February i, 1889. | THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
S37 
STATISTICS OP TEA : 
REMARKABLE ADVANCE IN THE CON- 
SUMPTION OF THE CEYLON PRODUCT. 
Messrs. Gow, Wilson & Stanton, having no 
actual sales to report in their Circular of 28th 
December, summed up the quantity brought to 
auction in the expired portion of season 1888-89 
(the tea season runs from Juno to May) as com- 
pared with figures for the same period in 
1887-88. The increase in the three extra-China 
kinds has been very considerable, more especially 
in Die case of Ceylon. Of Indian kinds the pack- 
ages this season numbered 038,045 against 589,092, 
an increase of 48,953. Of Java there were 29,524 
packages against 19,621, an increase of 9,903. 
Tho relative increase in Javas exceeded that of 
Indians, but the advance in Ceylons casts both 
into the shade, the figures being 204,330 pack- 
ages against 122,700, an increase of not less 
than 81,620. The tea consumed in Britain 
in similar periods rose in the case of Indians from 
37 per cent of the whole in 1886 and 41 in 1887 
to 45 in 1888. It will be observed that instead 
of a rise of 4 percentages between 1886 and 
1887, the increase on 1887 is this season 
only 1 per cent. Tho contrast in the advance of 
Ceylon kinds is wonderful. The consumption in 
tins case rose by leaps and bounds from 4 to 6 
per cent of the whole, and then from 6 to 12. 
The latter figure means that nearly one-eighth of 
all the tea taken for consumption in the United 
KiDgdom in the latter half of 1888, was the produce 
of Ceylon. In this period Indians and Ceylons 
together constituted 57 per cent of the whole 
consumption, while China went down from 59 
per cent three years ago to 43 per cent in 
1888. Increased consumption of Indian and Cey- 
lon teas, as a compensation for lowered prices, 
would be much more satisfactory, however, if tho 
ligures lor deliveries in tho periods between June 
and November did not show the almost station- 
ary character of consumption of tea generally in 
Mritain, in those months. If we were to take 
the figures for deliveries in the six months, 
June-November of 1888, as a true indication 
ef the rate of consumption of tea during the 
subsequent months of the year, we should be 
forced to the conclusion that for the present it 
has reached its limit. The figures for the six 
months of 1886 were 115.646,000 lb.; in 1887 
thero was a decline to 109,504,000 ; while 
1885 showed only 115, 010,000 lb., or 30,000 lb. 
less than in the 5 months of 1886. It was only 
the greatly reduced import of China, down to 
69,751,0001b. against 101,225,000 in tho 6 months 
of 18H0, that prevented an increase in stocks. In 
those thore has been actually a slight decrease, 
which ia the satisfactory element in the ligures. 
In total imports the decreaso was from 1 18,550,000 lb. 
in 1880 to 135,290,000 in the six months of last 
year. Looking at the rate of increaso in previous 
seasons, we may hope that the deliveries in the 
latter portion of season 1888-89 may show a 
oonaidorable increaso on the first six months. 
For the three full seasons ending May 1885-86, 
1886-87, and 1887-88, tho advance in deliveries 
was represented by snoh figures as 207,H50,000 lb., 
221,140.000. and 218,200,000. It would seem as if 
the deliveries of 1886-87 were slightly in excess of 
demand, judging by the falling-o!T in 1887-88. 
The average of the two last seasons, however, is 
nearly 220,000,000 lb , against only 207,850,000 
three years previously. This looks well for 
the future The monthly deliveries of Indian 
in tlioprosont soason ro9o from only 5.00'),000 lb. 
in Juno to 8.926.000 in Ootobor and 8,622,000 in 
Novombor. Tho imports of lndiauu in the latter 
mouths had boon very large, no less than 
15,563,0001b. in October and 11,437,000 in November. 
The stocks of India had increased from 20,149,000 lb. 
in June to no less than 33,595,000 in November. 
For the three seasons 1885-80 to 1887-88 imports 
of Ceylon tea had increased from 5,059,000 lb to 
8,060,000 and up to 14,705.000. The deliveries 
were in good proportion :— 3,933,000 lb., 7,744,000, 
and 12,578,000 lb. The stock of Ceylon at the end of 
May 1888 w as 4,617,000 lb. In June it had gone 
up to 5,163,000, and in August the figure rose to 
5,233,000 lb. but it is satisfactory to see that by 
end of November the figure had decreased to 
4,522,000. The increase in deliveries of Ceylon in 
proportion to import was, therefore, consider- 
able. The largest import of Ceylon tea 
in any one month since the commencement of 
the enterprise was 2,412,000 lb. in August, 
1888, each of the two previous months having 
shown ligures exceeding the two millions. The 
highest monthly delivery of Ceylon tea as yet 
was 2,266,000 lb. in July 1888, August following 
with 2,116,000. For the 6 months June to 
November 1888, the deliveries of Ceylon tea were 
11,625,000, or less than a million short of the 
whole quantity for the previous 12 months, so 
that it does not seem unreasonable to calculate 
on at least 25 millions of pounds, up to 30 
millions ? for the season ending May next, if 
the taste and demand for our teas develope in 
the near future as they have done in the near 
past. We are producing at such a rate, however, — 
India and other countries also progressing, that 
it is evident efforts to open and cultivate new 
markets for what is now our staple export 
product, ought not to be slaokened, but rather 
put forth with more vigour, and persistency than 
ever. We are gradually gaining a footing in 
Australia, and to some extent in Canada, but the 
United States market has been but very partially 
opened to our pure and delicate-flavoured teas. 
The Circular of 4th January 1889, since re- 
ceived, does not materially alter the figures, only 
4,508 packages of Ceylon tea having been sold, 
at so low an average as lOjd. per lb., the average 
for 1888 having been llhd. Lot us hope that 
as the year advances a better demand with im- 
proved prices may set in. Looking at deliveries 
of Ceylon tea in the last 7 months of 1888, 
equal to 12,833,000 lb., we may fairly expect, a 
monthly consumption of 2£ millions of pounds 
at least in 1889. 
«. 
DRUG TRADE REPORT. 
Lokdow, Dec. 27. 
The .shipments of bark from government and private 
plantations in Java in Ootobor wore 365,855 Amst. lb. 
bringing up the total since July 1st to 1,4:10,907 lb. 
against 1,646,379 lb. in the same period of 1887. 
THE Dl'TOH MARKET. 
Amsterdam, Dec. 22. 
Cinchona.— The aggregate offered at the ten periodical 
auctions in 1S68 amounted to is, 210 package;), of which 
4,458 packages were bark grown iu tho Government 
plantations, Java; l.!,57l in prvate plantations, Java; 
162 Oeylon bark ; ami 25 Sumatra hark ; containing an 
average of 1-3 per cent quinine (sulphate). Addiug to 
tho above 13,571 packages what has been imported in 
this mouth, the 1 stinmte in your issue of Deoember 31st 
1887, of 15,dOO packages as tho probable total importa- 
tion of private cinchona bark in this year is confirmed, 
or, rath.-r, surpassed by MM) to 500 packages. You will 
remember that there w, re London brokers who called 
that estimate exaggerated. In the abovemeotionod 
issue the probable importation of private bark in lSv<!» 
was estimated at ^:>,»«HJ package*. Thero is reaaou to 
suppose that tin- intimate aim. will ho found correct ; 
whilst tin- richniMa 111 quiuiuo will certainly not de- 
crease.— C/mnut and Druyjitt. 
