176 
THE TROPICAL AQRIOULTURIST. [September t, 1891, 
had already given ample proof that etones of such 
a quality were abundant in Burma, and yet we 
are told that " they had not yet obtained Btnnea 
0( the quantity and’ quality which they hcped to 
get.” This is pretty much tho eame thing as has 
caused so many similar enterprises in Ceylon to be 
abandoned. 
Then, again, wo have the statement as to the 
apprehension that the natives employed on the 
works obtained and secreted many, it not most ol 
the really valuable stones which bad been un- 
earthed. This, as you know, was one of the ohief 
obstaoles foreseen as likely to militate agaicst 
Buocess in Ceylon which were stated to me by 
Mr. Streeter on the occasion of my interviewing 
him upon the subject when the question of Byete- 
matio gemming in Ceylon was first mooted. As 
yet it is evident that the work which has been 
done during tho several years since the Company 
commenced its operations at the mines his been 
almost entirely confined to preparation. It is 
very certain that, had this case of “ hope deferred ” 
been realizeel when tho prospectus of the Company 
was issued, we should not have witnessed that excited 
rush after ita shares which created so much astoniish- 
ment at the time. 
Although, of course, the Chairman has said the 
best that could bo said for the prospect 
before his shareholders, we fear the latter are 
scarcely likely to have their lioprs stronly re- 
vived by anything that fell from him. It is not 
to be doubto’d at all events that they will yet 
have to pay very heavily before they can ob- 
tain any appreciable results to their investments, 
and the fact will doubtless go far towards con- 
soling those other spcnulators who have ventured 
their funds in a similar enterprise in Ceylon. 
‘‘The misfortunes of our friends” arc said cui- 
rantly to be always a source of oonoealod grati-. 
floation to ourselves. — London Vor. 
HOW OTIIEKS SEE CEYLON PLANTEIfS 
will be gathered from the following letter ; — 
TO THE kDITOK, ” INDIAN PI.ANTB1>«’ GA/tTTK.” 
gir, Having been on a visit to Ceylon and seen a 
few of the Ceylon tea o'-tater, I send you my im- 
pressions on the subject as likely to interest your 
^*What has struck me chiefly is the vast amount of 
push and energy among the planters, and tho vast 
area under ten point to a plentiful aupply of capital. 
Another point is institution of large central lact'.inee, 
where tho leaf is either purchased from neighbouring 
gardens or msnnfaclured for them. 
Manufacturing charges, inoludirg all expenses of 
packing, and curtiage /. o. 4.. Colomlio, are abont 5 
events or Id per lb. The labour here is Tamil, or 
South of India; tlds labour should answer for tho 
Dooarfl, Assam, and Caehar, and on account of tho 
cheapness of rioo in thoee provinces, lubour shnu'd be 
obtained at present rates, K.'i per inoiitli, and recruit- 
ing expenses should not coat more tl aii lUC per hi ad 
to the different gardens. . , . 
Labour is paid for hero at the riUo of six niinns 
ner day for men, nod four aniins lor women. Price 
of rice K6 per loiiuiid (i o rcciiiitiiig expenses) ; yet 
in .nite of those inormouB wages, Ceylon planters put 
down their tea/; 0 . 4. Colombo from 2.5 cents (four 
minss) to 32 eeuts (five annas) per Ih. respectively, 
'^Th.'re ure*23U,0flb acres imder tea in Ci-ilon, tho 
Ioweour!try yielding .500 to 1,0( Hh. tea peu aero luu 
the hid country («t rn elevation ol .5,01-0 to O^^OI U 
feet) 3001b. tea per acre, ' '(-'f "l” ^ 00 ? « 
r 3 a under tea in Ceylon will t.e about 4f)t) to oOOlh. 
^ 111 machinery they are not behind hand, in fact 
ahead of India in drying machinery. I will note first 
tho ‘I Briffania,” Jackson's latest invention, said to 
beat the Victoria, though each has Iti own lov is. 
It costs about £300 and turns out 240 to SOOllj. 
dry tea per hour, and the tea takes to dry 80 minutes 
for each tray, and dries at a temperature of 200 deg, 
(though this could easily be incioased to 240 deg.), 
tho Ceylon mtthed being a vast quantity of low 
heated desiccated air. 
It qccnpiea a space of 80 feet x 10 feet ; is a love 
machine, turns out good tea, and is automatic, bi iniy 
a setioa of trays on an endless chain, and telf-disg 
charging. • 
Mr. Jackson will bo over in India before the end 
of the year as soon as his roller iujnnotiou case is 
derided. 
To those who prr f, r emallt r machines there is the 
lirown’a Patent Desiccator m two sizes, turning out 
respectively 80 to 120 lb. tea per hour. Tins is a 
combination of up-draft and down-draft, and dries tea 
at a temperature ol 280 dog., or any other heat de- 
sirable, and ocst for the larger size about El,800 in 
Ceylon. 
Both Jackson’s ‘ Brittania” and Brown’s ‘‘Desic- 
cator” are mschinee now to India, and Indian plan- 
ters ahould have a look at them, as they are well worth 
atliention and highly spoken of. 
The sifters are Walker’s and Brown and Rae’s 
rolled leaf breaker and rifter, and dry tea sifters by 
the same raauul'BCtiir .rs whir.h do not grey the tea. 
Unless Indian planters wake up, Cajloii will push 
them into the eorner, and before another tliree 
years the export from Ceylon will be 1)2 millions, 
and the value "f tea dne to over production will 
fall to 6tl. per lb. 
This is tho blight (over production) which both 
India iind Ceylon will h*ve to face ; tho tea 
bnshos in Ceylon are hesltl y atul not yet blighted, 
and ttu re is no reason why tea shotM not last 
hero fir 25 years an jn India. I kiiow In.'ian 
plaiilcrs will say ‘'their lands will gr-.w tea for a 
oeuturv,” overlooking the fact cf tho enormous 
quantity of ohl tea Inud nhacdoiied, and t,ew tra 
pilantod to enable old estates to linl l their own. 
Ceylon estates are kept clour of weeds, ami 
bungalow nintmgcre (howevir clover they may he) 
are at a disco nnt, not wan tod at oriy price. 
A Wandkher. 
THE PRICK OP QUININE. 
(COMMONICAIKD.) 
The industry of Cinchona cultivation, the source of 
quinine, has reached a critical stage in its development 
and there are some facts connected with it which are 
of puhllo interest, and w hich should be more generally 
known. 
In 1800 the Oincltona free was intredneed info 
India by the Government, who employed .Mr. Clements 
B. Markham to bring jilants Irom Sun'.h America 
which country was at liiat time the sole source of sui.piy 
of the ao.cailed Ptruviiiii ha.jc. piautotions were es- 
tablislisu on the Neilglierry Hills in tho Miioras Presi- 
dency, and at Hagkalain Ceylon ; and in 1872 the first 
crop of bark was obtained. The cultivation of the tree 
spread to loo Htmalayas, .lava, and other idaces, with 
the rrfiilt lh.vt tLe importation of bark from the East 
info this country has averaged of late years nhuntl-t 
million pounds, B.id it is estimated that tho total exports 
from tho List tor the twelve months ending the 1st 
July next will amount to not less than 1.5 million pounds. 
If to this wo add the exports from bouth America, wiiicU 
lire. Itiwever, insigniflrant, we have a total ofHii^ mil- 
li 11 pqujida ef bark (i quiviiieui to about 8 milliui-i ou-icis 
L.f quinine), and representing one year's production for 
the use oi the world. 
I'lie object wliinh tlic Govornincnt of In,lia had in 
view was the provi.-icn of an abundant and cheap aupply 
of the. febniugo for tho uaa of hospilals and troo|S iii 
indl. 1 , a- well as for tho people gencially, iu a country 
where fewra of a inhlarious type are exceedingly pre- 
valent, a source of numerous secondary de.veast s and 
great mortalrty. It was also roc.gniscd that an in- 
creafod supply of this unique and vahnible drug could 
not fail to be a liunefit to the world at largo. 
