April i, 1890.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 671 
NOTES ON PRODUCE AND FINANCE. 
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is not very likely 
to move in the matter of the tea duty , but all the same 
the discussion on the advantage to accrue to the tea 
industry by such a step is useful. A strocg dif- 
ference of opinion exists on the subject, and Sir Roper 
Lethbridge's views did not find favour at a recent 
meeting of the Tea Committee of the Oeylon Asso- 
ciation in London, held on the 27th nit., at which 
growers, merchants, and brokers were present. The 
following resolution was carried by a large majority: 
— " That, in the opinion of this meetiog, a reduction 
of the tea duty will be advantageous to the tea growers 
of Ceylon." 
The organ of the tea retailers, on the other hand, 
says: — "Under all the circumstances, even if it were 
possible to grant a remission of taxes to the extent 
of six millions, we think it would not be desirable to 
take it all off tea, for the artiole would be free from 
Customs, examination, whioh. in our opinion, is salu- 
tary, as it is a check upon importers bringing tea of 
a too inferior quality into this kingdom; further, 
being interested in the weight of every package, the 
Customs' returns have always been accepted as correct, 
whereas, if the matter rested with the agent or the 
importer, a direct inducement would be given to fix 
the weights against the buyer's interest As 
regards the effect of a reduction of the duty upon 
the quality of the article imported, no doubt tea 
would suffer like other things : and as the price would 
be reduced to a very low point indeed, we fear the 
public would beeduoated to pay so little for it that 
the importation of really fine tea would stop, aa it 
could not possibly pay either the merchaut or the 
retailer." 
Perhaps by the time there is an immediate prospect 
of the iluty being abolished, those interested will have 
arrived at something like unauimity on the subject. 
At present, if the Chancellor of the Exchequer de- 
sired to be guided by the prevailing opinion, he would 
find it difficult to ascertain which way the wind blew. 
Mr. Joshua Whit worth suggests in the columns of 
the Grocer that the present time Beems favourable for 
the grocer to address himself to the cultivation and 
prosecution of a higher standard of tea for his cus- 
tomers, but he adds that the best way to do this is 
for the retailer to give his counterman a small bonus 
on teas sold at or beyond a given price. Not a healthy 
arrangement this. The next step would be that some 
dishonest retailers (for there is occasional dishonesty 
even in the grocery trade) might find it more profi- 
table to offer a bonus to his young men for obtain- 
ing a high price for an inferior tea. 
Pure coffee at reasonable prices has become a scarce 
article of produce in some parts of London, according 
to the public analyst of St. Luke's "VeBtry, who states 
that, " Coffee this year proves to be the most gene- 
rally adulterated article," and he adds that " there 
is very little chance of an ordinary customer getting 
pure ooffee. Besides the undeclared mixtures, the 
vendors of which could be prosecuted, there is a muss 
of ooffeo sold under various grand titles, or in packets, 
on which the buyer, when he has leisure to read the 
printing thereon, finds in small letters somewhere, 
' This is Bold aa a mixture.' The vendor hereby is 
held by most magistrates to be safe whatever the 
buyer may have asked or paid for. Hence, a mixture 
ooutaiuing from 70 to 90 per cent, of chicory not uu- 
frequently is sold for 1 coffee." 
A new company has been formed, entitled the 
EaBteru Mortgage and Agenoy Company, Limited, 
with a oapital of £1,000,250, in 100,000 shares of 
£10 each, and 250 founders' shares of £1 each. The 
first issue oouBiats of £600,250 in 60,250 shares ; 50,000 
are ordiuary shares of £10 eucb, and there are 10,000 
" A " Bhares of £10 each, which bear the same divi- 
dend as the ordinary shares. Thure are also 250 
founders' shares of £1 each, which will, it is stated, 
be allotted at par to the applicants who have provi- 
sionally applied for the whole of the ordinary shares, 
but no preference iu the allotment of the ordinary 
shares will bo given to these applications over tboBe 
made by the public Applications will also be received 
for £100,000 terminable Four and a Half per Cent, 
debentures, to be issued for three or more years as 
may be desired, which will have interest coupons 
attached payable half-yearly on May 15th and Nov. 
11th, at the company's bankers. The countries this 
company desires financially to serve are India, Bur- 
nish, the Straits Settlements, &o. The directors are 
E. Barclay, Esq. (Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, Tritton, 
Ransom, Bouverie, and Co.) ; John E. Borland, Esq. 
(Messrs. Steel Brothers & Co.) ; George W. Campbell, 
Esq. (Messrs. Finlay, Campbell, & Co.); James Hora, 
Esq., Director of the Trust and Agency Company of 
Australasia, Limited ; Sir Hugb Low, g.c.m.g., late 
BritiBh resident in the State of Perak ; William Pater- 
son, Esq. (Messrs. Paterson and Simons). — H. 0 
Mail,¥eb. 7th. 
PRICES FOR MAURITIUS PRODUCTS. 
(From the Merchants and Planters Gazette, Feb. 10th.) 
Vanilla. — The market is firm. We have to quote 
the sale of a few lots fine quality at R24 per kilo 
above 6 inches and Vanillons at R1350 per kilo. 
We entirely maintain our last valuation as regards 
the outturn of the coming crop which will not exceed 
12,000 to 13,000 kilos. 
Aloe Fibre. — The market is in the same situation. 
We have no sales to record, holders preferring to 
ship for their own account rather than to sell fine 
qualities under R400 per ton. The following quota- 
tions are nominal : — 
1st quality R375 to R400 per ton 
2nd quality R350 to R360 per ton 
PLANTING PROSPECTS IN FIJI. 
The possibilities of Fiji s have often been 
descanted on ; but, great as is the belief 
entertained in her capabilities, the test of 
that which may yet tend to give practical recogni- 
tion to the means she possesses for the production 
of wealth, can be best applied by notioing what 
other places, having a like soil and climate, have 
really done in that direction to which tropical 
colonies must incline if their resources are to be 
developed. 
Placing sugar on one side, and recognising that 
the chemist is apparently, and according to Mr. 
E. Knox, to be as much regarded with respect to 
that matter as the agriculturist and manufacturer, 
Fiji has established a claim to be classed as a 
tea-produciDg country. It is not to any largeness 
of export already in evidence, that one looks when 
stating this ; that has yet to await realisation when 
the consciousness of capitalists shall be fully 
aroused to the fact that tea can be grown, and 
grown to pay. When that desideratum shall be 
secured, the rest will follow. But the oircumstance 
that this is a tea country has been established 
beyond the suspicion of a doubt ; and the operations 
of others, with the results of their work should be 
regarded, as well that planters and landowners 
here may not lose heart, as that it may always be 
borne in mind that the day must come when Fiji 
and her tea shall hold rank in the world of 
commerce and enterprise. 
The fact of her capabilities in this respect has 
been demonstrated by the two estates which have so 
meritoriously earned the thanks of the community 
for that which they have illustrated. Working amidst 
very many hardships and contending against diffi- 
culties which at times have threatened to become 
almost insuperable, Alpha and Masusa have reached 
not only the stage of export but of high com- 
mendation among experts. They have done even 
better than this. They have found favor among 
tea-drinkers and seoured a victory worthy of notice. 
It is not by any means easy to conquer tastes 
long established ; old favorites maintaining their 
