THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, [July i, 1897. 
establishment, not to get one, but it they had one, 
keep it by all means, 
Mr. Ryan said hesupposed that bulk manure paid, 
but it would not compare favourably on paper with 
artilicial manure. Artificial manure showed better 
results on paper. He was sorry to say his cattle 
manures failed to give the lasting power which 
was supposed to be given by cattle bulk. He 
had not found cattle manure would keep the 
yield for 4 years. He found artificial keep for 5 
years. That was his individual experience. He 
noticed tliat 187 acres had been manured. It was 
practically only about 20 per cent. Was it not advis- 
able to increase that acreage. They might manure 
25percen*. There could be no better investment, 
especially witlr land as old as that. 
Mr. Mackik said they had to go about in a 
quiet way. 
Mr. Ryan thouglit that instead of decreasing 
they should increase manuring. 
Mr. Bois said they might increase their yield 
very materially, and they might increase their 
prospects but the benefit they derived was nil. 
In extreme cases of manuring an increase of 
about 25 per cent would be given. _ 
Mr. Ryan said that at tlie same time that other 
people were manuring they must also manure. 
He would advise to give 25 per cent manuring. 
He certainly thought in the interests of the 
Company manuring should not in any way be 
diminished, and if possible manuring should be 
increased. 
THE CEYLON AND INDIAN PLANTERS 
ASSOCIATION, LIMITED. 
This Company with the initial capital of 
£120,000, divided into cumulative six per cent 
preference .shares cf £10 each and 8,000 ordinary 
shares of £10 each, has been registered in London; 
and the Company has purchased the estates in 
Ceylon called Lax'a|)ana, Maha Elliya and Kandal- 
oya. The two former estates have been purchased 
for £65,000 sterling and the latter for £16,000. 
Laxapana in Maskeliya contains 864 acres of 
which 690 are in cultivation, 680 with tea and 
10 with cardamoms. Maha Elliya in Dimbula 
contains 305 acres of which 265 are planted — 
all in tea ; while Kandaloya in Yakdessa con- 
sists of 1,006 acres of which 535 are cultivated — 
530 with tea and 5 with cardamoms. 
The Ceylon Agents are to be Messrs. Skrine 
& Co. with Mr. George Greig of Laxapana as 
Manager. 
CEYLON TEA PLANTATIOS CO„ LTD. 
AND COCONUT PROPERTY. 
At the annual general meeting of this Com- 
pany the other day, after Mr. Talbot’s speech, 
the Chairman, rejdying to Mr. Adames, said 
With regard to the first year’s profit on the coconut 
estates, property just taken over from natives was 
always in rather a bad state, and therefore the initial 
expenditure was much greater than it would be in 
the future. The profit earned was about £3 10s per 
acre which the directors considered fairly good, but 
they hoped at the present price of the product to 
work it up to about £5 per acre. It would be several 
years before the 1,476 acres came into bearing, but 
every year there would be a few acres coming in. 
They were now erecting a mill at Mawatte, by which 
they expected to add to their profits. 
THE ACME TEA CHEST COMPANY, 
(LIMITED), 
with a capital of £150,009, has its prospectus 
advertised in the London iiapers. The Directorate 
is a strong one : — 
James T. Tulls, Esq., J.P., St. Ann's Leather Works, 
Glasgow, Chairman ; John Bennie, Esq., Hydraulic 
Engineer, Glasgow; James Couper, Juu., Esq., J.P., 
City Glasgow Works, Glasgow; Robert Hart, Esq., Tea 
Planter, Sylhet, India, and 45, Leadenhall Street, Lou- 
don ; Thomas Henderson, Esq., of Walter Duncan & 
Co., E ist India Merchants, Glasgow ; Arthur Meehan, 
Esq., Neptune Iron Works, Cranstonhill, Glasgow ; 
William Walker, Esq., of James Finlay & Co., East 
India Meichant.s, Glasgow. 
We read that, — 
The Acme Tea Chest Company, Limited, has been 
formed to acquire, as at 17th March, 1897, the business 
of manufacturing and selling Steel Tea Chests hitherto 
cartied on by the Acme Package Company, Limited, 
together with the works, plant, machinery, patent 
rights, contracts, and whole other assets of that Com- 
pany. The business of the Vendor Company since its 
formation in 1894 has developed to a remarkable ex- 
tent and is still rapidly increasing. The Company re- 
cently acquired in fen extensive and very suitable 
works, with convenient railway connections at Pol- 
madie, Glasgow, which previously formed the Glasgow 
Steelworks. These works having been reconstructed 
and equipped with special and valuable machinery are 
thoroughly adapted to their purposes, and are equal to 
an output of from 20,000 to 24,000 chests per week. 
To make their own .sheets i.s the great object 
of the new Company, and we read : — 
The Chests are made of lead-coated sheet steel under 
hydraulic presure, and they consist of (1) a sheet 
which forms the four sides, with panels and corruga- 
tions which ensure both strength and rigidity ; (2) an 
ingenious “ slip-joint ” for fastening and clamping; 
(3) a top and a bottom ; and (4) a top baud and a bot- 
tom band — in all six pieces, to which there are added 
only six screw-nails, three for securing each of the top 
and bottom bands respectively. When it is stated that 
a pressure of 220 tons is required to produce the panels 
and corrugations on each sheet for an Acme Chest, it 
will be understood that only the best and softest steel 
will stand such a test, but, having stood it, the strains 
and even the accidents to which it may be subjected 
when filled with tea are as nothing. 
(1) The Chests dispense with the employment of 
costly lead-leaf. 
(2) They can be stored in small space ready for im- 
mediate use, and are rapidly put together by Coolie 
labour without special appliances. 
(3) They ensure even tares (a most important tech- 
nical point); and thus minimise warehouse charges. 
(4} They may be opened or closed in two minutes 
(but are easily sealed against pilferage) and so facilitate 
Customs’ examination while avoiding theexpense of co- 
operage. 
(5) They prevent loss of tea in transit and preserve 
its fragrance for a much greater length of time than 
wooden chests. 
. (6) Steel being so much thinner, they hold more 
than wood chests of the same outside size and therefore 
effect a large saving in freight ; being lighter, they also 
save in inland carriage. 
(7) They are preferred by retailers on account of 
their neat and attractive appearance, and because the 
empties have a high return value, or may he used again 
for tea and other merchandise. 
Then as to profits : — 
The Vendor Company’s financial year closes and 
the season ends on 30th June (the Company’s first 
season having, however, for bookkeeping purposes 
been closed on 31st May). For season ending 31st 
May, 1895 (being the first in the existence of the 
Vendor Company), on sales, amounting to £14,139 
2s. 9d., a profit of £1,102 5s. Id. was obtained. For 
season ending 30th June, 1896, on sales amounting 
