644 
THE TROPICAL AiaiR!OTl.T0R18T. 
[March i, 189s. 
India and Ceylon vs. China Tea, — The London 
and China Ex2>ress of 8lh Jan. says : — 
Business iu the Tea market reopened with good pros- 
pects, but the week closes with less buoyant feelings in 
view of the very large supplies of Indian in the 
public sales for next week. Fine China Tea, which 
at the close of last year was quoted at 9d to Is, is 
still inquired for, but importers seem reluctant to 
sell and no wonder when the import cost is realised. 
There can be no doubt that the unfavourable posi- 
tion China Tea has now permeated through all engaged 
in the trade. Wealthy native (I'oochow) teamen are 
reported as ruined, and very few able to withstand 
the times. It is Bed Leaf Tea that mostly feels 
the competition of Ceylon and India. In the palmy 
days of the trade Red Leafs commanded the best 
prices, whereas during the current season the so- 
called crack chops sold but a few pence per pound 
over common Congou. The question for the future 
now is, will Chinese produce a tea to equal the 
old standard of strength and delicate flavour combined 
It could be done in the past when exchange averaged 
4s 6d to the dollar, and why not now when tlie 
doUar is nearer 3s, and higher prices paid to the 
teamen V Both Indian and Ceylon are increasing 
their supplies, the latter at a rapid rate ; but judg- 
ing from the low prices for inferior grades during 
the past three months, planters are anything but 
satisfied. What can be expected, however, when 
production is carried on at such hazardous risks ? 
Davidson's Siroccos. — In our issue of Jan. 
4th v?a8 inserted a letter from Mr. John Ferguson, 
in whioh he seated : — 
A story is current of the experience of one of the 
largest (Jaloutta firms in " tea " who had erected a preal-, 
Centeral Faotoiy with a wonderui! array of Jackson's 
Rolling and allied rcaohinery ; but wfco, fooa after 
substitued, at the instance of an ecamoured jaanager, 
"Siroccos" lor the other " drierp," the object being to 
dry the tea at th^ low temperature which was to 
ensure keeping qualities, &o. The result, as the story 
runs, was woefully disappointing, namely a falling-off 
of 4d a Id. iu the average (could part of this be due 
to falling markets ?] so that now the Siroccos are to 
be cast on one side and Jackson'e Driers taken on — 
only the little experience with the less pi ice for 
tea and double experience about machinery and 
work, is said to make altogether a difference of £30,000 
to the firm in question. Of course, tliey must be 
" princes in tea " to de a\ in such large figures even 
by way of loss. " I tell the tale aa 't was told to me." 
Possibly there may be fome modifications or correc- 
tioDB which may reach jou from the "Sirocco" side 
and which you will, of conrfe, as readily publish. 
The story, in an apparently authentic form, in 
letters from Calcutta, reached Cob mbo as well as 
London, But Mr. John Ferguson rightly judged that 
there was another side to it, and that we phould, with 
equal readiness, publish it. A tehgram from our 
absent conlruie has reached us, in whiOH it is stated 
on Mr. Davidson's authority that not only have 
none of the Sirocoos been diecardtd but that more 
have been ordered by " the princely" Calcutta firm 
alluded to. It gives us great pleasure to do 
juBtice to Mr. Davidson, whom we regard as a great 
benefactor of the tea enterprise and of the tea 
planters. He and Mr. Jackeon are both able and 
honourable men, and the competition between 
them as machinists, though keen, is conducted on 
gentlemanly and upright principles. The new down- 
draught airocco and Mr. Jackson's Britannia Drier 
have each its own merits, and the planters of 
India and Ceylon ore very fortunate in having 
two such men as the inventors of those machines 
devoting their exporienoe, skill and scientifio know- 
ledge to providing the most perfect appliances 
for the manufacture of the tea leaf. We regret 
therefore that such a story as Mr. John Ferguson 
was told should havo been invented and should 
have received currency in our columns. An ex- 
planation is due from those who sent ,tho story 
lim Calcutta to London and Colombo. 
Cinchona and Quinine. — In a very long and 
interesting report by Messrs. Brookfs and Grten 
that has reached our {Madras Times) hands, upon 
the quinine and cinchona bark market for the 
year 1891, they give it as their opinion, after 
stating that they have followed the movements 
of the (articles " week by week, indeed day by day," 
that the " stock of quinine in the world is less 
today than it was at this time last year"; and 
they go on to say that " notwithstanding all that 
has been written regarding the invisible quantities 
of quinine in second hands, we very much doubt 
whether the entire stock of both quinine and bark 
combined, not only in London, but other markets 
as well, would total up more than one year's 
consumption." They hold the view that the world's 
consumption equals the world s manufacture. If 
Messrs. Brookes and Green's conclusions be right, 
it would naturally follow that any diminution 
in shipments from Java, or any cause tending 
to even a slight increased demand for the 
drug, wculd have the effect of sending up prices 
of cinchona bark ; and in the face of the very 
heavy recent exports from Java, the late rise in 
the " unit" to l|-d is very encouraging. It is very 
possible due to the increased consumption of 
quinine, consequent upon the recurrence of the 
influenza epidemic at home, and in the interests 
of planters it is to be hoped that the improve- 
ments in the value of bark will be maintained, 
if not in the near future enhanced. Java holds 
the key of the position, and if she would abstain 
from forcing her supplies on the market, the re- 
sult would be better for her planters as well as 
for growers of bark in other parts of the 
world. 
Tea Flavour is discussed by Mr. John 
Stalkartt in the Indian Planter's Gazette 
thus ■ — 
Your late issue stated that the flavour of tea is 
obtained by drying it at a temperature of 130° Fahr. 
Flavour comes from two descriptions of tea, the China 
and the indigenous : it also depends upon the height 
above sea level, at which it grows. For this infor- 
mation I refer you to the oldest book we have on 
tea, Jacobson's Manual of Tea cultivation. The 
flavour of tea, and the aroma also, can be lost by 
bad manipulation, particularly in driving a large 
quantity of heated air through it, at the velocity of 
a tornado. Tea should not be dried in ten minutes 
as in the present mechanical process, but should be 
dried not quicker than in one hour and ten minutes 
at a temperature of 2.50° Fahr. Flavour and aroma 
are also lost in the process of bulking, and the grocer 
has only himself to thank if the tea does not come 
up to his expectations. A few years ago, he would 
not buy flavour tea : he only wanted some rasping 
senna variety obtained from hybrids, so that one 
maund would strengthen ten maunds of thrice in- 
fused China leaf. With his notions of making a 
fortune rapidly, he has done his best to bring tea 
into disrepute. He insists upon it being bulked at the 
gardens, that is, tossed in the air, to get rid of its 
good qualities from exposure, that he may buy it 
cheap. He then has it bulked at the tea warehouses 
round about Tower Hill, which locality is not famous 
for its good odours. He then blends it with a lot of 
dirty faced China tea, and then wonders that the 
tea is not improved: and in his wisdom states that 
Indian teas will not keep, whereas he has only his 
own insanity to thank for the poorness of his blend. 
The China variety and the indigenous have two 
distinct flavours. The hybrids do not come up to 
them in flavour, though they give a strong bitter tea. 
Planters are much puzzled what seed to sow, as the 
brokers follow the lead of the grocers, and will not 
pay for flavour. The planter looks to his pockets, 
and sows only that which will pay him best. I do 
not pretend to teach ray brother planters. Each man 
must judge for himself. 
