Feb,  I,  1896.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
527 
THE  COMMERCE  UE  ('EVLON  IN  189.-). 
Following  up  the  brief  notio?  we  have  already 
given  of  tfie  Connneree  of  Ceylon  d n ring  the  passt 
year,  the  following  review  from  a busine.ss  point 
of  view  with  which  we  have  been  favoured  will 
be  read  with  interest : — 
IMPORTS. 
Rice. — The  annually  increasing  f|uantities  imported 
indicate  the  presence  of  a large  immigrant  popu- 
lation in  connexion  with  agricultural  operations,  as 
well  as  prosperity  throughout  the  island.  The  figures 
for  1895  are  the  largest  on  record,  viz.  7,356,778 
bushels  against  6,476,592  in  1894. 
Cotton  Goons. — As  a result  of  cheap  cotton  in 
1894,  and  in  the  early  part  of  1895,  our  market  was 
over-supplied  with  cotton  goods  from  Europe,  and  a 
state  of  glut  has  almost  become  chronic,  whilst 
prices  that  are  obtained  are,  for  the  most  part,  un- 
remnnerative.  The  number  of  packages  of  greys 
imported  was  2,888  and  of  coloured  woven  goods  1,009. 
During  the  latter  half  of  1895  imports  have  shown 
a tendency  to  fall  off  to  an  extent  more  in  keeping 
with  requirements. 
Metals. — A large  business  has  been  done  in  metals 
and  hardw’are  and  tea  requisites,  during  the  past 
year.  A considerable  portion  of  the  goods  coming 
under  this  head  and  many  varieties  of  shop  goods 
are  now  obtained  from  foreign  manufacturers,  chiefly 
because  of  their  more  suitable  appearance  and  cheap- 
ness, compared  with  the  same  articles  of  British 
manufacture. 
The  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Colonies 
seems  anxious  that  such  trade  should  be  se- 
cured for  Great  Bidtain,  but  unless  the  manu- 
facturers there  can  adapt  their  wares  and  their  prices 
to  suit  the  requirements  of  buyers,  the  tendency 
will  be  for  trade  with  foreign  manufacturers  to 
increase. 
Kerosinf,  Oil — The  importation  in  bulk  and  the 
working  of  the  tank  system  seems  to  be  answering 
the  purpose  well,  but  the  consumer  does  not  seem 
to  derive  much  benefit  as  far  as  price  is  concerned, 
whilst  the  importation  of  case  oil  has  been  largely 
curtailed  if  not  extinguished.  The  heavy  rate  of 
duty  extorted  operates  against  the  extended  use 
of  oil  engines,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the 
efforts  being  made  to  procure  a reduction  of  it  will 
ultimately  be  successful. 
EXPORTS. 
Tea'. — The  quantities  exported  in  the  last  two  years 
are  as  follows  : — 
1895. 
1894. 
lb. 
lb. 
To  United  Lingdom 
85,753.339 
75,348,644 
,,  Continent 
786.741 
298,595 
,,  Australia 
91,379,561 
7,446,782 
,,  America 
393,527 
216,422 
,,  India 
831,070 
874.205 
,,  Other  Countries 
195,633 
407,066 
97,939,871 
84,591,714 
The  increase  in  1895 
over  the 
previous  year 
is  thus  nearly  134  million  lb.  a larger  output 
than  was  expected  but  the  w’eather  has  been 
favourable  for  flushing,  and  most  estimates  have  been 
exceeded. 
There  is  no  land  procurable,  for  plancing  in  the 
higher  elevations  in  Ceylon  ; but  a good  many 
clearings,  mostly  small,  have  been  made  in  the  low- 
country,  and  in  1896,  100  million  lb.  or  over  may 
be  counted  upon.  The  shipments  to  Australia  and 
the  Continent  of  Europe  generally  show,  on  the  whole, 
a satisfactory  increase,  but  to  Russia  there  has  ac- 
tually been  a falling  off,  significantly  showing  that 
renewed  efforts  will  have  to  be  made  if  access 
is  to  be  gained  to  the  large  tea  consumers  of  that 
country. 
Coffee  shows  some  recovery  in  1895,  the  export 
having  been  63,920  cwt.  against  32,205  cwt.  in  the 
previous  year.  Prices  have  have  been  well  main- 
tained, but  supplies  of  Brazil  are  reported  to  be  very 
large  and  may  cause  depression  in  the  current  year. 
67 
Cocoa. — The  crop  h.as  been  a fair  one,  amounting 
to  27,420  cwt.,  but  prices  have  ruled  very  low  and 
do  not  at  the  moineJit  show  signs  of  recovery. 
CiNNAJioN. — The  export  in  1895  has  been  large, 
2,169,527  1b.  against  1,969,905  in  1891.  The  ship- 
ment has  been  largely  stimulated  by  the  high  prices 
that  have  ruled  during  the  latter  half  of  the 
year,  due  to  the  operations  of  a syndicate  in 
London  w'liere  a " corner " was  created  in 
Angust-September,  the  effects  of  wliich  have  not 
j'et  passed  away.  'I'o  taice  advantage  of  high  prices, 
the  bushes  have  been  cut  very  close,  and  supplies 
must  be  short  until  they  have  had  time  to  grow 
again,  probably  till  about  April-May. 
CocoNiTT  Oil. — The  total  exports  in  the  last  two 
vears  have  been  as  follows. 
1895  . . . . 1891 
381,140  cwt.  487,571  cwt. 
About  4,500  tons  less  have  been  sent  to  the  United 
Kingdom  than  in  the  previous  year,  hut  America 
has  taken  1,000  tons  more.  Prices  have  been  depressed 
all  ilii-ough  tlie  year  owing  to  the  euonnous  supplies 
of  i, allow  reaching  England,  and  which  can  hardly 
be  said  to  show  any  signs  of  falling  off.  The  Indian 
import  duty  continues  to  restrict  the  quantity  taken 
by  that  country.  The  present  rupee  price,  R332‘50 
per  ton,  is  a good  deal  in  excess  of  the  equivalent 
in  Loudon. 
Coi’RA. — The  trade  has  been  of  about  the  same 
dimensions  as  iu  the  previous  year,  and,  like  coconut 
oil,  it  will  probably  contiuue  depressed  so  long  as 
Tallow  is  so  abundant. 
Plumbago. — The  quantity  exported  in  1895  w'as 
334,921  cwt.  against  339,521  cwt.  in  1894 — with  a 
falling  off  to  the  United  Kingdom  of  1,400  tons, 
and  an  increase  to  the  United  States  of  about  2,300 
tons.  Ow'iug  to  the  slow  revival  of  trade  in  Ame- 
rica, enquiry  has  been  kept  within  comparatively 
small  limits.  Supplies  have  been  suffleient  for  the 
restricted  demand,  but  it  is  fe.ared  these  may  be  cur- 
tailed through  the  operation  of  legislation  being  en- 
acted for  the  regulation  of  mine.s. 
Fibres. — In  coir  yarn  and  fibre  a steady  trade  has 
been  done  of  average  extent,  whilst  palmira  shows 
an  increase  of  4,300  cwt. 
Essential  Oils. — A gradual  annual  increase  has  been 
shown  in  citronella  oil,  but  cinnamon  oil  exhibits  a 
slight  falling  off. 
Desiccated  Coconut  shows  8,551,073  cwt.  to  have 
been  exported  in  1895  against  5,722,202  cw't.  in  1894, 
and  the  demand  for  this  article  of  our  industry  seems 
to  be  steadily  growing. 
♦ 
THE  NEW  TEA  ROOM  AT  MESSRS. 
LIBERTY’S. 
As  a concession  to  the  comfort  and  convenience  of 
their  lady  customers,  Messrs.  Liberty  & Co.  have  re- 
eeutly  opened  a tea  room  at  East  Indi.a  House. 
Tliis  is  a desirable  acquisition  iu  any  estabhsh- 
mmt,  more  csjiocinlly  in  one  like  Messrs.  Liber- 
ty’s. where  the  cho’ce  of  goods  is  so  bewil- 
tieriug,  that  a shopping  expedition  there  involves 
a staj  of  some  hours.  I’he  scheme  of  decoration  here 
is  quite  different  from  most  of  the  tea  rooms  in  Lon- 
don, it  is  approached  by  a wide  staircase,  carpeted 
with  sage-green  felt,  and  the  walls,  like  those  of  the 
room  itself,  are  covered  with  a tapestry  paper,  copied 
from  one  at  Hadden  Hall!  The  light  is  subdued  and 
restful,  coming  through  old  windows,  which  have  the 
appearance  of  the  old  hot  lie  glass,  only  that  they  are 
tinted  with  varying  shades  of  amber  and  yellow.  They 
might  have  been  taken  from  some  old  Flemish  house  ; 
indeed,  the  whole  room  is  a judicious  blending  of  early 
Dutch  and  early  English.  The  tables  are  tiled,  and 
have  oak  rims  and  legs  ; they  are  in  three  shapes — 
oblong,  squares,  and  octagonal  ; and  are  either  old 
blue,  green,  or  terra-cotta.  The  chairs  are  replicas  of 
old  Dutch  studio  ones  ; they  are  of  oak,  covered  with 
interlaced  leather  and  studded  with  fancy  nails.  The 
electric  light  and  some  bright  draperies  complete  the 
furnishing  of  this  comfortable  apartment.  The  tea 
served  is  a blending  of  Indian  and  Ceylon,  which  MISSIS, 
Liberty  import  direct. — Queen. 
