August i, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



103 



ing the prospects for the future. The final figures for 

 India and Ceylon tea, are as follows : — 

 Imports from 18S2-3. 



Calcutta 55,360,000 



Imports from 



other ports... 1.400,000 



1881-2. 



1880-1. 



Total 



,.56,760,000 49,150,000 45,.380,00O 



12 months" cou- 



sumution ..56,620,000 46,760,0(10 

 Stk on June 1—19,070,000 19.210,000 

 The China figures are as follows : — 

 1882-3. 18S1-2. 



Import 149,000,000 161,000,000 



Delivery — Home 



117,000,000 117,000,000 

 41,000,000 36,000,000 



consumj)tion 

 Export 



■18,320,000 

 16,510,000 



16S0-1. 

 165,000,000 



113,000,000 

 47,000,900 



Total ..158,000,000 153,000,000 160.000,000 



Stock Jime 1 ..58,000,000 67,000,000 58,000,000 

 The prominent features of the season have been the heavy 

 decline in the average value of the crop and the large in- 

 crease in consumplion. The fall in value, influenced by the 

 general depression in produce, was in a measure a natural 

 re-action from the high average miintained tlu-oughout the 

 greater part of the previous season, and was not altogether 

 unforeseen a year ago by those who had taken note of the 

 decided check to consumption caused by the high prices ; 

 the fear of a much heavier crop than was actually made, as- 

 sisting to bring about this result. It was also due to the 

 policy pursued by many of making a heavier outturn, and 

 consequently a lower grade of tea ; but not, in om- opinion, 

 so ra\ich to the inferior quaUty of the crop as some have 

 assumed. For although at one time there was in many case.s 

 a decided falliug-oft' from 1881 standard, later shipments 

 showed improvement all round ; and throughout there has 

 been a marked absence of sour, coarse, or burnt teas 

 unsuitable for general use, which we consider a most 

 satisfactory e\'idence of progi-ess m the art of manufacture, 

 and of more thorough appreciation by those who make tea 

 of the tastes of those who consume it. It is to this general 

 good character of the crop, as well as to the low rates which 

 have ruled, that we attribute the hea\'y increase in deliveries 

 — which for the past eight months have been at the rate of 60 

 millions per annum — for the price alone would not have 

 forced comsumption had the quality been generally in- 

 ferior. In many points the season just concluded has re- 

 sembled that of 1880-81, and the position of the article 

 today— viz., a moderate stock, a grooving consumption, and 

 comparatively high prices obtainable for the tiner grades 

 — is almost identical with that of two years ago. As was 

 the case then, the prices paid for choice teas may induce 

 some planters to return to the old plan of finer plucking 

 — the experience of the past three season."!, however, so 

 fully proves that a large crop of fair average quality 

 is more easily absorbed than a smaller one of higher ui- 

 triusic value, that we cannot counsel sucli a general re- 

 turn to the poHcy of making fancy tea as to shorten supplies. 

 The interests of India seem rather to lie in the direction 

 of a continuous growth of production, accompanied by re- 

 duced expenditure, so as to bring down prime cost to a 

 point that will discourage immoderate supplies from China 

 and elsewhere, and thus each year make more secure the 

 hold upon the trade of the country which Imlian tea has 

 taken. At the same time, the most careful attention must 

 be paid to every detail in order to make good liquoring 

 tea; and the effect of free phicking upon qua lit}' should 

 be closely watched, especially by those who have already 

 somewhat lowered their standard by adopting this course 

 — for it must not be overlooked that of late years India 

 has had to compete with very poor crops from China; 

 while should China at any time send a fine crop, which 

 is not impossible, the result to Indian of poor quality 

 would be serious. It is too early to estimate with any 

 certainty what the coming crop will be. The lateness of 

 the season and the bad weather in many districts lead 

 Bome to look for an increase of 10 per cent, only, or 

 even less; should this be the ease, and quality be fair, 

 there sliould be no ilifiiculty in dealing with it ; and pro- 

 d.ucers might fairly count upon last season's average if 

 tjje ctoeraj njarket be not over-borne by excess in the 



China supply. The diversion to other markets of nearly 

 four million pounds is a matter of great importance if 

 it results iu creating a permanent demand. That it has 

 done so in Australia seems sure, notwithstanding the recent 

 severe fall in prices and consequent reshipment of 

 several consignments to Kn^land : and we think the Amer- 

 ican trade will steadily develop, although it is disappoint- 

 ing to find that a considerable portion of the shipments 

 to New York have f ">und their way back here, owing to 

 the teas having passid into the hands of jobbers, instead 

 of the retail traders' ai w. is intended. The agitation which 

 has been raised iu America against the importation of 

 spurious greens, however, is likely to create an inquiry 

 for purer tea, and we are advised on good authority that 

 although the sale of black tea make slow progress, there 

 would be little difficulty of disposing of a considerable 

 quantity of the ** Nemoonah " tyjje, which could be substi- 

 tuted for Oolongs now used at equivalent prices — say from 

 lOd to Is 4d per lb. As supply grows larger, the diflaculty 

 increases of insuring that every parcel offered for sale 

 receives proper attention from buyers. The only practical 

 solution that we can suggest is to continue making the 

 breaks larger by bulking, either here or in India (to which 

 there is no objection, providing it can be done thoroughly 

 without injury to the llavour) — and to nrake fewer classes. 

 The larger concerns have made great progress in this direc- 

 tion,. anchtheir prodrrce never fails to receive .due attention 

 from buyei-s : the sufferers are the small proprietors, and it 

 is generally these who send tour or five different sorts in an 

 invoice of 50 or 100 chests, when two or three kinds would 

 suffice. Ceylon teas have this year established their claim to 

 rank with Indiair growths, and their generally useful char- 

 acter has brought thenr into favour with the trade. About 

 14,000 packages, containing about 800,000 lbs., have been 

 received, and as a large area is under 2:)laut the import is 

 likely to be heavier this season, with a rapid increase in the 

 futirre. The conditions seem favorrrable to produce profit- 

 able results, the yield being good on well crrltivated gardens 

 which have reached matirrity, with a comparatively low cost 

 of manufacture. "We give a few statistics of results realised 

 during the past season, the returns embracing the produce 

 of 43,815 acres, amounting to 15 million lb., shomng an 

 average of Is IJd per II). According to circulars, the quan- 

 tity sold in Calcutta was 323,000 pickages, say 25 million lb., 

 tlie average price being ItO. 8. 7., the equivalent of which to a 

 planter is about Is OJil iu this market, at the curi-ent rales 

 of e.xchange and freight. 



» Two-thirds only' in full bearing. 



