was  improving  in  value  every  day.  No 
one  knew  the  life  of  a Liberian  coffee  estate,  and  it 
seemed  to  him  that  so  long  as  they  kept  on  add- 
ing to  the  area  under  cultivation  tho  estate  w'as  in 
a thoroughly  sound  financial  position.  It  was  car- 
ried, that  the  report  and  accounts  as  submitted 
should  be  approved  and  adopted. — ;S.  /•’.  Press. 
NORTH  BORNEO  NEWS. 
The  Government  is  advertising  free  grants  of  land  up 
to  500  acres  in  extent  for  the  cultivation  of  Tapioca. 
A very  large  extent  of  land,  flat  and  of  fertile 
soil  has  lately  been  discovered  butwceii  tho  range  in 
l.Jlu  Lingkabau,  (a  tributaiy  of  tho  Sugut)  which 
has  Makatol  hill  at  the  northern  and  Mount  Taliu 
at  the  southern  end — and  tho  Bongon  River  above 
Timbaug  Baiu.  The  locality  is  Idank  on  the  latest 
map.  Tho  Imd  in  question  would  appear  to  be 
accessible  without  much  difficulty  from  Marudu  Bay, 
the  most  easy  road  being  up  the  Beukoka  river  to 
whore  a walk  of  half  an  hour  brings  oue  to  the 
Tinandukiin  Nilampan  Hill  at  the  edge  of  the  flat, 
which  takoB  over  four  hours  to  walk  across. 
Pangeran  Mahomet  of  Sembali  will  act  as  guide  to 
any  one  wishing  to  prospect. 
Tho  wet  wcatlicr,  succeeded  by  a spell  of  sunshine 
has  bonelitted  the  'Tobacco  crop  to  a largo  extent. 
—British  North  Borneo  Herald,  Nov.  20. 
