Dec, r, i8;7.J 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
419 
absence of such snthoiitalive paiticulars, it may be 
interesting to slate that statistics are prepared from 
private doenmer.ts ss to landings and deliveiies of 
cocoa in Loi don, and they rffoid rente criterton of 
what is the extent and nature of these ntovenients, 
as cempared rtith the entries in the previous year. 
First, then, we may state that the total exports of 
cocoa from L( ndon this year up to date have amounted 
to 76,7C0 bags, in contrast with 59,700 bags in 18S6, 
shoving an iuoiease of 17,0C0 Lags. In addition to 
shipments on an extended scale, there have been 
clearances for heme consumption also at an advanced 
rate, bringing the aggregate at the present 'time up 
to about 118,000 bags, against lCC,0t0 tags in the 
forty-cne w eks lost year, which exhibits arrther 
gain in the delivery of 12,0t0 bags, making, with the 
17.000 bags above mentioned, an augmentation of 
29.000 bags in the joint deliveries of cocoa at this 
port daring 1897. The latest ctficial accounts, carried 
up to the end of September, furnish similar com- 
parisens, stating tie duty payments in the United 
kingdem to be on 20,067,905 lb. in lieu of 18,443,403 lb. 
last vear, and returning the quantity exported as 
11,020,787 lb. instead of only 8,752,442 lb. in the first 
nine months of 18E6. 
Few Gaudfns akd Tkcpical Plants. — The “ excr- 
tiers of the Eight Hon. Joseph Chomterlaiu, Secre- 
tary of State for the Colonies,” are credited by the 
Keto Bulletin with being chiefly instrumental in ee- 
cuiii g for the Eoyal Gardens at Ki w a very im- 
portant extension. Few is veil supplied vith ac- 
cemmodation for plants requiring the temperature 
(f the stove and cool green-house, but l:as long 
wanted an '• intermediate house” of larger dimen- 
sions than the censer vatory. This, thanks to Mr. 
Chf.mberiain’s kindly inleiest, has new been supplied 
by the ereclicn of the new south wing of the Tem- 
perate House. It is intended to devote this wing 
mainly to large specimens of econcmic plants, such 
as the margo, guava, cinchona, sisal hirnp, and ro 
on. It will have largely a Mexican character, and 
will house a great many interesting fiewerirg shrubs 
previously excluded. Anew north wing about io he 
erected vvill be devoted chiefly to Himalayan plants. 
• — II . and €'■ Mail, Oct. 29. 
THE PUTUl’AULA TEA ESTATES 
COMPAJ^Y, LIMITED. 
The Annual Ordinary Gei.etal Meeting of the 
Sliaielioldei-i of tlii.s Company vvaslicldon the Nov. 
lutli. at the Office of Messis. Aitken, Spence & 
Ocmpatiy, vvlien tire following report vvls .sub- 
mitted ; — 
Diufctces.— Edward Aitken, Esq., Golden Spence 
Esq., \V. B. Fingsbury, Erq. 
ScprEiNTEKDENT. — U. A. Tipple, Esq. 
ACREAGE. 
Tea in bearing 
.. 391 
,, ,, piirtial beaiii g 
.. £0 
,. uridtr Two years 
.. 33 
Liberian Coffee 
.. 10 
For f St— ■) 
Grass &c. > 
.. 235 
Waste laud J 
Grand Total .. 699 Acres. 
The Directors beg to submit to the Shareholders 
the accounts for the year ended June £0th last. 
The crop amounted to 155,593 lb. tea (against an 
estimate of 165, COO lb.) and 8 bushels Lffieii an Coffee. 
The net average price realised for the tea was nearly 
39 cts. per Jb. The Coffee sold for E67'69. 
The estate suffered during the year from unavoid- 
able change of management, Mr. Tipple having been 
invalided home frem July to end of April: the crop 
was short of estimate as above; and, added to this, 
there was the depressed slate of the tea market, 
aggravated by high exchange, all combining to show 
poor results. 
E8,312 C0 were spent during the year in manure 
W'hich has been chaiged to cxpendiluie. 
58 
E3.000 COO were spent on the 36 acres young teft 
cleariig and have been chaiged to capital account. 
The net profit for the year amounts to E2,980'CO, 
and, with the balance brought forward frem last 
year, the balance at credit of Profit and Lo.sa Account 
is E7,786 94. 
The Directors leccmmetd that as no working 
capital Vi’S s provided for at the formation of the com- 
pany, and as the charge for interest during the past 
year was, ewirg to dearmcney, veiyheavy,no dividend 
be paid; but that the balance at disposal E7,786‘94 
be carried forward 
The estimate of crop for the current year is 170, CCO 
lb. on an estimated outlay on worm’ng account of 
E37.2S0. 
In terms of the Articles of Association Mr. Spence 
retires from the Board of Directors and offers him* 
self for re-election. 
The appointment of an Auditor or the current year 
will rest with the meeting. — by order of the Directors, 
Aitken, Spence & Co., Agents ard Secretaries. 
OVERLAND TEA. 
One by one our cherished illusions are being dis- 
pelled, cur idols shattered, our preconceived notions 
destroyed. When the reign was yourg we learned as 
an irrevocable fact that lea coming oversea gets spoiled, 
and that (he Eussians, recognising this, refused to use 
the dried leaves of lire aromatic and pungent shrub if 
they had crossed the stormy wateis. There was Justi- 
fication for this belief, so tar that the overland system 
has continued to this day', and caravans are now on 
their way from China to Eiissia which will travel many 
months and over many leagues ere the buyers get 
acquainted with their load. But achange has occuned 
in these later days — the charm has been broken, and, 
as might he expected, it is English enterprise which 
has done it. Messrs. E. M. Moir and Co. could not see 
any reason why China tea should not reach Eussia via 
England and penetrate to Siberia keeping yet its origi- 
nal fragiance. They organised an expedition to the 
Obi and the Yenessei to prove their contention, and in 
the last w eek of July a little fleet left London on its 
reforming rrrission. After seven weeks’ voyage, the 
Fara Sea was passed, and Tienmau reached, end those 
in charge of the venture were very anxious as to bow 
the brick lea from Hankow which had been put on 
board in Louden would show up before the cognoscenti 
gathered together to lest its merits. Singular to relate, 
not only did the tea commend itself to the judgment of 
those qualified to judge, but they were even forced to 
admit that the condition in which it had arrived was 
superiorio that they were accustomed to in the con- 
signments by the all-land route. It was an eye-opener 
to them, as we can well imagine, to get tea in four 
months from Hankow which has hitherto taken six 
times that period to reach its destination. Moreover, 
this new route is incomparably cheaper. Those who 
go down to the sea in ships have gained another vic- 
tory. The fleet has returned from its voyage laden 
with golden grain and jubilant at its success, and no 
doubt is entertaii ed that the future Siberian demand 
will be met in the new way. Thus the overland tea, 
the pride of Eussia, the erstwhile envy of the connois 
sear, is to become a thing of the past, and the British 
flag is to float over the tea imported into the dominions 
of the Czar of all the Eussias. Moreover, the same 
fchips which convey these ‘‘bricks” can carry the pro- 
ducts of British Indian tea gardens, and the slow pro- 
cess of conversion which Eussian taste is undergoing 
in respect of its tea be quickened, to the benefit of the 
colcsEal trade the last decade has seen built up by 
British capital and British industry. — Grocers' Journal, 
Get. 23. 
♦ 
EXCHANGE AND PLANTING MATTERS. 
THE VIEAYS OF A SOUTH INDIAN 
FLAN TER. 
Mr. G. L. Acwmth, late cliairnian of the 
United Planters’ Association of South India was 
last month in Ceylon having booked his passage 
from Colombo to Europe by the P. & 0. ss. 
