THE TEOPICAL 
The acreage of llie Company's property is now 
as tollows ; — 
Tea, over 5 years old 1,545 acres 
tt 
Ijiciiiucu i.1 u> eiii uci -i^cceiii uer 
1 SOi. 
»» 
II 
1895 
1 'iQ 
>l 
)> 
1896 
1 'il 
>l 
) 1 
1897 
133 
l> 
>» 
1898 
23 
Area under tea 
2,1G4 
Area tinder coffee and cocoa 
442 
Area under fuel 
367 
Forest patna and waste 
515 
Total area 3,488 acres 
The Directors regret to report the death of 
their esteemed colleague, Mr. Norman Stewart. 
They have filled up this vacancy on the boanl 
by the appointment of Mr. J. G. Wardrop, who 
xetires from office on this occasion, and, being 
eli£;ible, otl'ers himself for re-election. 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
Tea and Cofi'ee in America. — The New York cor- 
'JreBpondent of the ,'• Grocer,"' in] calling attention to 
the consumption of coffee and tea iu the United 
Slates, gives a table comparing the percapita con- 
enmption of the two products in beverage form in 
. 693 and 1898, which is as follows: — 
1893. 1898. 
Coffee .. 14.03 .. 19.46 
Tea .. 8.00 .. 5.46 
Proro this it will be seen that the consiimp- 
iion of coffee has greatly increased, while 
that of tea does not grow. He sajs ; " Pro- 
bably the coffee returns are too high, as 
deliveries from licensed warehouses are counted as 
consumption, whereas tlie quantity held in unlicensed 
warehouses is much larger than was customary in 
189.1, when the import cost was 7d, against 3Jd in 
1898. The tea figures are also misleading, as the 
withdrawals were unusually heavy in 1897 owing to 
heavy imports to escape the tax. Making allowance 
ior these facts it appears, unmistaksably, that tlie 
use of coffee has largely increased. The reason is not 
liard to find, as coffee is retailed at 5d per lb. up 
■to Is 6d. A pound of coffee at 5d makes two gal- 
■lons of beverage, while one pound of tea paying od 
duty, and selling at 23 per lb. at retail, makes si.\ 
•gaillona of beverage costing about 4d per gallon, or 
l^d more than coffee. It is claimed that one pound 
ot Ceylon and Indian tea will make sixteen gal- 
lons of beverage, which statement we will not dis- 
pnte ; but Americans will not learn to properly brew 
British-grown tea, insisting on using as large a 
quantity as they have been accustomed to of China 
or Japan sorts, and hence they do not take 
kindly to the heavier body and sweetish flavour of 
Ceylon and India. The jjreference is decidedly for a 
blend, and in this way there is a constantly en- 
larging demand for Ceylon and Indian tea. Bat the 
Americans are partially fond of coffee, and last year 
imported 851,691,084 lb., or nearly double the imports 
in 1880, '81, '82. The imports of tea average about 
fi.5,000,000 lb. for the last five years, while in 1880, 
•81, '82 they averaged over 7.5,000,000 lb. 
OliouNDLKSs Alarm.— Clearly there were some appre- 
bensionii on the subject of the Budget and the tea duty, 
Between tlie end of March and April 13th no less than 
14,860,778 lb. were taken out of bond mainly as a pre- 
caution Bgainst any possible increase in the duty. This 
is 9,076,;i(i8 lb. more than was taken out during the 
Ikiue peripd m the previousyear.— //, ^ C. Mail, May §, 
AGEICULTUBIST. [Juyv 1, 1899 
THE INDIAN TEA ASSOCIATION. 
The opinion of the As.sam IJranch Association 
that it would be injudicious to discontinue our 
efforts in America, came too late to be of any use 
.says Tkcl'lunicr. Mr. liuckingliam's memo, expres- 
sing liis o|)iiiion ihat the Assam Brancli thould 
fitrengJien the hands of the General Committee 
by protesting in the .stron;;est terms against the 
(lisc'intinuance of the work in America, was con- 
firmed by a subsequent letter, dated 20th April, 
recording that the v'ommittce jf the Assam Branch 
concurred in the o|nnions expressed in flie uie 
mo andum. Unforouiialely, .Mr. lJuckingham had 
to be informed that it was not open to tlie General 
Committee to take any further action in the 
matter, as it had been decided at a meeting of 
the London Coinmitlee held on 31st January, 
without reference to India, that operations in 
America should be discontinued. In his letter of 
Srd February, Mr. Tye, the Secretary of the As- 
.sociation in London, had stated that the Com- 
mittee wore unanimously of opinion that the 
time liad arii\eil for discontinuing the work, and 
had accordingly instructed .Mr. Bleehynden to bring 
his mission to a termination. Mr. Tye further 
stated that Mr. Mackenzie, the repre-sentative of 
Ceylon iu the United State-, had also informed 
his Committee thatthe work in America could well 
be brought to a speedy terminatiau. So, for good 
or ill, the matter is settled, and those interested in 
tea can only sit and wait the result of the action 
of the London Association, which has practically 
been universally condemned in India and Ceylon. 
We have some news at last of what is 
being done with reference to the Paris Ex. 
hibition. The London Committee has made 
arrangements with Mr. E F Langdale to sell 
Indian tea at the Paris E.Khibition on the under- 
standing that the Association should not be res- 
ponsible for an outlay beyond the sum of £1,000 
agreed to be paid to the lioyal Commissioners for 
the space which had been allotted for the repre- 
sentation of Indian tea. Mr. Langdale was welt 
known in connection with work of a similar des- 
cription, as he had been associated with the Herltli 
Exhibition held in London in 1884 in a like capa- 
city. It was understood that in the arrangements 
to be made Mr. Langdale would follow the lines 
observed by him at the latter Exhibition, which 
gave general satisfaction. Mr. Langdale would 
arrange for the service of Indian tea in the cup, 
and would make special efforts to render the Court 
in which it would be served attractive to visitors. 
So, apparently, beyond being responsible for £1,000 
which is to be paid for space, the Tea Association 
washes its hands of the Exhibition, and leaves the 
interests of Indian tea entirely in the hands of a 
private individual, who, most naturally, has his own 
interests to think of first. However, tl'iese interests 
mail possible coincide. The London Committee has 
had under consideration the question of the lines 
upon which a new Levy should be conducted for 
opening out new markets other than the American, 
for the sale of Indian tea. Favourable replies had 
been received from a few concerns in London 
to the circular issued by them on the 24th February, 
in which subscriptions were invited, but it was 
noted by the General Committee that it was 
not stated specifically upon what lines the new 
Levy was to be raised. The reply received to 
the former telegram sent not making the matter 
any clearer, it was decided to wire the London 
Committee again asking for full details of the 
new scheme for opening out new foreign markets, 
