The linseed oil employed is produced in the country itself, and is of inferior grade and poorly boiled. No driers are employed. Turpentine and benzine are exceedingly expensive, and even petroleum is costly in the interior. In consequence of this state of things, woodwork is rarely painted, except in the buildings occupied by the American Mission and Euphrates College.

The climate here is exceptionally dry, but much more paint and varnish could be advantageously used were good materials available at reasonable prices, accompanied by full and plain instructions for their preparation and employ.

On account of heavy freight charges, it would be eminently desirable to have very careful instructions on the proper preparation of the native linseed oil, as well as on the most economical method of using the available driers.

Mr. S. G. Vartabedian, who has worked in the United States and is doing much to introduce American wares here, would be glad to take an agency for American colors and varnishes and push their sale actively. He can be addressed in the care of this consulate.

I shall take pleasure in furthering any effort to establish a market for these articles here and in the adjoining region.

HARPUT, February 20, 1903.

THOMAS H. NORTON,

Consul.

WHEAT CROP OF INDIA IN 1902-3.

According to the second general memorandum on the wheat crop of India for the season 1902-3, the condition of the crop in the United Provinces is so favorable that a full yield is estimated for the three eastern divisions and Oudh, and 90 per cent of a normal crop for the three western divisions; but in the Punjab and the Northwest Frontier Provinces the yield on unirrigated land, except in the submontane districts, is likely to be poor, unless rain falls very soon. The excellence and extent of the crop in the northern districts of the Central Provinces make up for the deficiency in the southern districts, and the estimated average yield for the whole area is 105 per cent of the normal. The estimates for Bengal are 92 per cent of the normal.

The area under wheat in the Punjab is estimated at 7,260,500 acres, against 7,227,000 acres last year; in the Northwest Frontier Provinces, at 855,000 acres; in Bengal, at 1,460,000 acres, against 1,460,000 acres last year; in the Central Provinces, at 2,600,000 acres, or about the same as that of last year. In the Bombay presidency (including Sind) the total area in British districts is estimated.

at 1,266,000 acres, or 21 per cent below last year's area. The Native States return 581,000 acres, which is 35 per cent over last year's area and 6 per cent over the average. In Berar the estimated area under wheat is returned at 218,377 acres, being 20 per cent less than last year, but the season has been favorable and the outturn will amount to 75 per cent of a normal crop.

The amount of wheat exported is small compared with the production, and depends greatly upon the price ruling in Europe. The exports last year were 7,321,818 cwts.; of wheat flour, 529,328 cwts. were exported. This year it is probable there will be a larger quantity available for export, as so much will not be required for home consumption. R. F. PATTERSON,

CALCUTTA, March 12, 1903.

Consul-General.

COTTON CROP OF INDIA.

The following abstract as to the cotton crop of India for the season of 1902-3 is taken from Government statistics:

The area under cotton (15,750,000 acres) is the highest returned by the reporting districts during the last decade-81⁄2 per cent over last year. The season has been favorable, and the yield of 2,800,000 bales is proportionately higher than the increase in the area. The estimates of the yield per acre vary greatly, without any assignable cause for the differences. The Larkhana district of Sind returns 300 pounds to the acre, while Berar returns only 40 pounds to the acre. The average is 72 pounds.

The following table shows the yield in bales of 400 pounds:

The following table shows the amount and value of cotton exported from India during the year 1901-2 and the principal countries of destination; 4,445,000 cwts. of this total was Bombay cotton:

NEW DOCK AT BOMBAY.

The Bombay Port Trust, which owns the land on the foreshore and dockage of the city, has prepared a scheme for constructing a new dock with a water area of nearly 50 acres. The site will be between the Ballard pier, where the mails are now landed, and the present docks in the harbor of Bombay. The dock will have a depth on the sill of 334 feet at high water of ordinary neap tides.

Its entrance will be through gates convertible into a lock 600 feet long. There will be a dry dock from 800 to 850 feet in length. The scheme includes a deep-water dock-head pier 1,250 feet long, where mail steamers will be able to moor and passengers can step from the ship into the railway train, thus obviating the present unsatisfactory plan of transferring by launches.

Branch lines will run from the principal railways at Bombay, through Mazagon, to the dock-head pier. The Ballard pier will be trebled in length and connected with the dock-head pier, and the water space inside the angle of the two piers will be reclaimed and used as sites for bulk oil installations. The cost of the scheme, exclusive of the railway, is roughly estimated at 3 crores of rupees, or No 273-03-2

about $10,000,000.

It is expected that it will be carried out without

any additional charges on the port.

The steady growth of the trade of Bombay, in spite of the plague and the famines of recent years, is remarkable. Its commerce is now nearly half of that of all India; yet the city, by reason of its fine harbor and its splendid situation as a distributing center, is capable of great expansion in the future. The steady enlargement of its dock accommodation indicates how constant the growth of its trade has been.

The Prince's dock, with a water area of 30 acres, was opened in 1879. Even before it was completed the authorities recognized that further dock space was necessary. The Victoria dock, with a water area of 25 acres, was opened in 1887-88. These two docks, with their accessories, cost 221 lakhs of rupees ($7,350,000), but they have long ceased to suffice for the rush of trade, and further schemes of extension have for years been under consideration. If government sanction for the new dock is obtained-and of this there is said to be no reasonable doubt-work will be commenced next winter. WM. THOS. FEE,

BOMBAY, March 7, 1903.

Consul.

GOVERNMENT MONOPOLIES IN FORMOSA.

Consul-General E. C. Bellows sends from Yokohama, March 10, 1903, a clipping from the Japan Gazette relating to the operation of government monopolies in Formosa, as follows:

The report on the present financial and economic position of Formosa issued by Dr. Shimpei Goto, the civil governor, states that government monopolies have been created in opium, salt, and camphor. It goes without saying, remarks the Indian and Eastern Engineer, that the habit of opium smoking is pernicious, but when the Japanese took possession of Formosa they found there a population more or less addicted to the use of the drug. It was decided to abolish the practice by degrees. Only those who have suffered from its effects to the extent that it occasions intense pain to deprive them of their pipe are now permitted, by a special warrant which they are obliged to procure, to continue the use thereof. To newly commence opium smoking is strictly forbidden, or even to continue it unless it can be shown that abstention is impossible. The government monopoly of the article was expressly established to facilitate the final extinction of the habit of using it. The revenue thus derived amounts at present to about £400,000 ($1,946,600) a year. The revenue obtained from the salt monopoly is from £70,000 to £80,000 ($340,655 to $389,320) a year, and it will doubtless increase.

Formosa supplies almost the whole world with camphor, but when Japan took the island the industry was in a precarious state. Camphor trees were cut down with an utter disregard of consequences; the crudest processes were employed in manufacture. So a government monopoly was established, with the triple object

of protecting the trees, improving the method of production, and placing the industry upon a secure footing. The world's consumption of camphor is computed to be about 8,000,000 pounds weight per annum, and the production in Formosa is regulated accordingly. The yearly yield to the revenue is about £400,000 ($1,946,600), so that opium, salt, and camphor together bring to the government a total profit of about £875,000 ($4,258,187) a year.

The mention of an annual subsidy seems at first sight to negative the proposition that Formosa already yields a profit to the home Government, but the fact can be established without difficulty, as substantial benefits are being derived from the interstate commerce between colony and motherland, a trade that already amounts in the aggregate to close upon £2,000,000 ($9,733,000) per annum. Dr. Goto shows, by figures which seem convincing, that Formosa has been a profit to Japan even in the first seven years of its existence as a colony, which is a sufficient proof of its vitality and of capabilities in general that are indubitably above the average. He considers its future as eminently hopeful, for it is based upon rich agricultural and mineral resources. Tea, rice, sugar, hemp and flax, indigo, paper, silk, cattle, marine products, coal, sulphur, and petroleum are all features of the Formosa trade. The steps taken by the government to encourage the industries which depend on these products can not fail to be beneficial, and the state revenues are being increased by the progress made.

BICYCLES IN CHINA.

The use of bicycles by the Chinese is increasing notably and the possibilities of the market are limited only by the abilities of the Chinaman to purchase.

A special study of the character of bicycles suited to this country will greatly increase the sale. In North China men travel extensively, and they would use the bicycle much more if it were brought within their means. The roads are somewhat rough, and a substantial vehicle is required to traverse them. The Chinaman is not a great mechanic and has little ingenuity, and wheels for his use should not be delicate or require much in way of repairs. On account of their manner of dress they generally prefer wheels designed for ladies.

Strength, durability, and cheapness, rather than lightness and comfort, should be the main features of bicycles designed for this market. A Chinaman will sit all day on horseback or in a cart in a position that would be simply unbearable for a foreigner. The people here do not want to pay for luxury.

The following suggestions by an experienced bicycle rider in China are worth careful study by manufacturers:

The modern bicycle has three great disadvantages on Chinese roads, at least in the north: (1) The pneumatic tire is subject to puncture and is hard to repair; (2) the pedals are hung too low and strike obstacles, such as stones and rough ground; (3) the chain gets full of grit, and is annoying in many ways.

The last item is eliminated in the chainless wheels, but this excellent device is as yet rarely met with in China. The American "Columbia Chainless" is a great advance, and with the cushion frame could be ridden comfortably with solid tires;