February ij 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
5S9 
The proportions of monthly deliveries by the begin- 
ning oi 1889 Will probably be : — 
Indian .. .. 10.000,000 
Oylon .. .. 2,000,000 
China, See . . • • 8,000,000 
Java .. .. 300,000 
Monthly total 
20,300,000 
12 
Aumaltotfil •• 243,000,000 
The monthly and annual totals might be increased 
so as to raise the latter to 250 millions, but for 
the now well-established fact that one pound of 
Indiun or Ceylon tea noes nearly as far in house- 
hold use as 2 lb. of China. This is the chief 
reason why the British rale of progress in con- 
sumption seem* to have been arrested The disturbed 
stale of Ireland, too, must be taken into account 
in looking at the figures for Indian tea. All 
1,1, is considered, we believe our figures will be about 
those We have calculated for deliveries in Jan. 1889. 
Ho far we had written with reference to the 
figures given by Messrs. Cow, Wilson & Stanton 
for 11 months of 1887. We have now the figures 
for the 12 months, and Messrs. Wm. James & 
Henry Thompson explain that the falling off in 
total deliveries in 1887 was not due to a decrease 
in deliveries for home consumption. These in- 
creased by nearly 3| millions (of which nearly one- 
half was "strong Indian and Ceylon kinds, 1 lb. equal 
to almost 2 lb. China). The decrease of 5$ millions 
in total deliveries in 1887 as compared with 1880, 
was due entirely to 9 millions less exported, and this 
decrease is explained by the fact that Kussia took 
a larger proportion than usual direct from China, 
large quantities of inferior leaf and dust being taken 
for conversion into brick tea. The good quality and 
comparatively cheap prices of Indian and Ceylon arc 
rapidly giving them a foremost position in home 
consumption. The .decrease last year in the home 
consumption of China was 14J millions of pounds, 
apart from tho SI millions less exported. Against the 
decrease in homo consumption of 14+ millions 
pound.-) of China, we had increases in India and 
Ceylon, thus shown in figures : — 
Indian .. .. 14J millions pounds 
Ceylon . . . . Sij „ ,, 
Total 
IS' 
This process will go on in proportion as Indian 
aud Ceylon planters are able, while continuing to 
produce tea of line quality, to effect such econ- 
omies as will enable them to sell their product 
at moderate prices. High prices are very pleasant, 
but they at once lower consumption, as has been 
strikingly shown in the case of coffee in the United 
States last year. We must, therefore, be prepared 
for an average under instead of over one shilling 
per pound. 
To return to the figures for 1887 : The 
total deliveries of botli kinds, for export as well 
as for Home consumption, wire : — 
lb. 
Indian .. .. 83J millions 
Ceylon . . . . 10 ,, 
Total .. <J3£ „ 
Of teas of foreign origin, tho total deliveries 
were : — 
lb. 
China . . . . 1 !•.»• millions 
Java, Japan, Ac. .. A ,, 
Total .. 12"2l ,. 
The excess of foreign over British (the latter 
scarcely known in the market ,"i0 years auo, and 
of but' small couscqucnco 10 yoars ago, or even 30 
years back) was only the difference between 
millions and 934; equal to 29 millions of pounds. 
With the process of substitution now so rapidly 
proceeding, so that Indian and Ceylon teas are 
mnning China and other foreign teas "neck 
and neck," we cannot doubt that 1889 will see the 
British contingent far aheadi We see no reason 
why our vaticinations for 1889 should not bo 
fulfilled, thus :— 
Monthly deliveries. For the year. 
Indian .. 10 millions, equal to 120 millions 
Ceylou 2 ,, „ 24 „ 
Total British . . 144 
Monthly deliveries. For the year. 
China . . 8 millions, equal to 96 millions 
Java, &c. . . 291,66(5 „ 3£ „ 
Total foreign . . 99{ ; ,, 
Or, say, at least 140 millions of pounds British 
against 100 millions foreign. Allowing 40 millions 
for exports, of which 30 millions Clr'na to 10 mil- 
lions British, the Home consumption will prob- 
ably be : — 
Indian ... ... 80 million pounds 
Coy Ion 20 „ „ 
Total British 
China ... 
Java, &c. 
100 
70 
Total foreign ... 72J „ „ 
From the very elaborate and comprehensive " Tea 
Market Keview for 1887," of Messrs. Stenning 
Inskipp & Co., we quote on page 554 figures 
andremarks which will enable our readers to judye for 
themselves as to the present position and future pro- 
spects of the article which has so rapidly and so 
successfully succeeded coliee as the staple product 
of Ceylon. 
H. A. HERTZ & CO.'S REVIEW OF THE TEA 
MARKET FOR 1887 
is a very convenient broadsheet to paste up for re- 
ference, being printed only on one side. For each 
month of the past year, it gives full details clearly 
arranged of the position of Indian, Ceylon, and 
Java teas and the leading kinds of China. The 
tone of the market for each kind of tea in each 
month is noted, the public sales of each kind and 
the lowest quotations for China black leaf and 
red. These ranged from 8d (only once attained) 
down to 3§d in November. This we suppose is 
the lowest price at which tea lit for use was ever 
sold, and it could scarcely do more than cover 
the export duties and " squeezes " to which tea 
is liable in China. . The ruling prices for tho year 
were 4d to Od, the miserable average for tho two 
kinds named being about ijd. No wonder though 
exports from China, once the only source of sup- 
ply should fall off so largely. In tea specially 
" the old order changeth, giving place to the 
new." The rise of Indian tea in 50 years ha3 
been great : that of Ceylon tea in a fifth of tho 
period has been marvellous. So that " better 
fifty years of Europo than a cycle of Cathay," in 
tho tea enterprise as in other matters. Wo 
quote the information referring to Ceylon teas : — 
1887: 
January) — Ceylon Tons,— Teas ufgi odiiuuhty, especially Pekoe 
Souchong!), in active demand at lull to advancing rates; 
indifferent quality neglected and irregular ; public .mien 
Ceylou. M91, import 57b,25U. dehvey (M,>80 a slock 
l,ivU,470. 
February :— Ceylon Teo».— Easier tone generally during 
latter pact of month; decline of about Id to l|d for 
Souchong*, Pekoe Souchong*, and Pekoce, and more for 
all Broken Ton*, partly caused by Inferiority of quality ; 
public tale* I'eUoii, l'.i;;'. import 71: ;.r>>, d-lnery iOt.oW 
stock l.MM.ttU. 
M.iuli.- Alice a further JvuJed dveliue for all Couucou aui 
