128 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
[August  t,  1892. 
Nilgiris,  but  there  is  no  reason  why  that  district 
should  not  follow  the  example  of  Travancore,  and 
we  hope  that  there  will  be  no  further  delay 
in  getting  together  a small  working  com- 
mittee, and  calling  in  subscriptions,  etc.  Our  Simla 
correspondent  announces  that  Mr.  Blechynden, 
Secretary  of  the  Agri-Horticultural  Society  of  India, 
has  been  chosen  as  the  Indian  representative  at 
Chicago,  and  a better  choice  could  not  have  been 
made. 
We  publish  in  another  column  some  suggestions 
which  were  read  at  a General  Meeting  of  the  Indian 
Tea  Districts’  Association  in  London  on  22nd  March 
last,  many  of  which  have  already  been  followed. 
The  paper  containing  these  suggestions  the  Calcutta 
Committee  are  now  distributing  amongst  planters, 
in  Northern  India  and  so  it  will  be  of  interest 
to  our  planting  readers.  Here  particular  stress  is 
laid  on  the  importance  of  the  United  States  as  a 
market  for  Indian  tea ; and  the  splendid  opportunity 
which  the  Chicago  Exposition  offers  for  making 
these  teas  known.  It  seems  to  us  of  great  impor- 
tance that  every  district  should  be  represented,  in 
order  that  American  dealers  may  see  what  a vast 
range  of  qualities  India  is  able  to  export,  and  to 
learn  that  by  coming  to  this  country,  they  can  suit 
the  different  and  varied  tastes  of  consumers.  Par- 
ticular attention  should  be  laid  on  this  great  variety 
of  teas,  so  that  if  the  leaf  exported  from  one  district 
cannot  produce  a liquor  pleasing  to  the  American 
palate,  some  other  district  may  be  able  to  do  so.  We 
should  be  surprised  if  at  the  present  moment  one- 
half  of  the  districts  in  this  country  have  ever  exported 
tea  to  the  United  States. — -IT.  Times,  June  28. 
INDIAN  TEA  AT  CHICAGO. 
Naugong,  Assam,  June  18. — A meeting  was  held  at 
Salorah  this  afternoon  in  connection  with  the 
furtherance  of  the  interests  of  Indian  tea  at 
the  Chicago  Exhibition,  at  which  the  following  gen- 
tlemen were  present  — T.  Henderson,  Salonah  Tea 
Co.,  Ld,;  S.  M.  Barry  Kellyden  Tea  Co.  Ld  ; 
R.  G.  Sis  on,  Uppar  Assam  Ter  Co.  Li.  ; W.  H. 
L vail,  Nonoi  Tea  Uo.,  Ld. ; M.  Ohamuey,  Hnspan, 
Tea  Estate  ; H.  L Calcraft,  Laugsu  g Tea  Estate ; 
C.  D.  Tenuant,  Amlnekee  Tea  Estate;  A.  D. 
Macfarlaue,  Salonah  Tea  Co.  Li. ; E.  E.  Prycei 
Salonah  Tea  Co.,  Ld.  ; H A.  Peck,  Nonoi  Tea  Co., 
Ld.,  by  his  Attorney,  W.  H.  Lyall. 
Mr.  Henderson  fmt  read  over  to  the  meeting 
a letter  dated  29th  May,  from  the  Secretary  to 
the  Assam  Branch,  Indian  Tea  Association,  lontaining 
an  extraot  from  a letter  received  by  him  from  Mr.  J.  N. 
Stuart,  and  also  some  suggestions  for  obtaining  the 
necessary  financial  support  for  the  due  representation 
of  Indian  teas  at  Chicago  Exhibition  of  1893  as  read 
at  a general  meeting  of  the  Indian  Tea  Districts 
Association,  London,  22nd  March,  1892.  The  question 
of  local  subscriptions  was  then  considered,  aud  a 
proposal  that  all  present  should  subsoribe  was  unani- 
mously agreed  to.  The  basis  of  subscription  w is  fixed 
by  general  consent  at  a percentage  on  salaries — ten 
per  cent,  for  managers  and  aeveu  and-a-hatf  p'-r  cent 
for  assistants ; and  a sum  of  R480  was  subscribed 
on  the  spot.  It  is  decided  to  forward  a copy  of  the 
proceedings  and  the  subscription  list  to  all  planters 
iu  the  District  who  had  been  unable  to  atteud  the 
meeting,  aod  little  doubt  is  felt  that  every  one  will 
add  his  proportion.  A general  discussion  of  the  whole 
question  and  of  the  papers  read  by  Mr.  Henderson 
then  followed;  and,  though  no  resolutions  were 
formally  passed,  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  meet- 
ing on  various  points  was  summarised  and  recorded. 
It  was  generally  agreed  to  that  the  amount  of  the 
Oaloutta  subscriptions  was  not  equal  to  the  occasion  ; 
that  all  Agents,  Brokers,  Ocean  and  River  Steam 
Companies  carrying  tea,  and,  in  short,  everyone  in 
Calcutta  in  any  way  interested  in  tea,  should  have 
subscribed  liberally  before  asking  managers  and 
poorly  paid  assistants,  whose  connection  with  an 
intereit  in  tea  was  often  a very  fleeting  one  to  help. 
The  value  of  the  suggestions  contained  in  the  letter 
from  th6  Indian  Tea  Districts  Association  was  duly 
appreciated  and  acknowledged  ; but  sarcastic  comment 
was  made  on  the  fact  that  so  mnch  good  advioe  was 
entirely  unaccompanied  by  any  substantial  pecuniary 
aid,  or  even  promise  of  it,  beyond  a para,  suggesting 
that  “a  promise  of  pecuniary  support  shonld  be  ob- 
tained from  Companies,  Firms,  and  persons  in  London 
concerned  in  the  production  of  Indian  teas.”  During 
three  months  which  have  elapsed  since  the  date  of 
the  letter  under  comment  there  has  been  no  word  of 
any  sums  or  amounts  subscribed  in  London  at  all. 
The  question  of  the  total  amount  to  be  raised  was 
considered.  Mr.  J.  N.  Stuart’s  letter  hopes  for  R75.000 
to  Rl.00,000.  Assuming  that  the  Assam  Districts 
subscrioe  two  aunas  per  acre  for  the  240,000  acres 
under  tea,  as  per  last  Government  return,  this  would 
give  R30.000;  but  as  it  is  improbable  that  every 
garden  will  subscribe,  the  amount  from  this  souroe 
was  estimated  at  R25,(100.  The  subscriptions 
advertised  in  the  Englishman  of  15th  instaut  are  under 
R30.000.  This  leaves  R20,000  to  be  raise  i from 
managers  and  assistants  to  make  up  the  lowest  amount 
suggested  by  Mr.  Stuart.  No  doubt  this  arnouut  will 
be  forthcoming  ; hut  this  will  still  leave  India’s  re- 
sources for  the  Chicago  Exhibition  R125.000  short  of 
the  amount  which  Ceylon  will  have  at  its  disposal. 
Ovners,  shareholders,  and  those  interested  in  tea, 
other  th  in  managers  and  assistants,  should  be  looked 
to  for  personal  subscriptions  as  distinct  from  subscrip- 
tions by  Companies,  or  per  acre.  It  was  suggested 
that  the  Calcutta  Association  should  address  all  share- 
holders individually,  and  impress  on  them  the  impor- 
tance of  raising  a large  sum  of  money.  If  they  tail  to 
seize  this  occasion,  they  will  be  showing  a lamentable 
want  of  interest  in  their  own  future,  and  losing  the 
greatest  chance  of  improving  the  pro-pects  of  the  tea 
industry,  which  ever  has  or  ever  will  be  open  to  them. 
Finally,  the  meeting  reoorded  their  uuanimoas 
opinion  that  the  local  Government  ought  to  he  p the 
fu  d with  a very  subs'antial  subscription,  seeing  that 
the  prosperous  couditions  of  the  province  is  entirely 
due  to  the  tea  industry,  and  the  amount  of  capital 
invested  therein  by  planters.  The  rafe  of  revenao  has 
1 een  doubled  within  the  memory  of  planters  present 
at  the  meeting  ; the  amount  of  reveuue  increased 
enormously.  It  is  a matter  of  notoriety  that  the  Assam 
ryot  is  better  off  than  auy  other  ryot  in  iudia  while 
Assam  also  provides  an  outlet  for  the  surplus  popula- 
tion of  famine-stricken  and  over-populated  districts 
in  other  parts  of  Iudia.  This  Intter  consideration 
should  induce  the  Government  of  India  also  to  give 
substantial  assistance  to  an  effort  to  improve  the 
pcospeots  of  an  industry  to  whioh  not  onlv  Assam  bnt 
the  “Labour  Districts”  owe  so  much. — Correspondent 
of  the  “ Englishman .” 
Borelli  Tea  Company. — Tue  eighteenth  ordinary 
general  meeting  of  the  Borelli  Tea  Oompauy,  Limi- 
ted, was  held  yesterday  at  138,  Leadenhall-street, 
E.  C.,  Mr.  J.  A.  N.  Martin  presiding.  In  moving 
the  adoption  of  the  report,  the  Chairman  said  the 
Board  were  very  sorry  not  to  Gome  before  them  with 
a better  divided  than  the  6 per  cent,  per  annum  re- 
commended in  the  report.  They  would  observe, 
however,  that  there  had  been  an  inarease  in  the 
cultivation  of  139  acres.  Mr.  Bennett,  one  of  the 
directors,  had  just  returned  from  visiting  their 
gardens,  and  had  reported  that  the  extended  ground 
hid  been  very  well  planted.  The  reason  for  the 
smallness  of  the  dividend  was  that  their  manager 
had  made  somewhat  medium  teas,  but  the  policy  of 
the  Board  was  that  the  quality  should  be  improved 
in  the  ooming  year.  The  report  stated  that  a net  i) 
profit  had  been  realised  of  £4,456,  the  orop  showing 
a considerable  increase  over  that  of  la9t  year,  and 
the  average  prioe  obtained  for  it  being  10  T\d  per  lb. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Bennett  seconded  the  adoption  of  the 
report,  which  was  carried  after  a brief  discussion,— 
Financial  Times,  June  10. 
