TEA. 



127 



of sugar in the Argentine Eepublic is enormous. In 1872 no less than 

 20,000,000 lbs. of coarse sugar were imported. Refined descriptions 

 amounted to more than 22,000,000 lbs., although a duty of 25 per 

 cent, ad valorem had to be paid. Viewing the extreme popularity of 

 yerba in South America, it seems strange that it has not yet been 

 introduced into Europe, as an addition to the food supply. 



In 1854 the exports from Paraguay were 85,676 arrobas ; in 1860, 

 174,238 arrobas. In time of peace there is annually exported yerba 

 mate to the value of about 200,000?., chiefly to Buenos Ayres. The 

 exports in the three years ending 1863 averaged 4,500,000 lbs. per 

 annum. 



In 1856 it was estimated that 6000 persons were employed in pre- 

 paring mate in the Brazilian missions. It is for the most part sent by 

 carts to Itaguy, a small town on the banks of the Uruguay, and from 

 there goes by water to the River Plate. In the year ending June 

 1858, 2,650,000 lbs. were shipped from that port. At Montevideo 

 the Brazilian mate is preferred to that from Paraguay. 



About 400,000 arrobas (100,000 cwts.) are produced annually in 

 Parana, where it is indigenous ; the finer kind is exported to La Plata, 

 the coarser goes to Chili. In 1854 there was imported into Chili 

 144,792 arrobas. 



The official value in Brazil was 13s. lOd. per cwt. in 1853, and 

 29s. Id. per cwt. in 1856 ; in 1858 it fetched 32s. U,, in 1863 it fell 

 to 21s. 10c?. per cwt. The exports of yerba mate to foreign countries 

 from Brazil have gone on increasing from 181,365 arrobas in 1841 

 to 605,179 arrobas in 1863. 



From Porto Alegre 83,840 arrobas were shipped in 1862-63, and 

 from Uruguay 27,445 arrobas; there used to be as much shipped 

 from that port as 97,000 arrobas. From Paranagua 404,829 arrobas 

 were exported in 1862-63. Thus the shipments from these three 

 ports in the year ending 1863 amounted to 129,028 cwts. In 1865 

 the total shipments from Brazil to the neighbouring States exceeded 

 250,000 cwts. In 1872 the quantity was somewhat less, 200,000 cwts., 

 valued at 251,000/. 



The following show the exports and value from Brazil : 



Year 



Quantity. 



Value. 



1864 

 1865 

 1866 

 1867 

 1868 



lbs. 



19,553,329 

 35,402,899 

 22,781,625 

 23,370,334 

 28,852,460 



£ 



137,306 

 89,575 

 147,844 

 172,104 

 221,105 



Chili is said to take now about 40,000 arrobas, and Peru 100,000 

 yearly. 



It might be worth while to attempt the introduction and acclima- 

 tization of so useful and ornamental a tree in some of our British 

 colonies, such as Queensland and Natal, where the climate is some- 



