246 WORLD'S PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 



the outset, have endeavored to compete with India and 

 Ceylon by reducing the cost of production and lowering 

 their standard of quality with a consequent deterioration 

 in the grade of the leaf. This changed condition of 

 the tea-trade may be attributed to these specific causes. 

 Fifty years ago India and Ceylon produced no tea, as it 

 was not until 1840 that the export from the former 

 began with a small venture of 400 pounds, since that 

 year, however, the increase has been both rapid 'and 

 striking. Thus, commencing in 1840, the export has 

 steadily increased year after year until now, when the 

 average annual production reaches 100,000,000 pounds, of 

 which England consumes some 97,000,000 pounds, the 

 balance going to Australia and other of her colonies. 

 It is contended by the Chinese themselves that if the 

 Likin and export duties were removed entirely or the 

 export duty alone reduced to an ad valorem charge of 5 

 per cent, it would greatly help those engaged in the 

 China tea-trade in their competition with the growers 

 and shippers of India and Ceylon, others holding that 

 a simple reduction of the duty will not permanently 

 benefit the China tea-trade unless it enables China to lay 

 down teas in Europe and America at a less price than 

 can be done by either India or Ceylon. 



Russia is now regarded as the main hope of Chinese 

 Congous and sorts, the British islands consuming 

 Indias and Ceylons almost exclusively, the United States 

 favoring Oolongs and Japans principally. The trade in 

 China teas with Russia is increasing annually, while it is 

 decreasing with England. In former years tea was first 

 shipped to England and thence to Russia, the Russian 

 tea-dealers now purchasing direct from China. The 

 Russian demand seems, in fact, to grow as fast as that 

 from England declines, constituting a total which is 



