22 
THE TROPICAL AORICULTURIST. 
[July i, iSqi. 
PBOSl’ECTS Oi-’ C'KVLOX TEA. 
The figures forwarded by Messrs, (iow, Wilson 
& Stanton are enooaraging, ns far aa deliver is, 
iaBritain ate oonoernad. For the 11 months of 
season 1890-91 ended SOtli April, the deliveries 
were 38,000,0001b.* out of an import of 42,225,000. 
The increase over the quantity delivered in the 
corresponding period of the previous season, 
(20,927,000 lb.) was no less than 11,000,000 lb. The 
inorease in Indian tea in this season over the past 
(93,924,000 lb. against 80.675,000) was only 
9,219,000; so that oomparatively as well as absolutely, 
the deliveries of Ocylou tea have largely increased, 
— as yet in proportion, indeed, to rapidly increas- 
ing crops. Making all allowance for efforts made 
by the producers to bring their product into notice, 
nothing but the real superiority of Ceylon tea could 
have placed it in such a position. The 
question is, however, whether over-production is 
not already casting its dark shadow before, in the 
sharp and snddon fall in prices reported from 
London, Our unceasing efforts ought to bo di- 
rected to the opening up of new markets and also 
the conquering of old markets where hitherto the 
teas of China and Japan have reigned supreme. 
The better, and, considering its quality, the 
cheaper Ceylon leaf will have to contend in 
the United States not only with the prejudice of 
tea drinkers, born of custom and acquired taste, 
but with a stagnant and even decadent demand 
for tea, not only as compared with coffee, but 
also, to our exceeding surprise, considering all 
we have heard of temperance and even prohibi- 
tion movements in the United States, with the 
enormously increasing taste for alcobolic drinks. 
The figures we quoted from the American Grocer 
in our issue of the 16th, were certainly not re- 
assuring to the friends of temperance and non 
alcoholic beverages. Thedeoroase in the consumption- 
of coffee from 9-45 lb. per caput, in 1885, to 7'90 
in 189U, is attributed to a rise in the prioe, due 
no doubt to deficiency in production in Brazil, 
owing to emancipation and revolutionary troubles. 
But no such cause can be adduced for the 
discouraging position of tea. Nut only has the 
consumption not increased in the decade between 
1881 and 1890, but there was uu absolute decrease 
from a miserable 1'64 lb. per head of the population 
in 1881, to a still more miserable 1‘34 in 1890. The 
retail cost of the tea consumed in the United 
States in 1890 (all save mere fractions of Indian 
and Ceylon, the produce of China and Japan) was 
only 830,000,000 (less than half a dollar per head) 
against *122,600,000 lor coffee (over two dollars 
per bead). But to those who, like ourselves, 
believed, and rejoiced to believe, that the cause of 
temperance in the United States bad made such 
progress ns to justify the existence not only of a 
“High License’’ but of a ’’ Prohibition ” party, 
the disappointment is keen as it is astounding 
to learn that while 'the consumption of tea and 
cofleo is stationary or dooadent, at a united 
value of only *162,600,000, the value of alcoholic 
drinks consumed had inoreased *200,000,000 in four 
vears (at the rate of *50,000,000 per annum) up 
to the astounding total for 1890 of *900,000,000 1 
This is at the rave of more than fourteen dollars 
for every man, woman and child in the States. 
In view of such facts . and of the difficulties which 
have gathered round the production of coffee, wo 
feel that, apart from questions of self-interest as 
regards out own Ceylon tea, all friends of temper- 
ance and human well-being ought to wish 
“ God speed" to all judicious and legitimate efforts to 
introduce India and Ceylon tea to the markets and 
'"• At the rate of about 42,009,000 lb. for the 12 mouths. 
into the homos of the Unit -d States. We say ad- 
visedly “ judicious and legitimate,” because wo can 
see no prospect of good but rather of barm to the 
cause of Ceylon tea in the wild scheme, wrong in 
principle if even it were practicable, of " corner- 
ing,’’ that is monopolizing a market which above 
all things neade to be opened. Our object ought 
to be to conciliate instead . of irritating dealers 
in and cansumers of tea; and therefore, while we 
urge more strenuous efforts than ever at opening 
the markets of the United Btates for our teas, 
wo regret more than we can express that the leader of 
the Company formed for this purpose, should advocate 
the adoption of measures whiuh are calculated only 
to injure instead of furthering the interests of 
Ceylon tea and tea planters. Nothing can in the 
end bo successful, which is opposed to the founda- 
tion principles of free, open, legitimate compe- 
tition, the very life of a righteous commerce. To 
indicate in any way that wo are not prepared 
for a lair Ih-ld and no favour, save what desert 
will secure, would be fatal to the claims of our 
really superior product. That quality will seouro 
its sure, if at first comparatively slow, success, 
while all attempts at ’’ cornering’’ explode into 
vapour. 
A VISIT TO THE COLOMBO 
liiONWOKKS. 
’■ As a descriptive title ‘ Colombo Ironworks’ fails 
to convey an adequate idea of tho,nature and extent 
of the operations oouducted by Messrs. Walker 
Buns & Uo., Limited.” That , is the observation 
of one who recently paid what he call s “ a flying 
visit ” to the works. Ho does not moan to su ggest 
that there should be any further change in 
nomenclature, but merely to emphasize^ the fact 
that he was surprised to find that the business 
was BO comprehensive. lie had beard that the 
firm did a vast amount of work for planters, and 
knew that they were the agents for W. A; J. Jackson’s 
I’atent Tea Maohiiiery, but his knowledge was 
limited to tiiese facts ; and he was therefore much 
astonished to see that in addition to the manu- 
facture and repair of all the kinds of machines 
in use in Ceylon, uonsiderable orders were executed 
in conneution with the construction and renovation 
of buildings and of vessels. The appliances, he 
says, are of the latest and most approved pattern, 
some of them being sp-coialities for patents of a 
very interesting character. Competent and ex- 
perienced Europeans are in charge of the various 
departments, and the native subordinates are really 
excellent workmen. 
Another thing which seems to have struck the 
visitor is the order which prevails in the es- 
tablishment. Everything, he says, is done according 
to a clearly defined plan ; and the result of 
this methodical mode of working is that a degree 
of smoothness is attained in carrying out all the 
arrangements that must enable the firm to under- 
take very largo contracts and satisfactorily ac- 
complish them in the shortest possible space of 
time. 
The premises may be said to consist of three 
main buildings, one being the fitting or machinery 
shop, another the smithy, and the third the foundry. 
Passing through a yard where a water-wheel, 25 feet 
in diameter, and some steel barges were in course 
of oonstruciion, — the former for an upoountry tea 
factory and the latter for the Wharf and Warehouse 
Company, —the visitor entered the fitting shop on 
the left, and looking along a aeries of courts or 
divisions saw quite an army of native mechanics 
busily employed at lathes of various sizes turning 
