344 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [November i, 1889. 
MEMORANDUM EE WEIGHTS OF TEA. 
[Messrs. George Steuart & Co. are good enough 
to write to us as follows : — "At Messrs. Arbuthnot, 
Latham & Co.'s request, we beg to hand you one 
of their circulars in connection with tea packing 
and weighing, which may interest your readers if 
you care to give it space in your paper."] 
To ascertain the nett weight of imported tea for 
purposes o f duty aud of sale one of the three follow- 
ing methods has to be made we of : — 
1. Average Netting 
2. „ Taring 
3. Actual weights 
1. Under the first method "average netting" the 
system is as follows, viz : Each package in the parcel 
is weighed gross, as landed, then the Customs officer 
selects from the whole parcel 10 per cent of the pack- 
ages (but never less than 3 chests), comprising the 
highest, lowest, and average gross weights. The con- 
tents of these packages are then turned out into bags 
of equal weights, and weighed, and the average struck, 
such average being taken as applying to each pack- 
age iu the break, except any be broken or evidently 
deficient in quantity, when they are turned out and 
the actual nett weight allowed. In nett weighing, a 
package must actually draw the weight in tae scale, 
thus 50 lb. 15 oz. would be called only 50 lb. equally 
with 50 lb. 1 oz. 
2. Where on account of inequality of nett weights 
it is found desirable rather to take an average tare; 
than an average nett, the system is somewhat different 
from the foregoing, thus. Each package is weighed 
gross as landed, then certain packages are selected by 
the Customs according to a recognised scale sanctioned 
by the Board of Trade. These packages, which must 
be sound and entire, are then very carefully emptied 
and the wooden cases with the internal lead weighed. 
The average of these weights being struck, such 
average tare is taken as applying to the whole break ; 
in the same way as in netting. In taring there must 
Bot be more than two pounds difference in the tare 
of any two packages, or an average will not be allowed 
and it is the rule to take any odd ounces as another 
pound; thus 15 1b. 1 oz,, 2 oz., or any other number 
of ounces less than 16 lb. would be called 16 lb. 
3. Whenever it is necessary on account of uneven 
net weights, or uneven tares, or irregularity of quality 
to bulk on this side, the contents of every chest are 
turned out, carefully mixed on the floor, and then 
refilled (the different breaks being treated separately) 
each chest is weighed separately empty and full, — 
the difference between the tare and gross weight 
giving the "nett." The Customs officer in making the 
tare takes any odd ounces as another pound, but in 
fixing the gross weight disregards the extra ounces. 
So far as net weight is concerned "average netting" 
is decidedly the best system for the importer, for he 
can in most cases obtai' total invoiced weight, and, 
sometimes, even more. It is less expensive, and it 
has the advantage that the tea is not so much han- 
dled on this side. 
Average taring has the same advantages as average 
netting, except that under this system the weights do 
not turn out so favourably to the importer. 
Whenever unevenness of quality makes bulking 
necessary the third system "actual weights" must 
be adopted. It is more expensive by about §d per lb. 
on chests than " average taring," and its only recom- 
mendation is that there is practically no risk of 
rejection by buyers of a break after sale on the ground 
of inequality. 
The system of "average netting" has, for the 
present, had to be abandoned, as the greater number 
of the dealers will not bid for tea so put on the market, 
aud the competition of the remainder is not sufficient 
to enable an importer to secure the full value of his tea. 
Therefore it is desirable, where possible, to adopt 
13he second method ; — for this purpose it is necessary. 
a, . That each break be perfectly regular throughout 
in quality and character. 
b. That the tare (i.e. weight of empty paokage, nails 
etc.) of each cheat throughout each break be " even," 
so far, at least, that there is not a greater difference 
than two pounds between any two chests. 
Whenever for any reason it is not practicable to 
ensure the regularity of the tea, or the evenness of the 
tares, it is then to the planters' interest not to bulk 
abroad but to pack their tea as it is ready, for, if both 
the above conditions are not striotly observed, it be- 
comes absolutely necessary to bulk at home, and to 
take the nett weight by system No: 3, that of " actual 
weights." 
Jamaica, Sept. — Mr. Wm. Sabonadiere writps : — 
" We have had such wet and wind,\ rather since 
March, that the crops from the bona fide Blue Moun- 
tain properties cannot be large : it has prevented 
heavy blossoms." 
Tobacco in Jamaica. — The latest Jamaica 
Gleaner to hand (Sept. 11th) has an article bewail- 
ing the falling-off in tobacco culture and manu- 
facture in Jamaica and that in the face of English 
capital pouring into Cuba. The following series of 
causes of failure may be instructive as warnings 
to Ceylon planters : — " The first of these causes is 
want of care in the selection of ground. The second 
is the lack of skilled labour in attending to the young 
plants and throughout the period of growth. Third 
the want of attentiou, care and skill in the prepara- 
tion of the tobacco and in the selection of the leaves, 
the period of cutting, and finally, in the manufacture 
into cigars, and the careful grading of size, quality 
and color." 
Coffee Plantees will entertain feelings of the 
deepest affection for a compound known in America 
as " Hillis's plantation coffee substitute." It is de- 
scribed as "in fact, a native coffee, being virtually 
a compound of vegetable substances, combining all 
the eoncommitant ingredients of the imported 
berry." In re3pect to the inventor of this precious 
substance, it is stated that after " years of research 
and experiment, he discovered substances which, 
when submitted to entirely new processes, produce 
an article which, in its granulated form, is similar 
to Java coffee, and vastly superior to a large pro- 
portion of the coffee now used in this country, the 
only property wanting being the caffeine. The 
ingredients used are healthy, invigorating, and 
nutritious." No doubt coffee planters would like to 
confine the inventor to a diet of this stuff for a 
time, and ask him to report on it after a prolonged 
trial.— if. and C. Mail, Sept. 27th. 
The Coconut Beetle Pest. — A correspondent writes 
to us : — In your issue of yesterday you give an ex- 
tract from the Straits Times regarding the Coconut 
Btetle. That these Pests are known in this Island 
may be gathered from the fact that so long ago as 
1864-5, a premium was paid on Induranawella Estate 
for their capture and destruction. This property, 
situated about 16 miles from Galle, then belonged tq 
Mr. John Sonenkalb, Merchant, and was a large one 
planted up entirely with coconuts. It was managed 
by Mr. Jau Kap, another German, and had steam 
machinery for the manufacture of coconut oil. A 
number of toddy-drawers were entrusted with the work 
of capturing the beetles, which were to be seen sus- 
pended every morning to the ends of the branches of 
trees on either side of the estate road, over which 
the Superintendent went his daily round of inspection. 
At first I could not understand this curious sight, 
but was told on enquiry that the beetles were thus 
left to be counted, as payment was made per head. 
It is to be hoped that at no time will Ceylon require 
its Legislature to aid in the extermination of the coconut 
beetle. While on this subject, I may mention, that it 
appears to me the coconut trees growing on the south 
side of Colombo have a great enemy in rats, which eat 
through the fruit when it is tender. From what I have 
seen, in some gardens about 25 per cent of each tree are 
sacrificed to these greedy vermin, though, I am told 
the remedy is Bimple."— Local " Times." 
