February i, 1889.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
563 
with the parent stock. The sholas too, the natural 
forests of tbe Nilgiris, will have had their own in- 
creasing and multiplying. One effect will be that 
the rainfall of Ootacamund will have so vastly in- 
creased not alone the heavy showers, but the auxi- 
liary drib, dribs, that the station will become perfectly 
uuiubabitable. Were it possible for the government 
to compel state railways to take their wood for 
sleepers from tho Nilgiris, there would be the pros- 
pect of our vegetation being thinned, but that pos- 
sibility does not even loom in the distance, so that 
the project will have to be allowed to sleep. This 
feature of the question resolves itself iuto the en- 
quiry, shall we pampor our wood to the discomfort 
of residents, and the unpopularity of this splendid 
retreat to visitors? — South of India Observer, Jai\. 15th, 
[This is madness on the other side. All the 
planted trees on the Nilgiris won't alter the 
rainfall an inch.— Ed.] 
REVIEW OF THE TEA TRADE. 
The following review is extracted from the cir- 
cular of Messrs. Wm. Connal & Co., dated Glasgow, 
.'(l-i Dec. 1888. This firm is the biggest broking 
house in Glasgow and what they say of our staple 
should bo read with interest. 
Tka. — The history of the tea trade for the past year, 
is but a continuance on very similar lines, of that of 
recent years ; Ubiua growths becoming of less mid les3, 
and Indian of more and more importance. The inte- 
rest which in former days attached fcu the eaily arri- 
vals of first crop China teas, may almost be stid to 
have passed away. Still, the actual quantity of fine 
China that is cousnmed, is by no means unimportant, 
and if the Chinese would bestir themselvee, to supply 
really good old-fashioned black leaf, at prices more on 
a par with Indian, it wonld be greatly to the advant- 
age of China herself, as well as to the British tea 
drinker. 
The first of tho new black leaf crop arrived from 
Hankow on the 23rd .Tune, per the " Moynne." The 
i.i I of the new reds, ou the 10th July, per the 
" Qleoogle." 
In both, tho quality proved to have been greatly 
lowered by the extraordinary Hoods from which China 
had suffered so disastrously ; tarry flavour and dull in- 
fused leaf being widely prevalent ; but any chops free 
from thi-su faults commanded ready sale, at very re- 
munerative prices. The total supplies, even including 
tarry descriptions, proving moderate, were taken by 
the dcalura with satisfactory results to importers. 
The prices of black loaf have been more than main- 
tained ; but lino to finest Kaisows have met rather 
a slow salo, and iu some casus dealers have only 
bfcon able to place their purchases at a loss. The 
quality of common descriptions of Congou, both red 
and black, baa boon affected much as the higher 
grades, and they have not yielded such good results 
to the importer, although realising prices, which, as 
compared to Indiana mnat be considered high. The 
good profits ou the early shipments of fine, hav- 
ing often, during the currency of the anaon, been 
more than counterbalanced, by losses on commoner 
descriptions. 
Scented ten,;, especially from lorn-how, haw been 
of good quality, and tho curly arrivals rcalisod com- 
paratively high prices. Eater demand has rather 
slackened, and now very useful blending teas are to 
bo obtained ou terms, which make thorn worth special 
attention. 
I ba market has been practically cleared of low old 
season Congous, such as, early in the yoar, were 
sold as low as H j.l and -id per lb. At present, noth- 
ing can be laid down from China under ad ; a low 
figure when it il understood that l$d of that is for 
wporl duty. This class of tun, however, baa little 
mi. i . it for the homo consumer, as it practically is all 
ro-i iporti d 
Fhe produaliou of tea, both in India and Coylon, 
goes on steadily increasing, mid consumption as 
Jliadily aoepi pace, lu November it was at tho 
rate of no less than 125,000,000 lb. per annum, and 
so long as prices keep at the present very moderate 
level, demand will continue to keep pace with the 
supply. It is a matter of surprise that these growths 
find their way so slowly into countries such as Rus- 
sia, which, where fine tea is appreciated and so 
largely used, they must ultimately do so, and when 
the time arrives, the British consumer will have to 
pay higher prices, just as it happened when Russia 
came to compete for the finest sea borne leaf from 
China, and being willing to pay full prices, the Rus- 
sian market has now the virtual monopoly. 
Ceylon growths, although exceedingly good and use- 
ful additions to supply, are too often deficient in the 
thorough good well-cured character of the best Indians. 
They tall off rapidly iu flavour, and in this respect 
are inferior, and must be used with much caution. 
This, doubtless, is mainly a question of manufac- 
ture, and with more experience this is likely to be 
remedied. 
By the Board of Trade returns for the twelve 
months ending 30th November, the import into the 
United Kingdom has been 218,372,028 lb., against 
225,550,650 lb. in 1887, and 228,682,077 in 1886. Of 
these quantities, 110,292,645 lb., against 99,054,214 lb. 
in 1887, and 79,583,203 lb. in 1886, have been from 
British India. 
The home consumption for the same period, has 
been 186,848,752 lb., agamst 183,392,461 lb. in 1887, 
and 177,719,013 lb. in 1886. Tbe export has been 
38,636,906 lb., against 34,561,737 lb. in 1887, and 
44,682,204 lb. in 1886. The stock in bond in the 
United Kingdom on 30th November, waa 101,190,0301b. 
against 109,259,160 1b. in 1887, and 102,725,011 1b 
in 1886. 
The export from China to tbe middle of December, 
by the latest telegraphic advices, was 96,000,000 lb. 
against 110,000,000 lb. in 1837. The total import for 
the season into the United Kingdom from China, is 
estimated at 99 00.000 lb., against 117,000,000 lb.; 
from India at 92,000,000 lb.; from Ceylon, 25,000,000 
to 26,000,000 lb.; and from Java at about 4,000,000 lb. 
♦ 
ABOUT TEA. 
Numerous inquiries roach this office for a work on 
tea, and this, notwithstanding the fact that the Ameri- 
can Groctr has published hundreds of articles covering 
every imaginable phase of the subject. But we ore 
aware that a new class of subscribers spring up every 
3 e;ir, and hence there is a demand for information ou 
all trade topics new to them, but which has previously 
been published. We desire to meet the wants of the 
trade regarding practical information iu relation to tea, 
aud therefore request every reader of the paper who is 
interested in the article, to write us and outline the 
nature of the information that he particularly desires. 
The character of the tea used in different sections of 
the country varies, and if subscribers will respond 
promptly to our request we shall have a great deal of 
light thrown upon the character and wants of the tea 
trade and be in a much better position to meot the 
demands for a popular treatise than we otherwise would. 
[We hope the above paragraph in the American Grocer 
will attract the attention of Mr. MacOombio Murray 
and lead him to state the oaso for pure and delicate 
Ceylon tea. — Ed.] 
♦ 
VISIT TO THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM 
AT AKMIMANA, GALLE. 
(From a Correspondent.) 
Jan. 21st. 1880. 
On Saturday we paid a visit to the agricultural 
farm a'. Akiuimani, about four miles from Galle. 
The chief articles cultivated hero are paddy, dal, and 
arrowroot. The fields on which the paddy is railed be- 
long to the Koehcheri Mudaliyar ( H r. R EL Qoooatafcna), 
aud they are situ.it. si quite close to a dwelling -bou»«. 
also belonging to him, which is quito a historic build- 
