214 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Sept,  i,  1892. 
evoked  a good  deal  of  defensive  oomment  during 
the  after  discussion  of  the  paper.  Turning  next  to 
COFFEE, 
the  leoturer  traced  the  history  of  its  cultivation  up  to 
1877,  when  the  export  of  the  berry  bad  risen  to 
30,000  cwt.  in  excess  of  the  round  million.  Here- 
marked  upon  the  woful  change  brought  about  by  the 
leaf-disease  as  evidenced  by  presenc  statistics.  Dr. 
Thwaites  of  Peradeniya  Mr.  Ferguson  asserted  to  have 
been  the  one  authority  who  first  predicted  the  fear- 
ful results  to  this  pest  when  it  first  became  observable. 
Upon  these  results,  he  said,  he  need  not  now 
dwell.  The  high  prices  now  obtainable  for  the 
small  amount  of  coffee  Ceylon  yet  exported 
might  and  should  lead  the  planters  of  the  island 
to  open  up  fresh  fields  in  other  countries. 
Ceylon  men  had  brought  the  preparation  of  the 
coffee  berry  up  to  a wonderful  pitch  of  excellence, 
as  indeed  they  had  done  with  reference  to  every 
form  of  cultivation  they  had  undertaken,  It  was 
not  only  in  Ceylon  that  coffee  had  suffered  from 
the  devastating  disease.  Every  Eastern  coffee- 
growing  country  had  similarly  suffered,  and  it 
was  only  a few  districts  in  Mysore  in  India  that  had 
apparently  escaped  its  ravages.  Liberian  coffee 
grown  in  Ceylon  had  not  borne  the  effects  better 
than  the  older  form,  but  Mr.  Ferguson  expressed 
the  opinion  that  the  cultivation  of  this  description 
might  yet  be  profitably  extended  in  Ceylon. 
TEA, 
“ Finally,"  Mr.  Ferguson  observed,  “ we  come 
to  Tea."  This  must  now  be  regarded  as  the 
staple  product  of  the  island,  and  every  confidence 
might  be  felt  in  its  permanenoe.  The  earlier 
attempts  at  this  cultivation  were  noticed  by  the 
leoturer,  who  Eaid  that  Mr.  W.  M.  Leake  had 
been  the  first  to  introduce  the  tea  seed  from 
Assam  and  to  enter  on  the  cultivation  on  a large 
soale.  Some  of  the  leading  statistics  evidencing 
the  rapid  strides  made  with  it  were  next 
read,  it  being  then  remarked  that  the  warm, 
moist  olimate  of  Ceylon  was  especially  suited 
to  this  form  of  growth.  There  was  also  an 
unlimited  supply  of  cheap  labour  available,  and 
this  was  a prime  factor  towards  success.  Another 
more  important  factor  was  the  introduction  and 
use  of  most  efficient  machinery  for  the  preparation 
of  the  leaf.  The  existing  factory  arrangements 
for  dealing  with  this  seemed  to  be  as  perfect  as 
they  could  be.  As  for  future  extension,  the 
planting  area  may  be  enlarged  EucceBsfully  if 
remunerative  prices  can  be  obtained.  Experiments 
involving  a large  cost  had  been  oarried  out  both 
in  India  and  Ceylon,  and  to  those  no  doubt  was 
owiDg  much  of  the  sucoess,  which  had  been 
attained  in  both  countries.  The  drinking  of  tea 
had  become  a wide-world  habit.  It  had  been 
observed  that  nothing  was  so  fatal  as  the  drinking 
of  cold  water.  The  Chinese  would  never  do  this, 
and  it  was  to  their  praotice  of  tea  drinking  that 
had  been  assigned  the  comparative  immunity 
among  them  from  cholera.  The  future  of  the  tea 
industry  in  Ceylon  must  be  largely  dependent 
upon  the  opening  up  of  new  markets.  Mr.  Ferguson 
said  he  was  glad  to  see  among  his  audience  the 
Commission  appointed  by  Ceylon  to  represent 
it  at  the  forthcoming  Chicago  Exhibition. 
He  regarded  America  as  a most  promising 
field  for  the  future  enlarged  disposal  of 
their  tea.  Much  had  already  been  done  towards 
seouring  this,  and  their  representation  at  Chioago 
would  oertainly  have  a muoh-to-be-desired  effect. 
Concluding,  the  lecturer  said  ho  bad  ventured  to 
take  up  a very  wide  subject,  scarcely  to  be  effi- 
ciently treated  within  the  limit  of  time  at  his 
disposal.  There  was  still  ample  room  in  Ceylon 
for  experiment  and  action  with  regard  to  the 
cultivation  of 
NEW  PRODUCTS, 
Much,  for  instance,  might  be  done  with  fibre  plants 
and  other  growths.  Timber,  of  which  the  island 
possessed  a large  and  valuable  supply,  should  in 
the  future  prove  remunerative,  and  the  opening  up 
of  the  Northern  Province  by  railway  would  largely 
aid  as  to  this. 
THE  PLUMBAGO  AND  GEM  INDUSTRIES 
of  the  island  would,  he  hoped,  receive  further 
development  ere  long.  Capital  might  safely  be 
invested  in  them.  Surely,  Mr.  Ferguson  concluded,  it 
would  be  better  to  invest  British  capital  in  a British 
colony  than  to  sink  it,  as  had  been  done,  in  the  Re- 
public of  South  America. 
Sir  Arthur  Biroh  then  called  upon  your  Com- 
missioner for  Chioago  to  open 
THE  DISCUSSION. 
Mr.  Grinlinton  eaid  he  had  not  expected  to  be 
called  upon  to  speak.  What  he  could  find  to  say 
would  ooly  have  to  be  repeated  within  a very  few 
minutes  in  another  place.  His  late  mission  to 
America  had  resulted  in  very  complete  sucoess. 
The  American  Ceylon  Tea  Company  had  done 
its  best  to  advertise  Ceylon  tea,  and  had  ably 
prepared  the  way  for  a fuller  development  as 
the  result  of  what  he  hoped  would  be  done  at 
the  Chicago  Exhibition.  But  more  than  that 
Company  had  been  able  to  do  was  yet  required. 
“ You  must  put  your  hands  in  your  pockets,"  said 
the  speaker,  “ if  you  wish  to  achieve  all  you 
want.”  An  enormous  quantity  of  tea  was  drunk  in 
America,  but  it  was  vile  stuff,  and  it  was  difficult 
to  ohange  ideas  when  once  established.  There 
were  great  ignorance  as  to  Ceylon  in  Amerioa. 
Many  people  there  did  not  even  know  where  the 
island  was,  several  he  had  met  believing  it  to  be 
situate  on  the  east  coast  of  Africa.  Mr.  Grinlinton 
said  it  would  require  all  our  energy  and  all  our 
skill  to  place  Ceylon  teas  on  the  American  market. 
The  Americans  at  the  first  taste  preferred  their 
China  and  Japan  teas  to  those  of  Ceylon.  He  had 
been  very  successful  in  obtaining  sites  for  Ceylon 
from  the  authorities  at  Chicago,  and  exceptionally 
favourable  terms  had  been  granted  for  the  sale  of 
its  teas  in  kiosks.  Mr.  Grinlinton  concluded  to 
the  effect  that  “if  you  want  the  Americans  to 
drink  your  teas,  you  must  prove  your  desire  that  they 
should  do  so  by  putting  your  hands  in  your  pockets." 
Sir  Arthur  Birch  nextoalled  upon  Mr.  D.  Morris, 
who  said  that  he  could  add  little  to  what  Mr. 
Ferguson  had  so  admirably  placed  before  them. 
That  gentleman’s  numerous  publications  on  tropical 
agriculture,  with  which  his  venerable  and  worthy 
uncle  was  associated,  had  been  invaluable  through- 
out the  world.  He  thought  the  Ceylon  planters,  of 
whom  he  had  the  highest  opinion  in  every  respect, 
had  one  fault.  They  had  too  much  energy,  and 
rushed  everything  they  undertook.  They  spoiled 
matters  by 
GLUTTING  THE  MARKETS. 
For  instanoe,  annattowas  a product  but  little  in  U6e 
and  until  lately  small  quantities  only  came  to  hand. 
But  the  other  day,  comparatively,  a Ceylon  planter 
took  up  this  cultivation,  and  a trader  refused 
offers  from  ordinary  sources,  because,  he  said,*  all 
our  wants  have  already  been  met  frem  Ceylon." 
It  was  time  the  Ceylon  planters  passed  a self- 
denying  ordinance.  Perhaps  it  was  hard  to  expect 
this  of  them,  but  oertainly  it  was  required.  Let 
them  do  as  much  as  they  could  with  indiarubber. 
They  could  scarcely  go  beyond  the  demand  which 
was  arising,  and  that  must  develop  almost  with- 
out limitation.  If  the  Ceylon  planters  could  meet 
this  with  a Bupply  of  good  quality  they  would 
