THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
205 
Sept.  2,  1895.] 
CEYLON  AND  INDIAN  TEAS. 
London,  July  26. 
I had  not  had  the  opportunity  Itefore  my  last 
letter  of  reading  the  report  of  the  Indian  Tea 
Association.  This,  and  what  pa.ssed  at  the  meet- 
ing of  that  body  held  last  week,  you  will  have 
been  informed  by  tlie  Home  and  Colonial  Mail 
posted  you  last  Friday.  I refer  to  this  matter 
now,  because  what  fell  from  Mr.  Derry  White, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Association,  has  an  im- 
portant bearing  upon  a subject  that  was  dis- 
cussed by  me  this  week  with  a well-informed 
e.K-colonist.  We  were  referring  to  recent  writings 
by  jmu  on  the  subject  of  the  mutual  interests  of 
CKVI.ON  AND  INDIAN  TEA.S 
in  opening  new  markets  for  the  teas  of  both 
countries,  and  more  e.xpressly  that  of  America. 
“ The  Uhmn:cr,  to  my  mind,”  remarked  my  in- 
terviewer, “omits  from  consideration  one,  and 
that  the  most  important,  point  of  dilteronce 
between  the  two  tea-growing  countries.  It 
insists  that  by  finding  new  outlets,  for  In- 
dian tea,  tiie  home  market  is  strengthened 
to  the  advantage  of  both  India  and  Ceylon. 
This  would,  1 think,  be  perfectly  true  if 
both  of  those  countries  were  on  the  same  foot- 
ing as  regards  the  possibilities  of  further  and 
e.xtended  cultivation.  Dut  while  Ceylon  can 
do  but  very  little  more  in  that  way,  the 
end  of  her  tether  being  nearly  reached,  the  pos- 
sibilities for  India  are  almost  boundless.  Let 
Ceylon,  therefore,  in  her  sinking  of  all  rivalry, 
aid  India  in  widening  the  scope  of  her  markets, 
and  she  offers  a direct  inducement  to  her  great 
rival  to  open  out  fresh  land  and  to  pour  increased 
supplies  into  all  the  markets  wherein  Ceylon 
and  India  will  compete.  In  that  sense  I cannot 
cjncur  with  the  OIjserocr  in  its  denial  that  there 
e.xists  any  competition  between  India  and  Ceylon, 
or  in  Its  accusation  that  both  countries  have 
identical  interests.  Ceylon  is,  in  fact,  chained  to 
a stake.  India  can  enlarge  her  circle  at  will. 
Ceylon  only  holds  her  own  because  her  teas  always 
secure  a preference  among  newly  att.acked  com- 
munities. Yes,  I know  i)erfectly  well  that  the 
Observer  has  the  weight  ot  general  opinion 
on  its  side,  but  there  are  some  who,  like 
myself,  differ  from  that  general  opinion. 
Read  Mr.  Berry  White’s  s]ieech  as  Chairman 
of  the  Indian  Tea  Association,  and  you  will 
see  how  strongly  he  holds  the  view  I have 
stated  to  you.  He  goes  even  further  than  I am 
pre])aretl  to  go,  and  sees  rivalry  and  competition  in 
every  step  of  piogress  made  by  cither  of  the 
competing  countries.  Nor,  it  is  evident,  will  he 
admit  that  t'eylon  can  l)e  acting  honestly  in 
any  desire  she  may  exju'ess  for  joint  action,  or 
at  least  for  the  sinking  of  any  apparent  livalry. 
Ceylon,  .Mr.  White  evidently  thinks,  must  anti- 
cipate—as  she  probably  would  secure— getting 
the  best  in  the  results  to  any  smdi  arrangement. 
Well,  I don’t  go  the  length  of  Mr.  White’s 
arguments,  but  it  seems  evident  to  me  that  any 
mutual  action  must  be  limited  and  restrained 
by  the  consideration  I have  mentioned  ; — viz.  that 
India  has  boundless  possibilities  for  extending 
her  cultivation.  Ceylon  is  markedly  almost  with- 
out a chance  for  it.” 
I have  mentioned  the  opinions  recorded  above 
to  those  whom  o])portunity  has  affordcil  me  a 
chance  of  discussing  them  with.  1 liiid,  however, 
the  view  almost  unanimously  held  that  India 
and  Ceylon  teas  are  of  so  closely 
ALLIED  A CHARACTER, 
that  wliere  one  penetrates,  the  other  will 
possess  egual  chances.  Also  that  this  al* 
Uauce  of  character  ranges  them  against 
a common  opponent,  China  tea,  wherever 
it  may  be  met  with,  and  that  united  efl'ort 
should  be  made  to  “ cast  out  the  devil  ” wherever 
he  may  be  met  with.  But  although  it  is  admit- 
ted that  I find  this  view  almost  universally  pre- 
valent, it  seems  to  me  that  there  is  some  cogency  in 
the  reasoning  stated  by  the  friend  quoted  "above. 
It  is  difficult  to  realize  a thorough  community 
of  interest  when  the  aspects  for  the  future  are 
so  wholly  unlike.  However  I don’t  pretend  to 
offer  an  opinion  on  a subject  of  which  I know 
so  little. — London  Cor. 
[We  cannot  follow  the  logic  of  our  correspon- 
dent’s friend.  Suppose  that  Ceylon  reaches  its 
maximum  export  at  100  million  lb.  and  that 
India  goes  on  to  200  million  lb.,  unless  a market 
is  found  for  the  Indian  surplus  in  America,  will 
it  not  come  on  the  London  market  and  there 
drive  down  the  Ceylon,  equally  with  the  Indian 
averagp  price?  We  are,  however — as  we  have 
often  said — against  the  ■ policy  that  would  limit 
cultivation  and  production  in  Ceylon,  as  only 
tending  the  more  to  encourage  planters  in  India, 
Java,  N:c.,  to  cultivate  tea  far  more  extensively 
than  they  would  do  if  they  thought  Ceylon  men 
under  the  auspices  of  their  Government,  were  going 
ahead. — Ed.  T.A.~\ 
BRAZIL  COFFEE  NOTES. 
In  the  interior  of  S.  Paulo  coffee  trees  have  been 
injured  by  frost.  A.  S.  Paulo  telegram  of  the  28th 
ult.  says  that  “ the  future  coffee  crop  is  appraised 
at  about  thirty  millions.”  Thirty  millions  what  ? It 
is  to  be  presumed  that  sterling  is  referred  to,  but  it 
would  be  well  to  make  all  such  statements  precise. 
The  Diario  Popular  of  Sao  Paulo  says  that  the  re- 
cent cold  weather  was  exceptionally  severe  at  Soro- 
caba,  the  thermometer  making  one  degree  below  zero 
(Cent.)  There  were  heavy  frosts,  and  it  is  said  that 
the  coffee  plantations  have  suffered  severely. 
The  exportation  of  Coffee  from  Santos  during  the 
year  ending  the  30th  ult.,  is  given  by  one  of  our 
exchanges  as  3,904,078  bags. 
The  damage  caused  by  frost  to  young  coffee  trees 
in  the  municipal  district  of  S.  Simao,  Ribeirao  Prete, 
Batataes  and  Jaboticabal  is  said  to  be  enormous  and 
will,  it  is  thought,  diminish  considerably  the  crop 
for  next  year,  which  was  expected  to  be  large. 
— llio  News,  July  2. 
CEYLON  PATENTS. 
The  following  Grants  of  Exclusive  Privilege  have 
been  made  under  “ The  Inventions  Ordinance  ’’ 
during  the  half-year  ended  June  30,  1895 : — 
457. — To  WiTiam  Welh  sley  Pole  Fletclierof  Wishford, 
Liiidula,  C.  ylon,  at  present  residing  at  3,  Edinburgh 
Ttrrace,  Kecsirglon,  in  the  couuty  of  London,  England, 
Civil  Engineer,  lor  “improvements  in  vehicles  adapted 
for  conveying  chests  oi  tea  or  other  goods  along 
common  roads.” — Jan.  2,  1896. 
422. — To  James  Adam  Hunter  of  Sunnyoroft  estate  ia 
liuwauwella  in  KeHni  Valley  in  the  island  of  Ceylon, 
f r “ improvemeu's  in  apjaratus  for  cutting  and  gather- 
ing tea  shoots  and  leaves  ^I'eb.  7,  1895. 
445. — To  Alfred  Francis  Bilderbeok  Gomisj  of  24, 
Alfred  Place  wett,  soutii  Kensiogton,  in  the  county 
of  London,  England,  cheiri  t,  •*  for  an  improved  process 
for  the  preparation  of  textile  vegetable  fiores.”— 
March  2,  1895. 
448.  — To  Ch  tries  Meray  Htorvath  of  Arad  in  the  King 
dim  of  Hui  gary,  pub  isher  an  1 tugiuner,  for  improve- 
ment.s  in  and  ccimected  wi  h apparalui  or  msbines* 
for  pro  ucing  type-mairices.” — March.  17,  1895. 
449.  — To  JohnCarlyoa  Robertsof  16,  Cromwell  Grove 
West  K(  nsington,  Loudon,  EnghnJ  piamer,  for  im* 
i^rovemenst  in  the  manufacture  of  folding  boxes  ot 
oases,— Mwch  7,  1895. 
