566 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



TIBETANS AND THEIR TEA STOCKS. 



An Interesting Report : Prices Rising. 



A correspondent writes : — " The Tibetans 

 now declare that: they will not allow any more 

 Chinamen to enter their country and have pro- 

 hibited all imports from China, including tea. 

 It is expected that the Dalai Lama will shortly 

 return to Lhassa. It is stated that the Tibetans 

 have stocks of tea at Lhassa and other places 

 for two or three years, but prices are already 

 rising, and bricks of tea (about two seers each) 

 of the lowest and medium grades, which usually 

 sell at 8 and 12 trancas respectively, now cost 

 12 and 20 trancas. The actual value of a tranca 

 may be taken as equal to four annas. Tibetans 

 do not like the flavour of Indian toa, but if 

 planters could match the taste and consistency 

 of Chinese brick tea, an outlet might be found 

 fc Tea Garden refuse which is at present un- 

 saleable. It may, of course, be taken for 

 granted, that China will not give up her hold on 

 Tibet, and that fresh troops will be sent to re- 

 conquer the country ; but whether China can 

 do that at present — or when — is difficult to say. ; ' 

 —Capital, April 18. 



TEA TRADE OF CHINA. 



Prospects for This Year's Supplies. 

 The Board of Trade have received reports, 

 through the Foreign Office, from H.M. Consular 

 Officers at Shanghai, Hankow, Kiukiang and 

 Foochow, with regard to the probable effect of 

 the revolutionary disturbances upon the tea 

 trade of China this season. These reports may 

 be summarised as follows : — 



It is at present too early to predict the amount 

 of the new season's total crop; but so far as is 

 known, the tea trees in the tea-growing districts 

 have not been damaged, and there is no reason 

 to anticipate a shortage in the cropjtself. It is 

 feared, however, that there may be a serious 

 shortage in the supplies available for export, 

 owing to financial difficulties. The financing of 

 the crop is usually arranged by foreign firms 

 through native (Chinese) banks; but, owing to 

 the almost complete disappearance of these 

 banks, especially at Hankow and at Shanghai, it 

 will probably be necessary for the foreign firms 

 to finance the growers up country themselves. 



There is, moreover, owing to the disturban- 

 ces a feeling of considerable uncertainty as to 

 whether money sent to growers will actually 

 reach its destination ; it is understood that 

 certain firms have applied for military guards to 

 escort the convoys carrying money to the tea- 

 growing districts. 



It is consequently anticipated that the sup- 

 plies for export will be late in coming forward ; 

 and that there will be a shortage in the total 

 supply available for export variously estimated 

 at from 20 to 35, 40 or even 50 per cent. High 

 prices are expected to rule as the result of the 

 shortage. It is expected that the so-called 

 " first crop " teas will be particularly affected. 



In this connection it may be mentioned that 

 the " brick " tea trade iD the Kiangsi district 

 was seriously interfered with last year ; there 

 was a delay of nearly three months in starting 

 work in the brick tea factories, and prices ad- 

 vanced considerably. Foreign merchants en- 

 gaged in the brick tea trade (which is mainly 

 carried on with Russia) anticipate a very short 

 supply again this year. — Board of Trade, Journ I, 

 May 2. 



THE TEA TRADE IN JAPAN. 



According to returns now published, the ex- 

 port of Japan tea for the last season was very 

 active. The total export during the period from 

 May 1, 1911, to the end of February last 

 amotinted to 40,158,939 lb., an increase of 

 2,260,181 lb., on the figures for the preceding 

 year. Hitherto the export of tea has seldom ex- 

 ceeded 40,000,000 lb. Not only has a remarkable 

 increase been shown in the quantity, but the 

 price was also maintained at a good figure 

 throughout the season. The shipment of leaf 

 during last season to the under-mentioned places 

 compares with that of the preceding season as 

 follows : — 



New York ... 11,902.372 14,600,239 

 Chicago ... 13,013,536 17,198,209 

 Pacific Coast... 8,050,280 5,304,791 

 Canada ... 4,032,266 3,055,700 

 The shipment from each port in Japan last 

 season was as follows: — 



Shimizu ... 24,255,603 lb. 



Yokohama ... 9,223,258 „ 



Kobe ... 5,596,711 ,, 



Yokkaichi ... 1,083,890 ,, 



It is held that the principal cause for the in- 

 crease in the shipment is that the importation 

 of coloured tea into America was prohibited 

 from May last year, at which time the colouring 

 of tea both for export and home use in Japan 

 was prohibited. This course proved successful, 

 and the credit of Japan tea in America much 

 increased. 



While the prospect of the tea trade this year 

 would seem to be promising, it is thought the 

 presidential election in America in November 

 next may disturb trade as usual, and may affect 

 the export of tea as well as other articles, 

 v-North'China Herald, April 13 



