June  1897.] 
AGRICUL'rURIST. 
THE  TROPICAL 
863 
Broken  Tea  as  a Drug  in  the  Market  — 
In  our  circuhir  of  2-5111  May  last  year  we  ilrew 
the  attention  of  proilncers  to  the  eonlractitij;-  value 
of  small  leaf  broken  pekoes,  ami,  as  the  course 
of  the  market  since  then  has  fully  conlirmed  our 
remarks,  we  would  again  point  out  the  impor- 
tance of  reducing  the  percentages  of  small  leaf 
pekoe  tannings,  often  invoiced  as  broken  pekoe, 
small  fannings,  and  broken  teas  of  all  descriptions 
A clean  Icafu  broken  pekoe  with  some  make, 
and  as  free  its  is  possible  from  an  admixture  of 
fanning-s,  is  to  be  aimed  at,  and  a good  deal  can 
be  done  towards  reducing  tiic  iiroportion  of  the 
latter  grade  by  more  attention  to  witheriug  and 
care  in  assorting.  These  remarks  a])ply  more 
especially  to  those  gardens  and  districts  where 
large  crops  of  ordinary  consuming  quality  are 
produced.  The  reason  for  the  receding  value  of 
small  brokens,  a situation  which  in  all  probability 
■will  become  more  marked  as  we  proceed,  is  easily 
explained,  when  it  is  understood  that  the  large 
and  yearly  increasing  exports  to  foreign  markets 
fronCCalcutta,  Ceylon,  and  London,  consist  nrac- 
tically  of  leafy  tea  only,  i.c.,  pekoe  and  souchongs, 
thus  leaving  a comparative  over-supply  of  small 
broken  leaf  kinds  for  home  consumption. — Messrs. 
CarretVs  Calcutta  Tea  Report,  May  5. 
Fiji  and  it.s  Future.— A correspondent  long  re- 
sident in  Fiji  writes  about  its  prospects  as  follows; — 
Sir  .J.  B.  Thurston’s  death  was  a sad  one.  Ho  was  a 
hard-working  Governor.  For  the  Colony’s  sake  I think 
it  is  a good  thing  that  a man  of  entirely  new  blood 
like  Sir  G.  O’Brien  has  been  appointed  as  Governor 
to  Fiji.  The  Colony  will  never  go  ahead  till  the  Gov- 
ernment altera  all  their  land  and  labour  regulations. 
All  the  land  belongs  to  the  natives  and  they  are  not 
allowed  to  sell  nor  even  to  lease  without  Government 
sanction  and  then  only  for  short  periods  ol  about  10 
to  15  years  ; I think  the  latter  is  the  term  fixed  by 
Ordinance.  There  are  tens  of  thousands  of  acres  of 
jungle  which  arc  not  likely  to  be  used  by  natives. 
Some  of  this  ought  to  be  surveyed  and  given  out  free 
to  would-be  bona  file  planters  if  they  agreed  to  culti- 
vate. Unless  something  of  this  sort  is  done  they  will 
not  get  people  to  go  there  and  invest.  The  natives 
ought  to  be  encouraged  to  go  to  works,  especially  the 
rising  generation.  As  1 have  often  stated  it  is  absurd 
that  Fiji  ■\vith  its  native  population  of  say  100,000,  a 
large  proportion  of  whom  ought  to  •work,  should 
have  to  import  labourers  from  Bengal,  Solomons, 
Hebrides,  and  Line  Islands.  There  are  difficulties  of 
course,  but  if  the  question  were  properly  managed  the 
natives  should  do  most  of  the  wovlc  required  by  the 
few  planters  at  present  in  the  group.  The  missionary 
influence  is  very  strong  and  all  those  in  authority  liither- 
tohave  fought  shy  of  interfering  with  it  in  any  way. 
But  surely  the  missiomiry  inlluenee  is  not 
against  the  ])eo])le  working;  only  we  .suppose 
the  Fijians — like  the  Sinhalese— as  a rule  prefer 
to  be  their  own  masters,  doing  as  much  or  as 
little  as  may  suit  themselves. 
“ 'FiiE  Cultured  Ib.ANTioR  ” is  the  title  of  a 
“skit”  contributed  to  the  Indian  Planters’ 
Gazette  in  which  a tea  planter  of  the  old  sciiool 
is  apjiioached  by  the  impeusonation  of  the  modern 
class  of  young  Assistants  and  an  amusing  inter- 
view winds  up  as  follows  : — The  younger  man 
speaking  ; — 
“ 5Ve  who  speak  unto  you,  the  nature  of  whose 
being  we  have  already  deliued  uifto  you,  rc(xuirc 
many  reforuis  and  ameliorations  in  our  live  o Uti 
tea-planters,  and  we  consider- that  tea  estates  being 
in  such  a healthy  condition  as  present  statistics 
prove  them  to  be,  that  now  is  the  time  to  bring 
our  wants  and  desires  before  those  who-se  business 
it  is  to  superintend  our  welfare.  We  desire  more 
substantial  remuneration  for  the  risking  of  our  pre- 
cious lives  in  this  deadly  climate;  we  desire  com- 
pensation for  cutting  ourselves  adrift  from  the 
society  of  our  fellowmen,  sometimes  to  live  upon 
gardens  a score  or  so  of  miles  ii'vvay  from  another 
European;  wo  desire  that  considering  o;;r  expensive 
education,  and  the  superior  intellectual  attainomuts, 
which  we  bring  to  bear  upon  the  sci'.nce  of  tea 
that  lirst-class  libraries  should  be  provided  at  the 
cost  of  the  compaiiy,  in  every  Huperin:  emlout’s 
bungalow ; that  these  should  include  tl;e  classics, 
poets,  histories,  literatures,  biographies,  rare  volumes 
of  prints,  not  forgetting  a current  supply  of  li  'bt 
novels  and  books  of  the  day,  so  that  the  taste  of 
any  moment  can  be  gia'alied.  Regarding  the  last 
named  we  suggest  that  a monthly  box  direct  from 
Mudic’s,  would  admirably  .sei  ve  the  purpose.  “Wo 
desire  bungalows  of  uniform  perfection,  with  all  the 
latest  improvements  of  architecture,  and  artistically 
decorated,  so  that  our  taste  in  art  may  not  peifoico 
deteriorate  by  the  distressing  vision  of  white-washed 
walls.  We  desire  a billiard  room  for  every  bunga- 
low', and  a table  of  the  best  procurable ; the  room 
of  course  to  be  fitted  up  with  all  the  necessary 
luxuries,  regardless  of  cost  ; so  shall  we  maintain 
our  skill  at  the  art  of  handling  a cue,  and  be  fit  to 
compete  with  our  fellowmen  when  we  return  to  the 
outer  w'orld  of  civilisation.  So  also  shall  our  hands  and 
unuugms  mm  occupauon  uuniig 
evemug.s  of  the  cold  weather.  “ V'v'e  require  pianos  for 
all — Erard’s  or  Broadwood’s  for  choice — and  b.ind 
instruments  with  of  course  a good  European  band- 
master, w'ould  be  a pleasant  addition  to  every  large 
estate.  The  bandsman  could  be  selected  from  the 
coolies,  and  at  our  dinners  the  strains  of  a well- 
trained  Jjaiid  would  be  a soothing  accompaniment  to 
the  rytnmioal  measure  of  the  punkah.  “ We  need 
very  urgently  punkah-pulling  machines  guaranteed 
not  to  get  out  of  order  , a tow'er  dock  to  be  erect- 
ed near  each  factory  with  the  aanie  necessary 
qualifications  as  the  punkah-machim-.s,  and  punkahs 
for  the  tea-house  so  constructed  that  they  have  no 
effect  upon  anything  except  human  beings  “ We 
desire  bicycles  to  be  provided  for  every- 
one,^ as  well  as  a good  supply  of  horses, 
a nog  cart  and  barouche  and  pair,  for  each 
man  so  that  during  the  hot  weather  lie  need 
not  have  tlie  exertion  of  driving  himself,  also  a 
motor  car.  5Ve  need  first-class  servants,  especially 
cooks  and  butler.s,  supplied  free  of  charge,  and  an 
extra  supply  kept  upon  each  garden  in  case  of 
erneigoncres  arising ; a largo  ice-machine  for  each 
estate  is  a sine  quit  non,  a,nd  a matter  deeply  affevt- 
mg  the  health  of  the  European.s.  Vv’hat  would  Mr 
Labouenere^say  did  he  but  know  that  inliuman 
directors  oi  tea  compaiiies  have  actually  hitherto 
failea  to  provide  then:  European  e,np!oi/es  with  this 
necessity  of  life  in  the  plains  of  India  ? The  omis- 
sion  13  prcposterou.q  and  we  earnestly  charge  you  to 
publish  the  facts  in  the  public  newspapers  so  that  {he 
oversight  may  he  immediately  remedied,  by  act  of 
Paihameut,  li  need  be.” 
“ One  moment,”  I broke  in  “ forgive  uny  inter- 
rupting you,  but  don’t  you  think  all  these  reriuire- 
meats  of  niocleni  planters  is  rather  a largo  orclei' ? If 
jou  were  to  ^ j at  it  more  gently  now,  suggestiug  let 
ns  say,  a billiai  d table  to  be  provided  for  each  estate 
and  after  getting  that  to  ask  for  something  further' 
there  might  jicrliap.s  bo  some  chance  of  getting  one 
or  two  of  the  more  seiisibie  suggestions  taken  into  con- 
sideration ; but  to  go  at  it  hammer  and  tonr''s  as  you 
Ancient  Kelict  of  Antiquity,”  thundered  niy 
visilor;  “ we  selected  you  as  our  mortal  mouthniece 
not  as  a critic  of  what  modern  cultuicd  planters  slioiilc! 
or  should  not  consider  necessary  to  their  welfare  ' 
-Uo  not  presunie  to  interpolate  your  m-a'nnatic-ii 
observatioii.s  ! Beit  borne  in  uuon  you^^^^  S 
ces'S^^)  that  billiard  tables  aiaUhe  iLcessary  ac- 
ccssoiiea  Un-calreadN  been  supplied  lo  several  estate.s 
uibt  ri  of  the  company.  This  is  a step 
m the  .iigntdireption,an;iour  modest  request  is  that 
Lie  custom  snouid  become  universal.  ” In  addition 
to  _tne  needs  \ye  ha.vo  already  eiuimerated  wo  re- 
quire a s.eain-lauiidry,  so  that  our  shiit-frouts  niav 
n ; v.e  also  desire-” 
huo  I could  stand  no  more,  and  lied  from  the 
loom,  leaving  him  to  vanish  to  \ihcnce  he  came  ^ 
