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THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb.  I,  1897. 
1 have  been  very  busy  of  late  and  unable  to  finish 
niy  report  and  accounts  of  the  Nijni  Exhibition,  but 
they  will  scon  follow. 
li-ou  can  use  your  discretion  as  to  publishing  this 
letter,  personally  1 should  like  it. — Believe  me,  dear 
sir,  yours  faithfully,  (3igi  cd)  M.  Kogivue. 
SILK  CULTIVATION  IN  CEYLON. 
Oanunadna,  11th  Jan. 
Dear  Sir,— When  writing  you  on  this  .subject 
some  months  ago,  I mentioned  that  a .supply  of 
Jaiianese  eggs  was  expected.  1 am  glad  to  say  they 
have  arrived  in  excellent  order.  1 shall  be  hap])y 
to  .supply  small  quantities  to  owners  of  mul- 
berry trees  who  may  be  willing  to  rear  the 
worms.  These  varieties  will  do  best  in  our  higher 
districts. — Y'ours  faithfully, 
PERCY  N.  CRAINE. 
[We  wish  Mr.  Rraine  all  success. — Ed.  T.A.'\ 
CEYLON  TEA  IN  AMERICA. 
Drayton,  Jan.  20. 
Dear  Sir, — The  interest  of  the  enclosed  letter 
from  Mr.  Mackenzie  will,  1 hope,  allow  you  to 
grant  the  space  requireil  for  its  publication.  In 
the  part  excised  he  complains  of  a delay  in  the 
advice  of  further  funds.  This  delay  was  caused 
bj'  the  routine  required  under  the  Ordinance,  that 
“ the  proceeds  ot  the  said  levy  be  subject  to  the 
approval  of  the  Governor  in  Executive  Council.” 
The  Committee  met  on  December  12,  pas.sed  the 
vote,  and  received  the  sanction  required  on  the 
30th.  On  the  31st  December  a telegraphic  credit 
was  sent,  and  was  acknowledged  by  ^Ir.  Mackenzie 
under  date  January  1st. 
Considering  the  intervention  of  Christmas  holi- 
days, and  jjiobable  dispersal  of  the  Council  at  the 
time,  though  1 regret  the  delay,  I cannot  consider 
it  exce.ssive. 
I am  in  receipt  from  a well  known  fiim  of  the 
enclosures.  (Marked  A.)  They  write  “the  teas 
relerred  to  are  being  shipped  by  us.  I need  only 
add  that  the  iirni  mentioned  seems  determined  to 
push  Ceylon  tea,  and  think  they  deserve  the 
support  of  the  Tea  Eund  which  Mr.  Mackenzie  has 
already  given  them  to  some  extent.” 
1 would  also  draw  public  attention  to  INIessrs. 
Gow  Wilson  anil  Stanton’s  report  (Enclosure  R), 
and  send  you  for  your  inspection  a few  ads,  arrived 
by  this  mail,  showing  the  extent  of  ground 
covered.  Any  firms,  who  can  convince  our  Agents 
of  their  desire  and  ability  to  push  Ceylon  teas, 
and  inlluence  trade,  are  in  e(|ually  favoured 
position  as  to  receiving  assistance.  Mr.  rVlackenzie, 
with  his  local  knowledge,  can  however,  be  trusted 
to  discriminate,  but  his  “allies,”  are  constantly 
increasing  in  number. 
As  this  will  probably  be  the  last  letter  which  I 
shall  address  you,  as  Chairman,  I wish  to  take 
the  opportunity  of  thanking  you  for  the  kinil  way 
in  tvliich  you  have  ahvays  placed  your  columns 
at  my  disposal,  and  for  the  useful  discussions  con- 
tributed for  the  cause  of  Ceylon  tea.  J^ong  may  it 
nourish. — 1 am.  Yours  faithfully, 
A.  W.  «.  SACKNTLLE. 
Mit.  Mackenzie's  Lettek. 
London,  Doc.  31. 
Dear  Sackville,  — Referring  to  that  circular  I sent 
you  from  the  Boston  finn  you  will  sco  they  say 
"only  about  10  per  cent  of  the  tea  used  in  the  States 
is  ot  the  breakfast  soit  (that  is  fernicnled  tea)  while 
more  than  two-thiids  of  'JO  per  cent  is  green  tea, 
the  balance  being  Oolong;  wliich,  while  black  in  dry 
leaf  is  only  slightly  fermented,  and  resembles  more 
in  leaf  the  green  tea,”  etc.  This  bears  out  what  I 
have  so  often  writtin  as  to  the  narrowness  of  the 
field  when  we  compete  with  teas  used  in  America. 
To  get  any  fooling  among  the  green  tea  drinkers 
advi  rtising  is  of  no  use  unless  we  at  the  same  time 
demonstrute,  canvass,  issue  samples,  circulars,  etc. 
Now  what  Colombo  house  is  to  undertake  that  work  ? 
If  the  thing  is  to  be  left  to  private  enterprise  such 
work  will  not  be  done.  The  trade  will  be  content 
with  selling  China  and  Japjan  teas,  which  need  no 
auvassing  nor  advertising,  and  yield  more  prrolit. 
Messrs. — and  many  others,  now  stimulated  by 
us  to  push  machine-made  teas,  would,  if  we  stopped 
now,  gradually  glide  into  the  trade  they  found  most 
profitable  and  least  expensive. 
Colombo  Houses,  whatever  they  may  think,  would 
not  benefit,  and  planters  would  find  a really  pro- 
mising field  (up  to  15,000,0'j0  lb.  in  two  years,  I be- 
lieve) lost  to  them.  To  stop  at  present  would  be 
suicidal.  After  June  the  matter  may  be  again  consi- 
dered.   one  of  our  best  allies  came  over  to  New 
York,  when  I was  there  last,  to  decide  whether  bis 
firm  should  withdraw  entirely  from  America.  As  you 
know  it  was  due  to  our  aid  that  they  persevered  so 
long.  He  told  me  three  weeks  ago  it  would  be  de- 
cided when  he  returned  and  reported  to  his  partners, 
but  that  the  decision  would  depend  on  what  the 
Committee  did 
1 enclose  two  of  the  Committee’s  advertisements 
also  circulars  wdiich  are  worth  studying.  I send  1 
advertisements  showing  that  “ Salada”  Ceylon  tea 
is  being  vigorously  jmshed  there.  These  advertise- 
ments are  from  4 diti’erent  firms.  All  this  is  due  to 
the  inducement  I gave  to — to  push  teas  in  Buffalo. 
Can  private  enterprise  shew  anyihing  of  this  sort  ? 
I also  send  a paper  containing  a picture  and  adver- 
tisement of  the  laige  new  store  in  New  York,  where 
so  many  firms  were  demonstrating  our  tea. 
In  their  store  in  Chicago  I found  4 Ceylon  lea 
stalls,  where  different  allies  of  ours  were  exhibiting 
their  teas,  and  giving  away  cups,  samples,  directions 
for  making,  etc.  You  will  notice  a picture  of 
the  Ceylon  branch  in  the  corner.  In  Boston,  Toionto, 
Buffalo,  Detroit,  Chicago,  Pittsburg  and  Philadelhhia 
I found  our  friends  pnishing  direct  to  the  consumer 
in  many  ways.  In  Plnladelphia  I found  Miss  Parkin- 
son, the  Ceylon  lady  i sent  out  to  our  best  Ameri- 
cau  allies,  running  an  immense  exhibit  in  a food 
store,  with  fourteen  girls  assisting  her  It  was  the 
first  thing  of  the  kind  1 have  seen  in  America. 
Hundreds  tasted  the  teas  daily,  were  shewn  how  to 
make  them,  were  given  samples,  and  large  quantities 
of  packets  were  being  sold.  The  ubiquitous  Tetley 
had  a booth  also.  Our  Pittsbui-g  advertising  and 
assistance  has  made  5 wholesale  firms  advertise  our 
teas  there,  and  they  can  be  bought  in  about  000 
shops  in  Pittsburg,  Alleghany  (separated  only  by 
the  river)  Homestead,  and  other  suburbs.  How  many 
years  would  it  take  private  enterprise  in  Colombo  to 
do  this  ? 
Private  enterprise  executes  orders,  but  with  the 
exception  of — no  Colombo  merchant  does  any  more 
There  was  such  a great  rise  in  shipments  to  “ other 
countries  ” last  year  of  both  Ceylons  and  Indians, 
that  no  rise  was  anticipated  this  year,  but  it  is 
believed  the  figures  will  shew 
1894  1895  1890. 
28  38  42  millions  of  lbs. 
It  is  difficult  to  get  American  ligm-es  ; but  I antici- 
pate no  rise  in  imports,  although  a great  increase  in 
consumption.  Large  stocks  were  on  hand  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  then  the  Presidential  election 
damped  energy,  and  no  new  article  liad  any  chance. 
But  during  the  last  quarter  shipments  were  very 
large.  In  fact  there  has  been  a rush  of  orders  from 
the  States  and  Canada,  many  of  which  have  not 
yet  been  executed. 
I think  it  will  bo  found  that  London  shipments  of 
Indian  teas  to  America  were  nearly  as  large  in 
November  as  during  the  previous  six  months. 
Y’^ours  truly, 
(Signed)  WI\I.  MACKENZIE, 
A.  W.  S.  Sackville,  Etq., 
Chairman,  Thiity  Committee. 
