Atrctrsr i 1887.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST 
79 
the fact that the machinery now in use is best fitted 
for producing tea of this type, and also that the rapidity 
with which all the operations of manufacture are now 
of necessity carried out is not favourable to the pro- 
cesses by which the ripe and mellow teas of past 
times were produced. The present type is undoubt- 
edly popular, but it has one attendant disadvantage: 
viz., that tea has less keeping quality. As tea is grown 
not to keep but to sell, it may be thought tbat this 
is immaterial, but it is not so to buyers ; and the 
fear of loss through depreciation partly accounts for 
the " hand to mouth " system of buying, and fully ex- 
plains Dhe unwillingness of all but the boldest dealers 
to operate with confidence, and so lend support to 
weak markets when perhaps they all agree that prices 
are unduly depressed. 
One of the difficulties of the future which must be 
faced and thought out is the problem of how to 
decrease the number of breaks. The difficulty is aug- 
mented by the growth of Ceylon, and the large 
number of samples which so many small and separate 
estates send to swell the tot.il. Some dealers have 
different tasters for Oeylon and Indian, but it is 
doubtful if this will be found practicable when the 
two sorts come more closely into competition, and are 
eventually regarded as much parts of a whole as the 
produce of the different districts of India now are. 
It has been suggested to lessen the number of sam- 
ples by making " unassorted " tea, but we feel this 
would be most unwise to attempt upon any large 
scale, for it would overstock the market with tea of a 
uniform grade, which would probably fall to the level 
of souchong or common pekoe. The wide variety in 
the type, make, and grade of Indian tea has from 
the beginning been of the highest value in assisting 
itfl progress ; and the same feature of variety is now 
helping Oeylon to push its way. There is nothing 
which dealers seek for and appreciate more keenly than 
" individuality " in tea, and this is generally the secret 
of the prices paid for certain marks — which it would 
be invidious to specify — month after month however 
Hat or irregular the general market may be. To no de- 
scription does this apply so much as to Darjeeling, for 
in no other growth is there such a wide difference be- 
between the value of special flavour or quality and the 
value of plain or pointless tea. The solution which at 
present seems most practicable is to raise the size of 
breaks by puttiug together parcels of similar grade and 
value, either at the factory or in Loudon. This may in- 
volve some expense in providing accommodation where 
it is inadequate, or in bulking charges, but such may 
prove a h-sser disadvantage than the risk of tea passing 
the Auction without being properly valued by the Trade. 
The objection which might once have been raised that 
only a few buyers could take large breaks, and that 
small buyers would be debarred from bidding, has not 
the same force now that prices aro so much lower, and 
quotations for many kinds adjusted to fractions of a 
penny : while, as a matter of fact for twenty years and 
more the buyers have been used to deal in Chiua tea in 
lines ranging from 100 to 1,U00 packages. We recom- 
mend factory bulking, if it can be done so well as to 
preclude the disputes which arise when variations, which 
canuul always be detectod on inspection, are afterwards 
found : experience shows that many buyers give a 
decided preference to it, and in the case of fine de- 
scriptions the advantage of being able, through good 
factory bulking, to sell without turning the tea out, is 
often represented by pence por lb. 
These, however, are matters of detail, which must be 
worked out by managers as varying circumstances 
permit the readiness shown to aet upon suggestions 
from this side, and to study the wants of the Trade, 
encourages the hope that difficulties will be met and 
surmounted as they arise. 
It is of more importance to consider how to enlarge 
the area of Consumption without further reducing 
prices. We look with hope to a development of the 
Export trade, both to the Continent and to the States, 
but especially to Canada, where we learn t here is a grow- 
ing demand for black tea in place of the Japan, and China 
(ireen, now mainly used; and we think that the prices 
now reached will opon to Indian tea the door which real 
merit has not been able to force. A considerable 
quantity between 8 I. and Is. has this season been ex- 
ported — tea with small even leaf, and flavour or plain 
liquor ; broken leaf, or finer teas at a higher price being 
declined ; and if such can be sold at prices which make 
them cheaper than Ohiua Cougou or Java tea — as during 
the past season — the business should grow. The total 
Home Consumption during the next 12 months should be 
about 187 million lb., allowing tor the average annual 
increase of the past six years. Towards this India and 
Ceylon will probably contribute a supply of 100 million lb, 
equal to 53 per cent of the required quantity : the propor- 
tion now reached is about 50 per cent., so a further in- 
crease is necessary, and a monthly Delivery of 7 million 
lb. of Indian and 1J million lb. of Ceylon is required to 
keep the statistical position sound. Is this possible? 
We think so, and at prices which will leave a fair profit 
to producers ; but it is evident that while economy 
is not forgotten no pains must be spared to keep quality 
up to the point which will ensure Indian tea maintain- 
ing its popularity with consumers. 
The following are the statistics for the past three 
seasons, dating from 1st June to 31st May : — 
Total Import. 
1886-87. . 1885-86. 1884-85. 
Indian .. 78,200,000 67,210,000 61,472,000 
Oeylon .. 8,060,000 5,060,000 2,482,000 
China .. 138,900,000 143,050,000 139,220,000 
Java .. 3,494,000 3,849,000 3,256,000 
Total Delivery, Home Consumption and Export. 
Indian . . 75,425,000 60,735,000 ) 69,109,000 "J 
Ceylon . . 7,744,000 3,933,000 ( f 2,047,000 ( 
China . . 134,300,000 139,610,000 f 157,370,000 ( 
Java .. 3,671,000 3,565,000 J 3,545,000 J 
Stock 1st June. 
Indian .. 23,517,000 20,747,000 13,548,000^ 
Ceylon . . 2,184,000 1,865,000 738,000 If 
China . . 43,100,000 39,693,000 35,320,000 f 
Java .. 1,054,000 1,231,000 959,000 J 
* Raised above the average by heavy clearances 
in March — April, 1885, when an increased duty was 
expected. 
f Lowered below the average by heavy clearances 
in March — April, 1885, when an increased duty was 
expected. 
The following table of results for 1886 comprises the 
produce of 56,300 acres, amounting to 21h million lb. 
sold in London for, which the average price works 
out at Is t el. per lb. 
Acre. 
Yield 
Estate. Bear- 
Amount. 
PEE 
Average 
ing. 
Assam. 
Acre. 
Price. 
Lb. 
Lb. 
s. d. 
Assam Oo. 7,693 
2,339,006 
304 
0 11| 
Jorehaut Co. 3,765 
1,165,635 
309 
1 3| 
Brahma- 
pootra Co. 2,556 
1,0S0,511 
422 
0 11| 
Noakaeh- 
aree Co. 1,797 
603,126 
335 
1 0? 
Bishnauth Co. 1,556 
492,575 
316 
o iij 
Jokai Oo. 1,722 
707.9S0 
411 
1 0 
Doom Dooma 
Co. 1,563 
1,169,775 
746 
0 S£ 
Mungledye Co. 1,355 
301,622 
222 
0 10 7-16th 
Land Mortgage 
Bank 1,474 
632,742 
429 
0 0 2-5th 
KGS — 
820 
0 10 4-llth 
viz. Talup 1.030 
865.256 
8 40 
0 10$ 
Hilika 1,000 
888,092 
888 
0 10 L-6th 
Hokungoorie 530 
348,219 
657 
0 10 l-7th 
Jhanzie Associ- 
ation! 1,243 
380,843 
306 
1 7 
Pauilola Co. 1,018 
643.541 
635 
1 0 
Luckimporo Co. 92:) 
343,S28 
370 
1 2J 
Meleng 950 
389,760 
410 
1 2 
Eastern Assam 
Oo. 860 
322,080 
375 
0 9 
Borelli Co. 855 
386,000 
451 
1 li 
Tiphook Oo. 7*1 
158,410 
314 
1 5 4-5th 
