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THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
FROM  THE  METROPOLIS. 
July  15tb,  1892. 
THE  DULL  SEASON  IN  TEA  IN  THE  LANE, 
generally  synchronous  with  the  middle  of  the  year, 
is  well-nigh  over  now  and  prioes  are  expeeted  to 
improve.  But  owing  to  this  expectation,  a good 
deal  of  tea  has  been  kept  back  and  it  is  just 
possible  that  oonsiderab'y  increased  offerings  may 
have  an  effect  for  a time.  I learned,  however, 
during  a call  this  week  on  Messrs.  Geo.  White  & 
Co.,  that  the  figures  for  the  consumption  of 
Ceylon  tea  continue  specially  favourable  and  that 
in  China  tea,  in  correspondence,  is  steadily  dropping 
out  of  demand.  The  new  China  teas  are  by  no 
means  well  spoken  of,  and  much  interest  has  been 
6tirred  by  a comparison  instituted  between  typical 
samples  of  Ceylon  and  China  teas,  as  explained 
in  the  following  letter  which  accompanied  those 
sent  to  me  : — 
13,  Rood  Lane,  London,  E.  C.,  July  8th,  1892. 
J.  Ferguson,  Esq. 
Dear  Sir,— We  ore  sending  herewith  a sample  of  the 
New  China  Teas  (1892-3  crop)  which  have  just  arrived 
per  s.s.  “Moyune,”  and  we  also  send  a sample  of  fair 
ordinary  Ceylon  tea  now  selling  on  the  market. 
As  many  persons  interested  in  the  tea  trade  had 
for  some  time  been  hoping  for  a revival  in  tbe  China 
Department  owing  to  an  anticipated  improvement 
in  the  manufacture,  and  as  such  a revival  would 
doubtless  have  done  harm  to  the  Ceylon  tea  trade, 
we  think  you  will  be  interested  in  comparing  these 
two  growths  of  tea. 
When  you  notice  that  the  China  tea  was  actually 
sold  in  London  at  11  Jd  per  lb.  and  the  Ceylon  is  a 
tea  on  the  market  at  about  8£d  per  lb.  you  will  at 
onoe  observe  how  much  cheaper  and  more  service- 
able the  Ceylon  tea  is  of  the  two.  Tnis  must  sooner 
or  later  be  also  observed  by  the  country  at  large,  ar,d 
we  hope  foreign  markets. — We  are,  dear  sir,  yonrs 
faithfully,  Gow.  Wilson  & Stanton. 
The  general  opinion,  I believe,  is  that  the  Ceylon 
tea  at  8Jd  is  quite  as  good  value  as  tbe  China  at 
lljd,  if  not  better.  This  fact  and  the  very  general 
appreciation  throughout  the  country  of  the  trade 
opinion  that  much  better  value  is  got  in 
Ceylon  teas  than  in  China,  augurs  well  for  the 
steadily  continuous  displacement  of  the  latter  from 
the  London  market. 
Among  other  good  services  done  by 
MESSES.  GEO.  WHITE  & CO. 
to  the  tea  planters  is  the  preparation  and 
publication  of  the  following  clear  resume  of 
USEFUL  HINTS. 
Boine  of  them  will  no  doubt  read  familiar 
enough  ; but  it  is  quite  astonishing  how 
readily  all  concerned — the  planters  especially 
■—are  to  forget  even  the  elementary  rules  herewith 
indicated.  A copy  of  this  paper  pasted  up  in 
every  Faotory  and  if  regularly  consulted,  cannot  fail 
to  lead  to  economical  results  : — 
NOTES  FOR  THE  TEA  FACTORY. 
31,  Fenohurch  Street,  July  1892. 
Size  of  Breaks.— Parcels  comsting  of  less  than  12 
bhests,  18  half-chests,  and  30  boxes,  are  classed  as 
small  breaks,  sold  in  London  after  the  regular  anotions, 
and  do  not,  as  a rule,  command  so  much  competition 
an  full  sized  ones  ; they  should  therefore  be  avoided. 
Where  circumstanoes  do  not  admit  of  large  breaks 
of  Broken  Pekoe,  Pekoe,  and  Pekoe  Soncnong  being 
made,  it  would  be  better  to  bulk  the  fine  leaf  together 
and  ship  it  as  one  paroel,  taking  out  only  the  coarse 
Souchong  and  Dust. 
Assortment.— On  estates  in  fall  bearing  the  follow- 
ing assortment  will  generally  be  found  to  answer, 
although  it  may  be  varied  according  to  cirumstanoee, 
viz. : — A first-class  Broken  Pekoe;  a Fine  Pekoe  ; the 
bold  leaf  often  sent  with  Pekoe  to  be  left  in  the 
Pekoe  Souchong  ; the  Rough  Souchong  to  be  equalized 
grad  mixed  with  the  Fannings,  the  whole  of  which  could 
[Sept,  i,  1892. 
be  called  Broken  Tea,  thus  making  in  all  four  kinds- 
Parcels  containing  Dust  are  not  readily  saleable,  there- 
fore this  should  be  sifted  out  and  shipped  separately. 
Packages  and  Bulking, — Full  chests  are  ordinarily 
suitable  to  ihe  home  trade,  though  half  chests  are  liked 
by  many  buyers  both  for  export  and  home  use,  especi- 
ally in  the  case  of  pekoes  and  fine  descriptions.  Leafy 
kinds  for  drinking  alone,  often  sell  well  in  boxes,  but 
these  packages  should  be  under  28  lb.  gross  so  as  to 
avoid  the  1 lb.  draft  allowed  on  those  over  (his  weight. 
Factory-bulked  teas  are  preferred  by  most  houses,  and 
if  this  operation  can  be  done  effectually  at  the  factory, 
the  expense  attending  it  in  the  London  Warehouse 
will  not  be  incurred.  Unless,  however,  the  tares  of 
each  bre;  k are  regular,  (».e.,  do  not  vary  more  than  2 
lb.,)  every  package  has  to  be  turned  out  here,  so  that 
the  advantage  of  Factory  bulking  is  thus  partially  lost. 
Besides  this,  the  cost  of  taring  separately  is  heavier  than 
when  an  average  can  be  struck  by  testing  10  per  cent  of 
the  packages. 
Marking. — Name  of  garden,  description  of  tea  and 
obest  number  is  all  that  is  required  on  the  package. 
Weightand  tare  are  superfluous, only  lead  to  confusion, 
and  can  always  be  cbeoked  from  the  gardeD  invoice. 
London  Warehouse  Charges. — Economy  in  all 
charges  must  be  studied,  and  if  the  packing  is  regula- 
ted in  accordance  with  the  following  scale,  a consider- 
able amount  may  be  saved  in  the  course  of  a season. 
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