9 8o THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May i, 1882. 
vernment of India to gradually withdraw the ap- 
plication of a special law. The next thing note- 
worthy in the report was the establishment of an 
Indian Tea Association at Calcutta. This was ad- 
vocated in the first instance by the Home Associa- 
tion. It was working on the same basis, and there- 
fore should meet with approbation. Referring to the 
general state of the affars of the Association, the 
Chairman said he had mnch pleasure in inform- 
ing them that they were in a good position. Last 
year one of the members proposed some form of pro- 
tection for Indian tea in its competition with that of 
China ; but he believed that the time was not far 
distaut when the popularity of Indian tea would 
render all movements of this kind unnecessary. He 
congratulated the meeting on the improved tone of 
the tea markets of late. With reference to the great 
injury done to tea by exposing and bulking it at 
the Custom House, the Chairman said that this had 
been, and still was, a subject of discussion, and a 
very important one, Memorials asking for some re- 
form had been frequently sent to the Commissioners 
of Customs, but hitherto without Buccess. He hoped, 
however, that they would eventually obtain redress. 
He thought that it was a very difficult matter to 
procure boxes of a uniform weight, as in most of 
the tea districts, the wood was difficult to deal with. 
The report of the meeting having been seconded by 
Col. Keating, it was unanimously adopted. Mr. Sangs- 
ter remarked that he advocated the same policy he 
had pursued at the last meeting of the Association — 
namely, to have the duty on Indian tea reduced to 
3d. per pound. He thought also that it would be 
advisable to give reports of the meeting to suburban 
grocers, and push trade with them. He was of opinion 
that Indian tea ought to be represented at the In- 
ternational Exhibition in Melbourne. He suggested 
also that some reduction might be made in the cost 
of the making of Indian tea, as the present rate 
was too high. Mr. Sangster said than he had re- 
ceived a letter from Mr. M elver, the member for 
Birkenhead, who would give his assistance in Par- 
liament on the duty question at a favourable op- 
portunity, as the subject was one which had long 
occupied his attention. The Chairman said that it 
would be a very useful thing to get a protective 
duty of 3d , but he could see no prospect of that 
object being attained. Referring to the proposed 
American agency for India tea, he reminded the meet- 
ing that the Calcutta Syndicate was established for 
the purpose of creating a trade with Australia and 
America, and he thought its operations would be 
successful. A discussion then arose on the advis; 
bility of leaving the question of Parliamentary ef 
forts to a working committee. Messrs. C. Sander 
son, Octavius Steele, and P. R. Buchanan were una 
nimously elected members of the general committee 
and the meeting separated after giving a vote o 
thanks to Sir Douglas Forsyth for presiding. — Over 
land Mail, March 3rd. 
BRAZIL COFFEE PROSPECTS, 
An error in our last issue made us say that the 
aggregate stocks of coffee in the principal ports of 
E .rope on the 1st of January last were "over twice 
the normal export there from Brazil." We should have 
said nearly twice the normal export. Although the 
average export during the last eight years has been 
1,235,230 bags, the normal export has been between 
one million and eleven hundred thousand bags. The 
extraordinary large shipments for 1881—1,905,241 
ba^s— which was due to speculative influences rather 
than to any actual demand, increased the average for the 
eight years since 1874 to over twelve hundred thousand 
bigi, Qur purpose was to show the enormous accu- 
mulation of coffee in those ports which has not yet 
entered the market for consumption, and which re- 
presents nearly twice the normal export there from 
this country. Some of this coffee has been held for 
two years, and now represents an enormous loss. It 
is reasonable to presume that these stocks can not 
be held much longer for a better market, because the 
stocks already accumulated and the constantly in- 
creasing production all tend to keep prices at the 
minimum — even at rates lower than those now ruling. 
These accumulated stocks in Europe represent about 
five months' consumption there, and if thrown upon 
the market early this year, as they undoubtedly will 
be, they will cause a heavy decline in imports. More 
than that, they represent an aggregate loss which can 
not fail to cause widespread disaster in the trade, 
of which Brazil must unavoidably bear no small share. 
We do not expect ministers of finance to take any 
account of these ominous facte, but merchants and 
planters will do well to take them into thoughtful 
consideration. — Bio News. 
COFFEE AND SUGAR IN BARZIL. 
The official value of ths exports of Rio de Janeiro, in 
the past year, was 97,251,128 mils., of which coffee re- 
presented 94,465, 116 mils. ; sugar, 880,676 mils.; hides, 
909,598 mils.; tobacco, 535,050 mils.; rosewood, 309,685 
mils. The export of gold and silver from Rio de Janeiro 
in 1881 amounted to 4,113,078 mils., of which 2,816,340 
mils, was to England ; 189,168 mils, to France; 963,663 
mils, to the River Plate ; and 140,906 mils, to Brazilian 
ports. 
The export of coffee last year was 4,377,418 bags of 
sixty kilograms, being 814,364 bags more than 1880 [ 
Of this quantity the United States took 2,241,976 bags, 
and Europe, etc., 2,135,442 bags. It should be noted 
that, of late years, the United States would seem to be 
"taking proportionately a decreasing quantity of the 
Brazilian crop." The prices realized per kilogram last 
year, as compared with 1880, show a very serious re- 
duction for all qualities, as follows : — 
First half 1881: First half 1880: 
First good 430 to 505 reis 560to635reis 
Second ordinary .. 390 ,, 475 „ 525 „ 605 „ 
Regular 335 „ 435 „ 490 „ 590 „ 
Third good 275 ,, 380 ,, 440 „ 590 „ 
Second ordinary... 230 ,, 330 ,, 390 „ 470 ,, 
Second half of 1881 : Second half of 1880. 
First good ... 415 to 505 reis 450 to 600 reis 
First ordinary ... 370 „ 460 „ 420 „ 570 „ 
Regular ... 335 „ 400 „ 375 „ 525 „ 
•Second good ... 280 „ 335 „ 350 „ 470 „ 
Second ordinary 240 ,, 290 ,, 300 „ 410 „ 
His Majesty the Emperor of Brazil has been system- 
atically visiting and examining the factories and work- 
shops of Rio de Janeiro and its vicinity, with the 
object of judging, by personal investigation and by 
hearing the views of the proprietors and experts, of 
the claims put forward by the manufacturers for higher 
protective taxation of foreign products of a similar 
kind, and for the reduction of import taxes on sub- 
stances employed in the Brazilian manufactures. 
To the friends of Brazil in this country it is very 
satisfactory to observe any movement in the Empire 
favourable to the extended cultivation of additional 
articles of export to the consuming markets of tl a 
world. The soil and climate of many of the provinces 
are suitable for the production of tea, vines, and silk- 
worms, as well as sugar and coffee. With regard to the 
latter, we quite agree with a correspondent, who writes 
to us as follows : — "Coffee has seen its b st days. They 
now mix seven parts of chicory to one of coffee with it, 
and many people prefer the compound. Many doctors 
say it is more wholesome, as pure coffee heats and 
thickens the blood too much iu cold climates," 
