June i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
823 
the amount grown for home consumption in the 
latter country, which it is not easy to estimate with 
any certainty, in the absence of information; yet 
it is uulikoly that it would amount to a very 
large proportion. In quality we certainly need not 
fear comparison, and assuming Mr. Hulett to be 
correct in stating that " at least for a distance of 
twelve milos from tho sea coast tea will give a maxi- 
mum yield,'' there would seem to be nothing to pre- 
vent our Natal tea industry from equalling, or even 
surpassing in its dimensions that of Ceylon as at 
present established. Tho coffee and sugar industries 
of Natal cannot be said to bo in a flourishing condi- 
tion. The farmer will probably be able to produce 
enough for our own wants; and wo have no doubt that 
Sir Donald Ourrie was oorrcct in saying that it was 
better than that he had tasted in the Ked Sea, though 
whether this remark involved any great compliment 
to Natal coffee is doubtful, for we imagine that most 
of the coffee drunk in the Red Sea has been bought 
in London and Berved better or worse, as the case 
may bo, on board the various steamers traversing that 
daugorous and disagreeable portion of Neptuno's do- 
mains. But a blight seems to havo fallen upon the 
industry bore, as in other countries. Sugar growing 
also is in a bad way all over the world, and in Natal 
no better than elsewhere. The produce of sugar is 
assuredly more than a sample. Coming to gold, the 
reproach is justified in a manner, however entirely un- 
meant by the jester, aud it thus affords another in- 
stance of the manner in which jesters do oft prove 
prophets. We have as yet produced only sufficient 
gold to give great hopes for the future finds of that 
precious metal in more abundance ; and if the Cape- 
town people could find as much gold in the "Lion's 
Head as has been already unearthed at Umzmto, 
they would assuredly be not ashamed of their sample. 
With regard to wool, tobacco, &o., the first-named 
we havo recently discussed in theso columns. Tobacco 
is not mnch more than a name. On the whole, we think 
we may fairly state in conclusion that Natal no longer 
deserves the reproach of being a country of samples. 
THE TEA INDUSTRY: 
Interesting Letter from Mb. Hulett. 
Scheme for Smalt, Settlers. 
A Good Ofier •. European or Coolie ? 
We have" received the tollowing interesting and in- 
structive letter from Mr. J. Leige Hulett, M.L.G., of 
Kearsney : — 
Permit a few remarks upon your sub-leader in last 
Friday's issue regarding tea culture, &c. You say it 
" has been proved to be an industry Capable of large 
development in this colony ; so far tea has been pro- 
duced of most excellent quality; but not in such 
quantities as to have muc h effect in keeping down the 
importation of the same." It is self-evident that every 
pound of tea of homo growth consumed must displace 
a like amount of the imported article. Upon the 
surface of things, in view of Customs returns, it would 
appear that wo are making no impression upon the 
importation whatever ; but tho fact is the other way. 
The importation during the past two years has been 
abnormally large in consequence of iucreased demand 
for tho Cold Fields, .tc. Had there been no special 
demand, the present season's output would have 
materially affected the importation, and as far as the 
colony itself is concerned, 1 reckon that now out of overy 
throe pounds used at least two pounds are of colonial 
growth. Tho normal Importation of tea was between 
260,1100 lb. and :ilN>,(KHI Hi., of which perhaps 100,000 In. 
wi nt across the borders; that would havo about 
150,000 lb. to 200,000 lb. for Natal. The actual amount 
of (fatal tea Mea during the pnst year 1887 would bo 
from ho.ikiO il>. to sft.iiOolb., so a considerable reduction in 
anion it of imported tea consumed mu<' '••\vo taken place. 
The quantity of Natal tea wlu. n nmy I . climated for the 
year I s <-> \ill inn u I topr ibihly I7,'KK», this i it judged 
by tin' je.ir, an. I not tin- s. ns .n ; 1 1 . ■ • l itter in iv be 
considered as from October to following .luuo. 
The year 1880 will probably give a return of 
8(0,000 lb., or all ninotint equal to what wan generally 
used before the Gold Field trndn s«-t In. Un- 
questionably the need lor caru on the part of 
merchauts will be necessary in regard to future im- 
portations of tea. The flooding of the colony and in- 
terior states with low qualities of China growth will 
not advantage the merchant or grower. The grower 
will be obliged to sell, aud the merchaut also. If the 
importations are regulated with care, so as to gradually 
give way before the home-grown article, no loss to 
either interest need accrue. It is worth noting that 
on 1st January, 1887, only about 9,0001b. weight of 
tea was in bond, and on January 1st, 1888, the large 
amount of about 165,000 lb. 
Natal has a future before it in the tea enterprise 
that the publio generally little dream of, especially if 
we are able to secure the whole of South Africa's 
trade by free entry of all colonial produce into the 
neighbouring colony aud states. Both sugar and tea, 
together with various other products, will be stimulated 
and largely increased in supply. Tho advantage to 
the mercantile community must be very great. The 
saving effected by keeping large sums of money at 
home instead of in advance seuding the same to a 
distant foreign couutry will be considerable, and the 
becoming exporters in the place of importers will bring 
a corresponding advantage. 
To return to your article. You compare Natal 
with Oeylon. I fear Natal will not be able to 
take its position 6ide by side with Ceylon not 
for want of capability, but for want of push on the 
part of its people. Our back country drains away so 
many of our young men, the Zulu war demoralised 
them, and the excitement of gold keeps them unsettled. 
The Oeylon planters had to face ruin in connection 
with coffee failure, aud were forced into tea grow- 
ing, and all at once, so that the country became a 
tea-producing one almost by m igic. They had the 
laud ready to hand, under the best system of culture 
to be found anywhere, the buildiugs aud bungalows 
all to baud, no preparatory work ; out with one crop 
aud iu with another ; their knowledge of planting 
aud the characteristics of climate they were accustomed 
to. The cousequence was that with a bound they 
sprang forward and took the first place as a tea- 
growing community, and they will hold and keep it 
too. The class of eultivation pursued iu Ceylon is 
scientific, and the result is that their yield per acre 
surpasses that of North India and Assam to au 
enormous extent.* As far as cultivation ami yield is 
concerned we in Natal may hold our own. The result 
of the past two dry springs proves that we have 
nothing to fear ; but it will depeud upon care in the 
cultivation of the soil. I am certain that with proper 
management aud ordinary seasons, after the plant has 
arrived at five years' growth, not less than 1,000 lbs. 
per acre of made tea should be obtained. Indeed I fully 
expect to pick and make over 1,0001b. per acre on a 
block of 32 acres of land this season ; if the season con- 
tinues good this block will give me 1.200 lb. per acre. 
Requisites necessary — average land, good culture (and 
all that is contained iu that term), and liberal scientific 
pruning, aud above all things, not too close i> anting. 
Natal possesses a climate suitablo for Europeans, 
and advantages can be taken of circumstances pecu- 
liarly suitable to the colony. I refer to the Central 
Factory system. Oue plant of machinery, So., for 
20 to 40 small growers. The maximum jiold per 
acre cau be thus obtained by individual attention to 
small areas of cultivation, and the manufacture of 
lar^o quantities of leaf together insures a better 
average turnout of tea. No difficulty as to f ■ pro- 
portion as in sugar, a fixed price for the green leaf 
per lb. The Chinese grower sells his lear to a manu- 
facturer. With the introduction of sin ul settlers, no 
reason exist* why Natal should not in a few yearn' 
tune produce ita •10,000,000 lb. of ti a, as Ceylon expects 
• Not to " an ouormona oxtent " as ana v, tea 
being grown hero on so many old coffee e,. .. l\ r- 
haps UX)lb. per aero in Ceylou against 300 lb. in India 
(averago of all districts) may be near tho mark. If 
Mr llulcU H rate is sustained as au average, it is to 
the yield in Natal thai tlm word " enormous " will 
apply.- Eu. 
