636 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[March i, 1898 . 
Son‘6sponr1enci2 
To ilic. Edifor, 
CEYLON TEA IN KUSSIA. 
Moscow, 5/ 1 Till Dec. 1897. 
A. Philip, E.sq., Secretary to the “Thirty 
Committee,” Kandy, Ceylon. 
Dear Sir, — I confirm my letter of the 21st 
August, 2nd September. Having been since, a 
great deal absent from Moscow and expecting 
at any moment the visit of Mr. Christie, I re- 
frained of writing sooner. I had, last week, the 
pleasure of seeing 'here Mr. Christie, and while I 
will leave it to that gentleman to expiess his 
own opinion about myself, my busine.ss and my 
work, past and future, as regards the interests 
of “Ceylon” and “Ceylon Tea” in this country. 
I will refute the hostile’ “ Editorials” which have 
lately appeared in the columns of the “ Times of 
Ceylon,” by stating 
1st. That my Company has been floated with 
the object of continuing to push the sale of 
“ Ceylon Tea,” as well as trying to introduce 
Indian tea, in Sussia. 
2nd. That the business I have been carrying 
on in Russia vvill be materially ira). roved by the 
increased capital that has been put into it, and 
that I will be enabled thereby to increase the 
outlet for Ceylon tea in this country in a way 
that I have nob hitherto succeeded in doing, so 
largely as I would have wished. 
3 rd. Hiat none of the Ceylon money has been 
used by me for advertising Indian tea, and that 
it has never been my intention of doing so. 
4th. That in the beginning of November last, 
before leaving London, 1 have acquainted Mr. Wm. 
Martin Leake of the fact that my Company had 
been succes.sfully floated. 
It remains now for Mr. Christie to report upon 
the progress of Ceylon tea has made in Russia 
and to suggesst the plans of action to be adopted 
in future for further extension. Enclosing copy 
of my today’s letter' to the Editor of the “Times 
of Ceylon.” — I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
(Signed) M. ROGIVUE. 
* The letter referred to is as follows 
Moscov.', 5/17th Dec. 1897. 
Sir,— In your issue No. 4G of ,i8fch November, 1897, 
I read your two editorials, “ Rogivue, Limited ” and 
“ Mr. Rogivue and the Thirty Committee ” which 1 find 
ather offensive, both for myself and the promoters 
of my Company. 
While contesting {sic) yourself the right to blame 
my action, I beg to state; — (1st) That 1 am not and 
have never been a paid servant of the “ Thirty 
Committee.” I spent the money they have sent me, 
and a great deal of my own, in advertising “ Ceylon 
Tea” in Russia, without any compensation what- 
ever for my work, my travelling expenses or other 
charges, but the only benefit my business has gained 
by the “advertising.” I, therefore, think that I was 
quite at liberty to transfer my business to a Com- 
pany without asking the permission of the “ Thirty 
Committee” or anybody else. (2nd) My Company 
has not been floated to push m Russia the sale ol 
Indian Tea 07 , In. (3rd) I deny that I have been 
‘crimped” by anyone. . 
I shall thank you to publish this letter in one of 
vour next issues, and remain, dear sir, yours faith- 
M. RoaivuE. 
CEYLON TEA IN CANADA AND UNITED 
SLATES: GOOD NEWS. 
Toronto, Dec. 14tli 1897. 
Dear Sir. — Y'ou will be glad to hear that our 
Government lia.s placed restrictions on the im- 
portation into this country, of adulterated and 
low grade teas which liave been refused admit- 
tance into the United State.®. Practically, this 
will not aflecl Ceylon and Indian Tea at all, 
but it will be a very serious blow indeed to 
China ami Japan, because ct the large amount 
ot adulteration and coloring matter used in their 
teas. 
We feel confident that it will jn-event at least 
a million pounds oflow-giade China and Japan 
Teas, coming into Canada annually, that have 
hitherto come in, and give us a chance to sup- 
ply the people with our pure teas. 
\Ve might say that the action of our Govern- 
ment was chiefly brought about by the work of 
your Commissioner. Mr. McKenzie, and the In- 
dian Commissioner, Mr. Blechyndcn. The series 
of articles that appeared in *he American papers, 
on the refusal at American ports of large quan- 
tities of China and Japan teas, attracted the 
attention of our Government, or was rather 
brought to their attention by ourselves ; hence 
their action. The insertion of these articles in 
the American papers was wholly due to Mr. 
McKenzie and Mr. Rleeliynden : they have accom- 
plished a very great deal indeed, and we feel very 
grateful. — We are, yours truly, 
P. C. LARKIN & Co., 
P. S . — We .shipped a cart-load of twenty thou- 
sand pounds of tea to Boston, on the 8 th. We 
can report splendid business prospects in the 
United States. 
CEYLON TEA IN NORTH AMERICA; 
Hanip.siead, N.AV., Jan. 6 . 
Dear Sir, — I enclose lists of tea packets being 
advertised in Canada, also orders sent to tea 
inspectors, on the subject of tea rejected in U.S. 
and trying to get into Canada. 
Orders from “other” countrie.s, chiefly Russia 
and Anieiica, are keeping np prices of low 
grades, which these c ountries chiefly take. The 
large blending houses here, cannot get those 
teas at their own prices ; but to be averaged, 
they bid less for medium teas, and foreign orders 
do not defeat their combination. They divide 
breaks, instead of competing for them. 
The shares of the reecntly formed Companies 
sucli as “ Mazzawattie,” are rising in conse- 
quence of the immense profits our cheap teas 
brought them in 1897. It is almost time a 
“Grower’s Distribution Co.” was formed. — 
Yours faithfully, Wm. MACKENZIE. 
[We cannot fully reproduce the enclosures; but 
they are leferred to elsewhere.— Ed. T.A.'] 
THE YIELD OF RAMIE PER ACRE. 
39, Victoi ia Street, Westminster, S,W. Jan. 14. 
Sir, — Instead of entering into a wordy dis- 
cussion with your good self, and the various cor- 
respondents who doubted my figures as to the 
yield per acre of Ramie stems in the Straits, I 
put myself into communication with Mr. Tom 
Gibsem of Klang, Selangor, the Hon. Secretary 
of the United Planters’ Association, who for some 
time past has been exjierimenting with Ramie 
for his Association, and asked him for his can 
did opinion as to whether my estimate of 70 ton 
