Feb. t, 1898.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 55*. 
Lurrcsponclcnca 
To the Editor. 
CEYLON TEA IN CAM ADA. 
Toronto, Nov. 30. 
Dear Sir, — We had the pleasure of a visit from 
Mr. McKenzie, accompanied by Mr. Blechynden, 
representing the Indian Tea Planters’ As.soeiation. 
They are both we think very well satisfied with 
the wonderful progress Ceylon tea has made in 
this part of Canada, and is making in other 
parts. There is no article being offered to the 
public today, that is so largely advertised as 
Ceylon tea : there seems to be a craze among 
tea dealers to advertise. We ourselves were the 
originators of Ceylon tea advertising ; in fact, 
before we took it up, no tea was advertised, but 
there are dozens of “Kichmonds” in the field 
today. 
We are sending you on with this, a couple of 
papers, one of last Saturday, and another of 
Monday, shewing the extent to which Ceylon tea 
is advertised in Toronto. 
The ousting of Japan teas in the Montreal 
districts is a harder task. Still, this is gradu- 
ally taking place, and we have no doubt that in 
years to come practically nothing but Ceylon and 
Indian tea will be used in Canada. 
In the United States we are making very great 
progress. We opened up branches there, in 
Buffalo first, at the instigation of Mr. McKenzie, 
and we had grave doubts as to the ultimate 
results ; today we have none. It is only a 
matter of “holding on,” when >ve shall catch 
the trade there, as we have in Canada. We have 
now offices in Buffalo, Pittsburg, Detroit, Roch- 
ester, Cleveland, and latterly Boston, in which 
place' we had a fine exhibit at the Food Fair 
recently running there. This was very successful, 
crowded houses, afternoons and evenings ; and it 
continued for over a month. The results to us 
have been magnificent. We have been shipping 
on in hundred or two hundred box lots until the 
other day, when we thought it best to get a 
carload of twenty thousand pounds ready, which 
we expect to despatch in a day or two. We 
have also about four tons to go forward to 
Buffalo, Pittsburg and Cleveland : in fact, we are 
kept at’ work night and day. 
Mr. McKenzie has urged us on to push the 
business down by the Atlantic, in the Provinces 
of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince 
Edward Island. Yon will perhaps understand 
that, although this is in the Dominion of Canada, 
it is a thousand miles further off than many 
parts of the United States that we are now in. 
Tliose provinces are exclusively black tea drink- 
in" districts, but the chief teas in use there are 
China Saryune Congous. We are making great 
efforts now to introduce Ceylon teas, and are 
meeting with fair success. 
We venture to send this on to you, as it may 
be interesting to many of the planters. — We are, 
yours truly, 
the “SALADA” CEYLON TEA COMPANY, 
P. C. Larkin & Co. 
[The Aifvertisements are large and attractive 
and are an undoubted evidence of the earnestness 
of the Company, in pushing our teas.— E d. T.A*] 
• 68 
TEA GPvOWINO IN RUSSIA- 
ITS FUTURE, AND EFFECT ON BRITISH 
GROWN TEAS. 
Dear Sir, — While travelling in Sweden I met a 
gentleman who kindly gave me a letter of in- 
troduction to Mr. Popoff of Moscow, the pro- 
prietor of a tea plantation in Russia so I decided 
to visit Moscow, and if possible see the tea plan- 
tation. 
at ST. PETERSBURG. 
After a very pleasant stay in Stockholm I took 
steamer for St. Petersburg, where we arrived on 
the third day. After presenting my Passport to 
a Military Officer, who took a keen interest in 
the valued document notwithstanding it was 
written in English, and he knew not a word, my 
baggage was examined and I was allowed to land, 
At St. Petersburg my spirits were somewhat 
lowered ; and all said it would be impossible for 
me to visit the tea plantation, as even Russians 
were not admitted, and they were very certain 
no foreigner would be allowed to see what was 
closed to them. 
AT MOSCOW 
Leaving St. Petersburg on the third day, I arrived 
at Moscow on the following morning. What a 
city to behold ! Buildings of all sorts, and sizes 
packed in the smallest possible space ; and as the 
houses are not numbered, the population close 
on a million, and few streets named, the new 
arrival must engage a guide as the “ Svostchik ” 
(Russian driver) has no idea of locality. To the 
Tourist there is much of interest : footpaths which 
in many places will not allow pedestrians to pass 
in single file, badly paved narrow streets the 
equal of which it would be hard to find. 
At every corner is an image of the Saviour, 
with a glass containing a lighted wick floating 
in oil. At each of these Altars the Svostchik 
takes off his hat and crosses himself some thirty 
times in the most devout manner, but trust him 
not, for in the same breath he will lie, and rob 
you in a manner that would put the lowest oriental 
in the shades The leading merchants have their 
offices in the old city round which the famous 
Chinese wall still stands ; the greater part of 
Moscow today, is outside. the Chinese wall, and 
with few exceptions is as much behind the times 
as the old city. 
caravan tea. 
The cold was intense which made it all the 
more interesting to one who has lived for some 
years in the East. On the morning of the second 
day having procured a guide and droskie, I 
drove to the office of Mr. Popoff, where' I met 
one of tl e chief clerks, who informed me that 
Mr. Popoff' would be in at 2 p.m. I then 
drove to a large warehouse wfiere a quantity 
of Caravam tea had lately arr ived ; the tea was 
in chests sewn up in hides with the hair still 
on, and placed next the chest ! 'What with the 
close atmosphere and the smell from the hides 
(some of which were still damp), five minutes 
w'as as much as I could stand, and glad I was 
to get in the open. From that day I have, and 
always will carry my own tea when in 
Russia, and take good care it is not “ Cara- 
van tea.” Ceylon, or Indian will be good enough 
for me. 
tea With a slice of lemon. 
From my youth, having heard much of “ Rus- 
sia’s tea with a slice of lemon,” I was prepared 
