Nov. 1, 1901.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
they had possession of the markets of the world. 
What they could not sell to u& they could sell else- 
where ; our custom or our values did not rule their 
prices. Our case at the present day is wholly different. 
The major portion of the tea bmagh" for sale to 
the English market is of British production, owned 
by British subjects. It is not an article that can be 
increased or decreased at will, and it is an article 
which spoils after a time in keeping. Our home 
market was, until recent times, our sole market, 
and is still our principal market ; its prices regulate 
the prices fur all ; whatever we make must come 
forward, and we must accept the prices offered or 
not sell at all. When it was suggested in Parliament 
to substitute an ad valorem duty for a duty on 
weight, the Chancellor voted against the suggestion 
mainly on the ground that it had been tried and 
found wanting — I presume on the ground that it 
left openings to the quick-witted merchant to pass his 
goods through the Customs House at lower values 
than he should do. I cannot help thinking that where 
there is the will the way will be found, and thai an 
industry which yields a revenue of several millions 
sterling is worth trying to do justice to, and for my 
own sake and for the sake of others I sincerely hope 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer will see his way to 
perfecting one. For my own part, I believe, a duty 
of 4|d on all teas valued at 6d and under and ad 
valorem duty of 75 per cent on all teas from 6d to 
lOd (all teas over lOd paying Hd) would more than 
make good the loss the revenue might iocur from 
the acts of the quick-witted merchants and if the 
Customs House officials find difiSculty in assessing 
duty on the fractions of a penny, fractions of a penny 
might count as one." 
Whether the views of the majority of producers are 
for or against " secret" or, as the supporters of the 
movement prefer to call them, 
" PRIVATE " SALES OP TEA, 
they continue to be bitterly resented by grocers. 
" Spectator," writing to the " Grocer," says, in the 
course of his letter : " Regarding Wednesday's secret 
sale itself, it was somewhat remarkable in that it 
partook of a more mysterious nature than anything 
we have yet seen. Competition amongst buyers to 
buy their own property afforded a special feature of 
interest, and the good old games of ' bluff ' and ' puff ' 
were merrily played, to the satisfaction of all con- 
cerned. It is, however, very apparent to the ordinary 
mortal that a scratch lot of Calcutta-bought tea is 
not the class of article which promoters of private 
sales have in view. The auction might perhaps be 
best likened to a bird-catcher's nest, with many decoy 
birds in various false feathers hopping about and 
greedily picking up gilded oats. Its attractions do 
not, however, so far appear to have ensnared ;any of 
the wary old birds who own the bulk of the fine tea 
gardens ; perhaps they do not care to risk having their 
marks prejudiced in the country, or perhaps the Ceylon 
merchants who have tried the scheme may have 
whispered that (he gilded oats only chaS after all. I 
understand that the Tea Buyers' Association antici- 
pates that private sales may 'by a more extended range 
of prices in some way confer a benefit on the retailer.' 
There can be no doubt as to the question of 'extended 
prices,' as they will most certainly extend down for the 
merchants and up for the grocers, but with regard to 
the benefits to the retailers the prospects do not appear 
to be so clear. I would, therefore, suggest, Sir, with 
all due deference, that the General Puipose Commit- 
tee of the Grocers' Federation invite the Chairman 
and a few other membersof the Committee who drewup 
the private sales acheme,and have taken a leading part in 
the movement, to meet them next month and explain 
the advantages likely to accrue to the grocer. By this 
means the grocers would be enabled to gather much 
valuable information, and the representatives of the 
Tea Buyers' Association would not only be afforded an 
opportunity of gaining increased notoriety bat if 
their scheme ia found to posseas the merits alaiimgj 
for it, their names would probably also^.be handed 
down to posterity as public benefactors. If;! I recol- 
lect rightly 'such a meeting took place at the time of 
the pound-draft dispute three years ago, when, I 
believe, the grocers were given to understand that the 
the protection of their interests was one of the prin- 
cipal objects for which the London wholesale trade 
existed. It is probably fresh in the memory of many 
of your readeis the quarter from which that unfor- 
tunate disturbance emanated. Ia conclusion, I would 
venture to take the liberty of most strongly impressing 
upon the General Purposes Committee the extreme 
importance of giving this subject of secret auctions 
their most serious attention, as it allowed to continue 
without protest or action from the c matry it 
may, although the Ceylon merchants destroyed the 
recent public sale boycott, yet develop into a most 
dangerous situation for the retailers. I understand 
ou good authority that many leading Indian and Cey- 
lon merchants intend to adhere to the policy of the 
■ open door," and I know that there are several power- 
ful blenders and many old-established leading dealers 
who look upon the now movement with suspicion, and 
are prepared to support the public saleroom. To these 
firms I would most earnestly recommend the grocera 
to accord their support and countenance, and, by 
making common cause with them, stamp out once for 
all the most mischievous scheme that ever was con- 
cocted for benefiting a few at the expense of 
many." 
PARA KUBBER IN CEYLON. 
Sir,— It may interest some of your readers to 
know that tlie last consignment of 2 cwt. of 
Para rubber from this estate sold iu the London 
market at 3s 9d per lb. 
My coolies are regularly bringing me ia at the 
rate of ^ lb. dry rubber per cooly. Considering 
that some of the tiees now being tapped are not 
in a very favourable location for a good yield, 
being up a hill.side, the result is very satisfactory. 
R. c. 
Taking value .3s 9d in rupees as ... 2 70 
And 1 lb. rubber, costing two coolies, 
C R average, if 35 cents .. 0 70 
Leaves a clear profit per lb. of .... 2 00 
This includes cost of curing it, as the same 
coolies have to do it, in tliemiddle of the day. 
The result may not be so satisfactory as some 
well-known Kalutara estates, but is still good 
enough. 
If only all our " dadap " trees were Para rubber ! 
—Yours, &c. FRANCIS J. HOLLOWAY. 
Kepitigalla, Matale, Sept. 22nd.— Local "Times." 
INDIAN TEA NOTES. 
GREEN TEAS. 
(From a Planting Correspondent. ) 
" You will probably find that the Indian Tea crop 
will not be short at all. I believe on pretty good 
Calcutta autliority the ' short crop of output' 
report will not long hold good ; however, we 
shall soon see. It is difficult to say much about 
the future of Ceylon "Green Teas," but it would 
be interesting if Mr J N Campbell of Moray 
or Mr Hamlin of Darrawella or Mr Wright of 
Brunswick would publish their nett average for 
last twelve months' shipment. If the returns have 
been reasonably fair ones the output of these teas 
would be increased, which is to be desired, 
especially from low-country estates where black 
tea averages would be lower tiian Dikoya an4 
Maskeliya ones, 
