Jan.  r,  1896.] 
ICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
459 
To  Hie  Editor. 
VINE-GllOWIN(}  NEAR  COLOMBO. 
Leiuiwatte,  Pailukka,  22nil  Nov. 
Sill, — I see  in  the  Obserner  of  the  20th  instant  tha^ 
something  i.s  said  about  my  vine- growing  experi- 
ment ; if  you  can  spare  a little  more  space  of  your 
valuable  columns  I would  like  to  add  something  on 
my  own  a ccount. 
A vine  requires  four  years  before  coming  to  its 
regular  stage  of  hearing.  Out  of  ninety  two-year 
old  plants,  tliongh  a good  few  had  boon  in  blossom 
twenty  days  after  being  planted  at  the  School  of 
Agriculture,  aliont  fifteen  lioro  fruit;  I do  not  give 
much  importance  to  tliis  crop,  as  I must  take  into 
consideration  the  substances  contained  in  the  plants, 
and  absorbed  during  their  two  years’  origination  in 
the  other  grape-producing  country  ; but  as  one  with 
a little  experience  in  this  culture,  I must  say,  that 
the  change  of  soil,  climate  and  abnormal  moisture 
to  which  those  plants  have  undergone,  have  in  no 
way  affected  their  natural  course  of  growth.  Neither 
the  quantity  of  fruit,  would  have  been  larger,  nor 
the  quality  better,  if  left  where  originated  “ Gardo 
Blanco,”  the  only  two-year  old  vines  I have,  and 
the  one  that  has  been  bringing  this  little  fruit,  is  a 
Muscat.  Anybody  who  knows  this  variety  of  grape, 
cannot  say  much  about  the  appearance  of  its  clusters 
and  berries,  but  certainly  must  speak  the  highest 
about  its  flavour.  The  grape  I had  the  satisfaction 
to  taste  from  the  School  of  Agriculture’s  Vineyard 
is  just  as  good  in  appearance,  and  as  delicious  in 
taste  as  the  Muscat  "grown  in  any  other  part  of  the 
world  (the  hot-house  grape  of  Britain  included). 
I have  asked  Mr.  Drieberg  to  let  you  be  persuaded 
of  these  facts  by  providing  you  with  a specimen. 
I have  been  pruning  the  vines  at  their  very  first 
signs  of  wintering  so  as  to  bring  their  next  bearing, 
if  any  at  all,  in  dry  season.  Mr.  Drieberg,  to  whom 
we  must  be  thankful  if  these  experiments  will  prove 
successful,  wull  carefully  watch  and  keep  me  informed 
w'ith  all  stages  of  growth  in  the  plants.  The  pruning 
being  done,  our  next  attention  will  have  to  be  paid 
to  the  “ disbudding  ” a very  important  operation 
in  order  to  secure  healthy  crop.  I hope  in  a few 
more  months  to  add  some  good  and  positive  news 
re  this  experiment,  W'hile  I remain,  sir,  yours  faith- 
fully, C.  7.ENETTI 
PATE N T T E A-  P ACKI N G. 
Ramhukana,  Dec.  1. 
Dear  Sir, — A contemporary  of  yours  a few 
clays  ago  mentioned  tliat  Mr.  P.  M.  Short  of 
DImbula  had  commented  very  favourably  on  a 
jiatent  tea-packing  paper  lirought  out  by  Mr. 
Ander.son.  Perhaps  you  liave  also  seen  the  paper 
and  will  be  able  to  tell,  after  comparing  it  with 
the  sample  .sent,  m.adeforme  by  a large  manufac- 
turing tirmin  England,  which  is  the  better.  I have 
not  seen  Mr.  Anderson’s  paper  but  from  a dc- 
scri))tion  gic'cn  of  it  I thinl-i  mine  would  be 
more  servieealile.  I sh.all  be  glad  to  give  any 
further  information  and  .sample, s touuiyone  caring 
to  try  the  paper.  In  the  meantime  1 may  state 
it  is  easily  glued  together,  i.s  [lerfectly  air  and 
water  tight,  is  much  stronger  and  lighter  than 
lead  and  only  one-third  the  price. — ^ ours  truly, 
P.  C.  THEGIIALD. 
[Is  Mr.  Theobald  sure  there  is  no  infringe- 
ment of  patent?  The  packing  sent  to  us  seems 
very  serviceable. — Ed, 
58 
“TEA-MAKING  A LOST  ART.” 
Dio.u:  Sir, — Under  the  above  heading  you  print 
a letter  in  the  Ohscrocr  of  Dec.  7,  wdiich  con.sists, 
I take  it.  of  an  attack  by  a Planter  U|)Oii 
Golomlio  Brokers,  and  as  I represent  neither  of 
these  interests  1 may  pos.sibly  be  better  able  to 
reply  to  it.  The  letter  i.s  a little  rambling,  but 
oil  dissection  I imagine  there  are  the  followdiig 
questions  roipiiring  a reply  : — 
The  reason  for  Brokers’  adverse  comments  upon 
the  make  of  tea. 
The  reason  for  Brokers’  adverse  comments  upon 
the  liifuor  of  tea. 
The  reason  of  the  decline  in  price,  and  the 
policy  of  encouraging  local  sales. 
The  remark  in  the  letter  under  review  attribu- 
ting to  Brokers’  ulterior  imdives  in  making  their  re- 
ports is  one  I regret  was  not  expunged  from  an 
anonymously  written  letter  prior  to  publication", 
.as  I feel  sure  it  is  perfectly  unjustified  and  has 
no  foundation  in  f.act,  and  I .am  endeavouring 
to  reply  to  this  letter,  only  because  many 
])l.anters  m.ay  be  interested  in  this  subject,  which 
otherwise  I would  not  attempt  to  do,  for  the 
benefit  of  up-country.  Reg.arding  the  make  of 
teas  sold  in  the  Colombo  Market,  I consider 
that  speaking  generally  the  Brokers  are  studying 
the  planting  interest  in  its  truest  sense  in  point- 
ing out  what  is  an  admitted  fact  as  regards  the 
great  bulk  of  the  tea;  and  as  one  who  has  spent 
a good  many  years  in  the  London  market,  I 
can  state  that  in  regard  to  this,  the  teas 
sold  here  are  more  I’oughly  ami  coarsely  made 
than  Indians,  Chinas  or  even  Javas  ; and  as  this 
defect  is  a great  handicap  in  Colonial  and  Foreign 
markets,  comments  drawing  planters’  attention 
to  it  can  only  be  good  in  the  interests  of  the 
industry.  The  reason  for  brokers’  adverse  com- 
ments upon  lirpior  is  because  it  is  <a  fact,  but  the 
marked  falling-olf  in  this  particular  is  a thing 
which  the  recent  heavy  rains  are  accountable  for, 
and  therefore  beyond  all  human  control.  In 
common  tea  I .admit  the  decline  in  prices  ; but 
it  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  w'hole  of  India’s 
increased  output  consists  of  this  grade  of  tea — 
wdiich  competes  wdth  low  gro  wn  Ceylons — the 
tw’o  being  practically  an  interchangeable  article 
— buyers  taking  wdiichever  apjiears  the  cheaper. 
The  market  in  London  for  such  gr.ades  of  rough- 
leafed,  sweet-liquoring  teas  is  from  4-^  to  5^d  with 
a sick  feeling  and  a tendency  to  lower  rates. 
Regarding  good,  well-made,  te.as,  with  Ceylon 
flavor,  the  market  locally  for  these  grades,  of 
wdiich  far  too  few  are  sold  in  Colombo,  has  been 
an  extremely  good  one  during  August,  September, 
October  ; teas  with  stand-out  point  were  realizing 
locally  at  least  Igd  per  lb.  above  London  prices. 
The  difference  between  this  market  and  London  is 
not  now'  so  marked,  but  is  still  in  favour  of  Colombo. 
* The  remark  was  as  follows  : — 
‘‘Nobody  is  taken  in  with  it,  except  that  the  credit 
and  motives  of  those  who  indulge  in  it  are  ques- 
tioned. Selling  brokers  in  Colombo  are  also  buying 
brokers  ; and  when  a systematic  attempt  is  made  to 
call  down  the  teas  ac  local  sail,  the  suspicion  arises 
that  thare  is  something  behind  all  this.  If  the  mar- 
ket is  bad  and  the  teas  fair,  why  not  say  his '? 
But  in  these  days  it  is  only  the  teas  that  are  bad, 
and  are  fteadily  getting  worse.” 
Now,  in  our  opinion  it  is  far  better  in  the  interests 
of  Brokers  and  all  concerned  that  such  talk  or  sus- 
picions as  the  above,  should  come  out  in  black  and 
white  and  be  answered,  than  that  they  should  be- 
come the  common  talk  in  upcouutry  bungalows  with- 
out the  chance  of  the  other  side  being  heard.  Had 
we  suppressed  the  sentence,  what  would  “Upoountry” 
and  his  fellow-planters  infer  ? Why  that  the  Press 
had  joined  in  a conspiracy  of  silence  with  their 
Colombo  neighbours. — Ei),  T.A. 
