and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society.— -December, 1913. 



1910, and nearly 20 times those of 1904. During 

 the last few months, however, there has been a 

 check in these shipments, probably owing to 

 over-speculative buying previously. It is hoped 

 that thia check may be merely temporary. 



Increasing Consumption. 



Turning to the consideration of the Con- 

 sumption of tea throughout the world, we 

 find that it is increasing generally, in some 

 parts considerably. One authority on the 

 subject thinks that in order to keep pace with 

 the increasing demand at least 20,000 acres, 

 yielding 10 to 12 million pounds, ought to be 

 added annually to the producing area. As a 

 matter of fact very little new land is being 

 planted at present, owing chiefly to the scarcity 

 of labour. The supply of tea is being increased 

 by intensive cultivation, whereby the old gar- 

 dens are made to yield more than formerly. The 

 quality of the tea thus produced is not, however, 

 as good, so that it seems doubtful whether, on 

 the whole, the system will be really advanta- 

 geous either to the consumer or the planter. 

 The supply of cheap low-grade tea will be in- 

 creased, but the supply of fine tea will be re- 

 duced and consumers will more and more adopt 

 the habit of drinking poor tea, which is not 

 really economical or in any way desirable. 



The world's tea consumption has been esti- 

 mated at about 700,000,000 lb, but it is very 

 difficult to obtain really reliable statistics, parti- 

 cularly as to the amount consumed in the coun- 

 tries of production. 



Consumption in the United Kingdom increased 

 during the year over 13,000,000 lb. The per capi- 

 ta consumption was 6 53 lb. at the end of 1911, 

 the last date for which we have official figures. 

 It is doubtless higher now. 



The following table gives the amounts con- 

 i ributed by the various producing countries for 

 Home Consumption, and also the percentage 

 contributed by each, during the last two years, 

 The figures are taken from the Board of Trade 

 Returns to September 30 : — 



Year ended 

 Sept. 30, 1012. 



Year ended 

 Sept. 30, 1911. 



India 



Ceylon 



China 



Java and other 

 Countries 



lb. 



106,831,749 

 90.929,153 

 12,412,373 



24,142,887 



Per Per. 



centage. lb. uentage, 



66-50 105,040,707 56'00 



31 W 91,352,715 3150 



4-60 13,202,526 4-75 



8'00 • 21,320 937 7'76 



PLANTING PROSPECTS IN 

 TRINIDAD. 



(To the Editor, The Field.) 

 Sm, — Gentlemen looking for opportunities of 

 profitable investment in the Colonies might be 

 glad to have their attention drawn to the British 

 West Indies, and particularly Trinidad, where 

 a number of well-known Englishmen have al- 

 ready purchased cocoa and other estates. Pro- 

 perties can be obtained to yield a present net 

 profit of 10 per cent, and if care is taken to se- 

 cure those with a gcod proportion of young 

 cultivation the increase in yield and value will 

 be rapid and considerable. In one instance, a 

 plantation valued at £12,500 about four years ago, 

 was revalued this year by the same valuator at 

 £20,000, and sold at this figure. This is not an 

 exceptional rate of increase on well-chosen pro- 

 perties. Prices in the best situation range from 

 £5000, and in most cases a substantial sum could 

 remain on mortgage. There is plenty of labour 

 from India obtainable at moderate rates. 



Cocoa is the most important product, the an- 

 nual output running to close on 60,000,000 lb., 

 worth at least £1,500,000. Already several well- 

 known English and Canadian assurance compa- 

 nies are investing portions of their funds on the 

 security of cocoa estates at rates little higher 

 than would be accepted in England, which is 

 satisfactory evidence of the stability of this 

 industry. Under reasonably good management 

 cocoa trees continue to bear full crops for 80 or 

 100 years. 



Trinidad is aD up-to-date British colony with 

 a population of 359,000, a large number being 

 English and Scotch families. The climate is 

 very healthy. There is a good railway service, 

 which is being rapidly extended by the Govern- 

 ment. Electric tram cars, motors, telephones, 

 and telegraphs are in general use, and there is a 

 regular service with England and the United 

 States by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Com- 

 pany's steamers and other lines. The social life 

 is pleasaut, and there are several clubs, sporting 

 and social. In most parts sports, such as cricket, 

 tennis, polo, golf, racing, and shooting is obtain- 

 able. The sea fishing is excellent. There are no 

 fewer than 116 varieties offish, including the 

 tarpon, barracouda, caranguo, and king lish, 

 which are among the most sporting that can bo 

 taken with rod aud line. 



L. M, Hobson, 



Total ., 394,316,163 WOO 290,016,885 lOO'OO —Field^ Oct, 26, 



