Feb. ], 1899.] THE TROPICA]. 
AGRICULTURIST. 
655 
CEYLON TEA IN AMERICA. 
Mr. MacCombie Murray (formkrly of 
dolosbagk) on the pbogress made, 
he resumes business in philadelrhia as 
tea and coffee expert, 
the opinions of chief tea dealers in 
favour of blends— and " oolongs." 
interesting experiences. 
From a long letter from Mr. MacCombie Murray 
— who was for ten years a Ceylon planter— we 
quote as follows : — 
From the enclosed circular you will understand 
that I am not only keeping up my interest in 
Tea but am actively engaged in the business : — 
TEA AND COFFEE. 
From seed to cnp — 1 know them both, 
With daily care have watched their growth 
A science made of How to cure, 
To Buy, to Blend and Sell them Pure. 
J. M. Murray. 
HIGH GROWN PLANTATIONS I TEAS AND COFFEES. 
PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS. 
Teas and Coffees sold on their own merits at the 
loivest possible price, and no goods sold which cannot be 
recommended as good. 
CLAIM. 
Judgment in buying, &nd practical as well a.s scteniijlc 
knowledge as an expert hi the art of blending. 
PHILOSOPHICAL AND PERSONAL. 
With an experience of two years in the London 
Tea and Coffee Market, ten years cultivating and 
curing tea and coffee in Ceylon, E. India ; and five 
years as importer and dealer iu Philadelphia, it 
stands to reason that I should be able to serve my 
customers to their advantage, and it is to my own best 
interests to do so. 
From time to time I have been financially 
interested in this line while professionally 
engaged in Music, but not since 1 had to sjive 
up my store, now eight years ago, have I put my 
entire time into it. Once again, however, 1 am 
an out-and-out Ceylon Tea man, busily engaged 
at my desk addressing envelopes and writing 
personal letters to old customers. The " Kootee " 
Brand is not now my property, but it has been and 
is now carried on and advertised by the present 
owner as " The oldest Brand of Ceylon Tea in 
America, introduced by Professor J. McCombie 
Murray, for 10 years Tea and Cofi'ee i)lanter in 
Ceylon." In spite of the loss of money it re[ire- 
sents, I have a soi t of affection for the old Brand 
yet, and tried to get Mr. Harkness to give me 
back an interest in it at a price, but he ivon't. 
Not only the " Kootee" Brand did I see advertised 
on Chestnut street on my return from New York 
city (where I had spent a year, and for part of 
the time selling Ceylon Tea for Mr. Elwood May), 
but a " Murray " Brand had been born into exist- 
ence as being also the oldest Brand in America. 
Tliis was done without any authority from me, 
but it may yet serve my own interests as an 
advertisement, as I have certainly the right to use 
my own name for this purpose. My idea, how- 
ever, is to immortalise the face and features of my 
old ayah, who was asoitof mother to n)y eldest 
boy Andrew, now a hne boy of nearly 14 years 
of age, and by ns called Amah. By the »vay, 
I would very much like to know of her where- 
abouts in Ceylon and if you can, through your 
columns, find where she is and let me know how 
to address her, you will do me a great kindnes. 
JShe was about two years over here with us, and 
was very useful and attractive to my exhibits 
70 
wiien I was trying to bring Ceylon Tea before 
the American public at State Fairs, Pure Food 
E.\- positions, &c. 
To give you particulars as to the success of 
the 
CEYLON TEA ENTERPRISE IN AMERICA 
would be diHicult at present, that is, for 
me to do as I am not sufficiently posted ; — 
but to correspond I will do my best to 
keep you posted in all such information as I 
think would be of interest on this side of the 
ocean. 
The latest statistics of exports from Ceylon, for 
instance, would always be of value to me, as they 
would form text for advertising. 
The attempt of Dr. Shepherd to cultivate 
TEA IN SOUTH CAROLINA 
i.s of course interesting to Americans, and it affords 
them some degree of satisfaction to say thatlhey 
can grow tea and eveiything else of God's creation 
in this country. It seems strange, however, that 
there is only owe man in it— for Yankees are not 
slow to catch on to any scheme that has money 
in it. Those who speak of the feasibility of ilie 
enterprise are of course in ignorance of the nature 
of the field work, and the comparative cost of 
labor, and a few statements in this connection 
results in a change of subject. So far as climate 
IS concerned, I believe. South Carolina to be 
favorable, and the yield very fair. The samples 
I have tasted did not suit mt/ palate, but of 
course, taste is a matter of cultivation. I now 
mean to write to Dr. Sheplieid and have him 
send me a few samples of more recent manufacture* 
and should he favor me, I will send them on to 
you. 
From what I see today ot the position of Ceylon 
tea in the market, I do not think 1 was mis- 
taken in statements made by me in your column 
in the earlier years of my experience here. 
I have, in Germartown, a friend whose success 
as a retailer of tea and coffee (as a sole interest) 
IS unequalled in my personal experience and con- 
nection. He had quite a small store when I was 
"pushing" my tea, and "knew not Joseph" as a 
prophet worthy of attention when I elaborated 
on the excellent merits of Ceylon tea, and the 
prominent part it would play in the near future 
in the American tea market. Suffice it, that he 
knows notv, and fully appreciates the force of 
my past statements. Our positions have chanced 
—for instead of my having to act as solicit^br 
he is in a position to sell to me probably as 
favourably to my interests as anyone. No %ne 
be could found as a better and more disinterested 
authority on the question of the acHial position 
of Ceylon tea in the retail trade, and I have 
his remarks fresh in my memory as made only 
a few weeks ago, before I thought of coin'' 
into the business. While he orders about 120c^iest9 
of (V kind at a time for his retail requirements 
and has noiu the finest tea and coffee house' 
not only in Germantown, but all Philadelphia! 
still he holds that Ceylon tea straight will never 
command the popular taste of the people. Vou 
may remember my connection with a repeated 
reference t 
FINLAY ACKER 
as a power in the grocery line. This man has 
turned out a veritable wonder. 1 would not be 
in the least surprised to lind his name ou the 
advertising pages of the T.A. as there seems to 
be no limit to his reach or bound to his interest. 
He it was who/rs< listened to me when I pleaded 
