Aucusv i, i88i.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
237 
CEYLON AT THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION. 
*{Edilorial from the Me'lwume "Age," 25ihJime 1881.) 
As The A<j<> was tlie journal which first directed, 
ou the 8th inst.. public attention to the fact that 
certain very inferior or adulterated teas were likely to 
find their way into consumption unless ths Govern- 
ment interfered, it is satisfactory to find that our 
warning lias not only had the desired effect of stimul- 
ating the efforts of the health auth 
this, but that the analysis wo asked 
ively proved that our suspicions as 
of the tea in question were merite 
Dunn's analysis may be taken a3 * 
lties to prevent 
or has conclus- 
tl; 
: bulk ol 
followim. 
point, From two samples drawn fr 
tho tens sold at 3Jd. to 4]d. per 11 
reBult was obtained : — 
Price paid 3|d 4+d. 
Per cent. Percent. 
Ash G.25 6. CO 
Soluble salts 2.45 2.48 
Extract '21.0 24.0 
Theine 0.56' 0.75 
According to a very recent analysis made by Mr. 
Cosmo Newbury of tho teas packed by 1 ho various 
Melbourne Grins, we find that tho genuine article 
shows: Ash, 5.0G to 5.71 per cwt.; extract, 29,90 
to 39.86: soluble salts, 2.9U to 3 54. (The highest 
percentage was obtained by the Oriental Tea Com- 
pany.) The price3 of these tea3 range from 2s. 
to 3s Cd per lb., duty paid. But in addition to the 
want of quality shown by the samples objected to, 
Mr. Dunn further sets at rest the question of whether 
they aro adulterated or not by stating that the diffi- 
culty was to find "a perfect and genuine tea leaf in 
the samples." "The stuff," he adds, "consisted for 
" the most part of decayed, exhausted or foreign 
" was totally unlit for dietary purposes!' 1 " a, ™ U "' 
Upon the face of Mr. Dunn's analysis, which is 
certified to bv Mr. P. W. E. Maclvor, a number of 
the Central Board of Health, it might bo assumed 
that the authorities would have power to prevent 
this tea from going into consumption. Mr. Everard, 
however, in a letter which appears in another column, 
states that even this conclusive evidence is not suffiei- 
ent to ensure so deniable a result. The Government 
analyst* Ikim got some liction in his head about "tho 
coloring of commerce," and hence public health is to 
bo made subservient to this. Now, let us sac how this 
matter is dealt, with in England ; and as very eonsider- 
able difference of opinion appears to cxi-t as to tho pro- 
vision* of the Imperial statutes in regard to the admis- 
sion of exhausted as well as ndulteratod teas into tho 
United Kingdom, we make tho following extracts with 
* Tho "Government Analyst," Mr. J ihnson, does 
not seem to bo rogarded with all tho confidence which 
is reposed in Mr. Newb-rry of din Technological 
Buaeuin, and his assistant, Mr. Frederic Dunn. Both 
the lult.er hnvo dovotod much attention lu the cliomintry 
of tea, and Mr. Dunn is making a special study 
Of tho numerous typie.il specimens collected at the 
iato If xliibition. Tho result of. this gentleman's re- 
Narohts is likely to bo a considerable raising of tho 
chemi.al standard for pure tins.— A. M. 1'. 
00 
a view of she 
imports of thi 
of Food and D 
the 1st of Jam 
and landed at 
be subject to c 
lysis thereof," fei 
deemed necessai 
with all con veil 
lyst, and if u 
mination by pcrsi 
Customs for the 
r which purpose 
ingent is the law respecting 
The 30th section of the Sale 
'ides that " from and after 
ported as merchandise 
Ireland shall 
ed by the 
d tc 
such tea is, in the 
human food, the tan 
Tho 31sfc section of 
term "exhausted". si 
which has been depr 
or nature by steep 
means." There is 0 
matti-r being permi 
tea found to be mi 
be delivered for consumption, not ev< 
consist onlv of innocuous but exhaust 
shall not bo delivered ; but 
malysis it shall appear that 
pinion of the analyst, unfit for 
shall be forfeited and destroyed," 
he same act explains that tho 
1 mean "and include any tea 
ed of its proper quality, strength 
%, infusion, decoction, or other 
hing said here of the coloring 
jn substances as a commercial 
id ; quite the contrary for no 
d with other substances is to 
if the same 
teas. Under 
the provisions of the act already quoted, the inspect- 
ors in England are required to examine each chop 
of tea by inspecting a portion of tho contents of 
the packages selected for taring, and if necessary by 
infusing a portion thereof, and they are at once to 
pass the- tea if genuine and sound. If, on the con- 
trary, tl:ey have doubts, sauries arc at once to 
to be fbrwarced to the analyst for tea at 
tho Customs, who finally determines whether or not 
the shipment shrll be allowed to go into general 
consumption ; so the greatest precautions are taken in 
England to prevent both adulterated and exhausted 
teas finding their way into consumption. As regards 
coloring, a boord order of the Imperial Custom House, 
dated 18th February, 1870, grants power, to seven 
surveyors or assistant- surveyors of customs personally 
to pass tea which, on careful examination, they aro 
satisfied contains only a small percentage of facing 
or coloring matter, if in other respects genuine. This 
concession is made in favor only of green teas, which 
are sold in England with this special condition attached. 
The present permission to ship any amount of rub- 
bish to this market is not only detrimental to the 
the v 
they 
Haphazard to this 
'etch. On the other 
tep in, tho frauds 
so of adulterations 
itciul, until at last 
thing genuine. Iu 
where competition 
is so fierce amongst retailers, it cannot be denied 
that there is an inducement to ntilize the permission 
now accorded to the admission of exhausted and 
adulterated teas, to offer a cheap article to the public 
without regard to quality. It is no infringement on 
the rights of dealers for the Government lo take steps 
to ensure that this cheapness goes hand in bund with 
freedom from clelo erious ingredients, and this result 
may bo obtained in Victoria of the provisions of the 
Imperial statute entitled the Bale of Food ami Drugs Act. 
