?es the tropical 
Mr. G. ^V. Dotes Is nottliecest of manur- 
ing a very high cliarge? I see it come.s out at 
about £H lO.s Oil. 
The Chairman It is artificial manure, and 
it is, of course, a very heavy charge. But the 
directors think it will repay the Company from 
the outlays (hear, hear). 
Mr. NiKNNEO said lie had sometimes had to 
offer criticisms (laughter) but on tliis occasion he 
saw tliat on the whole they had a very satisfactory 
report. Looking at the things that were hanging 
over their heads — the low markets and the 
higli exchange —he thought the sliareholders would 
have been quite satisfied if the directors had 
paid a slightly lower dividend and kept a little 
more in hand for the reserve fund. But they 
were always thankful for all they could get 
(laughter.) Looking at the political situation 
and at the state of things in l^arliament he did 
not think tiiey w’ould he justified in looking 
forward to any alteration in exchange affairs— 
at any rate, not to an alteration that would better 
their position. Things were far more likely to 
get worse than better ; judging by the feeling 
that was shown in officialdom and the state of 
political affairs generally ho did not think there 
would be any move to better the position of the 
exchange, 
A Shareholder asked for an explanation of the 
large item of expenditure put down for new lines 
and bungalows. 
Mr. Leopold F. Davies said he thought they 
ought to congratulate the directors on their deci- 
sion not to clear any more land at pre.sent. He 
noticed that last year the amount ot tea from the 
Comiiany for home eonsum])tion was less than 
the quantity sent on the previous year. He 
hoped that the Chairman and all the Ceylon Tea 
Companies would address words of warning to 
their peo))le against sending over too much tea, 
and against setiding tea of inferior quality. In 
London what w'as wanter was tea of the best 
quality, not large quantities. The private garden 
owners were perhaps the worst sinners, and often 
sent over as much tea as they possibly could — 
and were not very particular what they sent. 
(Hear hear.) 
The Chairman said with regard to what had 
been said about the rate of exchange, that the 
directors were somewhat of the opinion that 
there would not be a lower exchange ; they would 
be glad if only they could know that it would 
remain at an average of Is 4d. (Hear hear). At any 
rate they had made 1 heir calculations on that for 
the future. They were doing' their best in the 
matter to which Mr. Davies had referred ; they 
were quite alive to the importance of it. iMi'. 
Porter had made some suggestions to their 
manager, and tliose suggestions would no doubt 
be carried into effect, the suggestions included 
one for a better system of withering than they had 
hitherto adopted. Mr. Porter was confident that 
if the new instructions were followed they 
would be able to improve their tea to 
the extent of -^d. per lb. (Hear, hear.) A 
shareholder had asked about the expense on bun- 
galows, etc. In the last report they had written 
od’ £5()i) on account of the old bungalows and 
they luul had to set about erecting new ones. 
On this they had spent P2I.270. Then on 
new lines thay bad spent 112 09), on the factory 
110 249 and on maidiinery 116,894. The machi- 
nery consisted of a large engine that had been 
juit up, and a now wheel for increasing the water 
supply. The factory was a large one, and was 
in a good imsition. An entirely new bungalow 
AGRICULTURIST. [MaV 2, 1858. 
liad been built— a capacious one was necessary 
for so large an area of ground, and of course 
they wanted to make the managers as comfort- 
able as possible (liear, hear.) All these expenses 
were considered necessary, and he could assure 
them that eacli item had been carefully looked 
into. 
The report and accounts were adopted unani- 
mously. 
The Chairman moved : “ That a final dividenu 
be declared of 7 per cent, free of income-tax, pay- 
able forthwith, making a total dividend of 10 per- 
cent for the year.” 
This was also carried nnanimonsly. 
Sir George Pilkcngton was re-elected a direc- 
tor of the Company, the Chairman remarking, 
amid laughter, that Sir George was probably 
doing his duty more effectively in Ceylon than 
hi.s fellow-directors were doing theirs at home. 
On the motion of Mr. L. F. Davies, Mr. John 
Dalgleish, C A., was re-elected auditor. 
The Chairman moved a vote of thanks to the 
Ceylon and London staffs. The results, he said, 
w-ere produced by the staff in Ceylon. In the Lon- 
don office, everything was done by tlie staff in the 
most capable manner, ami be bad always been 
able to get any information he required at a 
moment’s notice (applause.) The best proof of 
belief in the fitness of the Ceylon manager, Mr. 
Janies Anderson, was tliat he (the Chairman) was 
sending out his son to work under him. He was 
starting foi Ceylon on the next day (liear, hear.) 
Mr. W. C. Scott seconded the jiroposition, 
remarking that he hoped Mr. l .aine, junior, would 
add to their strength in Ceylon (hear, hear.) 
The pro])ositioii was carried, and the meeting 
closed with the usual compliment to the Chairman. 
PEOGRESS OF TEA CONSUMPTION IN 
EASTERN EUROPE AND ASIA MINOR. 
We are plea.sed to have a note from Mr. 
Marinitscli, dated Brindisi, April 3rd — he was on 
his way then to Vienna — and had experienced 
very cold weather just after leaving Port Said 
all along the Syrian Coast up to Smyrna. But 
the important part of his letter runs as fol- 
lows:— “I am glad to tell you that the con- 
sumption of tea is visibly increasing all over 
Turkey, and that Ceylon sorts take a good share 
to meet the demand. It is am.azing to see tlie 
progress, tea lia.s made in the habits of the people 
inasmucli as at present, in some instances, tea is 
taken to alternate witli coffee, it having dawned 
upon the people that tea when well made and 
fres/i c intains a good deal of stimulating power. 
.Altogether yon will be pleased to hear that |)eople’s 
tastes are now in that transitory stage wliieh 
will ensure at an early date a larger coiisumption 
of tea and no doubt Ceylon’s good qualities will 
give it the preponderance.” 
Entomological SooiETy.— Atameeting of this 
Society held in London on the 16th ultimo— Mr. 
R. McLaclilan, V. P, and I'reasurer, in the chair — 
a paper by Mr. E. £. Green, of Pundaluoya, 
Ceylon, entitled “ Further Notes on Dyscritina, 
Westwood,” and illustrated by specimens and 
drawings, was read. Tlie author had discovered 
two distinct species of Dyscritina, which he 
was able to keep in captivity and rear from tlie 
early larval stage to that of the imigo. A dis- 
cussion followed. — Local “ Times,” 
