526 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. L Feb ». ,8 v5 
Only one publio sale was held, on 13th December, 
when 400 chests were printed, almost all of which 
Bold at full rates. Sales effected make the market — 
For dust, 5Jd, 5Jd ; tannings, 6d to 6Jd ; broken leaf, 
6Jd to 7d ; whole leaf, 6Jd to 7}d ; fair to good 
pekoe souchongs, 6Jd to 8$d ; fair to good pekoes, 
7|d to 9Jd ; orange pekoes, 9d to Is 2d for choice. 
Stocks in bond on the 29th December were 264.412 lb. 
"POULTRY KEEPING IN INDIA, 
— a simple and practical book on their care and 
treatment, their various breeds, and the means of 
rendering them profitable ; by Isa Tweed with 
numerous illustrations." This is the title of a 
very useful publication which has just reached 
us from Messrs. Thaeker, Spink & Co., Calcutta, 
and which will be noticed at greater length by- 
and bye. 
TEA- PRUNING. 
Upon respective tea qualities from leaf off light 
pruned and off heavy pruned bushes, we do not think 
that heavy pruning need necessarily give poor teas, 
on the contrary we should docline to accept such a 
Elea as any excuse. But we do think that as a rule 
etter prices should be got from a light pruned area, 
than from an equal area, pruned heavily. — Planter. 
Jan. 5 
RHEEA FIBRE. 
In our issue of the 22nd December last, 
we shortly noticed the fact that the Mid- 
lands Spinning Co., Ld., of Long Eaton, Derby- 
shire, had overcome the difficulties hithertofore ex- 
perienced in preparing and working up this valuable 
fibre, and that this Company were able to turn out 
yarns which were rapidly taking the place of silk 
in the manufacture of laces, &c. 
We are glad to be able to announce that we have 
received samples of the above-mentioned yarns, and 
worked up material, which we shall be happy to 
show to any one interested on their favouring us 
with a call. 
The specimens we have received are : — 
1. — Raw Ramie ribbons as imported into England. 
2. — Ramie cleaned and treated ready for combing. 
3. — Combed ready for spinning technically known 
as " Silver." 
4. — Ramie "Noils," i.e., the waste from the comb- 
ing machines, of commercial value. 
5. — Pure Ramie yarn, two fold eighteen gauge (silk 
counts). This is spun on ordinary silk machinery. 
The Rheea fibre industry is one which is especi- 
ally suited to India, where thousands of acres of 
land are lying waste and of no profit to their owners. 
Now Rheea, or Ramie, is a plant which will grow any- 
where and with the least possible cultivation, and 
these self-same acres will render crops which will 
prove the source of an income as large as the trouble 
to obtain it is small. 
We had hoped ere this to have been in a position 
to chronicle the invention of Rheea leaf decorticat- 
ing, and fibre-preparing machinery of real value 
nearer ourselves here, than to have to hail its advent 
from England, the more so as a certain local com- 
pany had mentioned in their prospectus that they 
were on the fair road to perfecting such a much- 
desired invention. 
What is really wanted is a type of domestic or 
house machine, of comparatively little cost, and 
simple in its details, altogether such as what would 
meet the requirements of village families who could 
then grow their small patches of Rheea, and pre- 
pare the fibre for export in much the same manner 
that jute is now grown in the villages in Bengal. 
— Indian Engineer. 
COFFEE IN ASSAM. 
We are interested to hear that a Sylhet planter, 
Mr. Hunt, has got six or eight acres of land under 
coffee, and should be still more interested to hear 
of what jat the plant is. Liberiaa, we fancy, would 
do better than Arabica or other species in this dis- 
trict. — Planter, Jan. 5. 
THE POSITION OF THE TEA INDUSTRY 
TO THE EDITOR OY TBS HOME ANU C0L0N1 VL MAIL. 
Sib, — Can you generously allow me Bp ice for a 
few remarks, which I consider called for from a 
shareholder's point of view, to supplement your 
able article of week on " the Poiition of the 
Tea Industry." 
You do not put it prominently, or hardly by in- 
ference, that amidst the general depression, last 
season is most likely to prove a specially prosperous 
one for tea. Owing to various ciu-.es (amongst which 
the brokers, and not unlikely the producers, will class 
the "climatic") prices have ruled at least from ljd 
to 2d per lb. higher than for crop 1843, and are 
likely to prove as remunerative as those of any season 
during the history of the industry. That is to say, 
an average of Is ld this year must prove at least 
as profitable as Is 10 J or Is 8d twenty or sixteen 
years ago respectively. This and in many cases the 
splendid results of this season are due mainly to 
low exchange and other causes entirely beyond 
the control of the management. Such a season 
is not without its peculiar dangers, demanding grave 
consideration. 
I should be the last to knowingly depreciate the 
ain from the " development of economic methods," 
nt beyond the saving from rolling by machinery in- 
stead of by hand, which has indeed been immense, 
the economy effected, as far as I can make out, has 
not been startling. Much remains to be desired in 
tbe way of economising for further developments in 
dryers and other mechanical lines, as well as in the 
price of tea machinery generally. There is also 
undoubtedly scope for economy, where little or nothing 
has yet been achieved or even attempted, iu some 
items altogether beyond the local management on the 
gardens. This is particularly the case iu concerns 
not yet too remunerative even to the original share- 
holders. All admiration and sympathy, as you indi- 
cate, are due to managers and other employe's on 
the gardens for manfully contending, year after year, 
in retirement and solitude, against depressed markets, 
blights, and perhaps the errors of others, as in many 
cases their efforts have been most conscientious and 
unflagging, and in some instances little short of heroic. 
May such always meet with due encouragement. 
Though tea must have suffered in some res- 
pects, it has gained much more in others from the 
general depression and even from the misfortunes 
of others. It has been profiting mainly, and 
immensely, so far, from the fall in exchange, and 
is gaining, for instance, over 70 per cent, on marine 
freights, 50 per cent, on the price of tea lead, and 
largely on other material and requirements, compared 
with those paid at one time. Can all these gains be 
permanent ? The gain by exchange (which has simply 
been the salvation of the tea industry in the face 
of the fall in the sterling prices) has to some extent 
been at the expense of labour, and in many cases of 
managers, and assistants ; and if exchange does not 
rise, it is but fair and reasonable to expect that 
- wages and salaries must do so, as the cost of food 
and living has increased since the fall in silver. 
We, I fear, may not be entirely at one in regard 
to the Indian methods for the opening up of new 
markets. We in India, have, doubtless, from first to 
last participated in the enterprising and persistent 
efforts of Ceylon more than our own — though we have 
also accomplished something — in that direction ; and 
the present position of the China trade, together with 
the war in the Far East, cannot fail to aid us greatly 
through the ordinary trade channels, though other 
agencies may receive the credit. 
