656 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
its ability to absorb and retain all the soluble salts of 
manures. If even our upland soils did not possess this 
property, salt washed deep into the subsoil will be 
absorbed by those roots of the tree that go down deep 
into the soil to pump up water for its use. 
Salt is also said to have the property of favourably 
affecting natural herbage, making coarse grasses sweet. 
No animal can exist without it, and its presence in the 
dietary of cattle has a beneficial effect on their health and 
oondition. If the soils of coconut estates b» treated with 
salt, it is not unreasonable to hope for an improvement in 
the condition, health and even growth of our cattle. 
There is every reason to hope that the application of 
salt to coconut trees will prove a financial success. 
Flauters know what a cause of anxiety the nuts on 
their trees are to them during this period of the year. 
From lack of moisture bunches come down bodily and 
have to be propped up, a practice said to be unknown 
all along the sea beach. As forests recede before the 
operations of the planter, props are becoming scarcer 
every year. Even with props, experience shows that 
a large proportion of our crops is lost during the 
annual droughts. One gentleman with very large 
proprietory interests told me that on a property of 
his bounded by the Maha Oya, 3-4ths of his crops 
were lost diiriug the first quarter of the year. He 
either made his estimate when suffering with a fit of 
the "lows": or his experience is exceptional. Still 
the fact remains, that a large proportion of our crop 
is lost which good husbandry ought to induce us to 
attempt to save by growing coconuts as nearly under 
natural conditions as is possible. 
To obtain salt for agricultural purposes Native 
Agriculturists ought in a body to petition Government 
to issue it at the same rate as *o renters. They 
ought not to be discouraged by a refusal, which 
ought to act as an incentive to renewed exertion. 
Success can be attained only by determination and 
persistency. I shall conclude this in the words of 
Liebig. "The impost of salt is of all taxes that 
which is the most odious, the most unnatural, and 
the most disgraceful to human reason." B. 
«. 
CONSUMPTION OF CEYLON TEAS IN THE 
LONDON CUSTOMS. 
City Chambers, 65, Fenchurch Street, London, 
25th Jan. 1889. 
A. Philip, Esq., Secretary, Planters' Association, 
Kandy, Ceylon. 
Dear Sir, — I have the pleasure to enclose for the 
information o£ your Association copies of correspond- 
ence with H. M. Customs Commissioners. — I am, &c, 
(Signed) W11, Martin Leake. 
Ceylon Association in London, 65, Fenchurch Street, 
London, 9th Jan. 1889. 
The Secretary to the Commissioners of Customs, 
London. 
Sir, — I shall be much obliged if you can furnish me 
with a copy of the Commissioners' General Order 
dated 27th ult. with reference to the classification of 
teas taken for Home Consumption. This order was 
mentioned in tbe City Article of The Times of yester- 
day. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, 
(Signed) Wm. Martin Leake, Secy. 
Custom House, London, lltli Jan. 1889. 
Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 9th instant, J 
am directed by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's 
Customs to enclose two copies of their General Order 
to which you refer on the subject of the classifica- 
tion of teas taken for Homo Consumption. — lam, sir, 
yont obedient servant, (Signed) R. T. Prowse. 
\V. Martin Leake, Esq., Secretary to the Ceylon 
Association in London. 
Notice is hereby given that on and after the 1st 
January, 1889, Merchants and others passing Entries 
for tea will bo reqirred to state upon each Import 
lintry (whether Prime Entry or Warehousing Entry,) 
and ;ilso upon the Homo O01, sumption, Kemoval and 
Kxport Warrants, the Country of Proilncl 'Oti or origin 
of tbe tea. By Order, K. Goodwyn. 
Cu torn House, London, 27th Doc. 1888. 
[April i, 1889. 
Classification of Tea foe Statistical Purposes. 
The Lords of the Treasury having been pleased to 
approve of Tea for Home Consumption being classified 
in the Monthly Account of Trade in the same manner 
as Tea imported, under the separate heads of 
Tea from British Indies, 
„ China (including Hong Kong and Macao), 
,, other Countries, 
the Board direct that, with the view of obtaining 
correct information for the Statistical Accounts, the 
Kegistrars in London and the Collectors at the Out- 
ports, on the receipt of each Import Entry for Tea 
(whether Prime Entry or Warehousing Entry) do re- 
quire the name of tbe Country of production or origin 
to be stated on suoh entry. The Board further direct 
that the Officers employed in keeping the Warehous- 
ing Accounts do require the Merchants to specify the 
country of origin of the Tea in their Home Consump- 
tion, Removal and Export Warrants ; this detail is 
to be checked by the Officers, the Country of origin 
being indicated on the cover of the Landing Book in 
which the deliveries are recorded. Separate Binding 
Books are to be kept for each class of Tea above men- 
tioned in the event of more than one class being im- 
ported by the same ship. 
The net weights of Tea entered under the proper 
heads as above specified are to be recorded in columns 
appropriated to that purpose in the Warrant Book, and 
Returns are to be made monthly from the Several 
Stations in London and at the Outports in the Form 
-- "Return of Tea and Tobacco delivered for Home 
Consumption," showing the quantity, &c, of Tea of 
each class delivered. 
It has been observed that Tea from China is fre- 
quently transhipped at Colombo to vessels proceeding 
from the latter Port to this Country. The Board direct 
the Officers to exercise great care in such cases to 
prevent Tea produced in China from being taken to 
account as Tea from Ceylon or BritUh East Indies. 
534 
The Stock of Form -g- "Return of Tea and Tobacco 
delivered for Home Consumption " hitherto used, is, 
after the Account for December, 1S88, has been trans- 
mitted, to be immediately returned from each Port and 
Station to the Storekeeper. Custom House, London, to 
be treated as waste paper, and an application for a sup- 
ply of the Revised Form which is to be used for 
the month of January, and subsequently, is to be for- 
warded to Division IV. of the Secretary's Office in the 
usual manner. By Order, E. Goodwin. 
Ceylon Association in London, 65 Fenchurch Street, 
London, 16th January 1889. 
Sir, — I beg to thank you for your letter No. 1,239 
of 1889 dated 11th instant, enclosing copies of General 
Order 145 of 1S88 dated 27th ult. 
May I ask with reference to the order in question, 
whether, of the tea for Home Consumption classified 
in the monthly account of trade under the head of 
" Tea from British East Indies," the quantity from 
Ceylon will be given separately from that from India ? 
and in any case whether it could be so given separately 
in future? . 
The annual consumption of Ceylon tea is already 
very large and is increasing rapidly each year. And it 
will be matter of great interest in future to oompare 
the growth of the consumption of tea from Ceylon 
with that of tea from India. — I am, sir, your most 
obedient servant, 
(Signed) Wm. Martin Leake, Secretary. 
The Secretary, Customs Commissioners, London. 
Custom House, London, 23rd January 18S9. 
Sir, — I am directed by the Commissioners of Her 
Majesty's Customs to inform you, in reply to your 
letter dated the 16th instant, that the quantities of 
Ceylon tea imported into the United Kingdom and 
delivered for Home Consumption will not be given this 
year in the accounts of trade separately from those of 
Indian tea ; but that the question of making the 
separatum in future years will bo considered. — I am, 
your obedient servant, (Signed) R. T. Prowse. 
The Secretary, Ceylon Association in London. 
