Jan. 1, 1903.j 
THE TROPICAL AGKIOULTURLST. 
all but the most prominent pi)sition in that trade. 
It assisted India to oust Cliina from lier indiaenous 
trade, and it tliea vied with Iiulia in a race thiit 
conld have but one issue. The more the two 
countries grew of the staple the more were 
markets at a distance depressed, and prices 
drooped and fell, while the mischief of over- 
production increased as new estates or new " ex- 
tensions " came into bearing. The pace was fast ; 
the cry of "the De'il tak' the hindmost" was 
in tlie air ; and the inevitable came to pass. 
The Colonial Secretary was not as optimistic 
on tlie 1st September, 1902, as he was on the 8th 
August last, though there m'v^Ub have been some 
excuse for his being so, since lie then had to 
relate how the last year of the century had 
crowned the edifice. He was put on his guard 
by the knov/ledge that while the year had wit- 
nessed an increase in the export of 20 million 
lbs., " the price realised in London fell 10 per 
cent, to 7'20cl. per pound." He then proceeded 
to say :—" Cultivation is extending in Southern 
India, Java, and elsewhere, and it is feared that 
the full effect of over-production has not yet been 
felt, and that the tea inaustry has a trying period 
before it. The remedy would appear to be 
in selecting specially-trained managers, pluck- 
ing for (quality rather tlian quantity, improve- 
ment of the jat of tea planted, careful protection 
against disease, and improved methods of manu- 
facture." The Colonial Secretary's forecast was 
borne out in 1901, and, notwithstanding his re- 
mark about the ' unimpaired " prosperity of the 
Colony in that year, he had to report that, 
though the export of tea had fallen eight million 
lb. in the year, and that consequently ihe stock 
of Ceylon tea in England had been considerably 
reduced " the average price is the lowest as yet 
recorded, 6*86 1 against 7'20 iu 1900." He could 
not disguise from himself that the new century 
had opened unsatisfactorily, or with a "year of 
depressi m, but he entertained the hope that 
"prospects are more favourable," as 'towards 
the erd of the year prices were considerably im- 
proved." But tea prospects are still calculated 
to cause much anxiety. It is well to put a good 
ace on matters, to hope for the best, yet it is 
still undeniably true that " the tea industry has 
a trying period before it." 
If tea should fail Ceylon she cannot fall back 
upon cofi'ee, or, so fa"- as can be seen, on any 
other great product. What then will slie, what 
can she do in such a cruel dilemma ? The Colo- 
nial Secretary remarks blandly, with special re- 
ference to 1901, that " there has been a 
slight revival in plumbago and no improvement 
in the prospects of tea, but coconuts continue to 
do well, and the many minor products in the 
Island are not unremunerative." It is true, he 
admits, that " the value of the trade of the 
Colony has fallen somewhat in the year under 
review, but later statistics show that there has 
been no further decline, and the prospects of trade 
are goort." As it would be interesting to have 
liis views in some detail of the paying possi- 
bilities of coconut oil, coir yarn, coir fibre, and 
minor products, he should prepare a lecture on 
the subject, and deliver it iu the Colombo Cham- 
ber of Commerce, with open doors, and invite 
discussion thereon. He will deserve well of the 
Colony if he succeeds in showing how the best 
string in its bow can be replaced should the dread 
necessity arise.— Maciroa Mail, Not. 19, 
C9 
TEA CULTURE IN TEXAS: 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRlGULrUKE 
SUBMITS PROPOSITION TO MAKE EXPEHI. 
MENTS; WANTS THE LAND DONATED. 
WILLING TO BEAR CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN 
HALF THE EXPENSES AND DONATE 
THE CROP. 
Some time ago Beaumont was visited by two 
representatives of the Unted States Department of 
Agricultuie for the purpose of making a superficial 
investigation of this section with a view of finding 
a suitable location for making an experiment with 
growing tea in Texas. It is believed that the 
gentlemen were very favourably impressed Avith the 
country about Beaumont and a study of the soil 
and climate requirements leads further to the 
opinion that .Tetfersou county will prove suitable 
tov making the tea experiments and further, 
that it will result successfi-.lly. When Con- 
gressman Cooper visited Washington recently 
he unproved the opportunity to call upon the 
chief of the bureau to plant industries and 
inquire the progress of this matter, He did not 
receive a delinite reply at the time but was in- 
formed that the department would furnish him all 
information as soon as possible. In this connection 
Congressman Oooper has received the following very 
full report on the matter. Contained in the letter 
is a very explicit proposal which the Governnienfi 
will make and the matter is in some respects up 
to the people of this section to take hold of and 
further push the plan : 
Washington. D. C, Oct. 4, — Hon. S B Cooper, 
Beaumont, Texas. Sir, Referring to your personal 
inquiry, made a short time ago, in regard to plans 
for work on tea in Texas, I have to say that we 
have been carefully considering various plans in 
connection with this work, and have been waiting 
to be in a position to give you some delinite facts 
before writing you. 
I may say that ifc is the desire of the 
honorable secretary of agriculture to make a 
commercial test of the possibilities of grow- 
ing tea in Texas. It is recognized that there 
are large tracts of land in many parts of the 
southern states adapted to this kind of work, bud 
the important question of labor lias always been 
more or less of a drawback to the successful pro- 
duction of the crop in question. The work at Sana- 
merville. South Carolina, has demonstrated, we 
think, the possibility of growing tea commercially, 
but there is still much to be done before capital can 
be interested in the project on any extensive 
scale. Our idea is, that to achieve the best results 
the department should secure tlie co-operati in of 
the people of Texas, an effort being made to 
establish a well equipped tea farm and factory ; 
and. after the work is ou its feet, to allow private 
parties to continue it, providing it is found profit- 
able. The Governnienc is precluded from making 
any improvments on land that it does not own, or 
lease for a period of years. The Secretary does noO 
think it advisable for the Government to purchase 
land for thiw sort of work ; he thinks that land 
sutiicien J for the the purpose ought to be donated 
by interested parties, as this will keep up an 
interest in the work which could not be maintained 
in any other way. The plan is to start with aboati 
tlfty acres wilh opportunities for increasing this t<j 
