6 oo 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[February i, 1892. 
demanded, undoubtedly show superior value. The 
quality ol the imports during the week has shown a 
slight improvement, and as reports from the island 
point to bettor wcathor, teas of good quality may be 
on the way. Java teas are much neglootod except for 
export, for which the demand is rather more active. 
The arrivaia for the week are The “ Clan Jiucha- 
nan,” “ Goloonda,” " Mira,” and “ Legislator,” from 
Calcutta and Colombo ; “ City of Canterbury,” from 
Calcutta j and the ‘‘ Oroya,” from Colombo. Notwith- 
standing the near approach of the Christmas holidays, 
says the Oroeer, the quantity of Indian tea brought 
forward has continued heavy, reaching 32,386 packages, 
which, it is satisfactory to say, met an active demand, 
and were nearly all taken off with a healthier com- 
petition than for some time past, at a further slight 
advance. The common sorts are gradually recovering 
from the recent depression, and are now id to id per lb. 
dearer than they were a fortnight ago. The better 
and strong-liquoring kinds also have been more readily 
purchased, and stiU form the smallest proportion of the 
general supply.—//, and Cl. Mail, Dec 26. 
DOOM DOOMA TEA COMPANY, LIMITaro- 
Tho following circular has been issued to the sh ‘“S 
holders “ I bog to inform you that at a meet 
of the directors of this company, held on tho 16*'' 
inst., it was resolved to declare an interim dividen'^ 
at the rate of 5 per cent, upon the whoio capital of 
the company, namely ^o the A shares, 6 
per cent, j to tho B shares, 6 per cent. ; to tho 
ordinary shares, 5 per cent. In conformity with 
this resolution, I have now tho pleasure to forward 
a dividend warrant for the amount due to you, as 
per tmcompanying statement. I am instructed by 
my diroctors to mferiii you that the total tea crop 
of this seasons, including that of the Samdang 
Garden (about 98,000 lb.) amounts to 1,120,9(10 Ih. 
as compared with 893,890 lb. last year. The sales 
up to date of 733,337 lb. in London have averaged 
lU 15-16d. per lb., as compared with tho average to 
same date iast year of 590,498 lb. at Is 0 3-32d 
per lb., or with the total 1890 average of Is O.Jd 
per lb. — I am, yours obediently, B. G. Rock, 
Secretary.” — U, and C. Mail, Deo. 25. 
♦- 
SAPPHIRES AND RUBIES IN SIAM. 
The first annual ordinary meeting of the above 
company took place on Monday. 
Lord Thurlow, tho chairman, in speaking at some 
length, said that matters vyero progressing as favoivr- 
ably as could be expected in the face of the many 
difficulties they had had to contend with. 
Mr. C. Preston Gibbons, who was at tho head of their 
affairs in Sl(un, hod boon dangerously ill, and tho fever 
so prevalent in that country had at first attacked many 
of tho men on tho fields. The company, he continued, 
hod now taken possession of nine square miles of 
gem-producing ground, and the result had been 
210,000 carats of sapphires and rubies, 40,000 carats 
of which hod already come to hamJ, a second con- 
signment of 130,000 carats being expected shortly. 
They had as yet not exported any expensive ma- 
chinery, trusting rather to the simple appliances by 
which tho natives wore accustomed to extract tho 
gems. They would not risk sending out expensive 
machinery, <Sro., until they had exteuded their busi- 
ness sufficiently. He regretted to say that the bank 
balance in London was very small, and that they 
would have to make a call of 2s. (Id. in the £ payable 
on Jan. 15th. This would enable them to keep the 
concern going for six months. Ho did not tnink 
a further csjl would bo necessary, (is they wore 
receiving consignments of stones for di^osal, unless 
they extended their operations largely. Ho congratu- 
lated the shareholders on their excellent staff, both in 
Siam and in London, and also on their relations mth the 
Siamese Royal Family and Government, who were 
largely interested in tho undertaking, and whose 
patronage would contributo greatly to tho success 
of the company. In conclusion, he moved the adoption 
of the report and accounts. The motion having neon 
nnauimouoly agreed upon, tho mooting closed with 
‘)bq usual Y 9 t(s 9f tbftukS'— R’ «»<* 0. Mail, Dec. 25. 
A GUIDE TO RICE-GROWING. 
Near tho end of the last century tho reign- 
ing Emperor of China, Kanghi, the second of 
the present dynasty, impelicd by the importance 
of the rice industry in tlie Flowery Land, and 
to show his solicitude for the welfare of his 
subjects, published a sort of guide to rice-grow- 
ing. This curious work (dated 1796), which sug- 
gests to the European mind that the Emperor 
compiled it when in a playful mood and rather 
as an amnseraeiit than out of regard for tho 
welfare of his subjects, has been rendered into 
English, and as it may be of interest to our 
readers we produce the translation (kindly lent 
by Mr. Alex. Maophersou) in full. It should be 
mentioned that each of the short descriptive 
verses given below is accompanied by a picture ; — 
SoAKiNo Tiat Rice Seed. 
The rains have fallen and brought water to our 
cottage gate. 
Immerse your bamboo baskets of seed m the 
limpid waters, and soon tho precious grain sprouts 
will show forth. 
It is now that outdoor preparations begin. 
Sacrifice the fowl to greet the opening spring, 
and offer up yom- prayers for an abundant harvest. 
Lot tho plough do Its work from morning till night. 
I’fiOUOHING. 
Good 1 The water in tho fields has accumulated 
to tlio depth of a plough. 
IIow beautiful to see tho vernal foliage casting 
its shade on the land. 
Aged as l am I delight to saunter from the cottage 
door, and with the aid of my staff I come to watcli tho 
water buffalo laboriously wading the muddy fiats. 
Alas 1 in how many years gone by have I put 
my shoulder to the plough I 
Harbowino. 
With my bamboo hat 1 brave tho morning mist. 
With my bamboo leaf coat I resist tlie rains of spring. 
See tlie poor buffalo. 
The mud is four hoofs in depth, but who will 
say that ho works harder than I, tho man behind, who 
from morn to eve stand till my logs ache with fatigue ? 
Rakino. 
Off with your coat and out to your work. 
Harness the buffalo and rake all tho fields. 
Such is the morning cry. 
Now, soon will tho sun be sinking in the west, 
and airoady 1 hear tlie song of returning woodmen. 
Ah, my good buffalo 1 thou art quickly to go homo 
and enjoy your evening swim. 
Haurovuno. 
Wo ! Steady, my boast. 
Now, gentle reader, while your matic friend reins in 
hia buffalo, please take a glimpse at his native village. 
A single row of thatched cottages along the margin of 
a lake backed by bamboos and other foliage, and there 
you see a spooimoii of quiot Chinese rural life. 
oil , - . SowiNO. 
Jlie land is prepared, the grain is sprouted. 
Entonng the field with each a basket on hia arm. 
We walk backwards, and with a wave of tlie hand 
deftly disperse tho seed. 
Ere a few days have elapsed the tender blades 
will bo bending before tho wind. 
I bus by a picul of seed may a full harvest be reaped. 
The First Shoots. 
The warmth of spring has started the seed, do. 
And with staff in nami and a youngster by my si 
I hobble out to see tho first green blades ; 
This is the first result of this year’s work; 
But how much more is there yet to be done. 
Manubino. 
Our system of agriculture has been handed down 
to US by our forefatliors. 
Without manure mother earth will not yield in 
abundance. ■' “ 
Such is a portion of our labour. 
Let us hope that we shall reap abundantly, 
Transtlantino. • 
Theyswigplant^hftYo icftxijvHhcirlieada aljqYowatiJi’i 
