92 
THE TROPICAL AGEiCULTURIST. [Aug 1, 1900. 
portation o£ 285 or 290 million lb, during the coming 
season, to include about 150 millions from India, about 
JIO millions from Ceylon, with 25 or 30 m.illions from 
China and Java. This would seem to be as much as 
will be required ; unless, therefore, some limit of 
production be found, it will be necessary to dispose 
of larger quantities of Ceylon and Indian tea abroad 
in Older to avoid an over-supply here. The pro- 
babilities are that a limit will be reached by natural 
process, and that neither India nor Ceylon will for 
the second time give a yield largely in excess of 
expectation ; there is not, moreover, the same induce- 
ment to pluck freely as there was a year ago, when 
common teas were Id to 2d higher than they are now. 
The possibility of 
HEAVIER SHIPMENTS FIIOM CHINA 
is a contingency, its total export having recoverej from 
107 millions in 1898-9 to 115 millions in 1899 1900, but 
there i-s little reason to fear it, seeing that the quota- 
tion of (id. for common tea ruling here last year did not 
attract very much more than when the price was 4^d. 
The fact is that retailers only use it in the last resort, 
and ^oorf China tea cannot be obtained cheaply enough 
or in sulficient quantity to affect the position. Japan 
continues a strenuous competitor in the States and 
Canada, bat not elsewhere. The produce of Java finds 
increasing favour now that so much grown from Assam 
seed is coming in : the shipments were nearly 13 
millions in 1899. 
We record with satisfaction an increase in the 
amount of business transacted by 
PRIVATE CONTRACT 
sometimes at separate quotations, sometimes at au 
all-round price, and chiefly in low or medium grades 
sent in large lines, negotiations over the smaller 
quantities of finer tea being usually too prolonged to 
enable much business in these kinds to be adjusted 
in the time at the disposal of buyers. The drawback 
of being tied to the Auction Room and the advan- 
tage of an alternative have been realized, and it is 
seen that a free private-contract markit open to any 
sellers wishing to make use of it would lessen some of 
the difficulties that meet them. 
The 
STATISTICS 
at foot speak for themselves, and disclose a 
larger business at a lower average price, with 
steady, if not rapid increase in the Colonial and fore- 
ign demand for our teas. With the permission of our 
friends we add the particulars of some of their Indian 
crops sold in London. 
Wm. Jas, & Hy. THOMPSON. 
Sunsmary of the exports to all parts from the 
several sources of production : — 
1898. 
From Indian (season) 
Ceylon do 
*Chinj. do 
Japan ( year) 
Java do 
157,210.000 
119,000,009 
107,000,000 
40,500,000 
9,720,000 
1899. 
175,000,000 
138,000,000 
115,000,000 
45,830,000 
12,850,000 
433,430,000 486,680,000 
SUGAR AND P.NEAPPLES. 
We extract the following from the report by 
Mr. Chas. Ford, Superintendent of the Botanical 
and Afforestation Department : — 
i'^o»-cs^)7/ — I'lanting to the extent of 54,582 trees 
has been continued in the island, and Kowrloon 
in ten different localities, and in various new 
and old roads where trees would thrive. 
NJiW TliRRITORY. 
Ili.s Excellency the Governor when travelling 
in the territory came to the concluaion after 
seeing the Sugar-cane growing there, that new 
• Not including about 34,000,000 lb. sent overland 
to Russia, RHd 64,000>000 lb. of Brick Tea sent abroad 
in 189!?, 
varieties of cane might be introduced, and at His 
Excellency's request I have made arrangements 
for new varieties to be obtained from different 
countries, some of which have arrived and been 
pi: lilted near Ha Tsun. 
His Excellency also obtained two Chatanooga 
Sugar Mills, which this department had fixed in 
the new territory, and exhibited the working of 
to the sugar-growers there. The advantages these 
mills possess over the native mills may lead to 
their extended introduction. 
I have also obtained improved varieties of Pine^ 
apple-plants from Ceylon, which will be useful 
introductions to the districts where Pineapples 
are now cultivated to a considerable extent. The 
best fruits from the new territory are now brought 
over to Hong-Kong, and canned at a factory at 
W^est Foint.—Gardeners' Chronicle, Jnue Zivd. 
BRAZIL COFFFEE JSOTES. 
A correspondent writes to the Imperio that the 
coffee crop along the lines of the Paulista railway 
is small and of inferior quality. 
A telegram of the 25th instant states that the 
S. Paulo cofiee crop has been injured by heavy 
rains. In districts in which the gathering of the 
crop had commenced the loss is estimated at twenty 
per cent. 
It may be confidently assumed that the losses in- 
curred in the coffee market through the imposi- 
tion of quarantines on account of the bubonic pest 
will have to be borne by the planters. The heavy 
crops and the large stocks in consuming markets 
will give the buyer sufficient advantage over the 
seller to enable him to dictate terms.— ii'i'o News. 
THE INDIAN TEA TRADE. 
The export figures for the year 1899-1900, 
ending 31st March, are as follows in the 
Indian Customs Accounts : — 
12 MONTHS, 1st APEIL TO 31ST MAKCH. 
Tea— 
To United Kingdom 
Russia 
Canada 
United States . , 
China 
Persia 
Turkey in Asia. . 
Australia 
Other Countries 
1897-98. 
lb. 
137,655,857 
689,271 
593,532 
929,704 
565,274 
1,464,394 
1,336,970 
6,792,654 
1,424,161 
1898-99. 
lb. 
139,245,995 
500,889 
1,044,256 
1,413,624 
883,307 
3,456.791 
2,598,281 
6.306,135 
2,021,394 
1899-1900 
lb. 
154,161,492 
467,451 
1,932,943 
2.744,854 
1,248,857 
1,953,900 
2,149,414' 
8,362,797 
2.016,419 
Total lb... 151,451,817 157,470,672 175,038,127 
For imports we have 
12 MONTHS, 1st APRIL TO 31ST M.AKCH. 
1897-98. 1898-99. 1899-1900 
lb. lb. lb. 
1,059,716 1,108,686 670,161 
1,689,561 1,751,653 1,921,826 
765,733 799,103 711,124 
Tea— 
From Ceylon 
China 
Other Countries 
Total lb. . . 3,515,0 3 3,659,442 3,203,111 
Tka, Cinnamon, Coconuts and Rubber' 
—Mr. Vigors, in his Adiiiinistratiou Report 
on Kalutara District for 1899, states that 
about 300 acres were added to the area in 
Tea, and 297 to that of Cinnamon, about 
50 acres of Coconuts ; while Para Rubber 
Avas freely put out in tea and special lots 
were likely to be bought to be planted this 
year with Rubber. 
