68o 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[May  j,  1893. 
From  the  above  it  is  evident  that  for  some  years 
past  we  have  had  to  draw  on  our  s'ooks  of  Bark  to 
supply  the  requirements  of  tbe  trade  as  the  quantities 
impo'ted  have  b6en  insufficient.  In  G rtnauy  also  it 
reems  probable  that  no  Stocks  of  Batk  or  Quinine 
can  have  accumulated,  in  the  manufacturers  hands  at 
ary  rate  for  some  years,  in  fact,  in  1892  it  appears 
from  the  statistics,  that  the  quantity  of  Qu'nine, 
&o.,  exported  considerably  exceeded  the  quantity  of 
Bark  imported  : this,  if  the  Bark  imported  is  esti- 
mated to  contain  on  an  average  3J  per  cent  of 
Crystallised  Sulphate  Qu-  nine — the  amount  of  Quinine 
contents  would  be  as  folio  ws,  viz.  : — 
1 892. 
Imports  of  Oz9. 
Bark  equivalent  to  ozs. 
Quinine  ..7,315,000 
Add  Imports  of  Quinine  262, 1 00 
7,577,000 
Exports  of  Quinine  and  | 7,966,000 
Quinine  Salts J 
Left  for.  Home  Cot-  j — 
sumption  and  Stock  j — 389,000 
Imports  of 
Bark  equivalent  toozj.  Quinine. . 
Add  Imports  cf  Quinine 
1891. 
1890. 
Oz*. 
Ozs. 
7,421,000 
5,994,000 
258,000 
361,000 
7,679,000 
6 3'75.0l0 
6,569,000 
5,536,000 
1,090,000 
839.000 
1889. 
1888. 
Oz°. 
Ozs. 
6,448,000 
5,S15.000 
367,000 
215,000 
6,815,000 
6,030,000 
6,059,000 
5,417,000 
756,000 
613,000 
Left  for  Home  Consumption  and 
Stock 
Outlie  other  hand,  the  Stock  of  Bark  in  Amstt 
on  3 1st  December  was  estimated  at — 
1892  ..  ..  11,268  packages. 
1891  ..  ••  5,279  „ 
Increase  . . 5,989  ,, 
At  250  lb.  each  equivalent  to  1,497,250  lb. 
As  regards  the  supplies  of  Bark  the  shipments  from 
Ceylon,  British  E.  I.  and  Java  from  1st  January  to 
31st  Deoember  have  been  es  follows  : — 
Ceylon.  British  E.I.  Java.  Total, 
lb  lb.  English  lb.  lb. 
1892  ..  6,675,194  2,456,024  7,191,341  16,322,559 
1891  ..  5,589,551  3,123,934  8,699,530  17,413,015 
1890  ..  8,779,500  2,294,379  7,291,169  18,365,048 
1889  ..  9,325,728  2,406,908  6,323,306  17,055,942 
1888  ..  12,482,817  2.297,306  4,306,656  19,086,778 
The  arrivals  of  Cultivated  Calisaya  Bark  from 
Bolivia  for  the  past  six  years  have  averaged  about 
7,300  packages,  and  other  South  American  importa- 
tions have  practicaily  ceased,  but  it  is  reported  that 
considerable  shipments  might  be  made  of  Calisayn 
Bark  from  the  plantations  in  Bolivia  if  auy  material 
rise  in  prices  took  place. 
4,300  peckages  West  Coast  African  Bark  were  sold 
•at  public  sale  last  year  against  720  packages  in  1891. 
Brices  at  end  of  each  year  compere  as  follows  :— 
Value  of  unit 
of  Quinine. 
1892  . . lgd  per  lb. 
1891  ..  l^d  „ 
1890  ..  lid  „ 
1889  ..  lid  to  2d  „ 
1888  ..  lid  „ 
German  Quinine  on 
the  spot. 
9Jd  per  oz. 
9id 
1/ 
1/24 
1/31 
Prices  of  Bark  have  declined  since  end  of  1889 
from  l-|d  to  2d  per  unit  to  Id  per  unit.,  and  of  Quinine 
(CermaD)  from  2|d  per  oz.  1 9J  per  oz.  Of  course 
it  must  be  remembered  that  Bark  is  not  a crop,  and 
increased  supplies  could  be  obtained  iu  the  course  of 
a few  months  by  planters  coppicing  or  uprooting 
their  trees,  and,  no  doubt,  any  material  advance  in 
prioes  would  soon  be  followed  by  larger  importations, 
yet  since  the  price  of  Id  perumt  can  hardly  pay  for  the 
cost  of  harvesting  and  bringing  the  bark  to  market  (at 
auy  rate  for  qualities  analysing  3 per  cent  and  under) 
we  see  nothing  in  the  present  statistical  position  to 
justify  tbe  late  deoline  in  prioes, 
TEA  IN  AUSTRALIA. 
(From  Alfred  Harvey  & Co.'s  Monthly  Tea  Report.) 
Melbourne,  March  7th,  1893. 
General. — A remarkably  quiet  m mth  in  all 
branches  of  trade  has  to  be  reported,  The  few 
public  sales  have  shown  that  buyers  are  so  far 
disinclined  to  take  China  leaf  in  quantity  at  present 
rates:  and  that  they  have  taken  freely  noth  Indian 
and  Ceylon  leaf  at  a still  further  advance  in  price 
— particularly  marked  in  the  7d  to  8Jd  grades,  and 
better  kinds  up  to  B'd  ; finer  qualities  showing  no 
material  change.  Deliveries,  although  for  the  month 
fairly  good,  are  upon  the  whole  disappointing  ; the 
shrinkage  for  the  eight  months  now  reaches  3,000,000 
lb.,  the  whole  of  this  being  due  to  a falling-oil  in 
the  Home  Consumption  returns,  which  are  mainly 
affected  through  old  Id  duty  paid  stocks  being  larger 
than  generally  believed,  and  the  change  that  is 
rapidly  taking  place  with  the  country  dealers,  who 
now  buy  largely  from  the  blending  firms,  and  con- 
sequently carry  little  or  no  surplus  stock. 
China. — The  “ Tsinan,'1  from  Foochow,  with 
154,000  lb.,  has  been  the  only  arrival  ; this  brings 
the  exports  up  to  somewhat  over  14£  millions  for 
the  season.  Local  trade  has  been  exceptionally 
quiet,  the  shortage  in  supply  of  common  leaf  mak- 
ing a firm  market  for  that  grade.  Everything  un- 
der 6id  has  now  passed  into  dealers'  hands  ; but 
really  good  value  is  still  obtainable  at  7id  to  9d, 
with  limited  demand  for  finer  sorts.  S.  0.  Pekoes 
continue  quiet,  with  small  sales.  There  is  an  un- 
healthy ring  about  the  scented  trade,  as  also  with 
buds,  but  these  fancy  lines  suffering  from  the  in- 
creasing demand  for  Indians  and  Ceylons.  Public 
sales  were  confied  to  a small  catalogue  on  the  23rd 
February,  when  1,400  packages  were  sold  at  6d  for 
common,  6fd  to  7d  for  clean  common,  and  8d  to  9d 
for  fair  to  good  medium  panyongs.  For  today's 
sales  700  quarter-chests  first-crop  buds  are  printed. 
Stocks  in  bond, 3, 68 1, 218  lb. 
India. — The  “ Waroonga,”  with  150,000  lb.  for 
Melbourne  (sailed  on  the  1st  instant),  has  been  the 
only  departure  for  the  month,  bringing  the  exports 
up  to  3,570,000  lb.  The  only  public  sales  held  locally 
were  on  the  23rd  February,  when  2,600  packages 
were  sold.  A small  catalogue  of  330  chests  is 
printed  for  today  ; the  “ Argus  ” shipment  will  not 
be  offered  until  the  23rd.  Public  sa'es  confirmed 
the  anticipated  advance  in  value  of  leaf,  which  ad- 
vance can  safely  be  quoted  at  a full  Id  upon  broken 
and  whole  leaf  pekoe  souchongs  up  to  9|d,  and  Jd 
to  |d  upon  good  pekoes  up  to  lid  ; fine  kinds  un- 
altered. Sales  were  affected  at  6jd  to  7Jd  for  poor 
fannings  ; 8d  to  9|d  for  clean  to  good  pekoe  sou- 
chongs : 9d  to  10|d  for  fair  to  good  pekoes  ; lOd  to 
Is  2d  for  good  leaf  to  fine  orange  pekoes ; up  to  Is 
6d  for  fine  Assam  and  Darjeeling  orange  pekoes. 
Stocks  in  bond,  425,883  lb. 
Cevxon. — Public  sales  have  been  confined  to  one 
catalogue,  on  the  7th  February,  when  350  packages 
were  sold  at  7|d  to  8jd  for  brokens  ; 8Jd  for  clean 
whole  leaf  ; 9d  to  9jd  for  pekoes  ; Is  to  Is  2d  for 
broken  pekoes.  A further  catalogue  of  1,000  chests 
is  printed  for  this  day’s  sales.  Prices  paid  showed 
an  advance  of  Id  upon  brokens,  with  no  change 
from  previous  full  rates  for  other  grades.  Private 
sales,  although  of  fair  volume,  have  been  effected 
with  difficulty,  holders  demanding  highest  rates. 
Stocks  in  bond,  342,278  lb. 
Coffee  Planting  in  the  Lake  District  of 
British  Central  Africa  is  thus  referred  to  by  the 
correspondent  of  a South  African  paper : — 
The  coffee  planting  industry  is  receiving  a large 
amount  of  attention,  and  in  some  districts  will  pro- 
bably prove  worthy  . of  the  enterprise  displayed  by 
the  planters.  The  present  produce  of  the  country  is 
shipped  down  the  rivers  Shire  and  Zambesi  by 
steamers ; but  the  fleet  of  vessels,  which  the  Band 
correspondent  would  have  us  infer  is  now  running,  is 
still  in  the  future.  Much  needed  improvement  in 
river  transport  has  been  delayed  by  circumstances  and 
accident,  but  there  is  a good  time  coming. 
