250 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, i88r. 
preciate with what caution buyers should approach the 
campaign now opening." 
For Melbourne direct the "Killarney" and "Lome," 
steamers, are advised as sailing on the 9th June, and 
the former has already arrived, and a considerable 
portion of her cargo is announced for public sale. 
The following review applies to the Melbourne 
market only : — 
China Teas.— S eason 1880-1881 was fairly opened 
by the arrival of the "Killarney" on the 26th July, 
1880, and the first publie sale by auction took place 
on the 27th July, when 8214 packages were offered, 
and the bulk sold. Since that date sales by auction 
have been frequent and heavy, amounting in the 
aggregate to 4,395,5201b. weight, disposed of through 
this medium, details of which we give below : — 
19,240 lb. sold at 3£d to 
7d to 
7jd to 
8id to 
8fd to 
9Jd to 
9|d to 
lOJd to 
load to 
llfd to 
llfd to Is, 
4id. 
7Jd. 
8d. 
8id. 
9d. 
9Jd. 
lOd. 
10id. 
lid. 
Hid, 
lb. sold at 
163,480 lb. sold at 
221,700 lb. sold at 
253,500 lb. sold at 
483,040 lb. sold at 
493,000 lb. sold at 
376,640 lb. sold at 
284,720 lb. sold at 
233,500 lb. sold at 
247,560 lb. sold at 
293,440 lb, sold at Is OJd to Is OJd 
189,600 lb. sold at Is 0|d to Is Id. 
189,960 lb. sold at Is l|d to Is l£d. 
156,600 lb. sold at Is If d to Is 2d. 
198,320 lb. sold at Is 2£d to Is 2Jd. 
152,000 lb. sold at Is 2|d to Is 3d. 
132,000 lb. sold at Is 3Jd to Is 4d. 
46,000 lb. sold at Is 4|d to Is 5d. 
59,440 lb, sold at Is 5±d to Is 6d. 
52, 6i0 lb. sold at Is 6|d to Is 7d. 
52,840 lb. sold at Is 7Jd to Is 8d. 
38,000 lb. sold at Is 8Jd to Is 9d- 
6,000 lb. sold at Is 94d to Is 10d. 
4,395,5201b. Total at auction. 
Oj' say, 
2,829,680 lb. sold at 3Jd to Is per lb. in bond. 
1,565,840 lb. sold at Is to Is lOd per lb. in bond. 
It is not so easy to arrive at the sales made privately, 
but there is no doubt as to their being very heavy, 
from the fact that at the close of the season the 
importers hold very little stock, the bulk being in the 
hands of the trade, therefore we are under the mark 
when we fix 5,000,000 lb. weight as about the quantity 
of China tea sold privately. 
The qualities of the teas imported were on the whole 
much lower than any previous season within the last 
ten years, and this is borne out by the large quantity 
sold at auction under Is. per lb., say nearly 3,000,0001b: 
A reduced quantity of tine tea reached this market, 
with a heavy supply of common to low teas, of which 
a large proportion were boxes, and this latter quality 
constitutes the bulk of the stock we carry to season 
18S1-1882. 
Musters of the fine teas offering were really s few 
as to call for little remark. Packlums were de- 
cidedly the best, and showed better make and more 
tip than previous seasons. Panyongs, Seumoos, 
Seuykuts, Saryunes and Kaisows come next ; other 
descriptions turned out irregular, and are not worthy 
of remark. 
The quality of the second and third crop teas was 
decidedly low in the cup, with little appearance to 
help the importer in saving a loss. Foocbow scented 
pekoes wore decidedly inferior to last season's being 
deficient in loaf and scent. Some S. capers came to hand, 
of fair quality, but the trade did not appreciate them. 
Canton congous, green and S. O. pekoes much in- 
ferior to previous season's, some imports by the 
Chinese being untit for use ; but the lowest point 
was reached when a public sale took place, on the 
8th June, of 250 half-chests and 750 boxes at 31d 
and 4id. per lb., in bond. The importation of such 
trash cannot be too strongly condemned, and shows 
the immediate necessity that exists of an Adultera- 
tion Act in Victoria. 
Indian Teas. 
The introduction of these teas to the VictoriaD, 
people has been one of the features of season 
1880-81, and we warmly welcomed the arrival of 
this import, not only because the country in which 
it is grown forms a part of the British Empire, and 
is the outcome of the enterprise of British subjects 
but because India in return is likely to become a 
large consumer in the immediate future of Austra- 
lian products. 
The formation of the Calcutta Tea Syndicate wa3 
a happy thought, and the mode in which they brought 
Indian tea prominently before the public by means 
of our great International Exhibition no doubt con- 
siderably helped the Syndicate to the success that 
has crowned their efforts during the past eeason. 
We take credit to ourselves for first bringing and 
continually urging the necessity of reciprocity be- 
tween India and Australia on the public ; and it is 
satisfactory to he able to state that the founda- 
tions of a good tra.de have been laid, with prospects of 
highly remunerative returns, to all parties concerned. 
The first sale under the auspices of the Syndicate, 
and of any importance, took place on the 13th October 
1880, when 783 packages were sold at high prices 
owing to the rush of buyers to purchase. Several 
public sales have been steadily held throughout the 
season, that on the 18th March 1881, calling for particu- 
lar attention, as being the largest quantity of Indian 
teas ever sold in Melbourne in one day, amounting 
to 3,046 packages. 
The total sales by public auction of India and 
Ceylon teas amount to 561,000 lb weight, and privately 
about 110,0001b have been sold, giving a total quanti- 
ty of 671,000 lb. Darjeeling teas, with their fine 
sweet, flavory and fruity liquor, speedily established 
themselves as first favorites. Some choice Kangra 
Valleys realised high prices, but the bulk of consump- 
tion has run on Assam, Cachar and Sylhet teas, which 
are liked for their pungency and full body and flavor. 
They meet with ready sale, and are used largely for 
mixing with China teas. Other sorts are used but too 
small a quantity has reached this market to criticise 
fairly. 
Latterly some broken leaf and dust have come to 
hand, which, though rich and heavy liquoring, are 
not suitable from their appearance for Australian trade. 
The terms given by our Indian and Ceylon cousins 
to their teas, viz., 
Pekoe 
Pekoe souchong 
Souchong 
Congou 
are rather misleading to China tea drinkers. The 
pekoe is a fermented tea, suitable for drinking by 
itself, and not as the China pekoe, which is under- 
fermented and used only for mixing purposes. 
All the Indian teas, as above, are fermented, and 
very few greens or underfermented teas are made. 
Such estates as do turn out these generally style them 
ISlamuna or sample pekoe, and so on. 
Pekoe Souchong is usually the best India tea for 
general drinking. Souchong and congou are very good, 
but the leaf is often very large and unsightly. The 
liquor, however, is good. 
High prices were obtained at the commencement of 
the season, as much as 2s 7^d per lb in bond, being 
realised for a Darjeeling, but latterly prices have fallen 
considerably, plaeing Indian teas within the reach of 
all at very moderate rates. 
