380 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



in all buying orders being cancelled from this 

 quarter and although this was modified in the 

 closing sales of the season buying -was only re- 

 sumed tentatively and the total shipments for 

 the period under review shew a decrease of 

 4 million lb. as compared with the previous 

 season. 



With the return of settled conditions in China 

 a complete resumption of buying for Hankow 

 may be confidently expected, for we understand 

 that the factories where brick tea is manufac- 

 tured have not suffered iroro the hostilities that 

 have raged in the city. 



It is believed that various causes have in- 

 fluenced 



THE RETROGRADE MOVEMENT IN RUSSIAN 

 DEMAND, 



but the failures of crops has undoub- 

 tedly restricted consumption in the districts 

 wherefamine conditions have prevailed, it is 

 also not improbable that the exceptionally heavy 

 increase in purchases by Russian buyers in 1910, 

 as compared with the previous year, resulted in 

 somewhat large stocks being carried ov6r towards 

 the requirements of the past season. Apart from 

 these considerations, it is not unlikely that the 

 comparatively high level of values that has 

 ruled, and the generally indifferent make and 

 appearance of the crop, have caused increased 

 attention to be paid to China growths; and 

 in support of this contention it is noteworthy 

 that shipments from that country to Eussia 

 have shewn an unexpected increase. The set- 

 back in the volume of business that has passed 

 between Calcutta and Russia has not un- 

 fortunately resulted in increased purchases on 

 the London market ; in tact, the reverse has 

 been the case, for during the past year ex- 

 ports have decreased nearly 25 per cent. A 

 considerable quantity of Dusts were diverted 

 from this market to London when buying 

 for Hankow was suspended, but the ex- 

 periment was not attended with success, 

 the demand for this class of tea being so 

 limited that prices declined to a marked extent 

 immediately offerings were above the normal. 



With the exception of Russia, trade with all 

 countries has been satisfactory and in the main, 

 steady progress has been made; it seemed prob- 

 able at one time that the Australian Colonies 

 would require less tea from both India and Cey- 

 lon on account of increased imports from Java, 

 but heavy shipments at the latter end of the 

 season have resulted in the exports from India 

 to that market exceeding those of the previous 

 season. Both 



CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 



have operated on this market with consider- 

 able freedom throughout the period under 

 review, the shipment figures to those coun- 

 tries disclose a considerable increase during the 

 past twelve months. This is encouraging, for 

 despite the efforts of the Cess Committee who 

 have for some years past expended considerable 

 thought and money on the exploitation of these 

 markets, Indian tea has not received the atten- 

 tion that might have been expected. 



TRADE WITH PERSIA 



continues to expand, though political 

 troubles and the unsettled state of the 



country in the Southern and wilder parts have 

 undoubtedly affected commercial enterprise ; in 

 Northern Persia, however, where Russian influ- 

 ence is felt and trade routes have been pro- 

 tected, considerably more tea has been taken ; it 

 is almost certain that the increased imports 

 have already gone into consumption for impera- 

 tive buying orders from the centre were forth- 

 coming at the end of season and the value of 

 suitable teas was raised to an exceptionally 

 high level. 



SELLERS ON THE LONDON MARKET HAVE 

 PARTICIPATED TO A FULL MEASURE IN THE 

 GENERAL PROSPERITY 



despite increased imports of all tea into the 

 United Kingdom during the past year, as 

 disclosed by the Board of Trade returns, of 

 over 16 million lb., and in view of this 

 the exceptionally strong and active demand 

 that existed and the high basis of values that 

 was established and maintained for all grades, 

 while the bulk of the crops were being handled 

 could scarcely have been expected ; but un- 

 usual circumstances arose and at the beginning 

 of August when the New Season's teas were 

 arriving freely, a labour strike at the London 

 Docks entirely disorganised trade and restricted 

 offerings to such an extent that the price of tea 

 for immediate delivery rose considerably. It 

 was generally expected when these troubles had 

 been adjusted and the accumraulated arrivals 

 placed on the market, that price would decline ; 

 but distributors and dealers throughout the 

 country continued to buy freely, not only for 

 immediate requirements but as a provision, 

 against further strikes, and although at the 

 close of the year stocks of all tea in the London 

 Warehouses were less than a year ago it is cer- 

 tain that there was considerably mere held 

 in the country by distributors generally. Tho 

 London market has during the last few months 

 shewn less activity, a movement that naturally 

 followed repleted stocks in the country with 

 considerable supplies still to come forward. 

 While therefore the dock strike temporarily 

 benefited producers, it disclosed to distributors 

 the weaknass of hand to mouth buyiog, and 

 this section of the trade were quick to realise 

 and guard against a position of extreme danger. 



As a result of the strike an increase in wages 

 was conceded to the labourers, of which sellers 

 on the London market have been made to bear 

 tho burden for an addition of 10 per cent, to 

 the already high charges levied by the London 

 Warehouse authorities, came into force on 

 October Lst. 



A branch of the industry to which too much 

 care and attention cannot be paid is the 



METHOD OF PACKING TEAS AND THE 

 PACKAGE ITSELF. 



Freight being by measurement shippers are not 

 unnaturally desirous of economising by packing 

 the maximum amount of tea into the minimum 

 space ; but unless the package used is strong 

 and well put together, this will prove false eco- 

 nomy ; really good and sound packing costs 

 infinitesimally more per pound than indifferent 

 packing and the additional expenses on an 

 entire crop is soon recovered on a small propor- 

 tion of it, as more liberal competition is undoub- 



