March  r,  1897.]  THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
637 
tea  that  we  should  expect  merchants  to  lose  thousands 
of  pound  in  pushing  it,  when  they  could  make  a 
profit  by  supplying  other  tea  ? Many  of  those  help- 
ing us,  do  so  because  they  believe  they  will  eventually 
recoup  their  immediate  losses,  being  the  first  in  a 
trade  which  they  foresee  our  effort  will  make,  if  we 
persevere.  It  is  not  so  much  becuse  of  the  amouut 
we  can  give  in  aid  of  their  work,  as  because  they 
know  if  they  do  not  fall  ia  with  us,  their  rivals  will. 
This  is  clearly  shown  by  a circular  addressed  by  a 
leading  American  firm  to  their  16,000  grocer  customers, 
in  which  they  say  they  are  obliged  to  put  up  a packet 
of  Ceylon  and  Indian  tea  because  “ English  packers” 
assisted  by  the  Association  would  otherwise  get  1-lOth 
of  their  trade.  That  tenth,  they  say,  is  practically 
all  the  black  tea  drunk  in  Atnerica.  The  balance 
being  green  or  untermented  teas.  The  Chairman  has 
copy  of  this  circular. 
.lealoti,s!/  and  rivalry  a,re  elements  of  all  trade — little 
would  be  done  were  everybody  content.  I am  glad 
we  have  creaced  those  feelings  in  .America,  and  I do  no 
believe  v'P.  have,  created  them  in  Onlonibo.  True  much  of 
the  tea  sold  by  oirr  strong  London  allies  may  be 
bought  in  London,  and  muclt  of  that  used  by  our  nu- 
merous American  friends  may  be  bought  in  Ijondoii  or 
New  York.  It  may  also  be  true  that  Colombo  firms 
would  like  get  to  those  orders,  and  that  some  of  them  are 
jealous  in  consequence,  Hut  tlm  tax  from  which  the 
Fund  comes  in  paid  by  the  cjrowera  and  in  intended  to 
benerit  the  planters — not  the  numerous  potty  Agencies 
which  may  e.xist  in  Colombo.  Agents  or  Colombo 
Merchants  are  so  much  mix  id  up  with  planters  as 
Shareholders  and  Directors  of  Companies,  that  may 
be  difficult  to  separate  their  interests.  But  I feel 
certain  such  firms  as  Messrs.  George  Steuart  & Co., 
Messrs.  Robertson  & Co.,  Bosanquet  & Co.,  Whittall 
& Co.,  &c.  are  not  in  any  way  jealous  of  London  or 
American  Houses  who,  at  an  expense  three  to  six  times 
greater  than  our  subsidies,  do  all  the  educational  work 
now  going  on  in  America.  If  there  are  Firms  “ con- 
sumed with  jealousy,”  why  do  they  not  engage  in 
this  work  themselves  and  come  in  for  some  crumbs 
from  the  fund  ? At  present  they  only  execute  orders. 
Now  I take  it,  our  Fund  was  intended  to  create  a 
demand — not  to  .subsidize  such  as  merely  execute 
orders. 
When  the  planters  see  no  further  use  for  the 
“ Cess,”  let  them  get  it  withdrawn  by  all  means, 
but  they  should  not  be  infiuenced  by  insinuations  of 
jealousy  I have  entered  at  length  in  this  phase  of 
the  subject,  because  I notice  an  effort  has  been 
made  to  create  disunion  and  disaffection.  But  if  it 
be  true  as  I see  in  the  Colombo  papers  that  the  Com- 
mittee has  granted  Tl‘2,000  for  America  in  1867,  it 
proves  that  the  gentlemen  forming  the  Committee 
believe  the  methods  I have  pursued  to  be  such  as  we 
may  o.xpoct  to  produce  results.  But  I shall  welcome 
suggestions  reduced  to  what  the  Americans  call 
“■  practical  propositions  ” believing  that  de/initioa 
would  do  more  good  than  vague  denunciation. 
As  to  the  results  of  our  work  so  far  it  is  difficult  to 
speak  with  confidence  as  to  actual  figures.  I believe 
myself  that  the  consumption  of  our  teas  in  1896  was 
double  that  of  1894  I say  consumption  not  importation, 
because  we  began  1896  with  a large  stock  in  hand 
in  America.  The  Presidential  Election  too  upset 
trade  in  1896,  so  much  that  few  Merchants  would 
touch  a new  article.  But  during  the  last  three 
months,  I believe  it  will  be  found,  that  the  exports  to 
America  from  London,  Calcutta,  and  Colombo  were 
very  large  indeed. 
Whatever  may  be  results,  I can  speak  confidently 
of  the  great  extension  of  the  efforts  made  in  1896 — 
especially  during  the  last  eigho  months  of  the  year, 
to  introduce  our  teas  into  Stores,  to  open  up  new 
fields  for  them,  and  to  make  them  know  to  consuuiers 
in  all  States  East  of  Chicago.  And  these  efforts  have 
undoubtedly  been  attended  with  great  success.  Some 
Wholesale  firms  have  now  several  hundreds  of 
Grocers  in  each  of  several  large  towns,  selling  our 
teas.  I could  tell  much  more  in  this  direction  were  it 
not  that  I think  it  better  not  to  publish  details  of 
other  people's  business.  But  the  Committee  are  in  pos- 
session of  a mass  of  information  bearing  on  the  point, 
and  a few  words  from  the  Chairman  will  suffice  to 
satisfy  the  subscribers  that  their  money  is  not  being 
wasted. 
I may  give  a few  instances  of  what  is  being  done. 
In  one  very  large  Store  recently  built  in  New  York, 
six  rival  firms  had  stalls  for  weeks,  where  our  teas 
were  exhibited.  That  is  the  girls  m de  tea,  offered 
it  to  customers,  who  entered  the  store,  gave  away 
samples,  circulars  &c.  In  another  rival  store  close 
to  this  one  there  were  three  stalls  running  last  month. 
In  Chicago  I found  one  store  with  four.  In  Philadel- 
phia I saw  the  best  exhibit  of  the  kind  I met  any- 
where. One  of  our  strongest  allies — an  American 
Firm — had  an  enormous  booth  in  a Food  Show — about 
a quarter  of  the  immense  Hall— beautifully  decorated 
witli  palms,  flags  Ac.  where  a lady  well  known  in  Ceylon 
with  14  girl  assistants  welcomed  all  comers  to  taste  a 
cup  of  pure  Ceylon  or  Indian  tea.  The  place  was  crowded 
daily. 
All  towns  are  not  as  large  as  New  York,  Chicago, 
or  Philadelphia,  but  in  many  towns  on  a scale  in  pro- 
portion to  population,  this  sort  of  thing  is  going  on  con- 
stantly. Wherever  we  c.ui  get  this  kind  of  work  done  in 
a town  by  two  or  throe  whole-iale  houses  simulta- 
neously, we  draw  the  attention  of  the  publi(!  by  adver- 
tisements in  the  daily  press.  Wo  have  recendy  taken 
up  Buffalo  and  Pittsbing,  and  are  arranging  for  ex- 
tending to  three  oiher  towns  at  once. 
Wo  advertise  in  22  leading  jupers  in  the  E.iatern 
State.s,  besi  ies  numerous  magazines,  and  ladies’  newa- 
papei’s, 
I may  here  be  allowed  to  sound  a note  of  warning. 
Whether  it  be  that  quantity  rather  than  quality  is 
now  the  aim  of  most  Ceylon  planters,  or  that  the 
teas  are  really  deteriorating,  1 cannot  decide,  but 
no  one  can  deny  that  compared  with  teas  from  India, 
Ceylon  teas  are  rapidly  falling  in  value.  Broken  pe- 
koes are  no  longer  in  request.  Coarser  leaf  teas  are 
used  in  blends  to  bring  down  the  average  cost  to 
the  blender,  while  Indian  teas  supply  the  point  and 
qualitv.  Ceylon  teas  are  quoted  5d  to  6d,  dangerously 
near  the  price  of  Chinas. 
Our  best  customer  in  America  has  written  to  me  that 
the  largest  American  Tea  Firm— hitherto  unap- 
proachable by  us,  has  sent  him  samples  of  machine- 
made  China  tea  as  asubstitute  for  Ceylons.  He  says 
they  are  very  like  Ceylon  broken  pekoes  m style,  but 
fail  in  cup  qualities.  He  adds  they  may  well  “ inter- 
rupt ” the  sale  of  our  teas  to  inexperienced  dealers. 
Everything  points  to  this,  that  quality  not  quantity 
should  he  the  aim  of  all  in  1897. 
Ceylon  Tea  in  Russia.— Letters  recently  published 
together  with  statements  of  accounts,  received  from 
Mr.  M.  Rogivue  have  already  supplied  all  informatiou 
possible,  and  as  these  papers  will  be  included  in 
tlie  Book  of  Proceedings  of  the  year  it  is  unneces- 
sary to  recapitulate  their  contents.  They  afford  evi- 
dence, however,  if  evidence  were  wanted,  that  vigo- 
rous efforts  should  continue  to  be  made  to  make 
known  Ceylon  tea  in  the  vast  Empire  of  Russia,  and 
that  steps  should  be  devised  as  soon  as  possible 
largely  to  increase  the  demand  for  Ceylon  tea  by 
that  tea  drinking  nation. 
In  view  of  the  large  area  of  the  country  to  be 
worked,  and  the  great  value  of  the  trade,  if  acquired, 
it  may  be  necessary  to  supplement  Mr.  Rogivne’a 
efforts  by  independent  agencies.  No  one  man,  how- 
evar  energetic,  can  cope  with  trade  of  the  whole 
empire,  and'  no  efforts  I should  be  spared  to  interest 
those  already  engaged  in  tea  in  our  produce. 
Ceylon  Tea  at  Inxern.ytional  Exhibition  at 
Geneva. — With  a view  to  following  up  previous  small 
grants  to  different  applicants  who  had  been  push- 
ing the  sale  of  Ceylon  tea  on  Switzerland,  and  on  the 
recommendation  of  Mr.  Wm.  Mackenzie  a sum  of 
£200  sterling  was  paid  to  Messr.«.  Tetley  & Co  , who 
had  represented  that  the  Geneva  International  Exhi- 
bition would  afford  a most  favourable  opportunity  to 
push  Ceylon  tea  in  Switzerland  and  the  neighbour- 
ing countries.  It  was  propo.-ied  that  Messrs.  Tetley 
& Co.  should  share  with  two  Swiss  firms  a chalet 
to  be  erected  in  the  grounds.  In  this  chalet  they 
