9*4 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May i, 1882. 
ing her own tea, no doubt that vast country has 
suitable soil, if not climate ; but unless the working 
classes abandon their attachment to good wages and 
their hatred of the "Heathen Chinee" — welcoming 
hordes of the latter to their land and their bosoms — 
the question of cost of labour stands an impassable 
barrier in the way. The wages of 10 cents per 
diem, which the American journalist mentions, ia, of 
course, oomposed of cents of a Spanish dollar. It 
is, therefore, whether applied to wages or the prices 
of tea, somewhat more than twice the value of two 
of our cents : say 1 American cent = 2^ Ceylon cents, 
Will experts in tea, excusing our ignorance, inform 
us what is the precise meaning of "basket fired" 
teas and whence their superiority ? We should also 
like to know if any considerable proportion of tea 
planters or tea experts in Ceylon have abandoned 
the old idea that the special fumes of charcoal are 
essential to the good quality of tea, and accepted the 
conclusion that teas dried by "Sirocco" or other 
machines, or by mere artificial heat, without charcoal 
fumes, are as good or better than teas roasted over 
charcoal fires 
We again attract attention to the fact that, in the 
United States and Canada, as in Australia, packages 
not larger than from 381b to 451b rind most favour; 
while the dealers desiderate attractive boxes in all 
cases. The tin boxes are always nice-looking, and 
wooden boxes can be made so. by pasting over them 
paper adorned with neat printed or lithographed designs. 
We copy below the main portions of Mr. Sibthorp's 
interesting report :— 
Report on the Tea Trade of the United State s 
and Canada, by D. A. Sibthoep, Esq. 
130, Water Street, New York, 7th Dec. 1881. 
B. R. Magoe, Esq., Honorary Secretary, 
Calcutta Tea Syndicate. 
The Americans cannot be called a tea-drinking na- 
tion, for, with a population of 50,000,000 persons, the 
imports of tea last year only amounted in all to 
69,765,000 lb., of which the proportion of Congou 
was very small indeed, viz , only 5,154,000 lb., the 
balance, 64,610,000 lb. being Japans, China green 
teas and Oolongs, while Canada with a population 
of only 4,500,000 persons consumed last year 
13,400,0001b., the proportion of black tea being 
5,560,000, the balance as in the States, viz., Japans, 
China Greens and Oolongs. 
" Tea" with the trade of this country means Japan 
and China green tea, just as a home dealer would 
mean black tea or Congou ; if they want to speak of 
Congou they name it, just we in England would name 
"Oolong" or " Scented Orange Pekoe." This will per- 
haps give a better idea than the statistics do of the 
hold that Japans and green teas have on this market. 
There being no duties on teas in the United States, 
( xcept on those imported from countries other than 
t e place of growth, which are liable to a 10°/ o advalorem 
duty, in consequence of which there is little or no 
trade with Great Britain) it is impossible to do more 
than estimate the actual consumption of the country, 
an the usual guides, viz., the Custom's returns, are here 
entirely wanting. 
New York is the largest and most important market 
for tea in the States, supplying, it may be said, 
the whole of America. Following is a comparative 
statement for the past three seasons, which shows 
9 considerable fail tog-off in the consumption last 
year, but which the 7 rude Beview accounts for 
in the following words : — " The statistics givi-n show an 
apparent decrease in consumption from the Port of New 
York during 18S0 of about 8,500,0001b. but, in analyz- 
ing these figures in connection with the general course 
of trade throughout the year, aud the indications ol con- 
tinued prosperity in the country, to say nothing of in- 
creased population, it is impossible to ad' pt the con- 
clusion that there has been a falling-off in the consump- 
tion of this article of food. The distribution in pro- 
gress during the year has developed the fact that very 
considerable quantity of stock, withdrawn from first 
hands during the year 1879, under the influence of the 
" boom" which led to such an inflation of the volume of 
business, as well ss of values, had not been consumed 
on the 1st January as was th n supposed, but was in 
reality carried ever, and formed an important part of 
the actual available supply for the \ ear under review. 
In other words, the sudden spirit of speculation infused 
during the Autumn months of 1879 led to an extensive 
stocking-up by second-hand dealers and small traders 
throughout the country. The sluggishness of the dis- 
tributive demand all through the year has made this 
fact more and more apparent, thereby demonstrating 
that the business, which ordinarily should have been 
spread over six months, was, in the prevailing excitement, 
crowded into as many weeks. Unquestionably, there- 
fore, a large percentage of the consumption heretofore 
set down to 1879 must be credited to 1880." 
The bulk of the tea is sold on this market at 
prices ranging from 20 cents to 30 cents per lb., but 
during the last year a great deal of low class tea 
from both China and Japan has been sold at 10 cents 
to 12 cents per lb. Formosa Oolongs with fine 
quality command high prices, as also do fine Japan 
uncolored and basket-fired, sometimes ruling as high as 
80 cents per lb., but this is considered 11 fancy price, and 
can only be obtained for small quantities. The bulk 
of the Congou sold here is of fair quality, selling at 
from 12 cents per lb. for common, up to 40 cents per 
lb. for fine tea. Sometimes it is mixed with green tea 
and sold under the name of " English breakfast tea," 
but this mixing is done mostly on this side by the 
retailer. The retail price for all kinds of tea ranges 
from 30 cents to 80 cents per lb. Small quantities 
are sold as high as a dollar per lb. by some of the 
fashionable dealers. 
The following are the latest market quotations : — 
Greens, finest chops, none, 34 to 36 cents ; fine Teen- 
kai and Moyun, 28 to 32 cents ; Ping Sung, 27 
cents: Medium chops, 23 to 25 cents; common, 19 to 
21 cents. Japans, choicest, 48 to 50 cents; choice, 40 
to 43 cents; finest, 35 to 38 cents; fine 29 to 32 ceLts; 
medium and good, 17 to 26 cents; common, and good 
common, 12 to 16 cents. Formosa Oolongs, choicest, 
55 to 65 cents nominal; choice, 43 to 48 cents; finest, 
36 to 38 cents; fiue, 33 to 34 cents; superior, 28 1o 
31 cents; good cargo, 22 to 25 cents; fair, 18 to 20 cents, 
good common, 16 cents. Amoy Oolongs, fine, 25 to 26 
cents; superior, 22 to 23 cents; common to fair, 12 to 
16 cents. Foochow Oolongs, choice to choicest 50 to 
60 cents; finest, 37 to 40 cents; fine 30 cents; superior, 
24 to 26 cents; fair 18 cents. Congou and Souchong, 
choice, none; finest, 37 to 40 cents; fine, 28 to 30 cents; 
superior, 23 to 24 cents; good cargo, 19 cents; fair, 17 
conts; common, 12to 15 cents. 
Some small parcels of fair liquoring Indian teas, dir- 
ect private shipments, have been sold on this market at 
from 23 to 45 cents per lb., but being small quantities I 
cannot take the prices obtained for them as a guide to 
what may be expected for the first shipment of the Syn- 
dicate, but the prices are, I should say, satisfactory. 
Chicago is an important and rapidly-increasing market 
of all kinds of teas. It is impossible to report the ac« 
tual business done here, as a great deal of the tea sold 
is purchased on the New York and San Fraucisec 
