June  i,  1893.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
759 
that  all  planters  under  40  years  of  age  be  exempted 
from  serving  on  the  jury  if  they  are  all  reported  to 
be  efficient  members  of  that  Corps. 
Prices  of  Tea. — Especially  of  the  finest  sort  will 
not  be  better  till  Home  Rule  is  either  granted  or 
knocked  on  the  head,  is  the  opinion  of  knowing  ones 
in  the  Lane.  It  is  also  considered  by  tome  that 
dealers  lie  low  at  home  when  they  can  buy  cheaper 
in  Colombo,  and  tlfeit  they  play  the  one  market 
against  the  other. 
Ceylon  Export  to  Date — Being  reported  to  be  less 
than  at  same  date  last  season  is  most  extra  ordinary  : 
1893  17th  April,  lb.  tea  21,391,794 
1892  ..  ..  21,660,717 
Deficiency,  this  season  26S.923 
Who  has  been  bottling  up  their  tea?  “The  London 
market  ” Messrs.  Somerville  & Co.  may  well  say  “ is 
wired  firm  and  prices  a shade  better  ” under  such 
circumstances  as  these. 
Coffee.— Blossoms  are  reported  so  far  to  have  set 
most  indifferently,  so  the  export  of  this  product  will 
be  a very  sad  one  to  chronicle  this  year.  To  date 
however  the  export  is  a shade  better  than  last  year. 
i  acao. — The  exports  of  this  high-priced  article  to 
date  are  much  higher  than  at  same  date  in  1892,  and 
even  top  the  export  in  3891. 
Exports  17th  April  1893  cwt.  13,926 
1892  9,230 
1891  10,295 
One  hears  that  there  is  a great  deal  of  native  grown 
cacao  in  the  Kurunegala,  Matala  and  Dumbara  dis- 
tricts, and  that  respectable  natives  are  now  alive  to 
its  value.  Thieves  of  course  have  been  for  some 
time  aware  of  this  fact, 
Cinchona— Is  going  steadily  down  in  our  exports 
and  prices  follow  suit.  Planters  therefore  may  con- 
gratulate themselves  on  having  so  little  of  it  on  their 
hands. 
Weather. — You  seem  to  be  laving  a high  old 
time  of  it  in  Colombo,  ani  the  little  monsoon 
is  coming  in  like  a “Lion.”  We  ought  to  have  it 
up  here  about  the  24th.  In  the  middle  part  of  Dim- 
bula  it  is  rather  dry  than  otherwise.  Nothing  could 
have  been  better  for  the  Kurunegala,  Mataie  and 
Dumbara  districts  than  the  sunny  weather  they  have 
had  lately. 
Ceylon  Tea  in  America.— I do  think  Mr.  Pineo 
piles  on  the  agony  on  Ceylon  men  for  their  indiffer- 
ence to  his  hero,  Elwood  May,  As  a private  planter 
I have  dropped  R1,000,  for  I never  expect  to  see  a 
rupee-cent  of  it  again,  on  the  American  Tea  Com- 
pany. Why  I should  be  called  apathetic  for  doing 
so,  I should  like  Mr.  Pineo  to  explain.  All  tie 
same  I believe  Mr.  tirinliuton  is  too  ’cute  a man  to 
show  temper  needlessly  even  though  Mr.  Elwood  May 
was  not  ready  to  meet  him,  hat  in  hand  when  he 
landed  on  the  shores  of  the  country  of  the  star- 
spangled  banner,  &c.,  & c.  It  is  a case  of  Greek  meet- 
ing Greek  when  Elwood  May  and  our  own  Joseph 
have  an  encounter. 
Electric  Tea  Curing  — “Electricity  is  being  applied 
to  the  drying  of  tea  in  Ceylon,  the  process  having 
proved  to  be  more  economical  than  the  old  method,” 
— Extract  from  Home  Paper.  Who  is  this  dark  horse  ? 
and  why  does  he  not  give  us  the  result. 
Ceylon  Hotels  have  certainly  much  improved 
within  the  last  few  years,  but  they  are  very  deficient 
in  the  matter  of  “ early  tea.”  In  an  otherwise  good 
hotel  in  Colombo  what  is  served  out  at  that  meal 
consists  of  highly  tannined  tea,  tinned  margarine 
butter,  decaying  plantains  and  toast  so  tough  and 
unpalatable  that  vve  can  hardly  eat  it.  In  this  hotel 
cautions  are  freely  printed  on  the  walls  against  the 
inmates  making  noises  to  disturb  other  inmates.  I 
confess  to  stamping  my  feet  and  using  other  strong 
methods  of  showing  displeasure  when  I get  this  sort 
of  stuff  f . reed  on  me  iu  the  early  morning. 
Tea  in  Japan. — The  latest  Japan  Wcelclij Mail 
reports  — Nothing  heard  of  tea  prospects,  toe  cold 
weather  retarding  the  budd:ng  amt  planters  are 
praying  for  warm  showers.  Exchange  has  again 
declined,  and  rates  are  weak  and  unoertain. 
TEA  DRINKING  : A FRAGMENT. 
Let  others  relate  each  heroieal  deed, 
Of  the  mad  Macedonian,  or foolhardy  Swede; 
No  god  I ’ll  invoke,  no  patron  will  ehuse. 
Nor  ask  I the  aid  of  a splenetic  muse. 
—Anony. 
Dublin.  Printed  in  the  Year  mdcclii. 
1 Sparkling,  with  youth’s  gay  pride,  like  mirthful  May 
Iu  the  Sedan  enclos’d iby  slaves  up-borne ; 
'-ee  the  love-darting  dame,  swing  ’long  the  way. 
Or  to  present  the  visit,  or  return. 
2 The  sleek-comb’d  valet  trimly  trips  before, 
Loud,  thro’ the  gazing  croud,  commanding  place  ; 
With  well-tim’d  raps  he  strikes  the  sounding  door 
Thunders  in  taste,  and  rattles  with  a grace. 
3 Along  the  p .vement  grates  the  swift-stopt’d  chair 
Back  on  its  well-oil’d  hinges  flies  the  gate. 
Behind  the  high -held  hoop,  upsprings  the  fair. 
Rustling  in  rich  array,  and  s.liien  state. 
4 The  how  d’  ye  ended,  ihe  contest  of  place, 
And  all  the  fashionable  fluttering  toils, 
1’own,  curtsying,  sink  the  laughter-loving  race, 
And  uudisturb’d  one  moment  silence  smiles. 
5  Rehold  the  beau-complexion’d  p orcelain, 
As  bell  turn’d  tulips  variegated  show, 
In  order  set  amidst  the  tittering  train, 
Replete  with  spoils  which  from  Cathaya  flow. 
6 The  leading  fair  the  word  harmonious  gives, 
Betty  around  attends  with  bending  knee, 
Each  white-.arm’d  fair,  the  painted  cup  receives, 
Pours  the  rich  cream  or  stirs  the  sweeten’d  Tea. 
7 The  chrystal  sweets  in  sparkling  fragments  view, 
As  glittering  pebbles  in  disorder  lie  ; 
Ah!  whit  avails  its  spangle-candy’d  hue 
Like  flalie-lall’n  snow,  it  must  dissolving  die. 
8 Thus  when  black  scandal  taints  the  fair-form’d  toast 
Heedlessly  iall’n  to  ap,  etjte  a prize; 
Drown’d  by  despair  she  drops,  her  lustre ’s  lost 
Sinking  in  shame,  and  mourning  melting  dies. 
9 With  verdant  Hyson  fill'd.  Libation  rare, 
The  fiow’ry  figur’d-iair  enamel  fume  : 
Th  • odonr-spreadi;  g s’eams  regale  the  fair, 
And  breezy  fragrance  fills  the  rich-spread  room. 
10  Within  the  circl’d  smooth  transparent  brim, 
How  prettily  the  fair-ones  prattlimr  sip  : 
While  rising  bubbles  o’er  the  surface  skim, 
Mantling  with  joy  to  meet  each  lovely  lip. 
11  Not  so  the  sons  of  Biot,  sickly  Train, 
Dos’d  imd-t  Circean  cups  they  waste  the  day  : 
The  silent  hours  of  night  with  noise  prophane 
And  dawn  inglorious,  cool  reflection’s  ray. 
12  Ye  sons  of  th-rslj  ye  health-absorbing  race, 
bhun  Che  insidious  glass,  rich  reason’s  bane. 
Ere  purpl’d  poisons  scorch  theipimpl  d face, 
And  boil  the  blood  iu  each  pul6e-wauting  vein. 
13  Bloat  the  bloom'd  cheek,  the  sparking  eyeballs  blear 
Mate  pale  the  healthy,  and  tiunerve  Che  strong, 
Swell  the  small  waist,  the  memory  impair, 
And  steal  each  secret  from  the  stammering  tongue. 
11  Free  from  disease  the  active,  temperate  feast, 
Each  dainty  meal  by  exercise  they  prove 
What  courts  may  envy  thy  uusated  taste. 
The  joys  of  health,  of  liberty,  and  love. 
5 While  taper  fingers  tend  the  spiral  blaze 
The  shining  lamp  on  the  firm  tripoi  flames, 
The  sacred  fire  thus  on  the  altar  plays, 
Thus  stood  around  the  spotless  vestal  dames. 
16  Thus  they  prepared  the  sacrificing  feast. 
While  fragrant  clouds  inv  Iv’d  the  massy  shrine, 
Thus  fell  the  victim  by  the  blood-fiush’d  priest, 
To  bribe  success,  or  sac  ate  wrath  divine. 
17  Improv’d  these  rites  our  Briti«h-fair  retain, 
Lodge  there  iu  finest  forms  such  fierce  designs, 
The  ancients  only  offer’d  up  tlie  slain, 
But  living  victims  glut  the  modern  shrines. 
1*  O’er  the  rich  incense-breathing  fumes,  preside, 
Hov’ring  on  harpy  wings,  the  traffic  show. 
Envy,  self-piuM.  suspi  ion  yellow-eyed, 
And  venom-breathing  sea  dal,  merit’s  foe. 
19  )ll-na lure,  like  an  antiquated  maid, 
Gluts  her  foul  spleen  w ill  U u el  es  beauty’s  fate, 
Thus  Caesar  ai  Hie  foot  of  Roinpey  laid, 
| Became  a prey  to  each  pale  coward’s  hate. 
