480 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[jANUARt I, 1892. 
doubled in quantity each time it baa come until 
the latest one was for 100 obests. For Bnssia 
too, tbe demand tbrougb London for Ceylon tea is 
very steadily bettering. Much can no doubt be done 
to advertise our tea at tbe Chicago Exhibition if gone 
about in the right way, and in this connection it 
is of interest to read the speech of the Secretary to 
tbe Society of Arts at the opening meeting two 
nights ago. I quote as follows ; — 
The Attornoy-tieneral (Sir Kichard Webster, M.l’.), 
chairman of the council, last night deliverrd the open- 
ing address of tbe hundred and thirty-eighth session 
of tbe Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Mann- 
Iscturea, and Commerce at their rooms, in John-strect, 
Adeiphi. The Queen had appointed the president, 
vice-president, and council c t h ' .Society cf Arts oRnysl 
Commission for the rntcrnalionnl Exposition at Chicago 
in 1893, and he appealed to the members to justfy 
the selection. The founders of the Society of Arts, or 
those who coutrotled its operations during the earliest 
periods ot its existence, where tbe inventors of in- 
dustrial exhibitions, end the oounoil wore fully qualified 
to secure eflioieul reiiresentation of Brithsb interests 
at tbe coming exhibition. It was most important 
that tbe maDufactures and art produolious of the 
United Kingdom should be worthily represented. 
Jackson I'urk, in which tbe exhibition to bo held 
was almost as large as Hyde Park, and the whole 
of its aroa would bs devoted to buildings appropriated 
to the various seotions. No doubt the Obieago Ex. 
position would be a great success, but be looked 
forward to another international exhibit or in the 
metropolis in a few years, which should eclipse tbe 
American and every other display of the kind. (Cheers.) 
Our great Indan Empire and tho British colonies would 
all show up well, .and England must make a supremo 
effort to ausiain its high prestige, (Cheers.) The 
Attorney-Ueueial then presented the medals to tbote 
who had rendered distinguished service to the sooiety 
and its members by the merit of those papers read 
during the last session, and the usnal oomplimentary 
votes concluded the meeting. 
You will doubtless have bad some particulars of 
the meeting of tea dealers, brokers, &o., at the 
Ceylon room on tbe 11th to consider the need of 
some further means of accommodating the sales 
of increasing quantities of our teas. I did not 
boar of the meeting from Mr. Leake, when 1 saw 
him on the 7th, or I should gladly have been 
present, if only to look on the men dealing and 
interested in our produce: better look next time, 
as Messrs. Qow, Wilson & Stanton will keep me 
apprized of any tea business or gatherings ot 
interest. Buyers complain of the short time often 
allowed to draw and test samples before Tuesday's 
sale to which all Ceylon agents, &o., wish to send 
their teas. It is true that nomioally, Ceylon teas 
may be offered on Thursday, after the Indian 
teas ; but, as a rule, there is seldom time and still 
less ohanos of doing justioo then. The remedy is 
to have a separate room for Ceylon teas, and two 
clear days for the sales eaoh week. There may 
be disadvantages though, and in any ease the 
change is not one to be made without delibera- 
tion and the full consent of buyers or dealers, 
brokers, &o. 
The oekat losses in China tea form ope topio 
of City conversation at piesent. Our friends in 
Philpot Lane were making a caloulation of the 
totals some days ago, and one of tbe partners 
worked the total out at 11800,000 for the present 
Mason to London bnyors. How near ha was may 
be seen from tbe following extract wbioh appeared in 
a daily, a few days after; — [Cannot find paragraph 
at last moment, but it gave tbe losses at £760,000.] 
I regret to learn through Mrs. Alex. Boss 
that bad news has arrived oonoerning one 
good friend and old colonist Mr, Arthur 
Sinclair, one of the Commissioners to Pern. While 
Mr. Boss, with bis spare, lith6 ligure, kept his 
health in crossing the higher passes of the Andes, 
Mr. Sinclair being mueh stouter and heavier 
seems to have suffered a good deal — liver and 
heart got afteoted and in plaoe of riding, he had 
to be carried. Tbe latest news as I gather is 
that he was at a poiot oloso to the Amazon and 
hoped to get down the river by steamer, but was 
not yet well enough to travel. Mr. Boss, I gather, 
had to return to the West Coast again, I earnestly 
trust that Mr. Sinclair may soon be enabled to 
start and tbat both CommiBsioners may return 
in safety. Mr. Clarke of tbe Peradeniya Gardena 
has already oome back, bringing various articles 
of interest, a sight of which I am promised on 
an early day. Possibly you may have later news 
direct fiom Fern. From Aberdeen I learn that 
Mr. Sinolair is expeotod before Christmas ; but 
I do not know if tho nows of the illness was 
sent there. 
THE CEYLON TEA CROP AND DELIVERIES 
OP CEYLON TEA IN LONDON. 
We have already shown that the export of tea 
from Ceylon in 1891, will not exceed, if even it 
reanhee (3.6 millions of pounds, and, of course tho 
whole of this quantity will not roach tbe London 
market in the year. There is the quantity whioh 
will go into the imports ot Britain in 1892 apart 
from tho now considerable portion diverted to the 
Australian and other markets. But it may be in- 
teresting to oomparo deliveries with crop. In the 
10 months ended October, then, the deliveries of 
Ceylon tea in London were 4.1,416,0001b. Adding 
for the remaining two months ot the year at tho 
same rate we get a total of deliveries for all 
1891 equal to 53 300000 lb. or 11 to 12 
millions less than our probable exports. Con- 
sidering, as we have said that a very consi- 
derably less quantity than 65 millions, say 60 at 
tho utmost will reach Britain in 1891, the ffgures 
would be satisfactory but for the evil name and 
the low prices wbioh much of our tea has ob- 
tained Tho comparative figures for deliveries for 
tho 10 mouths in London, were:— 
lb. 
Indian... ... ... 81,868,000 
China ... ... ... 67,698,000 
Ofjlon... ... ... 44,416,000 
In one, or at moat two years, Ceylon will super- 
sede China in tbo second place, and with good 
and wholesome and high quality tea we trust. 
All our efforts to obtain now markets will bo 
in vain if stronnoua offoita are not made to wipe 
away the disgrace which unprincipled (in some 
oases perhaps, thoughtUss,) persons have brought 
on Ceylon tea. 
Tea in Foochow — We are assuieil by teamen, well 
known to nj. that they and all other holders of fine 
teas will keep them until next season. They probnbty 
®*aggorate the real state of tbe case when they tell 
us that present prices would not do more tliau cover 
th« coat of labour carriage, chest'*, lekin, Ac., bnt there 
IS no doubt their Insaes are extremely heavy. Some 
°° comparatively well off that they will live 
these bad limes, but others will be mined. 
Whether they will do better by carrying over these 
teas to the new scasou remains to be seen. From all 
we oan learn it is exceedingly doubtful . — Foochow Echo, 
