Feb. 1. 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
547 
porary refers. Is he not aware that the foundation 
of the pn sent splendid trade in Indian and Ceylon 
te'48 in Australisia was laid at the Melbourne 
Exhibition in 1881 when the Indian and Ceylon 
Commissioners worked together like brothers in 
mutual C'^-op ration and in a long and stern light 
against China teis which were analyzed and ex- 
posed in the public press again and again. Sir 
Edward Buok and the Hon. James Inglis 
now of Sydnpy — who repie^'ented India and 
its tea respectively — vfill testify how cordially 
they were eijpported by the late Mr. 
A. M. Ferguson (as Ceylon Commissioner) in 
this matter, while they as readily bicked big efforts 
on behalf of Ceylon. We hava yet to learn that the 
Indian planters have sinoe refused to join in a 
joint prcpofal, or that the course pursued at Chicago 
was owing to any coolness on their part. In any 
case, whatever cause of dispute or rivalry there 
may have been in the past should surely, hence- 
forward, be buried. The occasion now presented 
is one eminently demanding union and co-opi ration 
between the representative's of British-grown teas. 
They will have quite enough to do in facing and 
ousting the common enemy, namely the interior, 
deleterieuj China and Japsn teas. 
What is wanted is the formation of an Advertising 
Fund for Tea in America, to which both countries or 
rather the planters in each, should contribute, and 
in proportion to the estimates of production 
flamed in Calcutta aud Kandy. This fuud should, 
first, be devoted to the paying of a standing 
advertisement of an attractive as well as instructive 
character in the leading newspapers in America, 
Mureover, it should cover the cost of sending a 
well Selected ar.d guided corps of Indian as 
well aa Ceylon native servants to traverse the 
country from one end to the other ; and thirdly 
to provide a series of lectures throughout the 
United Slates and Canada such as attracted so 
muuh attention at the Exhibition. We may 
explain what is meant by sending native 
servants. We all know the great attraction the 
Sinhalese and Tamil servants proved at the 
Exhibition Tea Courts, and how much their 
services were in request. The same is true to a 
gieat extent of Mr. BIsohynden's native staif at the 
Indian Court. Mr. Buchanan took the trouble to 
inquire of the managing partner in one of the largest 
wholesale Tea Houses in Chicago in what way 
be and other tea producers in India and Ceylon 
oould be^t help the dealers in bringing their teas 
into use. "Lend us your native servants," was the 
reply, "not for our warehouse use, but to send on 
" a round of eervice to our customers— a week's 
" service in each town will do — when well-advertised 
■ ' as ready to supply and serve tea at certain retail 
" stores, such places will be crammed all the week 
tbrcugh end a certain tastn atd demand for jour 
" teas Will very likely be established as the result." 
This, if backed up by steady advertising, was in the 
opmion of practical men in Ctiicago and New York, 
the liest way to go to work, and with this assur- 
ance that the results oould not fail to be seen, 
almost at once, in special ciders for British- 
grown teas. 
We have only now to point out to the planting 
community and especially to the Chairman and 
Committee of the Planters' Association and Tea 
Fund, the importance of losing no time in taking 
action towards securing the co-operation o( the 
Indian 1 ea Association in Cnlcuita, in the 
foimaiion o( a special Advertising Fund for America. 
We venture to be urgent, because not only are we 
sure that the Commissioner when he renders his 
report very shortly, will agree that the field in the 
United States ie ready to be oooupied ; but, because 
the present time affords a most favourable oppor. 
unity for securing the co-operation of our Indian 
brethren in the way we speak of. 80 good an op. 
pcrtunily, indeed, may not recur. We refer to 
the presence in North India for the next 
six weeks or so ot Sir John Muir and Mr. 
Buchanan, and to their exceptional position as 
both interested in Indian and Ceylon teas. We 
feel quite sure that both these gentlemen are 
ready to promote co-operation between Indian and 
Cejlon planters in a campaign to win America 
for British-grown teas and from their infiuenoe in 
Assam and other districts, there can be no doubt 
of success altsnding such efforts in India. 
Mpssrs. Finlay, Muir & Co., of Calcutta— as the 
figures we reioently published of tea shipments 
indicated— influence a very large proportion of the 
tea property in Northern India. Indeed, we oann«t 
be fur wrong in putting their interest and influence 
as approximating to one-fifth of the entire tea 
production of India, Not only so, but combination 
in Astiam and other Northern tea districts is further 
rendered comparatively easy, as more than half the 
industry is retresented by three Calcutta Firms and 
nearly the whole is in the hands of, comparatively, 
a few Inrge Companies. Under these circumstances, it 
ia evid ut that if the Ceylon P anters' Association 
seek the co-operation of the Indian Taa Associ- 
ation, while Sir John Muir and Mr. Buchanan are 
on the spot, a ready and hearty response ia 
likely to be forthcoming. The best method of 
securing the American tea trade, not at this or 
that point, but as a whole, all over the continent, 
is undoubtedly the question of the moment for all 
tea planters. Abigsnd uni'.ed effort is specially 
required. The way is now made plain for such an 
effjrt : surely the opportunity will not be neglected 
or ignored ? Let it be remembered that hall 
efforts never accomplish anything. No one can say 
that in fighting Japan and China teas in America, 
the interests of Ceylon and Indian planters are 
not identical ; or that with a common, a powerful 
and entrenched enemy to face, attack and drive 
out, it will be well to continue to cherish petty 
jealousies (if such do exist), to magnify minor 
even if diverse interests, and to refuse to work 
shoulder to shoulder with one great and b11> 
important object in view ? If, however, our advice 
is not taken, — if nothing is done to piomote 
united action in a determined persistent cam- 
paign — all we can say is that Ceylon as 
well as India planters will deserve to see their 
teas remain at the present low level, or even to 
drop to a lower level, of average price. But we 
are persuaded better things of the g'eat tea re- 
presentatives of both countries ; for we think 
they must see with us that the occasion now 
presented is preeminently one so far as their 
industry is ooncernci, which may be illustrated 
in the words of the immortal bard : — 
" There is a tide in the affairs of men. 
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. 
Omitted, all the voyage of their life 
Is bound in shallows and in miseries." 
A NEW MEXICAN COFFhE DISTRICT. 
Land in the districts ot Culcatlan and Teotilan 
del Camino, State of Ouxaca, Mexico, suitabla to 
the cultivation of coffee and other export articles, 
has been greatly developed. It is predicted that 
the extensive zone comprising these districts will 
shortly attain great agricultural p'osperity, the 
persons hi the 1 ead of the principal nndert«k ngi 
are thought to be energetic and capable.— -i'Twrtcan 
Grocer, 
