THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
where is the security against adverse exchange 
and a fall in prices from over-production ? Well, 
there is this great advantage, that the new pro- 
prietors have 62 acres of young tea, very fine 
]iit, coming into crofi, and that the interference 
of “ coffee” in certain fields will be quite a thing 
of the past— so that even at £20,000 or £120 
per acre — the very highest price, we believe, ever 
paid f' r tea land in Ceylon ? — thei e is no reason 
to doubt that the purchasers may do well. The 
Agrapatna tea is a choice product and will 
always —if properly prepared— command a good 
price ; while the line jab and rich soil guarantee 
the maintenance of flavour, body, &c. It is 
interesting to learn how the Messrs. Napoleon 
Bonajrarte Wyse— relatives of the great Napoleon 
and the late hrench Emperor— came to invest 
in Ceylon and buy Holbrook. The proprietor of 
Choisy estate, Kamboda, is a merchant, Mr. J. J. 
Marcel, who was in Ceylon before our day, bub 
who continues to read his Overland Observer and 
T.A., and from whom we hear occasionally. 
For Mr. Marcel, as Agent and Inspector of 
Choisy, Mr. Mackie acts. The Messrs. Wyse 
know Mr. Marcel ; they also brought out letters 
to the highest in the land, and have 
had ample opportunity of learning all about our 
liigher tea districts. Indeed one of the sons, Mr. 
N. Bonaparte Wyse, has been assistant on Holbrook 
under Mr. Bartlett for nearly a year, so that 
these slirewd as well as aecomplishecl and wealthy 
French visitors have, by no means, bought “ a 
pig in a poke.” We have already mentioned 
that Mr. Wyse, senior, and Mr. N. L. Wyse have 
left tor Mauritius, where doubtless they have 
also an interest in estate property.— But now to 
turn to Mr. Mackie’s side, we know, from fie- 
quent talks with this gentleman during the past 
two or thiee years, how dear tlie place had 
become to him and that he has sold, with great 
reluctance even at £20,000, due to the fact tlsat 
he had decided to return home on recently 
joining the firm of Messrs. Taylor & Noble of 
Leadenhall-street. Holbrook is simply a perfect 
residential property with delightful surroundings 
in mountain, forest, patana and river scenery as 
well asin its “perfect” climate. We tnay therefore 
well congratulate the purchaser of the jjroperty 
and home, of which he took possession yesterday, 
and feel assured that if justice continues to be 
done, Holbrook will return fair, if nob good, in- 
terest on his money.— We may add that Messrs. 
Julius & Creasy were law advisers for Messrs. 
Wyse and Messrs. J. F. & R. F. de Saram for 
Mr. Mackie.— And it may be well to say in con- 
clusion that Mr. Mackie (whom we are glad to 
learn is in better health than he was some time 
ago) is by no means withdrawing from liis large 
inierests in tea in Ceylon. He is one of the 
largest shareholders in the Great Western Com- 
pany and also holds a big interest in the Stand- 
ard Company; and maintains full faith in the 
future of Ceylon high-grown tea — provided, we 
suppose, that the Currency Committee do nob 
raise the ru[)ee still liigher ! 
Thi5 Ri.sks of Aguiculture.-AVc suppose the 
insect referred to in the following cutting from 
an Indian paper is the same that sucks out the 
juice here from tender paddy :— “Paddy cultiva- 
tons in the Hauthawaddy Dist rieb complain that 
a large proportion than usual of their paddy 
has been destroyed by insects. One cultivator 
in the Twantay subdivision, who e.vpeeted to get 
],.500 baskets, iinds he has little over 900. In 
Masvun the same complaints are heard,” 
[M.vY 2. 1898, 
TEA SHIPMENTS FROM CEYLON. 
THE QUARTER'S RETURNS. 
The following are shipments for the first three 
mouths of the year as compared with the three 
previous seasons • — 
TO UNITED KINGDOM. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
January 
7,239,519 
8, .542, 897 
8.1.52,769 
Eebruary 
7,550,431 
6 318,232 
6,726,001 
March 
7,130,579 
9,172,886 
9,500,000 
Total . . 
21,920,559 
21.064,015 
24,378,770 
TO 
AUSTRALIAN 
COLONIES. 
.lanuary 
77 . 5 , 127 
956,977 
1,290.955 
February 
934,018 
787,916 
1.031,972 
March 
1,441 466 
1,279,468 
1,160,000 
Total. . 
3,153,611 
3,024,361 
3,482,927 
The improved shipments to Australasia are 
satisfactory. 
PATENTS. 
The fees prescribed in Schedule IV of the Ordi- 
nance No 16 of 1892 have been paid for the con- 
tinuance of exclusive privilege in resnnet of the 
under-mentioned inventions for the periods shown 
against each 
No. 419 of 1893. — David Kinloch Michie, Eagineer, 
St. Sebastian Mills, Colombo. Invention for partially 
disintegrating, equal feeding, breaking, or sizing 
materia), more especially as applied to tea leaf, either 
while such leaf is in process of manufacture or after 
it has become dry tea (from July 25, 1897, to July 
25, 1S99). 
No. 424 of 1893. — David Kinloch Michie, Engineer, 
St. Sebastian ilills, Colombo. Invention for lubri- 
cating wireshoot runners (from October 24, 1897, to 
October 24, 1899). 
No. 432 of 1894. — W'illiam Jackson, of Thorngrovo, 
Manoifield, Aberdeen, Scotland, Engineer. Improve- 
ments in tubular heating stoves, more especially in- 
tended for heating air for use in drying tea or other 
produce (from January, 9, 1898, to January 9, 1899). 
No. 433 of 1894. — William Jackson, of Thorugrove, 
Manorfield, Aberdeen, Scotland Engineer. Improve- 
ments in apparatus for subjecting materials to the 
action of hot air or for analogous operations, more 
especially intended for use in drying tea leaves, coSee, 
or other produce, for one year (from January 9, 1898, 
to January 9, 1899). 
No. 434 of 1894. — John Roger, of 20, Guildford 
street, London. Improvement in the manufacture of tea 
(from January 10, 1893, to January 10 1899).— 
“ALL ABOUT COCONUT PLANTING. 
The Brisbane Department of Agiiculture have 
ordered two copies of this book to be added to 
their reference library. 
Agricultural Stuuuls.— What is the Com- 
mission, wliich is said to have been appointed 
to inquire into t!ie working of tlie School of 
Agriculture, .about'? In India the importance of 
an agricultural training, and of encouraging a 
knowledge of agriculture seems fully recognised. 
We read that “ A resolution .appears in the 
Calcutta Gazette, .s.anctioning the opening of agri- 
cultural classes at the Seebpore (College, Mr. N. G. 
Mookerj.ce, now Assistant Director of the Beng.al 
Agricultural Depaiameiit, h.asbeen appointed Agri- 
cultural Lecturer. Tlie scheme of education com- 
jVii.ses two classe.s, and the Resolution states that 
His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor is prepared 
to assign certain appointments in the Provincial 
and Subordinate Executive Services to suitable 
holders of agricultural diplomas.” 
