April 2, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
6$l 
and iron work is twisted out of shape and useless. 
The whole thing did not occupy much time, I am 
told, and was over in about an hour. The 
estate belongs to the Ceylon Tea Plantations Com- 
pany, and the factory was, of course, insured. How 
the fire originated I have not heard ; but I am 
told it is supposed that a spark from the engine 
falling on the tats set the whole building in a blaze." 
INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA IN 
AMERICA : 
SIR JOHN MUIR'S VIEW. 
At the Grand Oriental Hotel on the afternoon of 
12th March, one of our representatives had the pri- 
vilege of a conversation with Sir John Mutr. During 
the day Sir John was busily engaged with the 
(tentlemen who attend to the interests here of 
Messrs. Finlay, Muir, & Co,, but notwithstanding 
the pressure of engagements and the demand whioh 
these] made upon his time, Sir John readily 
accorded our representative an interview and 
received him most courteously. The chief topia 
of conversation was the proposed combination 
between the Indian and Ceylon planters for the 
introduction of their teas into America. This was 
a Bubjeot whioh Sir John said be had discussed 
with the members of the Indian Tea Association 
at a very representative meeting at Calcutta, and 
the unanimity of opinion in favour of the Echeme 
was most cordial, the planters also expressing 
their readiness to assess themselves to the 
extent of two annas per acre of tea opened 
out and one half-anna per mannd of tea 
produced in order to provide a fund to accom- 
plish the desired object. This assesamenr, it 'was 
calculated, would realize about EIOO,000, and there 
was no doubt (added Mr. Buchanan who was 
present during the interview, as was also Mr. 
Fairlie) that the Indian people would contribute 
their full proportion to any fund that was or- 
ganiz''d. The Indian planters, continued Sir 
John, considered that their interests were identical 
with those of their brethren in Ceylon, and what 
they felt was that if they could manage to sell 
five or ten million lb. of tea in the American 
market, it did not matter whether it was Ceylon 
or Indian tea so long as it was British-grown, 
and the London market wouM be materially 
helped thereby. "lam satisfied," said Sir John, 
" that co-operation between Ceylon and India is 
the right thing-— that instead of each working 
independeDtly and probably pulling different ways 
they should work in harmony for their common 
benefit. That is what I said to the people in 
India, that is what I say to the people in 
Ceylon, and that is what I will eay to the 
people in London. I promised to the Indian 
planters that if our Ceylon friends would be good 
enough to give me the opportunity, I would luUy 
explain to them what had passed at the meeting 
and endeavour to convince them that that i» the 
proper course to pursue." 
Asked about his Company'^ tea properly in 
InJia, Sir John said that in two didtrictd of 
Assam thoy had greatly extended it, but it 
would take a considerable time to open out. 
With regard to Ceylon he said he was 
still willing to consider reasonable offer?, but 
thera was no occasion for rushing and ho could 
affi^rd to wait till a favourublo opportunity 
occurred for extending his Oompauy'a hold- 
ing here. 
Bii- .lohn lenvoB for upoountry on I4th March, and 
resumes liis voy»ge to Europe in the " Clan 
Muourtbur '' a fortnight henoe. Sir John goes to 
Warwick estate, and after that to pass a few days 
with Sir A. Havelook ; thdn back to Dimbula and 
Eandy by the 21st and to Colombo to leave for 
home atout the 24tb March. 
THE INDIAN AND CEYLON TEA INVES- 
TORS' EXCHANGE (LIMITED), 
to whioh we referred the other day, mentiona in 
its proEpeotUB :— 
The Company is formed to supply a much-felt 
want : — A centre where buyers and sellers of Tea 
Shares and Properties may be brought into ready 
contact ; and where reliable information for Inves- 
tors in Tea Securities may be obtained, and advan- 
ces on sound security negotiated. Ceylon, more 
particularly, from the enterprise of its Planters, 
should command the confidence of Investors. Since 
the collapse of Coffee, Tea from a shipment in 1883 
of .500,000 lb., reached in 1893 an export of nearly 
8.S million lb. The large profits yielded by good 
management give the greatest encouragement for 
the future prosperity of the Island. The Tea Pro- 
perties that changed hands in 1893 alone represented 
over £500,000, clearly showing the increasing attrac- 
tion this Island has for Investors. Ceylon offers one 
of the best fields for Young Men with Capital; and 
apart from its interest as a field for enterprise, it 
has comforts and social amenities that few of the 
Colonies possess. The Company represents, in Lon- 
don, the established Agencies in Ceylon of — The 
Ceylon Investment Registry, Nuwara Eliya. The 
Ceylon Lands Registry Office, Kandy. 
And invite attention to the Annexed List of valu- 
able Properties now offered for Sale, besides many 
other smaller Properties, which are on the Register. 
From the increase in the number of Public Tea 
Companies formed, a ready market now become 
necessary where Ceylon residents at home may have 
the medium for dealing in those shares, and the 
Company for this purpose wil Irepresent — Messrs. 
George Armitage & Co., Sharebrokers, Colombo ; with 
whom they will be in telegraphic communication 
as to the state of the local Share Market, &c. Mr. 
Douglas Dnrnford wiU manage the Share Department. 
Mr. Buesfll Grant is Manager and it is rumoured 
that Mr. Forbes Laurie is interested in (he Com- 
pany. The list of properties for eala include a 
good many districts. 
TEA MAKING AND HIGH PRICES. 
We take the following from the London Letter 
of the looal " Times" : — 
AGBA PATAKA TEA. 
In my last letter I directed attention to (he stand- 
out averages realised by Mr, Wiekham'a Agra P*tana 
tea, not merely on account of i ts advanced value, see- 
ing that not long sioce higher figurea have been 
realised by parcels from other estates, but beoauee 
the tea of this estate has been eteadily advanciug to 
its present position gradually duriog the last few 
years, and because the value is uot lo be attributed 
to very fine plucking, Last year, in the corresponding 
period of the season, the marked average for Ceylon 
tea, a3 reported io the Brokers' circular!, was 9Jd ; 
the average then realised for the tea from this 
property was 11 Jil, which shews a gain of IJdperlb. 
This year, the market average being 8d, the produoe 
from this estate renli^ed an average of Is 4£d, or 8^d 
above thegeneral average, a gain of sufficient nmoaut 
to justify an iuquiry on my part as to itiu 
rtasoo. I have Delected this period, for the purpose 
of compariaou becauae I learn that dormg 
the past twelve months a departure from the ordinary 
tystum adopted in the initial and important process 
of " witheriug" Iish adopted, which I consider i alli 
fur Boiite reraarki from me. Although I bavo baa no 
personal experience in the manafaclure of 1^, I have 
Lad very many coaveriationa with some o( the most 
experienoed tea-makers from your Island, md b«ve 
