3i6 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 
[June i, 1895. 
imch an important enterprise. Ceylon requires the 
American market without a doubt and that market 
is waiting for Ceylon to fully demonstrate and 
establish her claims. 
In my letter of March 19th, to A. Melville 
Esq Chairman of the "Thirty Committee and 
the. Planters' Association, my suggestions simplify 
matters very much. I propose an appropriation of 
$15 000 to cover judicious advertising in the leading 
Magazines and Home Journals of America 
the appointment of two agents or representa- 
tives : a native staff of six, and for this de- 
partment an appropriation of $20,000, to cover- 
salaries, travelling and maintenance. To make ex- 
hibitions at Pure Pood Shows, shops, &c. &c, as tunc 
and place demand. This would leave a balance in the 
hands of the Committee of say $15,000. Ihat could 
be utilized to good advantage in making free grants 
and supplying samples for liberal distribution In 
uninterested hands a great deal of money could be 
spent that would avail nothing. The agents ap- 
pointed in order to be successful must have a deep 
interest in the enterprise, and by throwing their 
whole energy and interest into the undertaking will 
establish for themselves a reputation that will be 
desirable and win the gratitude of Ceylon for faith- 
ful services and accomplished work. Much time has 
gone bye since I proposed a Ceylon representation 
at the Cotton States and International Exhibition. 
Considering the Exposition of great importance. I 
gave the enterprise much time and thought, and I very 
much fear that Ceylon is allowing this most excellent 
opportunity to pass. The Canadian Exhibition is 
assuming substantial shape and should be taken into 
favorable consideration by Ceylon. Quick action 
should be taken regarding this Exhibition in order to 
secure a good and desirable location to exhibit to 
good advantage Ceylon's products. 
With a proper representation Ceylon could take 
up the "Baltimore Centennial and International Ex- 
hibition" in 1807 to good advantage and a reduced cost 
having the Court on hand that will have done service 
at Montreal; the same could be well utilized at 
Baltimore, which would be quite a saving and greatly 
in favor of the enterprise. At Baltimore will be an 
nnusal opportunity, as this is to be made a very 
large Exhibition being convenient to the many large 
01 Chicago Exhibition certainly has done much to 
prominently bring Ceylon forward. It only lies with 
Ceylon to follow up this introduction properly, that 
is to advertise and have representatives with native 
servants travelling in different directions through- 
out the United States, making suitable demon- 
strations, tea talks or lectures ; and I can assure 
you in the course of such travels the representative 
if he go about it right, will be able to secure any 
amount of good advertising that will be of very 
great benefit and yet cost nothing. The writer, prior 
to the opening of the World's Fair, when making 
a demonstration, in one of Chicago's leading stores, 
with four native servants (of the Ceylon World s 
Fair Staff) invited the whole of the Chu-ar/o press to 
his hotel, had his rooms made attractive with Indian 
draperies, curios and elephants' feet, brewed and talked 
tea to the newspaper men present, the servants 
serving the tea, an interesting and profitable evening 
was passed from 8 until 11 o'clock and what was 
the result ? Every paper in Chicago the following 
day had something to say about €esjloM^wd <£W<° n 
7'fa.-I am, yours, &c. ». Bl-bKACri. 
WEEDS KILLED BY ELECTRICITY AND 
CACAO GROVES. 
Jamaica, W. Indies, March 18. 
Deae Sir— In yoxc January number of Tropical 
Aarieulturkt on paga 492 I find under the heading 
"Various Planting Notes" "Killing Weeds by 
Electricity." < .■'» . J 
As our cocoa property in this district (a wet one) 
grows weeds to an alarming extent, I should feel 
obliged for any information in your power; to put 
me in communication with the- inventor or manu- 
facturers of electrical machines in question.— Yours 
truly, W. C. GROVES. 
[We are sorry not to be" able to oblige Mr. Groves. 
We extracted the statement referred to from the 
Journal of Jiortit -allure which again said the news 
came from America. We have seen nothing further, 
nor has any experiment been made in Ceylon. We 
shall watch our several American Agricultural ex- 
changes for a further reference. — Ed. T. A.~] 
THE IMPORTATION OF < KYL< »N TEA 
INTO THE CANADIAN DOMINION: 
AN IMI'OKTANT yUKSTIOS As TO JU'LKIN'.. 
Toronto, March 26. 
DiiAit Sin, — Since we last addressed you we had 
the pleasure of a visit from William Mackenzie, Esq., 
in the interests of the Ceylon Planters' Association, 
and we were glad to have had the opportunity ol 
discussing verbally with a gentleman who has such 
a practical knowledge of matters concerning the Cey- 
lon tea industry and, evidently, is &o capable of forming 
correct conclusions as to the best manner of fur- 
thering their interests. 
We had occasion to bring before him a matter on 
which we now take the liberty of addressing you in 
the hope that through your paper you will allow 
us to draw the attention of the tea planters of 
Ceylon to it, viz.. Bulking. It is a matter which 
we consider of great importance in the development 
of a direct business with Ceylon generally, and 
vital, as regards exports to this country. 
Our actual experience has been, that when we 
import teas from Colombo, even of large and well- 
known gardens, the shipments, although marked 
" Factory Bulked," are not regular in quality as regards 
each individual lot. For instance, samples drawn from 
five or ten chests of a single shipment of pekoe, will 
draw more or less irregularly, and in some instances the 
difference will be so marked as to suggest a decided 
money value. 
This makes it impossible to offer such teas for 
sale to the retail trade on samples drawn from any 
particular chest, and even from a bulk sample from 
several chests, and necessitates the bulking of the 
teas here, where we have no proper facilities for 
doing it. 
The London trade, evidently recognizing this as a 
serious defect, have found it necessary to re-bulk teas 
before putting them up for sale; but this, while it 
may to some extent suit their local market, is a 
serious objection when the teas are sold for export, 
as the leads being torn, and the tea in a great 
measure left exposed to atmospheric and other 
objectionable influences in transit, and often remain- 
ing in this country a long time after landing before 
sale, the deterioration is so important that importers, 
in operating in Ceylon teas as compared with China 
teas (which are hermetically sealed and remain in 
perfect order for any reasonable length of time,) have 
to consider the condition as an important element 
against the Ceylon article. 
We are sure that if anything can be done to remedy 
this state of affairs, it would be highly appre- 
ciated by the importers and remove a serious 
obstacle to the free sale of Ceylon tea on this side. 
We hope you will consider this of sufficient im- 
portance to your Ceylon Planters and Merchants, to 
give it of your valuable space. 
Thanking you for the insertion of our last letter, we 
are, yours respectfully, P. C. LAPiKTN & CO. 
OUTSTATION 
WEATHER REPORTS. 
Colombo, April 11. 
Dear Sir, — These reports are at all times of great 
service to those interested in the agriculture of the 
colony and especially so during such a season 
as we have been having lately. The reports have 
