June i, 1892 . 1 
iHF TROPICAL AQRI0ULTURI8T, 
925 
CEYLON AND ORIENTAL ESTATES COMPANY. 
With regard to our critioism of the Ceylon and 
Orient Estate Company, formed to purchase various 
tea properties belongmg to Messrs. Baring Brothers 
and Mr. Thring in Ceylon, Hfr. P'ergusou calls atten- 
tion to the fact that “ the price ef tea was abnormally 
high in March, 1891, ond that the comparison made with 
the question of March, 1892, is therefore hardly a fair 
one." As we have not the least wish to be unfair in the 
matter, we ate pleased to give prominence to this 
opinion. 
Although we have no doubt as to the correctness of 
Mr. Ferpuson's remark, the fact does not remove the 
great objection we take to the prospectus on behalf of 
the public. Why was not the price of tea given ? If 
abnormally high in March, 1891, why could not this fact 
have been stUted ? In dealing with the price of tea, 
wo naturally mode a comparison between quotations 
now ruling and those of twelve months a^o. The fall- 
ing off in value is more than abnormal, it is startling. 
In his excellent paper on Ceylon, read before the 
Royal Colonial Institute, Mr. Ferguson detailed how 
the annual export of tea had risen within lo years from 
1,000 LB. TO 08,000,000 LB, 
“while there is the proljability of the Colony 
attaining to an export of 100,000,0001b. in the 
course of the next few years." The author of the 
paper touched very lightly, indeed, npou the decline 
of the London market. “But on the other hand, 
the falling prices of recent years for tea generally, 
and the fear of over-production — of supply out-run 
ning a demand profitable to the planter — forbids me 
to say that there is scope in Ceylon for more tea- 
planters, unless they bo young men with capital.” 
To show what an important part the market price 
of a product plays in the finances of those who grow 
it we have only to recall the collapse of cinchona, or 
Peruvian bark, which at one time was being planted 
all over semi-abandoned coffee estates. “ Over the 
hill country generally " — we again quote Mr. Fer- 
guson’s words — “this culture has had to bo given 
up, since the price of quinine fell (mainly through 
largo crops of bark from Ceylon) from 
12a TO Is AN OUNCE — 
and even to 9d an ounce — between the years 1877-79 
and 1891.” Against the tea enterprise, as a whole, 
we have not a word to say. No doubt means will 
always bo found, by cheapening of labour and 
economy of management, to keep a fair margin of 
profit in all the best districts ; but with regard to 
the company formed for the purchase of Messrs. 
Baring’s estates, we cannot advise our readers to 
entrust any single one of their financial eggs to so 
doubtful a basket. 
In oonneoiion with Tea Companies, I cannot 
help referring to the sudden death of Mr, David 
Reid, Chairman of the Ceylon Plantations Com- 
pany, and whose name has been so fully in your 
eolnmns of late, the contractor for tbe Nawalapitiya 
and Mlatale Railwoys, and Iho Unionist candidate 
for Oaokmannan and Kinross shires. A career 
which seemed only to bo opening at home, has 
been thus unexpectedly olosed to the great regret of 
B wide oirole of frienda. Much sympathy will be 
felt (or Mrs. Reid and family. 
I was pleased to see Mr. Geo. HEPaES looking so 
well on meeting him in the City the other day, 
and to learn of his hopetuloees about tbe steady 
development of the Ceylon tea trade with Austra- 
lasia which he did so much to foster and develope, 
by his visits to Melbourne, in the early days. 
As regards the futnre and improved preparation 
of Ceylon tea, I feel sure there is much yet to be 
heard. Several experiments in this direction have 
come under my notice of late ; in one ease the 
process of (ormentotion and drying is tbe subjnot 
of close, detailed ond soientiflo observation under 
the dreotion of an experienoed planter, who. how- 
ever, does not wish names or operations mentioned 
futiher in the meantime. The respeotive merits 
of high and low temperature drying will also be 
no 
further tested. I have seen a report by a membez 
of Messrs. W. J. & H. Thompsou’s firm, of a 
most favourable obaraeter on eamplea of Indian 
teas, dried at a low temperature. But more light 
and experience generally are required. 
As to the Mancbino of Tea and an impro?ed 
Aobicultdee generally, you are likely to hear 
from Mr. John Hughes by this, if not indeed, by 
last mail ; for Mr. Hughes has been good enough 
to write the following to me worthy of quotation 
even at the risk of repetition, espooially what la 
said of tea : — 
By lost Friday’s mail I forwarded to your office, 
Colombo, a copy of Dr. Voelcker’s lecture on Thurs- 
day, April 7tb, at the Indian section of the Society of 
Arts 'on the Agricultural Needs of India. I also 
enclosed some remarks of mine upon one of the 
E oints raised in reference to the present practice of 
urning cow-dung cakes or sun-dried Iratties as 
they are called. 
I pointed out that the practice was no doubt a waste 
of valuable manure, but being the result of neces- 
sity and not of choice the natives could not be blamed, 
and that the Government should rather endeavour 
to provide other -fuel such as the simply of forest 
reserves. But after all that iu os muon as the whole 
of the mineral salts such as the potash, lime and 
pliospbatos remaned in the ashes which under proper 
sanitary arrangements should bo restored to he land ; 
the actual loss was confined to the nirogen eom- 
ponnds, which however being resolved on burning ino 
gaseous products wore either absorbed by the grow- 
ing plant or crops or were brought down again in 
the rain and to a great extent retained by the soil 
for subsequent plant food. 
As regards the absorption of nitrogen from the air 
it is important to remember that in round numbers 
80 per cent of the atmosphere really oonslsts of ni- 
trogen in a free form. Fkirtber recent soientlfio re- 
search has proved that leguminous plants such as 
vetch, clover, peas, beans, lupines, &c. have the 
power in a very special degree of absorbing this ni* 
trogen and yielding large crops of valuable food and 
also by virtue of increased root extension leaving 
the soil also richer in plant food for the futnre crop. 
What leguminous plants therefore can do in a special 
degree other plants may be able to do in a smaller 
degree BO that wo may find by an bye that nitrogen 
especially in tropical climates is largely supplied to 
plants and trees by natural means and does not re- 
uire to be supplied directly by artificial means as we 
nd necessary m our temperate olimes. How oomee 
it that India bos for centuries produced crops of 
corn, rice, gram, Ao., without praotioally any nitro- 
genous manure being supplied, and yet the soil ap- 
pears no more exhaustcu now then at the commence 
mont? . _ 
It would be a moat interesting experiment if a Cey- 
lon planter would select a good average tea bush just 
rea^ for pruning and pick off all (ha loaves, weigh 
them at once and then dry them graduaJIy in the 
sun like grass is made into hay, then again weigh tbe 
dried loaves and forward a sample here for analysis. 
Wo should then know the actual weight of the green 
leaf per acre and with the weight of the dried leaf 
coifid make a calculation of the water lost. I believe 
we should find tbe quantity of nitrogen very large 
and much in excess of (he supply of the soil itself. 
« 
THE KELANI VALLEY TEA ASSOOIA- 
TION, LIMITED. 
REPORT OF THE BOARD OP DIBECTOBI. 
To be prciented to the Shareholders at their Sixth 
AnuusI Ordinary Meeting, to be held at the Offices of 
the Company, on the 27th April, 1892, at 2-30 p.m. 
The Direolors beg herewith to submit to the Bhare- 
helders the Report and Acoonnts of the Oomnanv 
for 1891. ^ ^ 
The results of the year have been somewhat affeoted 
by the low prices of tea obtained, giving for the 
Company’s produce a less average than for previoua 
