THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[March i, 1898. 
The samples shown were certainly superior to 
the rice of similar grades sold in Ceylon, and 
distinctly diea))er, say, K3T3 jier bushel in 
Colombo for Kalunda, including all commissions 
and agency charges. 
A'ter tills interview ^^•ith the dealers the 
deputation was approached by four rice culti- 
vators (land-owners) who wished their adilress 
registered with a view to direct dealing with our 
Agent. 
CuDDALoRE. — Visited January 25th. Distance 
from Tuticorin 316 miles. Only one cultivator 
was interviewed, but this place (the most dis- 
tant of the tour) has produced two firm ofi'ers 
of rice in large quantities — but of qualities not 
suitable for Ceylon requirements. 
Shiyali. — Visited January 25th. Distance 281 1 
miles from Tuticorin. This was the most largely- 
attended meeting of the toui. The persons inter- 
viewed included both merchants brokeis and 
roprietors-culti vator, Tlie deputation found that 
usiness had been carried on direct between Shiyali 
and Colombo for some time, through Agents in 
Tuticorin and Colombo, and are of opinion that it 
will be easy to arrange direct dealings with this 
place although rates quoted on the spot were 
somewhat in excess of Tanjore figures. 
The deputation were particularly struck with 
the enormous acreage under rice between Cud- 
dalore and Tanjore, and its healthy appearance 
though no rain had fallen for some months 
owins' to the failure of North-East monsoon. 
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 
1. That the through booking of tice should 
be strongly recommended to the notice of the 
Planting and Mercantile communities as profit- 
able to both. 
2. That not more than two persons (acquainted 
with the rice busine.ss) go to Southern India about 
March 1st or thereabouts— if possible in company 
with a future South Indian Buying Agent. 
3. That they purchase rice in various places at 
the best rates then obtainable — guided l>y the ave- 
rage Colombo quotations for South Indian rice. 
4. Meanwhile arrangements should be made for 
the appointment of 1st. An agent (European on the 
Coast.) 2nd. A distributing house in Colombo. 
Aofe.— Without these, direct business between 
planter and rice-grower would probably’ prove un- 
satisfactory, in view of the universal desires of 
these interviewed for an agent, with whom they 
could deal directly, and who would be resjionsible 
for the conditions of iiayment, and for the quality 
©f rice purchased by him at the centre of supply. 
The distributing-house would have to s|)lit up 
consignments of rice, which would often be too 
large for individual consumers, (one truck load 
of 72 bags or say 200 bushels being the smallest 
quantity accepted at through booking rates.) It 
would also check quality and weight in theintere.st 
of the consumer, and make general arrangements 
for linancing consignments. 
Note . — It must be borne in mind that the con- 
cession (nominally a reduction in freight of 12 
cents per ton) made by the Ceylon Government 
Eailway is of no practical use whatever, and 
that it' is a concession at all is not borne out by 
actual figures before the deputation. On the 
contrary the Ceylon Government Railway ai»pears 
to have (while granting an apparent concession) 
quoted to the South Indian Baihvay slightly 
more than rates actually levied by the Ceylon 
Government Railway. There is therefore no 
objection to booking through only as far as 
Colombo, where trustworthy agents could deal 
w'ith the rice to their own profit and the con- 
venience of customers. 
6. The deputation therefore recommend tliat 
[ilanters co-operate in supporting a Central Agency 
in Colombo with an agent on the coast, and con- 
sider that this agency could profitably do bu.sine.ss 
at 2i per cent, commission to approved constituents 
on the ordinary terms of local business. 
CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE, AGENCY, &C., 
as suggested by the deputation and generally 
approved of by dealer?, cultivatois, agents, and 
others interviewed. 
1. The unit of purchase to be by weight, viz : 
the bag of 190 1b. gross in double gunnies— f.c., 
about 186 lb. nett rice. 
Note . — The mean weight of new' rice appears 
to be 62’656 lb. per bushel, and of old rice 
65-728 lb. 
2. No advances or forward contracts to be made 
except by special agreement. 
3. All prices to be quoted free on rail, bags 
and all petty charges included. 
4. Payment to be made by drafts at 14 
days after sight (negotiable at the nearest 
bank or agency to the place of purchase) on 
(U'oduction of tlie South Indian Railway re- 
ceipts. 
5 Rice to be at buyer’s risk against loss in 
weight or sea* damage from date of delivery on 
rail. 
6. Commission to be at 12^ cents per bag for 
agent in South India, 
Memo . — It is evident that the Distributing 
Agency (to avoid loss on individual consignments) 
would have to charge a covering rate, and the 
deputation recommend that such profit be divided 
50 per cent to go to the constituents of the 
agency— ^ro rata to their individual purchases of 
rice, and 25 per cent each to the Colombo and 
South Indian Agents. 
In conclusion the deputation wish to put on 
record their hearty thanks to Captain Shelly and 
many other officials of the South Indian Railway 
for their assistance in facilitating the collection 
of evidence, to the Colombo Agents of the B.I.S.N. 
Company, and to the various gentlemen who 
helped tlie deputation wdth their advice and in- 
formation. 
NOTE. 
The addresses of cultivators, merchants, brokers, 
South Indian firms, and individuals willing to do 
business on the lines indicated by the deputa- 
tion, may be obtained on application to the 
Secretary, Ceylon Planters’ Association, who has 
been furnished with a verbatim report of the 
evidence collected on the spot. 
(Signed) A. MANSFIELD FoRBES, Philip F. 
Ryan, Geo. C. Bliss, A. M. Carmichael, James 
Ryan. 
[Apjiended to the report is the circular regarding 
the through booking of rice, with useful hints 
and full details as to charges.] 
The Culture of Vanilla in West Africa. 
The experiments in vanilla culture in the German 
colonies of West Africa have, so far, been success, 
fill, and the plants appear to be becoming 
acclimatised. It is belieieJ that these colonies 
will furnish as good vanilla as that from Reunion. 
The most important plantation is that of the 
Catholic mission of Bagamoyo . — Apotheker Zeitung. 
* Coat of insurance by Messrs. Adamson, Mc.Taggart, 
& Co is R2 per 6 ton waggon load or about 1 cent 
per bushel. 
