August i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
79 
grown and manufactured. The influences of 
seasonal and meteorological conditions on the 
chemical constituents which give tea its value, 
— potash, phosphate of lime, theine, &c, was con- 
clusively proved by Kellner's analyses of Indian 
tea, with which Mr. Cochran (himself a thoroughly 
qualified analyist) favoured us. Those analyses 
showed, that, while, in the wintry cold of Nov- 
omber in Northern India, only 17-31 per cent of 
potash was present in tea leaves, the proportion 
in the genial summer month of May had risen to 
no less than 49-00 per cent. Theine showed a similar 
rise from 1 per cent to 2-85. In commenting in 
October last year on a letter whioh Mr. Cochran 
addressed to us regarding some valuable analyses 
of green tea leaves made by him, we used languago 
which exactly represents our present sentiments as 
to the necessity and value of a series of careful 
chemical analyses of Ceylon tea, made at frequent 
intervals during the year, aud which would show 
not only the influenoe of climate and seasons on 
the leaf, but that of pruning and, where practised, 
manuring. We quote what we wrote : — 
TEA ANALYSES : VARYING RESULTS. 
We draw attention to Mr. Cochran's interesting 
letter, further explaining the results of his recent ana- 
lyses of green toa leaves. The conclusion forced on us 
is, that it would be of importance that planters should 
have before them the results of analyses of teas grown 
at varying elevations, and, above all, that such analy- 
ses should be spread over such season and every month 
of the year. For it is now obvious that not only do 
the constituents of tea differ according to soil and 
elevation, but that they are most extensively affected 
by the meteorological conditions of season. We be- 
lieve wo are correct in saying that in proportion to the 
percentiles present of theine and potash, so is the 
value of well manufactured tea, and Kellner's analyses 
have proved conclusively that, while those constituents 
are most abundant in warm, genial summer weather, 
they are reduced to exceedinly minute proportions by 
the cohlof winter. Theexperimeuts having been made 
in Northern India, where the extremes of summer heat 
aud winter cold are much more marked than in Cey- 
lon, it is, of course, probable that the contrasts be- 
tween the results of analyses in May and November, 
may not present such violent differences in Coylon as 
was the case in Iudia. But there can bo no doubt, 
that similar variations will bo hero shown, for we 
know without the aid of chemistry, by the tests of tho 
London markot, that our teas gathered in cold, 
droughty, windy weather have sold at lower price, 
and evokod very different opinions amongst brokers, 
than those gathered aud manufactured in warm 
mildly moist conditions of the almosphero. Tho 
scientific conclusions resulting from such analyses as 
thoso of Kelluer, the results of which Mr. Cochran 
placed before us in Ceylon, and thoso which Mr. 
Coohran himself has made or may make, possess a 
purely technical interest of no small value. But wo 
need scarcely point out to intelligent planting readers 
the importauco of the results in a practical aud 
cultivator's point of view. There seems no reason 
why careful pruning aud other treatment of tea 
plants should not bo successful iu inducing tho 
heaviest possible yields of loaf in those mouths which 
have been proved by scientific and practical tests to 
give tho largest proportions to tho vegetation of theine, 
potash and phosphoric acid, on which tho economic and 
commercial value of the tea leaf so largely dopond. 
Mr. Cochr.in feeling certain of tho correctness of his 
process for ascertaining tho proportion of theine (tho 
crystals of which aro very beautiful, largoly resembling 
thoso of quinine), it is obvious that further aualyses 
aro required to settlo tho question whether the Tor- 
wood proportion is normal or, from cortain causes ex- 
ceptional. Indeed, thero is no reason why, if Mr. 
Cochran's attention wore specially directed to tho 
matter, tho result of a series of aualyses might not bo 
to enable planters so to modify tho processes of wither- 
ing and fermenting as to retain iu tho dried leaf a larger 
puroeutago than is at present douo, of the, thuiuu and 
potash, which are evidently in large proportion in the 
green leaf, and which perhaps (?) may bo oarboiiized in 
the great heat of the roasting process. 
So far we wroto last year, and now we may add 
that if it is the teas grown and manufactured in the 
mildly rainy weather of March and April, which 
sell so poorly in Juno and July, then our con- 
clusion founded on Kellner's Indian tea analyses, 
may have to be modified, and Mr. Hughes' 
opinion of the value of heavy rains charged with 
electricity to tea leaves seems to be borne out 
by the teas of June and July selling well in August 
and September. But what we all want are conclu- 
sions founded on careful and repeated local analyses 
as well as on market prices, and the information may 
possibly enable us to prune and cultivate and 
manure so as to counteract unfavourable seasonal 
and climatologicnl influences. We attract attention 
to the suggestions offered by " E. M. K." in our 
correspondence columns. 
We also atract attention to the letter of a well- 
known Haputale proprietor who from is own 
personal observation at home corroborates tho 
professional opinion aa to the recent falling-off 
in Ceylon teas. 
» 
PLANTING NEWS FEOM DELI. 
(Translated for the Straits Tunes.) 
The Deli Courant of the 9th Juno states 
that there is every prospect of the North 
German Lloyd Company actively turning to 
to, and going ahead in tho matter of tobacco shipments 
from that Settlement. They have now under con- 
struction in Europe, a new steamboat fitted with tho 
newest improvements in capacity and accommodation 
She is intended to ply between Peuaug aud Deii via. the 
coast ports. These efforts in furtherance of trade and 
readier communication, deserve every success. 
The Company carrying on the Arendsburg tobacco 
state has just declared a dividend of 152 per cent. Its 
shares are quoted at 820 per cent. 
Negociations between the Netherlands and British 
Governments regarding the emigration of Tamil coolies 
from India to Deli have so far advanced that, it is 
said, the conclusion of a convention is only a matter of 
a few months. Should the British Indian authorities 
make no objection, the Netherlands Government will 
find it no difficult matter to secure the ratification in 
London, of the arrangements oome to by the repre- 
sentatives of the two powers at Calcutta. In Deli, the 
planters for whose benefit, this has been done do not 
apparently make the least effort to profit energeti- 
cally by the opportunity. Nothing whatever has been 
set on foot to establish for instance, a direct steamer 
service between Doli and the Indian coolie ports. 
No wonder that the planters look out eagerly for tho 
advent of Iudiau coolies. They cannot manage to hit 
it off with the Chinese coolies now available. On all 
the estates, absconding has been alarmingly on the iu 
crease. Tho absconders too oiten disappear without 
leaving a trace, and s<> successfully smuggle themselves 
away, that recovery becomes next to impossible. 
«. 
INDIAN TEA . 
ANNUAL REVIEW. 
June 1838. 
Tho business of season 18S7-83 being concluded, we 
are again enabled by tho courtesy of our friends to 
publish the results of many of tho leading concerns. 
Whilo doing so, without eutering closely into details, 
wo wonld refor to tho dominant foatures of the year, 
in tho endeavour to oxtract whatever light they may 
throw ou the future. The season has been notable for 
greater uniformity inthevalnoof tho general crop than 
has usually been the'ease, due to two causes — a partial 
failure of quality in some notod gardens, aud a decidod 
improvement in others. Upon this levelling of values 
obviously follow thu questions: Will there be further 
development iu this direction? It) it worth while ox- 
