264 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 2, 1893. 
LONDON REPORTS ON TRAVANCORE 
CEYLON PRODUCE. 
TRAVANCORE TEA. 
(From Patry & Pasteur, Limited, Report of the 
Colonial Markets for the Week ending 
AugUBt 23rd, 1893 ) 
The chance of a good market for this olasa of tea 
was very eeverely handicaped by the over abandant 
supply of lovp medium, both from India and Ceylon, 
hut although prices appear low, they are quite 
equal to those paid for similar kinds in the other 
markets. 
The kind of tea buyers look for and expect to 
find in Travancores is that possessing thick coloury 
liquor, for vphich they are always prepared to pay 
a good price. 
Penshurst 9^d 
Belford 
Braemore 9d 
7Jd, 
6id 
Tfd 
(unas.) 
7d 
6id 
Home 
Stagbrook 
Poonmudi 
.. 7ia 
(unas.) 
8id 7d. 
9d, 
7id 
Brighton 7fd 
Invercauld 74d 
MerchistonS^J 
6d 
6id 
6id 
e^d 6d 
6d 
6id 
6d 
SJd 
bid 
e^d 
(uas.) 
Glenbrittle 7id 6id ed ... 
Seenikali 7id Bjd 
TPC 8d 6id 6d ... 
Isfield 7|d 6id 6d 
Granby (una^.) 7d, soucnong 6|d. 
R W D6d bid (unas.), Arnakei 6d 
ken pekoe souchong). 
Total 1.067 packages, averag'ng 
6id for correspondmg week last > 
6id lOSpkgs. 7id 
6§d 78§ ch. 7}d 
24 do 7Jd 
95 do 7id 
85chB. 7d 
40 do 6}d 
.. 58pkg8.6|d 
6d 49i-ch 6id 
6d, 6!d, 39 do 6|d 
54d 
5£d 22 do 6id 
5|d, SJd 86 do 6Jd 
5id 147 chs.6id 
... 108 do ejd 
(unas.), E G 6d (bro- 
6|d per lb., against 
ear. 
COFFEE PROSPECTS. 
Messrs. I. A. Rucker & Bencraft report on 
August Slat — Messrs. G. Trinks & Co. cable from 
Rio this week, " Weather unfavourable for the future 
crop. There is too much rain, and up to the pre- 
sent there is only poor flowering." There is a 
unanimous belief current that the 1894-95 crops will 
be very large, and therefore a telegram such as the 
above at present attracts little attention ; but may 
possibly yet prove to be of some importance. 
After nearly three years of more or less bad times, 
once we turn the corner we should anticipate a 
decided revival in trade. The important question 
is, are we getting within measurable distance of 
that revival. Since the issue of our last, there has 
been a distinctly better feeling about, futures are 
are dearer, and spot coffees are steady to Is advance 
from the recent lowest point. Moreover, the feel- 
ing generally current in commercial circles is more 
hopetul, and there appears to be a growing opinion 
that we have seen the worst. 
COFFEE AND TEA IN AMERICA. 
" The people of the United States in 1892 con- 
sumed per capita 6°54 pounds of coffee and 1-37 
pounds of tea. Coffee is imitated there in many ways 
besides being adulterated, and when the price of 
coffee is high the substitutes are largely purchased 
by poor people."--Bra<?sir«{'s, Aog. 19. 
TEA SEED OIL. 
A gentleman with extensive experi«nae in rifaina 
and East whi is at pr -s^-nt on a visit to Colombo 
informs U3 that tea seed oil is regularly use 1 in 
Hongboog ani th3 Sou hern parts of China aa ao 
illuminating oil. It will not howe/er barn in a 
oold climate. 
ARE 
WE A NATION OF 
DRUNKARDS? 
TEA- 
We are a nation of tea-drinkers ; we conaom^ 
about 5^ lb. of the leaf per head annually, which> 
when made into a beverage, produces about thirty- 
seven gallons of tea. The question (says the Bosptial) 
is beginning to arise — Are we a nation of tea' 
drunlukrds ? For not only are we yielding with all 
the weakness of the inebriate to the diseases of nerve 
and stomach which excessive tea-drinking briogB 
in its train, but we are developing that indifference 
to quality which is the crowning mark of indulgence, 
the point of severance between the gourmand and the 
connoisseur. Tea has always been popular in 
England, even when its price was enormously high, 
and when a moralist condemned its consumption aa 
a " filthy custom," to be explained only by the 
growing wickedness of the nations. This gentle- 
man, Mr. Henry Savile, wTiting to a friend, 
speaks with indignation of those who " call for 
tea, instes/d of pipes and bottles after dinner, 
a base unworthy Indian pr-<ctice, and which 
I must ever admire your most Christian 
family for not admitting. ' What would thia old- 
faehioned Chris'ian of 1678 say to our modfrn tem- 
perance eocietiet and tbeir end lets tea driukiuK ' 
But, indeed, it almoit aeeniR aa if a new ten'peranoe 
would have to arise to lead a orueade aRiibst oar 
favourite beverage, and reformers aboald petition 
parliament lo inrreate. the duty on tea. By far the 
larger part of the tea we drink now is the product 
of India and 0< yloo. From a pound of Indian tea 
ynu oao make 7} gallons of infusion ; from a pound of 
Cbinese tea only 5 gallons. The cocsiJeration is likely 
to weigh with the average Lcus ketper, who appreciate 
an immediate effect on her puree more than a remote 
eSect on the digestioDR of her huusi-h'.'ld. The re- 
dull is that nearly 75 per crnt (f our tea is of 
Indian and Cingalese growth. Tbcseteaa are, more- 
over, cheaper than the Cbiaa leaf, and aa tbey are 
thns doubly tempting, they have attained a danger jus 
popularity. We drink more tea than our parent! ; 
we take it oftener, stronger, and of ocar^er quality. 
The results are less obvious than tbo»e ot alco- 
holic intoxication, but not lees serious ; and, in truth, 
the time may be not far distant when the earnest 
disO'plee of the new temperance will pleai with oa 
with tears in their eyes, give up thia accursed t<=a, 
and take to cocoa, or even to beer." — St. Jatnes's 
Gazette, Sept. 1. [Wh»t is the 5J lb. per head of lea 
drank per annum in the United Kingdom to the 7 
to 8 lb. in Australia, and where will a ftner healthier 
people be found?— Ed. T.A,^ 
DRUG REPORT. 
(From the Chemist and Druggist.) 
London, Aug. 31. 
CaLUMBA.— Of 339 bags offered today liO sold at Us 
per cwt. for brown mixed sorts, partly stalky, dull and 
slightly mouldy, and 8s for very common. A lot of fair 
bright yellow root is limited at Sua per cwt. 
CoCA-LEAVES.— South American leaves are very dull of 
Bale, fair bright green broken Trnxillo being bought in 
at auction at Is 3d, good thick browni«h Huanoco at 
Is 4d per lb. Four small bags from Colombo were also 
shown, and two of these dark thick brown damaged leaves 
sold at Id per lb- 
Cboion-seed.— Twenty bags of very small seeds from 
Ceylon realised 25s per cwt. 
CuBEBS are neglected ; 708 was suggested as the price 
for 4 bags small brown shrivelled berries, and of another 
lot of 11 packages from Bombay, 4 soid at ;0s per cwt 
for good brown small mixed ; for a less desirable let a bid 
Of 62a wat rejected. 
