198 CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



brought up the total deliveries of the first quarter to a high 

 level. A considerable check was given to deliveries of Indian 

 Teas during the latter part of 1881 and the early part of 1882 

 through the rise of prices during that period. 



The most noticeable feature of the last three calendar years 

 is the stationariness of deliveries of China Teas at the reduction 

 from the level of both 1878 and 1879. Approximately the 

 deliveries of China and Indian Teas in the five years ending 

 3ist December in each case may be given, in millions of pounds, 

 as follows : 



1878. 1879. 1880. " 1881. 1882. 

 China ... 121 125 115 in 113 

 Indian ... 37 35 44 49 51 



The deliveries of China Tea have receded from 125 million 

 pounds in 1879 to 113 million pounds in 1882, while the home 

 consumption of Indian Tea has increased from 35 million pounds 

 to 51 million pounds in the corresponding years. 



Notwithstanding the supply of Indian Tea for the season 

 1882-3 ^ estimated at the unprecedented figure of 55 million 

 pounds against the actual imports in the previous two season 

 years of about 50 million and 46 million pounds respectively, it 

 appears not unlikely the consumption of 1882-3 will once again, 

 as in 1 880-8 1, overtake the supply and reduce the stocks by 

 July next to the equivalent of less than three months' deliveries. 



We find that there has been received to the 3ist December 

 last, 33,218,000 Ibs., leaving to arrive 21,782,000 Ibs. for the six 

 months ending 3oth June next, to make up the estimated supply 

 of 55 million pounds which, according to Indian advices, will 

 be available for shipment to this country. The imports of the 

 current six "months, therefore, will be but slightly in excess of 

 those of the corresponding half-year, when 20,948,000 Ibs. were 

 received ; for although the shipments of 1882-3 are expected to 

 show an excess of more than five million pounds over 1881-2, 

 exporters this season have hurried forward their Teas early 

 and in the six months ended December 3ist the arrivals in the 



