THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [October i, x88i. 
1878-79, the largest which, was ever witnessed. In 
spite of this fact, however, the crop-year just closed 
has proved less satisfactory to the trade in general 
and to the planters in particular, than the preceding 
one, during which but little over a million of bags 
of coffee were exported, for not only was the move- 
ment of prices, with few exceptions, a steadily re- 
trograding one, but also the prices paid here for coffee 
during 1880-81 were far behind those which the planters 
realized during 1879-80. Whereas during the latter 
ci op-year the highest price paid for goodfirst and 
superior was 6$700 to 6$800 per 10 kilos 
and the lowest for same de- 
scriptions 5$400 „ 5$500 ,, „ „ 
the highest point ever reached 
during 188u-81 for goodfirst 
and superior was only ...5$500 ,, 5$600 ,, ,, 
and the lowest point during 
the same period 4$200 ,, 4$400 ,, ,, „ 
or with other words : the highest point reached 
in 1880-81 hardly eqalled the lowest in 1879-80 
and during a period of 24 months prices for San- 
tos coffee declined by about 35 per cent. The 
month of July 1880 opened dull and with a pretty 
large stock, so that dealers, in order to effect sales, 
lowered their pretensions gradually from 5JJ400— 5$500 
is. to 5$ 100 — 5 $200 rs. for goodfirst and superior. 
In spite of this decline in prices transactions remained 
but regular, as on the other hand the rising exchange 
enhanced the sterling cost of the article. Better news 
from the Uniied-Slates, however, called forward a 
former tone towards the end of the month. In August 
a steady demand was reigning, but transactions re- 
mained limited on account of the reduced stock and 
the poor assortment. The movement of prices was up- 
ward at first and downward during the latter half of 
the month. The principal buyers were the United- 
Slates, where a consortion had been formed to drive 
up prices, which attempts led afterwards to the well- 
known lamentable disasters. September witnessed in- 
creasing receipts and a fall of 8 per cent to 9 per 
cent in currency prices. New coffees, having then 
become more abundant, began to attract buyers, so that 
in spite of the flat news from consuming markets re- 
gular transactions took place. The closing rates were 
4$900— 5$100 rs. for goodfirst and superior. Dull news 
from consuming countries kept business in suspense 
during the first half Of October and made prices de- 
scend to 4$700— 4.$800 rs. for goodfirst and superior, 
whereas during the second half of the month con- 
siderable transactions took place and prices advanced 
again to 5$010— 5$100 rs. The month of November 
commenced dull, but the declining exchange facilitated 
business afterwards. On the whole the market ex- 
perienced slight fluctuations, but closed after all at 
the same rates at which it opened. During the greater 
part of December the market was very quiet, but 
transactions still reached a high figure towards the 
end of the month, when dealers submitted to con- 
cessions. Eeceipts increased at the same time materially, 
leaving a stock of about 130,000 bags for the new 
year to begin with. The month of January 1881 pre- 
sented no features of particular interest, whereas dur- 
ing the first half of February a declining exchange 
and reduced steamer-freights to Europe unexpectedly 
called forward a large business, so that dealers ob- 
tained 5$000— 5$ 100 rs. for goodfirst and superi- 
or. Since middle of February, however, the 
movement of prices was downward up to middle of 
May, when sales were effected on a basis of 4$200 — 
4S300 rs. for goodfirst and superior. The impulse 
to this steady deprecialion was given by the increas- 
ing stocks on all sea- pots and the continued dull news 
from abroad. In February still considerable sales took 
place, whereas during March, April and the begin- 
ning of May transactions were regular. During the j 
latter part of May, however, when prices had reached I 
the basis of 4$200— 4$300 rs. with all prospects of 
a further decline and a healthy business, speculation 
in Europe caught hold of the article ; 60,000 bags 
were taken out of the market within a few days 
at rising prices, and the stock became reduced to 
50,000 bags of a very poor assortment. Subsequent 
animating news from European markets and decreas- 
ing receipts here caused dealers to raise their pre- 
tensions to 4|600— 4$700 rs. for goodfirst and superior 
during the beginning of June aDd to insist upon their 
demands after the favorable result of the Dutch auc- 
tion of 15th June became known , this is still to-day 
the case notwithstanding that reports from abroad 
again assumed a quieter tenor. 
The Stock, after a small reduction has been made, 
consists to-day of about 38,000 bags. 
The receipts averaged about 1,230 bags a-day since 
1st ultimo. 
During the shipping-year just closed 1,204,244 bagg 
of coffee were exported from Santos, of which 952,837 
bags have been shipped to Europe, 235,137 bags to 
the United-States and the balance of 16,270 bags to 
South-American ports, which figures are quite in con- 
formity with what we said in our report of 1st July 
1880, viz: that 1,100,000—1,250,000 bags might be 
put down as the probable export during 1880/81. 
According to reliable reports, as far as euch can 
be gathered, the coming (1881/82) coffee-crop will far 
exceed all formev ones. The estimations vary con- 
siderably, as it is usually the case, but none goes below 
1,400,000 bags, while others speak of 1,800,000 bags. 
In our opinion the yield will be nearer to 1,600,000 — 
1,700,000 bags than to the lower figure named. 
We estimate the stock of old coffee left in the in- 
terior at about ... ... 100,000— 150,000 bags. 
the to-day's stock in Santos 40,000— 40,000 ,, 
and the probable yield of 
the new crop 1,600,000-1,700,000 „ 
making together an avail- 
able quantity of .. . ... 1,740,000— 1,890, 000 bags. 
and we believe that at the end of the new shipping-year 
a larger stock than usually will be left in the interior, 
so that about 1,400,000—1,500,000 bags of coffee may 
come forward for shipment during 1881/82. 
As regards the quality of the new crop nothing can 
be said as yet, only a very few samples of new coffee 
having appeared so far ; we will, however, not omit 
to state that reports from the interior speak of a 
small sized bean and an abundance of lower grades, 
the ripening of the fruit having been some what unequal. 
1880-81 
Tons 
To Europe 56,270 
„ United States 13,886 
961 
Total 71,117 
1877-78 
Tons 
To Europe 49,554 
,, United States 5,766 
Coastwise 3,630 
Total 
,950 
1879-80 
1878-79 
Tons 
Tons 
48,827 
59,312 
11,420 
1,286 
10,581 
1,614 
61,533 
71 .507 
1876-77 
1875-76 
Tons 
Tons 
-31,264 
35,013 
4,756 
7,272 
1,702 
2,305 
37,722 
44,590 
The Louisiana crop of oranges is a failure, in con- 
sequence of a so-called " ice-wave" having passed over 
the orange groves. The misfortune of the people of 
Louisiana will be the gain of many Dominicans, for the 
exports of oranges to the United States will doubtless 
be greatly increased this year. — Colonies and India. 
