Oct. 2, 1893.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
243 
Bbandoned, making a total of 85,000 aores, we 
feel Bure this is far below the actual extent of 
forest -land in private hands. How then is the 
difference between the total area of 725,000 acres 
and the cultivated area of 353,000 namely 
372,000 Bcrrs to be aooountcd for ? Our es- 
timate would be that of forest land fit for 
tea, oaoao, Liberian coffee or other products, there 
are counting all reserves and unopened blocks 
about 120,000 acres in private hands ; that 50,000, 
aores represents the area of land once cultivated, 
but abandoned within the last 30 years and now 
growing up in weeds and lantana, and that the 
balance of about 202,000 acres may be put down 
as representing checa and patana (a good deal of 
both fit for cultivation, — eEpecially in Uva, where 
patana land is turning out so well in tea — should 
prices of produce keep up) besides swamps and 
other utterly waste portions. 
CEYLON TEA IN AMERICA. 
A gentleman largely interested in tea has kindly 
favoured us with his views regarding the neoes-iiiy 
for steps being taken at once to carry out the 
suggestion of our Chioago Oommiseioner for the 
f stablishmen'; of stores in the principal cities of 
America. He says :— 
" The efforts being made by Ceylon at the Chicago 
Exhibition for the introduction of Ceylon tea into 
America have been engaging the attention of all 
interested in the welfare of the colony and especi- 
ally of those who are engaged in the tea industry. 
A large expense has been and is being incurred, 
the main object of which is to get an entrance for 
our teas into America. It was at one time hoped 
that through the agency of the Ceylon Planters' 
Tea Company much in this direction might have 
been done, but as this organization has ceased to 
exist, the question is now forcing itself on the 
minds of all thoughtful people — what is to be done 
when the Exhibition closes and the Commissioner 
leaves America ? Attention seems to have been more 
forcibly drawn to this question since the receipt 
of recent letters from the Hon. Mr. Grinlinton. 
In his latest letter to the Planters' Asso- 
ciation, that of 7th July, he puts the matter 
more plainly than on any previous occasion, 
and presses home the urgency of it in a manner 
that will demand the moat serious attention of that 
body. He points out that there ought to be agencies 
or stores in the principal cities where purchasers 
can obtain supplies of Ceylon tea. He has found 
that grocers generally show an unwillingness to sell 
the tea, and this of itself is a serious obstacle that 
has to be surmounted. He appeals to the Planters' 
Association in the hope that those interested will 
provide the funds that may be necessary. Not only 
IS a good deal of money required, as the experience 
of the old and also the new American Tea Com- 
panies amply testify, but men with plenty of energy 
and push are needed as well to persevere with the 
work in which men like MoConibie Murray, Arthur, 
Pineo, and Elwood May have failed. It is useless 
for us to shut our eyes to the want of success 
that has hitherto attended efforts. We must face 
it, try to discern where these efforts have been 
misdirected, and endeavour to avoid in the future 
any mistakes that may possibly have been made 
in the past. As regards the finding of funds I do 
not know what the feeling amongst planters gene- 
rally may be, but I am inclined to think 
that but little would be voluntarily contri- 
buted in Ceylon after all that has passed to 
carry on the work. The suggestion has been 
made that through the Ceylon Association in London 
funds might bo obtained; but in that direction, too, 
I fear there will be but little inclination to find 
money. To me it seems that the fairest and most 
effectual way of providing funds would be by the 
continuance of the export duty at the Customs here, 
for as long tv period as is necessary to provide the 
sum required to continue the efforts to introduce 
Ceylon tea into America after what is now 
being done at Chicago is concluded- As a tea- 
grower myself I would willingly agree to the 
continuance of this levy. A.ssuming that by this 
means the money should be obtained, the next 
question is — by what means or through what or- 
ganization are the men to be found to give effect to 
what is desired. A good many people may say 
leave this to private enterprise and let Ceylon tea 
make its way; but if only this is to be done we 
may find that we might as well have saved all 
the money expended and kept our Commissioner 
in Ceylon. That there is some fear of this I am 
somewhat apprehensive and my reason for this 
feeling is as follows. I see by Mr. Grinlinton's 
letters that the attitude he seems to feel himself 
bound to observe is that of a representative of the 
Ceylon Government and the Planters' Association, 
prevented as such by the very nature of his posi- 
tion, from personally engaging in any under- 
taking which would savour of personal gain. 
And whilst furnishing all the information in his 
power to those who desire to be made further 
acquainted with our Oeylon teas and putting them in 
the way of obtaining them, he does not seem lo feel 
at liberty to enter into arrangements for the further 
permanent introduction of tea beyond providing this 
information and selling tea in packets in the 
manner he describes. Now if this is carried to its 
extremity we shall not find ourselves very much 
further forward at the close of the Exhibition 
than we were at the -tart. What is wanted now 
aa it appears to me is that the Government and 
the Planters' Association should without delay 
give Mr. Grinlinton a free hand and let him know 
that his position as Commissioner need not prevent 
him from entering into any arrangements he deems 
tit in the interests of the Oeylon tea industry 
for the establishment of such agencies as he 
indicates to be necessary, using every reasonable 
safeguard to ensure his being honestly dealt with. 
So long as his hands are tied, or so long as he 
believes them to be so, it is obvious that we need 
not loek for the important results we are all hoping 
for ; but if he is given freedom of action to take 
such measures aa in his judgment seem expedient 
and likely to be successful, then I think he would 
at once be likely to set about organizing the stores 
which he recommends should be established. It may 
be that many who have read Mr. Grinlinton's letters 
may not have been impressed in the same way as 
I have been and as I have endeavoured to 
describe, but I would invite attention again to theie 
letters, and as there is no time to be lost I would 
earnestly urge the Government and the Planters' 
Association to consider well all that Mr. Grinlinton 
has put forward. My suffgestiona I submit with all 
diflidence because, I feel it ii a very large ques- 
tion and one that seems to h»ve an important 
bearing upon the future of onr industry, seeing that 
exports of tea from China are increasing and that 
prices in Europe are declining. We are now in the 
month of September and the Chicago Exhibition will 
close at the enl of Oatober. There is therefore no 
time to lose and the urgency of the situation and 
need for immediate totion goes witboat saying." 
The tea planters of Ceylon may well cry where 
and when is this sort of demand on their pockets 
to oease? After voting £20,000 (sinoe increased 
by Bome thousands) for a Show at Chioago which 
was to conquer America for Oeylon tea, they may 
well be taken aback at a proposal to spend still 
more money in order to push their teas into demand. 
The Customs Cess, to cover existing debt, will have 
to run on to the end of 1884 — perhaps into 1886. 
To guarantee or vote expenditure, which may 
involve its continuance for a further indefinite 
period, is a rather serious matter. And yet what 
is to be done ? If the inference from the Commie- 
sioner's letters and reports is, that notwithslandiug 
the ready way in which Oeylon tea is being 
