August i, 1885,] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



109 



1. The packages on arrival to be weighed to ascertain 

 the gross weight of each package. 



2. AVith each eutry the importer to give an endorse- 

 ment or statement of the nett contents of each package. 



3. To test the accuracy of the endorsement of the 

 nett contents, ten per cent of each break to be turned 

 out and weighed nett, but in no case should less than 

 three chests be turned out. 



4. It the variation in weight of the test packages be 

 found to exceed one lb. the whole parcel to be weighed 

 out ; when the averages of the packages weighed 

 nett, amount to so many pounds, and a half 

 or more, the half or more wnll be charged as a full pound ; 

 when the fraction is less than half a pound, it is to be 

 rejected and disregarded. 



Packages and Maijks. — Owing to the convenient size 

 and weight of the usual " half-chest " for carrying from 

 the garden, this particular package is in favor with grow- 

 ers but for estates which are near a means of transport, 

 we certainly recommend full-sized "chests" of from 80 

 to 100 lb. nett, as they are more liked by London dealers 

 for home trade : some of the choicest kinds might be 

 packed in *' half-chests " or even '* boxes." "When packed 

 iu the latter, care should be taken not to let the gross 

 exceed 28 lb. otherwise a loss equivalent to five per cent 

 iu weight will result, owing to the trade custom of allow- 

 ing 1 lb. draft on all packages over that weight. The 

 only marks requisite on the packages are — the descrip- 

 tion of contents, garden numbers, and the name of garden 

 iu preference to any elaborate device. 



Uow, "Wilson & Spantox, Tea Brokers, 13, Kood Lane. 



INDIAN TKA : ANNUAL KEVIEW. 



38, MiNCixG Laxr, London, June 1S85. 



The publication of the Statistics on the 1st June com- 

 pletes the record of another season. 



There have been few events in the history of the market 

 whiJi call for special notice, the feature of most interest 

 and importance being the large increase in Consumption. 



The Deliveries (including Ceylon Tea) have reached a 

 total of 71,000,000 lb. ; after deducting from this some 2h 

 million lb. — the probable excess in clejirances due to the 

 apprehensions respecting the duty — the increase amounts 

 to 8,000,000 lb. while supply has only increased 1,000,000 lb. 



It is most satisfactory to find that this has been attained 

 without any considerable reduction of the average price 

 — for although at one time values for certain kinds touched 

 a low point, the depression did nut last long enough, nor 

 was it sufficiently general, to materially affect results as 

 a whole. 



It must be remarlted that the growth of Consumption 

 has not been due so much as in former years to the ia- 

 teriority of the China Teas, for Indian Tea has had to 

 compete with a good average China crop selling at a low 

 range of price. Writiag a year ago, we drew attention 

 to what we felt was evidence of a growing demand from 

 consumers for a better article than that with which they 

 were formerly satisfied ; and this we believe to be steadily 

 operating in favour of Indian and Ceylon Tea. The sus- 

 tained competition for the finer qualities confirms this view ; 

 tor although low-priced tea undoubtedly still fonns the 

 hulk of the Trade requirements, the comparatively high 

 prices maintained throughout for fine teas are proof of 

 the demand for " quality " — and j-robably in no seaPon has 

 the contrast been more marked between the dead level of 

 rates ruling for common and medium grades (as in the 

 China market) and the higher range and elasticity of 

 values for fine descriptions. 



The lowest point was reached during November and 

 December, under pressure of heavy imports, and large 

 supplies of tea of inferior character : medium kinds 

 showed the chief depreciation ; common, by comparison, 

 being little affected ; while fine sorts scarcely gave way at 

 all. At that time the short-fall in the crop was not fully 

 realized, nor had the expansion in Consumption reached 

 its maximum. The recovery which has since taken place 

 has been a very slow movement, seeing how unusually 

 strong the statistioal position has become. The Dealers, 

 however, are workfa^ from hand to mouth, on very small 

 stocks, relying upon tile receipt of fresh supplies as soon 

 as they are wanted. 



Anticipations of the future, when so many of its factors 

 are unknown, are of little practical value ; still, experience 



of the past justifies a somewhat hopeful view of prospects 

 for the coming season. The import of China Tea fell off 

 9 million lb. last year, and was 21 million lb. less than 

 it was three years ago ; it is, therefore, not unreasonable 

 to assume that, owing to the competition of India a range 

 of price has been reached which checks immoderate ship- 

 ments. Estimating the supply from India at UO millions, 

 and from Ceylon at 4 miihons, we get a total of 70 mil- 

 lion lb., which will not more than suffice for our wants, 

 assuming that Consumption continues gradually to expand 

 as it has done year after year. In the estimate of re- 

 quirements we have not taken into account any material 

 increase in the demand from other markets ; progress, 

 however, is being steadily, if slowly, made with the sale 

 of Indian tea to the Canadian, American, and Russian 

 buyers through the agency of London Dealers and Ex- 

 porters. 



It is well to consider how the policy of producers should 

 be influenced by the added experience of another year. 

 Speaking broadly, results of 1884 have been satisfactory to 

 those who made fine tea, and to those whose yield was 

 so large as to bring down cost to a minimum, — but it has 

 not been equally profitable to those who realized ouly[a mod- 

 erate yield and made only medium quality; the reason being, 

 that prices for "medium" have year by year been reced- 

 ing nearer to the range for " common," until the difference 

 has become very slight ; wliile difference between 

 "medium" and "fine" has become wider. The con- 

 clusion is that those who cannot confidently rely upon 

 such a yield as will reduce cost to between 9d. and lOd. 

 per lb. in Loudon, should devote all their energies to im- 

 provement of quality. 



It is often asked, " What is the most suitable class of 

 tea to make':'" In reply we would say that the taste of 

 the Trade does not alter, as is sometimes assumed, the 

 demand from different parts of England, Scotland and 

 Ireland for ditVereut types of tea— which has been so largely 

 instrumental in the past in promoting consumption— con- 

 tinues ; and what iu required is, that the distinctive variety 

 should be maintained and thai each tea should be as good 

 of its kind as it can be made. We think that an undue 

 proportion of lightly-fermented tea has recently been made, 

 especially in Assam ; many gardens whose produce was 

 formerly distinguished for richness and strength in cup, 

 having lost these characteristics without having gained 

 pungency and flavour. 



It is also certain that closer attention must he paid to 

 the important matter of firing— upon which so much has 

 already been written— in order to discover how to utilize 

 machinery, which has many advantages and has become 

 almost indispensable for heavy crops, without imparting 

 to liquor, leaf, and aroma characteristics which lower the 

 value. This, however, is a subject for experiment rather 

 than for theory, and is a question for the tea-maker to 

 solve, clear and definite expression having been given to 

 the opinion and requirements of the Trade. 



Referring to the course which the market has taken dur- 

 ing the past year in order to find what light may be thrown 

 upon the future, it is again to be noticed that prices have 

 been less subject than formerly to sudden fluctuations. We 

 referred last year to the causes which contribute to this, 

 and expressed an opinion that it would be a future of the 

 future. The main reasons are that the opening quot- 

 ations for the now teas are not so high as they used to be, 

 leaving less room for decline ; while at the present scale 

 of values there are now large operators, with sufficieut 

 means and confidence to hold stocks, who come in when- 

 ever supphes are heaviest and prices presumably at the 

 lowest pouit ; which has a healthful and steadying influence 

 upon the market. This greater evenness in price and 

 absence of excitement over first arrivals is likely 

 to he more marked iu the future, when the large 

 planted area in Ceylon- estimated at 80,000 acres- 

 is yielding : for the heaviest shipments from Ceylon arrive 

 between April and August; so that in a few years 

 the interval between the Indian crops will he filled up, 

 and there will be continuous supplies all the year round. 



About 2,.ill0,0li0 lb. of Ceylon Tea have been received, 

 as compared with 1,500,000 liist year. With larger sup- 

 plies the premium paid for a time in 1883 has disappeared, 

 and values are now adjusted to thosi> of Indian Tea. In 

 point of quality, the average has been maintained, some 

 I that were poor having beea improved, while a few gardens 



