562 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. t, 1898. 
THE LAST QUARTERLY SALES OF 
CIN'NAMON. 
The particulars we lately published of the 
quarterly sales of Ceylon Cinnamon held 
in London on 29th November, exhibit a very 
large and varied catalogue. The quantity brought 
to the hail iner was no less than 3, COO bales, 
against 1,29S at the previous quarterly sale, and 
against 1,400 bales at the corresponding sale of 
1896. Notwith.'tanding that more than double 
the quantity which we ofl'ered at previous sales 
w.as catalogued, and perhaps the largest quantity 
ever brought forwaiil at one sale, the competi- 
tion was brisk, and about three-fourths of the 
offerings were disposed of. Naturally, the prices 
were rather irregular, as buyers would hold back 
to see whether the demand was at all commen- 
surate w’ith the immense supply ; but the prices 
at which most of the lots were cleared, make 
the disposal of 2,350 bales a very satisfactory 
feature of the sale. At most there was a drop of 
a penny .a lb. for ordinary sorts, whicb had 
the drawback, in the eyes of the London 
monopolists, ot being “ unw'orked ” — that is, in 
the opinion of local shippers, of not having con- 
tributed to the exorbitant charges of Ware- 
housemen for undoing and re-doing (badly) the bal- 
ing and sorting which had been already well done 
here ; while the better sorts of cinnamon and 
those which had been “ worked ” fetched higher 
prices than in August. Indeed, the com))etition 
for the best brands was keener than it had been 
for almost a score of years, and quite recalled 
“old times.” Thus A. S. G. P. (Golua Pokuna), 
F. h. W. S. and F. S. K. (Wester Seaton and Kim- 
bulapitiya, whose industrious head Frederick 
Schrader, joined the majority last year) ami J. 
D. S. R. (Kajepakse Mudaliyar’s brand) were well 
competed for and held their ow n at prices ranging 
from Is 3d to Is 7d for Firsts, and lid to Is 3d 
for Fourths ; but the “ record ” was marked 
when Golua Pokuna fetched 2s 4d for a 
lot of six bales of its Firsts. Of course, this 
was a fancy price, and may not again be re- 
alized for years; but the competition w'hich led 
to such a price shows, both that the old mark 
still heads the list under Mr. Gerald Nicholas’s 
careful supervision, and that cinnamon is attract- 
ing more attention than it has done for years. 
“Umvorked ” cinnamon, wdiich is not graded so 
carefully, realised from 7d. up to l.s. Id. |)erlb., 
which, we fancy, is scarcely less than the price 
which “worked” cinnamon of the same class 
fetched. Any way, of 2,500 bales of “unworked,’ 
including large quantities of the De Soyza marks, 
1,800 bales were sold at auction. 
Altogether, the results of the last sales justify 
our coniidence in the future of the S)iice, as ex- 
pressed in our Review of last year’s Exports ; and 
if too much is not thrown on the market at a 
time, the demand promises to ensure a mainten- 
ance of the ))rices w hich have ruled for the last 
three or four years, and given satisfaction to 
proprietors. 
The following is the Report of a leading Firm 
in the Spice trade on the la.st Sales : — 
London, Dec. 2nd, 1897. 
At the closing auctions of this year, held on 29th 
November, the laige supply of 3,090 Bales, Ceylon 
offered, ugainet 1,289 Bales in the August sales, and 
1,400 Jtales at this period last year. Notwithstanding 
the large supply, there was a good deniaod resulting 
in about 2,350 bales heii g cleared. Prices, however, 
ruled iiregular, hut on the whole Ordinary and Fair 
sorts must be quoted about Id per lb lower, while 
the upper grades of fine and superior "worked” well- 
known brands were well competed for at advanced 
prices, some of the finest realising fancy prices far 
above the regular values. These extreme prices were 
entirely due to the spirited competition of two of 
the principal buyers to secure the fine lots, such as 
A,S.G.P., F.S.W.S., F.S.K., and J.D.S.R.; and they 
cannot be looked upon as any guide to values at 
the next sales. “Worked ” sold. First sort, fair to good 
lid to Is ; fine to superior Is 3d to Is 7d with one 
lot at 2s 4d; second, medium to fair, lOd to lid; fine to 
superior is 2d to Is 7d ; thirds ordinary to good 9d 
to lOid; fine to superior Is to Is ,5d; Fourths ordi- 
nary to fair 8 Jd to Ogd; fine to superior lid to Is 3d 
per lb. Of the 2, .550 Bales “ unworked ” cinnamon 
offered, some 1,800 Bales were cleared at prices 
ranging from 7d up to Is Id per lb, for ordinary to 
good. 
Chips Ac. Of 1,030 bags on sale, about 250 sold, 
ordinary to good 3d to 3Jd; Quillings Arc. 9d to lljd 
per lb. 
Stocks of Ceylon 4,384 Bales' against, in 1896-2 100 
Bales, 1895—5,679; 1894—4,087. 
The next Sales are fixed for 28th February 1898’ 
Foubes, Forbes A: Co., Limited. 
THE CEYLON “THIRTY (TEA) 
COMMITTEE.” 
Minutes of proceedings of a meeting of the “ Thirty 
Committee ” held at Kandy on Saturday the 15th day 
of January 1898 at half-past seyen o’clock (7-30 a m ) 
in the morning Present Hon. Mr. J. N. Camnbeil 
(Chairman), Messrs. A.; Philip (Secretary), W. Henry 
Figg, James G. E. Ryan, Edward Rosling, A. Melville 
White, Edgar Turner, J. H. Starey, Joseph Fraser F 
G. A. Lane, R. A. Galton, Oliver Collett and Gordon 
Pyper. Ihe notice calling the meeting was read 
of proceedings of a meeting of the 
Saturday, 
the 13th day of November, 1897, were submitted lor 
comfirmation. Resolved “ That they be and they 
hereby are confirmed,” ^ 
Finances.— Submitted letter from the Treasurer of 
the Colony. 
Read letters from the Manager National Bank of 
India Limited. 
MmuTEs.— Read letter from Government acknow- 
ledging receipt of copy of the minutes of proceedings 
of a meeting of the “Thirty Committee” held at 
Kandy on the 11th September and confirmed at a 
meeting held on the 13th November 1897. 
Governor in Executive CcuNciL.-Read letter from 
Government intimating that the Governor has been 
pleased with the advice of the Executive Council to 
approve of the proposed expenditure of £200 sterling 
m advertising Ceylon tea in Austria and Hungary ^ 
Representative in America. — Read letter from Mr 
Y m. Mackenzie to the Secretary dated New York 7th 
November, 1897. Read letters from Mr. Wm Mac- 
kenzie dated New York 1st November, 2nd November 
Ml November, mh November, 19th November, 1st 
December, 24th December to Mr. Campbell with en- 
closures. Resolved (I) That the memo forwarded 
by Mr. Macken^e for the benefit of Colombo shippers 
showing the difficulties which arise when teas are 
shipped different from the samples be published ” 
Resolved (II) : — “That the thanks of the ‘Thirty 
Committee ’ be conveyed to Mr. Blechynden lor his 
successful efforts in connection with the American 
legislation regarding the ‘sieve’ test for teas im- 
ported into the United States of America.’’ Resolved 
• sterling favour- 
mg Mr. Wm Mackenzie and wired to London the 
confirmed.” Resolved (IV' •— 
.m the gusftion of placing a certain amount ’of 
the Tea Fund in faxed deposit be left for considera- 
tion in the hands of the (Chairman and Secretai-v ” 
Resolved (V) That an approximate statement of uie 
amount at credit of the Fund and of the appropriations 
voted by the Thirty Committee ’ be placed on the 
table at the meetings of the Committee with a view 
to show the funds available, " 
