THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [January- 2, 1882. 
Pekoe Souchong. — Dhunsiri Is 6£d, Upper Assam 
Co. Is 6i<i, Moondakootee Is 7d, Gielle ls-7£d, Dar- 
jeeling Co. Is 8d, Dinjan Is 9d, Teesta Valley Is lOd, 
Nasri Is 10|d, Punchanai !s 10fd, Margaret Hope 2s. 
Pkkoes. — Amgoorie 2-6 6^1, Doom Dooma 2s Ggd, 
Mahmara 2s 7d, Koomber 2s 7Jd, Miidoora 2s 7id, 
United Planters 2s 7£d, Rungmook 2s 7*fl, Hoolun- 
goorie 2s 7fd, RingtoDg 2s 8d, Margaret's Hope 2s 
8 ; |tl, Leesh Kal 2s 9|d, Punkabaree 2s 10c), Burramsal 
2s 10gd, Dhui.siris 3s Id, Hokongoorie 3s l^d, Doote- 
riah 3s 8id. 
Broken Pekoes.— Rnngjo 2.-6 fd, Mnrionbaree 2s fifd, 
Grob 2s6|d, Doom Dooma 2s 7^d, Gielle 2s 8d, Rut- 
tingdong 2s 8^d, Singla 2s Selim 2s 9d, Mookum- 
cheira 2s 9d, Hoolungoorie 2s 10d7 Chargola 2s 10£d, 
Long-view 2s lO.id, Wshuauth to. 2s lOJd, Turkvar 2s 
lid, Teesta Valley 2s lljtl, Nagri 3s, Moondakoote 3s 
0£d, Jhauzie 3i O^dj Margaret's Hope 3s Ifd, Rung- 
mook 3s 6d. 
All hough opposed to leading authorities, we have always 
Contended that high -grown teas, if properly prepared, 
ought to be superior in quality. Every price current 
which comes before us supports this view. Darjeeling 
t' as always top the maiket,ai~d the majority of the Dar- 
jeeling estates range from 2,(00 to 4,000 feet elevation. 
A good many are indeed more elevated, and it must be 
remembeied that 2,000 feet in Darjeeling are the 
equivalent of 3,260 in Ceylon, while 4,000 feet there are 
represented by at least 5,260 here. In the average 
prices given by Messrs. Marsden & Walker, all from 
2/ to 3/3| refer to teas grown on Darjeeling estates, 
such as Rungjo, Ringtong, Moondakootee, Margaret's 
Hope, Rungmook, Teesta Valley and Dooteriah. Broken 
teaf, too, fiom Gielle sold at 2/8, from Selim at 2/9, 
and from Tukvar at 2/11. On the latter estate, we saw 
tea growing at from 1,700 feet to 5,300 feet above sea 
level. The medium elevation was said to give the best 
results, and that medium, being 3,400 feet, would in 
27° north in British Sikkim be equivalent to 4,8f>0 in 
7° north in Ceylon. The yield per acre at high 
elcvaiions may be less that at lower positions, but the 
persistent higher prices for Darjeeling teas prove that 
high-grown teas must have compensation in better 
quality. A gentleman who sent us a copy of Messrs. 
Marsden & Walker's report wrote opposite the list of 
average prices : — " Good figures for Ceylon men to look 
forward to." So say wp, for we have known the figures 
for Darjeeling lo be lower than those at which Ceylon" 
teas are now generally sold. No doubt, we have some- 
thing to learn in the preparation of our teas, and we 
must send larger "breaks." The prejudice against a 
new competitor will gardually disappear, and we con- 
fidently look for the period when Ceylon teas will rank 
in i he Loni'on market with Darjeeling at least. As to 
large breaks we quote again from the report : — 
The firm market reported in our last gave way 
early in October under pressure of very heavy sales, 
the quantity at each auction averaging nearly 4,000 
packages : a epaantity beyond the power of buyers to 
attend to. The growth of the trade, and the short 
time available in which to value each day's sale 
necessitates a more general bulking than is now 
carried out both in Garden and " Calcutta Bought " 
invoices, and strong representations have recently been 
made in the Auction Room against the practice of 
[u voices containing two ov more breaks of similar tea. 
The f .11 in common teas during the last three weeks 
is from £d to Id, me dium kinds Id to 2d, and finer 
grades fully 2d to 3d, but at these reductions the 
month closes firm for all kind?. Deliveries fur the 
sen sou are still in exess of the Imports. 
October Poblic Saks comprised 66,900 packages 
against 05,500 packages in 1880. 
A written not-> opposite the above paragraph runs : — 
The Trade have not time to devote to a many sub- 
divided parcel, and bulking must be resorted to. 
"John Lloyd's Indian Tea Report" is d;ited 10th 
Nov., or a week later than the one we have quoted ftom, 
and the introductory remarks are : — 
At the date of my last, a quiet feeling existed in 
the market owing to large supplies. The tone is now 
firmer, as deliveries continue to increase and offerings 
at auction are moderate. 
Finest teas »re becoming rather scarce. Pekoes are 
unchanged and offer very good value at current, rates. 
Broken Pekoes are readily taken at previous quota- 
tions. Pekoe Souchongs show no change, but Sou- 
chongs are lather firmer particularly the lower grades. 
Broken teas sell freely at full prices. 
If, with the largely increased demand for Indian teas, 
resulting in a British consumption in 1880 of not far 
short of 50 millions of lb , the crop is really 2 millions 
below that figure, there is evidently an era for Indian 
tea of great prosperity in which the product from Cey- 
lon should, share. 
THE SEASON IN INDIA. 
(For the week ending the- 22nd Nov.) 
More rain 1ms fallen in the Madras Presidency and 
has much benefited the standing crops, but some 
localities are in need of a further supply. In the 
Bombay Presidency prospects continue much the eame 
as in the previous week, rain being still urgently 
required in Ahmedna°nr and Nasik. The reports from 
Mysore, Cooig, the Berars, Hyderabad, Central India 
and Bajaputana continue favourable. In Bengal the 
prospects of the rice crop are generally satisfactory, 
but in parts of Oriesa the outturn in unirrigated lands 
has been damaged through want of rain ; rain is also 
required for rabi sowings in some districts. Reaping 
of sali paddy has commenced in Assam, and both in 
that province and in Burma the standing crops con- 
tinue to thrive. There has been no rain in the North- 
Western Provinces and Oudh, though it is urgent'y 
reeded in parts and would everywhere be beneficial 
to the young crops. Fever is abating, but cholera 
has made its appearance in two districts of Oudh. The 
want of rain for the rabi is also making itself felt in 
the Punjab ; at present, however, the prospects in that 
province are generally favourable. 
Madras. — General prospects good. — M. Mail. 
LAIN K A PLANTATION COMPANY MEETING 
IN LONDON. 
There were very few shareholders preseut, but tbey 
all seemed well contented with the satisfactory nat 
irre of the report. The proceedings lasted about half- 
an-hour. 
In the unavoidable absence of the Chairman, R. P. 
Harding, Esq. , the chair was taken by Sir H. B. Sandford. 
The Chairman called attention to the report, which 
stated that three interim dividends had been declared 
at the rate of 8 per cent per annum. He thought 
the shareholders would agree with him that, for a 
young Company, and the present time not being very 
favourable in Ceylon, they had done very well in earn- 
ing such a good dividend, and having such a respect- 
able balance to carry forward to next year's account. , 
J The Company already stood very high in public es'eem ; 
■ and he, himself, while travelling lately in Australia, 
had heaid their Company mentioned several limes as 
