tiov. t, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
TEA PRODUCTION IN CEYLON. 
The present season following on diversified experi- 
eooe in the past will probably have some effeot 
in mitigating the fear of "Over-production" whioh 
haunts the minds of not a few Ceylon planters. 
With the immense increase in our crops between 
1888 and 1892, when our tea exports rose by leaps 
and bounds, it was natural to anticipate am to fear 
that Ceylon was to swamp the tea market. In 1889 
our export was 34 million lb. ; next year it became 47 
million lb. ; in 1891 we seat away 68| million— so 
that here we had the Ceylon tea crop doubling itself 
in three years ! Was io any wonder then if the 
100 million lb. export seemed within an easy 
measurable distance, seeing that the hardy ubi- 
quitous tea plant appeared to flourish from districts 
on the sea coast up to the mountain slopes 
overlooking Nuwara Eliya? But if the three 
years ending with 1891 added 100 per oent or 
34 million lb. to our tea crops, let us see what 
the next triennial pariod ending with 1894 is 
likely to do. In 1892 we shipped very little over 
71 million lb. ; in 1893 our total oertainly rose 
again very considerably, being over 84 million lb 
but for the ourrent year it is doubtful if the 
estimate of the Planters' Association will be made 
up or 87 million lb. exceeded. This would give 
us a total increase between 1892 and 1894 of 
not more than 16, or at most 17, million lb. against 
double that quantity or 34 million added to our 
exports in the previous three years. 
We do not wish at all to make too much of 
these figures; but we beheve the feeling is growing 
among thoughtful and practical observers that the 
dread of local "Over-production" is one that is 
not justified by the prospect for some time to 
come. For one thing, there is a growing belief 
that the oost of production is likely to increase 
now rather than diminish. Many too hold 
that the era of manuring and more liberal culti- 
vation generally, is rapidly approaching for 
our tea distriots as a whole, and the price of 
manures is not likely to diminish. If the average 
yield of our plantations, throughout the distriots, is to 
be maintained, more attention must be given to 
cultivation as Mr. John Hughes long ago warned 
the Ceylon planters would be the case, It would 
eeem, then, that with the check given to extension 
of planting during the past two seasons, the prospsot 
of our reaohing an export of 100 million lb. is by no 
means bo near as was at one time considered to 
be the oase. It is also very clear that more 
allowance must be made for seasonal influences 
than ptople have been inolined hitherto to acknow- 
ledge. The present year with the Houth-sveat 
monsoon rains running into those of the North- 
east for one section of the country, while another 
has been suffering from drought, dhews tuiB. Up 
to this year, we have been tcjusiomed to believe 
that if the weather proved unfavourable for flush 
one month, it was almost certain to be right in the 
suooeeding one. But now we S9e that an experience 
of three or four months of continuously unfavourable 
weather may have to be allowed for. All this 
goes to affeot the fear of " Oyer-produotion " 
and to show that the Tea Industry of Ceylon is 
by no moans exempt from the conditions which 
govern all other agricultural enterprise on the facj 
of the earth. " In tne sweat of thy face shalt 
thou eat thy bread " is what we are ail liable 
t jo 1 often to forget; and yet there is a "silver 
lining to tha oloud " — if we may be suppose! to 
have indicated a oloud in thess remarks ;— for if 
the prospect is of exports only very gradually 
increasing year by year from Ceylon, this very 
fagt ought not only to give ua steadier but better 
prices, and so afford ample compensation for any 
individual disappointments in respeot of quantity of 
outturn. 
e 
INDIAN PATENTS. 
Calcutta, 32nd Aug. 1894. 
Specifications of the undsrraen'.ioned inventions 
have been filed under the provisions of Act V. of 
1883 :— 
Apparatus for Drying Tea, &c— No. 343 of 1893, 
— Edward Robinson of 4, Otstleuau Gardens, Barnes, 
S.W., in the Co. of Surrey, England, merchant, for 
apparatus for drying tea, grain and other substances. 
(Filed 15th August 1894.) 
Apparatus for Drying Cocoa, Coffee, Thai 
Barks, Malt, &c— No. 27 of 1894.— Richard White, 
Mecebant of 35, Queen Victoria Street, in the City 
and Oo. of London, England for improvements In 
apparatus for drying cocoa, coffee, tea, barks, malt 
and other substances. (Filed 10 ill August 1894.) 
Whereas the inventors of the undermentioned in- 
ventions have failed to pay within the time limited 
in that behalf the prescribed fee, it is hereby notified 
that the exclusive privilege of making, selling and 
using the said inventions in Britiih India and of 
authorizing others to do so hai eeased: — 
Sops for Winnowing Tea, &c— No. 291 of 1839. 
Mr. W. Robb's invention for improvements in the 
manufacture of sups for winnowing tea, ricfi, grain, 
seed", &c. (Specification filed 16th May 1890.) 
Apparatus for Alluring and Killing Insects, 
&c— No. 14 ot 1890— Mr. F. Scherer's invention for 
an improved apparatus for alluring and killing insects, 
rats, mice and other animals. (Specification tiled 15th 
May 1890.) — Indian Engineer. 
Calcutta, 13th Sept. 1894. 
The fees prescribed in Schedule 4 of Aot V of 1888 
have been paid for the contiuuanoe of exclusive priv- 
lege in reepect of the undermentioned inventions for the 
periods shown against each : — 
Tea Rolling Machinery No. 61 of 1889.— John 
Brown, of London, EnglaLd, Engineer, for improve- 
roenti in tea rolling machinery. (From 10th Sept. 
1894 to 9th Sept. 1895.)— Indian Engineer. 
PLANTING AND PRODUCE. 
The War and its Effect on the Tea Trade. — The 
war between China and Japan is a further adver- 
tisement for Indian and Ceylon tea, as public atten- 
tion is directed to the sources of the tea supply. 
Numerous paragraphs have appeared in tha papers 
pointing out how thoroughly China has been dis- 
tanced in the tea trado by urging the plauters of 
India, and Ceylon to take advautage of the war to 
push their trade in the United States and elsewhere. 
The Daily Chronicle says, -'However the war between 
China and Japan may be used as a lever to raise the 
price of tea in New York, the housewives of merry 
England have little reason to fear that their cheer- 
ing cup will cost them any dearer. The English 
supply is not so dependent on chin* as to give 
reasonable ocoasion for any tangible rise, or any rise 
at all, except in speoial qualities. The case is very 
different on the other side of the Atlautic, for America 
obtains her tea mai6ly from China. Now is tha time 
for Ceylon to cut in, »r.d thi» apparently the planters 
01 thaj island appear det;rmin^U to do." Both It-dian 
ai-d Ce>ljn tea plauters ha 1 oet'.rmineJ to cut in long 
befo.e .hewarbroie out, but this does not affcC the 
tact that their elforti are now recogmseJ at home, 
ai d it ouly remains for them to go ill and win. For 
those who like figures the following serves as a re- 
remiader. Thirty }ears aKO Ie.dia seut aoout 
4,000, 0U0 pounds of ten t> London aanua.ly, whilut 
(Jhiua eent about 100,000,OJ6. From 1870 to 1830 
there was a rapid increase ou both sides. 
