250 
IHK  TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST, 
[Oct.  I,  1896 
It  is  understood  however,  that  garden  sirdars 
will  be  permitted  to  recruit  for  the  iJooap  and 
other  districts  not  under  the  Act.  It  is  ad- 
mitted that  a great  deal  of  the  evil  is  due  to  the 
rascally  set  called  “ Arkattis,”  and  that  they  must 
be  got  rid  of.  But  will  not  these  Arkattis  and 
other  evil-doers  endeavour  to  make  out  that  they 
are  garden  sirdars?  Mr.  Veruer  did  not  in  his  last 
address  allude  to  this  aspect  of  the  difficulty  at- 
tending the  proposed  Central  Agency,  I suppose 
because  the  Ccinpany  meeting  he  was  presiding  over 
was  an  Assam  one;  but  on  a former  occasion,  I 
think  at  a meeting  of  the  Indian  Tea  Association, 
he  dwelt  prominently  on  it.  It  is  to  be  presumed 
the  eaiden  sirdars  must  be  under  control  of  the 
Central  Agency  in  the  collection  of  cooiies,  but 
cannot  be  so  in  regard  to  their  destination  or  dis- 
tribution. With  all  precaution  therefore  the  recruit- 
ing by  garden  sirdars,  a necessity  for  the  Dooars, 
may  lead  to  misrepresentation,  recrimination  and 
serious  complications.  This  point  certainly  demands 
careful  attention. 
SCIENTIFIC  EXPERT. 
At  the  Association  Meeting  referred  to,  there 
seems  to  have  been  some  discussion  as  to  the  desi 
ableness  or  otherwise  of  such  for  tea.  No  doubt 
with  the  cost  of  pushing  for  new  markes,  it  may 
seem  beyond  the  power  of  the  tea  industry  to  pay 
a competent  expert  adequately  and  retain  his  services 
long  enough.  1 am  not  so  very  sanguine  of  a greai 
deal  being  accomplished  beyond  what  has  already 
been  done  bv  theso-called  “ rule  of  thumb”  experiments 
in  manufactures,  because  I do  not  believe  thar 
chemisirv  is  calculated  to  do  so  much  for  tea  as  in 
many  other  processes  of  manufactures.  Still  it  is 
but  science  should  work  hand  in  hand  with  practical 
men  and  in  the  course  of  years— it  might  be  very 
soon— be  productive  of  great  results  even  111  manu- 
factures. Neither  michi  science  soon  do  much  for 
the  case  blights  and  po  ts,  hut  it  could  hardly  fail 
to  do  something,  but  i think  it  is  in  the  analysis 
of  soil’  to  ascertain  what  manure  or  application  is 
required  to  yield  or  improve  quality,  most  that  is  to  be 
expected  In  regard  to  this  vital  matter  practical  man 
are  entirely  in  the  dark,  and  experimenting  is  of 
little  avail.  Of  course  in  regard  to  manuring  ucco/- 
dorinq  to  soil  for  healthy  plant  erowth  generally  also, 
a competent  agricultural  chemift  could  not  tail  to 
to  be  of  the  greatest  s:-rvice.  The  Association  engaged 
an  expert  (Mr.  Bamber),  but  did  not  continue  hisseiyices 
a sufficient  time  to  give  a chnne.  I le  was  only  allowed  time 
to  ascertain  his  position  and  be  prepared  to  make 
a fair  start  He  only  visited  t.vo  out  of  the  many  tea 
cuuntries  of  India  and  nev.r  set  loot  in  the  oneconsp;- 
cous  above  others  for  quality.  But  we  must  atimit  that 
be  perhaps  did  all  that  was  possible  in  the  time  aud  for 
tha\  he  should  have  full  credit.  IBs  report  is  the 
only  standard  work  upon  Indian  tea  since  Colonel 
Money’s.  He  gave  the  various  opiiiions  held^  or 
expressed  by  planters  on  dilferent  sub.iects,  descriocd 
or  referred  to  all  the.  bests  and  blights  tnat  tea  is  hear 
to;  but  without  aiding  much  as  to  their  eradication 
of  cure,  and  whatever  was  added  to  our  knowledge  of 
the  chemistry  of  tea,  nothing  was  contributed  to 
improvement  iii  the  practice  of  inanufacture.  Had 
Mix  Baiiiber’s  services  been  retained  loi  a coupli 
of  years  longer,  I am  sure  the  result  would  have  been 
very  different.  Allusion  was  made  to  some 
of  Dr.  Voelcker  recently  made  before  the  Koyal 
Society  (?)  that  such  a scientific  emiuiry  should 
extend  over  a period  of  twenty  years  and  that  can- 
not be  denied  by  anyone  taking  an  intelligent  view 
of  ihe  matter.  But  one  speaker  asks  how  m.my 
proprietors  of  tea  gardens  could  bo  found  who  were 
so  considerate  for  posterity  as  to  spend  large  sums 
of  money  annually  from  which  they  themselves  could 
derive  no  bonelit  ?”  But  with  a long-lited  crop 
like  tea  especially,  this  is  just  what  must  be  done 
in  the  interests  of  the  present  proprietors  quite  as 
much  as  in  the  interests  of  posterity.  i here  is 
often  short-sighted  procedure  m regard  to  the 
management  of  tea  property,  that  is  quite  as  much 
Laiiist  the  interests  of  the  present  as  futfuriy  it 
StlY  Viewed.  The  same  applies  to  the  coiiquciing 
of  new  markets,  and  the  employment  ot  scientrli  o 
experts.  The  fruits  of  such  labours  should  all  be 
duly  estimated,  or  in  the  absence  of  them  discounted 
in  regard  to  the  presreiit  value  of  tea  property. 
Of  course,  ns  in  America,  Geimnny,  etc.,  the  Govern- 
ment ought  to  stimulate  tea  proprietors,  and  con- 
tribute liberally  towards  the  funds  for  continuing 
the  services  of  competent  scientific  experts  year  after 
year  in  the  interest  of  an  industry  that  contributes 
so  much  towards  the  prosperity  of  the  Empire  as 
the  tea  industry  does. 
To  those  who  can  realise  the  difficulties  attending 
the  chemical  investigation  of  lea  culture  and  manu- 
facture, and  the  nature  of  scientific  research  in  con- 
nection with  agricultural  chemistry  in  ^this  country, 
so  far  from  thinking  20  years  too  long  would  fear 
it  moie  likely  not  to  prove  long  enough  to  obtain 
really  valuable  results,  not  to  speak  of  exhausting 
the  subject.  M'e  have  only  to  think  of  the  con- 
fliotiug  opinions  and  results  of  agricultural  chemists 
in  different  countries  to  bear  this  out.  And  still 
we  are  doubtless  bound  to  steadfastly  prosecute 
scientific  experiment  and  analysis.  Sir  John  Bennet 
Lawes  has  for  over  50  years  been  conducting  scienti- 
lic  experiments  with  manures,  and  in  agricultural 
chemistry  geneially,  aided  by  that  eminent  chemist 
Dr.  (now  Sir)  J.  Henry  Gilbtrt.  They  do  not  con- 
sider tlie  subject  exhausted ; so  far  from  it.  Sir  John 
Jjawes,  who  has  all  these  years  conducted  these  ex- 
tensive and  costly  experiments  and  maintained  a 
fully  equipped  laboratory  at  his  own  expense  in 
1889  set  apart  i;  100,000  under  the  necessary  trust 
deed  in  order  that  the  experiments  may  be  continued 
after  his  death.  Such  is  his  idea  of  the  time  neces- 
sary for  such  investigations,  and  our  duty  to  posterity 
in  such  a cause  I have  for  over  thirty-five  years  had 
my  attention  directed  to  Sir  John  Bawes’  experiments 
and  recently  paid  a visit  to  Eothamsted,  and  had  the 
advantages  of  having  the  experiments  and  labora- 
tory shown  me  and  much  valuable  information 
supplied  by  Sir  Henry  Gilbert.  On  some  other 
occasion  I may  have  more  to  say  on  the  subject  of 
a scientific  tea  expert,  the  llothamsted  investigations 
and  kindred  subjects.  Ceylon  is  not  only  urging  the 
cmplojment  of  a scientific  expert  for  the  island, 
but  that  tea  manufacture  be  taught  systematically 
in  their  technical  schools. — Indian  Hanters'  Gazette, 
Aug.  29. 
• ^ 
INDIAN  TEA  ASSOCIATION. 
Abstract  of  Proceedings  of  a Meeting  ot  the  General 
Committee,  held  on  the  5th  Aug.  18911. 
Proceedings  of  a General  Meeting  of  the  Central 
Travancore  Planters’  Association,  held  on  the  11th 
July,  were  submitted  to  the  Meeting.  In  these  pro- 
ceedings the  Committee  noticed  that  the  following 
Besolution  had  been  carried  unanimously  : — 
“ That  steps  should  be  taken  for  commencing  an 
agitati  n for  the  removal  of  the  three  months’  prompt 
for  tea  sold  in  London,  and  for  the  substitution  i f 
a one  month’s  prompt  as  in  the  case  of  coffee,  and 
that  this  Resolution  be  sent  up  to  the  United  Plan- 
ters’ Association.” 
The  Cominitteo  were  of  opinion  that  this  was  a 
matter  which  might  also  be  taken  into  consideration 
by  this  Association,  and  it  was  decided  to  draw  tho 
attention  of  the  London  Committee  to  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Central  Travancore  Planters’  Association 
in  connection  with  it  and  to  enquire  at  the  same  time 
whether  any  alteration  in  the  prompt  would  interfeie 
with,  or  be  detrimental  to,  the  smaller  buyers. 
The  Report  of  the  Special  Committee  which  had 
been  appointed  to  investigate  the  question  of  the 
handling  of  tea  at  tlie  Tea  Warehouse  and  Jetties, 
was  confirmed.  Tho  Report  had  been  divided  into 
two  portions,  one  of  which  formed  the  subject  of  a 
representation  to  the  Port  Commissioners,  and  the 
other  was  embodied  in  a Circular  letter  addressed 
to  all  member.s  of  the  association  on  the  packing 
of  tea  at  gardens. 
A note  made  by  Mr.  G.  13.  Paris  now  came  up  for 
consideration.  Mr.  Paris  suggested  that  all  shippers 
of  tea  should  issue  a circular  to  the  liners  autnoris- 
ing  ship’s  officers  to  refuse  all  chests  they  are  not 
perfectly  satisfied  with,  the  result  of  which  would 
be  that  shippers  would  bo  in  a position  to  enforce 
their  claims  on  tho  steamers. 
