May I, 1891.] 
TH£ TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
76s 
CEYLON TEA IN 1890. 
Messrs. Wilson, Smithett & Co.’s Review. 
We give on page 76(5 the full text of 
this extremely valuable series of notes and statis- 
tics on the course of London sales of Ceylon 
Teas for last year, together with general 
statistics as to total imports, consumptiori 
and stocks of all teas in the United King- 
dom. While Portswood estate heads the list 
with the highest average price of any Ceylon estates 
teas, K. A. W. has the honour of sending tha 
largest quantity (568,000 lb.) from any Ceylon 
factory with the good average of l()Jd. The leading 
position in price as regards districts of Bogawan 
talawa and the Nuwara Eliya_ neighbourhood, re- 
minds us of the remark credited to Mr. Arthur 
Thompson that our highest-grown teas when shipped 
in sufficient quantity to keep up a regular supply, 
might well bo marked “ Ceylon-Darjeelings ” to 
attract the special attention of_ buyers of fine teas. 
Has any shipper done this with fiigh-grown teas 
and with what result, we should like to know, 
Kintyro green teas are referred to with com- 
mendation, and it is gratifying to see that both 
Russia and America are expected to be good, 
customers of Ceylon teas in 1891. What is sard 
about the size of bushes again merits careful 
attention. Dimbula of all districts sent the 
largest quantity of tea— 5,700,000 lb.— at an average 
of ll|d in 1890. It is very remarkable to note hov 
the consumption of China teas in the United 
Kingdom had fallen from 106,310,000 lb. in 1885 
to 67,500,000 lb. last year; while that of India 
and Ceylon had risen from 68,890,000 lb. to 
136,500,0001b. in the same period. 
From Messrs. Geo. White & Co.’s Annual India, 
Ceylon and Java Tea Report, date 20th March, 
1891, received today, we quote as follows : — 
Ceylon. — When writing last year, we were able to 
chronicle a marked expansion in the Ceylon trade. 
Further decided progress bas since then being made, 
the result being an increase in both imports and deli- 
veries of about seven million lb. for the eight months 
ending 28th February last, the consumption having no 
doubt been stimulated to some extent by the reduction 
in duty. This ia satisfaotory, as it proves the steady and 
increasing demand existing for these growths, which 
also no doubt prevented the fluctnation in value seen in 
former years— the lowest monthly average during 1890 
being lOd and the highest IHd, whereas, in 1889, the 
range was from 9d to Is Ifd ; the 545,000 packages 
sold during 1890, and 438,000 packages in 1889, having 
however, realised about the same price, viz,, rather 
under lid per lb. After Christmas, demand further 
improved in consequence of the statistical position, 
which was strengthened by the loss of the S. S. 
“Nepanl”aud =‘ Hong Kong;” but iater on, owing to 
heavier arrivals and quiet country trade, there was 
less disposition to purchase. On the whole, quality 
has been desirable, there being a much smaller pro- 
portion of over fired end sour Teas, though few ever 
really choice flavoured parcels, perhaps due to rather 
coarser plucking on some of the gardens. During the 
season, several little lots of “ Golden Tips” have been 
sold, one at 30s. 6d., another at 87s., both of which 
were rc-snld at large profits ; and a third was knocked 
down at £10. 12s. 6d. per lb., after some very spirited 
bidding between two of the largest advertising firms. 
4 — 
FINE TEA. 
There is both profit and sati.sfaotioii in handling fine 
tea. It makes trade. Customers, as soon as their 
attention is directed to the rnatt t, will discover that 
there aro pronounced differoncfs in fl ivour and come to 
appreciate the defioate fragrance of a fine leal, instead 
96 
of, as now, being satisfied with anv sort of an infusion 
so long as it is warm. It is not likely that a grocer 
will sell fine tea unless he ia himself a lover of the 
beverage and can discriminate as to body and flavor, 
and last of all style. People will soon learn that a 
high-priced tea is very little more expensive than a 
cheap tea. The Ceylon factors impress upon their 
customers that their “ money can go as far in 26 
tea as in a 60-oent tea ; that is good tea can be cheap." 
Then, consumers need to learn the art of making tea 
and acquire the habit of steeping it at the table,— 
American Grocer. 
4 - 
THE MICA INDUSTRY. 
With the extraordinary growth of the eleetrica 
industry in the United States for a number of years 
past there bas been created a new and steady demand 
for mica, which, curiously, has failed to stimulate the 
mica mining industry in this country ; the most im- 
portant mines, indeed, show a decided decrease in 
producing during this time, and the business is now 
in a depressed condition. In the construction of dyna- 
mos, electric motors and some other electrical ap- 
pliances, mica is a very important element, valued on 
account of its flexibility and excellent insulating quali- 
ties. For this purpose, however, there is a decided 
preference for foreign mica, the Canadian "amber mica" 
being generally used. 
Mica is employed in dynamos and electric motors, 
mainly in building up the armatures, strips of various 
dimensions, but unusually about one inch wide, and 
fro.m four to eight inches long, being used. 
The foreign mica is considered preferable to that of 
North Carolina fer this purpose in that while the 
latter can bo split into thin fheets, it is by no means so 
tough, which is an important requisite. Such mica may 
perhaps be found in the United States, but up to the 
present time there is no doubt that some imported micas 
have proved more suitable for this purpose than the usual 
domestic grades. 
Hitherto the most important, in fact, almost the only 
important use for mica has been in stoves, and the de- 
mands, and consequently prices of the article for this 
purpose have been such that mica mining was carried 
on at considerable profit. 
The chief mines in the country are in New Hamp- 
shire and North Carolina, but principally in the latter 
State, these producing an excellent quality of the 
mineral. Several years ago changes were made in the 
patterns of stoves whereby smaller and correspondingly 
less expensive sheets of mica were used, and the lower 
prices resulting depressed the industry greatly, es- 
pecially in North Calidonia, where many mines were 
closed. The total value of the product in the United 
States decreased from 368,525 dels, in 1884, to 70,000 
dels, in 1880. During the same time the imports of 
mica, which, prior to 1881, had been of but trifling 
importance, increased from 28,284 dols. to 57,541 dols. 
— Enyineering and Alining Journal. 
Silver. — I note that the Mount Zeehan Tasma- 
nian Silver and Lead Mining Company has received 
a letter stating that lodes have been now found 
of 8 feet and more, and, ns some 3 feet was before 
about the limit, it is clear that the value of this 
mine is infinitely greater than many supposed. I am 
of opinion that Mount Zeehan will be but one of 
the many coming examples of the enormous mining 
wealth latent in Tasmania . — " Ang/o-Australian" 
in E. Mail. 
Talking of Te,v reminds me that Her Majesty 
always has her tea from a quaint, old-fashioned 
shop in Pall Mall. It costs, I believe, five and 
fouipenoe a pound, and is called “Earl Grey^s mix- 
ture,’’ from having been recommended to the Queen 
by that nobleman, It is said that Her Majesty’s 
five predecessors have patronised the same tea. It 
says a great deal for this mixture that amidst so 
much degeneration in tho tea that there is now, it 
should have held its own so long.— Cor., A, !■', Press, 
