April 2, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
The production of BritiRh toa this year ia as follows : — 
Indian tea 84,000,000 lb. 
Ceylon tea 20,000,000 „ 
In 1 ,1)0(1,000 11). 
involving very many millions of British capital engaged 
in the industry, and entitled to thorough protection 
at the hands of our legislators. 
The value of a pound of Indian or Ceylon tea may 
be roughly stated at Is all round, whilst the value 
of Chiua tea would scarcely average 6d to 8d. To 
my personal knowledge, tea is being largoly sold by 
dishonest tradesmen as the produce of India and 
Ceylon, whereas it is largely mixed with or consists 
only of China tea. 
A Ceylon Tea Company, with which I am con- 
nected and Director, is incessantly bothered to 
sell their original empty packages, and the price 
"il ired is much in excess of their real value for any 
possible purpose except to refill them with inferior 
tea, and sell thorn over again, as if the contents 
wi re t lie same as originally imported, the chests bearing 
the names of well-known tea gardens. 
A remedy is impossible at present. I know of a 
man doing a largo business, selling tea in chests marked 
with a fictitious name, who openly boasts that no 
one dare sue him, otherwise he would have heavy 
damages out of them. There is only one remedy : 
the dealer must be bound to prove how and 
where he got the article he is selling. The onus of 
proof should not be thrown on the prosecution, no 
honest trademau would for a moment fear to declare 
how and where he purchased his goods. 
I may mention for your information that in Ceylon 
so far as regards tea, coffee, or other produce grown 
either by natives or Europeans, in the case of sus- 
pectod theft the onus of proof does not fall on the 
prosecution, but the holder of the produce has to prove 
how ho came by it. — Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) E.T. Dixmege. 
London Chamber of Commerce, 1'ebruary 2nd, 1888. 
Botolph House, Eastcheap, London, E. C. 
E. T. Delmege, Esq., 17 St. Helen's Place, E. O. 
Merchandize Mauks Act. 
Dear Sir, — Referring to yours of yesterday, I think 
the points to which you direct my attention appear 
to be fully met by the provisions of the Act, which 
distinctly provides for and imposes penalties in the 
rise of the employment of packages for goods not 
of the samo quality or belonging to the original pro- 
prietor of the original packages. 
1 have not the slightest doubt that au action win- 
tered by you would produce the required result. The 
weak p mi, if any, of the Act is that there are no 
public prosecutors, and that remedial action is loft 
entirely in the hands of interested "persons." To 
meet this want in the Act, the L union Chamber of 
Commerce, in conjunction with several of the country 
Chambers of Commerce, suggest the formation of a 
parate Association, by means of which prosecution 
ami the application of the Act may ho better enforced 
than by private persons. 
1 enclose draft of this proposed Association which 
will lie submitted to the consideration of the meeting 
Ihh afternoon. — Yours faithfully, 
(Signed) KBNBIO B. Murray, Secretary. 
Merchandize Marks .Vet Association, 
Botolph House, lvtstcheap, London, E.C. 
Oiijkots or tiik Association. 
1, To BSlisI by such means aa may, from time to limo, 
be determined in applying the .Merchandize Marks 
Act, L887, lor the benefit of British trade. 
2. To assist in promoting a general understanding 
id the Act, 
it. To defend the interests of subscribers. 
4< To promote such amendments of tho Act, as ex- 
porlenoe of its working may suggest. 
BlKVXOH to Mkmiikks. 
1. 'I'n obtain, by means oi test cases, decisium as tn 
tho constrii'-'iou ot tho Act on impo-' IQ| trade poiuts. 
2. To advise members in all suitable cases which 
may be brought before the Association. 
U, To assist in negotiating with the Customs and 
other authorities, in respect to any points which may 
arise in the application of the Act. 
4. To keep for tho use of subscribers as complete 
a record as possible, of all legal proceedings, cases, 
precedents, Customs regulations, Gazette notices, and 
other matters bearing upon the Act. 
5. To influence Colonial and Foreign Covernments 
to assimilate their legislation, in regard to merchandize 
marks and trade descriptions. 
(i. To give the service of the secretarial and legal 
staff of the Association in all Parliamentary or official 
enquiries connected with the Act. 
7. To be a centre for diffusing information and 
forming combined action amongst traders and trade 
Associations in all questions relative to the Merchan- 
dize Marks Act. 
Teems of Suusciuption and Management. 
The terms of subscription shall be as follows : — 
(1) For members of Chambers of Commerce, 
whether individuals, firms, or trading Companies, £1 Is 
per annum. 
(2) For others, £2 2s per annum. The details of 
the working of the Association to be managed by a 
Central Council of Members, which may depute its 
powers, and be represented by an Executive Committee. 
(Kenric B. Murray, Secretary pro (em.) 
Merchandize Marks Act Association, 
Botolph House, Eastcheap, London, E.C. 
Form of Application. 
London, 188... . 
(I or We) desire to join the Merchandize Marks 
Act Association, and agree to pay the annual sub- 
scription for the time being in force. 
Signature (of Person or Firm) 
Style of Firm (if any) 
Address 
Description of Business 
Member of the Chamber of Commerce. 
Terms of Subscription. 
1. For Members of Chambers of Commerce, weather 
individuals, firms, or trading Companios, £1 Is. per 
annum. 
The Financial Year runs from the 1st January to Slst 
December. 
This Form to be returned to " Kenric B. Murray 
(Secretary fro tern.), Merchandize Marks Act Associ- 
ation, Botolph House, Eastcheap, London, E.C." 
♦ 
PLANTING IN TRAVANCORE, SOUTH INDIA. 
Wo call attention to the very interesting pro- 
ceedings of the Travancore Planters' Association 
given in another column, which substantiate what we 
were able to say the other day of the planting 
prospects in this outlying or continental "district" 
of Ceylon. Originally pioneered, opened and 
planted mainly by Ceylon men — the late Mr. John 
Grant of Corriemony, Matale, being the leader, — 
we have always taken a olose and special interest 
in the fortunes of our neighbour. Not much has 
been said about it of late years, for the very 
good reason, that Travancore, like Ceylon, was 
under a cloud —the heavy cloud of depression 
oaused by the failure of coffee from the ravages 
of lli-inileiti vustatrix. It will be seen, however 
that tho men who were enabled to keep on work- 
ing their properties in Travancore have been able 
to follow the example of Ceylon in bringing in 
new products —cinchona and cacao and more re- 
cently tea — to support coffee. The acreage of tin 
last-named staple is now nol much more than 
one-third that of tho total area in cultivation, tea 
making another good third ; indeed, botween them we 
have three-fourths of the cultivated area, while cin- 
chona, cacao and doubtless somocartlumoins together 
make up the balance of one- fourth. Ot a nahoua. DQU 
ever, i. million pUnU iuu rcpoilod. ikS growing 
