July i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
13 
of Mr. Maitland -Kirwan or the object he has in 
view, writes ; — 
“ The tea appeared to arrive in perfect condition. 
I have put up the oiled paper in a parcel to be 
returned to you that you may see how little dis- 
coloured it is. We could not guarantee any information 
on the condition of the tea in any corner or side 
of the case, as it was probably turned out at the 
Customs to get the tare. Anyhow the tea was per- 
fectly dry and seemed uniformly in good condition.” 
This is as satisfactory as could be desired : the 
tea was a pekoe-souchong from Elkaduwa. Mr. 
Maitland-Kirwan should now make known the 
prices, &o. 
FIRE EXTINGUISHER. 
(Taken from “Chambers’s Journal,” March 1st, 1887.) 
20 lb common salt, 10 lb. crude salamoniac ; mix in 7 
gallons water; fill into bottles and cork and hang up in a 
convenient place. In case of a fire smash the bottles over 
the fire when it will put it out at once. Strong salt and 
water will answer if salamoniac cannot be got. — Please 
put this in for the information of others. — Cor, 
♦ 
THE CONSUMPTION OF PEPPER. 
It is an unmistakable fact that the demand for 
White Pepper, more particularly when ground, is 
rapidly increasing in this conntry, for the Ground 
Black Pepper caster is, unfortunately, now rarely or 
ever to be seen on the table in private households, 
hotels, or restaurants. Indeed, Ground Black Pepper 
is little used — otherwise than occasionally in cooking, 
and the chief demand for it is for manufacturing pur- 
poses. Possibly the discontinuance of the use of Ground 
Black Pepper may, to some extent, be due to the 
better colour and appearance of White. But to a 
large degree, the falliog-off in the demand for Black 
Pepper nas undoubtedly been caused by the miser- 
ably common, husky, and inferior qualities of it 
oflered to the public. These inferior sorts are sold 
wholesale at extremely low prices, frequently even at 
much less than whole Black Pepper can be bought 
at in the open market. The poor quality and wretched 
appearance of such parcels have, no doubt, caused 
the consumer to almost discontinue the use of Black 
Pepper as a condiment. That this should be the 
case is very much to be regretted, for the pungency 
and flavour of the finest qualities of the entire, or 
Black, Pepper Corn, when ground, are much prefer- 
able to the lower qualities of White Pepper, with 
which the better qualities of Black would have to 
compete, owing to the present small marginal difference 
in price. In fact, good Black Pepper is not only 
lower in price than White, but it is undoubtedly a 
better commodity as a Spice.— Produce Markets Eevieiu. 
CEYLON TEA IN AMERICA. 
We have been favoured with the following in- 
formation respecting the progress of the business 
of the Ceylon American Tea Company, Limited, 
by the local agents of the Company : — 
(Extracts from letters from Mr. B, E. Fineo, Neio York.) 
March 1st, 1890. 
Onr store was opened for business on the 11th ultimo, 
but our advtrtisii g matter was not ready until the 
15th, when a portion of it was mailed to residents of 
this city. The fittings of the store and the two natives 
attract considerable attention, and many ladies come 
in to satisfy their curiosity who before their departure, 
generally buy some tea. We have arrangements per- 
fected tor giving all a cup of tea, and ladies can sit 
down and drink it and haven chat iwith us at their 
ease. The thairs and tables are made of natural 
bamboo, the walls are covered with draperies and 
photogiaphs, while on the floor there are skins, rugs 
etc., with arcca aud other palms and ferns placed 
about. The partition in the rear, dividing the room 
represents the front of a Bungalow in front of which 
are four Electric Lights of sixteen candle power each. 
The fitting up is unique and original and the general 
finish is much admired. The store when lighted pre- 
sents a pretty picture. Ladies invaraiably ask for our 
beat tea aud many will take no other. 'J'he question 
a.s to price does not appear uppermost in their minds 
and two dollars would be as readily given as a dollar 
end a quarter. The first week’s sales were in pro- 
portion, as follows : — 
per cent. 
Orange Pekoe at $ P25 “ Bud ” C6 2-3rd ) 
Pekoe at § ‘90 ” Tiffin” 20 5-6th >=1C0 
Pekoe Sou. at $ '63 “ Bungalow” 12J J 
‘‘ The Indian Association of London is opening a 
store on 23rd Street and its price for Orange Pekoe 
is $1'25 per lb. Mr. Davidson sells his ‘ Sirocco ’ tea 
up to a dollar a pound. 1 am of opinion that the 
ladies in the city will use our best tea and that onr 
other grades will be sought for by people in the coun- 
try. At this early stage it is not easy to judge what 
meed of success awaits our efforts, but it is generally 
acknowledgod that we are moving in a directiou that 
ought to give the best results.” 
” It is unfortunate that wo do not, in view of your 
limited capital, see clearly how my visit to the 
Pacific Coast can, as it ought to be, be followed 
by action on the part of the Company. Several 
firms and individuals at different points, desire 
to become tbe Company’s Agents, but they all 
want certain guarantees, consignements etc, or dem- 
and salaries. We think you may cease for a time 
sending pekoe souchongs, when more is needed a cable- 
gram can be despatched to that effect. So far we 
have felt it advisable to postpone entering into con- 
tract for advertising and beyond our sending out 
‘personal’ ‘tea secrets’ and ‘you may as well begin 
right’, our only contract is with the Century a copy 
of which paper goes forward to you by this mail. This 
notice appearing in the Century would usually cost 
S250 but our rats is S187.50 per month and we go in 
tor two months certain, If we find it pay we may 
continue to advertise in the Century not otherwise.” 
(Extract from New York letter dated April 4th.) 
Samples. — About 100 lb. of pekoe tea has been sent 
out in response to nearly one thousand applications. 
In addition to cost of tea two cents postage on each 
packet was paid. 
Tea Secrets. — The number of these little booklets 
sent out up to the present is about 6,000. 
Sales. — Up to 1st instant we sold, to about one 
hundred and ninety people, two hundred and thirty 
three packages of tea, and we believe nearly all liked 
it and we hope that all will prove steady customers. 
W e have also made sales in original packages and 
we are striving to attract the trade to our goods, 
hut, for some time to come, or until the consumer 
demands it of his grocers, we cannot look for much 
support from the trade. 
Druggist Houses.— One of the largest wholesale 
Druggist Houses in this country is considering whe- 
ther or no t it will handle, on a scale commensurate 
with tbe magnitude of its business, our packet teas, 
but a decision is not likely to be reached for some 
weeks to come. 
Mr. Stanton of the Firm of— Messrs. Gow, Wil- 
son & Stanton. This gentleman paid our place of 
business two visits, tasted our teas, and manifested 
considerable interst in the undertaking. He ap- 
peared pleased with the general arrangement of our 
store, and believes we were directing our effort rightly. 
He also saw Mr. Farr. 
(Extracts from letters ^-c. from Messrs. Wattson ef 
E’arr, New York.) 
April 11th, 1890. 
We have not yet made any effort to place shares 
as we have been waiting for the prospectuses aud 
ai tides of association, copies of which have been 
received this morning, we also thought it best to 
get the shop well under way before doing anything 
