I3 9 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [August i, 1888. 
known that the manufacturers, owing to there being 
a demand for these packages, for other goods in Erjg- 
lard, agree to purchase empty chests and half-chests 
from the grocer or retail dealer (at prices as stated) 
on the same being returned to the London factory 
intact, and free from smell another than that of Tea." 
It is added that 
The packages are on view at Messrs. \V. J. & H. 
Thompson, 38, Mincing Lane ; Messrs. Gow, Wilson 
it Stanton, 13, Rood Lane, and at other offices, where 
inspection is invited, and where prices and all ne- 
cessary particulars may be obtained. 
Neither is the material described nor the prices 
stated, but, as it is indicated that the boxes are 
made neither of wood nor of metal, we suspect our 
idea expressed many years ago in favour of papier 
macbe must have been, at length, carried into practice. 
Among the advantages for the above chests it 
is stated, are the following : — 
As their name implies they are practically " In- 
destructible." 
They are Cheaper than those now in use, 
They require no Lead Canisters, being completely 
Impervious to damp and moisture. 
An important feature is, that these Chests can be 
be made to any required size, always ensuring exact 
Uniformity of Gross and Net Weights, a thing 
hitherto found impossibe with wooden chests. 
Taking an oblong Indian or Ceylon half-chest as 
an illustration, measuring 19 J by 16 by 15, Tare 18 
lb., and holding 49 lb. (net) of Pekoe, it is found that 
an " S.-W," half-chest of the same dimensions and 
Tare will contain 61 lb. (net) of similar Leaf, there- 
fore showing of over 20 per cent in Freight to the 
Importers. 
No nails are used in the construction of this pack- 
age ; no leakage is possible, it being unbreakable. 
For this and other reasons it therefore finds con- 
siderable favour with the Bonded Warehouse-keeper. 
Unlike the recently introduced metal chests as a 
substitute for wooden ones, the "S.-W." chests can 
be scribed in the Bonded Warehouse with ordinary 
scribing irons, and addressed cards tacked on the lid, 
and generally worked much more expeditiously. 
The manufacturers of these chests agree to pur- 
chase the empty packages from Grocers and Tea 
Dealers, if returned to their factory intact, and free 
from smell other than that of Tea, at the follow- 
ing prices : — 
Half-chests . . One shilling. 
Chests . . One shilling and threepence, 
and are in a position to do so from the fact of their 
adaptability for other commercial uses. 
The chests will be manufactured at works in London, 
and packed in somewhat larger cases of the same 
material, each case containing Six chests, all ready 
for putting together on the estate, for which purpose 
ordinary cooly labour alone will be required. 
In appearance and shape tho " S.-W." package re- 
sembles the ordinary Indian and Ceylon chests. 
The importance to a large class of our readers of 
the subject induces us to give what is to Messrs. 
Stanley and Wrightson a gratuitous advertisement. 
Can any reader state anything from personal 
knowledge of the new tea chest, its composition 
and its merits ? 
After writing the above we found confirmation 
of our belief as to papier mache being employed, in 
the following description of the new tea box given 
by the London correspondent of the Indian Planters' 
Gazette : — 
I went to inspect a new Tea Chest which has just been 
brought out, to incorporate a description thereof in this 
letter ; as being more interesting than anything likely 
to occur in the sale-room under the monotonous condi- 
tions now ruling. 
This new Tea Chest is to be known as "The Stanley- 
Wrightson," from its two inventors. After a thorough 
inspection, everybody who has seen it has been very 
favourably impressed and many are already prepared 
to back their opinion by ordering numbers at once, 
without even waiting to see the results of a voyage 
upon a trial shipment. This is, perhaps, the best 
test it could have, short or an actual trial voyage, and 
says more for its merits than any mere description. It 
has been approved by several of the leading brokers, 
who are, moreover, showing it off at their offices. A 
sample is also on view at the office of the Indian Tea 
District Association. 
Will it surprise you to hear that the i-idtsof this chest 
are made of paper P or to be strictly accurate, pulp 
which has been rolled under hydraulic pressure. The 
corners areof light but strongangle-iron,to which the sides 
are rivetted fon tbe factory), aud ho p-irou strengthens 
all the edges and receives the screws for fastening 
down the lid, the screws also penetrating the pulp 
to obtain additional grip. The same screws can be used 
over and over again. This has been arranged for, as 
this type of box can be used, of any dimensions, to suit 
other commodities than tea, and should, it is supposed, 
prove invaluable for export purposes generally. The 
boxe3 will be sent out in pieces, and can be very easily 
put together on the factory. They are well coated with 
shellac to protect them from damp. 1 saw two sizes, a 
chest and a half-chest. They appear to be very strong, and 
are certainly lighter, handier, more presentable and 
cheaper than anything yet offered. They can be turned 
out in any oolour, or with any marks already stamped, 
or stencilled, or painted upon them. The chests as ordi- 
narily turned out are of the yellow colour of the 
pulp, and the iron angles and hoops frame them with 
good effect. The full-sized chest measured 24" x 20" 
x 18", or 5 cubic feet; thus 10 chests go to the ton. 
Its tare was 24 lb., and the exacmess with which this 
tare can be guaranteed will be a great point in the 
favour of th^se chests. The cost of this full sized chest 
is to be 3s 6d. each, ex ship at Calcutta; aud the manu- 
facturers undertake to |>urchase the empty packages 
from grocers and tea-dealers, if returned to their 
factory intact, and free from smell other thau that 
of tea, at Is. 3d. per chest and Is. per half-chest. 
The patentees claim tlint these chests nre practically 
" Indestructible ; " that they are cheaper than those 
now in use ; that they require no hooping or lead 
lining, being completely impervious to damp and 
moisture ; that t'-iese chests provide exact uniformity 
of tare ; that they contain 20 per cent, more tea 
than wooden chests of the some dimensions, aud so 
Bave 20 per cent, iu freight. No nails are used in 
the construction. 
Unlike iron chests, these S.-W. chests can be 
"scribed" in the Bonded Warehouses with the or- 
dinary " scribing " irons used for wooden chests ; and 
address cards can be tacked on the hd. They are 
to be sent out in cases of the same material, e ach 
case containing six ohests, all ready for putting to- 
gether on the estate, for which purpose ordinary 
coolie labour alone will be required. It is intended, 
that eventually these chests should be manufactured 
in India, from paddy-straw, or other fibrous refuse. 
The patentees are Messrs. John C. Stanley and 
Leonard B. AVrightson of St. Olave's Bonded Tea 
Warehouses, 3 to 7, John Street, Crutched Friars, 
London, E. C. 
Our only fear is that the lao glaze may affect the 
tea? 
♦ 
A BOYCOTT IN THE TEA TBADE. 
" The benefit the dock companies will derive from 
the present reduction of discount allowed to importers 
of tea," writes a correspondent to a contemporary, 
" cannot be described with accuracy as a consequence 
of the working arrangement authorized by the pend- 
ing bill for their working union. It is founded on an 
alliance of a singular character recently formed be- 
tween the dock companies and most of tbe private tea 
wharfingers with the tea dealers. The basis of this re- 
rangement is that the warehouse proprietors shall 
provide a se-called tea clearing house, to which any 
dealer or firm of dealers shall obtain access on payment 
of a trifling annual subscription. The real object of 
this apparently harmless association is found in its 
rules, one of which binds the warehouse keeping mem- 
bers to allow a discount of 5 per cent on buyers' rent 
