194 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [SEPTEMnKR i, 1891, 
pisDoforte manutaotureB, that tbe timber the; 
work up into their inatruraeute is weathered in 
their yards (or many years before are ; and only in 
such a way can material fully rrliablo for their 
dolioate purpose be obtained. We should bold 
that the same conditions of neoeseity apply— though 
of oourse in a minor degree— to the ' seasoning of 
wood (or less important purposes. What we have 
slated Justifles the diotum that mere heat alone— 
though this may temporarily get rid of dampness 
—does not exhaust the sap or bring about that 
gradual closing of the cells which renders a per- 
fectly seasoned wood unatlackable by damp. All 
of us in Oeylon know perfectly well how completely 
thoroughly seasoned wood worked into pianoforu s 
will remain uninjured, even in a climate so fully 
charged with moisture as that of Colombo. 
These facts prefaced, let us see how the question 
we have raised may be affected by tbe conditions 
present during the packing of tea in chests. We 
know it to be the case that a great deal of the 
tea at tbe time of suob packing is in a warm, 
and very often probably in a relatively hot state . 
We can readily imagine the effect of placing a hulk 
of this almost in contact with an imperfectly 
seasoned wood, the lead lioiog serving as a good 
conductor for its heat. The effect, we should think, 
must be to, to all appearance, dry tbe wood ; but 
the sap would not be equally ejcoled, and the cells 
temporarily constriotod, would open and reabeorb 
damp whenever they came into contaot with it in 
the hold of a vessel, lint tho cheat would 
have been weighed while there had been a tem- 
porary lo^a of weight due to tho packing with 
the heated tea, and hence wo can understand it 
might have acquired considerably increased weight 
when tared in tbe scales of tbe Uomo Custorae, 
But wood that has been porfeotly seasoned after 
the manner above pointed out is, by the constricted 
state of its cells and tho binding together of its 
Bbre duo to the aotion of time and tbe gradual 
withering out of sap. in a condition of defence 
against the presence of damp in the atmosphere. 
It remains, therefore, unchanged by tbe damp air 
always more or leas present in a steamer’s hold, 
and with the result that its weight, when dealt 
with by the Horae Customs, is very nearly idontioal 
with that ascertained respecting it ou tho estate. It 
has not, in fact, been affected by tbe presence in it of 
heated tea. 
The conclusion we draw from this is, that 
allhough, as wo have said, it would seem natural 
tu suppose that a dry wood (such as is that 
exposed to thorough and gradual seasoning) would 
absorb damp more readily than green wood, and 
BO be more liable to a change of weight, the exact 
reverse is the case under tho conditions attending 
the packing of tea. A Botitious dryness— so to 
speak — is produced, the tendency of which with 
unseasoned wood is to render it specially liable to 
change weight when exposed to damp. 
The moral is that all timber usoil for tea boxes 
should be thoroughly sessonod. 
THE CEYLON TEA FUND. 
Committee Meetino. 
Minutes of proceedings of a meeting of the Stand- 
ing Committee of the Ceylon Tea I’lind held at 
Kandy on Friday, the Mtli day of August, at four 
o’clock in tho afternoon. 
I’reHent Mosars. Giles F. W'alkor, Chairman, 
I’laiitors' Association of Ceylon ; W. Sandys Thomas, 
Chairman, Uimhula Association ; A. E. Wriglit, 
Maskeliya; ,1. Andoraou, Kandy and Matalo West; 
A. G. K. Borron, Kandy ; John H. Starey, Kandy ; A. 
T, Karalako, Kandy ; 'W, D. Bosanquet, Kandy ; 
W. D, Gibbon, Kandy; G. A, Talbot, Kandy and 
Dimbula ; Wni. Forbes Laurie, Kandy and Kurune- 
gala ; A. W. Stopford Saokville, Chairman, Maskeliya 
Asaodation ; .1 . A. Spence, Medaniahaunwnra ; A. 
Philip, Seorotary. l'lantera' Association of Ceylon. 
The notice calling the meeting was road. 
The minutes of proceedings of a meeting of tho 
Standing Committee of tho Ceylon Tea Fund held 
at Nuwara Kliya on Saturday, the 18th day of .Tune 
18!)1, were taken as read ana were confirmed. 
Head letter from Messrs. Baker it Hall, Colombo. 
Reiul letter from Messrs, 'Whittall it Co. intimat- 
ing that tho following estates will sub.scribe to the 
"Coylon Tea, Fund ’’ from Ist July: -Doa Ella, 
jjammena, Uda Kadella, Gleneagles, Oonoongoloya, 
Aber^en, Hayes, Battowatto, Calsay, Luccomoc, 
aud Deanstone. 
Bead letter from Mr. A. E. Lewis. Resolved :— 
“ That the letter be acknowledged, and that it be 
pointed out that the Ceylon Tea Company, Limited, 
under the Patronage of the Planters' Association 
of Ceylon is not in connection with the Ceylon 
Tea Fund, and that the Stsnding Committee tiusts 
that be will recousidcr his deoisiou.” 
Read letter from Messrs. Walker, Sous & Co„ 
Limited. Resolved : — ” That in conveying tho thanks 
of the Committee for past liberal suhoription to the Tea 
Fuad the Coimuitteo hoprs that Messrs. Walker, 
Sons & Oo., Limited, will see their way to contiuuing 
their subsoriptious ss heretofore iu view i f the im 
perstive necessity of steadily persisting iu making 
known snd pushing Ceylon tea throughout tho world, 
ami the fact that their mtercsts are iu largo ex- 
tent affected hy the prosperity of tho Caylou ton 
ciilorprise.” 
Road letter from Mr. W. Mackenzie. I oiolved ;— 
“ That Mr. Maokaezie bo thanked for his letter and 
that be bo asked kindly to obtain information sa to 
what tho law of Victoria is in rofcreuco aud bearing 
on tho prosecution indicated.” " 
Read letter from Mr. E. de Ftisoli, vioe Oouaul for 
UuBKia, acknowledging with boat thanks a vote of 
tbnuks Hcoordrd to him, and intimatiog that ha will 
always be moat hoppy to further the uudertakiues of 
the Planters’ Association of Ceylon. Iteaolved •— 
“That the letter he acknowledged." 
GbAfOOw INTEESATIONAI, Exuiiiition. — R' ad Utters 
from Iho Manager, E&Hteru Produce and Katuto Com- 
pany. Limited, aud from Messrs. Aitken, Hponeo it Oo. 
llosolvod;— “ That tho requests made be complied 
with.” 
Cbvuo.v Tea in OEaMaNv. — Read letter from 
the Iraperiol German Consul enolosiug letter 
from tho Secretary of Slate for Foreign Affairs. 
Berlin, ootifyiig that His Majesty; tbo Emperor 
and Her Majesty tho Empress Frederick have 
booii gramously pleased to accept tlio presents of 
^“1.’ “'2? *’!‘Vo directed him (the Secretary 
of Stito lor Fcreigu Affairs) to transmit to the 
Hamers Assocation of Ceylon their Majo,atios’sin- 
f, ‘'*'5 “““‘■tf.ous attention. Kcsolvcd :— 
That tho letter from the Secretary of Stale for 
tor™pnbIi«"rom’ newspapers 
M “‘’a Mr. Shelton A^ar. Resolved 
lhat Mr. Agar B h tU r bo ackuowleJgod, a- d that 
a CHl)> of tho ,u ea Jur tho Uegalaifon of Grantn of 
ma I ir fieo distrilmtioii he sent to liim, and that Mr. 
Ag .r lie requested to ask Mr. Solirader to give a 
de Hiled aecouut of his prop-sed methods of working 
wit particulars as to tho duty payable upon tea iu 
Germany aud any otlier matters of interest for tho 
eonsideralion of tho SUn ling Oomraittee.” 
^ ;vi.ON IN FiiANcii.— Rea 1 lotleis from tho 
btoruui’y, ILe Oo3flon Asicciatioii iu JjOik^om. 
Scad letter I rom .Mr. 11. Wliilliam witii onclosure. 
luao yed . I hat it be pointed out t> the Coylon 
AFS iciaiioii in London that tlieio was no imcntioii 
of judyma Ihcir a(?l.on in tlte nmtler roterrtd to, 
MU rather inviting a reconsider atioa iu the cf 
Ihtt iijforniution feuoived by the {Stamling Con.iiiittee.” 
Ktad loiter from Mr. H. Ciaytou Manisty rugarding 
hi8 scuome for pushing the salo of Oeyicu tea iu INiris 
«o. Itesolvod;— .“That the letter be acknowledged 
