July 1, 1898.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
27 
Tea in this country. This being understood, I 
now write to ask if the committee will kindly 
subscribe a sum to assist witii the advertising of 
the Teas. My scheme of advertising must neces- 
sarily be governed by the sum which the committee 
agree to devote to this purpose, but with sufficient 
funds I should be inclined to cover as mucii 
ground as possible by means of Newspapers, 
Magazines and Illustrated papers. To do this 
thoroughly well would involve a very heavy expen- 
diture, s.iy nearly Rbs 50,000 as it would mean 
3,200 advertisements in SC newspapers during 40 
weeks of the year, — September to May— and 
sundry extra insertions from time to time during 
that period and the Nijna-Nowgorod's fair, but 
of course the advertising can be very effectively 
done on a smaller scale according to the funds 
allo'ved. 
Mr. Christie, I think, is averse to private firms' 
names appearing on the Committee's advertise- 
ments, but this can be met by my own advertise- 
ment appearing on the same page immediately 
below that of the Committee. 
Another way which I can recommend is by 
" I'lacards " at Railway stations, 
I have another inexpensive and effective scheme 
for advertising by means of "Post-Cards" with 
views of Ceylon and tea estates, etc., upon them ; 
these can be got up here very cheaply, and if the 
Committee will permit me to stamp them with my 
name and address, I would be glad to pay a share 
of the expense. 
I can go more fully into details when I get the 
views of the Committee and have a general idea of 
the amount they are prepared to spend to help on 
this work. 
The progress made by Ceylon tea in this country, 
during the last year, is undoubtedly noticeable. 
A number of whole-sale Tea merchants are selling 
it pure and many, (K. and S. Popoff amongst 
them, who once said that they would never touch 
Ceylon Tea) are now advertising a special brand- 
mixture of "China-Ceylon," this being an evident 
proof that the fancy to the taste for "Ceylon" 
is gaining more and more ground amongst the 
public and that the demand is on the 
increase. 
Last year, I have myself imported 320,000 lb. 
Ceylon Tea, all sold in packets of 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 
1/16, and l/32ud of a pound, and during the past 
three months of this year, I have already passed 
orders for over 2,000 chests all "Ceylon," of 
which 800 chests direct to Colombo. 
Another evidence of the increase is, I think, the 
fact that Moscow, Odessa, St. Petersburg, and 
other places, are now constantly visited by repre- 
sentatives of London Tea Houses who, one after 
the other, appears on these markets seeking 
for Agents capable of placing for tliem Ceylon 
Tea. 
i\o doubt that a good, steady and substantial 
advertisement would still help and push forward 
the consumption 
Awaiting on this subject the favour of your 
rgrjiy.—I am, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, 
^ Signed M. KOGIVUE. 
^ 
PRODUCE AND PLANTING. 
The Outlook for Tea in China.— Consular re- 
ports from China, on the subject of the tea trade 
differ in regard to tea prospects. While some of 
them point to renewed efforts and hopes on the 
part of the Celestials iu regard to their tea trade, 
Others are not at all aangnine about the prospect o£ 
rehabilitating it. Amongst the latter is the report of 
Mr. Carles, the British Consul at Foochow, whg 
says the export of tea from Foochow in 1897 waa' 
nearly sixteen million pounds below that of 1896. 
At present the cultivation of tea is scarcely remune- 
rative. In the Kien Niug and Yen Ping prefectures 
rice is said to be talking its place. In the Foochow 
neighbourhood the sweet potato receives more at- 
tention, and iu remote tea districts the Consul hears 
of curing-houses being offered for sale to mission- 
aries. But Oolong, Sen-moo, Souchong, and Pan- 
yong teas retain and in some cases improve their 
position. The competition for Oolongs, some 
Souchongs, and flowery Pekoes is still very keen, 
nothing like them haing produced in India. Mr. 
Carles cannot see how China can regain her position 
in the tea trade, the importance of which to the 
country is far greater than might be imagined. 
The consumption of tea iu China is restricted 
even in the provinces, which produce it to a small 
class. Even in Fuhkien, outside the literary class 
and merchants, the majority of the people use tea 
dust of different grades and iu provinces where tea 
is not growu other leaves take its place. In Eng- 
land 6 lb. per head of the entire population is the 
average consumption. In the Foochow province it 
is probably nearly 3 lb. per head, even among the 
small fraction of the population who are tea drin- 
kers. Some of the old faults of Foochow teas appears 
t > have been eradicated ; but none of the new methods 
of preparing teas appears to have proved a com- 
plete success, fr®m which we are to infer that the 
dirty methods affected by the Celestial still pre- 
vail. This of itself would be enough to drive English- 
men from the Chinese to the Indian article could they 
but realise the difference between the two modes. One 
sensible and direct step towards the resuscitation of 
Chinese tea is being taken by the local government — 
the likin charges have been reduced. But even this 
reform has not been indirced by any real desire for the 
amelioration of the trade. The provincial government 
has reduced the charges because it was apprehensive 
that, if it made no concession, tea would be brought 
down to the coast under transit passes, the proceeds of 
which would not go to it, but to the central government, 
China Tea in America. — The American importation 
of Chinese tea in the year ending June 1897, amounted 
to 56,932,000 lb., valued at £1,467,000. This represents . 
about half the total import of tea into the United 
States for that year ; the balance was contributed by 
Japan (45,000,000 lb.), the United Kiugdom (6,000,000 
lb.), and East India (2,000,000 lb.) The total consump- 
tion of China tea by the United States in 1896 was 
larger than the British consumption by about 1,800,0(X) 
lb., but fell short of the Russian consumption (inclu- 
sive of Asiatic Russia) by over 14,000,0001b,— iT. and C, 
Mail, May 13. 
AN OPENING FOR INDIAN FRUIT. 
KFFECT OF THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAU. 
(From Indian Gardening.) 
Advices from England state that the Spanish- 
A merican war is calculated to completely para- 
lyse the fruit trade between Spain and Great Bri- 
tain. It is pointed out that one of the fir.-t re- 
sults of the war will be the destruction of this 
industry. It is well known that England draws 
a very large proportion of her supply of Iruit, 
not only from Spain, but from the Spanish colo- 
nies as well. The Seville orange, from which mar- 
malade is chiefly made, comes from Spain mainly, 
not to mention crapes and sonic other fruits. As 
long as hostilities continue between Spain :ind the 
United States, the supjdy of Spanish fruits for the 
London market will be very scarce. Of course 
the home country can draw upon Florida and the 
Australian colonics ; but from the Australian 
Eapers we gather that the fruit supply this year 
as been practically destroyed by blight ; while the 
authorities in Sydney arc reported to be condemnin g 
as unlit for human consumption large quantities i.; 
Tasmauian apples and t^ueensland banaii 
