THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
□ AN.  2,  1893. 
492 
months,  owing  no  doubt  to  the  development  of  the 
trade  done  in  Ceylon  and  Indian  teas  and  perhaps 
to  the  consequent  jealousy  of  the  large  importers  of 
China  tea  in  Moscow,  the  attention  of  the  Russian 
authorities  has  again  been  directed  to  the  matter, 
and  the  exclusion  of  all  tea  packed  in  simple  lead- 
lined  chests  will  be  enforced  in  May  next.  All  the 
firms  through  whom  we  send  samples  to  Russia  are 
of  opinion  that  it  would  be  highly  desirable  if  Ceylon 
planters  could  manage  to  pack  their  teas  in  the 
manner  indicated,  as  this  stringent  Customs  regula- 
tion will  otherwise  entail  repacking  with  paper  in 
London  before  shipping.  We  may  add  that  in  the 
case  of  teas  which  are  habitually  bulked  here,  there 
would  be  no  need  to  insert  the  paper,  as  after  bulk- 
ing in  London  warehouses  the  lead  casing  is  always 
lined  with  paper  before  the  packages  are  refilled. 
Many  growers  may  not,  perhaps,  consider  it  worth 
while  to  incur  any  extra  expense  in  order  to  satisfy 
a Continental  Customs  regulation  which  may  be  com- 
plied with  byjtvvicking  here  ; but,  on  |the  other  hand, 
we  think  it  vould  be  to  the  advantage  of  those 
high-country  estates  whose  teas  so  often  sell  for 
Russian  account  if  they  could  fall  in  with  the  sugges- 
tion ; anyhow  with  the  full  facts  before  them  planters 
will  be  able  to  decide  for  themselves  what  course 
to  pursue. — We  are,  dear  sir,  yours  faithfully, 
(Signed)  Wilson,  Smithett  & Co. 
N.B. — The  difficulty  could  not  be  overcome  by 
using  metal  chests,  as  there  is  a duty  on  these  on 
the  Continent,  and  teas  thus  packed  have,  as  it  is, 
to  be  repacked  before  they  are  allowed  to  pass  the 
Onstoms. 
Winterthur,  Sept.  30th,  1892. 
To  the  Seoretary  of  the  Planters’  Association  of 
Ceylon,  Kandy. 
Dear  Sir,— I beg  leave  to  refer  to  my  letter  of  June 
10th,  by  which  I look  the  liberty  of  asking  you  to  re- 
fund me  £23  la  7d  for  duty  paid  on  600  pounds  of  tea 
granted  by  you  as  samples  for  my  friend,  Mr.  Weiner 
of  Vienna. 
Although  I suppose  that  Mr.  Rogivue  will  inform 
you  of  all  that  is  taking  plaoe  in  Russia  with  reference 
to  tea,  I nevertheless  send  you  herewith  a translation 
of  an  information  contained  lately  in  an  Austrian  news- 
paper, which  may  be  of  some  interest  for  you. — Believe 
me,  dear  sir,  yours  truly,  Chables  Osiwald. 
It  is  intended  to  establish  a Tea  Museum  in  St.  Pe- 
tersburg, whioh  will  contain  everything  referring  to 
the  onlture  and  oommeroeof  tea,  beginning  with  tea 
plants  and  ending  with  the  ready  produce  in  the  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  packing.  There  will  be  also  a separate 
department  containing  all  kinds  of  vessels  and  other 
things  need  for  the  preparation  of  tea,  euch  as  Samo- 
wars  in  the  various  shapes,  tea  pots,  tea  sieves,  eto. 
The  purpose  of  the  mnseum  ie  to  give  a complete  view 
of  the  tea  industry  in  its  entire  extension.  The  great- 
est part  of  the  objeots  to  be  exhibited  is  already  on  the 
way  from  Kiaohta  to  St.  Petersburg. 
Winterthur,  Ootober  14th,  1892. 
To  the  Secretary  of  the  Planters’  Association  of 
Ceylon,  Kandy. 
Dear  Sir,— I last  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you 
on  Sept.  30  lb,  and  received  on  the  9th  instant  your 
letter  of  Sept.  16th,  covering  your  remittance  of 
£23  Is  7d  on  demand  on  London,  against  my  pay- 
ment of  the  Austrian  import  duty  on  the  5001b  tea 
granted  kindly  by  your  committee  as  samples.  I am 
muoh  obliged  to  you  for  this  payment. 
The  sale  of  tea  in  Switzerland  and  Austria  pro- 
gresses favourably.  Later  on  I intend  giving  you  a 
more  explioit  report.— I am,  dear  sir,  yours  truly, 
Chables  Osswald. 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  GERMANY. 
Secretary’s  Office,  No.  42,  King  Street,  Kandy, 
Deoember  13tb,  1892. 
Sib, — At  the  request  of  the  committee,  I enoloa 
for  publication  oopy  letter  regarding  Ceylon  Tea  in 
Germany. — I am,  &o.,  A.  PHILIP, 
Seoretary  to  the  Planters’  Association  of  Ceylon. 
The  Secretary  of  thePlantera’  Association  of  Cejlor, 
Kandy. 
Dear  Sir, — We  beg  to  acknowledge  with  thanks 
the  receipt  of  ihe  shipment  of  2,500  lb.  of  tea  per 
8,s.  “ HoheDzollern”,  being  one  half  of  the  graDt  of 
6,000  lb.  made  to  our  Mr.  Schrader  by  the  standing 
committee  of  the  Ceylon  Tea  Fund,  and  are  now 
expecting  tha  second  2,600  lb.  to  arrive  in  a few  days 
per  s s.  “ Salier  ” at  Bremen. 
Owing  to  different  circumstances  we  have  Dot 
been  able  to  make  a start  with  the  tea  business  before 
this,  but  intend  to  commenoe  operations  within  the 
next  few  days.  We  have  tatcen  an  offioe  with  stores  in 
the  business  oentre  of  Berlin,  and  oar  preparations 
being  nearly  complete,  we  shall  now  try  what  oan  be 
done  with  Ceylou  tea  here. 
We  have  made  use  of  our  leisure  to  get  all  the 
information  obtainable  about  and  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  Ceylon  produce  will  stand 
a good  ohanoe  in  Germany.  It  must  be  admitted, 
that  Germany  so  far  is  not  a tea  drinking  country, 
but  tea  is  gaining  ground  steadily  and  becoming 
more  popular  year  by  year.  It  is  in  the  Northern 
parts,  ou  the  ooasts  of  the  German  Sea  and  the 
Baltio,  that  meet  of  tha  teas  now  imported  into 
Germany  are  consumed,  and  it  is  there  where  we 
shall  in  the  first  time  have  to  look  for  a market. 
In  Middle  and  Southern  Germany  tea  is  only  being 
used  in  winter  time,  mostly  at  supper  and  it  is  an 
exception,  if  tea  is  taken  at  the  breakfast  table. 
However,  mnch  progress  has  been  made  of  iate 
and  it  is  the  medical  profession,  who  in  first  plaoe 
advocate  the  use  of  tea.  We  have,  therefore, 
made  up  our  mind  to  supply  this  profession 
liberally  with  samples,  from  the  grant,  and  are 
confident  that  they  will  recommend  our  teas.  The 
consumption  of  tea  iD  Germany  may  roughly  be 
estimated  at  2 million  kilos,  equal  to  4j  millions 
English  pounds,  or  about  l-12th  of  a pound  per 
head  of  population.  The  Berlin  consumption 
amounts  to  125,000  kilos  a year,  or  about  1-6 i h of  a 
pound  per  head.  To  our  opinion  the  small  de- 
mand for  tea  is  a consequenoe  of  the  high  prices 
charged  by  retailers,  and  of  the  poor  qua'ity  generally 
sold  by  them.  W’hoever  oan  afford  it  buj  s so-called 
“Rus-ian  Tea”,  viz-,  tea  coming  from  Russia,  whi- 
ther it  is  alleged  to  be  sent  by  the  over'and  route  from 
China,  it  beiDg  supposed  that  the  transport  overland 
gives  it  additional  flavor.  Big  prices  ere  paid  fur  these 
Russian  or  Caravan  teas.  Who  requires  cheaper  stuff 
buys  so-oalled  China  tea,  which  is  in  faot  a blend 
of  China  with  Indian  or  Ceylon  tea.  These  are 
sold  to  the  retainers  at  from  l.m,  to  T75  m. 
respectively  to  m.  2.  utmost  and  resold  by  them  at  from 
m.  2 to  m.  4.  the  so-oalled  very  finest  qualities  at  m. 
6.  The  grooers  sell  mostly  in  packets  of  50  or  100 
grammes  and  they  have  consequently  to  make  a 
big  profit  ; in  fact  we  know  of  instanoes,  where  a 
retailer  bought  at  m.  1.30  and  sold  at  m.  4.  We  had 
half  an  intention  at  first,  to  take  some  rooms  in  the 
principal  throughfares  for  the  sale  of  tea  in  packets  and 
for  free  distribution  of  tea  in  cup,  but  on  further 
inqury  we  had  to  abandon  the  idea,  as  it  would 
have  made  all  the  retailers  our  enemies;  and  as 
they  are  after  all  the  chief  buyers,  we  have  to 
count  with  them.  The  first  importance  for  Ger- 
many is  that  we  get  leafy  teas  ; Broken  Pekoe  for 
instanoe  will  not  be  liked  for  a long  time  to  come, 
as  people  will  always  believe  it  mixed  up  with  dust. 
The  oonolusion  we  have  oome  to  is  that  in  Ger- 
many a fully  flavored,  but  not  too  'pungent  tea  of  leafy 
oharaoter,  and  at  a price,  which  esn  oompete  with 
China  teas,  will  be  the  most  asked  for  ; with  such 
teas  we  are  confident  to  do  a good  bnsineis  and 
to  be  able  to  push  the  Ceylon  produce  in  Germany, 
We  shall  report  more  fully  after  we  have  had  some 
practical  tests, 
