IP 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[MaV 2, 1887* 



! ■ J - -.- ' ji UL>_-!: 



leaf properly, but (as the art of tea making is now 

 80 much better known than formerly) good quality 

 can be made under ordinary circumstances if only 

 care is bestowed on each different process that has 

 to be gone through. This is proved by the produce 

 of certain gardens being so well known owing to 

 desirable quality, and those marks which can thus 

 make a name invariably command pence per lb. more 

 on this account. 



Some Planters advocate long withering, some hard 

 rolling if care is taken to avoid the exj^ressed juice 

 being lost, others believe in firing at a high tem- 

 perature after very full or light fermentation, but so 

 much depends on the state of the leaf when it is 

 plucked that no hard and fast rule can be laid down. 



Heavily fermented Teas with bright copper coloured 

 infused leaves and a full rich flavoured liquor which 

 creams over when cool have for a long time been 

 in favour, and always command full prices. On the 

 other hand there has been a growing demand for 

 lightly fermented parcels with greenish infused leaves 

 and sharp pungent liquors, as they are found useful 

 for mixing purposes. Sterling quality in the cup is 

 the thing to be aimed at, as the appearance of leaf 

 is a secondary consideration. 



Sorting, kc. — In sorting and classifying it is 

 desirable to make as few kinds as possible, especially 

 on small gardens, so that breaks may be of a saleable 

 size, say from 30 to 100 chests or half-chests. This is es- 

 pecially important as owing to the large number of breaks 

 in the catalogues it is proposed that parcels of under 

 twenty chests or half -chests (instead of eight as 

 hitherto) should be sold as small breaks at the close 

 of the auctions when most of the buyers have left 

 the sale room. Boxes of Savoury Pekoe or Pekoe 

 Souchong, suitable for self drinking, also sell well at 

 times, if not less than thirty in number. The gross 

 should be under 28 lb. to avoid the 1 lb. draft aUowed 

 in packages over that weight. Broken Pekoe should 

 not be sent in boxes as they do not sell readily, and thus 

 the extra expen.se incurred is lost. 



Packages. — Complaints as to the wood used for 

 chests have not been numerous this season, but we 

 would again draw attention to the desirability of not 

 marking either weight or tare on the packages, as 

 it causes dissatisfaction to buyers even if they differ 

 ever so little from the Customs weights. A few 

 parcels of Ceylon Tea packed m A. Andrews' patent 

 metal chests, sold lately, appeared to meet the ap- 

 proval of the Trade, as they realized slightly better 

 prices than the balance of the break in ordinary 

 wooden packages. If these should come into gen- 

 eral use the difficulty as to even weights and tares 

 would be solved, much to the ajdvantage of all con- 

 cerned. 



Short Weight.— Instances of short weight have 

 not been so numerous with Indian Teas as formerly, 

 though there have been many in the case of Ceylona, 

 especially purchases made in Colombo. It is to be 

 hoped that this may be avoided in future, by more 

 careful weighing at the gardens. 



Figures. — There is still a great discrepancy be- 

 tween the Calcutta exports and London imports, 

 both being apparently inaccurate and misleading. 

 If actual weights were given, especially in the 

 London warehouse returns, instead of estimates, 

 the arrivals and also bonded stock, at the end of 

 each month, could be correctly ascertained. 



Sales in Ceylon. — A considerable business has been 

 doue in the sale of Green Leaf in some parts of Oeylon, 

 as managers of young gardens, in accordance with 

 the practice of the Chinese, find it more convenient 

 to realise in this way than to iucur the expenses of 

 manufacture oil a small scale. The market in Colombo 

 is grailually rising in importance, but up to date 

 transactious thera have only been comparatively limited. 

 We are still of opinion that the small iots sold there 

 might, to advantage, be bulked, refircd, and shipped 

 in merchantable-sized breaks. 



Comparative Quality of the Outturn of the Different 

 Districts for the Fa^it Three Reasons :— 

 Assam. 



1886 Crop. — On the average under an ordinary crop 

 ft few gardens having sent desirable Tea throughout 



some others good and bad alternately, whilst the produce 

 of many has all been poor. 



1885 CKor.— Quality on the whole good, though crop 

 in some districts very short. Teas received during 

 August and September very fine, and even better than 

 those of the previous season. 



1884 Crop. — Similar to previous season, many well 

 made, but light in cup. During August and September, 

 some very desirable Teas were received, quite up, if 

 not superior to those of the past few years. 



Cachak and Sylhet. 



1886 Crop. — Large supplies of undesirable quality 

 have come to hand, as if quantitj' had been aimed 

 at. Only a few really choice liquoring invoices real- 

 ized comparatively high rates. 



1885 Oeop. — Outturn large, but the crop as a rule 

 poor. A few exceptions, however, which prove that fine 

 Teas can be made if proper attention be paid to 

 manufacture. 



1884 Crop. — Early part of season undesirable as a 

 rule, with the exception of several favorite marks which 

 have kept up quality throughoul Later arrivals were 

 much better. 



Daejeeling, Kursiong and Terai. 



1886 Crop. — On the whole disappointing, and i'^ 

 some cases the worst seen for many years. A few 

 really tine flavoured parcels received during Septem- 

 ber and October, also January and February, realized 

 extreme rates, proving that this District's Teas when 

 tine are much appreciated. 



1885 Crop. — On the whole disappointing, many of 

 the invoices being dry and sapless. The few fine 

 Teas consequently commanded very full prices. 



1884 Crop. — Quality very irregular, but on the 

 whole disappointing. Early arrivals good, especially 

 some sold in August, but September imports shewed 

 a great falling-off in the cup. Towards the close 

 some choice parcels were received. 



Dooars. 1 



1886 Crop. —The season opened well, but the Teas 

 fell off shortly after. Sufficient useful quality wa3 

 sent to prove what might have been done under more 

 favourable circumstance. Late arrivals showed every 

 sign of excessive flushes, and lack of care in manu- 

 facture. 



1885 Crop. — As usual there has been much irregu- 

 larity shown in the outturn. With a few exceptions 

 the Teas lacked quality, though for a time they were 

 good, being full in the cup and drawing thick 

 liquors. 



1884 Crop. — On the whole good, and a great im- 

 provement on previous year. Some very desirable 

 full flavoured parcels, especially the autumn pickings. 



Kangra Valley, Kumaon, and Dehra Doon. 



1886 Crop. — With a few exceptions, the former has 

 sent thin pointless Teas, unsuitable for this market. 

 Rich flavoured lots always sell well, and the few 

 received were eagerly bought up at 6d. to Is. per 

 lb. advance on similar grades, with poor quality. 

 From Kumaon and Dehra Doon only limited sup- 

 plies have been received, and chiefly of low class. 



1885 Crop. — A few choice parcels were received 

 from the former which commanded high rates, but 

 the produce of the other districts has l)een poor and 

 in comparatively short supply in this market, a 

 considerable quantity being sold locally. 



1884 Crop. — From the former some very choice 

 invoices received at early part of season. The quality 

 fell off later, owing to the unfavourable weather. 

 Recent shipments have again been good. From the 

 last two districts quantity received was very limited. 



CuiTTAGONG. 



1886 Chop.— Like other districts, the proportion 

 of useful to fine has been small. For a time some 

 good prices were paid, but the general average 

 must be a bad one. 



1885 Crop.— Some useful Teas received, but a 

 large proportion has been below the average and 

 therefore realized low prices. 



1884 Crop.— On the whole fair, but quality ir- 

 regular, similarly to that from other districts. 



