SECTION III. 



PKODUCTION AND SUPPLY. 



THE changes in the sources of supply of coffee within the 

 last quarter of a century are very remarkable. The British 

 possessions in the East, where land and labour is cheap, have 

 taken the place which our Western possessions formerly oc- 

 cupied. 



The British West India Islands and Demerara have fallen 

 off in their production of coffee from 30.000,000 Ibs. to 

 4,000,000 Ibs. San Domingo, Cuba, and the French West 

 India colonies are also gradually giving up coffee cul- 

 ture in favour of other staples. It is chiefly Brazil, some of 

 the Central American republics, Java, Ceylon, and British 

 India, that are able to render coffee a profitable crop. 



At the close of the last century the consumption of coffee 

 was under one million pounds ; the only descriptions then 

 known in the London market were Grenada, Jamaica, and 

 Mocha the two former averaging about 5Z. per cwt., and 

 the latter 20Z. per cwt. Grenada coffee is now unknown, and 

 Ceylon, Java, and Brazil are the largest producers. 



In 1760 the total quantity of coffee consumed in the 

 United Kingdom was 262,000 Ibs., or three-quarters of an 

 ounce to each person in the population. 



From 1801 to 1804 the average quantity of coffee con- 

 sumed by each individual of the population was only about 

 loz., whilst 1-^lbs. of tea per head was used. From 1805 

 to 1809 the consumption of coffee was 3 oz. per head. From 

 1810 to 1824, when the duty was reduced by about one- 



