840 
THE TROPICAL AORiCULTlIRISt [Mat 2 , i80 
nation (a sliding bracket being provided at one end 
whereby the inclination can be easily adjusted), so 
that the coffee fed in at the higher end gradually 
travels down to the opposite or lower end, where it 
is retained by the wire mesh disc above mentioned. 
When the cylinder has been thus fully charged it 
is set down levei and kept continually revolving 
until the charge is dried, the slides covering the 
ports in the shell of the cylinder are then drawn out 
and the coffee rapidly discharged, by again placing 
the cylinder upon an incline. 
It should have been mentioned that the interior of 
the cylinder is fitted with shelves or lifters, by which 
the coffee is distributed in a constant shower over 
the whole area of the cylinder, through which the 
heated air-ourrents ore passing. 
The machine effects an enormous saving in labour, 
bums very little fuel, is easily erected and worked, 
and the whole mechanism being extremely simple 
there is no liability to get out of order, and it is 
only reasonable to expect that a Dryer possessing 
sneo advantages will prove exceedingly popular. 
♦ 
NOTES ON PRODUCE AND FINANCE, 
The O11T1.00K FOB Tea Planteub. — In our corres- 
pondence columns will be found an important letter 
upon the position of the tea industry in India and 
Ceylon. It is written with the authority of one who 
knows his subject, and on this point wo can assure 
our readers. The letter may give rise to some con- 
troversy, but whether this be so or not it claims at- 
tention, and should help to stir up members of 
the tea industry to the necessity for continuous 
action in the search for new markets. It is clear 
that Ceylon planters have taken the lead so far as 
new markets are concerned, and they have been 
altogether more on the alert than their Indian 
confrerta. The energy and vigilance of the Ceylon 
lanters have been incessant, and no opportunity has 
een lost for advertising Ceylon teas whenever a chance 
offered, as witness the protest of another correspondent, 
who calls attention to the exaggerated statements made 
in a recent book on Ceylon. There has been much said 
hitherto as to the friendly rivalry between India and 
Ceylon, but this friendly rivalry has a serious difficulty 
to face. The common enemy, China, has been van- 
quished, and now the cry is that tea production has 
overtaken the consumptiou, and unless unity of pur- 
pose bo resolved on, it will be a case of the “ cmvil 
take the hindmost.’’ It is imperative that now markets 
should be found. Our correspondent “ Scrutator ’ 
believes the position serious, and one requiring im- 
mediate attention. lie advocates more cohesion and 
the display of some collective wisdom in facing a situa- 
tion of such gravity. 
Tbavancoke I’eantebb’ Association in London. — 
An association, under the above title, has been 
formed in connection with the Travancore Planters’ 
Association, and has, among other things, for its 
objects:— To watch and protect in London the 
interests of tea, coffee, and cinchona planters, and 
to advise the parent association of all matters affect- 
ing these industries. All residents in the United 
Kingdom interested in Travancore are invited to 
become members of the association. The parent 
association subscription is iilO lOs. yearly, and the 
annual subscription for members in this country has 
b6en fixed at -HI Is. — Arrangements hove been made 
with the Ceylon Association in London for the use 
of their rooms at 1, Mincing Lane, whore members 
can meet and pornse papers bearing on the objects 
of the association. The president of the association 
is Mr. Patrick Grant. Subsoriptions may be for- 
warded to the hon. secretary, Mr. Ewen Cattanacli, 
3, Great St. Helens, E.G. 
A Talk About Tea. — '1 he managing director of the 
National Wholesale Tea Supply Association (Mr. 
Slaney) gave the young grocers’ assistants of Man- 
chester some advice about tea a few nights since. 
There was, wo are told, an exhibition of a collec- 
tion of specimens, curiosities, ifeo., which Mr. Slaney 
had been able to obtain through the kindness of 
many of the leading tea brokers in Loudon. One 
specimen of tea, valued at from £.50 to £60 per lb., 
toe produce of an Indian estate, gained special at- 
tention. Mr. Slaney gave his audience some very 
good advice, as well as a description of the teas 
supplying the English market, first dealing with the 
products of our emonies India and Ceylon, and then 
with those of China and other countries. In giving 
some hints on obtaining a knowledge of tea, Mr. 
Slaney said: “In no branch of business does the 
axiom that ‘knowledge is power’ apply with more 
force than in a knowledge of tea. Tlie opportuni- 
ties of the grocers’ assistants of today, speaking 
generally, are somewhat meagre, and it is difficult in 
many cases to get to know anything about this article. 
The only course is to make beat use of the oppor- 
tunities you have, not to remain satisfied with them, 
but to endeavour to extend them wherever prac- 
ticable. Those who are favourably placed with an 
intelligent employer who studies tea and keeps a variety 
of stock, and can obtain access to the testing and 
blending-rooms, have opportunity of picking up know- 
ledge." 
The Taste of the Consumeus. — Referring to the 
consumers’ taste in tea. and the efforts the grocer 
should make to meet it, Mr. Slaney said: — “ Amongst 
the working-class population, generally speak- 
ing, tea with strength is preferred to fine tea 
of high quality and leas strength. A cup of 
tea made from a rasping, pungent Indian pekoe 
souchong and thick, strong broken pekoe would 
be appreciated, whore a cup made from a choice Dar- 
jeeling tea, costing four times the money, would not 
please. Many dealers pay great regard to the weight 
or bulk of a tea, preferring heavy close leaf, because, I 
suppose, users get more weight into their teaspoons 
when measuring into the teapot ; hence tea-mills are 
used to reduce the size of some of the excellent liquor- 
ing teas, whose only fault is their possessing a large 
or ugly leaf. The steel roller operates and licks it 
into shape, enabling the users to blend these descrip- 
tions to advantage along with other teas at a higher 
cost, because, after all, the appearance has something 
to do with regulating the price or value." 
Sound Advice. — " Never deal in tea,” Mr. Slaney 
added, “ that is objectionable in flavour, or that you 
would hesitate to drink yourself. Avoid earthy, 
minty, sour, or coarse teas, or teas which, owing 
to the scarcity of wood in the districts in which 
they are grown, arc packed in wood from Japan 
having a cedar or drng-liko ■ dour, which is soon 
conveyed from the chest to ihe tea. Avoid by all 
means keeping or storing tea in pioximity to any 
stroug-smelling articles, such as soap, cheese, 
oranges, apples, <Src. Keep tea in a dry, warm room, 
where it will improve. I,ct your blended tea be 
prepared a time before sale. A fresh blend, made 
up iroiii identically the same teas and in the same 
proportions as one blended a fortnight before, will 
not taste near so well as the older one, whose 
flavours have assimilated by the teas lying together. 
Let your customers see that in pushing the sale of 
tea your aim is to please them, not to effect just 
one sale and no more, and if you are assured that 
the goods you handle are equal to the best of any of 
your competitors, whoever they be, success will bo 
likely to attend your efforts. I might take up more 
time by going into the subject, ‘Howto match blends.’ 
This isabigher branch, and, like analysisin chemistry, 
requires deep study. One hint here may be useful. 
Adopt the narrowing down process, and come to an 
accurate conclusion of the kinds or varieties that 
on snppo.so are not present ; then, having fewer 
inds to deal with, you more readily judge the con- 
stituents of the sample under notice. In a case of 
this kind observe the appearance in dry leaf and 
infused loaf— the loaf infusion under treatment of 
varying time, say five, seven, or ton minutes, spread- 
ing out the loaf on white paper and judging by coni- 
plexion of loaves. Testing the liquor against both 
originals of the teas you suppose to predominate, 
and blends you consider similar, will, with constant 
practice, enable you to perform botli the analytical 
and synthetical processes required when you wish to 
match or follow any particular blend. 
A New Idea. — A description recently appoare 
