June  i,  1896. j 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
82 1 
A COLOMBO  BROKER  IN  RUSSIA. 
Mr.  A.  M.  Cepp,  tlie  well-known  Colombo 
tea  broker,  wlio  returned  to  tlie  Island  on  the  3Uth 
April  after  a twelve  months  holiilay,  in  the  course 
of  his  travels  visited  Russia,  where,  to  a certain 
e-xtent,  he  combined  business  witli  ])lcasnre.  Mr. 
Cepp  in  response  to  a recjuest  by  an  Observer  re- 
presentative was  f(ood  enoiiyh  to  impart  his  views 
with  regard  to  the  progress  which  Ceylon 
tea  is  making  in  the  land  of  the  Tsar.  Wlien 
in  Ivussia,  Mr.  Cepp  visited  Moscow  and  St. 
Petersburg.  As  a result  of  Ins  observations, 
lie  is  well  satisfietl  with  the  progress  that 
has  been  made,  and  he  thinks  the  futnre 
prospects  of  Ceylon  tea  arc  good,  China  tea,  he 
said,  of  couse,  still  held  the  held  though  a good  deal 
of  mi.xing  with  Ceylon  teas  was  goingon.  E.xpressing 
it  in  figures,  he  computed  that  about  10  per  cent  of 
the  blend  in  which  Ceylon  tea  was  used  was  grown 
in  Ceylon.  One  thing  the  Russians  would  not  do 
was  to  use  Indian  tea,  the  objection  taken  to 
it  being  that  it  was  too  strong.  Mr.  Cep))  is 
not  inclined  to  p>it  too  much  weight  on  the 
generally  accepted  opinion  that  only  high 
class  teas  are  acce])table  to  Russian  taste. 
On  the  contrary  he  said  there  was  a growing 
dem  nd  for  teas  which,  if  sold  in  the  London 
Market  would  fetch  from  (id  to  <Sil  per 
lb.  Mr.  Rogivue,  he  said,  was  doing  a very 
good  business  in  Ceylon  tea,  while,  with 
a view  to  pushing  the  staple  in  Russia, 
his  own  firm  had  established  an  agency  in 
Moscow.  The  new  agency,  Mr.  Cepp  explained, 
had  just  been  started  and  from  tlie  way  he 
sjioke  of  it  our  informant  has  evidently  high 
hopes  of  its  success.  In  the  course  of  his  travels 
Mr.  Cepp  also  visited  Berlin  but  the  time  at 
his  disposal  did  not  i>ermit  of  his  gathering 
sufficient  data  to  gnage  how  Ceylon  tea  is  pro- 
gressing in  Cermany.  His  holiday,  for  the 
most  jiart  spent  in  England  was  a thoroughly 
enjoyable  one,  and  Mr.  Cepp’s  many  friends 
will  be  glad  to  learn  that  he  was  blessed  with  the 
best  of  health. 
TEA  CROWINC  IN  THE  CAUCA8US. 
The  phet  omenal  growth  of  the  trade  in  Indian 
and  Cejloii  tea,  and  the  immense  profits  to  be  made 
from  it,  if  successful,  have  doubtless  influenced  the 
Russian  authorities  in  the  Caucasus  to  attempt 
something  in  that  line  for  themselves.  Indeed,  they 
are,  according  to  Mr.  Consul  Stevens,  of  Batoum,  go- 
ing to  do  things  on  a “ large  scale  ; and”  it  is  fondly 
hoped  that  before  long  tea  culture  will  become 
one  of  the  most  important  industries  of  this  South- 
ern Province  of  Russia.  So  far  as  ascertained, 
the  soil,  climate,  annual  rains,  &c.,  are  all  favour- 
able. Several  Russians  have  required  lands  for 
laying  out  tea  gardens  ; and  the  Imperial  Domains 
Department  has  also  sent  a special  commission 
to  India,  Ceylon,  China,  and  other  tea-growing 
countries,  to  make  a study  of  tea  cultivation. 
Other  capitalists  will  presumably  follow.  A Mr. 
Popoll  is  the  only  person  at  present  really  actively 
engaged,  and  he  has  three  plantations.  These  are 
stated  to  be  perfect  models  as  far  as  the  laying 
out  of  the  grounds,  the  roads,  buildings,  &c.  aie 
concerned.  He  keeps  his  methods  to  himself.  The 
young  plants  are  said  to  be  doing  well. 
The  Imperial  Commission  sent  out  has  already 
been  through  India,  China,  and  Japan.  It  spent  a 
whole  month  in  a Chinese  village  near  Shanghai, 
at  which  place  the  preparation  of  tea  was  studieda 
and  tea  seeds  and  i)lants  and  machinery  for  the  ten 
plantations  near  Batoum  were  procured.  In  Japan 
the  expedition  collected  some  valuable  informatio- 
respecting  the  soil  and  climatic  conditions  of  the  tea 
rowing  districts  in  that  country.  One  or  two  mem- 
era  of  the  expedition  have  recently  proceeded  to  Sau 
Francisco  to  study  the  American  system  of  culture, 
and  tlie  other  members  are  to  remain  a shoro  time 
longer  in  Japan  for  tlie  purpose  of  euiaging  Japanese 
labourers  and  obtaining  samples  of  Japanese  tea 
plants  and  seedlings.  \Vhat  with  the  older  fields  of 
China  and  Japan,  and  the  newer  fields  of  Java  and 
other  parts,  including  the  Fijis,  Mauritius,  and  the 
Caucasus,  with  the  great  extension  of  tea-growing  in 
both  India  and  Ceylon,  there  seems  to  be  an  ex- 
tended career  for  tea  in  the  near  future. — Madras 
Times,  Aj  ril  28. 
THE  HIGHLAMD  TEA  COMPANY  OF 
CEYLON  LIMITED. 
This  company  was  re.t'istered  on  April  7tli, 
with  a capital  L70,0U0,  in  ,T1U  shares,  to  adopt 
a certain  agreement,  and  to  acquire,  cultivate, 
develop,  and  carry  on  certain  tea  estates  in  the 
District  of  Dimbula,  Ceylon.  The  subscribers 
are : — Shares. 
G.  G.  Anderson,  16,  Phil  pot  Lane, 
E.C.,  mcht  1 
A.  W.  Anderson,  7,  Winpole  Street, 
W.,  gent  1 
J.  F.  Ander.son,  l(i,  Philpot  Lane, 
E.  C.,  mcht  1 
Miss  A.  J.  McGillivray,  5,  Braidburn 
Crescent,  Edinburgh  1 
Miss  J.  W.  McGillivray,  5,  Braidburn 
Crescent,  Edinburgh  1 
Miss  M.  G.  Anderson,  9 Braidburn 
'^Ire.scent,  Edinburgh  . 1 
M.  J.  Brown,  Edinburgh  1 
The  number  of  directors  is  not  to  be  less 
tlian  three  nor  more  than  live ; the  first  are 
8ir  G.  A.  Pilkington,  R.  C.  Bowie,  and  G.  G. 
Anderson  ; qualilication  not  stated  remuneration, 
as  the  company  may  decide.  Registered  office 
16,  Fhilpot  Lane,  E.C. — Investors  Guardian,  April  4. 
COFFEE  IN  GERMAN  EAST  AFRICA. 
The  planters  cf  German  East  Africa  have  just 
shipped  a small  first  crop  from  the  Tanga  district 
and  they  are  awaiting  anxiously  to  hear  the  result. 
I saw  a sample  and  did  not  think  much  of  it.  It 
was  not  properly  cured,  nor  dried  well,  being  of  a 
mottled  colour.  The  plantations  are  about  eighty 
miles  in  on  the  hills  and  the  railway  from  Tanga 
has  already  gone  in  about  forty  miles.  The  Gov- 
ernment is  expected  to  take  it  over  and  push  it  on. 
As  your  readers  already  know  leaf-disease  broke  out 
sometime  ago  but,  owing  to  the  prompt  measures 
taken  it  has  only,  as  yet,  affected  the  plantations 
slightly.  The  rains  begin  with  them  about  the  10th 
November  and  are  said  to  amount  to  80  inches  per 
annum.  Labour  is  very  dear,  about  £1  a month 
and  very  difficult  to  get  at  that  while  they  are  con- 
tinually annoyed  by  boys  running  away.  The  land 
where  the  plantations  are  is  heavy  timbered  forest 
land.  Liberian  coffee  is  being  planted  on  the  low- 
lands and  cocoa  is  also  to  be  ixieA.— African  Planter. 
INDIAN  PATENTS. 
Applications  in  respect  of  the  undermentioned  in- 
ventions have  been  filed  during  the  week  ending 
28th  March  1896,  under  the  provisions  of  Act  V of 
1888. 
lor  improvements  in  or  connected  with  machinery 
or  apparatus  for  drying  tea  leaf  or  the  like.— No. 
108  of  1896.— William  Jackson,  engineer,  of  Thorn- 
grove,  Mannofield,  Aberdeen,  North  Britain,  for  im- 
provements in  or  connected  wnth  machinery  or  ap- 
pai;iitus  for  drying  tea  leaf  or  the  like.  ^ 
For  Drying  and  Warming  all  sorts  of  oil-seeds  by 
Steam  Power.— No.  118  of  1896.— Temulji  Dhunjibhoi 
mill  manager,  now  residing  at  No.  12.5,  Hurrogunge 
Road  Salkia  Howrah,  for  drying  and  warming  all 
sorts  of  oil-seeds,  by  steam-power. 
