228 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [October i, 1888. 
(By a Professional Tea Taster.) 
During the past nine months I have been a con- 
stant reader of the Overland Ceylon Ohserver lent 
to me by a planter friend now sojourning here, 
and I notice from time to time letters and argu- 
ments re the ups and downs of prices of Ceylon 
teas. From my point of view and speaking as a 
practical tea taster of 18 years' experience, I think 
Ceylon in general has nothing to grumble at as 
regards tea. What could be more rapid than the 
growth in public estimation of Ceylon tea ? For 
the last 10 years I have been selling tea to the 
wholesale and retail trade in Scotland. Speaking 
of Glasgow in particular, ten years ago blends were 
composed of 2-3rds China, l-3rd Indian. As time 
went on Indian was used more freely. Three years ago 
Ceylon planters began to assert themselves, but lost 
favor again slightly, because they went "dead" after 
keeping a while. At the present time they are greatly 
in favor, and there is hardly a tea dealer or grocer 
in Glasgow who does not use Ceylons either pure or 
blended. The tables are quite turned on China teas: 
now, the proportion of China used is only about 
l-7th to l-10th, and I anticipate that (in Glasgow 
certainly) they will disappear altogether except the- 
very lowest priced teas for the low retail cut. This 
season's import of China teas will give a great lift 
to Indian and Ceylon teas. The China Monings 
are all or nearly all, so far, tarry or smoky and 
most undesirable. The red leaf Kaisow teas are 
even worse than the Monings, the Soomoo kinds, 
which is by far the largest assortment of the Kai- 
sow crop, are simply rotten. 
I notice a great deal of squabbling (in your 
issue, 3rd July) amongst your planters and brokers. 
After reading all letters and remarks carefully, I 
quite agree with the Colombo brolurs. The reports 
they gave in the circulars quoted were quite 
justified by the outturn of the teas arriving here 
in May and June: a more sapless and insipid lot of 
teas could not be wished for by the greatest anti- 
Ceylonist. We had good liquoring Assams and 
Chinas at the time, so could afford to pass over all 
undesirable sorts, hence the low quotations. At 
the end of June and beginning of July the quality 
improved considerably, but we were then in the 
throes of the arrivals of new China's which di- 
verted the attention of the trade for a week or 
two till we had seen a few shipments, and dis- 
covered what a miserable lot of stuff China had 
sent us. The whole tra le to a man turned their 
attention to Ceylon's resulting in an immediate 
rise in prices, which has since been mainta ned and is 
likely to be till we get a larger supply from India"; 
Ceylon has nothing to fear from China ; keep your 
eye on Indian teas and imitate their make as far 
as possible, avoiding the harshness of some Indian 
teas. Avoid burning the Ceylon teas as far as 
possible, but on the other hand don't send us the 
thick, soft, bitter almond-flavored sorts: they won't 
take anywhere, and in a month or two go off as 
dull as ditch water and do more harm to the 
interests of Ceylon tea than all the brokers' reports 
that could be written from now till Doomsday ; as 
these reports are not seen by the British public in 
general. Brokers are like a certain garment ; they 
are indispensable. Speaking of London brokers, 
they are expected to send out a circular, the tone of 
which in nine oases out of ten depends on the " luck " 
they have had during the week. London brokers 
should not write circulars : thoy have no idea of the 
wants of the country in general. They get teas put 
into their hands to se4 either by public or private sale ; 
in many oases they have not a shadow of an idea of the 
value of the tea they are offering, trusting to the 
dealer to make a respectable bid. The bid made, 
the broker goes to the merchant entrusted with the 
tea, pulls a long face, and says this is the best he 
can do, better sell : result, planter robbed; buyer 
chuckles at his bargain. To get a really honest 
report of the British wants, go to a first-class dealer 
(I mean London wholesale dealer) who has his 
or their agents or representatives established in 
all the best districts in the Kingdom, who are sup- 
posed, — and do in all well-regulated houses, — write 
daily letters stating the wants of the trade and 
get samples accordingly. A great deal is said 
about subsidies ; why not subsidize all tea agents 
of London houses who make a point of pushing 
Ceylon tea? Why send your subsidies to America? 
You get no return. Here you have it guaranteed, 
provided you give us teas well cured. 
I have seen a number of Ceylon planters during 
this .12 months, and I find they have a lot to 
learn as regards the proper liquor for the British 
market ; many say they don't know how to liquor 
teas, i. e. taste as we do. 
FISH IN AUSTRALIA : 
SIR THOMAS BRADY ON TROUT BREEDING. 
Within 70 to 100 miles of Melbourne is a magni- 
ficent region of mountains, rivers and lakes, the 
latter having communication with the sea, known 
as Gippsland after a former Governor, Sir George 
Gipps. Melbourne is largely supplied with sea fish 
from the lakes, and, naturally enough, the idea of 
stocking the rivers with salmon and trout has 
been entertained, and we are only surprised 
it has not yet been carried out. The rail- 
way now extends via Sale to Bairnsdale, the 
centre formerly and probably still of extensive 
hop culture on the alluvial soil which 
forms the banks of the beautiful Mitchell river. 
Its sides were blazing with sweet-odoured " golden 
wattles" when we steamed down its course into the 
Lakes. These Lakes are the very home of the black 
swans and other aquatic birds of Australia, which 
are now, we are glad to say, protected. Amongst 
the Gippsland snow-capped mountains, whence 
numerous fine rivers pour down, are many gold 
mines, including one of the richest in the world, the 
" Walhalla." But plentiful supplies of food are more 
important to human beings than any quantity 
of gold, and so Sir Thos. Brady, an Irish visitor 
(Inspector of Irish Fisheries), has been prospect- 
ing for fish existing and for conditions favour- 
able for additions to the kinds now bred and 
caught in the brackish lakes and the fresh- 
water streams. In the latter the nearest approach 
to trout is the " black fish " to which visitors to 
Fernshaw are treated. From a notice in 
the Australasian of Sir Thos. Brady's visit, we 
take a few extracts, having a bearing on 
the praiseworthy efforts of Mr. : Le Mesurier to 
naturalize trout in Ceylon. The recorder of the 
events of the trip writes : — 
We set out, first to take a look at the upper, or rather 
the running, waters of th9 Mitchell, and secondly to 
run down through Lake King and Reeves River to the 
Heads, or, more correctly, the present opening to the 
sea. The Mitchell is a beautiful stream by Bairnsdale, 
deep, clear, broad, and still. For seven miles below 
and three miles above the town it has no perceptible 
current. " As fine an estuary," said Sir Thomas, " as 
salmon could desire." Our immediate object was to 
ascertain the possibility of the successful introduction 
of salmon to the Gippsland rivers, and to ascertain this 
it was necessary to inquire into three distinct matters. 
First as to the upper or running waters. A clear stream 
running over a gravelly bed was essential. A lake at 
the head waters was also desirable. We could dis- 
cover by inquiry that there was no lake, but as to the 
stream, rumour reported many things, and the only 
