The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



A larger amount has lately been taken by the 

 trade for blending purposes, and the percentage 

 used since January 1st has risen to 6 per cent 

 or more of all the tea used in the United King- 

 dom, compared with about 3£ per cent in 1910. 

 The quality of the teas received here has not 

 been remarkable. A number, smaller than 

 usual, of choice teas arriving early in the season 

 were readily absorbed. During March the better 

 grades were largely purchased by Russia, from 

 whence a somewhat unusual demand was ex- 

 perienced; but a quantity of very common tea 

 has been obtiined from America to supply the 

 wants of those who retail tea at a low quotation. 

 This is entered amongst imports and deliveries 

 of tea " From other countries." 



About the middle of March a cable was cir- 

 culated through the Press, to the effect that it 

 was the intention of the Chinese Government to 

 prohibit the importation of all foreign tea into 

 that country, and to reduce the export duties 

 on China tea, amounting to about 2d. per lb. 

 A prompt protest was made by the Russian 

 Ambassador at Pekin, and while the former 

 proposition would have a temporary disturbing 

 effect in Calcutta and Colombo, the movement 

 is primarily directed against the Russian-owned 

 Brick-tea factories situated at Hankow. A large 

 quantity of Indian and Ceylon dusts and fan- 

 nings, bought locally, is used there to face the 

 brick tea. This trade has during the past few 



? rears assumed large proportions, some 12 million 

 bs. having been taken direct from Calcutta and 

 Colombo for this purpose. The action of the Chi- 

 nese Government, if persisted in, may have the 

 effect of making the Russians remove the factories 

 out of Chinese territory. The second proposition 

 is clearly designed to promote the export of their 

 own tea, thus enabling them to compete on 

 better terms with other tea-producing countries. 



Java. 



Java teas have not shown the expansion 

 in output which was generally expected, and the 

 total quantity marketed here has only exceeded 

 that of last year by J million lb. While un- 

 favourable climatic conditions have to a certain 

 extent accounted for 'this, it must be remem- 

 bered that the acreage under cultivation can 

 only increase slowly, for, although most of the 

 estates own undeveloped land, the labour sup- 

 ply, although generally readily obtainable and 

 cheap, yet owing to the prosperity of the 

 natives, is not every where abundant, and many 

 proprietors who also have rubber plantations 

 hesitate to increase the area under tea in face 

 of the difficulty of maintaining an efficient la- 

 bour force for both crops. The produce has 

 been, speaking generally, excellent ; and the 

 attention given to market requirements, both 

 as regards manufacture and packing, is not 

 surpassed anywhere. A feature of Javanese 

 teas has been the consistent equality of the 

 offerings, which ensures for theia a continuance 

 of support throughout tho whole year. 

 The majority of the estates have for some 

 years used the finest Ass im seed, and 

 with expert cultivation an 1 manufacture 

 are now producing tea which ranks with that 

 from good Indian and Ceylon estates. During 

 the past twelve months the crop gathered has 



been about 40,500,000 lb. of which about 32 per 

 cent has been disposed of on the London market. 

 Asia and Australia— not London nor Holland — 

 secured the additional 4 millions exported in 

 1910. 



The scramblo for tea during the early months 

 of the present year has drawn attention to other 

 possible sources of future supply, and from coun- 

 tries not previously known as tea-producing, 

 come rumours of planting and cultivation. We 

 hear of operations in the highlands of British 

 East Africa, and already a small quantity has 

 been marketed here. In Annara there are plan- 

 tations which are now in process of being equip- 

 ped with the latest machinery, where experi- 

 mental use of Assam seed gives promise of im- 

 proved quality and quantity by degrees from this 

 little known territory. Natal' s small crop con- 

 tinues to be locally used. The labour question 

 is yearly becoming one of the most important 

 problems to be faced in all producing coun- 

 tries, and with the competition created by 

 the requirements of rubber plantations, consid- 

 erable expansion in the area under tea is 

 made difficult. How this can be overcome 

 is a matter of particular importance, 

 for at the present rate of development in the 

 total consumption, progressive, not stationary, 

 production is needed. 



With the present outlook for tea, small stocks, 

 and supply and demand gradually becoming 

 more nearly adjusted, the question arises in 

 many minds as to the probable policy that will 

 be adopted in the manufacture of the coming 

 crop. That the values of low priced teas seem 

 likely to remain on a higher basis than has been 

 the case the past few years seems patent to 

 most observers, and consequently the tempta- 

 tion to pluck "freely," even on gardens where 

 such has not been the case, is not unnaturally 

 strong, but under this head we would remind 

 our friends that coarse plucking may easily lead 

 to such deterioration in quality and such in- 

 crease in quantity, that the net result would 

 not improbably prove less satisfactory than some 

 anticipate. Quality, though not apparently rea- 

 lising its proper comparative value, is wanted, 

 and more perhaps now than previously, as the 

 Blenders, although tied to prico, must give 

 their customers a good palatable drink for the 

 money. 



The disturbing influence of the Budget 

 announcement has again caused some dis- 

 location of business, and while the effect on 

 deliveries has not been great, the uneasi- 

 ness caused throughout the country by the 

 uncertainty both as to the probable date of the 

 Chancellor's statement and the possibility of any 

 alteration in the Duty has been very marked. 



The growing interest taken by the public in 

 tea has been shown by a business done in tea 

 shares greater than for many years past, with 

 the result that not only have the public a more 

 marketable security, but in addition have, under 

 the favourable condition of the Industry, seen 

 a marked appreciation in the value of their 

 holdings. 



1910-11. 1909-10. 1908-9. 1907-8. 



Stock May 31st 

 all kinds lb. 87507000 91058000 695310(0 95404000 



