6i6 
I^Iakch  2,  1 096. 
THE  TROPICAL 
AGRICUi/rURiST. 
his  money,  we  believe  the  consumption  within  a few 
years  will  increase  very  largely,  thus  bouetiting  the 
consumer,  the  trade,  and  the  Govovnmeui.” 
A vigorous  et'foit  will  be  m«de  to  secure  a favor- 
able report  on  the  Cummings  bill,  and  a bile  there 
is  little  prospect  of  any  action  by  the  coimniitoo 
while  the  Uingley  bill  is  pending,  as  soon  l..s  that 
is  disposed  of  the  situation  will  be  ripe  for  prompt 
and  energetic  action  by  the  friends  of  pure  tea. 
W.  L.  CltOUNSK. 
DRUG  KKl^OKT. 
('From  the  Ch mist  and  Dmujtjist.) 
42  C.VNNO.s  tSTlUiliT,  b.C.,  Jail.  JO. 
OILS  (lissi:.vn.M.\— About  15  tons  of  t^itronella  oil  in 
dnims  have  been  sold  within  the  last  few  da. vs  at  Is  Kid 
per  lb.  c.i.f.  for  January.  Mau  h,  Is  Od  c-i.l.  for  Jauuaij- 
May,  and  Is  8}d  c.i.f.  for  oanuary-.Septeniber  steamer- 
shipment  to  London. 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
We  are  in  receipt  of  a letter  from  Mr.  T.  A. 
Cockbnrn  dated  S.in  b’rancisco,  lUth  -lanmiry,  in 
the  course  of  w liicli  lie  says  : — 
I heard  recently  from  Rierach,  who  is  anxiously 
awaiting  word  from  London  as  to  the  W ashington 
Pure  Food  Show',  for  which  ho  can  have  advantageous 
terms  for  a Ceylon  Court.  He.  however,  reipiires 
assistance  in  undertaking  such  demonstr.ilious,  and 
at  this  juncture  it  is,  I think,  unfortunate  your  Dele- 
gate is  absent,  nor  is  there  ruyoiie  with  anhtority  ' 0 
act  in  such  matters.  Wliv  not  have Bieraeh  appointed 
assistant  to  your  worthy  Delegate  ?-Tlum  ail  businoss 
matters  and  these  sliow.s  could  ue  atteiuluu  to  during 
the  Delegate’s  absence  from  this  country.  I received 
a few  of  the  Planters’  Association  pamphlets  (some 
8 or  10  only),  which  the  leading  Grncers  mere 
ulad  to  hare',  and  put  in  their  windows,  but,  I 
could  do  with  200  or  300  easily,  or  as  many  more 
as  could  be  spared.  I received  a nice  photograph  of 
Bieraeb’s  Ceylon  Court  at  Philadelpliia,  which  I am 
sending  you  under  separate  cover.  It  looks  an  at- 
tractive place  and  there  is  a glitn|).sc  of  a cosy, 
pretty  and  artistic  room  inside,  which  looks  most 
inviting.  I notice  a copy  of  your  Overland  Edilion 
on  a basket  in  the  foreground.  It  looks  a,  nice  at- 
tractive place,  with  the  numeroii.s  photographs  of 
natives,  Ceylon  Scenery,  and  tea  maniifactuiing  pro- 
cesses. It  inust  have  been  a good  advm  lisement  for 
Cevlon  Tea  generally,  and  is  vpiy  crcditcble  to  Mi. 
Bim-ach.  1 think  tins  will  be  admiUcti  by  all.  I 
have  not  had  lime  to  read  the  last  two  (/hsirmrs 
received,  but  was  grieved  to  notice  the  dcatb.s  of 
poor  old  G.  U.  Hall  and  Kicbard  Mai  t,  who  were 
fast  friends  and  neighbours  of  iniiio  for  many  years. 
They  were  alike  in  many  ies)>ects,  both  clever,  in- 
telli"ent  and  well-read  men.  I got  to  know  Mant 
weirand  to  know  him  w'as  to  admire  and  respect  him, 
for  beneath  his  ruggcvl  exterior  there  beat  a w.arm 
and  true  heart.  Hard-working,  thoroughly  conscien- 
tious and  kind-hearted,  he  was  a good  friend  and 
neighbour.  Keen  on  a bunt,  a game  of  chess,  or  a 
hand  at  whist,  many  are  the  pleasant  hours  1 have 
spent  with  others,  in  the  ramshackle  rambling  old 
thatched  bungalow  on  the  patana,  which  is,  alas, 
along  w’ith  its  late  owner,  no  more.  He  was  well- 
infonned,  and  a discriminate  and  intelligent  reader, 
and  loved  his  books:  he  bad  a good  ineniory,  and 
w-ho  does  not  venieniber  bow  bo  loved  to  recite  or 
read  some  favourite  piece  of  jioetry  ; nor 
will  the  writer  soon  forget  liis  singing  of  bis 
favourite  song,  old  “ Bonnio  Dundee  ! I read 
with  pleasure  the  sympathetic  notice  of  vour 
Kurunegala  conespoiulent,  and  have  seen  the  book 
mentioned,  written  by  Mant  s father,  tor  private  cir- 
culation, and  of  which  our  friend  was  justly  proud. 
I remember  on  one  occasion  w iu  n •' Hallie  and  bo 
were  having  a game  of  chess,  and  Mant  w’as  called 
away  to  speak  to  some  kaiigaiii  or  other  person. 
Kisinc  abruptly  from  the  table  be  capsized  llie  whole 
buBiness,  table,  chess-men,  himself  and  his  chair,  and, 
in  trying  to  save  liiinsclf,  brought  down  a big  centre 
circular  table,  with  books,  phot-a  frames,  large  vase 
full  01  flowor.s,  table-cover,  tob?»cco  and  p-ipes,  etc., 
itc.  Somehow  or  other  both  “Hallio”  and  myself 
wci'e  in,  it  too,  but  we  succeeded  in  extricating  Mant 
at  last  with  p iv.iis  and  castles  sticking  in  his  cars, 
“Hallie,”  who  was  very  ainusing  at  times,  remark- 
ing “ Ho  iihraii.s  does  this,  Cockburn,  when 
be  finds  he  is  losing  the  game,”  and  we 
chaffed  Mant  often  about  it  afterwards.  On 
another  oecasion  I acted  as  barber,  cropped 
close  and  trimmed  him  a /a  I'andiil'c,  and  took  him 
over  the  hill  to  a neighbouring  family,  whom  he 
hadn’t  visited  or  spoken  to  for  many  years.  After 
that  they  were  good  friends.  He  was  an  amusing 
and  entertaining  story-teller,  and  his  opinio:is  and 
remaiks  on  things  in  general  were  invariably  in- 
structive, and  voty  frequently  amusing.  He  may  have 
made  a few  enemies,  none  of  us  is  perfect ; let  him 
who  is  so,  cast  the  first  stone.  A long  farewell,  and 
may  he  rest  in  peace. 
I enclose  a short  notice  relative  to  the  Canadian 
exposition,  which  is  going  ahead  w’ith  all  speed,  I am 
informed.  I trust,  when  the  Delegate  is  fully  in- 
formed on  this  subject,  that  Ceylon  will  be  to  the 
front. 
“.MU.  STILUS  COMI'LIMENTKP. 
‘AVhen  calling  at  St.  L iwrencc  Hall  yesterday,  the 
Premier,  Sir  iif.xckenzieBowoIl,  and  Sir  Adolphe  Caron, 
Postin.istcr  General,  warmly  complimented  Mr.  Stiles 
on  his  succe.ssfiil  efforts  for  the  exposition. 
“ Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  High  Commissioner, 
Sir  Chai'les  Tupper,  Mr.  Stiles  will  confer  with  him, 
the  Premier  and  .Mr.  Foster,  the  Finance  Minister, 
with  reference  to  the  diplomas  and  medals.  There  is 
every  probability  of  these  being  provided  by  the 
Government,  and  th  o.se  much  coveted  awards  will  go 
over  the  world  alasting  advertisement  for  Canada  us 
diplomas  arc  never  hidden.” 
Since  writing  the  above,  I have  received  a small 
packet  of  23  pamphlets  from  i\Ir.  Bierach : these  will 
he  distributed  by  me  on  Mondaj'  next.  Long  before 
the  Delegate  ever  came  to  this  country,  I wrote 
strongly  on  the  subject  of  better  p.ackages  for  this 
market.  I even  went  tlio  length  of  indicating  a good 
and  siiit.ablo  one,  and  I am  glad  to  see  that  your 
Delegate's  remaiks  on  this  subject  bear  out  my 
contention  that  more  attention  must  be  given  by 
planters  to  the  stjlc  of  package  they  adopt  for  this 
market.  The  demand  for  “ Ceylons  ” increases,  but  it 
is  slow'  work,  and  W'e  must  be  jratient. 
-* 
'1  HK  iJuLNinN'i;  01'  Tl.v  .\t  ( 'ui,u.mi:o.  -Tii  the 
course  of  a review  of  a letter  by  our  ooiitem- 
porary  of  liie  “Times”  reganling  tlic  (’ulonibo 
tea  market,  tlie  Madras  i\faU  sa.ys;  — 
\Vc  arc  surprised  to  read  that  the  people  of 
Ceylon  fear  the  growth  of  blending  business.  We 
should  pionoiiuco  Colombo  to  be  aii  ideal  place  for 
such  a business,  for  it  might  directly  serve  all  the 
markets  of  the  world,  with  the  exception  of  those 
of  tiie  United  Kingdom  and  the  eastern  countries 
of  Kiiropo,  with  teas  mixed  to  the  liking  of  con- 
sumers. ^V'c  premise  that  blending  has  contri- 
buted considciably  to  the  enormous  iucroasc  of  popu- 
larity of  British  grown  teas  in  tbo  British  Isles,  and, 
granting  tliat  our  premise  is  coiTcct,  it  should  be  au 
Dijually  important  factor  in  extending  the  popularity 
of  tbo  same  tens  in  other  lands.  Why  Ceylon 
appears  so  very  suitable  to  us  is  not  only  be- 
cause of  its  central  jio.sition  in  respect  to  the  great 
tea-growing  conntrios,  but  far  iiioio  so  because tliere 
would  practically  be  only  one  or  at  most  two  ports 
of  entry  and  exit,  so  that  it  would  bo  easy  to- 
check  and  control  all  shipineiits.  Sonic  simple  law, 
somewdiat  similar  in  its  ei'fect  to  ilie  Mordiandisc 
Marks  Act,  would  liavo  to  be  enacted  which  W'Ould 
prevent  China  tiasli  being  sliipped  a.j  Ceylon  loaf,  and 
which  would  also  provide  penalties  sul'liciently  heavy 
to  dote.r  tlie  fraiKlulcntly-iniiided  blender  from  doing 
hard  to  tlie  local  industry.  There  surely  can  be  ng 
difficulty  in  drafting  and  passing  such  au  Act. 
