S30 
THE TROPICAL AtSRimil-TUmST, 
[February i, 1892^ 
for Ceylon teaa in Paris. In aooordanoe with the 
intention expressed to you no time was lost by 
me in calling the attention of the Oeylon Asaooi- 
ation in London to the subject, and the Tea 
Oommittee of that body held a meeting to discuss 
and consider the matter. As the result, Mr. Lough 
was asked to explain, and in reply he stated that 
the wishes expressed to the meeting which he had 
supported referred in no way to Ceylon tea, but 
only to those of Chinese growth or character. 
However, the reference to the Palais Indien 
Company did not end here. We suppose that, owing 
the position Mr. Lough was placed in by his 
very enigmatical utterances, the directors of that 
company deemed it desirable to approach the 
Tea Committee of the Ceylon Association in London 
with a proposal that there should be a fusion of 
iDterests, and that steps should be considered 
whereby the sale of Indian and Ceylon teas, in their 
present shops in Paris should proceed simultaneously 
and without establishing competition between the 
two varieties. A letter to this effect is to be con- 
sidered by a specially appointed Sub-Committee 
consisting of Messrs. Butherford, Thomas Dickson; 
J. L. Shand, and Whittall, though it is 
doubtful if the latter will be able to serve, he 
being, unfortunately, ill with influenza. This 
Sub-Committee was to have its first interview with 
the Palais Indien representatives yesterday after- 
noon, and nothing has as yet transpired of what 
passed at the interview. 
With this you will receive a copy of the pros- 
pectus of the company now negotiating the above 
stated matter. You will see that the articles of 
association under which this company was registered 
do not in any way limit the sales of tea to any 
particular variety, though no doubt the real object 
was to press into prominence the Indian teas in 
which the promoters were then chiefly interested. 
Still all tastes of the Parisians must be consulted, 
and some palates might prefer Indian, others 
Ceylon, and others again China. So to impart 
a taste for tea-drinking, every individual pre- 
dilection must be gratified. It is dependent upon 
what is the primary object of the company, 
whether to foster a taste for tea-drinking in Prance, 
leaving it to time to establish preference foK 
particular varieties, or whether it was simply and 
solely to bring Indian teas into a selfish prominence 
before the field could be occupied by others. 
It was recently mentioned to me by an acquain- 
tance that he had seen a placard in a grocer's 
window, cautioning people against purchasing teas 
sold in lead packets, and describing the effect of the 
lead as most pernicious to health. From conversa- 
tion had by me with a doctor, the conclusion seemed 
evident that where tea has been so packed 
for any great length of time it may be tnat it 
takes up some of the injurious qualities of the 
wrapping. Many years ago it chanced to me to 
be acquainted with the Kev. Joseph Sortain of 
Brighton, a very popular preacher there in those 
days, and brother to the late Dr. Sortain of 
Batticaloa. From some unexplained causa his 
health failed most seriously, and none of the 
doctors who attended him could trace a reason 
for it. At length his habit of profuse snuff-taking 
attracted attention, and it was found that he 
always purchased his favorite mixture in lead 
packets. As the symptom of his illness were akin 
to those produced by lead poisoning, Mr. Sortain 
was recommended to obtain snuff which had not 
been so packed, and a change for the better com- 
menced directly ho followed this advice, subse- 
quently recovering altogether. This incident leads 
me to think the advice above referred to as to tea 
may not be without pertinence, though we have 
never seen cited any oases of illness which could 
be attributed to the action of lead on tea. It 
has been so packed in the chests for very many 
years without attention being directed to any dele- 
terious effect ; but, of course, the smaller bulk of tea 
in a packet of say a quarter pound weight, it 
is conceivable, absorb a larger proportion of 
the lead poison, and it will not surprise me 
to find the subject i taken up some day as a 
topic of discussion in the newspapers, the editors 
of the some of which are always on the lookout 
for some stirring matter of the kind to pad their 
aolumns with. 
Mr. J. L. Shand tells me that, seeing Sir Alfred 
Dent recently, he heard from him of most satis- 
factory reports being received from his Andes ex- 
pedition. Soil and climate in the territory to be 
ceded seems admirably adapted to the cultivation 
both of coffee and tea ; but even when this fact 
is allowed for it will not necessarily mean that 
money will be forthcoming to undertake planting 
on a large scale. Eecent events in South America 
have made capitalists here less inclined than ever 
to invest money in any of the South American 
republics, and it is a question if the Peruvian 
bondholders themselves, who have lost so much 
money in their former investments, will care to 
personally put their hands in their pockets to 
throw good money after bad. They certainly are 
not likely to obtain much aid from outsiders not 
interested like themselves. 
Experiments are now being conducted by 
the Admiralty, which, if they should have 
the success anticipated by the promoters, may 
go far towards securing for your coconut 
planters more favourable returns. Here experi- 
ments are being made with what is termed cellu- 
lose of coconut. We understand this to be some 
preparation of the fibre, and it is said that it has 
the property of absorbing eight times its weight 
of water. As far as we understand, the experi- 
ments now proceeding at Portsmouth are being 
made with slabs of this material which are affixed 
inside the iron plates, and the advantage claimed 
is that in the event of a shot hole, the cellulose 
absorbs the inrush of water, swells and closes 
the shot hole; The slabs themselves are also 
said to be extremely difficult to penetrate, and 
they would therefore aid towards keeping out 
any shot or fragment which might pierce the 
plates to which they afford a backing. If this 
should prove to be the case, it is probable that 
a large demand will arise for the material, both 
for vessels of war and for those having only a 
commercial character. — London Cori 
SCIENCE IN THE TEA GARDEN. 
About a year ago we noticed in our colamns that 
aa investigation on scientific lines into the cultivation 
and manufacture of Tea had been taken in hand by 
a Committee, representing the India Tea Association 
and the Agri -Horticultural Society of India, and that 
an agricultural chemist bad been especially retained 
from England, to conduct the inquiry. We have now 
received an early copy of the first Progress Report, 
made by Mr. Bamber, the agricultural chemist referred 
to, showing the work done during the last twelve 
months. The Eeport points out that the inquiry resolves 
itself into two divisions, viz., the growth and culti- 
vation of Tea, and its manufacture. The work done 
during the past year is confined to the first division, 
and although sufficient time has not elapsed for defi- 
nite and final opinions to be given on the many difficalt 
qaestions involved, we can congratulate the Uommitee 
on the progress which has been made. Short though 
the report is, it is full of food for reflection, and 
will repay the close study of all connected with the 
nduetry> We do U9t think it is too maoh to >ay tha 
