■22 
THE TROPICAL AQRiCULTURIST. 
[July i, 1891. 
PROSPECTS OP CEYLON TEA. 
The figureB forwarded by Messrs, Gow, Wilson 
c& Stanton are enoouraging, as far a? deliver is, 
inBritain are conoerned. For the 11 mouths of 
Eeason 1890-91 ended 30th April, the daliverieis 
were 38,000,0001b.* out of an import of 42,225,000. 
The increase over the quantity delivered in the 
corresponding period of the previous eeason, 
(26,927,000 lb.) was no less than 11,000,000 lb. The 
increase in Indian tea in this seaaoa over the past 
(93,924,000 lb. against 86,675,000) was only 
9,219,000; so that comparatively as well as absolutely, 
the deliveries of Oeylon tea have largely inoreastd, 
— as yet in proportion, indeed, to rapidly increas- 
ing crops. Making aU. allowance for ellorts made 
by the producers to bring their product into notice, 
nothing but the real superiority of Ceyloa tea could 
have placed it in such a position. The 
question is, however, whether over-produotion is 
not already casting its dark shadow before, in the 
sharp and sudden fall in prices reported from 
London, Our unceasing efforts ought to be di- 
rected to the opening up of new markets and also 
the conquering of old markets where hitherto the 
teas of China and Japan have reigned supreme. 
The better, and, considering its quality, the 
cheaper Oeylon leaf will have to contend in 
the United States not only with the prejudice of 
tea drinkers, born oS ouatom and acquired taste, 
but with a stagnant and even decadent demand 
for tea, not only as compared with coffee, but 
also, to our exceeding surprise, considering all 
we have heard of tamparance and even prohibi- 
tion movements in the United States, with the 
enormously inoreasing taste for alcoholic drinks. 
The figures we quooed from the American Grocer 
in our issue of the 16th, were certainly not re- 
assuring to the friends of temperance and non 
alcoholic beverages. Thsdeorease in the ccnsumption- 
of coffee from 9 45 lb. yer caput, in 1885, to 7'9G 
in 1890, is attributed to a rise in the price, due 
no doubt to deficienoy ia production in Brazil, 
owing to emancipation and revolution iry troubles. 
But no such cause can be adduced for the 
discouraging position of tea. Not only has the 
consumption not increased in the decade between 
1881 and 1890, but there was an absolute decrease 
from a miserable r54 lb. per head of the population 
in 1881, to a still more miserable 1'34 in 1890. The 
retail cost of the tea consumed in the United 
States in 1890 (all saYo mere fractions of Indian 
and Ceylon, the produce of China and Japan) was 
only 930,000,000 (less than half a dollar per head) 
Bgainst $122,500,000 for cofise (over two dollars 
per head). But to those who, like ourselves, 
believed, and rejoiced to believe, that the cause of 
temperance in the United States had made such 
progress as to justify the existence not only of a 
"High License" but of a "Prohibition" party, 
the disappointment is keen as it is astounding 
to learn that while the consumption of tea and 
ooSee is stationary or decadent, at a united 
value of only !^152,500,000, the value of alcoholic 
drinks consumed had increased ?J200,000,000 in four 
years (at the rate of ^}50,000,000 per annum) up 
to the astounding total for 1890 of 1900,000,000 1 
This is at the rale oE more than fourteen dollars 
for every man, woman and child in the States. 
In view of such facts and of the difQoulties which 
have gathered round the production of ooffae, we 
feel that, apart from questions of aelf-interest as 
regarda our own Ceylon tea, all friends of tompar- 
anco and human well-being ought to wish 
" God speed" to all judicious and legitimate efforts to 
introduce India and Ceylon tea to the markets and 
' » At the rat(i of.about 42,000,01)0 lb. for the 12 months, 
into the homes of the Uait jd States. We say ad- 
visedly " judicious and legitimate," because we can 
see no prospect of good but rather of harm to the 
cause of Oeylou tea in the wild scheme, wroDg in 
principle if even it were practicable, of " corner- 
ing," that is monopolizing a market which above 
all things nesda to be opened. Our object ought 
to be to conciliate instead of irritating dealers 
in and consumers of tea; and therefore, while we 
Urge more strenuous efforts than ever at opening 
the markets of the United States for our teas, 
wo regret more than we can express that the leader of 
the Company formed for this purpose, should advocate 
the adoption of maasuces which are calculated only 
to injure instead of furthering the interests of 
Ceylon taa and tea plancera. Nothing can in the 
end bo Buocessfui, which ia opposed to the founda- 
tion priuoiples of free, open, legitimate compe- 
tition, the very life of a righteous commerce. To 
indicate in any way that we are not prepared 
for a fair held and no favour, save what desert 
win secure, would be fatal to the claims of our 
really superior product. That quality will secure 
its sure, if at first comparatively slow, euccess, 
while all attempts at " cornering" explode into 
vapour. 

A VISIT TO THE COLOMBO 
IKONWOEKS. 
" As a descriptive title ' Colombo Ironworks' fails 
to convey an adequate idea of the^nature and extent 
of the operations conducted by Messrs. Walker 
Sons & uo., Limited." That , is the obaervtstion 
of one who rejencly piid what he call a " a flying 
visit ' to the works. He does not mean to su ggest 
that there should be any further change in 
nomenclature, but merely to emphaaizaj the fact 
that he was surprised to find that the business 
was so comprehensive. He had heard that the 
firm did a vast amouot of work for planters, and 
knew that they were the agents for W. & J. Jaoksun's 
Patent Tea Maohiaery, uut his kaowiedga was 
limited to these facts; aad he was therefore much 
astonished to see that ia addition to the manu- 
faoture and repair of ail the kinds of machines 
in use in Ceylon, considerable orders were executed 
in connection with the construction and renovation 
of buildings and of vessels. The appliances, he 
says, are of the latest and most approved pattern, 
some of them being specialities for patents of a 
very interesting character. Competent and ex- 
perienced Europeans are in charge of the various 
departments, and the native subordinates are really 
exoelleat workmen. 
Another thing which seems to have struck the 
visitor is the order which prevails in the es- 
tablishment. Everything, he says, is done according 
to a clearly defined plan ; and the result of 
this methodical mode of working is that a degree 
of smoothness is attained in carrying out all the 
arrangements that must enable the firm to under- 
take very large contracts and satisfactorily ac- 
complish them in the shortest possible space of 
time. 
The premises may be said to consist of three 
main buildings, one being the fitting or machinery 
shop, another the smithy, and the third the foundry. 
Passing through a yard where a water-wheel, 25 feet 
in diameter, and some steel barges were in course 
of construction, — the former for an upoountry tea 
factory and the latter for the Wharf and Warehouse 
Company, —the visitor entered the fitting shop on 
the left, and looking along a series of courts or 
divisions saw quite an army of native mechanics 
basily employed at lathes of various siaes turning 
