Feb. i, iSpj/j THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
But my object in writing is to call attention 
to what are clearly some of the clangers of the 
future. Those who have carefully marked the ups 
and downs of the enterprise canDot fail to be con- 
vinced that some infatuation attends tea, which leads 
to the most fatal mistakes in times of prosperity. 
Judging from the past, extensions will now be too 
rashly undertaken in all possible directions, which 
must greatly aggravate the labour difficulties, already 
sufficiently acute in most districts. These extensions 
cannot come into profitable bearing for years, under 
the m ost favourable conditions for growth, when, to 
a certainty, supplies will have again outrun the 
demand. It behoves all, therefore, to be very careful, 
and those only should extend who can do so under 
the most advantageous conditions as to soil, manage- 
ment, capital, <fec. Bather let them fortify their 
existing plants and increase their reserve funds. As 
you have put it, Mr. Editor, it is unquestionably a 
case of "the survival of the fittest." Increased 
attention has in the most praiseworthy manner been 
given to manufacture, resulting in greatly improved 
methods and appliances and better quality, out it 
remains open to doubt whether equal advances have 
been made in the direction of restorative or even 
preservative cultivation especially in the case of hill 
gardens ; and it is upon enlightened cultivation and 
the judicious treatment of the bushes, that the 
staying powers of a garden must depend. Pro- 
prietors should see to this, and also ascertain what 
precautions have been and are being taken to con- 
serve timber — a vital matter in any district without 
coal, where wood is scarce, and transit difficult and 
costly. A. Shareholder. 
— II. <k C. Mail, Jan. 4. 
TEA PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 
An Australian Tea circular by a recent mail, 
responsible for the following deliverance, which 
as regards the United States, contains a statement 
it is impossible for us to accept : — 
" The fact is, that the consumption of the World 
is, for the first time for many years, equal to, if 
not actually exceeding production. Supplies from 
China, both Black and Bed Leaves, have fallen off, 
and Russia and Western Asia have had to come on 
to the Calcutta and Colombo markets to make up 
their requirements. This extra demand has had an 
appreciable effect on prices in both these centres 
of production, and, being once established, is pretty 
sure to increase. The United States have doubled 
their consumption during the past 12 months, and 
may possiblj double it again during 1895. A good deal 
of this business is being done Dy re-export from 
London, but the direct Imports are also increasing 
largely. There is no new country ready, like Ceylon 
(from 188') to '90), to increase the supply to the 
•xtont of 50,000,000 lb. per annum, though India will 
continue to hIiow a regular steady addition to her 
exports. Therefore, giving duo consideration to these 
points, it is not unreasonable to expect a marked 
advance in the average price of Tea throughout the 
world, and Blenders will have to make a choice 
between curtailing their profits or increasing the 
sjltiug prices of their Registered Brands." 
We trust that some of these handsome prog- 
nostications may be realize 1, and no doubt tea 
consumption is increasing throughout North 
America ; but to say that the United States lias 
doubled or even added 25 per cent to its con- 
sumption of tea during the past twelve months 
over the previous year cannot, we fear, be main- 
tained by the actual figures for imports and 
deliveries. 
CEYLON PRODUCE IN LONDON. 
A fuw lots of Plantation Ceylon sold without 
alteration in value. Mocha was firmly held; a small 
quantity of shortberry sold at USs. In auction 23 
rusks. LQ tiercea, 13 barrels Plantation Qaylou sold, 
amalls at 98a to 93j Od, pile size at 103 s, boldish 
at 105s to 107s, sold at 109s, peaberry at 112s to 
12'5s, low middling of common quality sold at 84s 
to 96s 6d, peaberry at 99s. Mocha— Of 228 pack- 
ages 20 bales green short berry sold at 118s per cwt. 
COCOA. — This market has remained closed since 
the Christmas holidays, but in the absence of pub- 
lic sales a fair demand has prevailed and consider- 
able business is reported in Bahia on cost and 
freight terms. The auctions will be resumed on the 
8th instant, when the accumulated arrivals of 
British West India will be brought to the hammer 
Ceylon kinds have experienced some demand privately, 
and 250 bags Ceylon are reported sold, good and 
fine red at 60s to 68s. 300 bags Trinidad, mixed 
red at 62s, middling red at 63s, and good red at 66s 
6d to 67s ; 100 bags Bahia at 47s to 52s per cwt. 
An extensive business in Arriba Guayaquil has taken 
place, fine summer having advanced from 57s up to 
46sep r cwt. and sales amount to between 7,000 and 
8,000 bags. In Caraquez, Balao, &c, transactions 
are very small at 50s to 54s. 
CINCHONA BARK. — This market will reopen on 
the 8th instant, after an interval of five weeks with- 
out sales, and extremely moderate quantities are 
advertised, amounting to barely 1,200 packages. The 
first sales in Holland will be on the 21th inst. The 
year 1894 has witnessed a still further diminution 
in the volume of the trade in this article in London, 
and the very unremunerative prices so long prevailing, 
and the moderate interest the planters in India 
and Ceylon now take in it on this account, and the 
fact that the land is required for the cultivation of 
tea which has proved very profitable, make it more 
than probable that, as far as our Eastern imports 
are concerned, the trade will still further diminish. 
In view of this state of things it was thought best 
during the year to abandon the old established fort- 
nightly series of auctions, and to have sales only 
once a month. The total imports in the year 
have been 29,000 packages, against 37,000 packages 
in 1893, and 46,000 packages in 1892, while the deli- 
veries of all kinds have amounted to 31,000 packages, 
against 38,000 in 1893, and 56,600 packages in 1892, 
and the stocks in London have thust been reduced 
to 32,000 packages, against 37,840 in 1893, and 
38,900 in 1892, shewing a much larger reduction than 
in the two previous years, The year commenced 
with a unit value of Jd, and closed at barely gd, 
and during the greater part has fluctuated between 
Jd and Id ; the last four months, owing to the con- 
tinued heavy shipments from Java, which growth 
virtually rules the market, as we wrote last year, 
and to the large quantities put on sale in Amster- 
dam, have been marked by successive falls in value, 
and we close at the lowest point of the year. I* 
rests entirely with the Java planters, or with those 
responsible for the regulation of the quantities put 
on the Amsterdam market, whethr future prices 
shall remain at the present unsatisfactory level. A 
feature of the sales has been the large quantity of 
African bark, from the Portuguese island of St. 
Thome, which has been sold during the year. 
The following are the figures for the last four 
years of the movements in London : — 
Stock in London on Dec. 31at. 
1894. 1893. 189S. 1891. 
Pkgs. Pkgs, Pkgs. Pkgs. 
East Indian 11,980) 14,600) 15,880 > 22,260 
South American 20,080 [ 23,240 1 J3.010)" 26,880 
Imported in the Year. 
East Indian 1*,710 ) 28,890 1 33,4601 39.B20 
South American 10,460 1 ' 8,130 f 12,900)' 11,700 
Delivered in the year. 
East Indian 21,380) 29,580 \ 39,840" 40,920 
South American 12,740 )' 8,500) 16,750f 11,410 
SULPHATE OF QUININE.— The market is life- 
loss, with no transactions to report. The stocks 
have again been reduced during the past month by 
nearly 90,000 oz. and now stand at 2,753,000 oz. The 
reduction since the figures were first published at 
beginning of February has been half a million 
ounces, and as imports are very moderate, and 
speculation in the article is for the time dormant. 
Uio figures should bo further reduced The present 
