Dec. i, 1894.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
members of the Association, and are unanimous in 
their appreciation of the new method of sampling 
followed at the " Kina " establishment and their depre- 
ciation of the action of the dissident importers who have 
broken away from the organisation. Messrs. Howards 
& Sons write : — 
" Previous to the introduction of the present sys- 
tem we found it most difficult to obtain samples 
upon which we could depend of the bark for sale in 
Amsterdam. The system now in force at the Kina 
Establishment is the only one that has been found fully 
satisfactory. 
" In London a sample is taken from every package, 
and the whole of them mixed together, and from that 
great sample are taken the samples sent to the buyers. 
'• This proved far more satisfactory than the old 
system in Amsterdam, but as the samples are not 
ground together it is not nearly equal to the present 
system there." 
The majority of the importers reproach their dis- 
senting colleagues with being the partial cause of the 
recent break-down in the Amsterdam bark-market ; 
they say that the principal quinine manufacturers 
refuse to bid for barks not sampled by the "Kina" 
establishment, and that the presence of these out- 
side lots spoils the auctions. — Chemist and Druggist, 
October 13th. 
CHINA TEA FOR GERMANY. 
While in former years China tea has only been 
transported by British steamers to Europe, the 
lots, which were destined to Germany, being 
transshipped, at present a thorough change is to 
be reported as far as supplies for Germany are 
concerned. During the present season for Chinese 
tea, till October loth, about 14,000 chests have 
been shipped in four .steamers of the Nord- 
deutscber Lloyd directly to Bremen, and 17,000 
chests to Hamburg, while eight steamers of the 
Kingsin line took 29,000 chests in direct passage 
to Hamburg — thus about 60,000 chests have been 
sent in favour of German shipowners. — L. and C, 
Express, Oct. 19. 
THE LONDON CINCHONA-AUCTIONS. 
THE FORTNIGHTLY AUCTIONS ABOLISHED. 
A considerable surprise was sprung upon the deal" 
ers in cinchona bark when they assembled on Tues" 
day to hold the customary fortnightly auctions. The 
first brokers to sell were Messrs. Wilson. Smithett 
& Co., and when one of the members of the firm 
mounted the rostrum there was put into his hand a 
piece of paper with the request that he would pro- 
pose the motion written upon it. This he did, the 
proposition read out by him being worded as follows : 
■ — That with the decreased and decreasing interest 
the London bark market now offers to quinine manu- 
facture the remaining auctions for 1894 should be 
held on November 13th and December 11th, and that 
throughout 1895 thov should be held not oftener than 
monthly, and as nearly as possible on such dates as 
will fall midway between the periodical Amsterdam 
auctions to be eventually fixed." 
Mr. Tabor, of the firm of W. H. Cole & Co., 
the proposer of the resolution, said nothing in 
its support. Mr. David Howard who seconded, 
offered some remarks in which he regretted 
the necessity of the resolution ; but submitted 
that it would not be to the interests either of 
buyers or sellers to continue the auctions on the 
absurdly small scale to which they had dwindled 
within the last few months. Mr. S. Figgis said 
that lie did not like to see English merchants and 
brokers compelled to follow the lead of foreigners, 
but offered no opposition to tho motion, which was 
put and carried ntm. ion., some four or five German 
agents being the only persons present who held up 
their hands in more or less hesitating fashion in 
itH support. 
Tho feeling among those connected with the 
London cinchona-trade, especially brokers and im- 
porters, is one of general judignation at the manner 
in which the resolution was brought forward, arid 
of disapproval at its wording. Although it is not 
denied that the present condition of the London 
cinchona market may render the continuation of 
the fortnightly auctions inadvisable, it is held that 
no alteration should have been made excepting 
after full consideration by all the firms 
interested in the trade, and with their general 
concurrence. Some months ago the question was in- 
formally raised, but on that occasion no decision 
was arrived at ; and it is asserted that the mover of 
the resolution did not give any hint whatever of his 
intention until he asked Mr. David Howard, just before 
the commencement of the auctions, to second it. This 
action is considered exceedingly autocratic, and is re- 
sented accordingly. Several importers declare that 
they will ignore the resolution altogether and suit them- 
selves in the matter of auctions. Moreover, the 
phraseology of the resolution is freely criticised, especi- 
ally that portion in which the waning importance of 
the London market and the rise of that of Amsterdam 
are gratuitously advertised. 
So far as we have been able to trace at present, the first 
separate cinchona-auctions in London were held early in 
1871. Until that time all cinchona (there was none but 
South American bark then) was included in the drug- 
auctions. As the quantity of wild Bolivian and New 
Granadian barks imported increased, the cinchonas 
used to be taken out of the drug-sales and sold in an 
adjacent room. Afterwards the sales were held at the 
brokers' rooms, the buyers, catalogue in hand, proceed- 
ing from one office to the other. This arrangement 
was found inconvenient, and two firms of brokers were 
theu selected, and the auctions held alternately at their 
offices. The first sale of East Indian bark in London 
took place, we believe, on July 25, 1867, when three 
cases of bark, grown on the Nilgui hills, were offered on 
account of the Government. The first auctions in 
Amsterdam took place on October 20, 1870; but no 
sales of any commercial importance were held there 
until 1879. — Chemist and Drut/qist. 
* ^ 
TEA AND SCANDAL. 
The Tea— by Barry Cornwall, 
1 
The Tra! The Tea ! The leef, beef Teal 
1 he Lrew from gravy-beef for rue 1 
Without a doubt as I'll be bound, 
The best for an invalid 'tis found I 
It's better than yruel, with sago vies ; 
Or with the cradled babe's supplies. 
2 .: • ' . 
I libo beef-tea! I like beef -tea 1 
I'm satisfied, and aye stall be, 
V\ ith the brew I love, with the brew I know 
And take it wheresoe'er I go, 
If the price should rise, or meat be cheap, 
No matter I'll to beef-tea keep, 
3 
I love — oh ! how I love to guide 
'Jhe strong beef-:ca to its place Inside, 
When round and round you stir the spson 
Or whistle thereon to cool it soon ; 
Because one kneweth or ought to j-now 
That thiogs get 0 ol wherein you blow. 
4 
I Dever have drunk the dull souchong 
Eut I for my beloved beef-tea did loDg, 
And inly yearned for that boimtiful zest 
Like a bird ; as a child, on that I messed— 
And a mother it was aud is to me, 
For I was weaned on the beef, beef tea 1 
Tost Hood, the Younger. 
FOREIGN LUXURIES. 
An Impromptu en the late seizure of Sloe Leaves pre- 
pare! to sell for Tea. 
— Quid petis Lie est, 
Est Ulu bri". - Horace. 
The things jou stek ihe Bard alleges, 
Are here at homo, in ad our hedgta. 
China and Foiuo now farewell, 
L t others buy what you've to se 1, 
Your Tort and your Holies; 
For we've our i.aiive sloe, divine, 
Whose fruit yields all our Porto taint, 
Whose leave* make all our Tea '■' 
Here we get tlie meaniog of the rernari' of our doctors, 
thlt Wine and T^a arc -Sloe pjisons.— " Tin Literary Jour- 
nit and General. Misc.llauy, p. 13, March I8t*. 
A. M. Ferovs-on, 
