May i, 1889.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
761 
other, statistics. But we give two sets of compari- 
sons as follows: — 
Consumption of Coffee in non-produ- 
«ing countries (as per Ferguson's " Cey- 
lon Handbook and Directory ") ... 1,595,596,800 lb. 
. Do. do. Tea... do. do... 503,101,000 lb. 
Excess of coffee... 1,092,495,800 lb. 
Consumption of Coffee in non-produ- 
cing countries fperS. Rucker & Oo.'s)... 1,504,160,000 lb. 
Do. do. Tea (per Gow, Wil- 
son & Stanton's) ... ... ... 403,000,000 1b. 
Excess of coffee... 1,101,160,000 lb. 
The enormous excess of coffee, is, of course, partly 
explained by the fact that a lb. of tea will go 
much further than 1 lb, of coffee in the quantity 
of refreshing beverage afforded ; but making all 
such allowance, the excess of coffee sold through 
the markets of the world is still very great. Now, if, 
as we anticipate, the production, of the berry is 
steadily falling off, may we not anticipate that the 
demand for tea to take its place will become a 
very important factor in the future of the world's 
requirements of what is not only the staple 
of China, but of Ceylon and a large part of India? 
For ourselves, we think there is enough in the 
figures we present to enable our tea planters to take 
courage and to go about their work with unabated 
confidence. 
Gum Arabic. — Formerly a large quantity of gum 
acacia was imported into and held in Liverpool. As 
far as can be ascertained there is not now a single 
case or seron here — the whole stock consisting 
of a few brokers' samples. The gum as it arrived 
from the Soudan was so dry that it paid to keep 
it for a time in warehouse. A seron of about 400 
lb. would always increase in weight, sometimes to 
the extent of 15 lb. or 20 lb. No such increase 
results from keeping Brazilian and Indian gums. 
— Chemist and Druggist, March 23rd. 
Veterinary Lecture. — A large assembly, in- 
cluding General Galbraith, c.b., Colonel Grant, 
en., 7th Dragoon Guards, the polo visitors, &c, 
took place at Umballa on Tuesday, the I2th instant 
to listen to Veterinary Surgeon J. H. Cox's lecture 
on "Practical Horse Judging." Several horses of 
various classes were submitted to critical examin- 
ation. The lecture is said to have been highly 
instructive, and was much appreciated by all 
present. — Pioneer. 
Ceylon Tea fou Persia. — We are much 
interested in learning that as the result of a series 
of samples sent to Persia by a Jocal banker, an 
order has been issued for 20,000 lb. of Ceylon 
Tea. We have always been aware of a consider- 
able consumption of tea in Persia, a great part 
shipped from Bombay (of both Indian and China 
kinds) while some comes back from London. There 
is no reason why Ceylon should not get a big 
share in the supply and there is a wide field for 
extension ; for Muhammadans of that region and 
adjacent countries very readily take to tea when 
they cannot readily get coffee. 
Tea Notes. — Plucking has begun in Sibsaugor. Dur- 
rung Las experienced hot weather. The weather has 
beeu warm in Cachar. Seasonable weather is the news 
from Goalpara, Nowgong-. Luckimpore and Sibsaugor. 
Dakjeehng. — Weather cominues hot and dry with 
hiyb. winds — Had bokout it no rain falls before 
losg. Fair amount of leaf coming in on some 
factories. South Sylhet, 26th March. —During last 
week this distiict had over 4 inches of welcome 
raiu, and the weather is at present unsettled, promising 
more. Prospects have therefore improved. Dehra- 
dun 26th March. — It is very hot here now. Some 
gardens have begun making tea, I expect wu shall be 
all hard at work manufacturing in a few days. The 
weather has been all that any planter could desire, 
and the bushes on all estates are looking most pro- 
mising for a bumper Spring crop. — Indian Planters' 
Gazette, April 2nd. 
A meeting of sugar and coffee brokers in the 
Clearing House was held on Monday at the London 
Commercial Sale-rooms, when the two following 
resolutions were carried :— " That the members 
present form themselves into an association for 
concerted action in matters connected with the 
Clearing House, and that any broker joining the 
Clearing House shall be required to become a 
member of the association." " That the authorised 
brokers pledge themselves not to pass a contract 
in the Clearing House with any person acting in 
the double capacity of agent and broker, unless 
with the payment of the usual J per cent brokerage 
iu any branch, sugar, coffee or otherwise. That 
this resolve be in force from and after Monday 
next." — H. and C. Mail, March 22nd. 
Ceylon and China Tea. — Messrs. Geo. White 
& Co. furnish a very elaborate annual report on 
Indian, Ceylon, and China Tea for 1888. It is 
accompanied by a very neat and convenient map 
showing the positions of the principal tea districts 
both in India and Ceylon. This affords a very 
good idea of the relative position and extent of 
the various large Indian districts as contrasted 
with the Tea country in Ceylon. The estimated 
acreage under tea in India is given at 307,500 
acres and the outturn for 1888 at 98,000,0001b. 
of which 1£ is, for local consumption and 3J for 
Australia leaving 93 millions for Great Britain. 
Ceylon in the same way is put down at 180,000 
acres, a large portion not in bearing, with 24 
millions lb. of tea in 1888 of which 23 millions 
for Great Britain. Meantime we give here one 
passage of significance about Ceylon teas last year: — 
The slightly better quality of some invoices preven- 
ted any further marked decline in the monthly aver- 
age and imparted a stronger tone to the market for 
all fine grades, which has been well sustained to date. 
Poor liquoring parcels, on the other hand, continued 
to sell at prices in favour of buyers, as they are not 
considered to afford such good value as low-priced 
Indian teas which are stronger in cup. 
Wynaad Notes, 3rd April. — It is always pleasant to 
be the bearer of good tidings, and it is especially 
agreeable to be able to inform you that the terrible 
anxiety or the last fortnight has been relieved by an 
ample and very general rainfall. The spike all over 
the district is simply magnificent; and where the 
Mossotn has already opened, it has been exception- 
ally fine and healthy. At preseut our anxieties have 
veered round, and we are actually afraid of too much 
rain, that is to say, of extra heavy down-pours, de- 
stroying the open blossom. The next week will 
pretty well settle the fate of most of us, and if we 
can get through this without hail-storms, or too heavy 
rains, our outlook should be a more cheering one 
than has befallen ns for many a year. I fear, how- 
ever, that all have not been equally fortunate, and 
that here and there, where the estates were extra 
open and unshaded, the spikes must have suffered 
considerably from the lengthened drought. And lest 
we should get " above ourselves," we are judiciously 
kept down by your pleasing announcement of coffee 
flat, 95 1 However, those who ought to know still 
assert their belief in a probably strong market for 
some time to come, and already some of our coffee 
has sold at splendid prices — the sorrow of it being 
that there was so uncommonly little of it to sell. 
Cinchona is a thing we don't even mention in any 
gathering where good spirits (mental) are the desired 
object. We who planted coffee aud cinchona together 
some years ago feel a sort of gentle pity for those 
who scorned our innovations. There is this, by way 
of consolation: Cinchona will keep— and its cultiva- 
tion does not cost much ; perhaps it will get its turn 
again, and when we think of the lovely plantations 
in the district, we very sincerely hope that this tarn 
may exist in a near future. — Madras Tines. 
