768 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST* [Mat i, 1890. 
principals. This only to apply to India, Oeylon, and 
Java Teas ; Ohiua Teas, aa a t present, to have seven 
working daj s for Delivery." 
Upon this the Dealers' Committee on the 6th March 
expressed the following opinion : — 
" That the proposal made by the Brokers' Associa- 
tion in their resolution of the 27th ultimo be respect- 
fully declined, and that the Association be again in- 
formed that the Trade have already instructed this 
Committee to obtain delivery of Tea on the sale thereof, 
but with the view of meeting the Brokers as far as pos- 
sible, the Committee will submit the following proposi. 
tion to the Trade if the Brokers and Importers are pre- 
pared to adopt it, viz.:—' That all Teas to be sold on 
the same conditions, and that Delivery be given not 
later than three days after the Sale, including tho day 
of Sale, except in the case of the Buyers of Ohiua Tea re- 
quiring it inspected, when two additional days will be 
allowed. Missing packages, not exceeding 5 per cent, 
to be taken if tendered within seven days.' " 
The Brokers' Association not having any further 
proposition to make, a general meeting of wholesale 
tea dealers was held on the 14th March, when it 
was unanimously resolved : — 
1. " That, as the circumstances oonnected with buy- 
ing and delivering tea have materially altered since 
the conditions of Public Sale was agreed to, by which 
seven days were allowed for completing the delivery, 
and further as an act of justice to buyers, this 
meeting pledges itself only to buy teas at public sale 
which are ready for delivery, and on the condition 
that buyers have the right to cancel the purchase of 
such lot or lots as are not obtainable on the second day 
after the day of sale." 
2. " That a copy of the foregoing resolution be for- 
warded to the Brokers' Association, with a request 
that the conditions of sale be altered accordingly for all 
tea to be sold on and after Monday, 31s« instant. 
When the receipt of this last conclusion was 
acknowledged by the brokers, it was pointed out 
that no time was mentioned on which the delivery 
should be considered good, and that no provision 
was made as to third parties, the secretary to the 
general meeting above mentioned then wrote in 
the following term?: — 
" I thought it was understood that the end of the 
dav, say 6 p.m., would be a good delivery on the second 
day." The dealers want to seoure having the weight 
notes ready for entry not later than 9 a.m. on the third 
morning. As regards third parties, they do not enter 
into the conditions of public sale, which only apply as 
between seller and buyer." 
The discussion of this matter having proceeded 
thus far, it was thought desirable by thoae_ in- 
terested to seek the opinion of bodies which strictly 
represent the growers of tea, and I am sure it 
will be acknowledged as testifying to the important 
position occupied by the Ceylon Association in 
London that it was asked to be the intermediary 
for further development of it. It was pursuant to 
such a report being made that the meeting of the 
Tea Committee of your representative Association 
to whioh reference has above been made was called. 
As has been written, it is impossible for me to 
acquaint you with details as to the character of 
the discussion that meeting adopted. That it was 
full and exhaustive miy, however, be concluded 
from the list of the names of those gentlemen who 
took part in it, viz. :— Messrs. G. White and W. J. 
Thompson, junior, as present to afford explanation 
on behalf of the brokers ; Messrs. Lafone and 
Champ in a similar capacity as representing the 
wharfingers and warehousemen ; Messrs. Wilson, 
Saton, Magor, and Tye as representatives of the 
Indian Tea Dealers' Association ; Messrs. Appleton, 
(of Messrs. Smiles, Appleton & Co.), Teck, Salmond 
(of Messrs. Moffat & Uo.) Sedgwick, and Edwards on 
behalf of the dealers; and, finally, Messrs. J. L. 
Shand, Thomas Dickson, Cameron, and Leake as 
members of the Tea Committee of the Ceylon As- 
sociation. Following are given the clauses of the 
present conditions of sale, the alteration of which 
were to bo submitte i to the consideration of these 
foregoing represent tive gentlemen, the portions of 
it to be effected being given by me in italics : — 
" The Weight Notes to be ready for delivery 
within Seven Working Days from the day of sale, or 
the buyer to have the option of refusing to accept 
suoh lot or lots for which he cannot obtrain the 
Weight Notes, upon giving a declaration to that 
effect to the selling broker at the expiration of the 
said seven days. Hissing packages, if not more than 
5 per cent are exempted from this condition, and are 
to be taken by Ihe buyer at the original price and 
prompt, if tendered within Fourteen Working Days 
from Date of Contract." 
" No allowance will be made on account of any 
damage which false package, or unequal goodness, 
found or alleged to be found, after the goods have been 
taken from the Warehouse." 
The meeting was along one, and the tone of the 
discussion at it at times somewhat warm ; but even 
tually resolutions were adopted of which it is only 
possible for me to give you the following brief notes, 
as at the time of my inquiries being made the full t6xt 
of the resolutions had not been drafted. These will, 
however, suffice to indicate to you the result arrived 
at, and will be satisfactory as indicating an addition 
to the prospect of this much-to-be desired modifioas 
tion being adopted by the trade : — " These tea 
are ready for delivery, and weight notes will be ready 
within three working days." " Missing packages 
(provided equal to bulk)." " To be recommended to 
Tea dealers by representatives present." These notes 
of course represent the changes to be made in the 
existing conditions of sale, and the effect of and 
result to the discussion may be fully estimated 
from them. They need therefore no fuller reference 
by me even if it were possible for me to give it, — 
London Cor. 
Scented Tea. — We hear that Mr. P. F. Street 
has imported from China about 60 plants, known 
there as " Mok Lee," producing a blossom used 
for scenting Scented Orange Pekoe and Capers and 
that if he sucoeed in establishing and propagating 
the plants in Ceylon he will be prepared to supply 
to those who intend to make this class of tea. 
Tea Notes. — Sonari, 29th March. — Constant rain 
with low temperature during past weak. Pluoking 
although started on a few gardens has not yet 
generally commenced. The cold has checked the 
leaf and much of it is ooming out banji. Dibrooghar, 
20th March. — Nearly all gardens have started to 
pluck. We had a big hailstorm last Sunday, but 
fortunately it was unaccompanied by wind, so little 
or no damage was done. The weather is cold and 
drizzly. Eainfall up to date 7-53. Darjeehng 28th 
March. — Very little leaf coming on and what is, 
opening out. Here is our rainfall since Ootober 25th 
1889 to March 25th 1890.— Indian Planters' Gazette. 
Coconut Butter. — The success of a German- 
chemist in producing butter from coconut oil will 
be advantageous to the poor of the old world, who 
have hitherto been the victims of all sorts of sham 
articles too heavily salted and too unsavoury to be 
wholesome ; the coconut oil is a very pure fat, and 
when proporly clarified has a oreamy flavour. A 
great advantage is that the new butter is being 
introduced under its own name without any swind- 
ling, oleomargarine would have been in much 
better repute today as a food for the poor if it had 
not made its first appearanoe as a swindler. The 
new vegetable butter has been introduced into 
several German hospitals, which ought to indicate 
that from a health point of view it is considered 
a fair substitute for ordinary butter, — Adelaide 
Observer, March 22nd. 
