402 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [November i, 1881. 
CEYLON TEA IN AUSTRALIA. 
It will be seen from the full report of the last 
Melbourne sale of Ceylon teas that the highest price 
(Is 9d) was realized for a parcel from Rookwood estate. 
Loolecondura failed to maintain its former pre minent 
reputation, and we suppose it is with reference to 
parcels from this and from other estates which sold 
as low as 7Jd and 6^1 per pound that an authority 
in the Melbourne tea trade writes to us : — 
" Your planters want stirring up about the manu- 
facture of their teas. The liquor is right ; but some 
of the leaf is miserable in appearance ; some dust 
sent U3 was finer than oatmeal, and with the pre- 
judice on this tide it gives a bad name to Ceylon teas 
generally." We have received the following from a 
(.'olombo merchant : — 
" The Australian mail delivered this morning brings 
particulars of the sale at public auction in Melbourne 
on 16th August of 625 packages of Rookwood, Lool- 
condura, and Deanstone tea, sold by Messrs. Greig 
& Murray under instructions from Messrs. James 
Henty & Co 
" Rook wood tops the list with Is 9d for pekoe, 
and Is 5d for broken pekoe ; pekoe souchong fetch- 
ing Is O^d. The average for this estate is l/2'58 
pei lb., on 6,385 1b. 
" Loolcondura averages on 15,8781b. l/l - 08, or IJd 
less than Rookwood. Prices range from Is 3d for 
Broken Pekoe to 6£d for Pekoe Dust. 
" Two lots of Pekoe Souchong from Deanstone realized 
7Jd and 7Jd respectively, the former price being 
paid for chests, the latter for half-chests. This tea 
was not well made, and had become musty. 
" The average for the three estates is 1/0 '65 per 
lb. in bond, on a total of 25,8631b." 
Our Colombo friend is also able to inform us that, 
on the 12th ultimo, Messrs. Fraser & Co. sold 40 boxes 
of Ceylon Tea, each 251b., pekoe souchong, from Agar's 
Land Estate, at Is O^d per lb. 
It is interesting to know that the finest lot from 
Rookwood was valued by a competent tea dealer at 
from Is lOd to 2s per lb. For all the other lots of 
Rookwood the prices realized were slightly above valua- 
tions. So, generally, with the Loolcondura and Deane- 
stone lots, the sale-prices being slightly over or very 
close to valuations. Of the 14th half-chests of Loole- 
condura pekoe dust which went for 6^d, one broker 
says "as fine as sand"; and opposite the two Dean- 
stone lots we have the remark : " bad sample, musty 
flavour. " We trust great care will henceforward be 
taken to maintain the good reputation of Cej Ion Teas 
in the Australian market. 
CEYLON TEAS IN AUSTRALIA. 
LARGE SALE IN MELBOURNE. 
{From Our Own Correspondent.) 
Melbourne, 29oh Aug. 1881. 
A large number of the trade attended Messrs. Greig 
& Murray's auction rooms, Melbourne, on the 
16th Aug. attracted by the sale of Ceylon teas 
The whole of the. lots submitter), consisting of 30 
chests, 514 half chests, 85 quarter chests, were sold at 
prices ranging from 6Jd for dust to Is 9a per lb. 
in bond for Pekoe. For details, see below. 
Buyers objected to the dusty-looking appearance 
of the bulk of the teas and the very large leaf of 
| others ; but the Rookwood pekoe was generally admired, 
and I expected it would have realized 2s per lb..; 
but a large grocer near me, at the time of the sale, said 
it was not strong enough in the put to obtaiu that 
figu e. 
Whilst on this subject, I cannot too strongly im- 
press on your Ceylon planters the prejudice tliat 
exists in Melbourne againct dusty, broken, or large 
leaf samples of tea, and that outside the blenders 
there is really no sale for such class of teas. 
The Calcutta Tea Syndicate are determined that 
Australians shall have plenty of Indian teas, for I 
noiice another sale of some 847 half chests advertized 
for the 2nd September. On the catalogue are some 
200 half chests of Ceylon teas from the Dunedin estate 
to be sold on the same clay. 
Indian teas are steadily growing into favour with 
Melbourne people. A new firm has just stai ted here 
for the exclusive sale of Indian teas in -J lb. or 1 lb. 
packets, 18 and 20 lb. teas find 40 lb. half chests. 
The business will be wholesale or retail. I presume 
India will include Ceylon teas. 
You will regret to hear that Mr. Josiah Mitchell 
died at bis residence, Skelsmergh-hall, Kyneton, on 
the '_'5th Aug. This gentleman was an authority 
amongst us on all matters pertaining to agriculture. 
Mr. Mitchell also showed Mr. A. M. Ferguson, 
Commissioner for Ceylon, considerable attent ion, and 
they visited many parts of Victoria together. The 
Arqus of 26th Aug. which I post to you contains a 
full account of Mr. Mitchell's career. 
CEYLON TEA IN MELBOURNE. 
Tuesday, 16th August 1S81— Ex "Almora," " Malwa," 
&c, from Ceylon, choice Ceylon Teas 625 half-chests, from 
the well-known gardens of Eookwood, Loolecondun, and 
Deanstone. Greijr & Murray will sell by auction at their 
ro >ms, on Tuesday, 16th August, at half-past eleven o'clock,, 
under instructions from Messrs. James Henty & Co., agents 
for the above Ceylon Tea Planters. 
CEYLON TEA. 
Ex " Almora," " Malwa," &c, per lb. in bond from Ceylon 
65 quarter-chesis Rookwood Pekoe 221b. Per- 
fect leaf black neat wiry full of golden tips. 
Choice-<tmalty very rich and full ripe Pekoe flavor. Is 9d. 
29 half-chesis KooKwood Pek >e Souch. 45lb. 
Very even hut small choppy greyish leaf. Strong 
rather puncent brisk full flavory. Is Ojd. 
70 half-ohests Rookwood Pekoe Souch. . 451b. 
Greyish black neat even small fairly twisted leaf. 
Brisk full ripe rich very strong flavor. Is OJd. 
20 quarter-chests Rookwood Bro. Pekoe, 251b. 
Handsome small bl <ck neat leaf full Orange Pekoe 
tips. Richly fired dull deep malty Pekoe flavor. Is ad. 
37 half-chests Loolecondura Pekoe. 401b. Grey- 
ish black fairly curled very even leaf few tips. 
Thick full heavy pungent brisk Pekoe flavor. Is IJd. 
30 half-chests Loolecondura Souchong. 401b. 
Well made greyi=h black even leaf. Pungent and 
strong full brisk Pekoe Souchong flavor. Is Id, 
2 half-chests Loolecondura Bro. Pekoe. 491b. 
Very small neat blackish brown leaf. Very full ripe 
brisk with strong deep infusion. lO^d. 
14 half-chests Loolecondura Pekoe Dust. 551b. 
Very small brownish open leaf. Rich deep full 
Pekoeflivor. 6£d. 
29 half-chests Loolecundura Souchong 401bs. 
Evenly twisted greyish black wiry leaf. Pungent 
strong rasping brisk flavor. Is ljd. 
31 half-chests Ltolecondura Bro. Pekoe. 401b. 
Showy black small neat leaf full Orange tips. Great 
strength and character a splendid mixing tea. Is 3d. 
38 half-chests J oolecondura Souchong 401b. 
Greyish black well twisted and curled leaf. Very 
rich full pungent and strong Pekoe flavor. Is 0^d, 
32 half-chests Loolecondura Pekoe. 401b. Neat 
even greyish black small leaf few ends. Full rich 
strong briskly fired and very flavory. Is lfd. 
