May I, 1894.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
753 
joint action is practicable. It has been said, 
— " Why should not the representatives of 
India and Ceylon work amicably, even if paid 
and appointed separately?" Well, is it in 
correspondence with trade instincts or 
hnman nature ? One Agent is appointed to 
push " Ceylon " teas by hook or by crook ; the 
other to do the same for "Indians." Would the 
one not be jealous of the other making a 
greater show? Would he not be in a very differ- 
ent position to a Broker-representative 
whose one object would be to give the 
wholesale dealers the very largest choice of 
samples of pure teas— from the weakest 
Ceylon to the strongest Assam— for them to 
choose from ? We have looked at the matter 
from every point of view, and we still ad- 
here most strongly to the wisdom of joint 
action, and to the balance of advantage from 
following such a course being distinctly on 
tho side of Ceylon. Nevertheless, if the 
planters decide otherwise — or rather if the 
Joint-Committee to be appointed to consider 
the course of procedure, so decide — we are 
free to confess that the Campaign can be 
fought and with the prospect of successful 
results — though not, in our opinion, such 
speedy and satisfactory results. 
For, if a joint campaign is started having for 
its one object to eupereede China and Japan 
teas in Amerioa, — if there is "a long pull, a 
strong pull, and a pull all together," — we 
believe that a greit and important obaoge might 
be expected in a very short time. We are not 
afraid to say that if a start were made this 
year, 1896 might see the 20 to 30 million lb. of 
Ceylon and Indian tea taken o3 in America, 
with the prospect of an increase year by year in 
leaps and bounds. Let the despondent among 
our planters and merchants know that such a 
revolution in the American tea trade has already 
taken place. Talking with one of the large et 
dealers in Amerioa, who had been won over to 
take a favourable riew of the new teas, Mr, 
" Baohanan said : — " I suppose in any case, the 
"increased demand for Ceylon and Indian teas in 
" America must be very gradual over a long series 
" of years." — "Not so" — WBs the reply — " if once 
they begin to be dealt with by the trade 
ganerally ; and for these reasons, (1) you have 
a good article, and (2) Japan teas have been 
steadily deteriorating for years. Now I (eaid 
the speaker) have been long enough (over thirty 
years) in the tea trade, to remember when 
Amerioa drunk no Japan's ; hut within two years 
of the taste being approved, Japan's became all 
ilce rage in tJie United States." Clearly this dealer 
implied that il the Advertising Campaign of Ceylon 
and Indian teas — for whether it be by Agent or 
Bounty or anything elEe, still it means advertis- 
ing — is pursued vigorously, even he might see in 
a very few years, another big revolution in the 
American taste, and the good, sound, superior 
Ceylon and Indian teas become all the fashion. 
So mote it be. 
It is impossible to think of the special intelli- 
gence of the American people and not to feel sure 
tliftt when they know that the experts of their own 
and every other country admit the great superiority 
of Crylon and Indian leaf, they should not begin 
to discard the inferior actiule. 
We bad written so far, when the letter of the 
Cbaiimau 01 ihe ASoi c aiiou enc Oding the aucoinot 
business-like and feabiolo boLomo of Mr. t. R. 
Buchanan, reached us, We need not oommont 
upon it: where it difftra from what is urged 
above, it will be for those concerned to say, 
where the advantage lies. Meantime, so soon aa 
the Government consent to contioue the Cess, 
and a joint-Committeo is appainted, the latter 
might well call on all and sundry to follow Mr. 
Buchanan's example, and send in schemes in an 
equally brief clear form to be taken into con. 
sideration before a final decision is an-ived at. 
THE POSITION OF INDIAN, CEYLON, 
AND JAVA TEA. 
MeBsra. Geo. White & Co., in their annual Indian. 
Gtylou, and Java tea report of March 19, 1894 say • 
Notwithstanding that the total yield from all quarters 
will probably be less th^n at one time anticipated 
supplies generally appear likely to be BofScient for 
ordinary requirements. 
One of the chief features noticeable, both in soma 
of the teas from India, especially from Assam and 
Darjeehng, and also in mo t from the high districts 
of Ue\l)n, was the marked variation in the quality 
received from the same estates.In many inatanoes a fiee 
invoice was followed by one much inferior, and again 
succeeded by another good one, and so on throughout 
caueioff prices to fluctuate considerably. Oonsfqnentiy 
reg. lar buyers of well-known marks oTten experienced 
much diflScalty in determining their course of action 
as regards purchasing, From this it would seem that 
the weather in many of the tea districts was more 
changeable than ordinary. 
Although the home consumption shows an increase 
of nearly 1,000,0001b. this is disappointing, but may 
be asoounted for by the high prices current for 
common descriptions during the firdt half of the 
year. Exports of China from London exhibit a 
marked decrease, probably due to larger direct ship- 
ments to the Continent. It is therefore necessary 
in estimating our wants for the coming season that 
this gradual changing of the situation should be 
kept in view. At present crop estimates from India 
have not been received, and must when they do 
arrive be considered only approximate, as neatly 
everything depCLd^, both in Indii and Oeylon, upon 
the weather during manufacture. The f.illowing, 
however, appear to be the quantities that will moat 
likely be sent from the different countries to meet our 
requirements, viz.; — 
lb. 
India may be expected to furni«h 
Ceylon do do 
Java do do ., 
China do do 
120,000,000 
80,000,000 
4,000,000 
41,000,000 
lb. 245,000,000 
Peospects. 
Should these figures prove correct, it is evident 
there will be a larger quantity of Brit is'- -grown tea to 
deal with than last season. Young bushes from the 
areas planted out three or four years since will now 
cjme into bearing, and it is a question whether the 
outlook for some lime is sufficuntly good to induce 
estate owners to make further extensions. The present 
rate of home oonHumptiou appoars hardly enou<»b to 
absorb these increasing suppliee, as owing to'their 
superior strength they go further in domestic 
use than a similar weight of Ohira Congou. 
Consequently the importance of continuing to push 
them in other countries claims tlie attention of every- 
one interestei in the dpvelopment of the industry. 
Trale with the Continent is steadily growing, while 
the efforts made at the Chicairo Exhibition will pro- 
bably have a far-reaohing influenc* in the Uuited 
States. Cooaidering that the world's coninmption of 
tea, not including tho amoaut u«ei locally iu China, 
is from 4.30 to 470 million IbB., of which India and 
Ceylon do not at preipot furniih one-h'»If, fh^^remmt 
bo ample room for expansion i( »Iih jiroduo • of China 
and Japan oau be Atill further di>pln fd in tho ooou- 
trica whero tbey are at presaot ohicdy taken, TLia 
