820 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIS  P. 
[June  t,  1896. 
INDIAN  TEA  ASSOCIATION  (LONDON.) 
As  you  must  have  noticed  Mr.  Editor,  at  a recent 
meeting  of  this  Association  it  was  resolved 
(1)  to  resolutely  push  the  sale  of  Indian  tea  in 
America  for  another  year  at  least,  and  for  this 
purpose^  a levy  be  made  on  the  same  terms 
of  1895  ; (2)  to  express  appreciation  of  Mr. 
Hlechynden’s  services  during  the  past  year; 
and  (3)  that  companies  and  others  who  do  not 
support  the  levy  be  approached  by  deputation  or 
otherwise,  and  if  possible  induced  to  do  so.  As  the 
(igures  which^  I formerly  grave  from  Messrs.  Gow, 
Wilson  and  Stanton’s  Report,  and  which  ha\e  since 
been  quoted  in  the  Indian  Tea  Association  Circular, 
it  will  be.  seen  that  progress  in  Foreign  and  Colonial 
marke's  has  been  most  satisfactory  especially  last 
year.  As  Mr.  lllechyndcn’s  appointment  is  in  many 
respects  far  from  being  enviable,  and  the  task  ho  has 
in  hand  no  light  one  it  is  but  right  and  most  be 
gratifying  to  him  to  find  that  his  efforts  arc  ap* 
preciateil.  Amongst  the  non  contributing  defaulters 
rcfcTred  to  are  the  Assam  Co.,  our  premier  tea  con- 
cern, the  Rrahniaptura  Co.  and  the  Lebong  Co-  It 
is  taking  a very  narrow  and  erroneous  view  of  the 
position  to  conclude  that  because  the  teas  of  some 
particular  district  or  concern  are  unsuited  for  the 
American  or  Colonial  requirements,  that  it  is  not  the 
duty  of  all  to  aid  in  conquering  new  market.s  because 
a few  million  pounds  of  Ilritisli  grown  tea,  more  or 
less  thrown  upon  the  home  market  makes  all  the 
difference  between  profit  and  loss  to  most  growers. 
GOVEUNMENT  STATISTICS  OF  TEA  CULTIVATION. 
In  my  last  I called  attention  to  some  aspects  in 
connection  therewith  stating  that  I could  not  think 
the  average  had  in  any  case  been  umlcivtifimated  as  at 
close  of  1804.  I would  again  call  attention  to  one 
point.  The  area  under  tea  in  the  Dooars  for  1893 
is  given  as  42,955  acres,  and  for  1804,  43,133  acres, 
showing  only  an  increase  of  178  acres ; that  of  Dar- 
jeeling District  is  given  as  59,612  acres  for  1803  and 
70,038  acres  for  1804,  an  increase  of  10,426  acres. 
There  must  be  some  mistake  here,  and  still  I am 
at  a loss  to  account  for  it.  I might  have  credited  an 
increase  of  10,426  acres  in  the  Dooars,  and  some- 
thing not  much  over  178  acres  (allowing  for  possible 
abandonments  in  the  Terai)  for  Darjeeling.  Cer- 
tainly the  increase  in  Darjeeling  for  1803  to  1804 
is  very  very  much  short,  and  that  for  Dooars  must  be 
immensely  more  than  shown  in  Mr.  O’Conor's  tables. 
Can  the  area  under  tea  in  Darjeeling  District  possi- 
bly amount  to  70,038  acres  Would  55,00,0  acres  not 
be  nearer  it  ? It  would  seem  as  if  the  area  of 
tea  in  the  Terai  had  been  by  mistake  added  to  that 
of  the  entire  district,  both  hills  and  Terai  included. 
It  does  not  appear  that  the  mistake  could  possibly 
have  occurred  by  Mr.  O'Conor  transposing  the  figures 
in  the  Dooars  and  Darjeeling  District  Returns.  Can 
any  of  your  readers  with  full  local  knowledge  clear 
up  this  point  ? — Indian  IHantem'  Gazette,  April  18. 
COFFFE  CUhTIVATIOX  IN  THE  STRAITS 
SETTI>EMENTS. 
From  the  Report  of  tlie  Acting  Di.strict  Oflicer, 
Kuala  FUah  (Mr.  Leopold  Cazala.s),  for  the  month 
of  February  1896,  a.s  given  in  the  Xc;/ri  Sem- 
bilan  Government  Gctzelte,  we  quote  the  follow- 
ing : — 
1 am  glad  fo  be  able  to  report  that  an  enterprising 
Chinaman  has  begun  to  fell  for  coffee  a 25-acre 
block  at  Kuala  Panting,  an  example  which  I hope 
will  be  followed  by  others.  That  Chinese  \iill  open 
a coffee  garden  so  far  awuy  is  a good  indication  for 
the  stability  of  coffee  cultivation. 
On  the  25th  [Feb.]  more  applications  for  coffee 
seed.^  were  received.  The  popularity  of  coffee  plant- 
ing continues-  Now  that  Pedro  Low’s  attempt  is 
proving  sueccsEful,  many  Chinese  and  Malays  in 
Johol  nave  been  seized  by  the  craze— if  craze  it  be 
but  to  copy  successfully  a certain  amount  of  intel- 
ligence and  experience  is  necessary,  and  a few  failures 
may  divert  the  tide  of  popularity  For  tbis  reason 
I have  supplied  tiiesc  men  with  seed  from  Sungoi 
Ujong,  recognising  the  value  of  good  seed. 
From  the  Lower  Perak  Montlily  Report  for 
Fehniary,  as  given  in  the  Pvah  Govermnent 
Gazette,  we  quote  as  follows:  — 
I inspected  all  the  Liberian  coffee  holdings  in  the 
Teluk  Anson  niukim  during  the  month  ; some  of  these 
are  now  over  five  years  old.  I was  first  taken  round 
them  by  the  late  Mr.  Denison,  in  1803,  the  trees 
were  then  of  some  12  to  18  months  growth  ; many 
were  actually  standing  in  water,  the  laud  in  nearly 
every'  inst-mce  badly  drained  and  in  some  places 
drainage  was  left  to  nature.  It  is  wonderful  to  see 
these  trees  today,  they  are  well-grown,  and  simply 
loaded  witli  berries  and  the  owners  are  resping  a 
good  return.  For  swamp  land  native  planted  coffee, 
I don’t  think  it  can  be  beaten.  The  soil  is  good 
stro  g clay,  no  peat. 
l*'rom  the  iMatang  Monthly  Reqiort  for  Fehniary, 
as  given  in  the  same  )ia]ier,  M'e  take  the  follow- 
ing  : — 
On  tho  6th  I took  Sir  Graeme  Elphinstone  ;who 
had  arrived  over-night)  to  see  the  -libong  Instate,  a 
walk  of  three  and  a half  miles.  On  the  wav  we 
carefully  examined  Peter  Madrigal’s  little  coffee  es- 
tate which  is  in  full  bearing  and  looking  very  well. 
Wo  found  IMr.  Stephens  at  home.  His  coffee,  taking 
it  altogether,  is  looking  very  promising. 
During  the  month  applications  were  regi.-^tered  and 
survey  fees  deposited  for  two  blocks  of  (ilO  acres  of 
land  each  for  coffee  cultivation.  Messrs.  C.  L.  Gib- 
son and  Aylesbury  are  the  applicants. 
DURBAN  BOTANIC  SOCIETY. 
From  the  report  on  Natal  Botanic  Gardens,  for  the 
year  1895,  by  J.  Medley  Wood,  a.l.s..  Curator,  we  quote 
the  following  paragraphs: — Cola  acuminata. — The  receipt 
of  seeds  of  this  tree  was  mentioned  in  my  report  for 
1894,  and  I am  now  pleased  to  be  able  to  say  that  the 
plants  have  so  far  done  very  well.  Some  have  been 
sent  away  for  trial  and  we  have  still  a few  on  hand. 
It  is  perhaps  scarcely  necessary  for  me  to  say  that 
it  is  the  tree  which  yields  the  “ Cola  ’ nuts  of  com- 
merce which  hive  lately  come  so  much  into  use  in 
ihe  form  of  chocolate  and  other  ways.  Thcohroma 
cacao. — Twice  during  the  past  year  we  have  received 
seeds  of  this  plant,  the  first  time  by  the  kindness 
of  A.  Whyte  Esq.’,  of  Zomba,  Central  Africa,  who 
brought  them  from  England  in  the  cool  chamber 
of  the  steamer ; the  second  lime  by  favour  of  His 
Excellency  Sir  Hely-Hutchinson,  who  obtained  them 
fiom  West  Indies-  In  both  cases  the  seeds  were  well 
and  carefully  packed,  but  I regret  to  say  that  not 
a single  seed  germinated,  though  every  care  was 
taken  of  them.  I shall  therefore  make  an  effort  to 
obtain  plants  from  Mauritius,  and  hope  to  meet  with 
better  success,  so  that  the  plant  may  have  a fair  trial 
in  the  .Colony. 
BLACKSTONE  ESTATE  CO.,  LTD. 
An  extraordinary  general  meeting  of  the  Share- 
holder.s  of  this  Company  was  lield  at  the  Regis- 
tered Office  of  the  Company,  No.  21,  Baillie  Street, 
on  the  1st  May.  There  were  present  Messrs.  J.  N. 
Campbell  (Chairman),  H.  Crea.sy,  G.  J.  Jame- 
son, E.  K.  Waldock,  F.  Macindoe  (by  his  At- 
torney Mr.  G.  J.  Jameson),  F.  A.  F'airlie 
(by  his  Attorney  Mr.  J.  N.  Canijibell)  and 
Messrs.  Carson  c'c  Co.  (by  Mr.  Jameson). 
On  the  motion  of  Mr.  11.  CliKASV,  seconded 
byMr.  JAMESON,  the  following  resohuions,  passed 
at  an  extraordinary  general  meeting  of  the  sliare- 
holders  held  on  the  ITtli  April  were  conlirmed  ; — 
To  sanction  the  increase  of  tlie  capital  of  the 
Company  to  R160,()l)i)  (Rupees  One  liundred  and  Sixty 
tliousand)  by  the  i.ssue  of  three  hundred  new  shares 
of  Rupees  One  hundred  each  fully  paid. 
To  sanotiou  tlie  purchase  of  Kenilwortli  estate  by 
the  Company. 
To  autliorise  the  Directors  to  borrow  a sum  of 
1115,000  (Fifteen  thousand  Rupees)  for  tho  purposes 
of  the  Company, 
