663 
March 2 , 1891 ,] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST.’ 
Deliveeies. — From 1st June to 31st December deli- 
veries ^how an increase of 5,706,000 lb., as compared 
with 6,336,000 lb. same period in 1889. For the 12 
inonths, 1st January to 31st December, the inorer.seis 
7,486,00) lb., as compared with 11,015,000 lb. in 1889. 
We think the causa of this reduction in the rate of lu- 
orease is due chiefly to the higher range of values for 
the commone grades. 
Export. — It is calculated that the crop 1st January 
to 31st December, 1801, will bo about 52,750,000 lb-, 
and that the present area nnilei cuUiv.ation may pro- 
duce in 1894 a total of 74,000,0001b. The subsequent 
yearly increase will probably not be very large. 
Average Price. per lb„ 
s. d. 
1890 
... 535,611 
packages, 
average 
0 103 
1889 
... 431,043 
do 
do 
0 11 
1888 
... 303,284 
do 
do 
0 Hi 
1887 
... 182,955 
do 
do 
1 03 
1886 
... 101,145 
do 
do 
1 1 
1885 
58,921 
do 
do 
1 3i 
[In the 5 years between 1887 and 1890, the deli- 
veries of Ceylon tea nearly quadrupled, rising from 
9,942,000 lb. in 1887 to 37, 652^000 in 1890.— 
Ed. T. a.} 
DAVIDSON’S DOWN-DRAFT SIROCCO. 
(To the Editor, Indian Planters’ Gazette.) 
Sir, — Your issue of 20th instant contains yet another 
lettar from “Darjeeling,” re my Down-draft Sirocco, 
and I am glad to see by it the stead}^ manuer in which 
he is cautinu ng to withdraw one by one, each of bis 
original complainte, until the list of bi.s grievancer is 
now reduced to his inability, as he describes it, “ to 
add 2 to 6 auuas per lb in value over tea dried by 
charcoal.” This complaint somewhat re m rids me of 
the man who, after having purchased a type-writing 
machine, said it was a failure, aod wanted to return 
it, because it did not make any im.provemeut in lii.s 
spelliug ! ! But iu still further support of my state- 
ments that the down draft b'wocoo, wlten properly used, 
does produce the highest clars qualities of tia, I may 
quote the following extract from a letter from a well- 
known Ceylon Planter addressed to me to Belfast, and 
which I have only just received. 
“ After au experience of 18 months of the original 
small Dowu-draft Sirocco and 4^ mouths of the larger 
one, I am of opiniou that these machines are capaole 
of developing a very high quality of tea, whde for 
convenience of working and economy of fuel I know 
no machino equal to them.” (Signed.) J. N. Oampiseel. 
Moray Tea Estate, Miskelija, Ceylon, 12th Nov. 1890. 
Mr. Campbell’s teas have been selling at the re- 
markably high average of fifteen pence, and his factory 
is in the Hills, and at even a bigher elevation t'uan 
that of Darjeeling, and turns out upwards of 4,000 
maunds of tea per annum, so that his experience has been 
gained in the manufacture of much larger quantities 
ot tea than anything “ Darjeeling ” has had to do with. 
But “ Darjeeling ” in his letter under reply objects so 
emphatically to my quoting testimonials emulating 
from Assam, Cachar, Sylhet and the Terai, that he 
will probably also object to my citing any from Ceylon, 
iu winch case there i.s evidently nothing left for me 
but to quote a testimonial from " Darjeeling " himself 
as to the general efficiency of the Down-draft Sirocco. 
This testimonial is emho.iied in a letter which be, 
“Darjeeling,” iu his own proper name, addressed to 
mo personally to Belfast sliortly after my Engineer's 
second visit to his place, and which loiter has been 
forwarded on to mo here, it having arrived in Belfast 
after I had started for India. It is dated — Darjeeling, 
21st October 1690, and the following is one of his 
paragraphs in full, word lor word— “I do not wish 
to rundown the Sirocco, which is an admirable machine 
and, I believe, the best that has get been brought out, 
but all machmes are susceptible of improvomont.” 
lie thou goes on to givo me his ideas of what 
these improvements should be, and, while 1 thank him 
or laying them before me, I must nevertheless de- 
cline to accept them in the light of “improvements.” 
For instance, he has a special fancy for putting a small 
pipe on the air exit from the fan. The open area of 
this pipe he indicates as about 64 square inches, and 
he says “it does not in the least obstaict the escape 
of air from the fan,” I, however, found it necessary to 
make this opening with an area of 200 square miles, 
and yet he reduces it by more than two-thirds and wants 
me to consider this an “improvement!” If it ba 
so, then why not go on reducing it and thereby increase 
the improvement, till perfection is reached by closing 
it entirely ? I am, however, well pleased with the 
testimony “Darjeeling” has given mo as to the general 
merits of the Down-draft. To bathe H>est tea-drier that 
has yet been brought out” is no mean praise to bestow 
on it. 
I feel, Mr. Editor, that I have again trespassed too 
far upon your valuable space, but I anticipate that 
in your appreciation of fair play you will excuse me 
seeing that, throughout this correspondence, I have 
been, and am stdl, only defending myself and my 
inventions against the groundless attacks ot men who 
if they possessed the courage of their opinions, ought 
not to have been afraid, or ashamed, to put their 
own names to their letters. — I am, Sir, yours faithfully, 
0. S. Davidson. 
Calcutta, 23rd January 1891. 
[The mass of evidence and independent testimony 
which Mr. Davidson has adduced iu his several letters 
so fully proves the truthfulness of the statements, 
published in his advertisements, that we feel sure 
even “ Darjeeling” himself must bo now convinced 
he has been mistaken, aud we consider this corres- 
pondence may now be closed.— E d., I. P. <?.] 
-e- 
THE TEA JIARKET. 
The correspondence in the Grocer, discloses the fact 
that a nsw element has been introduced into the tea 
trade, and that there are now, as in other markets, 
operators for the fall, who arc interested as specu- 
l.ators iu depressing prices. Facilities for selling “bears,” 
for delivery at a fulure date, have been given by 
the inclusion ot tea among the articles of produce 
dealt in through the Loudon Clearing House. Trans- 
aotions are based upon a “ type ” of which samples 
are supplied to all who wish to deal either as buyers 
for the rise or as sellers for the fall. A “ call ” is 
held every day, sometimes twice a day, and 
prices fluctuate according as buyers or sellers 
predominate. Operators settle differences on open 
contracts day by day with the Clearing House 
as prices change ; aud as the Ch aring House has power 
to close any operators’ account on failure to pay 
up the difference duo, speculation is considered to 
bo made safer, and conffiied more sfriotly to those 
who have means available for the prompt liquida- 
tion of losses. On this ground, the formation 
of the OliBariag Honso is justified by those who 
support it either as shareholders or as speculative 
operators through its agency. But a very different 
view ot the whole matter is held by many of the 
older and most important firms of tea brokers, who 
(supported by the principle producers, their clients) 
have steadily refused to associate themselves with 
the movement or to transact this kind of business, 
which they deem prejudicial to the best interests of 
producers. There is reason to think that the value of 
tea was depreciated unduly iu the autumn by the 
actiou ot speculative sellers, who calculated on lowering 
prices by persistent selling of ten winch at the time 
had existence only on paper. The “ bears,” however — 
who acted on imperfect information, and altogether failed 
to grasp the altered position of tea — have been caught 
short of stock, and thoir efforts to buy back what 
they have sold have led to a rapid advance in the 
terminal market. The principal buyers, who have 
practically cornered the market, are reputed to be 
substantial firms connected with Ohina. They 
ore strong enough to carry the speculation through, 
and have now a numoroua following of 
