26 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [July 1. 1898. 
TEA AND TOBACCO. 
Tea and Tobacno have been bronfjlit into un- 
wonted aiitagoni.sni by the removal of tlicduty fioiii 
the lattc'i' article in this year'.s Budget. It 
was contended in the House on the night 
of Monday, tiie 9th of May, that tlie tax- 
on tea ought to have been witlidrawn in- 
stead, seeing that a greater number of the 
conmiunity are concerned witli its purcliase. 
Ladies dnuik tea, said Mr. Edmond llobertson, 
tlie Member for Dundee, whereas tliey did not 
toueli tobacco. Subdued mirth in the Ladies' 
Gallery followed this remark, and Sir 'William 
Harcourt rose to affirm that it was contiary to 
his " own personal observation." The practice 
is, we know, extremely common in ladies' clubs 
in tlie West End and among the higher classes 
in the country, especially in Ireland ; but to 
those who know anything about the sale of to- 
bacco, ic is an established fact that hardly any 
smokers of small means refrain from indulging 
in the fragrant weed through lack of cash. 
They merely smoke inferior tobacco, and often 
a greater quantity of it, owing to its mildness. 
Whereas a reduction in the cost of tea would 
involve a vast increase in its sale. Poor jieopie 
are repelled by the inferior ([Ualitics of cheap 
tea far more than in tobacco. Moreover, in the 
stimulating beverage, there is a power for genuine 
refreshment ; while smoking gives us only a sen- 
suous [ileasure with, at best, but a soothing 
effect on the nerves. The removal of the tobacco 
duty is amove in favour of the upper classes, 
amongst whom the fashion of abstaininf; from tea 
is prevalent just now, whilst expensive cigars 
with them remain always in demand. 
In the House of Commons, on the Budget Ke.so- 
lutions coming up, as already stated, Mr. Edmond 
llobertson, Member for Dundee, expressed re- 
gret that the surplus had not been applied to a 
reduction of the tea duty insteail of the duty 
on tobacco. Sir Wni. Harcourt su|)ported and 
pointed out that tea had become almost ex- 
clusively a British product. A reduction of the 
tea duty would therefore benelit a larger number 
of people than the reduction of the duty on to- 
bacco, whilst at the same time, it would be of 
service to the British tea-grower. The Govern- 
ment, however, carried ils Resolutions. A re- 
duction of the Tea Duty is bound to come next 
year if there be no war. 
THE CACAO DISEASE: MK. 
CAKRUTHERS' CAMPAIGN. 
We learn that Mr. Carrutheis is working hard 
now at cures and preventitives and that he has 
a lot of experiments in hand. He is at present 
travelling about and has already visited some 17 
estates, all of which excei)t one, have disease in 
varying proportions. Mr. Carruthers hopes that 
his final report may be able to lay down methods 
of getting rid of the canker which will be quite 
effectual; but of course the wet season, N.-E. 
monsoon in the Matale district, is the tnue that will 
test the efficacy of any cure and he is not likely to 
stay for thai-. Mr. Carruthers' c;;g ,;.:ement is till 
August 13; li only. Mr. Caiiuiliers is now with 
Major Prtin at Wattegama for a few days to 
look at the estates in that district and then he 
rfoes on to the Katugastota district and then to 
Sambukkana, and also perhaps to Monaragala 
in Uva. 
THE SCOTTISH CEYLON TEA COMPAKY. 
We direct attention lo our fi)ie<-ial report of the 
proceedings at this Company's meeting. Tliere 
is a good deal given there that does not appear in 
tlie olficial report or in the London pHperm. One 
item of interest is that the Chairman, Mr. J-'orbew, 
is likely to be able to impress the piodiicers* view 
about the Lnlian Currency on a niembei of 
the Commiitee who has not studied the subject. 
The other is the liille discussion over the read- 
ing by our old friend Mr. Geo. Tinld of Mr. 
A. L. Cross's lettei— given in full— objecting to 
the reduction in dividend. We have a similar 
conipLaint from a home coriespoodent who 
writes: — 
" Yoa woold be surprised perhaps to see the Scot- 
tish Ceylon Tea Company are only going to pay 
10 per cent against the iimal 15 per cent. I think 
this was a mistake as I guther from the Ri-uort 12 
per cent niiptht hnve been paid and a small balance 
Btill carried forward. With a reserve of i'T.oon, 
there was no occasion it appears to rue to be bo 
very cautious. It will lead to the depreciations of 
the shares I fear." 
It is clear, however, that the city but-iness men 
present at the meeting, fully apiiroved of the course 
taken by the Directors. A\'e hope the good old 
Scottish Company" will return next yeai to its 
usual rate of dividend. 
MK. ROGIVUE AND THE THIRTY 
COMMITTEE. 
The following correspondence has been forwarded 
to us for publication by Mr. A. Philip, tli« 
Secretary of the 'J'hirly Committee. 
Kan<ly, March 2. 
M. Rogivue, Esq., Moroseika, House Leberieif, 
Moscow. 
CKYLOV THA IK KUSSIA. 
Dear Sir,— Your letter of the 517th December, 
1897, having been duly submitted to the "Thirty 
Committee" and published, I now annex for your 
information and guidance, copy of a Resolution 
passed by "Thiily Coioniiitee" after personal 
conference with Mr. T N Christie on his return 
here from Russia —I am. Dear Sir, Yours faith- 
fully, A. PHILIP, 
Secretary to the " Thirty Committee." 
RESOLUTION RF.FEREKD TO. 
"That having heard Mr. T N Christie's views 
regarding Mr. Rogivue's work in Russia the Com- 
mittee desires to convey to Mr. Rogivue their thanks 
for his past services in pushing Ceylon Tea in 
Russia, and to intimate on the understanding that 
his business is carried on on similar lines, the Com- 
mittee would wish to continue their patronage 
and support." 
Moscow, Mroseika, House Leberieff, 17-19th 
April 1898. 
]M. Rogivue, Ceylon Tea and Coffee, to 
A Philip, Esq.. Secretary to the "Thirty Com- 
mittee," Kandy, Ceylon. 
Dear Sir,— I have duly received your esteemed 
favour of the 2nd March and was very pleased 
to hear of the resulution jiassed by your committee 
in February expressing their satisfaction with my 
efforts to push the sale of Ceylon Teas, in Russia, 
as reported by Mr. Christie, and indicating their 
willins^ness to continue to sujjport me. 
My plan of business has not been changed, and 
I shall, as hitherto, carry it on similar lines, and 
continue to sell and push the sale of "Cevlon" 
