84 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST iAugust i, 1893. 
today. Who then is to decide for our much-puzzkd 
plautera when experts difEer so widely in the advice 
they tender to them ? At this end, moreover, we 
have leading planters — and one of them wields the 
pen today — declaring that the quality of Cejlon 
teas has not greatly fallen off ; but on this poict 
we suspect there is no getting over the average 
price paid for Oeylons as compared with Assam 
teas. Not so long ago the advantage lay with Ceylon ; 
what has sent it bo largely the other way i lo 
this very material direction, llierefor\ it Feeins 
as i( our critics had the best of the discu(sion. 
It is moit essential that the reputation ot Cryloii 
tea, as a defioite proluolion in the pros?, should 
stand high in the Lordon market. We know to what 
B standard the past brought our staple, and to this 
attainment of a high pisition, we know that we owe 
the almost marvellous advance our presmt industry 
has made. The question naturaliy eupp.ests iuelf 
whether it can be wise to risk the sacrifice of this 
enormous advantage ia or.ler to secure a larger pre- 
sent return for our output ? Should v/e not by doing 
this be effectually killing the g 03e that 1 -ys 
the golden eggs. Wa know, nnfortunatdy, 
how nvrrow is the present margin which 
separates profit frcm loss in not a few instances. 
It may have paid at the recent prices to 
send home tea by quantity ; but if the results 
anticipated by tha London brokers follow 
our continuance in doing so, it is not likely that 
that advantage will long remain. It is quite 
true, we do not for an instant doubt, that soieniific 
research is conclusive upon the data efforded by 
the late condition of the market ; but any argu- 
ment based upon such data must be held to be 
falsified when the .s'ern logic of fact shows us that 
the conditions can no longer be accepted. Tbe 
consideration of the effect of large quantities of 
common teas in the market we tbink could 
hardly be expected to have entered into Mr John 
Hughes' calculations. His counsel is of the 
abstract quality only. He knows nothing of tbe 
outside questions that are under the daily obcer- 
vation of the profeesionsl tea-broker. When we 
are assured that one of the more experienced of 
these has been condemning the bulk of Ceylon 
teas paesing through his hands of late, and when 
even a proprietor of some of these teas — who must 
naturally be anxious to see in his property the 
highest possible qualities — is forced to confees 
that what he has for sale is poor stuff, we cannot 
hold that these opinions are special exaggerations. 
There is no question that Oeylon sends a con- 
siderable proportion of fine teas from the higher 
districts and there muEt be many cases where, 
as our planting correspondent shows today, the 
broker's description of our teas, is not fair. But 
then regarded in the gross what is the logic of 
facts: our average which was S^d on 59th May 
was last week down to 7£-d and no one anticipates 
a better result this week. 
We cacnot help thinking, therefore, that in endea- 
voring to hold the balance fairly between 
the opinions of the professional fcienfist and 
those of the practical broker, we must in- 
cline, nckm volem, towards tbe latter. He 
knows how the market is governed by condi- 
tions which science does not take account 
of. He knows that the quality and amount 
of supplies from other tea-f reducing countries 
sways the pendulum of prices, and therefore the 
prosperity or otherwise of Ceylon produce. 
Scientific fact must, no doubt, always be an im- 
portant factor; tut it is manifestly less of a 
sure guide than the daily vacillation in the 
Tolume of lupply. It is difBcult, perhaps, to 
^(Cide ufcn tbe e;aot relative ykIucb of two 
opposed counselB ot perfectioD. Bat one (act 
is patent, and that is that und«r co cccd tiocB 
can it be a wise policy to lover the repntatioo 
of Cey'on tea. It is, on the contrary, all-im- 
portant to the future life of tbe industry that 
this sbculd be meinlained. All other consider- 
ation must be held insignificant compared with the 
duty of maintaining a gcod name, and therefore it 
is that we consider that a sacrifice of .some amount 
of present rctuin muEt be made if the future 
of Ceylon U& is to te looked forward to with 
confidence 
. ^ 
TEA TRADERS' TALK. 
Barry Pain is responsible for tbe foltowin^ 
parody 
Poor, varlet, poor the water. 
The ws.(er steaining hot ! 
A spooijlul for each man of up. 
Another for the pot! 
We ►ha/I not driuk from Muber, 
No Capuao Klave shall mis 
For ue ibesnowg nf Athoe 
With port at th'rtj-sis 
Whiter then snow the crystals 
Grown sweet 'teatb tropic firec. 
Wore rich the herb of Chica'e field*, 
Tbe patturc-lai ds more frngranoe yield ; 
Forever kt Britannia wield 
The teapot of ber siree. 
THE TEA TBADE. 
There is nothing like tbe tea trade 
For merchant* wbo would thrive, 
And busy be I'ke busy bees working in the bive. 
With lives as sweet bb sweetest honey 
They are ftoiing up the money 
In a way tliat's most eucouragiog to see ; 
But in all the lei they hai}dle 
There's cone can bob) a caodle 
To the tea (hat's known abroad as bonebty. 
Thf re s sobr eiy, lociety and best of notoriety, 
Punctuality, frugality and shrewd sagacity, 
There's modesty and jolhty, the very fioeat 
quahty 
Are blonds and brands we ell delight to see. 
There's tociality, generosity, 
A ndbnsinciB reciprocity 
And charity with flavcur ever fice 
Such tea will alwaj.'^ draw, 
Ac d in them you find no flaw, 
But integritj'ii the finest in the line, 
Ent shun all sorts of animosity, 
All flavonrs of monstrosity, 
A' d remember that pomposity 
Was never known to please ; 
ThoDgh mixed wi'h ingenuity 
There will still be incongruity 
lhat will make you a nonentity 
In the handling of tea8. 
If you deal in best of Oolonp, 
CoBgon, Foochow or Souchong, 
Hyeon Skin or Old Bohea, 
Do not practice infidelity. 
Insobriety, profunity, or any scrtof vsnily 
If you would serve humanity 
In supplying them with tea 
— Detroit Herald of Commerce. 
SAKDAKAN JOTTINGS. 
May 29th. 
TOBACCO ESTATES. 
The quick development of this country depends so 
greatly on the success of the tobaeco estates sow 
operating, that you c an imagine how the tews of the 
high prices realized at the first tobacco ealesat Ams- 
terdam this year have been received by onr coinmnnity. 
It baa been and still contiunea to be the chief topic 
of coDVerealioD, aod has raised tbe bopee of many wi^g 
