May  I,  1896. J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
743 
2.  Native  Exhibitors. — The  Company  beinp  aware 
that  native  exhibitors  cannot  take  active  part  in  the 
Exhibition  without  considerable  outlay,  are  willing  to 
waive  premiums  in  advance  for  the  space  occupied 
which  is  a necessity  in  Exhibitions  not  depending 
upon  Government  aid,  and  to  accept  in  lieu  thereof 
a moderate  percentage  on  their  gross  sales. 
3.  S i ILL  Exhibits. — This  concession  does  not 
apply  to  what  are  termed  “still  exhibits”  that  is  to 
say,  show  cases  without  attendants,  where  no  selling 
is  done ; for  the  latter  however  when  of  hona  Jule 
Ceylon  industries,  liberal  arrangements  will  be  made. 
4.  Staple  Products. — Our  Company  are  very 
anxious  to  give  special  privileges  and  prominence  to 
the  more  important  staple  exports  of  the  Colony, 
such  as,  tea,  coffee,  cocoa,  and  the  valuable  and 
numerous  products  of  the  coconut  palm. 
5.  Loan  Collection. — Deeming  it  desirable  that 
we  should  convey  to  the  visitor  some  adequate  idea 
not  only  of  the  products  and  manufactures  of  the 
Colony,  but  also  the  typical  features  of  the  country 
and  her  art  developments,  considerable  space  will 
be  reserved  in  the  Ducal  Hall  for  a Loan  Collection 
of  Ceylon  Art  Work,  including  Historical  Records, 
pictures  and  views  of  the  Colony,  carved 
wood,  arms,  armour  and  metal  work  of  all  descrip- 
tions, embroideries,  and  in  brief  all  ornamental 
manufactured  articles.  We  particularly  desire  the 
co-operation  of  your  Government  in  this  direction. 
6.  Collective  Exhibit.— Wo  would  point  out  that 
whilst  at  the  Imperial  Institute  your  Government 
have  very  liberally  represented  the  staple  products 
of  the  country,  the  Art  M auufacturing  side  of  it  is  not 
represented  at  all ; and  feeling  that  these  are  a class 
of  goods  which  meet  with  a ready  sale  in  European 
c untries,  and  only  require  more  prominenly  bring- 
ing before  the  public  to  much  increase  the  tracle 
therein,  is  the  reason  why  we  seek  the  co-operation 
of  your  Government  in  this  section,  and  ask  them  to 
get  together  as  widely’  representative  a collection  as 
possible  for  exhibition. 
Our  suggestion  is,  that  at  the  close  of  the  exhibi- 
tion, this  collection  should  be  handed  over  to  the  Inr- 
periiil  Institute. 
For  the  installation  of  such  a collection,  our  Com- 
pany are  prepared  to  pay  all  expenses  for  carriage 
and  freight,  and  insure  the  goods  to  their  full  value 
whilst  in  our  custody  as  well  as  to  allot  the  space 
free  of  charge. 
7.  Native  Performeus. — With  the  idea  of  making 
the  Ceylon  Section  popular,  it  is  intended  to  include 
one  or  more  troupes  of  Sinhalese  performers.  The 
public  will  by  this  means  obtain  some  adequate  con- 
ception not  only  of  the  products  and  arts  of  Ceylon, 
but  also  of  its  people  and  their  country,  and  we 
trust  your  Government  will  give  w'hat  permission 
may  be  necessary  to  enable  the  performers  to  leave 
the  country;  our  Company  guaranteeing  their  return 
passage. 
8.  Government  Buildings.— We  believe  that  your 
Government  have  in  their  possession  some  of  the 
buildings  erected  in  the  Ceylon  Section  for  Chicago. 
Could  the  loan  of  these  be  made  available  for  the 
puipose  of  a teahouse? 
We  are  sending  you  by  the  same  mail  duplicates 
of  our  printed  matter. 
Finally,  it  is  intended  to  open  the  Exhibition  early 
in  May,  and  all  goods  should  be  delivered  here  by 
not  later  than  the  15th  April. — I have  the  honour 
to  be,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
(Sgd.)  Herman  Hart. 
It  speaks  for  itself.  Mr.  E.  13.  Creasy  i.s  the 
Colombo  Agent — there  could  not  be  a better— of 
the  Exhibition  wdiicli  is  certain  to  be  a great 
' success,  even  if  Ceylon  does  not  do  justice  to 
itself — as  I hope  it  may  in  all  departments. 
IN  TIIK  CTTV. 
Poor  ])rices  for  tea  notw’ithst.anding  high  ex- 
change is  not  satisfactory  new's  ; but  this  is  .a 
slack  time  in  the 
tea  trade 
for  there  is  nothing  in  Supplies  or  Stocks  to  justify 
depression,  even  though  February  Colombo  ship- 
ments were  heavy.  Qne  question  asked  is  how  does 
the  tea  distributing  tr.ade  falling  more  and  more 
into  the  bands  of  lialf-a-dozen  or  so  big  firms  and 
companies  ailect  Mincing  Lane.  Suppose  a few 
even  of  such  big  buying  houses  to  hold  aloof  from 
a^  sale,  does  not  it  m.ake  a vast  ditlerence  '! 
Exchange  has  been  receding  a little  and  may  go 
low'er  when  all  is  settled  for  the  Cbine.se  Loan, 
though  there  are  City  men  who  think  it  may  go 
higlier  yet  this  year— even  to  above  Is  3d 
and  yet  higher  |)iices  for  tea  plantations 
are  asked  ! For  a compact  Udapussellawa' 
Nmvara  Eliya  place  I hear  the  r.ate  demanded  is 
equal  to  £10!)  ])er  acre  ! Lippakelle  has  to  ac- 
count for  much. 
Mr.  Alfred  Brown,  Ch, airman,  and  Mr.  Roberts 
the  Secretary  of  the  group  of  ( Uva)  Spring  Valley 
and  Hunasgiriya  Company  I found  w’ell  and  in- 
terested  in  all  that  concerns  the  island’s  progress: 
they  antici[iate  Mr.  Ward rop’s  arrival  home.”  Mr. 
Alex.  Thomson  leaves  in  a fortnight  by  the  ss. 
“ Orient.” 
It  is  just  possible,  tliough  by  no  means  decided, 
that 
MR.  A.  II.  DUNCAN 
(brother  of  Messrs.  John  and  Hamilton  Duncan), 
so  well-known  as  an  e.xperienced  Rangala  coil’ee 
planter  and  clerer  all  round,  ma.y  get  the  ap- 
pointment to  visit  and  report  on  the  coffee  lands 
of  the  London-Columbia  Conq)any  wdiich  is  ex- 
pected to  have  a capital  of  £l00,000  at  its 
command. 
RESPECTING  CEYLON  TEA  CO.MPANIES 
w’ith  rupee  capital,  I have  the  following  ex- 
pression of  oi)inion  from  a broking  friend  : — 
“ Letters  from  Ceylon  inform  me  that  the  rise  in 
exchange  lias  put  a damper  upon  the  share  market 
there,  and  I am  just  afraid  they  have  been  choking 
themselves,  for  the  small  number  of  dealers  is  not 
enough  to  keep  up  strength  during  a time  of  de- 
pression, so  that  they  are  now  anxious  to  form  a 
market  here  wdiich  I have  urged  them  to  do  more 
than  a year  ago.  Everything  was  then  on  the  boom 
and  their  quotations  were  always  too  high.  The  only 
safety  is  to  take  advantage  of  the  London  market  now 
and  convert  two  or  three  companies  into  one,  theshare- 
liolders  taking  their  interest  in  sterling  and  ask  for  a 
small  sum  from  the  London  subscribers  and  they  would 
reap  their  profit  from  increased  value  of  their  shares. 
This  I have  repeatedly  suggested,  for,  unless  they  do 
something  of  this  kind,  difficulties  will  arise.” 
The  jilanters  of  Ceylon  and  indeed  of  other 
lands  have  bad  no  better  or  more  intelligent 
and  energetic  friend  in  many  ways  than 
“ MR.  THOMAS  CHRLSTY” 
of  Lime  Street,  and  a chat  with  him  ahvays  brings 
some  topic  of  interest  to  the  surface.  It  wall  bo 
remembered  bow  nersistentl.y  Mr.  Christy  moved 
in  reference  to  the  sale  of  tea-sweepings  from 
the  various  Docks,  until  now,  in  ne.arly  every 
case,  the  stufi  is  denatured  and  jirevented  from 
coming  into  the  tea  market,  though  used  for  the 
extraction  of  caffeine,  &c.,  Our  tea  planters 
ow'e  Mr.  Christy  their  thanks  for  this  action. 
Now  in  respect  of 
COFFEE  ADULTERATION 
a far  more  important  matter  than  the  abolition 
of  tlie  Coflee  duty,  Mr.  Clirist,y  is  interesting 
himself  very  actively.  He  lias  stirred  up  the 
Public  Analysts  by  sliowdng  them  liow’  they  are 
down  on  the  iioqr  farmers,  dairymen,  s])iiits  sellers 
and  .a  host  hcsiiles,  for  anytliing  like  mixing  or 
adiilteiation,  while  cofl’ee  de.alers  m.ay  sell  90  per 
cent  of  chicory  lo  10  of  coll'ee,  with  impunity  ! 
the  Lontlon  Cli.iiuher  of  Conimerce  is  likely  to 
move  in  the  maUcr. 
