602 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. | March i, 1895. 
ceedings of the Ceylon Planters' Association for the 
year ending 17th February, 1888, page 80). His reso- 
lution on the subject was unanimously adopted by the 
Planters' Association on 16th October, 1887, and in 
the first year 698 estates (or proprietors and other 
subscribers) enrolled their names as intending sub- 
scribers to the Fund. 
The following table shows the number of estates 
and contributors at one time registered who made pay- 
ment.! during each year of the existence of the Fund, 
and tho total amounts collected : — 
Number of Total sum 
estates and con- Year. collected, 
tributors. 
1887 800-00 
For details see ' 670 1888 16,854-48 
half-yearly lie- 000 1888 W.957'42 
port & Accounts 44<> 1890 23,4( 7 » 
of the Tea Fund 399 1891 30,088-53 
in Appendix C. 480 1892 HI. 119 87 
3i)(j 1893 12,084 30 
200 1894 13,OuO-22 
Total R140.874-3!) 
The total number of estates in the Island is prob- 
ably about 1,450, so that it will be seen that at no 
time was there even a majority of estates subscrib- 
ing to the Fund, and it must always remain a m it- 
ter of regret that so many were found ready and 
willing to reap all the benefits without in any way 
helping to meet tire cost of acquiring them. A list 
Of all contributors to the Fund during its career will 
be found in Appendix 1). 
A table annexed approximately shows the sum spent 
in the various countries by the Standing Committee of 
the Ceylon Tea Fund exclnsive of the World's Colum- 
bian Exhibition and the quantity of tea exported to 
those countries in 1888 and 1894. 
At the inception of the Fund it was thought desirable 
to have the co-operation of gentlemen with mercantile 
training, and the Chamber of Commei a was, therefore, 
invited and agreed to act in conjuction with the 
Planters' Assosiation. After a few months, however, 
the Chamber decided to leave the whole matter in the 
hands of the Planters' Association and took no further 
active part in the proceedings. 
Following the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 
18S-3 came the Glasgow Exhibition (see appendix B) of 
1838 at which the Ceylon Tea Fund secured a thorough 
representation almost entirely by its own efforts, Go- 
vernment contributing the small sum of R2.000, but 
declining further help. (See Book of Proceedings of 
Planters' Association, in 1883, page cix.; Colonial Se- 
cretary's letter of 12th Jan., 1888.) A visit of Her 
Majesty the Queen was secured to the Unofficial Cey- 
lon Court. 
In the same year the Tea Fund had to provide for re- 
presentation also at the Melbourne Centennial and the 
Brussels Exhibitions, respectively, both of which were 
as before carried out with very small pecuniary aid 
from Government, and in 1889 came the Paris Univer- 
sal Exhibition. Although France is not a great tea 
consuming country, it was considered desirable not to 
let the opportunity pass of at least bringing Ceylon Tea 
prominently before the notice of the French people, 
and without receiving any assistance from Government 
a good representation was made. This closed the list 
of great Exhibitions about that time, and it is right that 
it should be on record how little the Government of 
Ceylon did to help to re-establish the prosperity of the 
Colony's staple industry by pushing its produce at a 
time of deep depression and anxiety. 
After these various Exhibitions had had attention, 
it became necessary for the Tea Fund to push the 
knowledge of Ceylon by other means, and it was 
about this time that the policy of granting to in- 
dividuals and firms willing to push the sale of 
Ceylon Tea in foreign countries a certain amount 
of tea for free distribution in small packets amongst 
consumers so that they might taste and become 
accustomed to the tea from an undoubtedly pure source 
was adapted. In the United Kingdom it was never 
pecessarv to adopt this system, because almost every 
planter, was himself acting as an Agent of the Te» 
Fund by sending small parcels of tea to his relatives 
and friends, but in foreign countries that system has 
been consistently pursued by the Committee. 
To the adoption of this system, especially (by 
private efforts) in the case of the United Kingdom 
but also in other countries, it is believed that the 
large expansion in consumption is due first of all to 
the United Kingdom and then toother lands: at the 
same tune where additional assistance wan required 
and could be given it was rendered. 
In pursuauce of this policy Ceylon Tea was granted 
for free distribution in the various countries, parti- 
culars concerning which will be foand in Appendix 
B. and C. 
Although efforts had be«n made so early as 1887- 
1888 to reach the American market (without much 
success it must be admitted), it was felt that every 
energy must be devoted to seizing the opportunity 
presented by the holding of the great World's Colum- 
bian Exhibition in 1893 at Chicago. It became 
abundantly evident, however that for this purpose 
the funds at the disposal of the Tea Fund Com- 
mittee wire quite inadequate even when supplemented 
as they were by considerable private subscriptions 
for the special end in view, ana although the plant- 
ing community had never received any great encour- 
agement in the past to justify their hoping for ade- 
quate assistance from Government in the future, 
yet it seemed that in the present Governor, Hia 
Excellency Sir Arthcr Havelock, the colony had a 
ruler who did appreciate the importance of the 
planting industry and who would act accordingly. 
The Planters' Association therefore approached His 
Excellency with a view to obtaining the imposition 
of a special export duty on tea in order that 
adequate funds might be provided specially for the 
Chicago Exhibition, and subsequently obtained a 
grant of a sum from the general revenue of the 
colony equivalent to the amount raised by the ex- 
port duty as well as by the funds voluntarily sub- 
scribed and furnished by the Tea Fund. In this 
and in many other ways His Excellency Sir Arthur 
Havelock has shown by his cordial sympathy and 
and generous consideration that he was not only 
fully alive to the importance of the prosperity of 
planting industry to the colony generally, but also 
that he was prepared to act up to his convictions 
and to help those who were so willing to help them- 
selves. To His Excellency, therefore, are due you* 
sincere thanks. 
X.B. — The rate of subscription was reduced in 
October, 1892, from 25 cents to 10 cents per 1,000 lb. 
of green leaf. 
The Hon. Mr. J. J. Grinlinton (who, since the 
Exhibition has been knighted) was unanimously 
nominated the Special Commissioner to represent 
Ceylon at Chicago by the Planters' Association, and 
his reception by the Association on his return to 
Ceylon is ample evidence that he carried out the 
objects of his mission with great success and with 
acceptance both to his Ceylon and American friends. 
Difference of opinion may possibly exist as to the 
wisdom of certain steps taken by him after the close 
of the Exhibition, but as he formed his judgment in 
in the matter after several months' residence and on 
information gained on the spot, and as the venture 
was his own except in so far as £1,000 sterling was 
granted him by the Tea Fund towards rent, it is 
better that some little time should be allowed to 
elapse before a definite opinion is formed as to the 
success of his plans. 
Dissatisfaction with the continued large number of 
non-subscribers to the Tea Fund now began to gain 
increased force, and it was felt that as the Chicago 
Exhibition was now fully provided for by a tax 
which would reach every grower, the voluntary rate 
imposed on themselves by subscribers to the Tea 
Fund might well be reduced. The rate was accordingly 
altered m October, 1892, to 10 cents per 1,000 lb. 
of green leaf instead of 26 cents at which rate it 
had stood since the commencement of the Fund. 
When, however, it became apparent that the work 
of pushing Ceylon Tea in America must be continued 
it was seen that this rate was no longer sufficient 
for that purpose, and as a, matter of justice to those 
