February r, 1882.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
7'7 
stocks. There are, however, many disturbing causes 
to upset the most elaborate ligures and the pro- 
foundest forecasts. We arc hopeful of the future, 
and believe I hat, when the temporary causes of de- 
pression have ceased to operate, Coffee will rise 
again and proclaim its titlo to continue "King." — 
"For the last twelve months Mincing Lane brokers 
have been complaining of the continued depression 
in the coffee trade, and apparently with reason, as 
tlio average price of 1881 is much below that of any 
year since 1872. The course of the price of coffee, 
like that of many other commodities, is partly affected 
by the quantity of stock held, but to a greater extent 
by the volume thrown upon the market from time 
to time. Other considerations affecting the market 
are the abundance or otherwise of the crops, excel- 
lence of quality, increase or decrease of consumption, 
position of the money market, &c. From 18G7 to 
1871 inclusive, prices, it will be seen on reference to 
the chart we give, wore low, owing to the three 
successive large crops in the Brazils, which caused 
stocks hold in Europe and the United Stales lo ac- 
cumulate. Frum IS7I to 1873 there was a continuous 
strong rise mainly due to the very small Brazilian 
crop of 1871-2. Stocks were drawn upon so largely 
that at the close of the year 1872, they were at the 
lowest point— viz., 64,811 tons — of the fourteen 
years for which we give statistics. The rise in prices 
and a bcttter crop caused very large arrivals in the 
early months of 1874, and owing to reaction from the 
excessively higli points to which speculation had driven 
them, prices iii about two months dropped 35s. per 
cwt.— equal to a loss of a quarter of the January 
quotations. The maintenance of consumption and smaller 
imports during the year again brought the stock down 
to a very low point. In 187G stocks again fell off, 
but were rapidly replenished in the first four months 
of the following year, the large arrivals causing a sharp 
fall iu price. The average stock siuce 1877 has been 
greater each year, and at the end of May last was 
very nearly double the amount held at the same date in 
1873. At the same timo we must remember that consum- 
ption on the continent, and more especially in America, 
has grown, and the stocks now are comparatively less 
excessive than they were ten or twelve years ago. 
For the four years ending Dec. 31st, 1878, the average 
price was about 104s. per cwt. for 'low middling' 
Ceylon plantation coffee. From Aug. 1878, to July 
1879, there was a fall of 24s. from 105s. to 81s. A 
recovery took place in the last half of 1879, owing 
to sympathy with the general riso iu prices iu all 
markets, and was maintained for just four mouths to the 
end of February last year. A slight fall and hesi- 
tation in movement loft the price at 82s. in October, 
and in two months a further fall was shown, till 
70s. was reached in December 1880— the lowest point 
in any year since 1871. During 1881 there has been 
a slight temporary recovory, with a rather sharp rise 
early in August, partly duo to buying by French 
speculators. Sinco then prices have generally been 
weak, and are now tending downwards, owing to tlio 
hoavy arrivals in the Brazils. 
The reafon for tho present low level of prices is 
that the increase of cultivation and the recent extra, 
ordinary good crops in the Brazils, from whence about 
two-thirds of the world's supply is derived, has caused 
production to bo in excess of consumption, and 
authorities consider that there sro no signs o! a falling- 
oil in supply for the immediate future. 
There is a general impression that, owing to the 
■pread of the temperance movement in this country, 
we are using much larger quantities of coffee. An 
examination of the Board of Trade returns docs not 
eonlinn this, for, iii spite of tlio reduction in price 
and lower duties, the consumption is only about the 
lame as ten or fifteen years ago. Tho amount of 
coffee (and chicory !) consumed iu this country during 
the last six years, in tons, has been as follows :— 
1880. 1879. 1878. 1877. 1876. 1875. 
Codec .. 14,540 1 5, IS!) 11,(170 I I, CM', | |,SH4 14,520 
Chicory 5,709 5,295 4,772 4,971 4,741 4,708 
For the nine months ending Sept. 30th, the comparison 
in tons with the corresponding periods of 1880 and 
1879 is as follows : — 
1881. 1880. 1879. 
Coffee ... ... 10,841 10,843 11,690 
Chicory ... ... 4,302 4,213 3,933 
One of the most extraordinary facts connected with 
codec statistics is that coffee as a beverage does not 
gain ground in popular estimation. One cause is 
that so few persons in this country really know how 
to make a good cup of coffee. Forty years ago tho 
consumption in Great Britain was TOS lb. per head of 
population. In 1S47 it increased to 131, by 1850 it 
had dropped to 1T3, again rose to I '85 in 1854, and 
has since gradually declined, until, last year, the 
consumption was only equal to 0 - 92 lb. per head. The 
other two beverages, tea and cocoa, show a very 
different movement. Tea, in 1S40, was 1*22 Lb. per 
head of population; last year it was 4 -59, and in 
1879 had been at its maximum, 4'70 lb. Cocoa has 
increased from 0 08 1b. in 1840, to 0'3l lb. last year. 
The comparison of the duties is as follows :— 
1840. 1881. 
Tea 2s. 2£d. per lb. 6d. per lb. 
Coffee foreign ... 9d. ,, 1 
,, British possessions Gd. ,, j - • » 
In Germany the consumption is estimated at about 
100,000 tons per annum. The next country of im- 
portance is France, which shows a steady increase. 
The quantity used in 187S is estimated at 53,300 
tons, increasing in 1879 to 56,000 tons, and last year 
to very nearly 57,000 tons. Austria consumes about 
35,000 tons; Holland, owing to its imports bein« free 
of duty, uses 34,000 tons. Its consumption per head 
of population is the largest of any country, and is 
about sixteen times that of Great Britain. The total 
European consumption has been placed by authorities 
as about 350,000 tons to 300,000 tons per annum. 
The chief sources of supply of coffee are Brazil, 
Java, Ceylon, India, Jamaica, and Central America. 
The berry is grown in other parts of the world, but 
tho production is unimportant. According to Messrs. 
Wilson and Smithett, who have compiled, as far as 
possible, their information from official sources, the 
crops of Brazil, Java, and Ceylon coffee since 1S71-2 
have been as follows : — 
Rio. 
Santos. 
Java. 
Ceylon. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
1880-81... 
.. 254,400 
70,160 
59,000 
23,000 
1879-80... 
.. 172,780 
61,530 
42,300 
33,480 
187S-79... 
.. 210,460 
70 510 
SO.SOO 
41,226 
1877-78... 
. 150,000 
58,950 
59,000 
31,015 
1870-77... 
.. 159,310 
37,720 
71,000 
47,050 
1875-70... 
.. 165,030 
44.590 
96,000 
36,020 
1874-75... 
.. 180,775 
-IS, 50(1 
45,000 
IS. 150 
1873-74... 
.. 119,050 
38,900 
75,000 
30,750 
1872-73... 
.. 170,600 
31,660 
55.000 
49,750 
1871-72 . 
.. 123,300 
29,700 
68,000 
37,900 
The shipments of Brazil coffee 
to Europ 
i in tho 
crop year ending Juno 3()th, 18S1, i« returned ns 169.000 
tons, or 66,000 tons more than tho previous year. Tho 
above liguros show how enormously the production of 
Brazil has increased during the last ten years. It 
will be seen that in 1871-2 tho total production of 
tin' eountiy was about I50,0(K) ton", which compares 
with just 325,000 tons for the year ending June 30th, 
1881. Java remains about stationary, ami Ceylon de- 
clines, owing to the le ^ disease. 
For the partioolan rttrieoting the stocks held in 
Europe and tlio Tinted States, wo arc jndobtod to 
