Aug. 2 , 1897 .] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
1 35 
Messrs. Cox Brothers have succeeded to the 
superiutendenee of Messrs. Buchanan’s plantations 
in tlie Cholo district. The place, we hear is look- 
ing exceedingly well, and showing up for a hand- 
some crop this year . — Central African PloMter, 
May 12. 
CINNAMON SALES IN LONDON, AND 
THE CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. 
The particulars which have come to hand of 
the last quarterly Cinnamon Sales held in London 
on the 31st May, are not quite so satisfactory 
as were many of the preceding reports in regular 
succession. All the offerings were not sold — only 
about one-half, or 880 bale.s out of 1676 having 
been disposed of by auction ; and the prices for 
ordinary bark fell from |d. to Id. per lb. We 
cannot say we are surprised at tlii.s result. 
Although, undoubtedly there has sprung up a 
better demand for cinnamon, and the advance in 
prices which we have recorded for tlie last two 
years is obviously due to this improved demand 
which, there is every reason to believe, is not 
merely temporary, the quantities .sent forward 
lately were such .as to cause some anxiety. 
Thus, the total exports for last year amounted to 
2,223,865 lb. quilled bark against 2,169,527 lb. 
in 1895, and le.ss than 2 million lb. during 
the three previou.'i years. In chips there was 
some falling-ofi — 808,502 lb. against 920,136 in 
1895 ; but in no previous year had even 700,000 
been touched ! The advance must, therefore, be 
taken as very considerable last year as compared 
with previou.s exports ; but it is when we come 
to this year that we find a yet greater growth in ex- 
])orts. Thus, up to the end of last monr.h, practically, 
we sent away no less than 995,6491b. of quilled 
cinnamon and 630,852 lb chips, as against the 
following quantities for the corresponihng period 
of the three 
previous years 
Quills. 
Chips. 
1896 
859,999 
425,444 
1895 
693,891 
413,292 
1894 
616,000 
276,493 
The progressive increase, it will be seen, is very 
considerable under both he.ads ; and it is not 
surprising that prices have receded somewhat in the 
face of such heavy landing.?. The gradual develop- 
ment of a demand is one thing, and the ability 
to take up immense quantities thrown into the 
market on short notice is quite another thing. 
Still, there is no cause for enxiety or despondency. 
The falling-off in [irice was far from serious, 
considering recent successive rises; the liner 
qualities maintained i.he high prices wliich they 
had commanded at the |)revious sales ; and all 
the “ worked ” cinnamon sold, while the prices 
realized for “ unworked ” did not compare un- 
favourably with those which “ worked ” parcels 
fetched. 
'Where there is cause for apprehension is 
in connection with the extension of cultiv,a- 
tion. Past expeiience seldom counts when a 
product realizes high prices. As in gohl mines, 
so witii agricultural products — Tea, Coffee, Cin- 
namon— a rush f!)llows remunerative prices ; and 
we already hear of large quantities of cinnamon 
.seed beinc sold for nurseries — especially in the 
Southern Pi’ovince. Last year the demand ior 
seed was strong. This year it is stronger. W’e 
do not believe that Europea i>s or the better 
educated Ceylonese are likely to rush into so 
sensitive a product, and one so difficult to harvest, 
as cinnamon ; but native gardens will extend and 
multii)ly, to be followed by over-production and 
a drop ! 
A Colombo merchant sends us the report of 
the “London Commercial Eecord,” 4th June, from 
which we take some pointed remarks with 
reference to the fall in prices at last sale : — 
Whether the result would have been a different 
one had the contingent of buyers been a representa- 
tive one, is a difficult question to answer, the absence 
of two of the principal buyers may have had some 
weakening effect on prices, yet we are inclined to 
believe that their presence would have made little 
difference, for the duluess just prior to the sales may 
be accepted as a fair criterion of the feeling of the 
entire trade. Holders here were greatly upset by 
the arrival of numerous consignments, and seemed 
to have been determined from the very first not 
to support the market, in order to nip in the bud a 
a trade which, if at all encouraged, would quickly 
develop into a dangerous opposition to the existing 
manner and custom of dealing in Cinnamon. In 
this respect holders here have acted quite correctly, 
for there is not a more dangerous enemy to the steady, 
legitimate business than the swamping of our market 
with cheap and low native consignments. We have 
had occasion to witness their nefarious results on 
several markets, and we are glad to see that 
at least in the present instance the prices 
relised are not exactly encouraging to the con- 
signors. Cinnamon, after all, comprises but few sup- 
porters, and it should therefore not be a difficult 
matter to effcetually oppose the introduction of the 
consignment system on a large scale. The first step 
has been one in the right direction, and we are satis- 
field in our own mind that the account sales for- 
warded to Ceylon showing short proceeds will have 
a most cooling effect on native shipper.?. Some efforts 
has been made in certain quarters to stem the tide 
of dclining values by spreading the rumour that an 
important house of shippers was anxious to depress 
the market in order to facilitate the coverture of 
their blank engagements, but as this rumour did not 
receive any support or even confirmation, its effect 
upon the minds of the trade was nil. In fact, in some 
instances this ill-found rumour resulted in an almost 
contrary effect than anticipated by its originator — it 
helped to depress prices. Colombo in the meantime 
appear.? to have been little affected by the drop in 
our market, which, however, is not surprising, con- 
sidering that the old season is at an end and the 
new not yet begun; but there can be little doubt 
that as soon as supplies begin to arrive over there 
on a large scale, prices, not being supported by a 
European demand, will steadily come down, and will 
adapt themselves to the level of our range of values. 
On the !st of this month the new standards of usual 
assortment came into force, and their working will 
be interesting to watodi, for the opinion on the ad- 
visability of their adoption still differs considerably. 
So far shippers have asked jd per lb. more for the 
guarantee of “equal to standard ” over the usual fair 
merchantable, but this difference we feel sure is only 
attributable to the uncertainty which prevails as re- 
gards the working of the standards, and not to an 
appreciable difference between the old and new guar- 
antee of quality. Practical experiments alone 
will show whether the adoption of standards was 
a wise step to take or not. 
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