April 1, 1904.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
709 
advantage. By the abolition of this subsidy the 
representation of the Japan Central Tea Traders' 
Association in New York, Chicago, and Alontreal 
will probably be abolished. As the public are 
aware, the representatives were allowed to handle 
consignments, and were 
INDIVIDUALLY IN AN EXCEPTIONALLY 
FAVOURABLE POSITION 
as against unassisted undertakings, being in 
receipt of handsome salaries, with house and 
otiice expenses paid by the Association, They 
also had commissions on sales. It is now probable 
that they will establish themselves independently, 
and invite Japanese tea exporters to contribute 
capital to their undertakings. The work these 
representatives have hitherto been engaged in 
cannot be described as " business," in the ordinary 
competitive sense, because, apart from their lack of 
experience, the easy life induced by ac ample 
salary with almost everything supplied out of the 
subsidy was not one to lead to an increase of 
business, and the experience they gained must 
consequently be of a skin-deep character. It will 
be from the moment they establish themselves that 
their true experience will begin, and it is worth 
while warning them not to repeat the practices 
alleged against them while representing a sub- 
sidised association, particularly observing the old 
proverb "Honesty is the best policy"; and to 
refrain from such advertisement inaccuracies as 
their statement, for instance, that "every pound 
of tea exported is carefully inspected by Govern- 
ment official," when not an ounce was so inspected. 
They, as well as all others connected with the 
business, must also carefully refrain in the future 
from such practices as the alleged declaring less 
weight or measurement than is actually the case. 
If the shipments made by Japanese exporting 
companies during the many years that have 
passed could be correctly estimated it 
would probably be found that tens of 
thousands of yen have been lost to ship- 
ping companies. This abuse was hinted at some 
time ago in your columns, and it is one that the 
Japan Central lea Traders' Association should 
seriously consider with the object of correcting an 
abuse which is alleged to exist. 
However, it is probable that the representatives 
connected with the Association will establish them- 
selves as tea importers in America, dealing in the 
article in connection with Japanese refirers and 
exporters. Whether such a step is advantageous 
or not time will show, bub it is believed that the 
co operation of Japanese with foreign firms would 
be of greater benefit to the Japan tea trade. 
It is surprising how the Japan Central Tea 
Traders' Association, which, according to a prac- 
tical Kobe tea merchant, has made little progress 
since its organisation, could have persuaded the 
Government to allow the subsidy. There seems to 
have been no return for the outlay of 350,000 yen 
of Government money expended during five years. 
It has disappeared like smoke. 
Since the receipt of the above communication, 
we learn that the subsidy is to be discontinued 
after next month. The Central Board of Tea 
Guilds is about to consider the future course to be 
taken. It is stated that the representatives in 
America will be recalled and that Mr Mizutani, 
in charge of the Chicago branch, will arrive by 
the next mail to consult with the Association as 
to the course to be taken.— /apa/i we Weekly Chro- 
KfCE-GKOWlNG IN EAST AFRICA. 
Kice of fine quality is being grown around the 
Lake and has already found a sale at Mombassa. 
There is a very large market at the Coast for rice 
equal to and cheaper than the Indian and Burmah 
rice we are now so dependent upon. Zanzibar 
and Pemba it must not be forgotten are rice-grow- 
ing places, but the price commanded by these fine 
varieties, grown on a small and expensive scale, 
is prohibitive.— Zawaibor Gazette, 
AN INDIAN TEA PLANTEE IN 
AUSTEALIA. 
NOTES ON TEA TOPICS. 
Tea Pruning.— I see in recent issues of your 
paper that methods of Tea Pruning still continue to 
exercise the minds of Planters as of old. " Kalam 
Wallah's " letter is very good, and his contention 
that only the best tools should be placed in the 
hands of the coolie is of primary importance. My 
practice used to be to commence pruning operations 
with only a small number of coolies who had been 
well trained during previous pruning seasons, and 
instruct them thoroughly in the manner I wished 
the pruning to be done in various plots for that 
year. Then I put on small bodies or gangs from 
time to time, drafting some of the old and experi- 
enced coolies into each gang. In this manner I 
gradually had my gangs fairly well instructed, and 
as a rule got decent work done. In my opinion 
it is a mistake to have large gangs of pruners work- 
ing together. 
The Disposal of Prunings— is still, I observe, 
a vexed question. Destruction by fire is, in my 
mind, the best, but it is expensive and at times 
difficult to carry out. The views of Mr John 
Hughes re destruction by decomposition are 
doubtless, worthy of consideration, but like the 
burning method difficult and expensive to carry 
out thoroughly in many gardens. Where the 
gardens are situated on plateaux, or fairly fiat 
ground with good cart roads running through the 
cultivation, the method of destruction by fire o'r 
decomposition may be carried out, but on "tilah ' 
land and in old gardens where the roads are often 
both narrow and steep it is expensive and well-nigh 
impossible to get rid of the prunings by either of 
the aforesaid plans. It is a difficulty to be over- 
come which can only be left to tiie good judgment 
of the planter, who will of course avail himself of 
the most thorough method at his command. 
Salt as a Manure, — I have read your excerpt 
from the Madras Mail on this subject in your 
issue of the 23rd January last, and can thoroughly 
endorse every word that is said re the use ot salt 
as a manure for coconuts. While in Fiji I planted 
some hundreds of coconuts and in every case 
placed a handful of salt in the bottom of each 
hole made for the seed with most satisfactory 
results. It is a practice which is almost universally 
followed in Fiji. I have used salt in the same 
manner in planting coconuts in Sydney with 
equally etlicacious results. Dr Leather's "investi- 
gations re the presence of carbonate and chloride 
of sodium in the soil are very interesting and 
worthy of further investigation by agriculturalists 
and dissemination among all interested in the 
growth of cereals and vegetables. — J S Michael. 
Sydney, N.-S.-W.— //idia/i Planting and Gar- 
demng, 
