June I, 1892.1 iHF Tf^Of^lCAL AORieULTUrtlSt. 
941 
To the Editor. 
THE PUSHING OP CEYLON TEA. 
Nuwara Eliya, April 24th. 
Sib, — Why do we neglect the opportunity 
placed at our doors of advertising our tea at a 
nominal cost, and with more far-reaching results 
than perhaps any other scheme ; and why do we 
permit rubbish not fit to be called tea to be sold 
as such to the passengers in our harbour and the 
visitors to our shores, thus seriously injuring the 
name of Ceylon ? Perhaps we neglect it because 
it is 80 easy of attainment in the same way that 
few of UH residents have climbed Adam's Peak, 
although we have lived close to it for years, 
while thousands come from all parts of the world 
to ascend it. But, whatever the reasons may be, 
should not the Planters' Association (more especially 
in view of recent revelations) take the matter in 
hand at onoe ? 
1 would suggest the following as a very simple 
scheme, which would be an immense advertisement 
for Ceylon and lead to a lot of future orders 
from abroad, reaching every oountry and nation 
on the globe, and at the same time choking off 
all the inferior rubbish at present sold in the 
harhour, which is ruining the name of Oeylon tea. 
Perhaps you, Mr. Editor, could add a foot-note 
stating the number of passengers last year and 
their destination, which would better enable us to 
estimate the possible results. 
(let.) I would have the Planters' Association 
arrange with all steamer agents to give them 
(the Planters' Association) the exclusive right to 
sell tea on board ship in Colombo harbour. This 
is necessary, and the Planters' Association should 
in return promise to sell the tea as an adver- 
tisement at cost price (including packing and 
selling charges). 
(2nd.) At every port nearest to Oeylon on the 
principal routes to it a stock of pampbets should 
he held by an agent. These pamphlets should 
contain a concise history of Ceylon, some interest- 
ing information about Ceylon tea, and an advertise 
ment of the Planters' Association announcing that 
tea at cost price would be sent on board that 
ship as an advertisement when she reached 
Colombo harbour. The agents of all steamers 
visiting Singapore, King George's Sound, Calcutta, 
Aden, etc., would be glad to have these pamphlets 
distributed on board ship to their passengers, 
and the passengers would be equally glad to read 
them, as a description of the country they were 
coming to, with the result of a sale of tea in a 
great many oases. 
(3rd.) To make the schemes complete suooess, 
the Tea Kiosk should be taken over and worked 
together with it by the Planters' Association. 
Some R15,000 have already been spent on the 
Kiosk, and there is very little to be seen for the 
money ; but I believe good returns could be got 
from it in connection with this scheme. I would 
propose to do away with the high-sounding title 
of "The Kiosk," which half the passengera don't 
understand, and in large-letters on a signboard put 
something like " Oeylon Planters' Tea Room ; " 
" Tea sold by cup and packet at cost price," etc., 
and show its position on a map of Colombo in 
the pamphlet. 
(Ith.) The tea sold should be a blend — or blends 
— and made by a committee of local experts, and 
Bbould bo uniform in <hmHuj always; those gentle- 
men would) I bavo no doubt, gi>e their aeivioea Iw- 
(5 th.) A considerable stock should be held to 
execute further orders from abroad that would be 
sure to follow from private individuals and tradesmen 
who found the tea suitable to their requirements. 
This feature of- selling further supplies is objection- 
able, inasmuch as it is introducing an element ot 
trading into what is really an advertisement, bat 
better do a little trading than leave a loophole for 
the failure of the scheme. 
In conclusion two instances that have reoently 
come under my notice go to prove the desirability 
of carrying out some scheme such as I suggest. 
A. — I saw a cart load of 10 lb. boxes neatly got 
up by a European firm (who did not know their 
destination I may say) in charge of the owner — a 
native — on the way to the wharf for sale on board- 
ship. I got one and opened it, and it oontained 
the most ghastly rubbish I ever saw, not worth 
8 cents a lb. The price was B8 or RIO per box, 
1 forget which I Is anything calculated to damn 
Ceylon tea more than this ? 1 I 
B. — A friend of mine who sells part of hie tea 
through one of the Fort shops, Cargill's I think, 
has had orders for the last three years from an 
Australian grocer, who got his first lb. in the 
Colombo shops, increasing yearly till this year (1892) 
he has an order tor 3U,000 lb. ot pekoe at highly 
profitable rates. 
One can easily imagine the disgust of the 
passengers when they are swindled in Ce'xlom over 
our staple product; and I consider it the duty of 
the Chairman of the Planters' Association to be 
up and dofng in this matter before further damage 
is done to the planters when the remedy is ot 
such easy application. — Yours, &o., L. Di 
[We are unable at the moment to say what was 
the number of European passengers in 1891. Our 
correspondent fixes no limit to the quantity of 
tea which is to be sold at cost price, and does not 
take into account the interference with private 
enterprize. — Ed. T, A.} 
ON THE BURNING OF CATTLE MANURE 
AS FUEL. 
Analytical Laboratory, 79, Mark Lane, 
London E. C, April, 8th, 1892, 
Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in sendinS 
you a copy of Dr. Voelcker's long expected leotur° 
on the Agricultural Needs of India which was 
given last night at the Society of Arts and a 
which the late Sir James Caird was to have taken 
the chair. As you will notice and indeed as might 
reasonably be expected Dr. Yoeloker was not able 
to suggest any new improvements but only an 
extension of those already largely in toroe. A 
judicious construction of canals, and of well sink- 
ing under careful supervision and consideration of 
the local agents ot the Government, also the in- 
creased establishment ot forest reserves with a view 
of improving the climate and also of furnishing 
wood as fuel. Speaking of the subject of manure 
being used as fuel in certain districts Dr. Yoeloker 
strongly condemned the practice, though he waa 
unable to point out how under existing oiroum- 
stances and in the absence of wood suitable for 
fuel, the present custom could be materially altered 
or imposed It is in facta matter ot necessity and not 
of choice, and until new forest reserves are established 
the poor natives are likely to continue to burn the 
cow-dung cakes or brattles for many years to come. 
Indeed as pointed out by myself in a note 
published in the Journal of the Societ;/ of Art^ lot 
March 21st, 18<.)0, this practice ot burning brattiea 
is after all not eo wasteful aa wight at ^ret eigbt 
be supposed, 
