Sept. i, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
159 
like them and the saving in laboar aod cost of plnckiug 
speaks for itself. — I remsio, yonrs truly, 
(Signed) T. S. Dobree. 
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We learn that Mr. Thompson, the patentee, has 
prepared a new and much improved pattern of 
the "Tea Pluoker." and that a EUPplj has just 
arrived and is available, as advertifieof for distri- 
bution, 
TEA PLANTERS AND THE RUPEE. 
No planter is likely to object to the Oommissiou 
of Inquiry in reference to tha " Sixtesn. penny rupee" 
proposed by Mr. T. N, Chnst'e. What importers 
would eay if they were represented in the Asbo- 
ciation is another matter. It may, however, be felt 
that the Commission might wdl be delayed a tew 
months until the effect of the new departure, and 
of other changes anticipated in America, was seen 
moreclearly. But the Commission even if appointed 
at an early date, need not be in a hurry fo report 
or to make recommendations; it can indeed furnish 
more than one Eeport, delaying its final conclu- 
sions until the future of silver, under the new 
conditions, is more clearly revealed especially in 
America, 
la the meantima it is evident that Mr. Christie 
himself has no doubt about the answer to be 
given to the question raised in the first part of 
his Eesolution, He first asks that the proposed 
Commission should " consider and report on the 
probable effect in Ceylon" ; but in the second clause, 
the answer seems to be afforded when the Commission 
is requested to "consider the measures it may be 
" expedient to take to protect the intereeta of the 
"Colony under the altered nature of the currency 
"as, in the opinion of this Association, the pros- 
'.' perity of the Colony has been sfrously endangered," 
This scarcely gives the Commiss-ion the free hand 
which the first clause would imply ; but practic- 
ally, that is not of much conseqiienee since no one 
can say what further developments we may sea 
in the silver world. Meantime in connection 
with the Easolufcion and the statm of the 
Tea-planting industry, we think it well to repriot 
in full an editorial which appeared in the London 
'Financial Times of the 30th ult. on " luJian Tea 
Companies." Several references are made to 
Ceylon, and we may at once challenge the dis- 
paraging comparison made in regard to our Tea 
Companies with the exception of the premier one, 
the Ceylon Tea Plantations Company, We can 
assure our critic that the large majority of the 
Ceylon Companies known to us are as sound in- 
vestments to judge by what he himself says, as the 
Indian Companies he reoommenJs. The cases of 
Looleoondura— tea fields some 25 years old, and 
Mariawatte -thirteen years, not to speak of others 
of our older plantations — are sufficient evidence of 
the position of tea in Ceylon. It is reassuring to 
read once more that experts are against the idea 
that China tea, even with exchange greatly in its 
favour, can regain the position it has lost in the 
United Kingdom, But here is ihe article referred 
to in full : — 
INDIAN TEA COMPANIES. 
Among tho many phases of the Indian currency 
question not the least important or interesting to the 
British investor is the manner in which the new de- 
partnre is likely to affect industrial and sgrioultural 
enterprise in our great dependency. Doctrinaires and 
experts have as usual expressed exactly opposite 
opinions on the subject, and in the multitudes of 
councillors wisdom hap not yet been found. We are 
only concerned here with one particular branch of this 
complex question, but that an important one — the 
prospects of the Indian Tea Companies. It is a matter 
of common knowledge that exports of Ceylon and 
Indian tea have increased enormously of late years, 
Chinese competition being in many directions almost 
annihilated. An idea of the pecuniary stake that wa 
have in this industry may be obtaiueJ from the fact 
that the capital, including debintjres, of some sixty 
companies having head offices in London comes to gome- 
tiling like five millions sterling. Kow, as three-fourtlu 
of the expenses of these coMp»oi?s are disbursed in silver 
ia India, and thtir produce for the most part sold for 
gold in toadoD, it is easy to oonoeive th»t • low 
