120 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[Makch, 1867. 
(Business Notices $2.50 per Agate Line of Space.) 
The Immense Profits 
OF THE 
TEA TRADE. 
The Proprietors of “THE GREAT AMERICAN TEA 
COMPANT,” became fully convinced, several years ago, 
that the consumers of Tea and Coffee were paying too many 
and too large profits, on these articles of every day con¬ 
sumption, and therefore organized The Gueat Amksicas' 
Tea Company, to do away, as far as possible, with these 
enormous drains upon the Consumers, and to supply them 
with these necessaries at the smallest possible price. 
To give our readers an idea of the profits which have 
been made in the Tea trade, we will start with the Ameri¬ 
can houses, leaving out of the account entirely the profits 
of tlie Clilnese factors. 
1st.—The American House In China or Japan makes large 
profits on their sales or shipments—and some of the richest 
retired merchants in this country have made their immense 
fortunes through their houses in China. 
2d.—The Banker makes large profits upon the foreign 
exchange used in the purchase of Teas. 
8d.—The Importer makes a profit of 30 to 50 per cent, in 
many cases. 
4th.—On its arrival here it is sold by tlie cargo, and the 
Purchaser sells it to the Speculator in invoices of 1,000 to 
2,000 packages, at an average profit of about 10 per cent. 
5th.—The Speculator sells it to tlie Wholesale Tea Dealer 
in lines at a profit of 10 to 15 per cent. 
6tl!.—The Wholesale Tea Dealer sells it to the Wliplesiile 
Grocer in lots to suit his trade, at a profit of about 10 per 
cent. . . 
7th.—The Wholesale Grocer sells it to the Retail Dealer 
at a profit of 15 to 25 per cent. 
8th —The Retailer sells it to the consumer for all the profit 
he can get. ■ ' 
When you have added to these eight profits as many 
brokerages, cartages, storages, cooperages, and waste, and 
add the original cost of the tea, it will be perceived what 
the consumer has to pay. And now we propose to show 
wliy we can sell so very much lower than small dealers. 
We propose to do awny with all these various profits and 
brokerages, cartages, storages, cooperages, and tvaste, with 
the exception of a small commission paid for purchasing to 
our correspondents in Cliina and Japan, one cartage, and 
a small profit to ourselves—which, on our large sales, will 
amply pay us. . . 
Some parties inquire of us how they shall proceed to get 
up a club. The answer is simply this: Let each person 
wishing to join in a club, say how much tea or cofi'ee he 
wants; and select the kind and price from our Price List, as 
published in the paper or in our circulars. Write the names, 
kinds, and amounts plainly on a list, and when the club is 
complete send it to us by mail, and we tvill put each party’s 
goods in separate packages, and mark the name upon them, 
with the cost, so there need be no confusion in their distri¬ 
bution-each party getting exactly what he orders, and no 
more. Tlie cost of transportation the members of the club 
can divide equitably among themselves. 
The funds to pay for the goods ordered can be sent by- 
drafts on New Tork, by Post-Office money orders, or by Ex¬ 
press, as may suit the convenience of the club. Or, if the 
amount ordered exceeds thirty dollars, we will, if desired, 
send the goods by Express, to “ collect on delivery." 
Parties getting their Teas from us may confidently rely 
upon getting them pure and fresh, as tliey come direct from 
the Custom House Stores to our warehouses. 
The Company have selected the following kinds from 
their Stock, which they recommend to meet the w.ants of 
clubs. They are sold at Cargo Prices, the same as the 
Company sell them in New Tork, as the List of prices yvill 
show. 
Hereafter we will send a eomplimentary package to the 
party getting up the club. Our profits are small, but yve 
will be as liberal as we can afford. We send no compli¬ 
mentary package for clubs of less than $30. 
All goods sold are warranted to' give satisfaction. 
PIftICE LIST: 
YOUNG HYSON (Green), 80c., 90c., $1, $1.10, best 
$1.25 per pound. 
GREEN TEAS, 80c., 90c., $1, $1.10, best $1.23 per 
pound. 
MIXED, 70c., SOc., 90c., best $1 per pound. 
JA.PAN, $1, $1.10, best $1.23 per pound. 
OOliONG (Black), 70c., 80c., 90c., best $1 per pound. 
IMPERIAIi (Green), best $1.23 per pound. 
ENGL.ISH BREAKP.AST (Black), 80c., 90c., $1, 
$1.10, best $1.20 per pound. 
GUNPCWDER (Gunpowder), $1.23, best $1.50 per Ib. 
P. S.—All towns, villages, or manufactories, yvhere a large 
number of men are engaged, by cntrnBiNO together, can re¬ 
duce the cost of their Teas and Coffees about one4hlrd by 
sending directly to the 
GUE.AT AMERICAN TEA COMPANY, 
31 and 33 .Vksey-street, corner of Cliurch. 
Post Office Box, 5,043 New-York City. 
Sir- We call special notice to the fact that our Vesey 
Street Store is at Nos. 31 and 33 Vesey Street, corner of 
Cliurch Street— dotible store. 
From ihe Methodist, Ff. T. City. 
The Great American Tea Company.— In noticing the 
operations of this large and enterprising establishment, it 
may be proper for us to offer a remark in explanation of the 
reasons wliich induce us to call the attention of the commu 
nity to a concern which has reached its eminence in pub¬ 
lic favor. It is our undeviatlng rule to exercise a scrupu¬ 
lous judgment in relation to business enterprises—never rec¬ 
ommending any except such as we believe have been 
proved worthy and reliable, and whose system of business, 
uprightness of dealing with their customers, and ample cap¬ 
ital to fulfill their engagements are fully established. Upon 
these principles we call attention to the advertisement of the 
Great American Tea Company, published in our advertis¬ 
ing columns. The Company have several very large stores, 
located in different parts of the city, stocked with the best 
and most serviceable goods, which they are content to sell 
at merely living profits, as they have proved by their prices 
for the past five or six years. They have but one price, 
whicli is no small consideration to those who are dependent 
to any considerable degree upon servants or children to 
make purchases, or to those who wish to order from the 
country. By these rules alone the company propose in the 
future to conduct their vast and rapidly augmenting trade. 
Believing that the ability and disposition of the Company 
are ample to perform all they promise, warrants us in calling 
special attention to them in our columns. It is a trite saying 
“that the honest strivings of honest men are sure to be 
commended, their business efforts encouraged, and ulti¬ 
mately adequately compensated.’! 
Clergymen and Gentlemen of the religious and secular 
press of very careful speech, have emphatically indorsed 
and recommended the Great American Tea Company, as 
also commendatory letters of our customers. 
On page 110 of this paper, we give their own words, so 
tliat eonsumers of Tea may rely upon our statements and 
manner of doing business. 
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BY 
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to Clubs. 
* * * Specimen Copies sent free, or on receipt of 
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stitched and trimmed in paper cover, post-paid—80 
pages, and very cheap at the price. 
“Rural Affairs,” in FOUR HANDSOME 
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alone for $1.50.—Send for one and you will w.ant all. 
Address, with i-emittances, or for further informa¬ 
tion, LUTHER TUCKER & SON, Albany, 
N. Y._ 
Imported Crevecceitr Fowls, 
Direct from the Jardln d’AcclImatation, Paris, selected with 
great care; the finest in the country. Orders received for 
fowls only, progeny of above, to be delivered after Sept. 1st. 
Send for Circular. Also, limited number of 
of same importation. 
I>XTCIAS. 
Plata and. Aylesbury Ducks and Eggs from the best im¬ 
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_ A. M. HALSTED & CO., 58 Pearl St., New York. 
To Farmers and Ag^eiits. 
On receipt of $1.50 we will send by mail or express, pre¬ 
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brated Slivers’ Patent Excelsior Brooms complete—with full 
instructions how to fill it.—Universally acknowledged to be 
the cheapest, best and most beautiful Broom lu the world, 
and the only one accepted for the “ Paris Exposition ’’ of 1867. 
An Agent wanted in every county. For full particulars, 
see February Agriculturist, page 77. or send for Illustrated 
Circular to C. A. CLEGG & CO., 
206 Broadway, N. Y. 
KNOX’S NURSERY AT YOUR DOOR. — A 
Liibera.1 Offer. See Advertisement on page 117 . 
SOUTHERN LAWI>S. 
Great Bargains in Maryland,'Virginia and Cotton growing 
States. Farms of all sizes and at all prices, from $2 to $100 
per acre. Large Tracts of Timber on Railroad and'Water. 
Never failing Water Potcers, Mill Sites, etc., etc. 
For sale by VM. H. NEWTON, Att’y and Broker. 
23 Lexington-st., Baltimore, Maryland. 
Send 2^ Cents for Catalogue. 
GET WEL.li AND KEEP WELL..—Kcad the 
Advertisement of Herald of Health, page 113. 
See Advertisement “ All. NURSERIES IN 
ONE,” on page 113. Obsei-ve tbo low Prices. 
MR. GREELEY’S PROPOSITION 
FOR GRAPE-PRIZE. 
So much has been well done within the last few years in 
American Fruit growing that it seems feasible, to do still 
more or at least to realize more extensively and rapidly the 
benefit of past improvements. Perhaps the most signal im- 
g rovement has been made in the production of Grapes * ». * 
till, we are growing far too many inferior grapes, wliile our 
established favorites are too generally deficient in one or 
more respects. ■* * * They have some notable defect as a table 
fruit. * , * But It is plausibly claimed that several sub¬ 
stantially new or little known varieties of domestic origin 
of liigh quality, fulfill all the requisites of a choice table 
fruit. It is time these claims were tested and passed upon 
by disinterested and capable judges. As a liumble contribu¬ 
tion to this end, I hereby offer a premium of One hundred 
dollars for the best plate of native grapes, weighing not less 
than six pounds of any variety known to the growers or 
propagators of the country. I require as follows of the 
grapes competing for the premium: The berries must be at 
least of good medium size, and not liable to fall from the 
stem when ripe : The flesh must be melting and tender quite 
to the center: The flavor must be pure, vinous, and ex¬ 
hilarating: The vine must be healtliy, productive, of good 
habit of growth for training in gardens and yards, as well as 
in vineyards, with leaves as liardy and well adapted to our 
climate as those of the Delaware. In short, what is sought is 
a vine embodying all of the best qualities of the most ap¬ 
proved American and foreign varieties so far as possible. 
I propose to pay this premium on the Award of the Fruit 
Department of the American Institute, and invite competi¬ 
tion for It at the annual fair of the Institute soon to open; 
hut if a thoroughly satisfactory Grape should not now be 
presented, the Institute 'will ot course postpone the award 
till the proper claimant shall have appeared. 
Signed. , HORACE GllEELEY. 
The Committee, consisting of Peter B. Mead. Chairman. R. 
G. Pardee and Francis Brill, reported (see report in pamphlet) 
that “the Iona fully met Mr. Greeley’s requirements, and 
that no other grape in cultivation could.” 
[This the committee knew to be true In Sept., 1864. and 
thousands of otlicrs in all parts of the country now affirm 
the same from their own experience.^ 
This appears to be the only committee that ever ad¬ 
judicated the Greelev prize, altliough anotlier committee— 
or rather a portion of it—(apparently after enjoying a party 
and forgetting their errand") made another report, which 
embodies an apology for giving it to so poor a grape as the 
Concord. See what one of them at the late meeting “ of 
Fruit-growers Society of 'Western N. Y.” says about it when 
asked to explain. 
Extract from letter giving report: “ The Concord ripened 
well, but the berries fell from tlie hunch some, and I don’t 
think so much of it on that account. There are several 
grapes that I always eat in preference to the Concord—in 
fact, I seldom eat that—but tbc public—tlie great 
mas-s—are not so well edneated in their taste, and are ready 
to gulp down any binclc grape of good size, regardless of 
qualltv.. For that reason I recoranieuded the Concord for 
the Million.” ilr. AVilliam Griffith, of North East, Pa., 
who believed the Iona best of all grapes for table and for 
wine, denounced tlie doctrine of Mr. Committee-man. saying 
“he (committee-man) little knew the American people,” and 
closed by saying “that 999,000 out of every million and part 
of the other thousand were already dissatisfied with that 
award, and that ‘the million ’ in all coming years would 
rebuke the finding of that Greeley Committee.” (It is also 
explained 
touch that." 
Mr. F. R. Elliot (Author of Fruit Growers’ Guide) said, “of 
all the grapes that had had any reputation at the vrest. 
Concord was the poorest in quality.’” 
It will be seen that Mr. Greeley’s requirements specify very 
judiciously and accurately the distinctive qualities of a good 
grape, without whicli his offer of a munificent premium 
would have been entirely wanting in that clear significance 
and practical good sense, for which lie is so eminently dis¬ 
tinguished. It was not to have been expected that any one 
of Concord’s “ hundred head of friends’’ should liave placed 
before the public an analysis of the qualities ofa good grape 
so directly in contrast totliat from wliich they were reaping 
sucli golden harvests, whicli could last only while tlie 
“ignorance of the million” should cqntinue, but wlien we 
consider how utterly wanting in all of tliese essential qu.all- 
ties the Concord is, and in fitness for “Market” also, we 
cannot fail to wonder that the portion of the committee re¬ 
porting should omit to state such important facts, to avoid 
the appearance of callusion with what will be regarded as 
the most enormous swindle that lias been perpetrated in 
fruit-culture, when the history of the dissemination of the 
Concord .shall be known. The latter is in very unenviable 
contrast with the former committee. 
Now, Mr. Public, we have finished our little essay, and at 
an expenditure of some thousands of dollars liave spread it 
before you. Please let some one of your philosophers weigh 
it in his scales, using for weiglits all that has appeared on 
the subject of grapes in all of tbo magazines and papep 
during the past three vears.—Note the result and make ^itr 
calculations accordingly. ^ GRANT. 
MEAD ON GRAPE CULTURE AM) 
WINE MAKING. 
Harper and Brother will publish, on or before tiic first of 
Mivrcli, “American Grape Culture,” an elementary work, by 
Peter B. Mead, intended specially to meet the wants of the 
present time. 
It is the work of a thorough practitioner of the most ex¬ 
tended knowledge of the subject, and wlio, at the sanietime, 
is able to express bis ideas in a clear, intelligent, and scholar' 
ly manner. 
The work is most profusely illustrated with the best en¬ 
gravings ever produced for the purpose, and we are happy 
to he able to offer it so opportunely to tlie American public, 
HARPER & BROTHER. 
Franklin Square, N. Y. 
Sent bj' mail on receipt of price. 
PREFACE. 
The present volume has been prepared in compliance with 
the urgent request of friends in various parts of the country, 
(Contin ued on page 119, lohich see.) 
