22 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[July i, 1897. 
coffee growing. While no American ships touch at 
any Liberian ports, yet more than one-fifteenth of the 
coSee produced is shipped to the United States via 
Liverpool. Coffee is the largest export. 
Planting in Salvador. — As British capitalists are 
turning their attention to South America and its plant- 
ing resources, they might favourably regard Salvador, 
says a correspondent. It is one of the richest 
countries in the world, and one of the most 
densely populated. There are no people of great 
fortunes like the Vanderbilts and Astors there, but a 
great many who have large estates that yield hand- 
some incomes. Coffee is, of course, the big 
industry, and the crop is worth annualy about 
7,000,000 dols in gold. There is also a large amount 
of indigo exported. Almost the entire country is 
under cultivation. The only drawback to life in 
Salvador, and we should say it is a very serious one, 
is the constant dread of the ravage of yellow fever. 
The Spice Trade. — Ceylon cinnamon, notwith- 
standing the liberal supply and diminished delivery, 
shows a decrease in stock, and quotations are higher 
than they were a year ago. There are still plenty 
of cinnamon chips on hand, notwithstanding a decrease 
in the imports, and the value does not improve. The 
movements of black pepper at the port of London 
have been the very opposite to those in 1896, for 
whilst the landings during the first seveneen 
weeks of this year have been double what they 
were in 1896, the deliveries have fallen off by 220 tons, 
and the present stock exhibits an excess of 1,750 tons ; 
but, strange to say, prices of Singapore and Penang 
are Jd to |d per lb above those in April last. 
White pepper, however, appears in a healthier position, 
as although there have been heavier landings, they 
have been largely outweighed by the quantity deli- 
vered, and the stock is 740 tons lighter than in 1896, 
thus warranting the rise of |d to Id per lb that 
has been established on the leading sorts, 
The Coolies op Jamaica. — There are about 10,000 
Eart Indian labourers (coolies) in Jamaica, some of 
whom are still indentured upon the estates, and some 
of whom are now free. They are more intelligent 
and reliable workmen than the negroes. Without 
them it is claimed the managers of estates would 
often be at a loss to get their work done. The pure 
whites of Jamaica number about 12,000, and are 
chiefly British colonists and officials and their 
descendants, with a few hundred Americans. — H. <£■ C, 
Mail. April 30. 
— 
NU’WARA ELIYA TEA ESTATES 
COMPANY, LTD. 
The first annual general meeting of this Com- 
pany was held at Winchester House, 50 Old Broad 
street, on 30th April. Mr. C. A. W. Cameron pre- 
sided. The Chairman in proposing that the reports 
and statement of accounts be adopted, stated that 
the Directors regretted that it was not possible to 
propose a dividend for the year at a higher rate 
than 6 per cent, especially as the first six months 
working allowed of an interim dividend being paid 
at the rate of 8 per cent per annum. But the rise 
in exchange, specially during the last six months of 
the year, the extensions to existing, and the erection 
of new factories, as also changes in the system of 
working, all combined to seriously interfere with the 
proper manufacture of the teas, and further, the 
later purchased estates were not at once in a posi- 
tion to do their share of profit-earning. However, the 
Directors were satisfied with the accounts under the 
circumstances, and hoped that the shareholders would 
also consider them as satisfactory, especially 
bearing in mind that nearly £1,000 has been 
applied out of the year’s profits, towards 
writing off formation, expenses and cost of leases. 
The estates are now being brought rapidly into thorough 
order, and improved results are expected for the 
current year. The crop of tea to 21st April was 
324,000 lbs against the estimate from all the estates 
of 785,000 for the yea, so that prospects were in 
favour of the estimates being exceeded. Besides the 
estates of Park, Concordia, Pedro, Larver’s Leap, 
Kenmare and Naseby, and the leases of Fairy Land 
and Mazewood, the Co., had acquired Court Lodge 
with Excelsior, and Hillside estates. The area of land 
under tea was 2,174 acres, liesides which about 60 
acres, of good forest land was available for tea. The 
yield from the estates would increase as young tea 
came into bearing, The amounts £2162 lus 2d and 
Ml, 109 2s Id would gradually disappear from the 
Balance sheet, as the Directors proposed ap- 
portioning a portion of each year’s profits to- 
wards their liquidation. In conclusion the Chaiiman 
remarked that the carrying through of negociations 
for the the purchaee of the estates had been a very 
difficult matter, owing to the great demand for Tea 
properties in Cejlon, and specially for such estates as 
those owned by the Company. The board was well 
satisfied that the Company was possessed of pro- 
perties than which there were none better in Ceylon, 
and which should yield steady dividends. — Also that 
this Company is in a position, owing to the high 
prices their teas command, to meet possible set backs. 
Mr. Oscar Thompson seconded the motion, which 
was unanimously adopted, and resolutions were after- 
wards passed declaring a dividend at the rate of 
6 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares ; and 
the re-election of the retiring Directors, and Messrs. 
Cooper Brothers & Co. as auditors to the Company. 
♦ 
BRAZIL COFFEE NOTES. 
A group of coffee plantations in S. Manoel, S. 
Paulo, belonging to the Queiroz family, has just 
been sold to a Dutch syndicate for the sum of 
£500,000. The sale of the Dumont plantations to 
an English syndicate, of the Queiroz plantations to 
a Dutch syndicate and the reported sale of another 
large property to a German syndicate, are significant 
indications of coming changes. If the government 
would reduce the tax on transfers, many small pro- 
perties would also change hands at once, to the great 
advantage of the country . — Bio Neivs, April 6. 
THE COFFEE SITUATION. 
Brazil coffee has dropped to the lowest point since 
1886. The decline within one year has reached 6 
cents per pound, and is due to increased supplies 
throughout the world. The full benefit of the lower 
prices has been given to consumers, largely through 
the war between coffee roasters. The result of lower 
prices is an increased consumption, which, for the 
first nine months of the trade year, shows an increase 
over the previous year of 362,163 bags. 
The world is absorbing 1,000,000 bags per month 
and stocks are increasing. The visible supply of the 
world on January 1st, 1897, was 4,024,968 bags, 
against 3,552,792 bags at same date last year; on April 
1st, 4,181,529 bags, against 2,634,670 bags on April 1st, 
1896, an increase in one year of 1,546,859 bags — suffi- 
cient reason for a drop in prices. 
An era of cheap coffee has been entered upon. Ex- 
treme low prices will check new planting enterprises, 
but we must bear in mind that 1896-97 marks the 
first tangible results of the last five years’ exten- 
sion of the planting industry . — American Grocer, 
April 14. 
CINNAMON AND GRASS. 
We direct attention to an extract from 
the local “Examiner,” given on our 
third page, which affords some curious in- 
formation. First, it appears that land culti- 
vated with cinnamon near Colombo yields a 
return from two half-yearly harvests of R 16 per 
acre per annum ; while, on the other hand, land 
cultivated with gra.ss — “Mauritius” orj“ Guinea” 
