BmPf. i, 1894.J THE tropical agriculturist. 
an American tea induslry. It would appear (bat 
repeated failure lias net checked the ardour of these 
engaged in tbeee experiment?, who c:n>tantly enjoy 
the realisation that 1 heir c'imate is especially favour- 
able to the cultivation of the Oamelia Japonic), 
Azalea Indica, and have read that the flora of the 
tea-producing countries of the East finds, to a certain 
extent, its couutirpart in the United States. The 
little patches, and, in somo matinees, large gardens, 
which have resulted from these attempts have pro- 
duced tea of fine fhveur, although very gererally 
devoid of that tlrcrg h of infusion which appears 
to constitute a mo.-t desirable quality for many tea- 
drinkers. It has been tta'ed, however, that this 
failure in pungency was largely due to defe* five curing, 
and especially to inadequate rolling of the leaf, in 
consequence of which the cup qnalities were cot 
fully developed. So far as is generally known, it 
remaii.ed f jr the National Department of Agriculture 
to begin, about ten years ago, the first serious atu mpt 
to prodnce Americau commercial tea on a scale 
sufficiently large to arrhe at a decisive result, but 
after a time the garden* which had been esiablisbed 
at great expense we re abandoned by the Government. 
Tt.e present experiment owes its ucdertaking to the 
belief that the previous trials to produce tea in the 
United States were arrested before reaching definite 
conclusions, and that mere careful cultivation and 
preparation might produce excellent resultp. Accord- 
ing to the opinion of a firm of tea merchart3 of ihe 
highest reputation in Baltimore, the tea grown on 
the Summerville estate is equal to the best grade 
English brenkfist tea, and superior to many grades 
that oome from India and China. The samples sub- 
mitted were ail of one quality and character, black, 
crisp, and well scented. It makes a strong beveragi-, 
a- d this quality is said to Lc due t j its treatment 
in fermen'ation and curing, ard it is the opinion of I 
this firm that perfected methods of curing, the 
Americau product will produce t;a similar to the 
various kirn's that come from In da and China. An 
expert on tea planting gives the following estimate 
of the probable yield per acre on flat la'. d, good soil, 
in a good tea climate, which Summerville in South 
Carolina is oonsio'ered to be. This ia with hybrid 
plants, if roally high cultivation and liberal manuring 
is ca-r:ed out. First and second 3ear nil ; third 
year 40 ib. ; fourth, 100 lb. ; fifth, 320 In. ; sixth 
■100 lb. ; stveuth, 180 lb.; eighth, 560 lb. ; mutb, 600 
lh. ; and the 10th joar, 640 lb, The announcement 
of the revival of tea experiments in the United 
States bas excited the livelier interest and ess' stance 
for the on lei taking. The United States Department 
of Agriculture has manifested a deep concern in the 
projeot, and has barne a considerable part of the 
expenditure for procuring consignments of tea seed 
from Asia. The Department of State has also issued 
orders to its Consuls at the tea ports to obtain 
simples, ami the foreign representativr s of th^ Uuited 
States Government have (-pared no efforls to secure 
the beat quslity of seed. — Journal of the Society of 
Artt, 
THE LOW PRICE OF TEA. 
It must ba exceedingly difficult to arrive at any 
conclusion amid the almost contradictory opinions 
expressed by several of the leading experts in the 
tea trade as to the oauses that have conduced to 
the recent low rates at whioh tea has teen selling in 
the London market. Taking first the theory that a 
knowledge of the cost of producing tea here oper- 
ates in the minds ol buyers to restrict the scale 
of their bidding?, we find that this is supported 
but by one out of the sevoral parties consulted. 
Tho idea that this knowledge can have suoh a 
tendency is Bcouted by suoh experienced gentlemen 
bb Messrs. John Robert?, of Messrs. Rucker 
ft Oo , and. Mr, Uoorge White. They hold that 
Supply and Demand, and the consequent biddings, 
are altogether irrespective of tho effects of suoh 
knowledge, and mainly oontrol the biddings. We 
ourselves do not see how it could be that, among 
such a large body of competitors as the London 
tea buyers, any consideration coald be given to a 
point of this character. For, were it to be known 
that our planters were being ruined by the de- 
press'on in price?, can it be deemed likely that 
philanthropy would induce men who have to out 
their trade exceedingly fine to go into the auction-room 
and say Those poor planters, — we must really 
squeeze ourselves to help them" ? At the same 
time, it would be perhaps altogether impossible 
for them to ignore in their own minds the faot 
that Tea Plantation Companies, both in India and 
Ceylon, are paying, and have for some time past 
paid, handsome dividends. But with this admission 
made, we yet think it to be impossible that this 
attempt at an explanation could be found to hold 
water. A further suggestion made is that the 
rates bid at our local auctions largely diotata 
those at the home sales. And yet it must never- 
theless be a faot that purchasers here bid, subject 
to the knowledge of what their shipments may 
cell for in England. While, therefore, the horns 
experts say that they offer upon the basis of prioea 
at the Colombo sales, our own merohaats would 
doubtless retort that they purchase upon the basis 
of ru'ing home prices ! But it was a high authority, 
aocording to our London Correspondent, that 
c ffered this second suggestion, andit was to p a oertain 
extent eudorsed by that well-known exp rt in all 
that relates to tea, Mr. John Roberts. Probably, 
we think, there is a certain amount of reflex action 
between the two sales. But buyers here have 
neeessarily to work upon more speculative data 
than those who bid in the Mincing Lane sale- 
room. The former have to some extent, to discount 
prospects at least six weeks in advanoe. The 
latter are free from this speculative disability, and 
bid upon an assured basis. At the same time the 
gri at value of the Colombo market in referenoe to 
purchases frr Auetralasia, Persia, Africa, &o., also 
for direct American and Continental as well as 
London orders must ever be borne in mind. 
Tbere is evidently no oertain view held as 
to the question of Over-production. Mr. John 
Roberts laughs at the fear of this, and deolarea 
that we are yet far from reaching it. Other 
authorities, such as Messrs. Gow, Wilson & 
Stanton, declare it has already been reaahed, 
and more than one of those consulted agree 
with their view. The solution of this point in the 
controversy seems to be dependent upon the 
ohanca that China teas may be yet further driven 
out of home competition. The firm last-mentioned, 
in their now famous diagram-ciroular, seemed to 
think that, so long as silver exchange remains 
as it is at present, the advantage it seoures to 
the China gspwers will enable their teas to maintain 
their present level of consumption. But neither 
Mr. George White nor Mr. John Roberts backa 
this opinion, and the former pointed out that, 
even at the present time, there is going on a 
steady withdrawal of the China tea from use at 
home. As to the controlling faotor in this 
question, the prospects of exchange rising, we 
find very considerable difference of opinion. Messrsu 
Gow, Wilson & Stantcn's circular expressed very 
eieoided views that exchange would rise. Other ex- 
perts thiDk it to be extremely doubtful, though 
admitting thsir incapacity to speak with any 
decision. Certainly, at the present moment, it 
would appear as if China teas wero to make a 
poorer show than ever before in the London 
market; but tu>3 is more especially owing to Juq 
