June 2, 1890.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
still took in 1889 three times as much as Russia, twice 
as much as the United States, and four times as much 
as Australasia. She is thus a customer whose wants and 
recommendations China cannot afford to neglect, unless 
she is prepared to bear a farther serious curtailment 
of her trade. — 2V. Herald. 
THE REDUCED TEA DUTY AND 
WHAT IS EXPECTED TO 
RESULT PROM IT. 
This mail brings us a greater variety of opinions 
than ever in reference to the effect of Mr. Goschen's 
reduction of the tea duty by one-third. Of course 
it is no use looking to the political journals for 
a useful opinion, their judgment being entirely 
coloured by their desire to aid or thwart the 
Ministry and the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
even on so small a matter as one of the heads 
of the Budget. But it is when we turn to the 
trade circulars of the men of long experience in the 
tea trade that we are inclined to listen with 
deference whether their opinions be favourable or 
unfavourable to the anticipations of Ceylon pro- 
ducers. But first let us reproduce some of the 
extreme views : — " No human creature except a 
few tea dealers will be benefited by flinging away 
a million-and-a-half in a partial reduction of the tea 
duty " is one such absurd statement ; and again we are 
told the reduction will " only put money in the pock- 
ets of the producers or the middlemen." The former 
result is not likely to bo objected to by Ceylon tea 
planters. But here is what a great organ of China 
teas has to say. We refer to the London and China 
Express : — 
"In the vicinity of Mincing-lane the effect of the pro- 
posal has not been very great, but it has given a small 
spurt to the lowest class of teas in which Indian, Oeylon 
and China have all participated, more particularly, 
perhaps, the China article and the effect may be to 
get more of this class into consumption. The dealers 
apparently have not made up their minds about it 
at present, and each appears to be waiting to see what 
his confreres are going to do. We cannot say at all 
events that there is anything like enthusiasm in any 
part of the market over the coming decrease. The 
most said on the subject is about Mr. Goschen's 
attack on the middleman rather than on the actual 
reduction of duty. The very large profits that he 
mentioned are things rather of the past than of the 
present, and he is scarcely less happy when attacking 
the village grocer. Tea used to be one of the articles 
on which this class depended to make up for the 
exceedingly low rate at which sugar and ©ther com- 
modities were sold, but of late years competition has 
grown very keen, and prices have been continually 
cut." 
Far more to the point and more worthy of atten- 
tion is the outspoken businesslike declaration of 
Messrs. Rucker & Bencraft under date April 24th : — 
"Tea. — Ceylon. — The one absorbing topic has been the 
twopenny reduction in the duty, and its possible or 
probable effect on the market. In our opinion the 
market has not yet been affeoted at all by the reduc- 
tion. We pointed out on 20th March that there was 
certain to be a big busiuess done wheu the duty 
question was settled, and wo believe the same firm- 
ness we have seen at the last two Ceylon sales would 
have been bhown had the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
determined to let the duty alone. Ultimately we have 
not the least doubt that the consumption of Tea will 
receive a distinct stimulus. This is, however, much 
wanted. Iu fact without a very marked increase in 
the consumption in the next two years, the outlook 
for Indian and Ceylou prices would indeed be a poo 
one. Supposing under favorable circumstances peoplo 
spend one-fourth of the remitted duty in Tea, 
v*e shall require for the next 12 months about 
230,000,000 lb. 
This would be practically divided as follows : — 
lb. 
Indian Tea... ... ... 108,000,000 
Ceylon Tea ... .. 42,000,000 
Sundries (no increase) ... ... 24,000,000 
China Congou ... ... 56,000,000 
230,000,000 
We think most reasonable people will agree in the 
view that "ultimately we have not the least doubt 
" that the consumption of tea will receive a 
" distinct stimulus" ; but none the less do we 
concur in the opinion that the larger available 
supplies will require an increased consumption. 
In their estimate for the next twelvemonths, MessrB. 
Ruoker & Bencraft put Ceylon tea at a moderate 
figure, and their estimate for China Congou is so 
low that to support it, no more exports of thia 
kind from China to the United Kingdom, than 
40 millions will be required in 1890 against 72 
millions in 1889. A falling-off of 40 per cent for 
China Congous would indeed mean a collapse. 
On the other hand there are Tea firms who arc 
very strong on the point that the new duty must, 
of necessity, stimulate the demand for good teas 
especially Indians and Ceylons. Of such are Messrs. 
F. S. Long & Co. of Rood Lane who write under 
date 25th April : — 
"On thefirst announcement of the proposed reduction 
of the tea duty the market remained quiet, but com- 
mon China Tea in the Clearing House advanced three 
points. This advance was entirely lost after four days : 
when it was found that the chief enquiry from the 
country was for Indian and Ceylon Teas. What the 
effect will be when the duty comes into operation 
(and it is now thought that it will be postponed to 
the middle of May, instead of the 1st. In our opi- 
nion this will be a terrible mistake, and do a serious 
injury to our market) it is difficult to say ; but so 
far, we are entirely supported in the opinion we have 
always expressed, viz., that a reduction in the Tea 
duty would stimulate the demand for good Teas, 
especially Indians and Ceylons. We think the public 
will continue to buy the better grades at the 
reduction, which the keen competition among the 
retailers will guarantee, rather than the poorer Is. 
Tea which experience tells them is not economy. That 
the Is. Tea will be pushed in some districts is of 
course true ; but this will not interest Ceylon." 
On the whole therefore, we think that Ceylon 
planters may look hopefully forward to the conse- 
quenoes of Mr. Goschen's reduction and may fairly 
anticipate as one result, a steadily increasing de- 
mand for their produce. 
» 
THE COFFEE PLANT: 
COFFEE IN NEW HEBRIDES. 
(London Standard, April 14th.) 
Coffee has long been a favourite subject for ex- 
periments in tropical agriculture, and it would appear 
from an announcement just made that its successful 
growth in the New Hebrides is now an accomplished 
fact. The beans sent by the authorities of Kew Gardens 
to the Colonial Institute are; it is true, rather small, 
but from their general appearance and the character 
of the soil great expectations are formed by experts 
regarding the latest of the many localities into which 
the famous Arabian plant has been introduced. Hurri- 
canes aside— and these tropical storms are serious fac- 
tors in the planter's calculations — there can be no 
reason for doubting the soundness of the estimate. 
Bananas, sugar, arrowroot, oranges, and other pro- 
ducts of the sun- lauds have already proved quite suit- 
able for the olim&te ; and as tropical islands, especially 
