THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
Aug. 3, 1897.] 
still think it advisable to write 10 per cent, off their 
value as taken on December 31 last. The total 
amount of the crop secured for the year was 720,200 
lb., being 48,200 lb. over the estimate made this 
time last year and 52151 lb. more than the previous 
year’s outturn. I think you must consider that re- 
markably satisfactory. I may mention, too, that the 
present manager (Mr. Kerr) and the gentleman who 
did his w'ork last year both consider that they have 
not yet arrived at the total crop that may be ex- 
pected. There are still 163 acres on one estate which 
are merely in partial bearing. As regards yield, 
we secured 422 lb. per acre, as against 433 lb. in 
1895. The reason of that is very obvious, because the 
163 acres in partial bearing have all been included 
in striking the average. The average price of the 
tea sold in London was 8'86d. per pound, and the 
average of all Ceylon teas was 8'25d., or, taking 
our average at 8|d. and the Ceylon average at 8^d., 
we are a halfpenny beyond the average. The 8|d. 
is slightly lower than that of last year, but there 
is only a fractional difference. The acreage of the 
estates remains practically the same. Thirteen acres 
were planted during the year, making 1,720 acres 
under cultivation. On the last occasion we had the 
pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Kerr (our Ceylon 
manager) was present. He left us, and resumed 
charge of the estates from February 1. During his 
absence Mr. G. M. Ballardie did his work, and did 
it as well as he did on a previous occasion, and I 
shall ask you to pass a vote of thanks to him in 
due course. I shall also have the pleasure of in- 
troducing to you my old friend Mr. Blacklaw — we 
have generally something on show here — an Oriental 
pearl from the Bast. (Laughter.) He has come 
home after a residence of twenty-one years in Ceylon 
without a break. I think he is a very good specimen 
of what the Ceylon men are. I myself retire from the 
board, but, being eligible, am open to re-election. The 
shareholders will also be invited to express their appro- 
val of the appointment of Mr. George Gray Anderson 
to a seat on this board. Mr. Laurie offers himself for 
re-election as auditor. That is the sum total of our 
report, which I think you will consider a very pleasing 
one. Our position is remarkably sound. The esti- 
mates for the present year have all come home, drawn 
up in the usual careful way by our Ceylon manager. 
The prospects are equally as good as those of last 
year. We have already arrived at the middle of May, 
so we know pretty well what to expect. The posi- 
tion as a whole has not deteriorated since last 51 ay. 
The only black spot is the labour question. It is a 
small cloud on the horizon, but I do not think it is 
likely to burst into much rain or do much harm. A 
good deal is being done to try and find a remedy, and 
I am glad to say that the Governor has taken up the 
matter, which no previous Governor has done, and I 
think, if we look to him and the planters’ own energy 
and the Planters’ Association, if matters do get worse 
W'e shall find a remedy for them. At the same time 
there is a bright lining to that cloud. If the tea 
bushes are not pulled about too much they last all 
the longer, and will yield dividends in the future. 
I always like to look at the bright side, even of a 
dark cloud. These are all the remarks I wish to 
make, and I have now the pleasure to propose the 
usual resolution : “ That the reports and accounts 
be adopted”; but before putting it I should like to 
hear anything that any shareholder has to say, or 
any questions that it may be desired to put. 
Mr. R. W. Forbes seconded the motion. 
Captain Grant said the interest account was this 
year on the creditor side, but last year it was on the 
debtor side. 
The Chairman said three months interest had to be 
paid on tea sales, and it was usually on the debtor 
side ; but this year the Company had the advantage 
of having it on the other side. 
Cap ain Grant said he had noticed that the receipts 
in Ceylon in respect of tea manufactured were going 
down evei y year. He supposed that was in conse- 
quence of the small gardens getting their own 
piachinery. 
87 
The Chairman said the Company had been in the 
habit of buying large quantities of tea-leaf from 
estates which had no factory of their own ; but many 
of those had now their own factories. He, himself, 
had not been in favour of purchasing the leaf to make 
for others. He did not think it was always a de- 
sirable speculation, because their employes had to 
give up their time to other people, and their own teas 
might not receive the same attention that they other- 
wise would. 
Captain Grant asked whether it was more profit- 
able to sell their own manufactured tea in Ceylon or 
in London. 
The Chairman said that was a very difficult ques- 
tion to decide. Some teas are better sold in Ceylon : 
others are better brought to London. On the whole 
he thought the most favourable market was London. 
Captain Grant said there was the question of 
plague. It might touch Ceylon on its return journey 
to Hongkong, and it might be necessary to burn 
the coolies’ clothes, and furniture. Would they be 
amenable to reason and see that it was for their 
own benefit ? 
The Chairman. — We should do that first and then 
have a settlement afterwards. (Laughter). Every 
possible precaution is being taken in Ceylon to 
keep the plague out of the island, and in all matters 
affecting it the Ceylon authorities are most particular. 
The resolution for the adoption of the report and 
accounts was then agreed to, and “ that a dividend at 
the rate of 10 per cent, free of income-tax, be paid on 
and after this date.” 
Mr. Donald Andrew moved and Mr. R. W. Forbes 
seconded the re-election of Mr. H. L. Forbes as a 
director, and it was unanimously agreed to. 
On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. R. 
W. Foi-'es .the elcetion of Mr. G. G. Anderson as a 
director was also carried, the former remarking that 
they had gained somehow the idea that that gen- 
tleman’s presence on the board w'ould increase the 
dividend. (Laughter). 
Mr. G. G. Anderson returned thanks. 
The Auditor (Mr. J. B. Laurie) was reappointed, on 
the motion of Mr. G. W. Haine seconded by Captain 
Grant. 
The Chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the 
Ceylon and London staffs. All the heads of estates in 
Ceylon were practically the same as when the Com- 
pany started in 1889. Both staffs had the interest* 
of the Company at heart, and did their work well and 
thoroughly. 
Mr. G. W. Dodds seconded the motion, which was 
agreed to. 
Mr. Hugh Blacklaw, in acknowledging the vote, said 
if those in Ceylon got on successfully with their work 
it was due to a great extent to the board of directors 
at home. ’They had a practical man at the head of 
affairs, who was of great assistance to the staff in 
Ceylon. 
Mr. James F. Anderson returned thanks on behalf 
of the London staff. 
On the motion of Mr. J. C. Sanderson, seconded by 
Mr. George Todd, a vote of thanks was passed to 
the Chairman and Directors, and the proceedings 
terminated. 
Oil-seed Culture in Uganda.— A report just 
published by the Foreign Office states that the 
cultivation of sunflower, ground-nut, eastor*oil, 
and sesame plants has been thoroughly tried and 
proved successful in Uganda, British Ea.stern 
Africa. At Kampala an oil-press to be worked 
by animal power is in course of construction 
and by this oil will be produced on a larger 
scale than has hitherto been possible. It is hoped 
that the oils may find a market as lubricants 
but the local demand is also increasing rapidly.— 
Chemist and Druggist, April 17 . 
