Feb.  I,  1896.1 
the  tropical  AGRICULtURIST. 
63* 
present  knowledge  on  the  subject.  Had  the  embaig^o 
come  before  time  and  money  had  been  spent  ovei 
the  investigation,  one  would  not  have  so  much  won- 
dered at  it,  but  now  that  Dr.  ^\  att  s tune  been 
spent,  and  there  is  no  recall,  surely  it  seems  a little 
ungracious  on  the  part  of  a paternal  Government  to 
step  in  and  say,  “ no  further-the  tea  industry  must 
pay  for  its  information.”  hat  woi^d  the  term  be 
that  would  be  applied  were  any  Calcutta  _hrm 
conduct  business  on  this  principle  ? We  fancy 
raail  ” To  say  the  least,  it  would  have  caiu-ied  moie 
reason  with  it  had  Government,  at  the  hrst  start, 
put  down  its  foot  and  said  to  the  tea  magmUe 
world  of  Calcutta:  “No,  you  are  in  a suft- 
cieutly  Nourishing  condition  to  employ  a chemist 
to  make  your  own  investigations,  and  w'e  do  not 
see  our  way  to  help  you.  But  of  this  there  was  no 
mention,  abd  we  wonder  to  whom  the  inspiration 
occurred  to  put  forward  as  an  excuse  for  no',  pub- 
lishing Dr.  Watt’s  researches— the  wealth  of  the  tea 
industry  ! A few  years  back  it  ^iddenly  occurred  to 
some  one  in  the  Commissariat  Department  that  the 
box  was  by  far  the  most  important  item  with  regard 
to  Indian  black  tea,  as  it  could,  after  being  emptied 
of  its  contents,  be  used  as  an  almirah  1 1 keep  uni- 
forms for  the  Reserve,  and,  in  accordance  with  tins 
brilliant  Nash  of  economy,  all  attention  has  been 
paid  to  the  outside  of  the  platter,  and  the  contents 
rank  as  nothing.  It  is  far  more  important  to  ex- 
amine the  box  and  see  it  is  properly  polished,  and 
not  one  screw  too  many  or  too  fevv  put  in  to  spoil  the 
symmetry  of  the  lid.  Can  it  be  the  same  thing 
with  regard  to  Dr.  Watt's  investigations  that 
they  really  are  not  sufficiently 
to  warrant  their  publication,  and  that  a fuithei 
period  of  investigation  is  necessary  before  publish- 
ing what  knowledge  he  has  gained?  If  this  is  the 
caie,  would  it  not  be  much  more  above  board  to 
say  so,  and  insist  upon  the  tea  industry,  furnishing 
any  further  pecuniary  assistance  to  carry  out  tiie 
investigation,  although  we  by  no  ^neaiis  advocate 
this  course,  as  we  consider  it  a duty  devolving 
upon  Government  to  assist  all  industries  that  aie 
in  or  are  likely  to  be  in  difficulties,  and  our  own 
colonies  set  us  an  example  m the  matter,  not  to 
speak  of  foreign  countries?  Surely,  the  coiidumii 
of  Assam  providing  for  many  thousands  of  coolies 
from  the  other  congested  districts  of  India,  aye, 
and  continually  crying  out  for  more  than  are  ob- 
tainable, should  not  be  forgotten  by  our  Governois  , 
and  should  any  sudden  disaster,  in  the  shape  of  pie- 
ventible  disease,  attack  the  plant  and  deprive  the  thou- 
sands of  their  bread,  upon  whom  would  the  greater  bm- 
den  fall  ? It  is  all  very  well  for  some  people  elated  with 
last  year’s  success  (one  which  probably  never  wi  1 occur 
ac^ain)  to  argue  that  the  tea  industry  can  well  affoid 
to  do  all  this  work  for  itself,  but  the  tune  will 
probably  be  changed  when  the  year  s results  aie 
published,  and  what  of  and  many  other  years  we 
could  refer  to  ? Many  business  men  say  tea  is  not 
worth  investing  in,  unless  it  gives  a stea,dy  ten  per 
cent  and  we  doubt  very  much  if  any  going  concern 
can  boast  of  such  a record,  and  in  consequence  we 
deprecate  the  tendency  to  boom  tea  on  the  results 
of  one  good  season. — huJimi  Afinculliinnt,  •i&n.  1. 
SCOTSMEN  AS  TEA  PLANTERS. 
The  London  correspondent  of  the  hvdian  Plan- 
ters' Gazette  writing  on  13th  December  says 
The  following  recently  took  my  eye  in  a local  news- 
papei  here^-i^n  planter  writes  I have  been  a 
planter  for  one  year  only.  When  I came  *0 
India  I had  hardly  the  faintest  idea  what  I was  com- 
ing to,  in  the  way  of  work,  climate  and  play,  but  the 
inlucement  of  an  outdoor  existence  proved  ^00  much 
^°“?find  that  tea  planting  is  a profession  which  is 
bv  no  means  overstocked.  On  the  other  hand,  young 
Europeans  with  health  and  strength  are  great  y 
fought  after,  both  by  tea  agents  and  managers  here. 
The  men  required  are  Scotsmen ; those  of  good  edu- 
catiOfl-that  is  fo  say,  gentlemen-apd  engineers. 
I’ractical  gardeners  also  will  never  want  employment 
ill  the  tea  districts  of  India. 
“ When  making  preparation  to  come  out,  I should 
have  given  anything  to  have  met  a man  who  could 
have  told  me  all  about  my  new  life  and  how  it  would 
affect  my'  leaving  Scotland.  ^Ih  old  planter's  udoice  is 
morse  than  useless  as  he  looks  on  things  from  quite  a 
diiferent  standpoint.  Especially'  his  description  of 
the  life  and  chances  of  getting  on  is  misleading  as  he 
may  be  a successful  or  unsuccessful  man.  Then  his 
adinr.e  as  to  oulfif,  etc.,  i.s  iieuernlli/  absurd.  At  least 
I found  I had  made  fearful  mistakes  through  listen- 
ing to  the  words  of  retired  planters.” 
This  is  rather  fiatteiing  to  Scotsmen,  but  not  so 
very  complimentary  to  retired  planters.  Of  course  a 
Scotsman,  whatever  he  might  think,  would  be  too 
generous  to  write  this  to  any  newspaper.  Perhaps 
some  of  yonr  readers  of  experience,  competent  to  give 
an  opinion  will  favor  iis  with  their  views.  I have  but 
rarely  heard  an  opinion  expressed  as  to  what  nation- 
alities are  the  best  for  tea  planters.  I once  recollect 
a Scotch  Manager  of  long  experience  being  charged 
by  a sagacious  friend  of  mine  with  his  partiality  for 
Scotch  Assistants,  when  he  enumerated  all  the  ap- 
pointments made  by  him  for  over  twenty  years,  and 
proved  that  only  seven  out  of  fifteen  Europeans  he 
had  selected  were  Scotsmen,  but  stated  that  though 
ho  had  exercised  his  patronage  in  that  way,  in  order 
to  be  strictly  impartial,  judging  from  his  experience 
and  observation  he  considered  Scotsmen,  upon  the 
whole  the  most  suitable.  From  what  I know  of  all 
the  tea  districts  I am  inclined  "to  think  that  the 
majority  of  good  planters  have  hailed  from  Scotland  and 
the  north  of  Ireland.  I am  not  able  to  |recall  many 
really  competent  managers  from  the  south  of  the 
Humber.  Doubtless  the  Midland  and  South  County 
or  London  Englishmen  have  very  many  superior 
qualifications,  accomplishments,  though  they  do  not  all 
go  to  make  a successful  planter.  This  may  be  felt 
by  some  to  be  rather  a delicate  subject,  but  still  I 
think  it  ought  to  be  discussed  with  the  best  of  good 
feeling  and  taste,  otherwise  I would  not  have  allu- 
ded to  it. 
THE  LATEST  FROM  MR.  BLECHYNDEN. 
The  fo.lowing  extract  from  a letter,  dated  New 
York,  18th  November  1895,  from  Mr.  R.  Blechy'iiden 
has  been  placed  at  our  disposal : — 
Since  my  last  Report  the  Pood  Show  at  the  Madison 
Square  Garden  has  been  brought  to  a close.  In 
my  previous  letters  I dwelt  from  time  to  time  on 
the  importance  of  our  taking  part  in  this  show,  and 
the  attendance  and  general  character  of  it  has  borne 
out  all  I said  on  the  subject. 
The  most  important  matter  in  connection  with 
this,  as  with  all  other  forms  of  advertising,  was  to 
arrange  some  plan  whereby  those  whom  we  influenced 
to  buy  tea,  would  be  able  to  obtain  the  same  quality 
hereafter.  On  this  occasion  we  adopted  a new  plan 
of  getting  this  result. 
THE  FOOD  snow. 
I have  hitherto  distributed  a list  of  grocers 
from  whom  our  teas  may  be  obtained,  but 
as  we  were  now  to  exhibit  both  Indian  and 
Ceylon  teas  and  there  was  no  list  of  grocers 
supplying  Ceylon  tea  available,  we  agreed  to 
try  and  interest  the  firms  packing  tea  in  packets, 
and  obtaining  their  co-operation  to  reach  distributors. 
A letter  on  the  lines  of  the  draft  I sent  to  you  in 
my  letter  of  the  27th  August  last  was  accordingly 
addressed  to  the  various  firms  here,  setting  forth 
the  advantages  to  be  gained  by  taking  part  in  the 
show,  the  probability  of  good  attendance,  the  system 
on  which  the  show  was  organised  and  the  new  plan 
of  “High  Teas.”  The  firms  were  invited  to  partici- 
pate in  a joint  show  in  one  booth,  where  India  and 
Ceylon  teas  could  be  displayed  and  where  each  of 
the  participants  would  have  his  day  in  turn.  To 
meet  the  cost  of  the  booth  and  the  general  expenses, 
the  firms  agreeing  to  join  in  the  scheme  were  to 
Eay  $50  each  by  way  of  contribution,  the  entire 
alance  of  all  expenses  to  be  borne  bv  the  two 
Associations.  This  letter  was  sent  to  all  the  firms 
and  agencies  for  packet  teas  of  any  consequence  in 
