January i, 1892.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
47S 
gard to the advantages of tea-drinkiug ot tbe merits 
of Jndian tea would have Boon disappeared. The com- 
mittee thereforo wisely resolved to find a little more 
money, and continue the work in Paris in the hope of 
recovering at some future date some portion of the 
outlay. With this in view, a hruse for the sale of 
dry Indian teas was opened at 204, Hue de RivoJi. 
From the experience of the Associated Tea P!aDtera 
in America it was felt that this alone would not lead to 
very sutiefactory results. It was necessary to reach the 
tea-drinkiog pui,'iio, and no simpler w;iy of doing this 
could be devised than to continue in outside permanent 
establishments the v?ork that had btea commenced 
in the Indian Palace. Tea rooms were, therefore, 
fitted up in the Indian style in the most frequented 
parts of the city at which pure Indian tea is sold in 
cup and in packets. The first of these places was 
only opened on November 25, 1890, almost a year 
ago, the second in the end of April, and the third 
in the month of May this year. At this stage the 
preseot company was formed. It was thought that 
the business had sufficiently developed to warr.iut 
the euterprise being taken over by those who had 
hitherto fonnd the bulk of the capital, fo that, as 
it became lucrative, tlioir previous ouilay might be 
recouped. A prospectus was issued in July last, aod 
a scheme arranged under which the previous guarantors 
mainly found the additional capital necessary for 
present requirements in Paris. Owing to the short 
time tbe branches have been opened it will be seen 
that opinions as to ultimate success must be mors 
or less speculative. Nevertheless, the time that has 
passed does much to warrant an opinion being formed, 
The two first tea-rooms are iu the best part ot 
Paris, one near the Opera House and the other 
in the Avenue des Champs Elyseos. They are 
most conveniently situated for that portion ot the 
French people that have been, even in a small way, 
accustomed to drink tea. From the moment tbe 
doors were opened these establishments received a 
considerable measure of eupport. It was evident that 
they met a want which had been felt. Iu each, 
Indian tea ia served iu a separate pot, with milk and 
sugar, for half-a-frano (say 4|d), aud the service is 
much better than anything of the kind in England. 
The company tojk over the business ia the midst 
of the holiday season, when everyone who can 
afford to do so leaves Paris for about two months. 
During that period the returns fell off, but they did 
not sink to a lower point than might fairly have 
been expected, and with this exception the progress 
has been oontiuuou? from the time each house was 
opened. It is most satisfactory, therefore, for us to 
be able to report that at the moment the holiday 
makers came back the returns at ones increased 
praotically to the highest level they had even reached. 
Now every week and month shows such satisfactory 
progress that it seems probable that each of these 
places will be paying within three or four months. 
Aa refreshment houses of this nature cannot be expected 
to make a good return on the day they are opened, 
probably this ia as good a result aa could be anywhere 
achieved. The committee felt that their work in 
Paris would not be aatisfactory if they did not break 
new groand and try to develop a taste for tea amongst 
a portion of the population not yet accustomed to 
drink it. It was with this end in view that the 
third premises were taken. They are more in the 
east of Paris, situated in the Boalevardo Bonne 
Nouvelle, nearly opposite the Lycee, and in the 
neighbourhood of some of the large theatres. 
This place also is showing steady progress, 
and as the premises are most advantageoasly 
situated, there is every reason to hope that in a 
little time they will be as satisfactory as the others. 
Probably these three establishments are tbe only 
places in which one is sure of getting a drink of pure 
Indian tea. Nothing else is supplied in therestaurautj. 
Althongh we consider it advisable to keep other kiuds 
of dry tea, especially Oeylon, in stock, the total sales 
ttre over 90 per cent Indian. Every opportunity is 
taken to attract atteotioo to Indian teas. Since the 
great exhibitioo, where a gold and silver medal were 
obtained, two other medals have been gained. Thia year 
there was a very interestinfi; exhibition opened in the 
Champs Elysess in the month of August, which remains 
open till the end of November, The company were 
offered a large salon here, rent free, subject lo a mode- 
rate commission on their takings, and in this room 
an increasing business has been done. In August 800 
persons were served there, iu September 950, and 
in October 1,586, showing a satisfactory inoroaae. A 
business of this nature requires more capitial than 
shops in whieh dry tea only is served. Suitable 
fittings and furniture musii be provided, and the 
best situations must be secured, allot which cost a good 
ileal of money. Probably there will be not difficulty in 
finding ot the money that will bo required for extension 
from time to time, if it can be shown that a fair return 
will be made. The figures that are at our disposal up to 
the present arc, of course, not conclusive ; nevertheless, 
I thinfe, they will be regarded as satiefactory. Our 
total sales in the year 1889 was over 16,000 francs, in 
1890 over 30,000 francs, aud in 1891 (estimating the 
two last months of the year on the basis of the others) 
they will be over 120,000 francs. Seeing that two of 
the places have only baen opened since May, it is 
fair to anticipate that next year will see a very con- 
siderable, if not quite proportionate inoresae. There 
is the strictest supervision from tbe London oflBces of 
the company, where daily returns are received. The 
directors fael that these facta should be sufficient to 
satisfy the shareholders. It will be asked, "What ia 
to be our future progress ?" There is no intention at 
present to open more branches in Paris. Efforts will 
be concentrated to improve those already going. There 
is a strong feeling, however, that something should bo 
done in other quarters. A favourhble space for build- 
ings at the Chicago Exhibition hag been praotically 
securei, and seeing that tbe consumption of tea 
there is about Ijlb. per head of the population 
against about J oz. in France, good results will prob- 
ably attend an energetic effort made in the same 
judicious manner, If the resources of the company 
admit it the directors would consider the practica- 
bility of openinij similar branches in other parts of 
Europe, Possibly good prospects also await such 
attempts in Nice, Milan, Vienna, and Berlin. There 
can be no doubt but that tbe work of opening new 
markets becomes more important year by year. In 
the face of the large estimate of the present crop 
and the low London prices, together with the annually 
increasing yield, I think that even the busiest should 
be willing to spare a few momenta to consider whether 
the organisation that is furnished by the Palais Indiea 
Tea HouEes Limited, is not one that would pay all 
those who are interested in Indian tea to eupport. 
Mr. Bullock (chairmsu of the Upper Assam and 
Assam Frontier Companies) referred to a visit he had 
paid to the company's branches in Paris, and expressed 
a desire that only Indian tea should be Bold at them, 
Mr. Seton wished to point out, in case there might be 
any misconception about what Mr. Bullock had said, that 
the question of a certain admixture of other teas with 
Indian tea in the first place had been frequently before 
theBoard. The matter had been fully discussed and it was 
not without a full knowledge of all the aspects of 
the question that what bad been referred to had 
taken place. Quite recently, however, the Board 
feeling that there had been a great deal of criti- 
cism about the tea sold not beiog all Indian tea, 
called for apecial reports on the subject of the respective 
quantities of Indian and other teas sold and they were 
pleased to find from those reports that the teas sold, 
o*her than Indian, constituted a very amall propor- 
tion iudeed — only one per cent. 
Mr. Thomas Lough said that in the coarse of a 
few months Mr. Bullock's wishes would be carried 
into effect. There were several practical difiiculties to 
deal with, but the board had taken atepa to obtain 
the end desired. 
After some further discussion, the proceedings con- 
cluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman, pro- 
posed by Mr. Bullock and seconded by Mr, Setou.— 
and C. JUaii, Nov, 20, 
