THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Aug, 2, 1897. 
To return to our cacao friends, we are assured 
by one of them that although there may be few in 
tile profession (Cryptogamic) and the name^ uiay 
be fascinating, cacao- planters would be very glad 
to see one now at work, whatever his height tn 
inches might be, or however much he might 
embarrass the ianguage of the diner-out. Un 
the other iiand, we have other cacao estate 
proprietors who regard the existing troubles 
without anxiety. One such writes to us : 
“The Helopeltis scare was, I consuler, more 
serious than tlie present disease ; and thereioie, L 
think we may hope for an improvement in cacao 
prospects during the next few months. it is 
becoming evident that proprietors in the more 
favoured districts, and who depend chiefly on the 
“Forasteio” variety have not much to tear 
from the present pest or pests; and the older the 
trees grow, the less liable they will become to 
such attacks. Nevertheless, we trust the fullest 
scientific investigation may shortly take place, 
whether by Cryptogamist, Entomologist, or 
Economic Botanist — or all three together. 
— 
THE EADELLA ESTATES COMPANY, 
REVOKT OF THE DIRECTORS. 
The following report was subniittcd at 
the last meeting in Kandy:— , , 
The directors beg to Eubmil to the shareholders 
their report for the year ending the 30th April, loJ/, 
together with a statement of accounts and balance 
shbet for that period. The estates have yielded 
94 560 lb. of tea, whi- li quantity includes 2,b«L id. 
of’ tea made from purcl:ased leaf. This shows a de- 
crease upon the previous year’s returns of 16,407 ih. 
This reduction is owing to the abnormal season, the 
North-East monsoon having been unusually w'et for 
3 months and followed by hard dry showerless 
weather. The prices realized for the teas were on 
an average 7 cents per lb. less than last year’s, which 
in a large measure is accounted for by the lower 
rates of tea and higher exchange. _ 
Cocoa.— There were secured 102 cwt. as against 145 
cwt. last year. The wet weather of the autumn had 
the effect of blacking off the pods, otheiwase the 
estimate would have been realized, as the pest pre- 
vailing in other districts is absent here. 
Liberian Coffee reached the estimated quantity. 
The balance or profit and loss account isE5,99/ 68, 
and the directors ao not see their way to recommend 
declaring a larger dividend than 3 per cent, and to 
carry forward lil,197-.58. Thedireclois have to point 
out that esyjenditure has exceeded the authorized 
capital by about E9,000, and about E5.500 will be 
required for permanent works in 1897-98, so that it 
becomes necessary to provide Ell, 500 by increase of 
capital, or loan, as sliarehoiders may determine at 
the ensuing general meeting. As a large amount 
has now been written off for depreciation on Factory 
machinery, it ts considered that 5 per cent, this year 
will be sufficient. 
The direciors retiring from office are Messrs. VV 
D Gibbon and E. S. Fox, and, being eligible, Mr 
Gibbon offers himself for re-election. The meeting 
has to elect the Auditor for the year. 
Acreage 221 Tea in full bearing. 98 Liberian 
coffee and cocoa. 102 coffee, cocoa, and coconuts 
1ST) 50a 1 year old and 52a new. 151 forests. Total 
572 acres. —By orde'' of the Directors, J. Munton, 
Agent and Becretary. 
Those present at the meeting were Messrs. W. D. 
Gibbon E. S. Fox, A. M. White, Ed. Kynasfou, 
11. S. Eix, Lieut.-Col. Duke, J. Munton and by attorney 
Buxton Laurie. 
The Report of the Directors was not quite a,p- 
proved of, and after passing and approving the state- 
ment of accounts it was resolved that no dividend be 
paid. The election of Directors resulted in Mr. W. 
D. Gibbon’s re-election and Mr. A. Melville White 
was elected to the vacancy caused by Mr. E. S. Fox’s 
retirement. Mr. J. Guthrie was re-eltcted Auditor. 
A NE^Y TEA COMPANY. 
The mail brings the news of the flotation in London 
of the Imperial Tea Company with a capital of 
il, 000, 000 to purchase a group of gardens under the 
management of Messrs McLeod & Co. of Calcutta, 
viz. — 
£ 
Ring Tong . . 
25.210 
New Glencoe 
41,900 
Washabarie . . 
20,460 
Central Dooars 
70,230 
British ,, 
53.000 
Jainte 
26,000 
Sylhet Tipperah 
. . 46,000 
Rema 
36,000 
12,960 
British Sylhet 
Kuttal 
49,490 
Monabarie 
22,670 
Tarajulie 
35,000 
438,920 
The Eing Tong garden with 420 acres under plant is 
a Darjeeling concern ; the next four gardens are in the 
Terai with 4,580 acres — the next three are in Sylhet 
with 2,418 acres ; the Kuttal is in Cachar with 1,192 
acres, and the last two are in Assam with 1,223 acres, 
There are thus 9.833 acres, under tea, the total area 
of the gardens being 34,685 acres. It will be observed 
that the Company will have ample funds for working 
and extending these gardens and buying other con- 
cerns. — Pioneer, June 8. 
<>■ 
THE AMSTERDAM MARKET. 
Our Amsterdam correspondent writes on May 27th 
that up to the present 4,193 bales and 120 cases of 
Java cinchona have been entered for public sale on 
June lOih. They contain about 358,180 kilos of Phar- 
maceutical hark, representing 2,070 kilos of sulphate 
of quinine, or the extremely high average of 5'78 
per cent. The 25,457 kilos of Pharmaceutical bark 
contain 689 kilos of quinine. In the course of last 
year the average equivalent of quinine in the Manu- 
facturing barks offered at the ten sales of that year 
amounted to about 30,770 kilos, so that the June 
auction shows a decrease in this re.spect of over 30 
per cent. The average quinine-content of the first 
five auctions of the present year is 28,500 kilos, but 
this includes a considerable proportion second-hand 
parcels and several lots of bark imported some years 
ago. Considering that the first-hand stock of bark 
in Amsterdam has now sunk to 1,612 packages of 
Government and 1,054 packages of private plantation 
bark, including many parcels of very old import, 
the position of quinine may be considered to have 
undergone a decided change for the better within 
the past few w'eeks. Since the May auctions about 
500 bales of Manufacturing bark, representing about 
2,960 kilos of quinine, have been sold privately at 
prices exceeding the auction unit. Our correspondent 
• aJso points out that the refusal of the combinet 
factories to sell quinine to any considei able extend 
has generally been the precursor of an advance in 
quotations on their part . — Chemist and Bruejijist. 
“Japanese Gorakas” — grown on Franklauds, 
Veyangoda, are i;i >st attractive looking fruit 
with a colour and bloom not unworthy of apri- 
cots ; but we cannot say as much for the taste 
and flavour of the inside, a “ mangosteen-rambu- 
tan” would be a fair description, the sub-acid 
reminds one of the latter fruit especially, but it i.s 
more ‘woolly’ and insipid. 
