Mav i, 1890/J 
THE TROPICAL AG R I C U Lf U R I ST. 
767 
Additional Markets.— Further progress has been 
made in the past twelve months towards developing 
the use of India and Ceylon teas in other countries. 
In Euro; e the special depaitments for each, at the 
Paris Exhibition, though under different auspices, did 
much to bring them, not only before the French nation, 
but also to the notice of viniti rs from all parts of the 
world, while the different Continental centres of trade 
are push ng the sale of these growths in a steady and 
fairly successful manner. The result of the efforts 
being ma e throughout Canada and both North and 
South America, although not coming up to the most 
sanguine expectations ot their promoters, on the whole 
encourag' s the hope that these countries will, erelong, 
consume considerable quantities of British-grown tea. 
Direct shipments to Australasia, for the past nine 
months, shew an increase over those of the previous 
year, while a much larger tr^de has been opened up 
to Boml ay, chiefly for transhipment to the Persian 
Gulf, thus relieviug our market of much common 
pekoe and pekoe souchong, which would otherwise 
have come here. 
Bulking and Packing. — We have referred fully 
to these subjects during the past few years, and 
there is little fresh to note. Where time and 
space admit, do doubt bulking at the 
factory is decidcly advantageous, as the packages are 
more attractive to exporter?, from the leads being un- 
cut, and the Tea, not having been exposed to atmos- 
pheric ii tiuence whilst being bulked in the London 
warehouses, consequently keeps better. 
Average net weighing has been discontinued, so 
that tai es should, as formerly, be regular, and riot 
show a variation of more than 2 lb. in each break, other- 
wise the advantage of factory bulking is neutralized 
as every package has to be turned out here. 
Since the strike last autumn the warehouse charges 
have b< en increased, and as they are based on the 
grots weights, according to classes, a siving maybe 
effected by attention to the following scale, viz. : — 
Class a. Chests weighing gross, 160 to 199 lb. 
,, a. Half-chests „ „ 80 „ 89 ,, 
,, a. Boxes ,, ,, 35 ,, 44 ,, 
Class b. 130 to 159 lb. Class c. 90 to 129 lb.; 
„ b. 60 „ 79 „ „ c. 45 ,, 59 „ 
„ b. 17 „ 34 „ „ c.not exceediugl6 „ 
by which it will be seen that a chest weighing 199 
lb. is lot charged more than one of 1601b. 
Mabking. — On account of its importance, we would 
again draw attention to the objection there is to 
putting cither weight or tare on the packages ; narae 
of gard' n, description of Tea and chest number 
being 1 11 that is necessary. 
Analysis of Crop. — On the whole, the 188J crop as 
proved above the average in quality, and the result will 
probably be satisfactory to most growers. Some ex- 
ceptionally choice Darjeelings, Assams and Dooars came 
to hand, the prices realised for which should encourage 
the manufacture of fine Tea when practicable. Ship- 
ments from Travancore shew an increase, and have 
found much favour with the Trade, as they combine 
the str< rgth of other Indias vsith flavour eomewhat 
similar to Ceylons. This district promises to be an 
important one, as there is a considerable area of land 
suitable for Tea available, with good roads, which 
should attract planters. The following table gives par- 
ticulars as to the out-turn of the 1889 crop from the 
different districts, of India, and also of Ceylon and Java. 
DETAILS OF OUT-TURN OF THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS FOR 
the past season.— Quality of the Crop. 
Oeylcn. — Although the quality was poor, and prices 
much depressed duriDg la*t May, tho Tras offered 
from August to November included some of the finest, 
parcels ou record, proving that the climate influences 
the produce of this Island even more than it does 
Kangres and D.rrjeelings. Manufacture generally his 
been more regular, the proportion of ovei fired and 
burnt Teas being much smaller. 
TEA. IN AMERICA. 
The tea traders of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
and Chicago are petitioning both Houses at Wash- 
ington for the reimposition of a tea duty of 10 per 
cent. They complain that as the United States are the 
only nation in the world which admits teas duty 
free, foreign countries have special facilities for 
unloading on American soil their low-priced and 
inferior stock. Is tea to be grown in the Southern 
States, or is this merely an expression of disgust at 
the efforts to supplant Japan by India and Ceylon? 
It is a childish proceeding on the part of the tea 
dealers concerned. — H. <£■ O. Mail. 
TEA SALES AND DELIVERIES. 
On calling at the room of the Ceylon Associa- 
tion on Wednesday last I found it occupied by a 
number of gentlemen who had been called together 
to consider certain amendments to be proposed in 
the prooedure of the tea vending trades of London. 
The meeting being of a private character, I could 
not venture to intrude upon its deliberations so as 
to enable me to give you full details as to what 
passed at it. Opportunity has, however, been afforded 
me to learn its objects and the result arrived at 
by it, and these are of sufficient importance to claim 
first mention in ray letter by this mail. Certain 
difficulties which are now felt by the trade — into 
the full definition of whioh I do not feel compe- 
tent to enter — have for some little time past in- 
duced contemplated action. The main one of these 
difficulties was believed to arise out of the rather 
lengthy limit of seven days allowed for delivery 
by warehousemen of tea to purchasers at the auc- 
tions in Mincing Lane, and at a conference of & 
oommittee of tea brokers and wholesale dealers 
called on the 7th February last by the request of 
the Wholesale Tea Dealers' Association it was re- 
solved : — " That the time for delivery of weight 
notes should be shortened from seven to three day?. 1 
This resolution was submitted to various bodies 
concerned with the trade, and at a meeting of 
brokers held on the 13th February it was resolved : — 
" That it would not be practicable to deliver Weight 
Notes in three days. That, provided the Importers were 
agreeable, that Weight Notes might be delivered in 
five working days, allowing ten par cent for missing 
packages instead of 5 per cent as heretofore. That the 
Delivery of Weight Notes made up to Eight o'clock on 
the evening of the fifth working day, should be good. 
That the delivery of indirect purchases should be al- 
lowed up to 11 o'clock the following morning." 
A copy of this resolution having been forwarded 
to the Secretary of the Dealers' Association, its Com- 
mittee on the 21st February paBsed the following 
further resolution upon it : — 
" That, as a meeting of Wholesale Tea Dealers have 
already expressed a deoided opinion that Tea should 
not be submitted to Public Sale until it is ready for 
delivery, this Oommittee is unable to entertain the 
Brokers' proposal to deliver Weight Notes within five 
days of Sale ; and would ash the Brokers to consider the 
subject further, with the Importers, as early as possible 
with a view of their suggesting some arrangement 
whereby the Oommittee may be able to avoid the neces- 
sity of advising the Trade to confirm their original in- 
tention of only buying Teas which, like other goods, 
are ready for delivery." 
The Brokers again met on the 27th February and took 
the foregoing into consideration, then resolving : — 
" That the Brokers regret that the Dealers do not 
see tbeir way to accept the proposal made at their 
previous Meeting, which they considered a reasonable 
one to place before the Importers for their approval. 
They are willing to let the 5 per cent remain as at pre- 
sent, but do not see their wuy to recommend a shorter 
period for Delivery of Weight Notes than five working 
days, the Delivery to be up to Eight o'clock in the 
I Evening. The buying Brokers to be allowed until 
I Eleven o'clook the following tuproiug todeliyerto their 
