562 
THE TROPICAL AGKICtJLTURlST. [Feb. 2, 1903. 
IMPORTED INTO CEYLON SOME SEED FJIOM THE 
FORMOSA TREES, 
and the resulting plants reverted to the worst China 
type. I am of opinion that this type of Oolong, known 
as " Formoai Oolong," can never be produced in 
Ceylon to possess the true characteristics of the type. 
But it is different with the Oolongs made and grown 
at Foochow. Of these there are three varieties, and 
I see no reason why their manufacture should not 
be successfully attempted in. Ceylon. These varieties 
differ materially in make and flavour. The best are 
usually brought to market in what are called " String 
chops," that is they consist of " lots " varying from 
500 to 3,000 half-chests, which must be bought alto - 
gether. Tliere are usually 5 grades in each " string," 
*' common " to " choice," and they are sold at an 
average price for the "lot," which the European buyer 
calculates by working out each grade at his idea of its 
value. The lower grades are large in leaf approxi. 
mating to the leaf of an up-country Pekoe Souchong 
of long leaf. The size of the leaf decreases as the 
quality improves, until the best would resemble in 
size, a boldish pekoe. The infused leaves show a 
greenish colour, very even in the finer ones, but 
becoming mixed with darker leaves in the lower 
grades. The liquor is soft and fine in the better 
teas, becoming coarse in the commoner ones. 
Black leaves in Oolongs are highly detrimental, and 
cause danger of rejection by the United States Tea 
appraisers. No Tea intended for the United States 
market should contain more than 10 per cent of dust. 
The price paid for these in China is based on, say 
b.o.i.f. New York up to about 1/3, The only other 
kind which requires special notice is a variety made 
more after the style of Congou or Black Teas a? 
regards the size of dry leaf, but of course showing 
the same light-coloured infused leaf and liquor as the 
variety previously spoken of. The flavour however 
differs greatly, for whilst, with all their softness, the 
first kind mentioned as "Stringchops" possess a 
good deal of pungency — the last named variety — 
known as " Suey Kat " Oolongs, taste more like the 
Black Teas from the Suey Kut district, and have 
little distinctive Oolong character. The leaf, especially 
of the finer sorts, resembles closely the teas which were 
being made in Ceylon 3 years ago, as Oey Ion Green T^aa 
Their value ranges from about 10 cents, say 5d, to 
Is. 2d, 
The remaining kinds of Oolong grown in Foochow 
are mostly of large leaf, and varying quality, many 
being below the standard insisted on by the United 
States. 
The average crop of the Formosa Oolongs amount^ 
to about 15 to 17 million pounds, and of the Foochow 
Oolongs to about 5 millions. But both crops are 
liable to sudden increase according to demand, and 
this has been exemplified during the season of 1902 
by an increase in the Foochow production of 50,000 
•J-chs. equal to 2}j million pounds, owing to the 
speculative demand from Americi contingent on the 
abolition of the Tea Duty there. 
I think that the class of Oolong known in Foo- 
chow, as 
" SVEY KUTS " COULD EASILY BE IMITATED 
IN CEYLON, 
but whilst " Saey Kuts " were on their first intro- 
duction into America, much liked and eagerly bought, 
there is not now the same demand for them. As 
regards that, I would suggest enquiries being made 
from some of the leading New York brokers, whilst 
as to the processes of manufacture — of both Foochow 
and Formosa Oolongs — the best way would be to ask 
the information from the British Consuls at Foochow 
and Tamaui. And the information would be more 
readily obtained if the request for it is forwarded 
through the Government of Ceylon, English 
Consuls abroad not being very well dis- 
jjos^d to iB"*"^ Rouble oyer trade matters, which 
are regarded as somewhat outside their province. 
I worlJ also recommend that a similar application 
should be made through the German Consul in 
Colombo to the German Consuls at the ports named. 
All Green Teas and Oolongs should be packed in 
half-chests containing 54 to 60 pounds Tea net. 
My own connection with China has practically ceased, 
but I could give the names of one or two firms in 
Colombo who could, I think, procure large samples 
of Oolongs, and possibly assist in obtaining particulars 
of their manufacture. I will now reply categorically 
to the 
QUESTIONS WHICH YOVJR CHAIRMAN HAS AD- 
DRESSED TO ME. 
" How many kinds of Oolongs are sold in America ?" 
— The reply is, three from Foochow and one from 
Formosa shipped at Amoy. 
"Where are they manufactured and what is the 
range of prices ?" — In Foochow and Tamsui the range 
of prices paid being from 5d to Is 3d or la 4d for 
Foochow, and from 6d to 3s for Formosa. Many of 
the finest of the Formosas are sent to the London 
market. 
"Could we in Ceylon manufacture Oolongs that 
would give an average of say Is per lb ? ' — To this I 
should answer decidedly, No! — since the average of 
the "Suey Kut" Oolongs, which would be more easily 
made, runs only about 9d per lb. if so much. 
" Are 15 to 18 millions of Oolongs sold in America?" 
— A circular of the Foochow Chamber of Commerce 
dated I9th December last, gives the export of Oolongs 
to America from Foochow as 6i millions, and the 
annual export of Formosa Oolongs would be aboat 
12 to 14 millions. 
" Could Ceylon hope to displace say 5 or 6 millions 
of these Teas ?"~I think that Ceylon could certainly 
hope to place that quantity, provided the quality was 
right, and the average 1 have named — say 8d to 9d, 
a paying one. 
"Are Oolongs artificially scented and is the process 
of scenting them difficult ?" — So far as i know only 
the finer or finest kinds are scented. The process is 
not difficult or very expensive, provided the scenting 
flower is at hand. 
"Can you tell us how it is done ?" — The scenting 
flower is added in certain percentages to the Tea 
before final firing. After the tea and flower have 
been left together for half or one day, they are fried 
or dried together and afterwards the flower is sifted 
out before the teai is packed. 
" Is Formosa a country to which we should be 
likely to obtain admission in case of wanting to study 
the manufacture of Oolongs ?" — Anyone cau enter 
Formosa and visit the tea centres. A person so doing 
could doubtless pick up the process by watching, but 
as there are no inns or hotels in those parts, he would 
perforce be the guest of one of the European firms 
engaged in the trade, and if they knew his purpose, 
they might do their best to thwart it, besides which, 
the guests attempting it would be placed in a very 
uncomfortable position. 
"Is the crop of Green Teas going from Japan 
this year, due to labour difiiculties or is it climatic ?" 
I am unable to say, but should think it was mostly 
climatic.—" Are we likely to see a great fall in the 
price of Green Teas in America, supposing 15 to 17 
millions were shipped this year from Ceylon and 
India?" 1 should say most certainly such an export 
v?ould cause a reduction of possibly 3 to 5 gold cents 
per lb, (l|d to 2Jd) unless the quality so pleased as to 
throw th« greater fall on to the Teas from Japan and 
China. " How do Ceylon greens compare with Japan 
and Indian greens? If the companson is unfavourable 
to Ceylon, will not our teas suffer severely in the 
event of a large Japan crop 7" I have not seen 
enough Ceylon greens to form an opinion. Those 
I have seen compare favourably with Japans^ and 
Chinas in leaf, but are, in my opinion, too thin in 
Jic^uor, If the American verdict was the same and th^ 
