September i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
249 
THE AUSTRALIAN TEA-SEASON 1880-81. 
The review of the Australian tea-season for the 
year ending 30th June last, which appears 
below, is deserving of the attention of our tea- 
planting community. Three facts arrest attention 
at once : the Colonies which make up Australasia 
received in the past twelve months nearly 50 per 
cent more China tea than the average imports for 
the previous three seasons ; India made her first 
good appearance and sent one million pounds of tea ; 
while Ceylon tea was, for the first time, introduced 
to the notice of Australian dealers and received a 
special measure of appreciation. How largely Mel- 
bourne is the seat of trade for the Colonies is shewn 
from the fact that sho received nearly one-half ( 1 0.y 
million lb. out of 21 million lb.) of all the tea 
imported, although the population of Victoria is 
only 800,000 out of 2| millions belonging to Aus- 
tralasia. The remaining 12^- millions of pounds 
were imported direct by Sydney, Brisbane and 
New Zealand ports. The rate of consumption in 
Victoria for 1879-80 was more than 7 lb. per head 
per annum against only 4-80 lb., in the United 
Kingdom. The consumption per head for all Aus- 
tralasia cannot be much under— indeed, the imports 
for 1SS0-SI would show it is rather over — the Vic- 
torian rate. It is evident, therefore, that the Aus- 
tralasian people take the lead a9 the greatest tea- 
drinkers in the world next to the Chinese them- 
selves, who are said to drink tea morning, noon 
and night. 
The remarks of the Age reviewer on Indian and 
Ceylon teas will be read with general interest, 
" Pekoe-Souchong " is recommended to the Aus- 
tralians as the best Indian tea for general drinking, 
whilo the average quality of the Ceylon teas is 
widely appreciated, and the produce of Loolecondera, 
Windsor Forest, Rookwood, and Calsay, specially 
Commended. 
REVIEW OF THE AUSTRALIAN TEA 
SEASON 1880-81 : 
1st July, 1S80, to 30th June, 1881. 
(From the Melbourne Age, July 2nd.) 
The tea season (1SS0-S1) just closed is probably one 
of the most remarkable in the annals of the colonies, 
showing, as it does, the largest quantity of tea ever 
received in one year by Australasia, say in the 
aggregate— 
lb. 
From all China 22.982,085 
Against season 1879-80 15,081,776 
Against season 1878-79 17,250,151 
Against season 1877-78 16,399,029 
In addition to this quantity we have India making 
hor first good appearance on the list, with nn export 
to all tho colonies of nearly 1,000,000 lb. weight. 
CVylou also appears, for the first lime, as a tea pro- 
ducing country, and though the quantity forwarded to 
this market waa .small in amount, yet tho quality has 
boon highly appreciated on this side of the water. 
The total import of teas inlo Melbourne from all 
HUSton i« as follows : — 
Lb. 
From 1st July, 1880, to 30th June, 1881 ... 10,754.721 
From 1st July, IS79, to .'illtli June, I s SO ... .S.O<>:t,720 
From IstJulv, 1878, to 30th June, 1879 ... S, G0G,06o 
63 
Amount of tea delivered for exportation from Vic- 
toria — 
lb. 
From 1st July, 1880, to 30th June, 1881 ... 3,751,500 
From 1st July, 1879, to 30th June, 1880 ... 3,004,921 
From 1st July, 1878, to 30th June, 1879 ... 3,237,188 
Amount of tea delivered for home consumption in 
Victoria — 
lb. 
From 1st July, 1SS0, to 30th June, 1881 ... 0,108, 48G 
From 1st July, 1879, to 30th June, 1880... 5,422,721 
From 1st July, 1878, to 30th June, 1879... 5,611,370 
The above returns are furnished by the Custom 
House authorities. 
Season 1879-80 was a red letter one in the history of 
the tea trade, for owing to speculation and a heavy 
rise in prices in the London market a briskness was 
communicated to the Melbourne trade, which resulted 
in a large business and unusually good profits being 
obtained at the latter part of the season. A few parcels 
of tea were shipped from Melbourne to London, and 
our new season, opening on the 1st July, 1880, com- 
menced with a very small stock, both in bond and duty 
paid, in the hands of distributors. 
Without this low stock, such a large import as we 
received during season 1SS0-1 would have completely 
glutted the market ; as a fact, however, partly owing 
no doubt to the trade being bare of stock, and partly 
to the heavy operations of two or three house--, prices 
were well maintained for the first six months, and 
though the latter part of the season showed fair de- 
mand for good to tine sorts, which were scarce, yet the 
prices obtained for common lo good leafy sorts ruled in 
favor of buyers, and latterly have shown considerable 
loss to the importers, and heavy stocks of these de- 
scriptions will be carried over to Brason 1S81-2. 
The present stock in bond of all kinds at the com- 
mencement of the season as compared with the two 
previous years : — lb. 
1st July, 18S1 2,178,328 
1st July, 1880 1,330,076 
1st July, 1S79 2,177,775 
In estimating the stocks in bond, chests have been 
taken at 80 1b., half-chests at 401b., and boxes at 12 
lb. Actual on 28th June, 1S,945 chests, 39,220 half- 
cheats, and 44,494 boxes, 
Not only are the stocksjj heavy in bond, but the 
trade as a rule are all well supplied with tea. This 
fact, taken in conjunction with the eagerness of Aus- 
tralian buyers (vide telegrams to hand) in purchasing 
heavily in Foo Chow, resulting in an export within 
nine days of 3.000,000 lb. to all the colonies, should 
induce great caution in buying on this side. 
Tho following extract from the North China Herald, 
just to hand, illustrates the peculiarity of the late 
season from an exporter's stand point : — "The most 
remarkable feature of the season (1SS0-81) now clos- 
ing is the enormous increase in the export from all 
China and Japan to foreign countries. In 1S68-G9 
tho total export from all China and Japan to all foreign 
countries was about 205,000,000 lb. Eleven years 
afterwards, in 1S79-80, it was nearly 245,000,0001b.; 
the iucreaso in eleven years being 40,000,000, half of 
this increase being in Japan teas. This shows a wonder- 
ful expansion, considering that in those same eleven 
years Indian tea assumed enormous proportions. But 
this last year (1SS0-S1) has seen nn iucreaso as largo 
as in tho whole previoue eleven years. The total ex- 
port last year was 285,000,000 lb., or 40,000,000 above 
that of tho previous season. Japan is only responsible 
for 5, ('00, 000 lb. of this increase, the export of China 
tea alone being 85,000,000 lb. above that of the sonson 
ending iu 1S80. Half of Ibis increase went to London. 
America, Australia and tho continent divided among 
them tho other half. It is cosy to understand tho 
present depression of the Loudon market, aud to ap- 
