S6 TFIE TROPICAL 
CO be much higlier in these parts of the East than it is 
in Great Britain. Usually when capital is sought 
in England in connection with tea plantations in 
the East, it is merely with the object of winding up 
some estate, and is almost invariably supplied by the 
big East Indian merchants, and those most directly 
connected with the iuduistry, so that the ordinary 
public has small opportunity of sharing in its pros- 
perity. It is only within the last few mouths that 
the financial newspapers have considered the tea 
companies worthy of quotation, and the returns 
of capital, even now, are much greater than in any 
other form of stable investment. This condition of 
affairs is likely to continue only until means are 
offered to the public of participating in this form 
of investment by the creation of more ready markets 
for the shares. That such steps will be taken, and 
shortly, is almost certain, and those who are interest- 
ed at the outset are likely to reap a golden harvest. 
— Limited Liahilitij Iteview, May 1. 
THE INDI.AN TEA CROP ESTIMATE. 
A s])ecial telegram from Calcutta to our con- 
temporary states : — “The first estimate of the 
crop is 156, 669, 000 lb., or about 8,500,000 lb. over 
the actual outturn of crop in 1896. Estimating 
the .shipments to America, to the Colonies, 
and to outside ports, and local consumption, <at 
18,000,000 lb., there remains about 138,500,000 lb., 
for export to Great Britain.” The Pioneer states : — 
“April witnessetl the liigb-water mark in tea ex- 
ports from Calcutta. Tlie total exports for the 
jiast month amounted to 492,241 lb., the corres- 
ponding ligures for the two past yeans being res- 
pectively 164,662 1b., and 281,2-33 lb. There was 
a sudden leaj) in the exports to Great Britain 
froiii 67,104 1b., in April, 1896, to 355,543 lb., in 
April, 1897, while the ligurein 1895 was 246,3131b. 
This April showed a slight falling off in the ex- 
ports to Australia.” 
INDIAN PATENTS. 
Apjolioations in respect of the undermentioned in- 
ventions have been hied, under the provisions of 
the Inventions and Designs Act of 1888, during the 
week ending Sth May 1897 : — 
Improvements in Eotary Sifting Machines for Tea 
or other Suitable Substances. — No 178 of 1897. — 
Charles William Ansell, civil and mechanical engi- 
neer, proprietor, Ansell & Sous, Darjeeling engineering 
works, Toong, Bengal, for improvements in rotary 
sifting machines for tea or other suitable substances. 
Impu'ovements in or Connected with Means or Ap- 
paratus for Withering and Drying Tea or other 
Produce. — No 18‘oofl897. — James Shannon Stevenson, 
tea planter, of Rothes, Hatton, Ceylon, for improve- 
ments in or connected with means or apparatus for 
withering and drying tea or other produce. 
Specifications of the undermentioned inventions 
have been filed under the provisions of the Inventions 
and Designs Act of 1888. 
Eertilized and Fertilizing Materials for Promoting 
the Growth of Plants. — No. 459 of 189h. — Charles 
Halford Thompson, f.r.h.s., colonel in Her Majesty’s 
Regiment of Royal Artillery, Eastcliff, Teigumoiith, 
in the county of Devon, for fertilized and fertilizing 
materials for promoting the growth • of plants. 
(Specification filed Si'd lSla,y 18h7.) —Indian and Eastern 
Ewjineer, May 22. 
THE INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA TRUST 
COMPANY, LIMITED. 
FROM THE rKOSPECTU.S. 
The formation of the present Company has been 
suggested by the fact that, notwithstanding the 
established merit of the Indian Ceylon Tea Planting 
Industry, the Shares in undertakings connected 
agriculturist; TJuly /, 1897. 
marSle.^'"’ exceptions, not readily 
the Soi'i'e'S is I’estriotel, owing to 
Sde 3 T of insnfficient magni- 
(minv ""^oOUtions and constitution 
meclLfna fl,! Ceylon law) 
Stock on the London 
3 they earn large profits 
often fnt f security, their Shares are 
W to L realisable, and transactions 
is the Cie! subject of special negotiation. This 
IS the frequent experience of executors. 
Under these circumstances the intervention of on 
in accordance ^ith 
the Rules of the London Stock Exchano-e and of 
London the attention on the 
ijondon Shaie Market, appears to be needed. 
num’her^^nf*^^' Company will be spread over a 
nffm-^to ■ ^ undertakings, and its Shares therefore 
the nros‘n 3 opportunity of participating in 
Sriok aSf Industry with a minimum 
hlr hiVhertJ difficulty of realisation which 
of ouoted Te. ®M^erienced. The present prices 
larseU hi ®how a return on Capital 
largely in excess of that which might be exnected 
of 'tho^Ind^i't^^ second character 
the are sliown by 
are no C°nipauies, in whose Shares there 
orwWcli^i^^ f amalgamation 
vLw o off by this Company, with a 
viev to otfeiiiig them for investment in this country. 
To meet possible contingencies the Memorandum 
tioir I?',®' wide sphere of opera- 
I n of ; .not . >0 tended to travel beyond the 
'nvesting in Shares and Debentures and of 
of^exkthif 0 “*^ guaranteeing the issue of Capital 
To. inu ^ oompanies connected with the 
Snin pnichasing. consolidating and 
issuing as Limited Liability Companies, Tea Planta- 
tions, and small Rupee Capital Companies. 
oi’ganised and controlled, 
saivfo^pif ^“<1 n^Pital neces- 
3h.Pss to ^ plantation, tend to limit the 
hnsiness to highly responsible hands. 
. Tbe inarket for the produce are also rapidly extend- 
Britain in China Tea consumed in Great 
iRo p .11 was 09 per cent, and of Ceylon and Li- 
fe Tpo*'o'^ proportions were 
spctRely P“' r®' 
The tea consumption of the world, excludin<^ the 
S this 250,000,000 lb. were 
in 189fi supplied by British growers. 
the Capital cm- 
estimated to l,e at least 
,000, POO, and the Directors having intimate associa- 
a3AThe\‘ie®t®‘'®‘’r industry in particular, 
3 f position to obtain information as to 
them securities which may come before 
rpilvl puTY.-We should not 
ieg.il. an imj.ort duty of 5.1 per lb. (if actuallv 
pas.se.l) as prohibitory for tlie United States^ 
(.i.)Mded-a,s we trust and believe— corresponding 
1 npo.sts are to be laid on coffee and cacao. Ah 
advantage to Ceylon and India is that the 
highei the tea, duty, the more it .should tell 
a ainst the cheaper commoner teas of which 
G hina and Japan supplie.s the larger portion. 
e duty will niake ii]> so large a proportion 
of the retail price 111 future, that it should be 
Uioiight a small matter comparatively to give 
2c to 3d extra per lb. to get a really good tea 
Hitlierto the Dominion has charged 10 per cent 
brought through the States, 
M bile direct shipment ivere a,dmitted duty-free 
