254 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



less in weight than the Wood Burning Dryer, which means one-half 

 saving in freight. It requires no foundation or brickwork of any kind ; 

 and taking into consideration the quantity of work it does, it is the 

 cheapest Dryer in the market costing only 180, f.o.b. in England. 



I know nothing of this Coke Dryer. Its price compares 

 favourably with his other Dryers. 



In April, 1881, the following leader, written by me, 

 appeared in the Calcutta Statesman. Though other Tea 

 matters are included (all of interest), I give it here as further 

 testimony to the merits of Kinmond's Dryer : 



The days are passed when Tea planters hoped to make a fortune 

 in a few years. There are mainly two reasons for this. Firstly, the 

 prices of Tea have fallen greatly, in many cases 30 and 40 per cent. 

 This is due to the fact that supply, in the case of Indian Tea, has 

 overtaken demand. Still, there is some comfort to all interested in 

 the industry to be derived from the low prices which have ruled during 

 the last two years. So cheap have Indian Teas been that the attention 

 of the trade has thereby been directed to them, and consequently the 

 deliveries of the last few months have exceeded any known previously.* 

 It is calculated by those best able to judge, that if the present rate of 

 deliveries in London continues, the stock in June next will not exceed 

 twelve million pounds, and the truth is, strange as it may appear, that 

 below this point it is not well that the stock in hand should fall, 

 because, if it does, dealers will not be able to meet their requirements, 

 and will then perforce buy more China. Low as prices are, we 

 therefore, nevertheless, consider the statistical position of Tea to-day 

 as good. There is another point which should give comfort and hope 

 to the Indian planter, in spite of the fact that we are heavily handi- 

 capped in our race with China, inasmuch as owing to more expensive 

 labour our cost of production must exceed theirs. This source of hope 

 is the great point now generally admitted, that Indian Tea is better 

 and goes further than China Tea. The experience of each of us can 

 quote instances of individuals dropping China Tea, and taking to 

 India ; who knows of anyone doing the reverse ? We admit the taste 

 for Indian Tea is more or less an acquired one. Still, the public at 

 home have already been educated to the taste by the yearly increasing 

 proportion of Indian mixed with China Tea. Speaking generally 



* They are still higher now. The last three months they have averaged 

 five millions. E. M. 



