^58 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May 1, 18«i 
tlie blender and consumer : so it is no use 
bringing abstract ideas against practical con- 
clusions. 
Some years a^o I proposed a Rcheme for 
introducing (Jeylon teas into America and 
impressed my opinions fully on the necessity 
of the Ainji-icin de-iler supplying blended 
teas to con-iumers. Ther > is not, tlie Klightest 
doubt but tluvt this is t!ie lino to be adonted. 
Americans have not hitherto jn-oved them- 
selves willing to drink either ('eylon or In- 
dian tea, pure and simple ; and this has been 
expressed by many writers, including our 
Commissioner, over and over again. I fear, 
however, (Jeylon li n lost th^ chance now 
of selling blended to ii to America, if it ever 
possessed it, although other n ;w countru>H are 
still assailable. 
There are strong pungent flavoury teas 
grown in India, which if bl^-ndetl in incon- 
siderable proportions with many Ceylon light 
teas, would raise their values in the Colombo 
market, and besides make them more accept- 
able in otiier countries. In other words a 
judicious use of Indians would helii the ex- 
tension of four-fifths of the Ceylon-grown 
article. I do not say that Indians are supe- 
rior to Ceylons : such would be treason, even 
if I thought it, which I do not; but I will, 
however, say that not using the geo- 
gi-aphical position of Colombo for this pur- 
pose, is neglecting one of the great advan- 
tages that the island possesses. 
At present there are regular buyers m the 
Ceylon market and a fresh incentive would 
be established by those who, by blending a 
small proportion of foreign teas with Ceylons, 
woxdd raise the value of those special kinds 
for Avhich everyone Avonld be pleased to meet 
with a better demand and price, resulting 
in obtaining helj) where most needed and 
producing qualities practically suited to the 
Avants of the whole universe. At present 
Ceylon in adhering to sell not exactly what 
the buvers require, is injuring herself. 
I doubt if requirements would be shipped 
from Calcutta or China to Colombo, cheaper 
than to London ; so that the object in in- 
troducing would not be for the benelit of 
those countries, but to make the most of 
Ceylon teas. Neither is the impt)rtatiou 
likely to be overdone, as it would cost too 
™The consumption of tea is doubtless 
spreading over Europe: so if the mer- 
chants of Colombo could only adapt their 
samples to the wants of Southern Europe, say- 
ing nothing of the Persian Gidf and Egypt, 
a o-rand future is before them for the blended 
article. No coxmtry in the long-run could 
compete with theui in the East. It does not 
much matter how the Ceylon planter is 
willing to view the question :— blending, if 
not done in Ceylon, will be done elsewhere ; 
and if in Colombo the extra cost of extra 
shipment, carriage and landing will handicap 
the imported tea to such a degi-ee that the 
obiect will be to use as little foreign, and 
as much locally-grown, as the blend will 
stand, and this always in a gi'owing degree ; 
so that in the long-run Ceylon teas wdl be 
most benefitted. Besides, from what I have 
seen I believe it could be much better done 
in C'eyl"" than in London and as I have said 
its position seems to h^-ve been naturally 
chosen expressly for the purpose. Indeftd it 
is a great pity, th'^t from tn* tint, when 
Oeylon emerged into the world a t-ea- 
growing country, it did uot also start a 
universal maiket. 
As I nee blended tea* winniu^ their way 
everywhere, I write in no intierest other- 
wise than that of a tea-gi-«j\ver, in whose 
basket most of my eggs aiv lyinj?. Ah time 
goes on, CeyloTi will i>e brought in closer 
comp'tition with Assam, and perhaps Java : 
so I consider it is now acting unwibcly in 
not using itn best means of makiu^ the most 
of evL-ry chest of tea shii)i>ed from itn sh<jre8. 
Th-it is, no eff(»rt should Ix' los-t in making 
the tea attractive, and not have it wust 
iiiside as wanting, and su knocked down tu 
the buyer almost at his own price. Nothing, 
I believe, would l>eneftt the Ceylon (fi-ower 
more than shi]>ping blejided teas mto London : 
.IS it might bring back the smaller buyers 
into competition with the larger who are 
gradually and effectually dominating the 
market. Again, probably four-fifths of the 
Ceylon tea shipi>ed would be placed more 
attractive, if \vi.sely blended with suitable 
teas of other growths, and which in time 
would find their own markets and help to 
|Ji-event the he.avy drops in prices experienced 
during fhe last two years. 
Prices are now looking up again ; yet, after 
my past experience, I am iudinixl t<j think 
that, if growers ai-e most careful when times 
are good, they will have less to rue, when 
they go down again. W. F. L. 
COFFEE AND SIIADK-TltKKS ; AND TEA 
AND SHADE-TREES. 
"\Ve have been seeking the opmion of our 
"Honorary EnU)mologist,'" Mr. E. E, Green, 
on the very full Bepoit just furnished by 
Mr. Cameron, F.L.8., to the planters of 
Coorg on their coffee and its enemies, par- 
ticularly heinileia vantiitrur. The practical 
point Wits whether we should reproduce the 
whole of the Report in our monthh' periotUcaL 
Mr. Green is good enough to write : — 
"It is a most intei'esting Repoit and is 
certainly worth a place in the T.A. The re- 
marks on the use of shade trees are of 
particular interest to Ceylon planters. I 
believe that we should have more coffee 
remaining in Ceylon if partial shade of the 
rigid sort had been more systematically 
employed. And I think that most planters 
are beginning to realize that a light shade 
will be equally a necessity for tea, if it is to 
go on indefinitely. Mr. Cameron points out 
that one of the most important properties 
of partial shade is the conservation of fei-- 
tility m the soil. Speaking of forest soil, 
Mr. Cameron writes: — When fully exposed 
by the entire removal of shade, land of the 
latter class exhibits extraoidinary fertility 
for a time; but under the influence of full 
sun-light it gi-adually becomes less fertile. 
The influence of intense light 
induces denitrification and hence a state of 
at least partial sterility. 
"My own idea of the right kind of shelter 
for tea is a light shade— such as given by 
a judicious admixture of Erythrina (Dadap), 
Aibizzia moluccana and Grevillea — high up; 
the stems bare up to at least 30 feet — pre- 
