Xov. 1, 1900. J 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
357 
PKOPOSED INDIAN TEA CESS. 
y 
Wc publish below a letter from the Hon. Mr- 
G L Acworth, to the Secretary of the U. P. A. 
S. I., which has been circulated among the various 
District Planting Associations in Southern India. 
There is no reason to believe (says the M. Mail) 
that Calcutta and London brokers would refuse 
to collect a cess in the manner Mr. Acworth 
suggests. Where there might be trouble, how- 
ever, is in respect to teas shipped direct to foreign 
ports and passed through the hands of brokers 
there, and teas bouaht without the intervention 
of a broker for shipment to foreign markets. 
Little difficulties of this kind will no doubt be 
taken into consideration by District Planting- 
Associations. Mr. Acworth shows that a very 
important sum could be collected annually, and 
if this were prudently employed in advertising 
and pushing Indian teas, there would probably 
soon be an end to the cry of over-production. 
The following is Mr. Acworth's letter:— "As 
it is possible that the Government of Bengal 
may still decline to impose a tax on tea 
for the benefit of the Foreign Market Fund, 
it is as well to be prepared with some 
alternative scheme, which will be acceptable to 
the great majority of Indian tea planters, and 
at the same time result in a Fund which will 
compare favourably with tliat raised by our 
brethren across the water. Such a scheme has 
been evolved by Mr. A F Bruce, of Calcutta, 
and, having received his permission to make it 
public, I laid it before the Central Travancore 
Planters' Association at our last General Meeting. 
With slight modification Mr. Bruce's idea has 
been accepted by the C T P A and I now write to 
ask you to place the matter before other Tea 
Associations in South India. Should they accept 
the proposal, it would be as well to pass it on 
to the Indian Tea Association in Calcutta and 
London at as early a date as possible. The 
scheme as accepted by the C T P A is as follows :— 
' That a charge of half a pie per lb. be levied 
on all tea sold in India, and of 1-24 of a penny 
per lb. on all teas sold in London. That tea 
brokers be requested to enter this charge in 
their account sales, and to forward the proceeds 
when collected to the Indian Tea Association in 
Calcutta and London respectively.' This charge 
would amount roughly to a sum of lakhs 
per 'annum, against the present pittance of 
barely one lakh collected by India. Every con- 
cern, whether a public Company or a private 
■ garden, would contribute in equal ratio. The 
levy is so small that it would be felt by nobody. 
There would be no expenses of collection, for 
I feel sure that the brokers, if approached, 
would keep the money and forward it to the 
right quarter free of charge." 
Ceylon Baiofall. 
RAINFALL RETURN FOR COLOMBO. 
{Suppli'A by the Surveyor-General.) 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
Av of 
Styrs. 
1900. 
Inch. 
Inch 
Inch 
Inch 
Inch. 
Inch. 
Inch. 
January . . 
5-00 
2-92 
3-81 
2-3-i 
6-98 
3-'2 
3-72 
February .. 
0-81 
0-35 
l-flS 
1-98 
2-78 
1-93 
0-63 
March 
Vii 
i-64 
3-66 
4-21 
0-83 
4-78 
3-71 
April 
9-34 
5-93 
10-97 
-22-81 
6-66 
11-31 
15-12 
May 
10-09 
9-31 
8-30 
5 -SO 
17-73 
12-09 
10 63 
June 
13-99 
8-37 
10-14 
10-94 
9-23 
8-37 
7-83 
July 
0-52 
2-85 
5-24 
6-15 
1-11 
4-38 
6-77 
August 
0-92 
6-35 
9-09 
0-97 
0-02 
3-67 
7 35 
September 
4-09 
10-99 
4-58 
6-90 
1-4- 
5-01 
4-00 
October . . 
30-36 
16-7S 
4-71 
20-60 
12 99 
14-52 
9-47 
November.. 
5-83 
19.81 
11-66 
17-38 
8-58 
12-66 
0 04' 
December.. 
9-44 
U-76 
8-89 
3-05 
4-41 
6-39 
Total.. 
92-23 
101-06 
82-73 
103-11 
73-48 
88-33 
69-27 
The P. W. D. Meteokological Obsebvations for 
Sept 1900.— We append the Monthly Return of rain 
from which it will be seen that the highest fall in 
Sept. was at Padnpola in the Central Province, 
38'15 inches, and the lowest at ^Murangan in the 
Northern Province, 0-09 inches. 
[* From 1st to ind Nov. 0-. 4 inches, that is up to 9-39 a.m 
on the 2nd Nov.— Ed. CO.] 
■Western Vkovinck 
Negombo, Mr. Buoknall 
(6) ... 2 93 
Kalutara Mr. Gregson 
(S6) .. 7 -23 
Labugama, .Mr. llond 
(369) ... 18-01 
Heiiaratgoda,Mr. Silva 
(33) .. 11-43 
Central Pr( vincr. 
Katugastota. Mr. Morgan 
(1,500) ... 5-39 
New Valley, (Dikoya) ill-. 
Wara (3,7iO) .. 10- '21 
Helboda (PussePawa) Mr. 
Gosset (3, SOU) .. irSl 
Yarrow Hstate. 
Mr. Padwick (3,100) 8-98 
Peradeiiiya Mr. 
.N-ae Vli'laii (l,54o; ,.. U 30 
Duckwari, Not received 
(3,300) ... — 
Ciled"nia, Not received 
r4,27.-i) . . - 
Pussclla-wa. Mr. 
Pow.U (3,000) .. 14 25 
Uakgaia, Mr. 
N(K-k (5,681) ., 8-44 
S. Wanar.ajah Kslale, Jlr. 
Tatham (f,700i .. 16 72 
Vadupola. Mr. Ward .. 
(1,630) ... 38 45 
MylapitiMi, Mr. Fletchei- 
n,7i7) ... 0-65 
Nol.THKaN Provikcic 
MuUaittivii, Mr. Oudatje 
(12) .. 1-46 
Jaffna Mr. Alacdoiinel 
f8) 1-06 
Mantodam, (N. Rr.ad)Mr. 
Eben (167) ... 0 80 
Elephant Pass, .Mr 
Silva (7) . 2-23 
Vangalaolietlvliulaiu, Mr. 
Oorkff (17^) .. 0-85 
Point Peilro Mr. Chita^. i alam 
(24) ... 3 10 
Jaffna Cnllei^e, Mr. Cooke 
(9. ... 0 96 
Kayts, -Mr. Kretser 
(S) .. 0-61 
Kanke^annirai, Mr. Paiara- 
chasinghe (10) .. 2-J8 
Pallai, nil. Sdva 
■(24) .. 4 £6 
Murikandy, (Norlh-Cenlial 
. Road) Mr. Silva (7) l OO 
Nedunkeiii, Mr. libert 
(122) .. 8-37 
Chav.ikai:hclieri, Mr. 
.Silva (16) ... 2-CC 
Udiipivldi, Mr. Browa 
(:i5) . . 1 07 
Marichehukiiddi, Mr. 
Thampue (14) O'ol 
Murun,:an, Mr. 
Walkei- (•n2) 0-09 
Vavuiiiya Mr. Ebert 
(318) 2 
SOUTHERN Pl:nVINO!l. 
EllaVell.iMr. Caklxat (262) 
10-69 
Kekanadura, do (1501 17-90 
Denagiima, do (2f6) n-t9 
Ud-.jkiriwl!a Mr. Ltureni-z 
(235) .. S-21 
Kirama, Mr Vanderstraaten 
(260) 10-73 
Hali-cla Mr. Caldieott C200) 
10-40 
Tissa >i.r. Silva 
(75) 1 02 
Matara Mr. Caliicott (15)8-85 
Dandeniya, do (167) 12-29 
Urubckka, Mr. Caldieott 
(890) 13-90 
T ngalla Mr. Russell {94)rS9 
Mumadola, Mr. Uoole 
(56) .. 4-99 
EASTKitN PhovINCE 
Irrakkamam. Mr. Bjwer (42) 
2-64 
Devilaua, Mr. Tanderstr»a'eii 
(136) 2-t9 
Sagamata, Mr. Bower 
(10) ... 2-46 
Ambare, do (65) 2-67 
Kaullialiii, Mr. Carte 
(150) T18 
Al!ai, Mr. Catto (95)13-63 
Riikam, Mr. Vanderstraatcn 
(i20) ... 1 00 
Periyakulaai, Mr. 
Carte (20) ... 2-17 
Chadaivaiitala» a, Mr. 
Edge f57) 3-49 
Kalaiiiiiai, do (1-2) 2-87 
Eotewewa, .Mr Boner(30)2 90 
LaliuKala, do (70) 49 1 
Naullii, do (3j) :;-3!l 
Audaiikulam, Mr. 
Cane (41) ... 2-57 
Uanaip'iddy, Mr. 
Vaiidersiraa'cii 21) 1-58 
Maha-O.va-Taiik, Mr. Vander- 
straaten <190) 1-40 
Fotuvil, Mr. .Sinnayah 
(10) 1-90 
N.-W. Province. 
Magalawewa, Mr. Soopena- 
yaii (176) .. 0-60 
Maha Uswewa tank, Jlr 
Adams' (160) ... Nil 
Tene(iitiya. Mr. 
Churchill (8) ... 0-45 
Bata^agoda, Mr. Mad^hipi-ia 
— 4 94 
N.-C. PKOVINoa. 
Kaiawewa, Mr. Cheliapp3h 
(268) 2-20 
Maradankadawala, Mr. 
Emerson (443) ... 2-72 
Mihiutale, Not received 
(354) .. _ 
Horownputana, Mr. 
.(■ndaalje {211) . 5-6O 
MadiiwaciH-hiya. Mr. 
Ondastje (-285) .. O'SO 
Topare, .Vr.Jayewardaue (-200) 
1-06 
Miiineriya Mr. Eves — r37 
UvA PROVIiNCK. 
Bandarawela, Mr. 
Tocke (4l)u) 2-:0 
Halduromulli, Mr. 
Viianuiitjo (3,160) 3-21 
Kumbuliaii, Noi leceived 
(4-161 
Koslanda, Mr. 
R .wlaiid (-^,258) ... 3 41 
Tanatuiilwila, Sot received 
(550) . . _ 
Bibilc, Mr. Silva (6S0) 5-I6 
Tal.ieiia, Mr. Ffrsandi 
(1,100) .. 157 
Alutnuwara— Mr. Leembnig- 
gen (:iOO) 1-57 
SabaraoaMuwa. 
Ambanpitiya, Mr. 
Weerasinghe (729) 12-50 
PelmadU' a, Mr. Uotertson 
(480) 19-24 
Kolonna Korale (Hulanrta- 
oya) Mr Babre ('203) 1 17 
Avlsawella, Mr, Claike 
(105) .. 15-64 
