March r, 1888.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
629 
^omispoiuloiicc. 
- — *-- ■ -■ 
To the Editor of the " Ceylon Observer 
TOBACCO PLANTING IN CEYLON. 
Sir, — You do not slate in your article on tobacco 
cultivation, that experts In London have discovered 
that there is a flavour and aroma about Ceylon 
tobacco that puts even the Deli tobacco completely 
into the shade. It was the discovery of this fact 
that brought to Ceylon one of the largest Sumatra 
proprietors in search of land. I am told that an 
application was made to Government to lease Bonn 1 
10,000 acres of lau 1 , but the application was not 
favourably entertained. More encouragement should 
certainly have been extended to this enterprising 
gentleman. He has left an agent, I believe, in 
the island, who has been purchasing land in 
different districts. 
A friend, who known how to take occasion by 
the hand, having heard privately of the value 
attached to Ceylon tobacco, applied to Mr. Inglcton 
to ask at what price ho (Mr. Ing'cton) would con- 
tract to deliver to him his entire crop. No an- 
swer was received, and now I sec that Mr. Ingleton 
is " in the swim " as the faying goes. 
Of recent years Deli tobaoeo has been considered 
by connoisseurs to bo the best in the world, and it had 
become so valuable that it was only used as the out- 
side wrapper of cigars. In 1885 I met some Deli 
planters on board a French steamer, returning home 
after four or five years at Deli, with their pockets 
very Hush. I could hardly credit tho stories they 
related of the rapid fortunes made. 
Now, if we are going to treat Sumatra in the mat- 
ter of tobacco as wo have done India in the matter 
of tea, what I should like to know is going to be 
the futuro of this "Eden of the Eastern Wave "? — 
Yours, SMOKER. 
(T.VLON TEA IN AMERICA. 
Philadelphia, 3rd .Tan. 1888. 
Dear Sin,— Through the medium of your valued 
paper we learn that the sum of two thousand rupees 
has been voted for the purpose of advertising Ceylon 
tea in this country in the shape of distributed 
samples. 
As tho writer has had no ofHcif.1 communication 
to this effect, he cannot well address the body of 
gentlemen, who have so liberally responded to our 
call for help. Wo feel called upon, however, to 
acknowledge in some way our appreciation of tho 
feeling, which has prompted them to this action. 
We are much in need of tho assistance thus afforded, 
and can assure the planting community generally 
that their interests will always be what thoy have 
boou, our interest, and that tho tea they send will 
be employed to the best possible advantage to tho 
end that Ceylon tea may be established in this 
country as not only a marketable tea, but as a tea 
whioh can justly claim pre-eminence among all other 
teas for its purity, economy, whole:;<jmeness, and 
tine flavour. 
Ou tho strength of what wo have learnt, wo havo 
already entered into a contract for 30,000 simple 
boxes, which, with printed matter (tho manuscript 
of which is now all ready, save a few items, which 
dopend upon the quality of the tea sent, such as 
price and the amount required for making) will 
Weigh 2 ounces and can l>o mailed as such. 
Wo bete entered into correspondence with Mr. 
Evan K. Moricc (Milwaukie), late of Ceylon, with a 
viuw to euli' ting him in tho Ceylon toa enter, i izr, 
aud have junt reoeivud a luttur from him acknow- 
ledging reooipt of a trial consignment. 
We shall send him a portion of the samples when 
ready, as Milwaukie is a good centre, and we are 
already acquainted with some families of great in- 
fluence there, who would be glad to assist him in 
his endeavors to make the tea known. 
From a letter in the Observer received todaj , we 
gath r that Mr. E. Gordon Reeves is not sure 
about, the advisability of distributing samples of 
tea free, as his agent has just sent him an order 
for 5i 0 lb., all of which is bespoken. This is 
good news for us, but it scarcely proves that 
samplef, suflici ntly large to make two or three in- 
fusions, given out gratuitously to those who cannot 
be personally interviewed is a bad medium of adverti- 
zing. We do not refer to "a 1 lb. or two of Pekoe " 
to the Yankees indiscriminately. That, would bo 
absurd in tho extreme, although we ourselves have 
had no reason to regret having givon away a pound 
of Ceylon tea to a Yankee friend when wo thought 
we might find in him a friend in the camp of the 
enemy. A sample, however, which is sufficient for 
only one infusion is too small, because the new flavor 
takes the people bv surprize, and they don't 
like it enough to order more. A sample of about J 
an ounce stands the chance of being " dump'd " 
into the teapot like so much washy Japan. An 
ounce or 1J oz. sample is worth attention, will call 
for more or less careful perusal of the printed in- 
structions accompanying it, and will receive careful 
treatment by a large percentage of those into whose 
hands it falls. We have now tried all the popular 
mediums of advertizing, throwing into the thing any 
originality of which we might be po>s ssed. In 
co-operation with Messrs. Finloy Acker, we think you 
may rely upon the most being made of the means 
placed at our disposal for advertizing Ceylon tea here. 
Mr. Pineo, in a letter received this morning, states 
his intention of proceeding to Ceylon via China 
and Japan, so you will hear from him something 
of his experiences in this country. Hoping soon to 
hear from thoso in authority regarding the tea 
for distribution, we arc, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
J. M. MURRAY & Co. 
OUTTURN OF TEA. 
DrAR Sir, — With regard to outturn of tea from 
leaf, A. S. H.'s inquiry, — 10 per cent deduotion 
from all leaf brought intoafacory should allcw of 
an outturn of 25 per cent of made tea as a general 
rule for the season. 
This, one of the bonos of contention between 
seller and buyer, is best disposed of by purchase 
without deduction. 
C. 8. A. 
SELLERS AND BUYERS OF COFFEE. 
10th Feb. 1888. 
Dear Sin, — Your informant notes that someone, 
signing himself a " Colombo Merohant," wishes 
further information re rejeot- d ooffee. 
1st ease, he asks were the first and second 
consignments taken from a bulked heap ? Yes, 
thoy were : each daily lot oured being thrown on 
top of the heap, and tho wholo repeatedly turned 
over with shovels to prevent heating. 
2nd, " if these two paroels were from a bulked 
hoap, was the first delivery accepted without o>in- 
ment or with a caution?" Yen, it was. "Merchant" 
then remarks that if those two parcels constituted 
one heap, it is strange that both were not forwarded 
togother. Does •' Merchant " know that in January 
there is so much traffic that it is difficult to gut 
carts ? Your informant got carts to take 1,000 
bushels to railway station, and in a few days he 
got more to take the 500 bushels, and ho has a 
lot more to dispatch, but has not got the roquirod 
carts yet. 
