THE  TROPICAl.  AGRTCULTURIST. 
[March  iF!q6. 
6o,j 
CAl/r'ITA  TEA  I’KAIH'US;'  ASS( H I A'I'U )X. 
I’epor/  of  lh(  CoiiiniiUcc  for  (he  i/rar  i iulhuj  ol.s! 
December  lS9o. 
The  Committee  have  again  to  rejjort  an  uueveut- 
ful  year  so  far  as  tlie  aJl'airs  of  the  Association  are 
concerned,  but  they  feel  that  this  is  not  a matter 
for  i-egret,  inasmuch  as  it  goes  to  prove  that  the 
tea  trade  of  Calcutta  is  carried  on  smoothly. 
A suggestion  for  a new  rule  to  the  effect  tliat 
Brokers  should  only  deliver  tea  brought  by  native 
buyers  for  Bombay  and  elsewhere  oiii’eceiptof  cash,’’ 
was  made  to  the  Committee  in  August  last;  but  it 
was  considered  that  the  matter  was  one  which  might 
well  be  left  to  the  brokers  to  decide  for  themselves, 
as  the  selling  broker  could  always  protect  himself 
by  asking  for  cash,  should  he  think  fit,  when  the 
delivery  orders  were  ])resented. 
The  working  of  the  Port  Commissioners’ Tea  Ware- 
house with  an  improved  system  brought  into  oper- 
ation, and  the  inci'eased  supervising  staff  which  it 
was  stated  last  year  had  boon  sanctioned,  has  appa- 
rently given  greater  satisfaction  to  the  trade,  since  no 
complaint  has  reached  the  Committee  regarding  it. 
The  subject  of  thefts  from  consignments  of  tea 
after  same  have  left  the  gardens  came  up  for  con- 
sideration in  November  on  a representation  from 
the  Indian  Tea  Association.  There  was  a very  .strong 
suspicion  that  thefts  occurred  pretty  frequently 
whilst  the  teas  were  in  transit  between  inland  and 
ocean  steamers  and  a recent  successful  prosecution 
of  a boat’s  manjia  and  crew  by  the  River  Police  for 
a wholesale  robbery  of  tea  will  no  doubt  have  a 
deterrent  effect  u])on  this  class,  though  until  the 
receivers  of  the  stolen  goods  are  prevented  from 
carrying  on  their  illicit  trade,  there  will  always  be 
inducements  for  robberies  of  tliis  kind.  The  Com- 
mittee consider  the  special  thanks  of  the  Association 
are  duo  to  Sir  .lohn  riambert.  Commissioner  of  Police, 
for  the  very  vigorous  maimer  in  which  he  has  dealt 
with  tlie  mattoi'  of  the  representations  of  the  Indian 
Tea  Association,  and  they  ai'e  also  much  indebted  to 
Superiiitenrlent  Hogg  for  Ids  exertions. 
I'Iniiiix.  'I'here  has  been  an  increase  in  the  niim- 
l)cr  of  claims  submitted  during  the  past  yeai’,  the 
number  lieing  70  against  17  in  1S‘(1.  It  is  notieealile 
that  where  claims  appear  to  lie  just  and  fair,  there 
is  a growing  tendency  on  the  ]>art  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  gardens  interested  to  pay  them  without  wait- 
ing for  a reference  to  ilio  Committee,  and  this  fact 
in  a great  messnre  explains  the  comparatively  small 
percentage  of  claims  recommended  for  jiayment  from 
amongst  those  which  have  finally  come  np  for  dis- 
[>osal.  'L'lic  Committee  would  here  remark  that 
much  inconvenience  and  delay  would  be  saved,  if 
Members  would  instruct  their  Agents  at  home  to 
obtain  fully  detailed  Dock  certificates  in  support  of 
any  claims  they  may  desire  to  make  for  loss  in 
weight.  It  is  obvious  that  were  a certificate  gives 
only  the  total  weight  of  tea  instead  of  the  weight 
of  file  contents  of  each  individual  chest,  no  opinion  as 
to  the  probable  cause  of  the  loss  can  he  arrived  at. 
The  following  comparative  statement  shows  tlie  nnmher 
A'eav 
Total 
Aggregate 
Averagi 
Claims 
\ aliie, 
R As  l‘ 
\'alno. 
1!  As.  p 
1891 
'dl 
2,175  0 10 
:!l  1 1 
l89'z 
. . Ill 
1,51)1  7 -1 
:H  0 0 
189;-! 
72 
:i,42(5  8 H 
17  9 .5 
1894 
17 
1,892  2 2 
10  1 1 
1895 
70 
8,18t)  5 1 
. , 
15  8 ’i 
The  claims  tor  1895  were  distributed  amongst  the 
sarions  classes  of  tea  as  under 
Orange  Pekee  - 
- 1 
Broken  Orange  Pekoe  - 
- 8 
Pekoe 
- 9 
Broken  Pekoe  - 
- 20 
Pekoe  Souchong 
- 12 
Broken  Souchong 
. 2 
„ Pekoe  Souchong 
- 1 
Pekoe  Fannings 
- 11 
Broken  Tea 
- :! 
<linn  PhiiU'i'n'  dazette,  Fob.  1. 
'I’otal 
- 70 
'I'U  CROW  (’(.lI'h'KE  l.\  ('AUl’t)RNIA. 
Col.  Charle.s  P’.  Crocker  is  going  to  st  tit  a coffee 
plantation  in  the  >San  Joaquin  Valley,  and  if  his 
experiment  proves  successful  the  fertile  ranches 
thereabout  will  have  a boom  that  will  be  without 
precedent.  The  Pacific  Mail  Company’s  steamer 
.S'd/i  .fiHut,  which  arrived  at  San  Francisco  recently, 
brought  from  Central  America  l,(XXi  yearling 
plants  with  which  Colonel  Crocker  will  commence 
his  interesting  venture.  The  plants  were  carefully 
selected  by  Samuel  Howe,  Colonel  Crocker’s  agent, 
who  died  on  board  the  steamer  December  1,  but 
the  object  for  which  he  made  the  trip  has  been  ac- 
complished, and  the  collection  of  plants,  which 
perhaps  cost  him  his  life,  was  lauded  here  safely, 
and  will  be  taken  in  charge  by  Colonel  Crocker’s 
gardener,  ^ 
The  coffee  plants  which  Colonel  Crocker  has  secured 
for  his  experimental  ranch  are  of  the  hardy  Arabian 
variety,  which  produce  the  bulk  of  the  coffee 
of  commerce.  They  are  mere  slips  now,  and 
are  completely  boxed  in  such  a manner  that  they 
do  not  take  up  much  space  and  might  l)e 
overlooked  by  the  casual  observer.  But  everts 
precaution  has  been  taken  to  protect  their  roots  from 
the  chill  atmosphere,  and  they  are  as  good  and  fresh 
apparently  as  when  taken  from  their  native  soil. 
The  plants  will  be  set  out  this  fall  most  likely,  but 
six  years  must  elapse  before  they  will  be  old  enough 
to  hear  berries. 
Scientists  who  have  studied  the  soil  and  climate 
of  the  San  Joaquin  Valley  are  some  what  doubtful 
as  to  whether  coffee  plants  will  thrive  there.  The 
coffee  plant  not  only  requires  fertile  soil  and  plenty 
of  sunlight,  hut  a certain  amount  of  moisture,  and 
Ih.at  is  where  tlie  rub  comes  in  California. — ><av 
Clirom'clr. 
DRITC  REPORT. 
(From  l!ie  (’l/emist  tdiil  />rufiiiin( .) 
Ijoiulon,  .rniiiiary 
( 'lt(ii'()N-si-.|.;ii  reiniiiii.-i  exeeeiliiiftly  scan-e  : Iheuomin:) 
pi-ii'n  i.s  :iI)oul  .')0s  |((-r  e«t  for  good  iiuality,  Imt  none  H 
oll't-i’iiig. 
( 1 uiiiiK,-]-:  very  .steady.  Kiglit  |»aekages  >old  at  iroiii 
C.S  .5s  for  ordinary  pickings  up  (o  elO  Cs  r,d  for  good, 
partly  iiloeky  pipe. 
\ axii.i..v.— A fair  supply  of  a.liout  170  tins  sold  loday 
with  good  competition. 
Ni  x \'o,\ii(  A.--A  trilie  easier.  Kighlv  l>ags  fair  luiglil 
small  Cociiin  seed  sold  without  reserve,  at  6s  per  ewt, 
while  .57  liags  sound  Komhay  rea-li.sed  7s  per  ew  t,  A parcel 
of  .517  bags  from  Madras  wa.s  bought  iu  at  fs  Od  per  II). 
K.S.SKNTIAt.  Oit,.s. — No  transactions  of  any  importiini'c 
took  place  at  today’s  auctions.  Two  cases  of  Cinnamon 
oil  sold  at  7d  per  oz,  and  a parcel  of  Cinnamon-leaf  oil 
at  .5d  per  oz.  For  5 cases  HWB  Faicalyptus  oil  is  a bid 
of  8(1  per  lb  was  refused,  amt  4 cases  “ Daw.son  ” br.and 
were  bought  in.  An  800-lb  drum  of  Citronella  was 
bought  ill  at  Is  lOd  per  Hi  ; privately  2s  2d  per  lb  is 
asked. 
VRr,(A-.Nt  Ts.-- About  Old  easier;  I bags  sold  today  11s 
Od  perewt. 
(OFFFK  I’ROSPEC’I'S  IN  N VASSAl.ANlC 
.Vlr.  fl.  AJoftinior  rrahhe,  .Mlatijo,  British  Cep 
frol  Afrie.o,  writes  to  a contemporary  ;- 
ft  might  interest  your  rcadeits  to  know  .something 
about  the  (nospects  of  Coffee  in  Nyassaland.  Several 
Ceylon  planters  have  visited  the  country,  some  of 
whom  have  a poor  idea  of  the  country  aiicl  its 
prospects  in  coffee,  while  others  have  returned  with 
glowing  accounts.  There  arc  always  two  sides  to  a 
question,  but,  if  the  truth  be  tolil,  the  men  who 
have  the  poor  idea  are  men  who  liavo  come  and  gone 
in  a hurry,  and  who  liave  seen  little.  Because  our 
district  is  not  quite  a success,  it  does  not  follow  that 
others  are  all  the  same.  The  men  who  have  returned 
with  favourable  accoiin's  are  men  who  have  taken 
the  trouble  to  visit  several  districts,  and  who  have 
worked  out  careful  figures.  'I'hat  cofi'eo  has  splendid 
prospects  before  it  cannot  he  doniod,  but  unfortunately 
tlie  ideas  of  a good  many  local  planters  are  strang. 
ones;  for  instance,  one  planter  who  was  in  a burn- 
