THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
821 
June i, 1898.] 
In view of the certain increase in production 
both in India and Ceylon, durinj* the next few 
years, and of the strong recommendations of there- 
liresentatives of both countries, and also in the hope 
of counteracting the efforts which have been recently 
set on foot by the Japan tea industry, the London 
Committee have unanimously resolved that it is 
most de.sirable to maintain the work in America, 
and they have consequently recoin mended another 
levy on the same lines as that of last year. 
The subscriptions for 1897 amounted toKl,C2,039 
collected in Calcutta, and a sum of £200 from 
a Company in London, which had hitherto held 
aloof. This compares tavourably with the result 
of the levy for 1896, which amounted to Kl, 03,674. 
Jjiberal contributions have again been received 
from the two Planters’ Associations in the Travan- 
core District, for which the General Committee 
beg to tender their sincere acknowledgments. 
The General Committee now insti nct me again 
to ask for support from the gardens owned by 
you, or under your agency, on the same basis 
as last year, viz., at the rate of 4 annas per acre 
under cultivation, and half an anna per maund 
on the production. In making this request the 
Committee would again point out that a very 
large number of tea concerns still hold aloof from 
contributing to this Fund, while at the same time 
deriving equal benefit with the subscribers from 
the resulting extension of the trade. The Com- 
mittee would repeat that it is only reasonable 
that an enterprise undertaken for the general 
benefit should be generally supported on the 
ground of a common interest and a common ad- 
vantage, and they trust that the amount forth- 
coming this year may show a substantial in- 
crease on the sum contributed in 1897. 
The General Committee would feel obliged if 
the support now solicited could be intimated to 
me not later than the 15th of June on the an- 
nexed form.— Yours faithfully, W. Paksons, 
Planter, April 23. Secretary. 
THE STANDARD TEA COMPANY. 
We direct attention to the full report of 
the proceedings at the annual meeting of this 
Company given on another page. The worthy 
Chairman Mr. Alex. Brooke of the well-known 
Fenchurch Street firm, had a pleasurable duty 
to perform in announcing the continuance of the 
very hand.sorae dividend of 15 per cent, notwith- 
standing the hard times. Nor was this voted by 
the Directors without making some provision 
(£1,000) for depreciation, adding £1,000 to reserve, 
and carrying £795 odd forward. This shows the 
good management of the fine propel ties owned 
by the Company and reflects credit on Directors, 
local Agents, Inspectors and Estate Managers all 
round. But the serious nature of the crisis over- 
taking our tea industry, through low prices, 
high exchange (dear rice and dear freight, though 
we hope these are only very temporary) was fully 
recognised ; and the shareholders niay feel con- 
fident of the continued careful manufacture of 
fine teas and W’atchful oversight of coolies on 
the estates, as well as of rice and shipping con- 
ditions in Colombo. 
Indian Patents.— Applications for the under 
specified - inventions have been made: — No. 112. 
—Samuel Cleland Davidson, of Belfast, for improve- 
ments in the construction of trays or sieves of for- 
aminous material for use in machines for drying tea 
or other substances . — Indian and Eastern Engineer. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Amsterdam Bark and Quinine Markets.- 
All the 8,750 ozs of Java quinine offered at 
today’s auctions in Amsterdam were .sold, part 
of it at an equivalent of a fraction over 9d per 
oz and the rest at the equivalent of 8 1-lOd to 
8 3 20d per oz.— British and Colonial Dniaaist 
April 8. ’ 
Sale oe Another Coconut Estate to Europeans 
— We hear that the Plopaliai estate in Jaffna con' 
sisting of 1,590 acres, of which 1,000 are in 
coconuts in full bearing and 500 acres in jnnirle 
have been sold by Mr. Senathirajah to Mr LiJIev 
of Batticaloa but the price paid has not transpired 
Mr. Lilley intends to reside on the estate with Mr' 
Candy— who has just come out from home— and will 
divide in his time between his work in Batticalnn 
and Jaffna. 
Pushing Ceylon Tea in Germany.— Many of onr 
readers vill remember Mr. Chas. Bohririger who 
came first to Colombo for the purpose of buvinp 
cinchona bark, and who has since established an im- 
poitirg house here. He is now in Stuttgart, where" 
we learn, he has opened several tea-shops for the 
sale of tea, both in the cup and dry. The tea dealt 
m IS purely Ceylon, we understand, and Mr. Bohringer 
is confident that a considerable demand is likelv”in 
course of time, to spring up in South Germany for 
(S“hrTe. thi. without 
A Nfav Liquid Coffee.— Messrs. Coonen 
Cooper & Co., Ltd., 16, Philpot Lane, Lond^on 
E.C., whose name is identified with the introduc’ 
tiori of high-class teas, liave recently placed upon 
the market .a new liquid coffee, known as 
Siloya. Phis marks a distinct advance over 
the numerous essences and extracts heretofore in 
use. It lias all the flavour and aroma of coffee 
made from the freshly roasted and ground berrU 
while It can, of course, be made without any of 
the trouble and apparatus which the older svst-en, 
necessitates.— RriffsA Trade Journal. 
Amsterdam Cocoa Butter Market— O nr 
Amsterdam representative sends us today th 
result of the cocoa butter auctions held in Hm 
land on the 5th inst., from which it appears thoe 
all the 70 tons of Van Hovten’s maU ^nt 
were sold at 50.66 cents per half-kilo (abmiiQi!? 
per lb.) ; that all the 5 tons from the Holland^h' 
Cocafabriech were bought in ; that of the 
of the “Helm” brand put up, 2 tons 
at 50 cents per half-kilo (about 9d per fh i*^ 
whilst of the 7i tons of “Miqnon” \r 
12cwts. were sold at 50 cents per half- kiln /oi ’ 
9d per 1 b. ). —British Colonial Bruggist, A^ri^^'^^ 
Adulteration of Food and Drug.s— ao 
a comparatively long sitting last evening thi 
Municipal Commissioners managed to nasi, .l 
report of the Committee recently appointed s® 
consider the question of the adulteration of 
and drugs in Madras. The proposal ofThe Po®'^ 
mittee, as we have already pointed out is • 
tioduceinto the Madras Municipal Act a’ 
which already exists in tbeCaleiHtaMnnicfpal a!,®*® 
Iheopposition was wrong, and fertile nfostnar; 
was confined to certain Commissioners renresaff* 
mg “Bazaar” interests. Wliat they wf 
argument they sought to make up in taet^t ’ j 
proposals for further adjournments were numf’ 
6nt were ,11 rejected,’ .nd the CoSSl 
commendation was accordingly passed vnth L 
sensible amendment proposed by Mr v VI ® 
Chary.— iifndars Maff, May 3, ^ 
