THE Tropical 
AGRICULTURIST. [AfRlL 1, iDOl 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
A correspondent who has had an oppoitucity 
of observiug the developnieut oi this slight 
MOVJiMENT IN FAVOUR OF CHINA TEA, 
Which has extended fi-om the Westend to the 
suburbs, and is almost accepted .is a domestic 
creed by a few of the second-h>ind devotees of 
fashion, mentions an incident which recently 
came under his notice. Oae of these champions of 
China tea recently offered her cook some choice 
tea from the llowery Land as an especial treat. It 
was the real thing, and too exquisite for ordinary 
consamption, but as it was t)ie cook's birthday the 
occasion was considered a suitable oi>e for astonishing 
the kitchen by a display of taste, and some of the 
'' real toa " from Ohiv^a was presented amidst a 
flutter of excitemeut. Never doubting that a sensa- 
tion had besc created, the donor in due time asked 
her servant how she iiked the delicacy, expecting a 
reply indicative of the enthusiasm she had sought 
to arouse. But in the kitchen the taste runs on 
something with a fuller flavour. The humble re- 
cipient of the gift, instead of becoming ecstatic over it, 
had to confess that in the kitchen they could not 
drink the delicacy because its flavour suggested 
"smoked hay." This was both ungracious and un- 
appreciative, for doubtless the tea was of a delicate 
and subtle flavour, but it serves to show some of the 
difficulties attending the regaining of a lost trade, 
and it is also evidence that the present generation of 
tea drinkers are oblivious of the past fame of Ohina 
teas, and are content with the teas which the gods in 
the f irm of the blenders send them It may be very 
dreadful from the point of view of the self styled 
epicure, but it is clear that before China tea again 
flnds favour with the masses the consumer will have 
to acquire a taste for it, and so long as the blenders 
continue to exercise their skill and succeed in pleasing 
the majority there is not likely to be any feverish 
desire on the part of the consumer to take his China 
tea neat except at a few ladies' clubs or gatherings 
where they possess profound knowledge and taste, or 
imagine that they do. 
We take the following from " Tea, Coffee, and 
Sugar" of New York: ''The position of 
TEA IN THE UNITED STATES 
is SO strong and the consequent activity 
so intense that there is probably no other line of 
business endeavour in the land in a condition so 
aatisfactoify to itself. Certainly, no one hears of any- 
one going out of the tea business, as in coffee, for 
instance, according to rumour, and the envy of the 
cofise men is often heard. A ' slump ' by this tima 
has often been prognosticated, but with 8-lOtha of the 
Btock sold, leaving only 210ths to do a half year's 
business in, this seems improbable. The tea men 
have disposed in the main of their stock, and it is 
up to the consumer to pay the bill. Here he should 
not grumble very much, if at all, for on effecting the 
purchase of his favourite leaf he will find it cheaper, 
even though only a little. Thus he will not feel he 
should stint himself in tea dri ikinsr, and the largely 
increased stock of tea in the land should find its way 
into the teapot, making room for the 1903 crops. An 
oddity and at the same time a somewhat portentous 
Bign is the presence of Lngland in our own market 
a purchaser of tea. The Englishmen even outbid us in 
oar fancy bidding, and the fear is that they will 
leave us no tea of the kind so much liked here 
— the greens. The maiket is certainly being compli- 
cated and into unusual strength, and that too from a 
source that his been a fretful complainant of a plethora 
of tea of Colonial growth. Surely this world is one of 
strange and unexpected compensations, and if the con- 
earner does not object too hard, why, as they say, 'let 
her go Gallagher.' "— » With refefene to 
THE DEATH OB' MR NORMAN LAYTON 
should be noted that on the assembling of the mem< 
bera of the tea trade at the opening of the auction last 
^eek, Mr W T Wilson (of Meaara ttow, WHsod, aud 
Stanton) said : " Since we last met in this room death 
has claimed one of the most respected men in our 
trade. I refer to Mi Jrmea Norman Layton, 
who died on Thursday, January 2'2. I am sorry 
that fate has so decreed that I should be the 
first to occupy this chair today, as I feel sure 
that there ara many gentlemen who will be following 
me who are far roore eloquent, and therefore 
better able to extol the many virtues of this most estim- 
able gentleman. I understand that Mr, Norraaa 
Layton has had a career in the tea trade extending 
between fifty and sixty years, and, speaking for the 
latter hsjf of that time, I know, from personal ex- 
perience, that he has made rone but friends. Gen- 
tlemen, when I say that he w as a just and honoarisble 
man, a friend to his feUow--vorkers when in trouble 
or distress, and a perfect gentleman in the highest 
sense of the term, I feel that I have but inadequately 
expressed the views and sentiments we all hold of our 
dear friend Norman Liyton." It was the wish of all 
present that a letter should be sent to the widow and 
family of the deceased gentleman, expressing the deep 
sympathy felt for them by the entire trade in their 
sad bereavement; This was accordingly done.— -fl' and 
C Mail, Feb, 6. 
♦ 
COFFEE GROWING IN NEW SOUTH 
WALES. 
A new industry is now started in New South 
W.al4s, and one that should prove very profitable — 
coffee growing. It is an industry that miglib be vvell 
gone in for in the northern portion of this state, 
where it might do weU, as there is a good sum- 
mer rainfall. The coffee plantation in New South 
Wales is at Walbin Island, on the Clarence river. 
This year the harvest is about 40,0001b. of berries. 
The trees are now about tea years old, and yield 
about 501b, of berries per tree, or about 15 lb. of the 
prepared article. The trees begin to give a return 
at about four years old. — Western Mail, Feb 14. 
Tea Company Meetings,— Several Tea Com- 
panies held their annual meetings on the 21st 
Feb., and in some cases at any rate the results 
for the past year were not up to expectations. 
The Kelani Valley Tea Garden has had a 
very disappointing year and was no less 
than 48,855 lb. short of the original es- 
timate of crop. This was due to a very severe 
attack of Helopeltis affecting some 203 
acres of the tea in bearing and also to the 
unfavourable character of the N. B. Mon- 
soon. No dividend was declared but K8,178*36 
was carried forward. The Knavesmire Com- 
pany Ltd. had three bad months but were 
able to declare the same dividend as 
last year, namely four per cent. Green tea 
is to be started here and with the prospects 
of rubber the future of the company looks 
encouraging. The Templestowe Company 
Ltd. also, in common with many other 
companies, experienced a shortage in crop 
but were nevertheless found at the end of 
the year with RI5,963 38 for disposal. Of this 
RG51,6 00 went in the payment of a dividend 
on the Preference shares, K4,926 00 in the 
payment of a 3 per cent dividend to the 
ordinary shareholders. R4,000 was trans- 
ferred to Depreciation account and a balance 
of K521'38 has been carried forward. The 
dividends of these companies, with those of 
last year, for the purpose of comparison, are:— 
1901. 1902. 
Kelani Tea Garden Ooy. 0 > 0 
Templestowe Ooy, 8 3 
Knavesmire Coy. 4 4 
