May 2, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



741 



especially Pekoes. With some fluctuations, these 

 raaiutaiued a stroug position as the season advanced 

 aud tliey became scarcer, but prices for other grades 

 declined, as the export from Calcutta proving rather 

 above the estimate, our market was over-supplied. 



lu consequence of the heavy clearances in anticipa- 

 tion of the Budget iu the Spriiii,' of 1885, a con'- 

 siderable qua ntity of duty paid stock remained in 

 the hands of Dealers up to the close of last season, 

 so that the monthly returns were no guide as to 

 consumption- A year of steady trade has now, how- 

 ever, disposed of the old stock, and figures have 

 become more indicative of actual movements. 



The London bonded stock of Indian aud Ceylon 

 Tea on the 30th June, 1886, was 18,345,000 lb. a 

 consid arable increase on the amount in the previous 

 year, when it was reduced to 12,359,000 lb. on account 

 of the Duty scare. The stock at the end of last 

 month was more than seven millions over what it 

 stood at the close of February, 1886, though with 

 an increased consumption this surplus may disappear 

 before the close of the season. 



The average prices obtained during the season have 

 been about as follows, viz., Ceylon, Is. Ijd. per lb. ; 

 India, lid. per lb. ; China Congou, 8jd. per lb.; against 

 Is. Sjd. Is. l|ci. and 10|d. per lb. last year, which 

 shows that tea generally has fallen about 2jd. per lb. 



Indian and Ceylon Tea. — The gradual increase in the 

 deliveries of Indian and Ceylon Tea must be most satis- 

 factory to growers, as shewing the hold they are getting 

 on the taste of the British public, while the demand 

 from abroad is also on the increase. Not only have 

 the fine teas from China (partly owing to the crop 

 being thin iu cup) had to give way before them, but 

 Indian and Ceylon planters have undersold the 

 medium and lower grades of China Congou, and by 

 sheer weight of quantity forced their produce to the 

 front. The deliveries of Indian from the London 

 warehouses during February nearly equalled those of 

 China Congou, while Indian and Ceylon together 

 exceeded them by over 400,000 lb. 



This result has not been achieved without some 

 drawback however, as the low averages obtained by 

 many gardens shew, and the question as to whether 

 "it pays" will become a serious one, especially to 

 some of the smaller properties in India. No doubt 

 the cost of manittacture has been considerably 

 reduced of late in the case of some of the larger 

 gardens, whose produce it is reported can be 

 laid down in London at 7id. per lb., and so tempted 

 them to go in for quantity. Small gardens, probably, 

 will find it difficult to compete iu this way, and 

 perhaps their best chance of success lies in striving 

 after quality rather than quantity. 



The Indian crop this season, with few exceptions, 

 has been disappointiug iu quality, owing principally 

 to unfavourable weather for growth and manufacture, 

 and with the abundant supply of thin and undesirable 

 Tea from all quarters, lower quotations than previously 

 known have been recorded, common Souchong sell- 

 ing down to (3d. aud Pekoe at 7h<l'- per lb. 



The shipments of Ceylon Tea arriving before August 

 were not up to the average iu quality, and prices 

 were, consequently disappointing. Later on, however, 

 they shewed a considerable improvement, aud as they 

 appeared to advantage in comparison with the general 

 run of Indians then coming forward, they secured the 

 attention of the trade and realised good averages until 

 the past few weeks. Recent arrivals have generally 

 shewn a falliug-oft' in the cup, as they consist mostly 

 of first pickings after pruning or Teas manufactured 

 during unfavourable weatlier. 



Deliveries have hitherto kept pace with the increasing 

 Imports in a most satisfactory way, but as larger supplies 

 reach our market, it is to be hoped that growers 

 will continue alive to the great need of keeping up 

 the standaril of excellence already attained, as f\ill 

 flavoured parcels are usually sought aftsr and always 

 command good prices. During the current season 

 Ceylon Teas have, in many qu-irters, t:dcen the place 

 of fine China Congou, both for Home Trade and 

 Export, principally to the Continent. With the 



prospect of annually increasing crops, it is most im- 

 portant that foreign buyers should be encouraged, 

 as fresh outlet both for Indians and Ceylous are 

 almost a necessity, unless such a low average is 

 established as to stop supplies from China. 



Java Tea. — The advantage of having more than 

 one market has been particularly exemplified in the 

 case of Java Tea, for on several occasions when Indians 

 have been depressed, owing to the dulness of Home 

 Trade, Continental orders have kept the former steady. 

 Consequently the Huctuations in the price of Javas 

 are comparatively smaller throughout a season than 

 for other kinds, and the averages obtained have been 

 in several cases above those of some Indian invoices. 

 This no doubt is partly attributable to an improved 

 general demand following on the Teas showing better 

 quality, many of tUem resembling flavoury Indians 

 and Ceylons, to be accounted for from the fact of 

 the plants having in some cases been grown from 

 seed from these countries. 



JoHOBE AND Natal Tea. — During the past season 

 several parcels have been shipped from .Tohore and also 

 from Natal. The former require more care to be exer- 

 cised in the manufacture before they can take a good 

 position on the London market. The latter, judging from 

 some of the small lots received, give good promise, 

 being well made and possessed of useful qu.ality. 



Bulking and Net Weighinci. — In previous annual 

 circulars we have referred at length to these import- 

 ant matters, and in the case of the first are pleased 

 to note that it is receiving more attention, both in 

 Itidia and Ceylon year by year. The shipment of 

 large breaks carefully bulked will not only save the 

 time of buyers here, but will also do away with the 

 charges incurred for bulking at the London ware- 

 houses, no inconsiderable item in the expense of work- 

 ing a garden now that the average price is so much 

 reduced. Unless it is well and thoroughly done, how- 

 ever, the labour spent in bulking at the factory is 

 thrown away, as the work has to be gone over again 

 in London. 



Attention should not only be given to proper blend- 

 ing, but the packing of Tea should also receive more 

 care than is at present often bestowed on it. The 

 appearance of the leaf is, in some cases, spoilt by its 

 bemg crushed into the chest, or the end of the pile, 

 which is usually dusty, being placed on the top. A 

 good " packer " would be a valuable addition to the 

 machinery on an estate. 



Much dissatisfaction is expressed by Dealers, both 

 wholesale and retail, with net weighing, and at a 

 meeting of the Wholesale Tea Dealers' Association a 

 short time since a resolution was passed unanimously 

 that notice should be given that after this season 

 the Trade would only buy Indian Teas upon the or- 

 dinary gross and tare system, though nothing definite 

 has yet been arranged. 



Peospects of the coming Season. — Looking at the 

 coming season from the point of view of the planter 

 and garden owner, the low range established is any- 

 thing but satisfactory, the more so as there is no 

 probability of much permanent rise. The public has 

 become accustomed to cheap {i.e. low priced) Tea, 

 and the Is. 8d. and 2,*. canisters have in manj' cases 

 been reduced to Is. 4d. aud Is. 6d. The best hope of 

 raising prices from the dead level they threaten to 

 fall to seems to be an improvement in qiuilitj'. For 

 the past few years the crops, roughly speaking, have 

 been alternately bad and good, and it is to be hoped 

 that this next season will bear out the rule, for 

 as the _ export increases^ quality becomes of the 

 utmost importance, as unless the forthcoming crop 

 should be better than this year's, prices may fall 

 even lower than they are now, and with accumulating 

 supplies from all quarters there is nothing to prevent 

 undesirable Teas falling 2d. per lb. beyond their pre- 

 sent value. 



Manufacture— Successful manufacture is the im- 

 portant factor in determining the financial results 

 of a Season's workings, for well made tea should cost 

 very little more to lay down in London than rubbish. 

 It is well known that occasionally an excessive flush or 

 bad weather make it diflicult to manipulate the greea 



