644 
THE TROPIOWL *OimjW.TOm8T. 
[March i, 189a. 
India and Cekdon vs. China Tea, — The London 
and China F.xprm o( 8th Jan. says : — 
Business in the Tea market reopened with good pros- 
pects, but the week closes with less buoyant looliiiga in 
view of the very large supplies of Indian in the 
public sales for next week. Fine China Tea. which 
at the close of last year was quoted at !td to Is, is 
still inquired for, but importers seem reluctant to 
sell and no wonder when the import cost is realised. 
There can bo no doubt that the unfavourable posi- 
tion China Tea has now permeated through all engaged 
in the trade. Wealthy native (Foochow) teamen are 
reported as ruined, and very few able to withstand 
the times. It is lied Leaf Tea that mostly feels 
the competition of Ceylon and India, fn the palmy 
days of the trade Kod Jsmfs commanded the best 
prices, whereas during the cuircnt season the so- 
called crack chops sold but a few pence per pound 
over coiiinioii Congou. Tlie (jueation for the intiu’c 
now is, will Chinese produce a tea to equal the 
old standard of strength and delicate flavour combined 
It could bo done in tho past when exchange averaged 
Is fid to tho dollar, and why not now when the 
dollar is nearer .’Is, and higher prices paid to tho 
teamen ? Both Indian and Ceylon are increasing 
their sujiplies, the latter at a rapid rate ; but judg- 
ing from the low prices for inferior grades during 
the past three months, planter's are anything but 
satisfied. What can bo expected, however, when 
production is carried on at such hazardous risks ? 
Davidson's Siroccos.— Iu our issue of Jan. 
4th was insetted a letter from Mr. John Ferguson, 
in which he stated : — 
A story is current of tho experience of one of tho 
largest Oaloutta firms in “ lea ” who had erected a gieat 
Centeral Faolory with a wonderlnl array of .Tnekaon’s 
Bolling and allied machinery! hut wto, roon alter 
Bubstitued, at the inslauce of an etnmoured aiBnager, 
“Siroccos” lor tho other “driure,” tho object being to 
dry the tea at the low temperature which was to 
ensure keeping qualities, ko. The result, as the slory 
runs, was woefully dissppoiuling, namely a falliug-olf 
of 4d a lb. in the average (could part of this bo due 
to falling markets ?) so that now the Siroccos are lo 
bo oast on one side and Jackson’s Driers tskeu on — 
only the little experience with the leas price for 
tea and double expeiienoe about maebinerv and 
work, is said to make altogether a difference of illlU.OOO 
to the firm in questiBii. Of course, tlisy must bo 
“ princes in tea” to deal in such large figures oven 
by way of loss. “ I tell the talc ns ’t was told to mo.” 
Possibly there may he tome modilicntions or correo- 
tioDS which may reach ytu from tho “Sirocco” side 
and which you will, of courte, as readily publish. 
The story, in an apparently authentic form, in 
letters from Cslculla, reached Colt mho as well as 
London. But Mr. John Ferguson rightly judged that 
there was another side to it, and that we should, with 
equal readiness, publish it. A telegram from our 
absent confrere baa reached us, in which it is stated 
on Mr. Davidson's authority that not only have 
none of the Sirooooe been discarded but that more 
have been ordered by “ the princely ” Calcutta firm 
alluded to. It gives ue great pleasure to do 
iustioe to Mr. Davidson, whom we regard as a great 
benefactor of the tea enterprise and of the tea 
planters. He and Mr. Jackson aro both able and 
honourable men, and the competilion between 
them as machinists, though keen, is conducted on 
gentlemanly and upright prinoiplee. Tho new down- 
draught biroooo and Mr. Jackson e Biitannia Drier 
have each its own merits, and the planters of 
India and Ceylon are very fortunate in haying 
two such men as the inventors of thoeo machines 
devotine tbeir experienoe, skill and aoientifio know- 
ledge to providing the most perfeot applisnces 
for tho manufacture of tho tea leaf. Wo regret 
therefore that such a story as Mr. John Ferguson 
was told should have been invented and should 
have received currency in our columns. An ex- 
planation is due from those who sent the story 
from Calcutta to London and Colombo. 
I Cinchona and Qhinink. — In a very long and 
I interesting report by Messrs. Brookes and Grron 
that has reached our {Madras Times) haode, upon 
the quinine and cinchona bark market tot the 
year 1891, they give it as their opinion, after 
stating that they have followed the movements 
of the articles “ week by week, indeed day by day," 
that the “ stock of quinine in the world is lees 
today than it was at this tirne last year”; and 
they go on to eay that “ notwithstanding all that 
has been written regarding the invisible quantities 
of quinine in second bands, wo very much doubt 
wbother the entire stock of both quinine and bark 
combined, not only in London, but other markets 
as well, would total up more than one year's 
oonsumption." They hold tho view that tho world's 
consumption equals the world's manufaeture. It 
Messrs. Brookes and Green's oonolasions be right, 
it would naturally follow that any diminution 
in shipments from Java, or any cause tending 
to even a slight increased demand for the 
drug, would have the effect of semiiug up prices 
of cinchona bark ; and in the face of the very 
heavy recent exports from Java, the late rise in 
tho “ unit” to IJd is very encouraging. It is very 
possible duo to the increaeod consumption of 
quinine, consequont upon the recurrence of tho 
inlluenzr epidemio at homo, and in tho interests 
of planters it is to bo hoped that the improvo- 
menta in tho value of bark will bo maintained, 
if not in the near future ouhanoed. Java bolds 
the key of the poaition, and if she would abstain 
from forcing her supplies on the market, the re- 
sult would be better for her planters as well as 
for growers of baik in other parts of the 
world. 
Tka Flavour is discussed by Mr. John 
Slalknrtt in the Indian Planter's Gazette 
thus • — 
Your Into issne stated that the flavour of tea is 
obtainod by drying it at a toniperaturo of 130° Fahr. 
Flavour coiiioa from two descriptions of tea, tho China 
and the indigenous: it also depends imoii the height 
above sea level, at which it grows. For this infor- 
mation I refer you to tho oldest book wo have on 
tea, Jacobson’s Manual of Tea cultivation. Tho 
flavour of tea, aud tho aroma also, can bo lost by 
bad manipulation, particularly in driving a large 
quantity of heated air throngli it, at tho velocity of 
a tornado. Tea should not ho dried in ton numites 
as in tlio present mechanical process, but should bo 
dried not quicker than in one hour and ten iniiiutes 
at a temperature of 250° Fahr. Flavour and aroma 
are also lost in the process of bulking, and tho grocer 
has only himself to thank if tho tea does not come 
lip to his expectations. A few years ago, ho would 
not buy flavour tea: ho only wanted some rasping 
senna variety obtained from hybrids, so that one 
niaund would strongthon ten iiiaiinds of thrice iii- 
fiiBod China leaf. With his notions of making a 
fortune rapidly, he has done his best, to bring tea 
into disrepute. Ho insists upon it being bulked at the 
gardens, that is, tossed in tlio air, to got rid of its 
good qualities from exposure, that he may buy it 
cheap. Ho then has it bulkod at the tea warehouses 
round about Tower Hill, which locality is not famous 
for its good odours. Ue llien blends it with a lot of 
dirty faced China tea, and then wonders that tho 
tea is not improved: and in his wisdom states that 
Indian teas will not keep, whereas he has only his 
own insanity to thank for tho poorness of his blend. 
Tho China variety and tho indigenous have two 
distinct flavours. The hybrids do not come up to 
them in flavour, though they give n strong bitter tea. 
Planters are much puxzled what seed to sow, as tho 
brokers follow the lead of the grocers, and will not 
pay for flavour. The planter looks to his pockets, 
and sows only that which will pay him best. I do 
not pretend to touch ray brother Ranters, liach wan 
mast judge for himself. 
