6;6 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[April  i,  1896. 
be  got  in  reason,  say  for  anything  under  one  thou- 
sand rupees  a month.  It  seems  a great  deal  to  pay 
for  a tea-maker  alone,  but  in  reality  it  works  down 
to  very  little.  Supposing  an  average  of  only  even 
500  acres  of  tea  were  attached  to  the  central  fac- 
tory, and  putting  the  yield  at  ‘250  lb.  per  acre,  even 
111,000  a month  would  only  mean  a charge  of 
about  one  anna  and  six  pies  per  pound.  A man  at 
this  salary  should  be  able  to  obtain  a lid.  average 
for  every  pound  of  tea  manufactured,  which  would 
easily  pay  his  charges,  and  still  leave  a very  hand- 
some profit  to  the  shareholders.  In  addition  to  this 
the  cheaper  cost  of  manufacture  would  very  appreci- 
ably lessen  this  tax.  Besides  attending  strictly  to 
the  manufacture,  he  would  be  able  to  place  his  ex- 
perience of  the  latest  and  best  methods  of  cultivation 
at  the  dispiosal  of  his  employers. 
Now  let  us  see  how  this  will  affect  the  owners  of 
the  small  gardens  affiliated  to  the  central  factory. 
In  the  first  place  he  is  asked  to  contribute  a round 
little  sum  in  cash  for  his  share  in  the  factory,  or  also 
make  an  arrangement  if  possible  to  deduct  this  sum 
from  the  amount  realised  by  the  sale  of  his 
teas,  giving  as  security  a lien  on  his  estate 
for  the  amount.  It  does  not  seem  too  sanguine 
to  expect  that  if  the  _ arrangement  were 
carried  over  two  years,  the  iiicrtuised  profits  alone 
(i.c.,  the  difference  in  profit  between  hi;  former 
workings  a,iid  the  central  factory  scheme)  would 
clear  off  his  debt,  and  the  third  year  he  would 
have  very  materially  increased  his  yearly  income. 
By  allowing  the  two  years  for  payment  of  his  share, 
his  receipts  for  that  space  of  time  would  be  as 
usual  and  no  inconvenience  felt  through  want  of 
funds  for  cultivation,  etc. 
This  plan  has  been  sketched  out  very  roughly,  but  we 
venture  to  think  that  at  bottom  the  scheme  is  sound 
enough,  though  of  course  as  a working  basis  for  a 
business  undertaking  a great  deal  of  elaboration 
is  required.  The  suggestion  will  not  be  acted  on 
for  manv  a long  day  yet,  if  at  all,  but  even  those 
who  will  decide  the  possibility  of  such  a scheme 
being  practicable,  must  acknowledge  the  great  need 
to  which  its  publication  is  intended  to  draw  attention. 
— I’lantiiKj  Opinion. 
TEA  AND  EXPEKTS. 
( Comnmnicated.) 
In  a daily  contemporary  lately  we  have  seen  de- 
fence and  defiance  in  the  shape  of  Mr.  Bamber’s 
letter  and  the  editorial  in  re  the  benefits  that  the 
tea  plant  derives  from  the  tree  called  the  nun  being 
intermingled  throughout  the  plantations.  In  the 
first,  Mr.  Bamber  claims  the  discovery,  and  in  the 
second,  the  Hare  Street  paper  stands  up  for  Dr. 
George  Watt,  c.i.e.  Some  time  ago  we  pointed  out 
with  regard  to  what  may  be  termed  a “so-called 
discovery’’  by  the  late  Mr.  Wood-Mason  with  regard 
to  mosquito  blight  and  quoted  by  Mr.  Cotes,  if  we 
remember  rightly,  that  this  was  no  discovery  by  5Ir. 
Wood-Mason,  but  simply  the  information  he  had  picked 
up  during  his  visit  to  Cachar  to  investigate  mosquito 
blight  and  for  the  purpose  of  suggesting  a “ remedy.” 
We  then  stated  our  views,  and  we  stand  to  our  guns, 
that  the  total  discovery  amounted  to  classifying  the 
destroying  insect  and  giving  it  an  unpronounceable 
name;  that  with  regard  to  its  habits  and  mode  of 
destroying  the  flush,  the  information  was  all  supplied 
by  the  practical  planter,  and  for  the  remedy  we  are 
still  looking.  Now  with  regard  to  the  smi,  tree,  we  are 
of  opinion  that  in  the  records  of  tea  planting  compiled 
by  the  late  Mr.  Wyman  if  we  are  not  mistaken, 
mention  will  be  found  of  the  benefits  accruing  from 
planting  the  shrub  amongst  the  tea.  At  any  rate, 
before  Mr.  Bamber’s  advent  on  the  scene  the  Hon’ble 
Buckingham  called  the  attention  of  the  Indian 
Tea  Association  to  the  nnu  tree,  and  its  beneficial 
results  when  intermingled  with  tea,  and  one  estate 
we  have  in  our  mind  s eye  planted  it  over  a large 
area,  and  this  some  ten  years  ago-  Now,  it  cannot 
be  supposed  that  so  intelligent  a body  of  men 
carry  on  tea  plantations  planted  this  tree  for  shade,  as 
they  are  quite  well  aware  of  the  disadvantages  of  shade. 
What  then  did  they  plant  it  for  ? We  don’t  suppose 
for  pleasure  or  philanthropy.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it 
is  amusing  to  read  the  vapourings  of  our  “ authori- 
ties ” sent  to  the  districts  for  a definite  purpose, 
and  who  simple  return  from  their  “ pleasure  trip  " 
to  impregnate  the  air  with  a long  string  of  technical 
terms,  expressive  of  what  ? — the  pickings  of  practical 
planters’  brains  and  only  exhibiting  the  *•  exuber- 
ance of  their  own  verbosity.”  What  has  Mr.  Bam- 
ber’s visit  to  the  tea  districts  and  research  into  the 
chemistry  of  tea  manufacture  done  ’?  Has  it  raised 
the  price  of  tea  in  the  districts  ho  visited  a fraction  of 
a penny  per  pound  ? What  has  Dr.  Watt’s  visit 
done  with  regard  to  blight  ? Echo  answers  “What?” 
Up  to  date  the  planter  has  had  to  rely  entirely  on 
his  own  efforts,  and  so  far  as  we  can  see  is  likely 
to  have  to  do  so  in  future.  Those  who  in  their  en- 
thusiasm ventured  to  think  there  was  a millenium 
coming  when  they  heard  that  a Government  officer 
had  been  appointed  to  investigate  their  troubles,  had 
better  “bide  a wee”  and  still  go  on  in  their  old 
groove  and  act  on  the  great  principle  of  Smiles’ 
“ Self  Help.” — Indian  Planterts’  Gazette,  Feb.  29. 
THE  PKOPOSED  DUTY  ON  TEA  IN 
THE  UNITED  STATES. 
A movement  has  been  set  on  foot  in  New  York, 
recently  among  importers  of  tea  to  urge  upon  the 
Ways  and  Means  Committee  of  the  House,  the  levy- 
ing of  a duty  of  10  to  15  cents  per  pound  upon 
tea.  It  is  urged  that  a satisfactory  duty  should  be 
imposed  upon  tea,  sufficient  to  correct  certain  evils 
which  cannot  be  avoided  under  the  present  re- 
gulations, As  tea  is  now  free  of  duty  it  is 
held  that  all  of  the  low  grades  of  tea  pro- 
duced naturally  seek  this  market,  whereas  if  a 
specific  duty  were  levied  upon  teas,  that 
then  the  higher  grades  would  be  imported  to  the 
advantage  of  consumers,  and  the  lower  grades  ex- 
cluded owing  to  the  relatively  greater  proportion 
that  a specific  duty  would  bear  to  the  cost  value  of 
these  lower  grades.  It  is  said  that  the  average  im- 
port price  of  tea  was  in  1873  double  in  price  of  today, 
that  the  consumption  was  then  1.5,3  pounds  per  capita 
and  has  since  steadily  declined  until  at  present 
it  is  but  1.34  pounds  per  capita  ; that  the 
consumer  pays  nearly  as  much  today  for  a 
pound  of  tea  as  in  1873,  and  gets  tea  of  inferior  quality 
which  accounts  for  the  diminished  consumption. 
This  effort  on  the  part  of  the  tea  dealers  to  have 
themselves  taxed,  brings  to  mind  the  altruism  of  the 
distillers  two  years  ago  in  their  earnest  efforts  to 
have  the  tax  increased  on  whiskey.  The  distillers  had 
such  great  consideration  for  the  government  finances 
that  they  thought  it  wise  to  have  the  duty  on  whiskey 
increased  some  25  per  cent.,  not  that  it  would  enrich 
them  to  the  extent  of  several  million  dollar's  by  the 
iircrea:.ied  value  of  the  whiskey  on  hand,  but  because 
the  government  would  secure  the  much  rreeded  irr- 
crease  in  its  revenues.  The  facts  are  that  the  duties 
at  the  low  rates  were  paid  on  a ver-y  large  amount 
of  whiskey  to  avoid  the  irrerease  under  the  new  law — 
the  Wilson  Bill — and  the  revenues  frorrr  this  source 
were  Isrgely  diminished. 
In  like  manner  we  can  see  that  the  importers  of  tea 
are  trow  far  more  interested  in  the  irrerease  in  the 
value  of  the  stock  on  hand,  which  would  inure  to  their 
benefit  if  the  dirty  were  levied  upotr  tea.  tharr  any  pro- 
tectiorr  of  the  Aurerican  people  from  low  grade  teas 
by  their  proposed  modes  of  exclusion. 
Long  experience  has  showrr  that  in  the  United 
States  the  most  deally  perfect  article  upon  which 
to  secure  a competent  revenue  for  the  govern- 
ment is  sugar.  Any  tariff  levied  uporr  this  staple  will 
produce  a larger  proportionate  revenue  than  can  be 
got  from  any  other  leading  staple  article.  At  the 
tame  time,  any  duty  levied  upon  sugar  would  inci- 
centally  protect  the  existing  American  sugar  indus- 
try, which  is  now  able  to  supply  some  15  per  cent 
ot  the  total  amount  of  sugar  consumed  in  the  country 
and  which  is  the  one  agricultural  interest  in  which  our 
country  has  thus  far  fallen  behind  Europe  in  its  Mans 
for  legislative  consideration  and  protection,  ana  in 
which  the  largest  possibilities  now  lie  for  Anieri- 
