{{ TUB TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, fjULV f, 1887, 
age of bark, as compared with the total exports of this 
product from the Madras Presidency, which has hither- 
to been placed in the market by Government. It would, 
however, ba premature to engage that none shall be 
sold. Until the experiment of producing a febrifuge, 
which wid be effective as well as so cheap as to be with- 
in the means of the poor, has had a full trial, the 
question of selling or reducing the Government Cin- 
chona Plantations, cannot be entertained. The only 
assurance that Government can give is that they will 
not be exteuded. As regards the complaint made on 
behalf of the Wynaad Planters' Association, a perusal 
of the correspondence forwarded by the Director, Gov- 
ernment Cinchona Plantations, will probably convince 
the Chamber that it was based on very insufficient 
grounds." — Madras Mail, May 20th. 
THE TEA. TEADE IN INDIA. 
Calcutta, 2nd June.— A meeting of gentlemen inter- 
ested in the tea-trade was held this afternoon to 
consider measures for developing tho taste of tea 
amongst the Indian population. Mr. R. Lyall, 
of Messrs. Marshall, Lyall and Co., was in the chair, 
and the meeting was largely attended. 
It is proposed to form a company to raise the 
required capital in shares of RIO each, no 
shareholder being authorized to hold more than 
100 shares. Experiments are first to be tried in 
Bengal and Upper India, and within that limit 
it is proposed to establish agencies in every village 
where a shop exists, and where tea is to be sold in 
packets of one, two and four ounces at three, 6ix 
and twelve pice respectively. The shopkeepers 
will be paid by a commission on the number of 
packets sold, so as to give no inducement to sell 
large packets. The prices of the packets will be 
printed on them in English, Urdu, Nagri and Ben- 
gali. Tea of the required quality can be bought at 
eight annas a pound, and. if the selling price be com- 
puted at twelve annas a pound, the margin of four 
annas will, it is thought, cover working expenses 
and a liberal commission to agents. 
Mr. Lyall said that the meeting had been called to 
learn if the tea traders approved of the scheme, and 
if they were prepared to support it ; and, further, to 
obtain the views and suggestions of those interested in 
the matter. He thought they must find a new outlet 
for their tea, and that they had hitherto neglected 
the large market at their very doors. He had received 
a letter from the Tea Association asking him to push 
on the scheme, and stating that they were prepared 
to support it. Mr. Lyall quoted a Ceylon paper show- 
ing the progress of tea in that island, which in another 
five years will probably export eighty millions of 
pounds, and said that competition in the future was 
likely to be severe. 
The meeting passed a vote heartily approving ami 
supporting the scheme, ami subsequently appointed a 
Committee to work out the details and draw up a pro- 
spectus. A number of shares were taken up before the 
meeting separated.— Pioneer. 
THE CHINA TEA OEOF 
is i&{A t" be a v/oeful oiie-»the worst ever 
knoWnV' — see China Mail news. Since writing 
this, wa hrtve come on the North-China Herald's, 
correspondence on the subject, which is so im- 
portant that we give it in fall <— 
Tea at HankoW. 
(From our own Correspondent.) 
The market was opeDfid on the 9th by Russians. The 
crop both or Hankow and Kiukiang teas is the worst 
ever known, there being absolutely no fine tea. Business 
in almost entirely confined to the Russians, only 17 
chnp-i of Hankow tea having been bought for London, 
purchases for that market being mainly confined to 
Ningchows and Keeinens ; but the total business thus 
far is quite insignificant and not enough to fill one ship, f 
Prio-8 puid by buyers for Russia are fully five taels I 
above the limits generally sent from London, It has I 
Ubhiiolly happened that settlements have been small ) 
and, taking the intrinsic quality of the leaf into account, 
the prices are little less than those paid last season. 
Arrivals arc verv heavy, the estimated unsold stock 
being 350,OUO half -chests. The " Moyune" began to 
take in a little tea today and is the only vessel that 
has so far commenced to load, — so that she will prob- 
ably be the first to sail. 
The crisis that has been so long impending in the 
China tea trade seems at last to have arrived, and the 
native tea packers who have been living on upon the 
prestige acquired before India and Ceylou had shewn 
how tea should be picked and packed, will at last have 
to succumb or be compelled to reform their ways. 
Against the bright uniform infusions of Indian teas, the 
China teas exhibit a mixture of dark decayed leaves 
throughout. The natives attribute this to want of rain 
previous to the picking time and to excessive rains 
after the picking had begun. Be this as it may, the 
fact remains that worthless leaf has been fired and 
packed en masse, upou which heavv charges and duties 
have to be paid which the buyers, for London at least, 
decline so far to make good. For Russia and America, 
whither Indian teas have not yet made their way, 
shippers take what they can get, and in doing so are 
paying prices which, judged by intrinsic quality, are 
often positively higher than last season's. The only 
teas with any flavour at all are the Keemens and 
these have been taken to some extent for London at 
2d. to 3d. per lb. over present values in that market. 
Chinamen acknowledge that the first crop will be 
10 per cent larger than last year's, but assert 
that they are now entering into a binding combin- 
ation to pack no second crop tea. They also talk of 
storing their present stock underadvauce and withhold- 
ing it from the market until the proposed combination 
has had its effect. It remains to be seeu in how 
far the credulous Western will be influenced by the 
repsrt of these crucial measures. Thus far London 
buyers are practically holding aloof, it being the unanim- 
ous opinion that a further decline here of at least 2d 
per lb. must be patiently awaited. 
STATISTICS TO DATE ARE, IN HALF-CHESTS. 
Arrivals. Settlements. Stock. 
Hankow Teas ... 273.039 97,053 175,986 
Kiukiang „ ... 252,448 116,771 135,677 
Total ... 525,487 213,824 311,663 
Of the above about 40,000 half-chests only are estim- 
ated to have been bought for London, chiefly Keemens 
at Tls. 24 to 33, and Lylings at Tls. 11J to 13|=(at 
£4 freight) Is ljd to Is 7id, and 8d to 9d, laid 
down with all charges respectively. 
16th May. 
NOTES UPON THE NEW TEAS AT HANKOW. 
The situation in Hankow has, as regards Teas, at 
all times beeD curious in the eyes of the spectator. 
Today (17th) it is simply unique. 
Last written advices from the great river port per 
Kiang-yiuwi today are to the effect: 
a That the crop is a woful one, the exceptions being 
KiangsiTeas: Keemens which are decidedly better and 
Hohows which are doubtfully bitter than last year. 
b That Hankow Teas are on the average worth 
perhaps lOd for the very best grades, and that teamen 
are under the fond delusion of expecting to obtain 
Tls, 22 for " not the very best," 
c That the loyses to natives, though a " kind of cruel," 
are much deserved. 
d That the Shansi bankers are beginning to look 
bluer as their chits in the hands of the foreign bank? 
approach maturity< 
e That foreign banks will only part with their 
sycee against Bills of Lading and not against Godowu 
Orders. Rough this upon the " dear Chinese." 
f That the rate of mortality amongst the native 
" teaman " element promises tob6 abnormally high. 
Telegrams to hand this morning confirm, in a meas. 
ure, these anticipations. The Tea Guild, in response 
to the tearful and fearful solicitations of its weary 
and heavy laden members has issued an ukase" with- 
drawing all samples from the market until a little 
light breaks tho present darkness,'' 
