536 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [February i, 1889. 
Year t>, 
fa M » -9 3? -.9 S> .3 
deC 3 rt 3fl8 3 3 
3 M £ P3 1-5 « < « 
1883 11-61 11 7-93 22 1677 25 15-00 29 
81 5 80 13 9 00 23 11 19 25 14 39 24 
85 520 21 2854 28 14-12 19 6 58 13 
86.., ...10 32 19 8-14 27 11 38 29 13 87 26 
S7 6-99 19 10-16 30 8-93 16 4-40 27 
88 9-58 19 31-88 29 5-75 17 7'11 21 
Average for 
6 years ... 8 25 17 15-94 27 11-33 22 10-22 23 
tj to to . CQ , n 
^ .s I .a 1 .2 1 £ 
S* '3 a 3 ore <B '5 
1883 5-71 19 7-04 25 7'36 23 6-00 11 
84 7-85 23 12 86 25 8"45 15 6 80 19 
85 484 19 9-19 26 5'86 19 6 97 18 
86... ...10-26 24 8-72 25 4-28 13 2-38 18 
87 11 54 19 12-88 26 9'37 20 15-15 27 
88 7-35 19 7-25 19 9-61 21 11-97 13 
Average for 
6 years ... 7-93 20 9-65 25 7'49 18 8 21 18 
Total for the year. 
1883 100-10 ... 214 Rainy days 
84 85-13 ... 190 „ 
85 89-70 ... 189 „ 
86 81-41 ... 223 „ 
87 95-22 ... 230 
88 100-00 ... 191 
Average for 6 yrs. 91-92 ... 206 „ 
The heaviest rain we have ever had on Abbott' ord 
was on the 24th, 25th, and 26th June last year, when 
7'55, 5'86, and 3' 12 respectively fell, or a total of 16-53 
in three days. 
FROM A LONDON CORRESPONDENT ON 
THE TEA TRADE. 
The tea trade has of late years made rapid strides, 
and, with the increasing supplies from the new grounds 
of Ceylon, seems likely to further extend. We hear 
often what beautiful tea comes from Ceylon, but it 
seems that little of it gets further than Mincing Lane. 
Complaints are continaully heard from the public 
that good tea generally, but especially pure fine China- 
tea, no matter what price is paid, cannot be procured 
excepting perhaps at a very few establishments, where 
the proprietors covet reputation more than exorbitant 
profits. One sees on all sides " Pure Ceylon," " Pure 
In lian" teas advertised in the shop windows from 
Is 4d to 2s per lb, but if samples of these teas are 
procured and examined, it will be discovered that in 
very many cases, neither the so-called " Ceylon " or 
" Indian " samples will represent what they are pro- 
fessed to be, but that the majority of them will contain 
a small percentage of Ceylon or Indian teas and a 
large admixture of very ordinary China tea. 
The reason of this is plain enough — the class of 
China tua mostly used here has tho last few years so 
fallen off in quality that the average price has also 
declined to a very low standard. Ceylon and Indian 
Teas, the latter especially, are dearor, so by an ad- 
mixture of low priced China Tea, a larger profit is 
obtainable by the grocer. Ceylon Teas, from their 
fine soft, rich mellowness have become universally 
popular, and are much asked for, but from the free 
adulteration of the genuine article, the public do not 
get a fair cbanoe of judging them. 
Comparatively very little China Tea over Is per lb. 
has been sold the last year or two for home trade, 
& nd in public auotions for the la«t five months we 
gather from a circular of Messrs. Hawes & Co., that 
out of a total of 313,000 packages Congous (red and 
black leafs), 72,000 packages have sold at or under 
the low figure of 5d per per lb. The bulk of tbe 
better pure China Congous (by pure, we mean teas 
free from burn and not tarry) at from 9d to Is 6d 
per lb., and the fine and choice Congous at from Is 
6J to 2s per lb. have been shipped, the home tra<le 
demand, chiefly running on teas for price, viz. 3|d 
to Is per lb. 
Ceylon and Indian teas are almost entirely sold 
by auction ; the average price of the former for last 
season being about lid to Is Id per lb. and of the 
latter about lOd. to lid. per lb. the balk of which 
goes into home consumption. It will be apparent, 
therefore, that at the retail prices generally charged 
for any kind of tea, say from Is 6d, to 3s per lb. pure 
good teas of either description Ceylon, Indian, or 
China, ought to be supplied, or good blends, leaving 
very handsome profits to all parties. This, how- 
ever, is not the case as the public find to their 
cost. The brokers and wholesale dealers receive little 
of the plunder — the former their commissions of one 
or half per cent., and the latter an avnrage profit of 
Jd to 3d per lb. according to the quality or scar- 
city of the article. The large profits fall to the 
grocers and small retailers whose gains average from 
2d to Is per lb. or more, depending on the neigh- 
bourhood and class of customers they serve. Why 
should such wholesale deception be allowed in an 
article of such universal consumption as tea ? Why 
do not the authorities protect the consumers of tea 
under the Fuod Adulteration Act, as well as the con- 
sumers of butter, cocoa, coffee, and other produce ? 
Where blended teas are sold, whether in packet, or 
loose over tbe counter — the wrapper should clearly 
state it to be a blend or otherwise — whether of China 
Ceylon, Indian, or Java it would not matter — but if 
the public wish to judge for themselves the several 
qualities of the above growths they should be able 
to do so, and not when they ask for a pound of 
really fine Chica or Ceylon tea receive a paoket con- 
taining a very common mixture. 
The authorities, we presume, have power to inquire 
into these public frauds, and it is surprising that 
the public prosecutor has not moved in the 
matter before. It would be easy for him to procure 
samples which are sold distinctly under certain head- 
ings, such as " Choice Moiling," " Pure Darjeel- 
ing," "Pure Ceylon Souchong," "Rich Saryune," 
<fec, and employ an expert from Mincing-lane 
to report on them, and where deceptions are 
found to exist prosecution should follow. Teas of 
good average quality of either growth can be sold 
pure for the moderate retail price of 2s per lb. 
and fine to choice teas for 2s 6d per lb and upwards, 
but the public unfortunately encourage cheap blends 
and the use of common sorts, by demanding teas for 
price, say from Is 2d to Is 8d per lb. Good useful 
blends should be procurable for Is 9d to 2s per lb, 
but no choice pure teas of any growth can be retailed, 
with fair profits to all concerned, under 2s 6d per lb 
and upwards. 
We rarely see " Pure China Congou " advertised. 
Fine and choice China teas are mostly bought for 
Russia, and the little remaining here naturally com- 
mands high prices. To retail these teas pure at 
present prices would leave only a small profit ; the 
grocers therefore prefer a judicious mixture of Indian 
and Ceylon, with fair ordninary China teas making a 
flavory liquor, which they can sell as Indian, Ueylon, 
or China, or as a blend, and make a large profit. Very 
little fine China is sold now, although continually 
being asked for, but other teas substituted. Invalids 
wish to buy it on account of the fine delicate flavour, 
and from its being known to contain much less tannin 
than teas of other countries, it is more digestible and 
is strongly recommended in preference to Indian teas 
by most medical men of high standing. 
We trust that the attention of the public prosecutor 
may be awakened to the matter, and the public may 
hope to obtain — if they order and pay for either China, 
Indian, or Ceylon ten, to get the genuine article. — 
" Ceylon Advertiser." 
