JbNE r, 1898.3 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
845 
third packs will have to improve very much to 
he of any use for the United State.s’ markets 
next season. We have not detected any adul- 
teration in the leaf used, and the ))oor quality 
appears to be entirely due to tlie w.nnt of caie 
in preparation. A proclamation prohibiting the 
use of anything except charcoal in liring these 
teas would eo a long way towards improving 
them and making the best of them equal to 
Teenkai teas. At present some of the first picked 
leaf is mixed with Teenkai, leaf, and the smoky 
flavour reduces tlie value of the chops so mixed. 
Wenchows. — The first picking.s of these teas 
are generally pure, but they are thin and would 
never be equal to Moyune or Teenkai teas even 
if the greatest care was bestowed on their pre- 
paration. Second and third packs are poor and 
often contain a large proportion of damaged leaf 
wliich has changed colour, hence the sour flavour 
so much complained of in the United States. 
Only the best of the-se are suitable for America. 
Local Packed Teas. — These are manufactured 
in Shanghai, and are generally made from leaf 
brought up from Wenchow in a half fired state. 
In favourable seasons, when the leaf is in good 
condition, these teas are similar to those packed 
at Wenchow, but, as a rule, they are poor in 
quality, though made from genuine tea leaf. 
PiNGSUEYS. — It is to the short-sighted policy 
of men engaged in this trade that all the trouble 
in respect to these teas in the United States is 
attributable, and if it had not been for their 
disgraceful practices no e.xclusiori law would have 
been required. Wdien the demand increased fol- 
low priced tea, the Chinese in the Pingsuey 
districts, with a few honourable exceptions, 
met this demand by adulterating their teas. 
At’ first it was confined to additional colour- 
ing matter, but gradually willow leaf, honey- 
suckle and other leaves, also dust (not 
tea sweepings) mixed with congee and rolled 
into small pellets were added a,nd coloured to 
represent the true tea leaf, until Pingsuey became 
Tea only in name. It is unprofitable to try and 
fix the blame of this deplorable state of allairs 
on any one class of people, but if the Pingsuey 
men had only been as pious in their attitude as 
their neighbours in Moyune and Teenkai and 
had kept their teas pure and unadulterated, China 
Green Tea would not have been legislated against 
in America. We now wish to direct your 
attention to the remedial measures adopted during 
the past year. The Bill in the United States 
to e.xclude the spurious tea was passed, and the 
standard of lowest quality to be admitted was 
sent to Shanghai in the Spring of 1898 before 
Teamen had begun to make the new crop, and so 
fair warning was given to all that no tea below 
tile standard should be brought to market. Those 
who make good tea found a ready sale for their 
produce at very remunerative prices, but several 
who disregarded the warning made tea so near to 
the quality but inferior to the general requirements 
of the standard, that buyers had doubts about buy- 
ing them and a large quantity is still left in 
native tea owners’ hands, most of which is not 
■ good enough to be passed by the Inspector ; 
although we oelieve it contains no admixture 
of willow leaf or other spurious matter. Much 
of the tea, however, is “ faced” with a colouring 
matter which produces a scum or grease found 
floating on the surface when the tea is infused 
in the American way. There are also other black 
substances which find their way into the tea. 
These are what the Inspection Act strikes at to 
a great extent. This year the standard has again 
been raised, and none except really pure tea will 
be admitted into the United States, 
Teamen have had notice of this for some little 
time, A sample of the new standard was sent to 
Mr. P. G. von Mollendorf, Commissioner of Cus- 
toms at Ningpo, and we enclose a proclamation 
issued by him to the Teamen. It is estimated 
that about 10,000 piculs of Pingsuey tea have been 
rejected by the Customs Inspectors in the United 
Stales this past twelve months, most of which 
was shipped by foreigners in the full belief 
that it was equal in quality to the standard, but 
nearly all was moreor less mixed with perished leaf. 
We have not heard of any one becoming .sick 
from drinking China tea, and we think this is an 
exaggeration. 
The foreign buyers like some colouring matter 
to be used in the preparation ot tea to make 
more attractive to the eye is proved by the custom 
prevailing in Japan, where the leaf is brought 
to the market and brought in its natural state, 
and the colour is added by foreigners afterwards. 
China Green Tea has not been increasing in 
favour in the United States of late years, and 
we attribute this in a great measure to the com- 
petition of Japan where the only tax is an Export 
Duty of $l per picul. 
The poor quality of Pingsuey tea may have 
had something to do with its nob being so much in 
favour as it was, bub we doubt if in its present form 
Green Tea will ever increase much in consumption. 
The Central Asian markets have increased to 
an appreciable extent, but buyers for these outlets 
confine their attention to the description known as 
Hyson, and they require the teas to be quite pure 
and free from smoky or otherobjectionable flavour. 
— We beg to remain, sir, yours faithfully, — J. W. 
Harding, .Joseph Welch and E. Davis. 
E. F. Alford, Esq., Chairman, Shanghai General 
Chamber of Commerce. 
Mils Oil PRODUCTS. 
Imndon, April 30. 
Oil, Cinnamon. — Privately leaf-oil is scarce, and best 
brands are held for 2Jd per oz. There is plenty of com- 
mon oil to be had, as our market table shows. 
Oil, Lemongrass,— A quiet market, at 4.Jd to 6s per 
oz on the spot. 
CINCHONA. 
At the monthly cinchona auctions in London on Tues- 
day the offerings were again fairly extensive, the twelve 
catalogues comprising 2,230 bales, divided as follows : 
Packages. Packages. 
Bast Indian cinchona. . 1,570 of which 1,211 were sold. 
Ceylon cinchona .. 303 ,, 263 „ 
Java cinchona .. 151 ,, 151 ,, 
South American cinchona 146 „ 83 ,, 
African cinchona . . 56 „ 55 ,, 
2,230 1,763 
There was an improved tone, owing, no doubt, to 
the large purchases on American account. 
The following figures represent the approximate 
quantities of bark purchased by the principal buyers:— 
Lbs. 
Agents for the American and Italian factories 143,143 
Agents for the Mannheim and Amsterdam 
factories . . . . . . 82 896 
Agents for the Brunswick factories . . 7o!s65 
Messrs. Howards & Sous . . . . 39 791 
Agents for the Imperial Quinine factory .. 19,864 
Agents for the Frankfort and Stuttgart factories 195 
Druggists, &c . . . . ... 30,143 
Total quantity sold . . 386,897 
Bought in or withdrawn . . 102,970 
Total quantity of bark offered 489,86? 
