August i, i88t.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
pure cocoa essence or " Cocoatina," and in our 
"Perfection " Cocoa we have aimed at eclipsing 
the efforts of all other manufacturers ; and we 
issue these quatitics in ;} lb. tins net weight, 
haudsomely labelled, packed in lG-lb. and 20 lb. fancy 
tin boxes, panelled, and with glass lids covering Chromo- 
lithographs of various Australian Scenes, specially 
lithographed for the purpose. We call your attention 
to Price List, and solicit yonr valued orders. The litho- 
graphed tins in which this firm sells its goods are cer- 
tainly very handsome. But why should they style 
mixtures of coffee and chicory "Oriental Coffee" thus : — 
" Oriental " Coffees. 
We desire to call the attention of our customers 
to a new brand of Coffee and Chicory called the 
"Oriental" Brand Nos. 1 and 2, which we are now 
issuing packed in (uetweight) lib. and 21b. tins, of 
a novel and elegant shape, and is specially got up to 
meet the demand for a first class Coffee, the quality of 
which can be depended upon to be uniform. The 
Standard of these Coffees being .so high, aud always 
maintained, connoisseurs will lind their requirements 
met by them, and we think tho trade will see it to 
their interest to always have some on hand to supply 
the wants of those requiring a very superior article. 
Messrs. Harper Brothers & Co. sell the mixtures of 
coffee and chicory under the names of " Lion, Anchor, 
Castle, Harp, Chariot and Shah" brands, at prices 
varying from lid to Is 4d per lb. Ceylon growers 
of cocoa may be interested in the following list of 
preparations and prices : — 
Cocoa. s. d. 
"Thcobroma" Cocoa Essence in .-j-lb. tins, 
in lo'-lb. Fancy Boxes, 6 Boxes in case ... 3 0 
"Theobrama" Cocoa Essence in ^ lb. tins, 
10 doz. tins in case. ... ... ... 2 S 
"Theobrama" Cocoa Essence in 1-lb. tins, 
6 dozen tins in case. ... ... ... 2 G 
Perfection Cocoa in ^-lb. tins, in 20- lb. 
Fancy Boxes. ... ... ... 1 4 
Eoracepathic Cocoa in \-lb. tins, in 20 lb. 
Wood Boxes. ... ... ... 1 2 
Grown Cocoa in 4-lb. tins., in 20 lb. 
Wood Boxes 10 
Granulated Cocoa in i-lb. packets, in 251b. 
Wood Boxes. ... 0 10 
Preparation of Cocoa in j-11). packets. 14-lb. 
parcels— no boxes. ... ... ... ... 0 9 
The abooe Inose in Bags. 1-lb. and 14-Z4. 
Tins, Jrf. per lb. less. Charge fur tins, 9d. and 
Is. each. 
Cocoa Nibs in 7-lb. and 14-lb. tins. ... 1 (i 
It is added 
Cocoa. — We quote for our various preparations of 
this article, which we commend to our customers 
as the best of their class. We would direct special 
attention to our Cocoa Essence or Cocoaiiua, which is 
liner than the imported brands, and cheaper. 
1 do not think I need make any apology for the above 
copious quotations referring to tho mode in which pro- 
ducts whichCeylon colonists are interested are sold in the 
Melbourne markets. I have already written that Messrs. 
Harper & Co., Messrs. Parsons Brothers, and Messrs. 
Mackenzie & Co., have for years enjoyed a practical 
monopoly of the coffoo trade ; but that "outsiders," 
Messrs. Bright l5ro'hcrs& Co. for instance, have recently 
vein ured on importations. Tho result remains to be seen. 
Tin- Review of Trade in this morning's Age fully and 
strongly confirms what I have already written about 
tho condition of the tea market and its prospects in 
view of the disastrous naturo of the business dono in 
China in tho past season : all the accumulated rubbish 
in tin tea districts scorns to have been recklessly pur- 
chased and shipped. Tho result is widespread ruin 
amongst tho buyers ami bankers. It is, therefore, pretty 
certain that shipments from China will l>c very much 
circumscribed in the season about to open, aud that con- 
54 
sumers will have to learn to pay higher prices even for 
China tea. This will be the opportu nity of those who 
have pure Indian and Ceylon teas to disposo of. The 
paragraph in the Age is as follows : — 
Teas.— Active market. On the 30th ult. 400 boxes 
of fine common congou sold at Is. At aauction 239 
packages quitted at 6Jd to 8fd for dusty and broken 
leaf, 13id for Kaisow buds, and lid for broken Indian 
pekoe. On the 3 1st broken leaf sold at auctionat Id; 
medium congous, at 13.jd. There appears to be a 
well-grounded expectation that the season will open 
late at Foo Chow thi3 year, and probably owing to the 
peculiar financial difficulties which have arisen of 
lato amongst the tea buyers, owing to the 
disastrous results of last season's operations, quite a 
new system may have to be adopted. About one half 
the amount of dollars has been sent up the country 
to purchase tea this year, and no less than nine of the 
old purchasing Hongs have ceased to operate, whilst 
even those still in good reputed credit have had to 
curtail their buying. Under these circumstances, it is 
probable that the tea growers will have to consign 
direct to Foo Chow for sale, and this change of busi- 
ness must entail delay, and it; is impossible to forecast 
what prices may open at. Prospective engagements 
are the S. S. '■ Killarney " for Melbourne, the S. S. 
"Brisbane" for New Zealand, and the S. S. "Meninuir" 
for Sydney as first ships, to be follovsed by the 
"Galley of Lome" for Melbourne and Sydney. 
Messrs. J. Henty & Co., Mr. Burstal, Mr. Hector 
Mackenzie, &c, are now ou the qui vive with reference to 
the first shipments of teas to this market, via Queens- 
land, by the British India steamers. The competition 
between this line and the P. and O. Company will, no 
doubt, lead to considerable reductions in freight. Mr. 
Hector Mackenzie, in conversation to-day, confirmed 
what I have previously written about the desirability 
of forming a Syndicate in Ceylon to purchase, blend 
and ship teas. I hear of quite a number of gentlemen 
formerly connected with Ceylon intending to take up 
the sale of our teas. So far good, but the danger will 
be that some, like the redoubtable Rowbotham, will do 
injury to the trade by offering rubbish as " Ceylon 
tea." The operations of a Syndicate such as exists in 
Calcutta would be a check on mischief of this kind. In 
regard to coffee the Age reports a steady market and 
gives tho prices I have quoted from Messrs. Harper & 
Co.'s report. But the difference between exhibition 
specimens of Fiji coffee and that sent to market is 
shown by the statement that "a small lot of Fiji sold 
on 3 1st ultimo for 7£d per lb." 
Juue 6th. — I see that the Argus of to-day notices the 
inferior character of Indian teas recently sold as ac- 
counting for the lower prices. Another paper reports 
the arrival of the " Glammis Castle" with the first of 
the new season's teas. Mr. Moody explains to me 
that this can scarcely be regarded as the opening of 
the seasou. At the same timo he mentioned to me 
that ho had been writing to Ceylon about a consign- 
ment of Ceylon tea which sold badly, being over-burnt. 
This is a fault to be specially avoided, because whenever 
over- tired tea from China reaches this market the 
inference drawn is that it has been burnt to hide faults, 
aud it is only natural that the same inference should 
be drawn in other cases. I can but repeat what 1 have 
already stated, that our teas are far more likely to 
suffer in market value from over-fermenting and over- 
firing than from tho reverse processes. 
I have seen such favourable accounts of Hunter's Dis- 
infectant, as perfectly deodorizing night soil, that I 
wrote asking the manufacturers if they would Bend a 
small quantity to tho Chairman of tho Colombo Muni- 
cipdtiy. Portions could be sent to leading planters. 
A gentleman from the firm has been here aud promises 
to send a specimen shipment and to give me all informs* 
tion in lime for the mail of the 21st.- Yours faithfully, 
A. M. Fekoi'sok. 
