9 i6 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May i, 1882. 
price, he paying the duty and recovering the amount 
along with (he value of the teas on the same terms 
as in the United States, viz. four months* 
Most of the large London dealers have agents in 
Canada, as also have many of the New York firms, 
and some of the Canadian houses have branch offices 
in this city ; there is, in consequence, a considerable 
business done notwithstanding the extra 10 per ceiit. 
The agents of course have a constant supply of sam- 
ples of all kinds of tea, including Indian teas from 
the London market, in which there has been a small 
trade done at prices equal to London quotations. The 
trade has never been really pushed, and there is here 
a splendid opening for our teas. 
Following is a comparative statement of the export 
of all teas, from China and Japan to the United States 
and Canada for the past three years up to 31st Octo- 
ber. These figures I have compiled from the latest 
advices from China and Japan, and are, I think, to 
be relied upon. They will serve to point out how 
rapidly the tea business is growing in this country, 
and should prove a powerful incentive to all interested 
in the development of the Indian tea trade to make 
an effort to secure a footing on these markets, which 
as yet may be said to be only in their infancy, and 
which will, before a great many seasons have gone 
over our heads, be as important as any in the world. 
[ ['his table is omitted as its results are indicated.] 
The f alii ng-off in the shipments from Japan this year is 
accounted for by a late crop, but it is expected that when 
the season closes the exports will be quiteequal to those 
of 1880. 
Tea is tested here in an odd way, and, instead of 
weighing the sample to be tasted into a tea-pot and 
allowing it to draw for five minutes, as we do, the 
pot is discarded altogether, and the tea turned directly 
into the cup, the boiling water then being poured on. 
When it has sufficiently cooled, the taster commences 
taking out a few of the leaves on his spoon to examine 
them, and when satisfied, returns them to the cup, 
and so contiuues through the "batch." The weight 
used is not so heavy by nearly half as ours, and it 
would probably be equal to the weight of a four- 
penny piece The plan is a more speedy one than 
ours, but I do not think it is possible tobe so accurate. 
No doubt the most rapid way for our Indian teas, 
to obtain a footing on these markets would be, as I 
I advised you in July last, to manufacture them 
to assimilate as far as possible the teas already in 
demand, but I am inclined to agre with the decision 
of the Committee of the Syndicate, that it is better to 
allow our teas to stand on their merits, as I think 
it may be assumed that the reason the consumption 
of tea is so small in this country is due to the fact 
that the article now offered to the pub'ic is, on the 
whole, an inferior and not very palatable one. 
Before I close, one thing I would like to impress 
strongly on those who take an interest in working 
up these foreign markets, is, that the present style of 
packing considerably retards the sale of indian teas. 
Large packages are unsaleable, except at a considerably 
reduced price, hatfchests containing 28 to 45 lb. nett 
will sell most rapidly. They should be neatly finished 
and marked, so that, instead of being, as they are 
considered here, an eye-sore in the retail dealer's shop, 
they would prove an attractive ornament. There 
is a stronger feeling here against rough packing (of any 
kind of goods) than I cun give you any idea of. A 
retail dealer will not purchase a rough package as 
he '■ calculates " it would be likely to keep customers 
out of his "store." One reason, I think, why the 
Japanese have got such a strong hold on these 
markets is the remarkably neat way in which their 
packages are made up, they are neatly matted and 
papered with a stylish label seteing forth the class they 
claim, to contain, I cannot see why we should not vie 
with the Japanese in this, and that the trouble taken 
be well repaid 1 have not the would slightest doubt. —I 
am, dear sir, yours faitfully D. A. Sibthorp. 
Export of Indian Tea to Australia and New 
Zealand.- The quantity of tea exported from Calcutta 
to Australia and New Zealand in the months of 
January and February last was 126,657 lb. Last year, 
135,8991b were exported in the same period. — Calcutta 
Englishman. 
Cinchona. — A consignment consisting of 138 bale3 
of cinchona bark, weighing in the aggregate 24 ton=, 
from the Government cinchona plantations, Dodabetta', 
Nilgiris, were shipped to London during the past 
month, and intimation of the same conveyed to the 
Secretary of State. —Madras Times. 
Tobacco in Kaffraria.— Our contemporary, the 
Colonies and India, says tobacco has long been grown 
successfully in Kaffraria, and its cultivation is rapidly 
extending. On a farm about 15 miles from the mouth 
of the Kli, Mr. Keighley is planting out about 9.000 
plants. In virgin soil the weed grows most luxuri- 
antly, quite rivalling anything produced in America 
or elsewhere. 
Dr. Forbes Watson. -This gentleman, who was for 
several years Director of the Indian Museum at South 
Kensington, and who arrived in Madras last week from 
Calcutta, will leave Madras tomorrow for Dharwar 
and Bombay, whence he will proceed to England. He 
has been engaged on enquiries into the production of 
rhea fibre in Upper Bengal, and in gathering informa- 
tion about the cotton trade in various provinces, 
Madras Mail. 
Manitoba. — The Liverpool Journal of Commerce 
says :— " The land fever in Manitoba remains unabated, 
and Brandon is now the centre of attraction. A three 
nights' sale by the Canadian Pacific Bailway of lots in 
that town realised $133,000, and it is said that one 
speculator has cleared $60,000 by a quarter section 
just added to it. Brandon would rapidly become a 
town of considerable extent but for the want of build- 
ing material. A new town, named Garfield, has been 
formed twenty-five miles from Winnipeg, and town 
lots are being offered by auction in that city. It is 
reported that the travelling over the St. Paul and 
Manitoba road to Winnipeg is 100 per cent, over that 
oflastyearat this season. Wheat has been selling in 
Winnipeg at 95 cents., and oats 70 cents, per bushel. 
The high prices are due to local consumption, the supl 
ply not being equal to the demand." 
Agricultural Schools should be established in 
Ceylon as in India, where the pupils can acquire 
a knowledge of improved methods of culture. New 
implements of cultivation, used in England, America 
and other places, should be introduced and facilities 
afforded for poor cultivators to huy them as cheaply 
as possible. New products and', better seed-plants suit- 
able for different soils with directions as to their culti. 
vation should be distributed broadcast over the land. 
Agricultural shows should be made in the chief towns 
periodically and prizes awarded. These are obvious and 
legitimate duties of Government, much more, that of one 
whichprofesses to be paternal. It cannot be pretended 
thatthe functions of a paternal despotism like that of 
Ceylon should be passive and restrictive, as in more 
civilized countries — particularly, in matters which touch 
the very existence of the people. Spontaneous growth 
of the natives in these things will be at best a thing 
of the distant future. Hence, active encouragement 
of Government is all- important. Without offering 
such aids or encouragement, Government may waste 
enormous sums of money in the repair of tanks and 
anicuts, and wait for centuries before either they them- 
selves or thepeople reapa ny benefits, — ' Lanka Snahan. 
