July  x,  1892.! 
f HF  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST, 
7 
The  one  body  is  thinking  about  it  and  the  other 
has  taken  action.  We  attribute  this  tardy  movement 
in  matters  of  vital  interest  to  the  Indian  tea  indus- 
try to  a want  of  unison  between  the  Indian  and 
the  home  organisations.  If  this  is  not  the  cause, 
then  it  behoves  those  who  are  mainly  inter- 
ested to  discover  it.  It  must  be  a source  of  consider- 
able irritation,  both  at  home  and  in  India,  to  find  that 
on  nearly  every  occasion  when  enterprise  is  necessary 
Ceylon  has  to  show  the  way. 
The  Opening  of  Fresh  Markets. — In  the  report 
just  issued  by  the  Darjeeling  Company,  we  read  with 
satisfaction  the  following  paragraph  : — “ The  sum  of 
£375  was  originally  invested  in  the  Associated  Tea 
Planters,  Limited,  which  had  been  established  for 
promoting  the  sale  of  Indian  tea  in  America  and 
Canada,  andjiltimately  that  association  repaid  £237  10s. 
of  that  sum,  leaving  a small  balance  of  £137  10s. 
to  be  carried  to  debtor  of  revenue  account.  The 
sum  of  £300  has  been  invested  in  debentures  of  the 
Palais  Indien  Tea  Houses,  Limited,  in  order  toassist 
that  company  in  further  developing  the  sale  of 
Indian  tea  in  Paris  and  on  the  Continent.”  This  we 
think  is  worthy  of  imitation  by  other  companies.  A 
special  reference  in  the  report  which  comes  before  the 
eyes  of  all  the  shareholders  cannot  fail  to  be  of  some 
use  in  aiding  schemes  initiated  for  the  general  good 
of  the  tea  industry. 
No  Going  Back. — It  is  hoped  that  the  recent  dictum 
of  Sir  Andrew  Clark  that  if  you  want  to  have  tea 
which  will  not  injure  and  which  will  refresh  get 
black  China  tea  “will  have  the  effect,”  says  ttie 
Grocer , “ of  restoring  its  waning  popularity  in  Eng- 
land and  infusing  fresh  life  into  the  China  trade.” 
Indian  and  Ceylon  planters  certainly  do  not  hope  for 
anything  of  the  sort,  nor  is  there  much  chance  of  it. 
The  public  taste  is  entirely  won  over  to  Indian  and 
Ceylon  teas,  and  even  so  eminent  a personage  as  Sir 
Andrew  Clark  cannot  do  much  to  bring  about  a 
reaction.  The  remarks  of  the  Grocer  are  apropos  of 
the  tea  trade  of  Wenchow,  which  has  been  very  good 
this  year,  but  owing  to  the  heavy  freights  ruling  to 
Shanghai  and  expenses  of  brokerage  only  small  profits 
have  been  realised.  Most  of  the  Wenchow  black  tea 
finds  its  way  to  the  Hankow  market.  The  unfired 
tea  goes  to  Shanghai  or  Hankow,  where  it  is  refired 
and  prepared  for  foreign  consumption.  When  the 
Chinese  had  the  tea  trade  in  their  own  hands  they 
abused  their  opportunity  by  sending  over  some  very 
indifferent  and  unwholesome  stuff  in  order  to  meet 
the  demand  for  cheap  tea.  Gradually  from  a variety 
of  causes  they  have  practically  lost  the  market,  and 
the  tea  growers  of  India  and  Ceylon  mein  to  keep  it. 
The  Tea  Market. —Last  week  beieg  practically  a 
blank  week  so  far  as  Indian  tea  is  concerned,  there  is 
not  much  to  say  about  the  markets.  T1  e Produce 
Markets'  Iievieio  says: — There  has  been  a good  enquiry 
privately  for  medium  and  Broken  Pekoes,  and,  owing 
to  the  somewhat  limited  selection  offering,  prices  are 
firm.  There  may  be  a more  liberal  supply  of  these 
grades  later  on,  but  the  demand  is  too  active  and 
general  to  oheck  the  upward  movement  in  prioes.  The 
common  qualities  are  still  offered  plentifully,  and  are 
likely  to  continue  to  be  so,  as  the  bulk  of  the  auctions 
lately  held  in  Calcutta  consisted  of  these  kinds,  and 
prioes  generally  were  exceptionally  low.  This, 
coupled  with  an  ample  supply  of  similar  grades  of 
Ceylon  tea,  will  keep  the  market  easy,  as  there  will 
be  quite  sufficient  to  meet  any  increase  in  the 
requirements  that  may  arise.  The  finest  descrip- 
tions are  scarce,  and  fetch  very  firm  rates.  The 
latest  reports  from  Calcutta  regarding  the  coming 
crop  are  more  favourable,  and,  although  the  season 
may  be  late,  the  prospects  are  encouraging.  There 
is  no  change  in  the  position  of  Ceylon  tea.  There  is, 
however,  a fair  enquiry,  aud  there  seems  little  likeli- 
hood of  any  relapse  iu  pricos  f r the  present.  The 
latest  reports  from  Colombo  put  the  amount  exported 
as  slightly  less  than  last  year,  while  the  quality  of 
the  latest  paroels  offered  has  shown  a little  improve- 
ment. 
Tea  at  the  Horticultural  Exhibition. — The  large 
area  at  Earl’s  Court;  will  this  ye  ir  be  devoted  to  an 
International  Horticultural  Exhibition.  Here  will  be 
found  examples  of  the  gardens  of  all  ages,  including 
restorations  of  the  ancieut  gardens  of  Egypt 
Greece,  and  Rome  ; copies  of  those  in  China 
and  Japan;  types  of  the  Baronial,  Italian,  Tudor, 
Jacobean,  Georgian,  and  Victorian  eras.  A large 
-ub-tropical  garden  will  also  form  a feature  of 
the  attractions  offered.  The  tea  gardens  of  India  and, 
Ceylon  will  ba  represented,  illnstrating  the  growth  of 
the  tea  plant,  and  the  manner  of  drying  and  mani- 
pn'ating  the  leaves  A model  cottage  garden  and 
allotment  g-ound  will  he  shown,  demons'raling  prac- 
tically what  can  be  done  in  a limitel  area.  The 
services  of  Mr.  P.  Macgregor  have  been  secured  for 
the  arrangement  of  the  Indian  tea  garden. 
The  Coffee  Market, — On  the  sales  being  resumed 
on  the  21st  inst.  a very  considerable  accumulation  had 
taken  place,  and  the  total  weight  was  altogether  too 
large  for  disposal  during  the  limited  time  fixed  for 
the  auctions.  Importers  showed  themselves  fully 
ready  to  meet  buyer’s  views,  and  a further  decline  of 
Is  to  2s  per  cwt.  was  submitted  to  the  market  generally 
at  the  opening  sales  becoming  very  flat.  A rather  better 
tone  was  aiterwards  established,  the  lower  quotations 
attracting  orders,  and  more  life  given  to  the  market 
by  speculation  based  on  a reduced  estimate  of  the 
Brazil  crop6,  and  a recovery  of  about  Is.  from  the 
lowest  point  was  established.  At  the  same  time, 
any  important  recovery  in  values  can  scarcely  be 
looked  for  just  now.  Heavy  arrivals  have  again  taken 
place,  and  for  the  next  few  weeks  very  considerable 
supplies  will  be  placed  on  the  market.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  French  official  figures  for  the  three  months, 
as  given  by  Messrs.  Wilson,  Smithett;  and  Co. : — Im- 
portation; 1892,  37,958,  tons;  1891,  32,175  tons  ; 1890, 
30,262  tons.  Consumption : 1892,  18,250  tons ; 1891, 
18,251  tons;  1890,  17,416  tons.  Exportation:  1892, 
6,100  tons;  1891,  11,473  tons  ; 1890,  8,276  tons .—II. 
ancl  G.  Mail,  April  29th. 
— — — — 
FROM  THE  METROPOLIS. 
April  29th,  1892, 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  AMERICA  AND  THE  CHICAGO 
EXHIBITION. 
Before  a gathering  of  about  20  gentlemen  more 
or.  less  connected  with  Ceylon  and  its  tea  enter- 
prise, your  Commissioner,  Mr.  Grinlinton,  on 
Monday  afternoon  last  displayed  the  plans  for 
the  Ceylon  Court  at  the  Chicago  Exposition  and 
explained  the  position  and  prospeots  of  his  mission 
so  far  at  present  possible.  This  was  in  the  room 
of  the  Ceylon  Association,  and  I will  leave  your 
regular  oerrespondent,  who  was  present,  to  give  an 
account  of  the  meeting,  while  merely  touching 
here  on  some  of  the  impressions  formed.  First  of 
all  it  was  pleasant  to  see  several  veteran  ex- 
Ceylon  residents  looking  so  well.  Sir  G.  W.  B. 
Campbell  has  always  been  a well-preserved,  strong- 
looking man,  and  he  lias  become  so  florid  and 
stout  in  the  English  climate  that  no  one  would 
suspect  that  the  larger  part  of  his  life  was  spent 
in  Western  India,  Ceylon  and  Penang,  He  passed 
quite  a eulogium  in  supporting  the  vote  of  thanks 
to  Mr.  Giialinton,  referring  to  his  energy  in  the 
Gas,  Wharf  and  Hotel  Companies,  in  the  latter 
two  of  which  he  (Sir  George)  was  one  of  the  largest 
shareholders,  holding  at  one  time  one-seventh  of  the 
Wharf  Company’s  shares.  Mr.  Mosse  and  Mr,  Chur- 
chill both  looking  well,  were  present,  and  so  was  the 
evergreen  Mr.  Tom  Gray  ready  with  his  jooative 
“ aside”  cr  “ Hear,  hear,”  to  everything  good.  Still 
more  ancient  is  Mr.  Thomas  Dickson,  who  did 
most  of  the  speaking  in  clear  but  deoided  Doric, 
more  particularly  in  giving  us  a graphic  aocount 
of  his  experience  in  loading  a 220-ton  brig  so  far 
back  as  1852  in  Colombo  with  a general  oargo  of 
“ products” — something  of  everything — and  voya- 
ging in  her  to  New  York,  where  at  Sandy  Hook, 
the  officials  would  insist  they  had  come  from 
