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PROSPECTS OP TEA IN BUKMAH- 



{Communicated. ) 



Before we give an estimate of the expenditure ne- 

 cessary in opeuiLp out and maintaining a tea garden 

 in Burma until it becomes a profitable speculation, 

 we think it necessary to give our readers a clearer 

 insight into the enterprise, by explaining the kind of 

 land best suited to the cultivation of tea. 



For this i^urpose, the land most suitable is high 

 laml gently undulating and with a rich dark, sandy 

 loam or a moderately heavy soil. The land chosen 

 should be near a road, navigable river or railway, for 

 despatch of the product of the garden to market, but it 

 is still more important that it should be near a 

 virgin forest for the purpose of keeping up a continu- 

 ous supply of timber for the manufacture of charcoal 

 and tea chests, and for building requirements. About 

 600 acres of such forest would be necessary for the 

 proper working of a garden of 150 acres. It is our be- 

 lief that such land as we have just described can be had 

 in any quantity in Burma. 



The question of labour can be easily settled by ap- 

 plication to ttie numerous cooly agencies in India, who 

 could supply the right kind of labour at a very moder- 

 ate charge per head. 



The seed can be procured from Assam and Oachar 

 through the Agents of tea concerns in Calcutta, and we 

 would recommend a high class China with a fair ad- 

 mixture of Hybrid, say 30 per cent. This mixture should 

 be obtainable lu Calcutta at E25 per mauud, or even 

 less. The implements necessary are axes, dhas and 

 hoes, all these are obtainable in our local bazaar at 

 moderate prices. 



It is in the power of Government to assist intending 

 planters in many ways, by furnishing information as to 

 likely sites, opening up nurseries at central places for 

 the supply of seedlings at moderate prices, and more 

 particularly by protective measures with reference to 

 the labour (luestion, as was done in the early days of tea 

 planting in India. 



\7e will now give an estimate of the probable cost of 

 starting a garden of l-iO acres, and maintaining ituntil it 

 becomes a profitable concern, keeping well withiu our 

 supposed capital of one lakh of rupees. 



Land 600 acres (on a thirty years lease from 



Government at RIO jier acre 

 Seed 100 nuunids at R30 or 35 landed on the 



garden 

 Labor, cost of importing 100 coolies at R30 



each 

 Implements 

 Ist yeir expenditnre from October (say 



87-88) to October inclusive of Manager's 



salary and bnildiugs 



Total... 



With this expendiure a pushing Manager should be 

 able to open out from 80 to 90 acres ; the remain- 

 ing 60 or 70 acres can be undertaken during the 

 second year, when the cost of maintaining the area 

 under plant (if 90 acres) will be R7, 560. 



2nd YeAK's Exi'JENDITUBE. 

 Maintaining old garden for 12 months ... 7,560 



Seed50 raauTidsat R35 ... ... 1,750 



Coat of planting out and malnfainiDg new' 



garden .50 acres for 12 months ... 6)000 



Cost of importing 50 ueiv Coolies at 30 



each ... ... ... ... l.&OO 



Coat of Building Bungalow for Manager and 



Tea Factory ... «. ... a,000 



Rs 



4tk Year's Expekditdbe. 



Cost of working 150 acres with manufactur- 

 ing charges at R120 per acre ... 



Deduct jirice realised by sale of 150 

 mauuds of Tea at RoO per maund ... 



Total... 



Grand Total... 



5th Ye.^r'.s Profit. 

 .Sales of 450 maunds of tea at R60 per 



maund ... 

 Cost of working garden CommissiDn, Freight, 



Brokerage, &c. 



27,000 

 20,000 



'I'otal.. 

 (Irand 'fotal.., 



—Banyoon GcueUe. Net Profit... R 7,000 



Cinchona Pkospects. — Messrs. James Cook & 

 Co., in their latest report, do not make much 

 of the probable Java exports of bark in the future 

 —at any rate for a long time yet. The export of 

 188G is in fact not likely to be much exceeded ia 

 1887. For last year they give : — 



Private exports 1,G2G,000 lb. 



Government account . . .510,000 lb. 



2,172,000 lb. 



1^,810 

 44,810 



oRi) Year's E:JcPENTnl'uRE. 

 jiaintaining 1.50 acres at K8i per acre ... .12,600 

 Seed 10 maun Is R35 .. .■ ... 3-50 



. 12,950 



yrand Total... 67,769 



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CEYLON TEA: SPECIAL ANNUAL KEPORT. 

 i:^ Rood Lane, London, E. C, March 24th 1887. 



Dear Sirs, — We beg to submit for your consideration 

 a few facts bearing upon Ceylon tea, together with 

 some suggestions concerning the opening up of ne 

 markets for British Grown tea. 



At the first sight, the average price is no doubt dis- 

 appointing, but it must not be forgotten that the value 

 of Indian lea has fallen to a far greater extent. Indeed, 

 it is almost surprising that the value of Ceylon tea has 

 not been eveu further depreciated, considering the great 

 influx of tea from India and the additional supply from 

 Ceylon. These imports amounted together ui 1886 to 

 83,460,000 lb., against only 66,86:^,000 lb. in 1885. No 

 doubt a portion of the fall iu price during a few months 

 of the year can be accounted for by the poor quality of 

 the majority of arrivals during that period. 



The main reason for the high value at which Ceylon 

 tea has been maintained is due to the manner in which 

 it has been advertised throughout the country, chiefly 

 through the enterprise and perseverance of Ceylon 

 Planters. Through their instrumentality it has been 

 introduced into localities where it had previously been 

 quite unknown. Once introduced, its quality commanded 

 attention, and met with such general appreciation that 

 a steady demand ensued. 



The Colonial and Indian Exhibition which was opeoed 

 in May last, was destined to become a powerful adver- 

 tising medium for Ceylon tea, not only from the at' 

 tractive display of handsome specimens and the instruct- 

 ive lectures which were delivered, but especially from 

 the quantity disposed of as a beverage, as well as sold 

 iu the dry condition. An influential Committee was ap- 

 pointed to guarantee the genuineness of the tea, and 

 great care was taken to purchase the mellowest 

 liquoring and most delicate flavoured descriptions. 

 Such success followed this carefully devised scheme 

 that no lc3.s than 6,055 lb, of tea were used in the ia- 

 fusion pold as a beverage at the Exhibition, to about 

 360,000 people. 23,096 lb. in tiie dry state were also 

 sold in the building; this quantity, comprising a vast 

 number of small packets, exercised an important dis-' 

 tributive inllueuce. At the same time the article carae 

 prominently and favourably under the notice of thfl 

 press. Thus the practical outcome of this li.^hibition 

 was a more general knowledge of Ceylon tea, combined 

 with a growing appreciation of its qualities by a con- 

 tinually iiicreusing number of the British public, A. 

 powerful impetus wa.'i thus given to the trade. This was 

 speedily followed up by the establishment of various 

 a,getv.:wn fnr tbe exclusive supply of Ocylou produce, 



