August  i,  1892. J 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
85 
In  connection  with  tea,  I have  to  offer  an  important 
correction  in  regard  to  the  “ Caledonian  Co.,” 
the  proposed  formation  of  which  I referred  to  in 
my  last.  The  plantations  to  be  named  in  the 
Prospeotua  do  not  inolude  Venture  estate, 
Dikoya,  as  I supposed.  They  are  rather  Mr.  Boss’s 
estates  in  Upper  Maskeliya  and  aome  properties  in 
Matale,  both  in  the  Valley  on  the  flat  and,  like 
Selagama,  higher  up. 
The  Tea  Gaeden  in  the  grounds  of  the  Inter- 
national Horticultural  Exhibition  at  Earls-oourt  turns 
out  to  be  a very  poor  affair.  Having  a business  call 
to  make  in  the  neighbourhood,  I turned  in  mainly 
to  see  “ tea  growing”  and  met  at  the  entrance  the 
veteran  Mr.  Charles  Sband — looking  wonderfully 
well  in  spite  of  his  burden  of  years— and  he  gave 
me  at  once  a very  poor  picture  of  the  “ tea-watte” 
whioh  I afterwards  verified  for  myself.  It  is  nothing 
but  a small  plot — say  8 to  10  yards  square — filled 
with  nursery  plants,  placed  about  a foot  apart  and 
poor  specimens  both  as  to  jdt  and  appearance 
they  looked,  either  nipped  by  cold  winds  or 
red  spider  ; and  yet  opposite  this  garden  was  posted  a 
big  placard, — ‘‘Manufacture  of  tea  to  commence  May 
31st” — as  if  the  poor  plants  of  less  than  a year  or  18 
months  from  seed  were  to  yield  “flush”  or 
“ leaf”  for  manufacture  1 Evidently  Mr.  John 
Rogers'  experiment,  as  a good  advertisement  for 
one  of  the  City  Tea  Companies,  had  provoked 
emulation. 
CEYLON  TEA  FUND. 
Minutes  of  proceedings  of  a meeting  of  the  Stand- 
ing Committee  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  held  at  Kandy 
on  Thursday,  the  9th  day  of  June  1892,  at  4 o’clock 
in  the  afternoon. 
Present  Messrs.  Giles  F.  Walker,  Kandy  (Chair- 
man, Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon),  R.  W.  Wic- 
ham  (Chairman,  Dimbula  Association)  A.  Melville 
White,  (Kellebokka  and  Kandy),  W.  D.  Gibbon 
(Kandy),  J.  Anderson  (Matale  West  and  Kandy),  W. 
S.  Thomas  (Dimbula),  D.  Kerr  (Chairman,  Amba- 
gamuwa  Association),  W.  J.  Mason  (Honorary  Secre- 
tary, Ambagamuwa  Association),  W.  Cross  Buchanan 
(Dimbnla  and  Kandy),  and  A.  Philip,  Kandy  (Secre- 
tary Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon). 
The  notice  calling  the  meeting  was  read. 
The  minutes  of  proceedings  of  a meeting  of  the 
Standing  Committee  held  at  Kandy  on  Friday,  the 
8th  day  of  April  1892,  were  read  and  were  confirmed. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  R.  S.  Duff  Tytler,  Rakwana. 
Resolved : — “ That  in  reply  Mr.  Tytler’s  attention 
be  invited  to  the  Reports  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  and  to  the  statements 
by  the  Chairman  of  the  Planters’  Assaoiation  to  be 
found  in  the  Books  of  Proceedings  of  the  Associa- 
tion. (II)  That  copies  be  forwarded  to  him,  as 
affording  as  full  an  answer  to  Mr.  Tytler’s  questions 
as  the  Standing  Committee  is  in  a position  to  give.’ 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  H.  B.  Roberts. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  W.  F.  Dew. 
Read  letter  from  Messrs.  J.  M.  Robertson  & Co. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  Geo.  Kent  Deaker. 
DEPOSIT  OP  CHICAGO  EXHIBITION  FUND  BUB8CBIPTIONS 
IN  THE  COLONIAL  TREASURY,  AND  THE  QUESTION 
OF  EXPENDITURE,  AND  NEED  OF  FURTHER 
SUPPORT. 
Read  letters  from  Mr.  W.  W.  Mitohell  enclosing 
memo,  and  telegraphic  communication  from  Mr. 
Grinlinton. 
Read  letter  from  the  Colonial  Secreatary  acknow- 
ledging receipt  of  oheque  for  R5,000  to  be  credited 
to  the  Government  Chioago  Exhibition  Fund.  Re- 
solved : — (I)  “ That  Mr.  W.  W.  Mitchell  be  requested 
o telegraph  to  Mr.  Grinlinton  on  behalf  of  the 
Standing  Committee  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  asking 
him  to  wire  briefly  the  minimum  sum  he  oonsideis 
uBcesaary  for  the  requirements  of  Ceylon  at  the 
Chicago  Exhibition.”  (II)  “Thnt  subscriptions  to  the 
Ceylon  Tea  Fund  be  paid  into  the  Bank  of  Madras  I 
and  that  subscriptions  to  the  Chicago  Exhibition 
Fund  be  paid  into  the  National  Bank  of  India 
Colombo.” 
CEYLON  TEA  AT  THE  WORLD’S  EXPOSITION  AT  CHICAGO 
IN  1893. 
Considered  the  question  of  exhibits  and  some  con- 
nected details.  Resolved  “ That  it  is  advisable  to 
defer  definite  plans  to  a later  period.” 
Read  letter  from  the  ChairmaD,  Travancore  Planters’ 
Association,  requesting  to  be  allowed  to  join  with  the 
Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon  in  the  Chicago  Ex- 
hibition. Resolved: — “That  the  Standing  Committee 
of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund  is  unable  to  recommend 
compliance  with  the  request  made  by  the  Chairman 
of  the  Travancore  Planters’  Association.” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  GERMANY. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  E.  Schrader  acknowledging 
with  best  thanks  the  grant  of  5,000  lb.  of  Ceylon 
tea  in  two  instalments  for  free  distribution  in 
Germany  on  condition  of  his  buying  an  equa 
quantity  of  Ceylon  tea  on  his  own  account. 
Resolved  : — “ That  the  arrangements  made  in  con- 
nection with  this  grant  be  approved  and  they  are 
hereby  confirmed.” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  VIENNA,  PRAGUE,  KARLSBAD,  &C. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  John  Ferguson  stating  that 
he  was  much  gratified  to  learn  that  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  “ Ceylon  Tea  Fund  ” had  deemed 
his  suggestions  with  reference  to  extending  the  use 
of  Ceylon  tea  in  Austria  and  Switzerland  worthy 
of  attention;  (II)  mentioning  having  forwarded  a copy 
of  the  Financial  News  containing  a letter  he  had 
written  in  defence  of  the  stability  of  the  Tea  Planting 
Enterprize  of  Ceylon.  Resolved  “ That  the  thanks 
of  the  Committee  be  conveyed  to  Mr.  Ferguson  for 
his  letter.” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  RUSSIA. 
Read  letters  from  Mr.  M.  Rogivue.  Resolved : — 
“That  consideration  of  Mr.  Rogivue’s  request  be 
deferred.” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  SWITZERLAND  AND  AUSTRIA: 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  Charles  Osswald  on  the 
subject  of  the  grant  of  500  lb.  Ceylon  tea  for 
free  distribution  by  Mr.  Weiner  in  Vienna 
and  expressing  his  sincere  thanks. 
Read  letter  from  Messrs.  Whittall  &Co.  advising  ship- 
ment of  the  Tea,  as  requested,  and  enclosing  in- 
voice amounting  to  R346-70. 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  HUNGARY,  AND  ROUMANIA,  BULGARIA 
AND  SERVIA. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  Hugo  Graepel,  Budapest,  Hun- 
gary on  the  subject  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  in  J lb.  packets  for 
fioe  distribution  in  Hungary,  Roumania,  Bulgaria,  and 
Seivia.  Resolved: — “That  Mr.  H.  Graepel’s  letter  be 
acknowledged  and  that  he  be  informed  that  his  letter 
has  been  handed  over  to  the  Ceylon  Tea  Company,  Ltd. 
under  the  Patronage  of  the  Planters’  Association  of 
Ceylon,  who  have  been  requested  to  communicate  with 
him  in  regard  to  business  operations  ; (II)  that  the 
Ceylon  Tea  Company  Limited  will  be  requested  as 
soon  as  possible  to  purchase  and  ship  250  lb.  Ceylon 
Tea  in  J lb.  packets  to  Mr.  H.  Graepel  in  terms  of  his 
letter  for  free  distribution  in  Hungary,  Roumania 
Bulgaria  and  Servia.” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  SIERRA  COUNTRY,  CALIFORNIA. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  Joseph  C.  Dunbar  asking  for 
a grant  of  Tea  for  free  distribution  in  Sierra  country, 
California.  Resolved: — “That  Mr.  Dunbar’s  letter  be 
acknowledged  and  that  the  Standing  Committee  would 
wish  to  know  what  quantity  of  Tea  is  desired  and 
through  what  agency  it  is  proposed  to  distribute  it  in 
Sierra  Ccounty,  California,” 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  T0NQUIN. 
Read  letter  from  Mr.  P.  O.  MacMahon  enclosing 
letter  from  Mr,  James  Ryan  applying  on  behalf  of  Mr. 
MacMahon  for  a grant  of  Ceylon  Tea  in  packets 
for  free  distribution  in  Tonquin.  Resolved  ; — “ That 
