412 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTL'KLST. [Dec. 1, 1898. 
undertakinf»s, and for believing that gjod distribution 
of rainfall at blossoming and also for the develop- 
ment of the proper class of good beiring shoots are of 
vital and para,niQuat importance in connection A'ith 
a.11 frnit-growing iudustiies. 
Graham Akdeuson. 
Barguai, Rluuzerabid, 18th Oct., 1898. 
— I'lantiiiij Opinion, Oot. 22. 
^ 
MR. KELWAY EAMBER'S MISSION. 
Weare informed by Mr. G. Crabbe.tlie Hon. Sec- 
retary.that at a nieet)ii<; of the Katnajiiira I'laiiter.s' 
Association held at (lie (Kesthou.'-^e on Saturday 
22nd Oct., Hopewell Estate, Balanj^oda, was tiie 
estate chosen to be visited by Mr. Keiway liauiber. 
Hopewell belonjis to the Hopewell Tea Co., Ld., 
of wliich Messrs. Finlay, Mnir & Co., are af^cnts, 
and contains C24 a^res of which 47G a)e in cul- 
tivation with tea. Mr. W. M. Taylor is the Su- 
perintendent. 
♦ 
FINANCE OF FIVE-O'CLOCK TEA. 
VIEWS OF TWO EXPERTS ON THE SUBJECT— PE08PECTK 
OF THE TEA TliADE GENERALLy. 
A va,gue rumour has been circulated that one of 
the most lirnily established of British institutions — 
the live-o'clock tea table— is showing signs of ap- 
proaching dissolution, says the Finaacint Xeirn. The 
news induced a representative to approach one of 
the leading tea brokers iu the City, Mr. George 
Seton, of j20, Bishopsgate-street Within, to obtain 
an authoritative opinion on this point in particular, 
the effect of the alleged approaching event on tea 
shares, and the prospcfcts of the tea trade genorally. 
Mr. Beton balieved that the rumour was utterly un- 
foiind- d, and that the excellent custom was as general 
as ever. 
"The consumption of tea." said Mr. Seton, "is 
steadily iticroaaiiig among all classes, and I may tell 
you iu confirmation of tliat st.i.tenir-'nt that during 
last month alone the statislics show an increase of 
over 1,UOO,000 lb above those of September last year." 
Is it not the fact, however, that many eminent 
medical men discourage the practice of tea drinking ?" 
"It is; but I am not iso sure that even they them- 
selves practise what they preach. The late Sir Andrew 
Clark, I believe, was an example of this class of 
Mentor. He is said to have often condemned the five- 
o'clock tea and then gone straight home to enjoy 
the luxury at his own house. What the doctors really 
condemn, and ought to condemn, is the way in which 
tea ia often prepared." 
"Does that remark apply to all tea?" 
" Well, China tea does not require the same strict 
attention as Indian and Ceylon. The latter now form 
nearly nineteeu-tweutieths of the consumption, and 
only the cheaper qualities come from China. This 
British tea is excellent, and gives a sti-oug, dark 
liquor, quite equal, if not superior, to many of the 
China teas, but it requires a little more care in 
preparations." 
" Does the darkness of colour indicate any superior 
quality ?" 
" Noc all. The light straw-coloured liquor was 
quite as good and stroug ; but housewives imagine 
that if tea produces a good daik shade it is stronger 
and better, and so the growers humour them by 
treating the leaves iu a particular way." 
"Are you ia favour of still farther re.ducing the 
duty of tea ?" 
'■ Well, I am one of those who think there is 
no hurry for that. At the present time we may take 
the value of China tea as about <td. a pound and 
the Indian tea at Sd. a pound (without duty). If 
you add the duty, which is 4d. per pound weight, 
yon find that the duty cn China tea is 100 per cent., 
while that on the Indian tea at 8d. is only 50 per 
cent. A reduction would therefore be more favour- 
able to the China than the Indian tea, and the resalt 
would be that a large quantity of cheap rubbieh 
would be put on the mnrket. Ia course of time, 
too, the China, or uon-Bnii-ili, tea trade would prob- 
ably revive, and in that way the interests of com- 
panies and other? engaged in the Indian tea trade 
v;ould BO doubt be injuriously affected." 
" Is that view Iveld generally ? ' 
" No. There is another party which holds that 
a reduction of duty wou'd lead to increased cou- 
suDiption and increased business. They do not 
think injurious competition such as I hate pointed 
oat would be likely to follow. Uowever, I bold to 
iiiy own views on the subjuct." 
Our representative afterwards called on Mr. Wil- 
son (of Messrs. Gow, Wilson and Stanton, tea brokers, 
la, Rood-lane. E.C.). .Mr. Wilson insisted that five- 
o'olock tea was as popular a custom as ever, and 
could not imagine how it conld be Rupposed to be 
falling off. "Not only is it as popular as ever, ' he 
said, " but it is rapidly spreading, not only here, 
but on the Continent. The great bulk of the tea 
sold IS consumed bv the maEses. Even if the five- 
o'clock tea were suddenly to cease as a ' society ' 
institution it would really have little or no effect 
on the total consumption." 
" Can yon give me any figures in regard to "the 
home consumption 'f " 
'' I can. Yon will see from our circular for Octo- 
ber that for the four months from June 1, to Sep- 
tember, 30, this year there has been an increase of 
5,000,0(J0 lb., in the quantity of tea delivered in Eug- 
laud over the quantity received for the same period 
last year. That year only showed an increase 
of 2,000,000 lb., over the correspondiu(f period of 18iHi. 
That does not look like any check in the habit of 
tea-driukiug." 
' It is said that there is over-production of Indian 
tea. Is that true ?" 
"Quite the contraiy. The estimated surplus of the 
crop for the whole of this year over that of last year 
is only abou-. 3,0"0,000 lb., while, as 1 have already 
said, tha consumption for only four months has risen 
by 5,000,000 lb., over the figures of last year. As a 
matter of fact, I anticipate a deQeieiicy this year— a 
circumslance that ha^ only occurred twice sir.cu 1SH'^. 
The bupply will therefore be really under the demand!" 
" Was thpre not a decrease in the home consump- 
tion last winter owing to a boom in cocoa?" 
"Well, there was a slight decrease, I admit; but 
it was a purely temporary effect caused by immense 
quantities of new cocoas being thrown on the market. 
Dealers had to stock all these cocoas ; but I think 
you will find that, as a matter of fact, the great 
bulk of that cocoa is still in stock and unsold. The 
fignrcs did no.!: indicate tho actual quantities con- 
sumed, but only the amount delivered for consumption " 
" Then you think the prospects of the tea trade 
as regards the producer, the shareholder, and the 
merchant, are good 
"I certainly do. Tea drinking has now become 
such a firmly-estabhshed British institution that it 
bids well to last in all its vigour for many years if 
not centuries, t« come. Holders of shares in sound 
tea companies have nothing to fear."— .H. and C Vail 
Oct. 14. • - I 
_. 
THE CONSOLIDATED ESTATES COMPANY 
LIMITED. 
The seventh annual general meeting of the Com- 
pany was held at the offices, 34, Great St. Helens 
E.G., on Wednesday last, 5th October. ' 
The chair was occupied by Mr. G. Arbnthnot, 
Chaiimuj of the Company. 
Tho Secretary having read the notice convening 
the meeting. 
The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the re- 
port and accounts, said :— Gentlemen a copy of the re- 
port and balance-sheet has been sent to every share- 
holder, and therefore I presume we it 
