June i, 1892.1 
rHF tftOPiCAL AdiftlCULtUftlST. 
941 
CotitiaaponiJ^no^i. 
• ' - 
To the Editor. 
THE PUSHING OP CEYLON TEA. 
Nuwara Eliya, April 24th. 
Sib, — Why do we neBleot the opportunity 
placed at our doors of advertising our tea at a 
nominal cost, and with more far-reaching results 
than perhaps any other scheme ; and why do we 
permit rubbish not fit to be called tea to be sold 
as such to the passengers in our harbour and the 
visitors to our shores, thus seriously injuring the 
name of Oeylon ? Perhaps we neglect it because 
it is BO easy of attainment in the same way that 
few of UR residents have climbed Adam’s Peak, 
although we have lived close to it for years, 
while thousands come from all parts of the world 
to ascend it. But, whatever the reasons may be, 
should not the Planters' Association (more especially 
in view of recent revelations) take the matter in 
band at once ? 
1 would suggest the following as a very simple 
scheme, which would be an immense advertisement 
for Ceylon and lead to a -lot of future orders 
from abroad, reaching every country and nation 
on the globe, and at the same time choking off 
all the inferior rubbish at present sold in the 
harbour, which is ruining the name of Oeylon tea. 
Perhaps you, Mr. Editor, could add a foot-note 
stating the number of passengers last year and 
their destination, which would better enable os to 
estimate the possible results, 
(let.) I would have the Planters’ Association 
arrange with all steamer agents to give them 
(the Planters’ Association) the exclusive right to 
sell tea on board ship in Colombo harbour. This 
is necessary, and the Planters’ Association should 
in return promise to sell the tea as an adver- 
tisement at cost price (including packing and 
selling charges). 
(2nd.) At every port nearest to Oeylon on the 
principal routes to it a stock of pamphets should 
be held by an agent. These pamphlets should 
contain a concise history of Ceylon, some interest- 
ing information about Ceylon tea, and an advertise 
ment of the Planters' Association announcing that 
tea at cost price would be sent on board that 
ship as an advertisement when she reached 
Colombo harbour. The agents of all steamers 
visiting Singapore, King George’s Sound, Calcutta, 
Aden, etc., would be glad to have these pamphlets 
distributed on board ship to their passengers, 
and the passengers would be equally glad to read 
them, as a description of the country they were 
coming to, with the result of a sale of tea in a 
great many oases. 
(3rd.) To make the schemes complete success, 
the Tea Kiosk should be taken over and worked 
together with it by the Planters’ Association. 
Some R16,000 have already been spent on the 
Kiosk, and there is very little to be seen for the 
money ; but 1 believe good returns could be got 
from it in connection with this scheme, I would 
propose to do away with the high-sounding title 
of "The Kiosk,” which half the passengers don’t 
understand, and in large-letters on a signboard put 
something like “ Oeylon Planters’ Tea Boom ; ” 
" Tea sold by cup and packet at cost price,” etc., 
and show its position on a map of Colombo in 
the pamphlet. . 
(4th.) The tea sold should be a blend— or blends 
—and made by a committee of local experts, and 
should be uniform in quality alwayf, those gentle- 
men would, I have no doubt, give Ibeit servtoea free. 
119 
(uth.) A considerable stock should be held to 
execute further orders from abroad that would be 
sure to follow from private individuals and tradesmen 
who found the tea suitable to their requirements. 
This feature of selling further supplies is objection- 
able. inasmuch as it is introducing an element of 
trading into what is really an advertisement, bnt 
better do a little trading than leave a loophole for 
the failure of the sobeme. 
In conclusion two instances that have recently 
come under my notice go to prove the desirability 
of carrying out some scheme such as I suggest. 
A .. — I saw a cart load of 10 lb. boxes neatly got 
up by a European firm (who did not know their 
destination I may say) in charge of the owner— a 
native — on the way to the wharf for sale on board- 
ship. I got one and opened it, and it contained 
the most ghastly rubbish I ever saw, not worth 
8 cents a lb. The price toai 118 or ItlO per box, 
I forgot which I Is anything calculated to damn 
Ceylon tea more than this ? 1 1 
ii. — A friend of mine who sells part of his tea 
through one of the Fort shops, Cargill’s I think, 
has had orders for the last three years from an 
Australian grocer, who got his first lb, in the 
Colombo shops, inoreasing yearly till this year (1892) 
he has an order (or SU.OOO lb. of pekoe at highly 
profitable rates. 
One can easily imagine the disgust of the 
passengers when they are swindled nt Oeylon over 
our staple product; and I consider it the duty of 
the Chairman of the Planters’ Association to be 
op and doing in this matter before further damage 
is done to the planters when the remedy is of 
such easy application. — Yours, dke,, L. D, 
[We are unable at the moment to say what was 
the number of European passengers in 1891. Oui 
correspondent fixes no limit to the quantity of 
tea which is to he sold at cost price, and does not 
take into account the interference with private 
enterprize. — En. T, A."] 
ON THE BUENING OP CATTLE MANUBB 
AS FUEL. 
Analytical Laboratory, 79, Mark Lane, 
London E. C., April, 8tb, 1892. 
Gentlemen, — I have much pleasure in sendinS 
you a copy of Dr. Voeloker's long expected lector* 
on the Agricultural Needs of India which wa> 
given last night at the Society of Arts and a 
which the late Sir James Oaird was to have taken 
the chair. As you will notice and indeed as might 
reasonably be expected Dr. Voelcker was not able 
to eoggest any new improvements bnt only an 
extension of those already largely in force. A 
judicious construction of canals, and of well sink- 
ing under careful supervision and consideration of 
the local agents of the Government, also the in. 
creased establishment of forest reserves with a view 
of improving the climate and also of (oroishing 
wood as fuel. Speaking of the subject of manure 
being used as fuel in certain districts Dr. Voelcker 
strongly condemned the practice, though he was 
unable to point out bow under existing eireum- 
etances and in the absence of wood suitable for 
fuel, the present custom could be materially altered 
or imposed. It is in facta matter of necessity and not 
of choice, and until new forest reserves are established 
the poor natives are likely to continue to burn the 
cow-dung cakes or bratties for many years to come. 
Indeed as pointed out by myself in a note 
published in the Journal of the SocieU/ of Arts tot 
March 21et, 1890, this practice of burning bratties 
is after all not so wasteful as might at first sight 
be supposed; ” 
