308 COFFEE. 



TEA-GEOwma m java. 



I had occasionally heard of Java tea, but had no idea to what 

 extent tea was cultivated in Java. I found on my arrival here, 

 however, that there were annually produced from eight to ten 

 million pounds, and I immediately became curious to see the 

 method of culture and the quality and varieties produced. 

 Through friends in Batavia I was kindly furnished with letters of 

 introduction to Mr. E. J. Kirkhoven, who, in connection with his 

 partner, Mr. Hohler, was represented to be an extensive tea-planter 

 in Sinagar, a small place some sixty or seventy miles in the in- 

 terior. "We proceeded by rail from Batavia to Buitenzorg, some 

 forty miles, and thence by two-wheeled spring-carts, each drawn 

 by three tiny ponies, about the size of two months old colts, to 

 Sinagar. Arriving there, we were most hospitably received by 

 Mr. Kirkhoven, and not only had an excellent opportunity of see- 

 ing the process of tea-cultivation and manufacture, but also some- 

 thing of what a planter's life is like in the interior of Java. The 

 estate extends over several square miles, and the area under tea- 

 cultivation alone is upwards of 1,100 acres. There are, upon an 

 average, about 6,000 plants to the acre, which, upon this area, 

 would give between 600,000 and 700,000 plants. Some of these, 

 however, are not in full bearing, owing to a severe blight which 

 has affected the plants during the last year or two, making it 

 necessary to prune them close to the ground, in order that they 

 may produce fresh shoots ; yet, even with this drawback, this 

 grand estate will produce this year about 800,000 pounds, or 

 10,000 chests of 80 pounds, net, each. One great advantage of 

 tea-culture in Java is that the picking and manufacture may be 

 continued nearly the whole year through, while in Japan and China 

 the severity of the climate limits the picking to three or four 

 months. Labor is also much cheaper here than in China, although 

 it is said that one Chinaman will do as much work as two Java- 

 nese. The average wages of adults in Japan and China is about 18 

 or 20 cents per day ; here it is not more than half that sum, while 

 that of women and children — by whom a large portion of the work 

 is done— is paid for " by the piece " at even a less rate than this. 



