760 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICUi.TURIST. 
[May  I,  1896. 
AYest  of  England  farintr,  that  water  passed  rapidly 
over  the  surface  at  the  proper  season  gives  three 
grass-crops  instead  of  one,  has  been  used,  not  in 
England,  but  in  America.  There  its  proper  appli- 
cation is  the  result  mainly  of  scientific  experiment. 
“It  was  sought,”  says  Mr.  Smythe,  “through  the 
medium  of  agricultural  colleges,  experimental  farms, 
and  neighbourhood  associations.  \Ve  have  thus  ap- 
proached, by  gradual  steps,  true  scientific  methods 
which  are  producing  results  unknown  before  in  any 
part  of  the  world.”  Never  was  in  agricultural  ex- 
periment of  such  gigantic  dimensions  so  quickly  suc- 
cessful. Its  geographical  limit  is  not  yet  reached  in 
the  New  World,  and  is  clearly  indicated  as  within 
the  scope  of  English  farming.  The  County  Councils 
of  every  shire  should  devote  part  of  their  technical 
education  grant  to  send  qualified  inspectors  to  the 
northern  irrigation  area,  and  publish  the  results  of 
their  inquiry  for  the  benefit  of  English  agriculture. 
— Spectator,  March  7. 
INDIAN  TEA  AS.SOCIATION. 
Abstract  of  proceedings  of  a meeting  of  the  General 
Committee  held  on  the  t)th  March,  : — 
Letters  of  Mst  .January  and  7th  and  llth  February 
with  their  their  respective  enclosures  and  accompani- 
ments from  the  Secretary,  Indian  Tea  Association, 
Loudon,  where  brought  up  for  disposal  having  been 
previously  considered  in  circulation.  The  Committee 
noted  what  had  been  done  by  Mr.  Blechynden  under 
the  authority  of  the  London  Committee  in  the  way  of 
advertising  and  subsidising  in  the  United  States.  The 
letters  were  ordered  to  be  recorded. 
In  response  to  a telegram  received  from  the  Lou- 
don Committee  £1,800  had  been  remitted  to 
London  on  the  5th  March.  The  available  balance 
on  account  of  the  American  Mai-ket  Fund  left 
in  Calcutta  was  now  reduced  to  R3.i3,197-1$-1. 
Considered  minute  by  the  Chairman  and  Mr.  Or- 
miston  with  reference  to  their  recent  interview  with 
the  Hon'ble  Mr.  Woodburn  on  the  question  of  the  ap- 
pointment of  a sc'entific  officer  to  enquire  into  various 
matters  connected  with  Tea,  on  the  lines  suggested  by 
Mr.  Buckingham.  The  above  gentle  nan  stated  that 
Mr.  Woodburn  was  not  able  to  give  them  a definite 
idea  as  to  how  far  Government  -would  assist  the  Asso- 
ciation, but  the  ir  impression  was  that  Govc-riimeut 
might  probably  permit  Ur.  George  ^Vatt  to  supervise 
from  Calcutta  whoever  might  be  appointed  and  also 
allow  the  free  use  of  Government  laboratories  in  Cal- 
cutta, but  all  salaries  and  travelling  expenses  would 
have  to  be  borne  by  the  Association,  though  it  might 
bo  possible  to  obtain  a grant  for  materials  and  instru- 
ments. Under  these  circumstances  it  became  a ques- 
tion for  the  Association  to  consider  whether  a speciil 
fund  could  be  raised  for  the  purpose,  as  apparently  no 
further  progress  could  be  made  in  the  negotiations  with 
Government,  unless  this  were  done.  It  was  decided 
in  the  first  instance  to  send  a copy  of  the  minutes  to 
the  Chairman  of  the  Assam  Branch  for  his  informa- 
tion, and  his  opinion  was  to  bo  asked  as  to  what 
further  steps  would  be  taken  in  the  matter. — Lnlian 
Planters'  Gazette,  March  28. 
THE  AMEKIUAN  TEA  SUPPLY. 
The  last  mail  brought  us  a few  figures  relating  to 
the  American  Tea  Supply,  which  are  very  interest- 
ing. The  imports  during  1891  w'ere  102,083,702  pounds, 
whereas  in  1895  they  were  97.883,051  pounds,  which 
shows  a decrease  of  1,199,651  pounds  in  spite  of  the 
efforts  being  made  to  wean  the  Americans  from 
fancy  iced  drinks  and  induce  them  to  transfer  their 
thirsty  patronnge  to  the  cheering  cup.  The  exports 
amounted  to  768,113  pounds,  winch  leaves  a balance 
for  home  consum))tion  of  9/,  11 1,908  pounds.  The 
bulk  of  this  was  supplied  by  China  and  J.apan,  the 
former  contributing  about  5.j  per  cent,  of  the  total, 
the  latter  slightly  over  11  per  cent.  'I'he  remaining 
0 per  cent,  vvaa  obtainet^  fiom  tlie  Uiiitod  Kingdom 
and  other  countries,  a little  over  3i  miliion  pounds 
going  from  England.  In  this,  doubtless  Indnu;  and 
{ioylou  tea  predomimUed,  but  it  is  quite  evident  that 
a vast  amount  of  headway  has  yet  to  be  made  with 
British  grown  teas  in  the  American  market,  ere  the 
Cliina  and  Japan  supply  is  lessened.  Still  a begin- 
ning has  been  made,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Indian 
Tea  Association  and  its  represent  itives  are  not 
likely  to  be  relaxed.  As  we  pointed  out  in  a recent 
issue  the  fact  that  duiing  1895  the  consumption  of 
British  grown  tea  outside  the  United  Kingdom  show- 
ed an  increase  of  no  less  lhan  nine  million  pounds, 
is  in  itself,  a most  significant  sign  of  progress. — Jnilian 
Planters'  Garectte,  March  28. 
CHINA  TEA. 
EXPORT  FRO-M  CHINA  TO  GREAT 
BRITAIN. 
18‘,)5-96.  189  F95. 
lb.  lb. 
. . 7,116,099  7,813,790 
760,812  772,692 
..  11,175,108  14,357,218 
..  21,111,512  21.591,499 
10,193,861  41,535,229 
EXPORT  FROM  CHINA  TO  UNITED  STATES 
AND  CANADA. 
1895-96.  1891-95. 
lb.  lb. 
Amoy  ..  ..  11,665,055  19,417,739 
J'^ochow  ..  ..  6,066,651  1,626,555 
Shanghai  . . . . 29,029,320  2-5,796,160 
19,761,026  49,870,154 
Canton  and  Macao 
Amoy 
Foochow 
Shanghai  and  Hankow 
EXPORT  FROM  CHINA  TO  ODESSA. 
1895-96.  1891-95. 
lb.  lb. 
Hankow  and  Shanghai  . . 27,210,863  22,555,223 
EXPORT  FROM  JAPAN  TO  UNITED  STATES 
AND  CANADA. 
1895-96.  1834-95. 
lb.  lb. 
Yokohama  ..  ..  29,773,503  28,686,817 
Kobe  ..  ,.  18,625,900  16  726,614 
18,399,403  15,113,461 
— llontjlovy  t^'celdy  Press,  April  1st. 
NOTES  FROM  OUR  LONDON  LETTER. 
l.oxDON  March  27. 
TIIK  COLOMliO  OO.MMICUCiAO  COMPANY,  LTD. 
It  was  recently  written  yon  that  the  issue  of 
the  reiiort  of  the  Colombo  CommeiTial  Company 
w’ould  be  soiiiewiiat  delayed  this  year  (‘onsequeii’t 
ujion  the  reconstruction  determined  upon. 
(We  publi.slied  the  report  received  locally 
sometime  ago).  Ed.  ('.0.  You  will  see  tliat 
it  mentions  that  the  new  eoinpaiiy  took 
over  the  concern  as  from  the  .3()th  .September 
ol  last  year,  to  whicli  date  the  balance-slieet 
presented  is  made  ui).  The  directors  announce 
that  the  working  of  the  year  liad  been  satis- 
factory, and  tlicy  juay  not  only  the  full  interest 
of  (3  ]ier  cent  on  the  I’reforence  Shares,  Init  one 
of  like  amount  on  tlie  ordinary  sliarcs,  both 
free  of  income  ta.\.  One  change  made  in  the 
mode  of  drafting  the  halance-sliect  .seems  to 
recommend  itself  for  adoption  by  all  com]>anie.s 
trading  in  the  East.  Tlie  (ransaetiuns  due  to 
Exchange  are  now  dealt  witli  in  a novel  form, 
all  current  Rupoe  Trading  .As, sets  and  Inahilitie.s 
aiipoaiing  in  that  halaiice-sheet  at  their  eijuiva- 
lent  in  sterling  calculated  at  the  exchange  of 
the  day.  AVe  helieye  tliat  a good  many  Ceylon 
eomiianics  that  publish  (heir  icimits  iii  London 
stili  follow  the  method  now  abandoned  by  the 
