FeI!,  I,  1896.] 
THE  TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
55  r 
A FORMER  CEYLON  PLANTER  IN 
RRTTISH  COLUMBIA. 
Wc  liiive  received  a letter  from  Mr.  E.  W. 
liar  rls,  formerly  a planter  in  Ceylon,  ami  for 
some  little  time  in  char{j;e  of  tlie  lish-curing 
yai'd  at  Kaljjitiya.  Mr.  Harris  writes  from  Vic- 
toria, B.C.,  on  Dec.  14  last: — 
“ How  is  Uva  doing  ? Do  you  know  if  Mr.  Crowther 
.vho  worked  on  Blackett’s  estates  (Keiiakelly)  is  still 
in  the  irdand  There  is  a large  field  for  the  sale 
of  Ceylon  teas  both  in  Canada  and  the  Pacific  coast 
of  the  U.  S.  Can  I be  of  any  help  in  the  matter  ? 
I pay  25c  (equal  to  50c  of  Ceylon  money)  for  J a lb. 
of  Ceylon  tea  here.  I have  been  8 years  on  this 
coast.  Great  things  are  being  expected  from  the  gold 
mines  of  Rooteney,  but  a lot  of  capital  is  required 
to  develops  the  quartz  in  which  it  is  found.’’ 
THE  INTRODUCTION  OF  “LADYBIRD” 
BEETLES  INTO  CEYLON. 
Mr.  E.  Ernest  Green  write.s  to  ua  from  Eng- 
land : — 
The  failure  of  our  first  attempt  to  introduce  “ lady- 
bird ” beetles  must  not  discourage  us  from  trying 
again.  The  experiment  seems  to  have  been  most 
successful  in  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  the  same 
kind  of  beetles  that  were  despatched  to  Ceylon  have 
increased  rapidly  and  are  doing  good  service  against 
a scale-bug  closely  allied  to  our  Lecaniuni  viride. 
I have  written  to  my  friend  Mr.  Albert  Koebele, 
who  is  responsible  for  the  experiment  in  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  asking  him  to  send  us  a supply  direct 
from  there.  They  would  be  consigned  to  care  of 
my  brother  Mr.  G H.  Green.  I also  propose  to 
get  another  supply  from  California,  to  be  sent  to 
me  here  in  England.  I shall  endeavour  to  propo- 
gate  and  establisli  them  here  in  a greenhouse  where 
I find  a plentiful  supply  of  a scale  insect  (Lecaniuni, 
alienum).  I can  then  choose  my  time  and  send  out 
consecutive  consignments  to  Ceylon.  The  initial  diffi- 
culty will  bo  to  get  the  insects  over  to  England. 
For  I am  surprised  to  find  the  same  lack  of  con- 
venience for  interchange  of  parcels  between  this 
country  and  America  as  exists  between  the  latter 
and  Ceylon. 
« 
'THE  PHILADELPHIA  COMMERCIAL 
MUSEUM. 
OFl'lCEIiS  OF  THE  )10AI!I>. 
Win.  Pepper,  M.n.,  i,r,.i)..  President  ; Charles  II. 
Cramp,  Vice-President;  Clarence  U.  Clark,  Treasurer; 
Wm.  P.  Wilson,  Sc.  u.,  Sec.  protein,  and  Director  of 
tlie  Museum. 
I'LAN  AND  PUKrOSE  OP  THE  PHILADELPHIA  COMMEliClAL 
MESELH. 
The  I’hiladelphia  Economic  and  C-omniercial  Mu- 
ecum  is  a municipal  institution  established  by  the  City 
of  Philadelphia. 
The  Museum  consists  of  culb'ctions  of  natural  pi'o 
ducts  from  all  the  countries  of  the  world  which  ha\c 
already  entered  our  markots,  or  which  may  bo  DiaJc 
available  for  them,  together  with  samples  aud  cases  of 
manufactured  products  from  foreigu  couutrics,  which 
may  serve  as  aids  to  our  manufacturers. 
THE  OBJECTS  OP'  THE  INSTITUTIO.N. 
1st.  To  briug  before  our  manufacturers,  dealois 
and  consumers  all  the  varied  products  of  the  world, 
that  they  may  make  the  best  selection  for  their  own 
pecial  interests. 
2d.  To  publish  all  possible  scientific  and  useful  in- 
formation concerning  these  products  which  ffiay  aid 
the  manufacturer  and  consumer  in  his  choice. 
3d.  To  place  on  exhibition  manufactured  articles 
and  samples,  w'ith  full  information  from  all  markets 
which  we  ought  to  enter  or  control,  and  to  furnish 
useful  information  concerning  opportunities  in  foreign 
ands  to  our  merchants  and  manufacturers. 
* Yes,— manager  of  the  Kellie  Co. ’a  estates,— Eo. 
r.A. 
70 
Tlie  most  important  parts  of  the  e.xhibits  from  Mexico 
Central  and  South  America,  Australia,  South  Africa,  and 
many  Asiatic  countries  at  the  World’s  Columbian  Expo- 
sition, were,  at  its  close,  removed  to  Philadelphia. 
Similar  products  from  all  other  countries  have  been 
secured,  and  are  being  rapidly  added  to  the  collections. 
Division  op  Exhiiuts  and  Depajitments. 
I. 
exhibits  .\CC01{D1N(3  to  counttues. 
Glider  the  classification  a visitor  may  study  the 
resources  and  commercial  features  of  any  particular 
country;  can  see  the  extent  and  variety  of  its  pro- 
ducts ; investigate  the  character  of  its  industries, 
climate  and  soil ; means  of  transportation  and  manner 
of  communication  with  the  commercial  woild,  and 
thereby  be  enabled  to  de'iive  from  the  exhibits,  maps, 
charts  and  other  data  collected,  valuable  informa- 
tion necessary  in  the  conduct  of  his  business. 
II. 
EXHIBITS  ACCOHDIN&  ID  FUNDS  OF  PlIODUCIS. 
Under  this  classification  the  mnufacturer,  merchant 
or  consumer  interested  in  any  particular  commodity 
may  here  find  systematically  arranged  and  displayed 
samples  of  the  various  products  which  interest  him. 
collected  from  all  sections  of  the  globe,  with  all 
obtainable  data  possible,  whereby  he  may  ]udge  of 
their  commercial  value.  For  instance,  the  manu- 
facturer of  wood  will  have  displayed  for  his 
benefit  thousands  cf  samples,  embracing  nearly  all 
the  woods  of  the  world,  in  sufficient  size  and  quan- 
tity, and  with  data  necessary  for  him  to  determine 
their  value  in  his  particular  iudnsln'y.  Likewise  the 
textile  manufacturer  may  hero  find"  samples  of  the 
wools,  silks,  cottons,  vegetable  fibres,  etc.,  from  every 
foreigu  country,  cumprising  the  most  varied  and  com- 
plete collection  of  its  kind  in  existance.  The  col- 
lection of  hides,  skins,  leather,  tanning  materials, 
dyestuffs,  food  products,  oils,  medicin.il  drugs  and 
herbs,  minerals,  etc.,  are  intended  to  enable  the 
dealer  in  these  products  to  keep  fully  posted  upon 
the  constantly  changing  conditions  of  the  markets 
of  the  world.  These  collections  will  be  renewed  or 
augmented  as  necessity  may  require. 
III. ' 
SAMPLES  OP  POP.EION  MA.NEPAi  i UiP.S. 
This  will  be  a collection  of  samples  of  merciuindisc 
required  in  foreigu  countries,  especi.ally  in  the  new 
markets  of  Spanish  America,  Australia,  .Soutli  Africa 
and  other  countries,  the  object  being  to  slnw  to 
the  American  manufacturer  winit  bis  European  com- 
petitor is  doing  in  the  foreign  trade  of  these  coun- 
tries, and  suggest  to  him  new  linos  of  goods  which 
lie  may  produce  .and  sell  witli  profit.  Novelties  and 
improvements  made  in  European  luamifacturos  in 
standard  goods  and  staples  will  be  promptly  reported. 
Detailed  information  ns  to  the  source,  cost  of  pro- 
duction. selling  prices,  import  duties,  uiauuer  of  piii  1;- 
iiig,  patent  rights,  etc.,  etc.,  will  be  furnishe.!. 
IV. 
DUltEAU  op  I.NPOliM.UiON, 
Arraiigemoiits  have  been  made  with  the  Depart- 
ment of  Slate  at  Washington  for  special  reports  on 
these  subjects  from  consular  officers  in  all  parts  of 
the  world.  Tlio  Museum  will  have  correopoudents  in 
all  foreign  couutrics,  men  of  e.xperience,  familiar 
with  the  conditions,  and  peculiarities  of  their  markets, 
who  will  forward  regular  reports  concerning  com- 
mercial possibilities  and  the  conditions  of  ti'ade  of 
Uieir  particular  localities,  thus  enabling  the  manu- 
facturer and  merchant  to  keep  in  close  touch  with 
iho  markets  of  the  world. 
Business  directories  and  copies  of  important  peri- 
odicals will  be  kept  on  file ; also  books  of  reference 
in  all  languages,  statistical  reports  from  all  coun- 
tries, and  other  publications  bearing  upon  the  ques- 
tion of  trade. 
Detailed  inforniatioii  will  be  furnished  nianufac" 
turevs,  upon  inquiry,  conccriiiDg  commercial  o]>por- 
tuuities  and  the  demand  for  sjiecified  products  iu 
any  locality,  together  with  the  reports  upon  prices, 
duties,  credits,  etc. 
Special  efforts  will  be  made  to  procure  early  and 
COiapletd  information  coneevning  the  plans  and  spe* 
