598 
THE  Tropical  agriculturist.  [March  2,  1896. 
screen  aud  their  action  explained.  No  one  could 
fail  to  be  struck  by  the  immense  advantages  in  re- 
gard to  cleanliness  of  the  Indian  mode  of  manu- 
facture by  machinery,  now  all  but  universally  adopt- 
ed, compared  with  the  antiquated  and  unsavoury 
methods  of  hand  and  feet  manipulation  still  prac- 
tised by  the  Chinese.  Views  of  some  of 
these  reprehensible  practices  were  exhibited  in 
contrast  to  the  approved  modern  Indian  methods. 
Another  point  rendered  strikingly  clear  was  the  skill, 
care,  labour,  and  practical  many-sidedness  required 
of  those  who  would  efficiently  discharge  the  multi- 
farious duties  required  of  a planter  in  held  and 
factory. 
At  the  close  Mr.  Christison  called  special  at- 
tention to  the  fact  that  his  lecture  must  have 
gone  some  way  to  make  clear  that,  in  addition  to 
the  inherent  superior  quality  of  Indian  over 
Chinese  tea,  was  its  immense  superiority  in  regard 
to  cleanliness  of  preparation.  He  pointed  out  that 
this  subject  might  be  much  elaborated  and  he  hoped 
soon  to  have  views  to  display  the  contrast  more 
fully.  The  subject  was  alone  ample  for  an  entire 
lecture.  Speaking  of  the  industry  generally,  he 
(the  lecturer)  doubted  whether  the  producer  rea- 
lised more  than  half  the  price  for  his  teas  that  he 
did  twenty-five  years  ago;  stll,  in  most  cases,  with 
skill  and  industry  he  was  enabled  to  carry  on  show- 
ing more  or  less  profit  over  an  average  of  years.  I his 
result  was  due  to  various  causes,  of  which  he  had  no 
hesitation  in  naming  as  the  two  which  had  contributed 
more  than  any  others — labour-saving  machinery  and 
the  fall  in  exchange.  There  were  many  subjects  re- 
quiring a lecture  to  themselves  he  had  only  been 
able  to  touch  upon  very  briefly;  many  others,  such 
as  the  chemistry  of  tea,  manufacture,  &c.,  blights, 
manuring,  management  of  natives,  the  labour  question 
— all  of  vast  importance — he  had  never  once  alluded  to. 
One  matter,  though  only  incidentally  alluded  to  in 
the  few  introductory  remarks  referred  to,  seems 
startling.  It  is  the  fact  that  the  hill  district  of 
Kalimpong,  annexed  from  Bhqotan  in  1865,  is 
“ larger  than  the  entire  Darjeeling  hill  terri- 
tory, and  though  a most  desirable  residence  fqi 
Europeans,  aud  as  suitable  for  European  coloni- 
sation as  anyw'here  in  the  Far  East  can  possibly 
be,  it  has  been  reserved  by  Government  entirely 
for  natives,  and  is  now  largely  in  the  possession  ol 
Nepalese,  who  are  aliens,  though  grants  of  land 
there  werj  persistently  refused  to  Europeans  by  our 
Indian  Government.” 
The  chairman,  Mr.  John  Somerville,  member  ot 
the  Camberwell  Vestry  and  Board  of  Guardians, 
in  moving  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  to  Mr. 
Christison  for  his  “interesting  and  instructive 
lecture,”  said  he  had  learned  a great  deal,  and 
had  many  of  his  vague  aud  erroneous  ideas  about 
tea  manufactnirc  corrected.  He  dwelt  u))on  the 
universal  ignorance  on  the  subject  which  lie  felt 
certain  prevailed  amongst  the  very  large  majority  ol 
people  of  this  country  \yho  had  been  drinking  tea 
all  their  lives. — H.  and  €'■  Jfail,  Jan.  21. 
Tlio  Chairman  propo-sed  tlie  adoption  of 
THU  DlUKCTOllS’  RKI’ORT 
which  was  in  the  following  terms  : — 
The  Directors  have  pleasure  in  submitting  their  Re- 
port and  Accounts  for  the  year  ending  .31st  Dec.  1895. 
The  crop  secured  was  118, 828  lb.,  being  1,172  lb.  short 
of  the  estimate,  but  including  11,767  lb.  derived  from 
bought  leaf  represented  an  aggregate  of  130,5951b. 
Tea  dealt  with  by  the  Company. 
The  sales  realised  R52,316'57,  or  an  average  of  40T0 
cents  per  lb.,  while  the  expenditure  thereon,  exclusive 
of  items  under  Capital  Account,  but  including  cost  of 
bought  leaf,  amounted  to  R.30,154'01,  or  an  average  of 
2311  cents  per  lb.  The  balance  available  for  distribu- 
tion to  the  Shareholders  is  K13,633T3  after  providing 
R.  c. 
For  interest  on  debentures  . , 2,312  99 
Depreciation  on  building  and  machinery. . 3,341  7.3 
And  other  items  connected  with  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Comnauy  amounting  to  . . 2,886  68 
Total  . . 8,574  40 
The  Directors  have,  in  view  of  the  bulk  of  the  manure 
being  recently  applied,  deemed  it  only  necessary  to 
charge  one-third  of  the  cost  in  the  current  year’s  ac- 
counts. From  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  manure  on 
the  older  Tea  land  which  may  reasonably  be  expected 
during  1896,  they  hope  the  balance  of  such  expenditure 
will  be  more  than  provided  fer  by  an  increased  yield. 
The  Coast  Advances  outstanding  amount  to  R4,298‘70, 
and  being  certified  to  by  the  Superintendent  as  recover- 
able, rank  as  an  Asset. 
The  Directors  recommend  a dividend  of  8 per  cent 
out  of  the  available  balance  profit  which  will  absorb 
R10,-1U0,  carrying  forward  112,500  to  a Reserve  Fund, 
and  the  balance  R733T3  to  next  year’s  account.  The 
debentures  amounting  to  R40,000  commence  to  be  re- 
payable in  1900,  buo  the  Directors  propose  making  pro- 
vision for  their  redemption  by  an  annual  increase  of 
the  reserve  fund  proportionate  to  the  results  of  the 
year’s  working. 
The  Superintendent  estimates  the  yield  for  1896  as 
110,000  lb.  Tea. 
The  following  is  an  analysis  of  the  yield  of  Tea  for 
the  past  year,  viz.: — 
Acres.  lb. 
190  yielded  . . 109,684  or  an  average, 
578  lb.  per  acre. 
.52  new  clearing 
planted  1892.  .7,705  lb. 
12  do.  1893..  1,259  lb. 
8,964 
2.51  yielded  ..  ,.  118,82s  lb.  'Total  yield 
of  Tea. 
3t>  planted  1891. 
290  under  cultivation. 
50  lorest  available  for  Tea. 
53  uncultivated. 
THE  TEA  MARKET 
shows  further  improvement,  aud  all  Teas  with  point 
and  character  command  good  compelition.  The  long 
spell  of  low  prices  look  like  giving  way  to  a posi- 
tion for  remainder  of  the  season  to  tlie  advantage 
of  importers.  Supplies  will  not  be  equal  to  the 
deliveries,  and  the  corded  stock  is  moderate.  The 
clearances  for  the  month  exceed  those  of  last  year 
which  were  in  advance  of  any  former  period.— A.  <b  C 
Express,  -Jan.  24. 
THE  BEACKSTONE  ESTATE  COMPANY. 
An  ordinary  general  meeting  of  the  Black- 
«tone  Estate  Company,  Linuted,  was  held  in  the 
ollice  of  Messrs  Carson  A Cffi.,  the  Agents  and 
S„cretarie»,  ou  SU,  I'el.,  Mr.  J.  N'.  l 
presided,  and  present  were  Messrs.  G.  J.  ’’  J''  - 
H.  Uea>y,  Perc  y Bois  aud  E.  B-  aldock. 
393 
Of  the  land  available  it  is  determined  to  open  for 
cultivation  upwards  of  25  acres  this  year. 
At  the  meeting  held  on  Saturday,  the  IHth  .January 
Messrs.  J.  N.  Campbell,  II.  Creasy,  and  G.  J.  .Jameson 
were  re-elected  to  serve  on  the  Board  for  the  year  now 
entered  upon. 
The  appointment  of  Auditor  for  the  current  year 
will  rest  with  the  meeting. 
Mr.  Bof.S  seconded  and  the  report  was  adopted. 
Mr.  Wai.docic  jiroposed  and  Air.  Bois  seconded 
that  a dividend  of  8 per  cent  be  declared  ami 
paiil  forthwith.  Resolved  accordingly. 
Mr.  BoiS  proposed  that  Mr.  Hercules  .1.  Scott 
he  appointed  iimlitor  and  his  remuneration  to  he 
lixed  at  R-5(l  for  each  audit. 
Mr.  Cke.VSV  seconded,  and  the  motion  was 
adojited. 
The  jiroeccdings  then  terminated  5vith  a vote 
of  thanks  to  the  Chairman. 
