606 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March I, 190L 
EEPORT ON CKYLON TEA, 1900. 
EWART MACCAUGHEY AND COMPANY, 
Limited. 
The New Year's Auctions opened pretty well on the 
same lines as Indians. The market was strong up to 
7id per lb while over this prices were irregular, al- 
though, where quality was uuniistakably good, buyers 
were prepared to pay up. A fair amount of Pekoe 
Souchong for price was available at 0|d per lb, and 
Broken Pekoes generally were relatively much cheaper 
than leafy grades. The very strong tone died out 
towards the close of the month and partly owing to 
inferior quality, but ohieHy no doubt in synpathy 
with Indians, prices fell all round until Ud per lb 
teas in particular were showing wonderful value. 
In February better teas brought a better market, 
and witli both home and export bu3ers coming in 
and fine teas in small compass, prices advanced, 
finer kinds selling up to Is 7d per lb or Is 8 per lb, 
while in Common Leaf there was no quantity to 
speak of under 6id per ib. Prices for Common did 
not, however, remain up very long and the end of the 
month biought lower quotations for all tea under 
7d per lb with a fair number of 5|d per lb quotations. 
The first auctions after the Budget opened with an 
irregular tone and very sliy bidding. Pekoes at 6d 
per lb, wonderfully cheap, and tea generally a full ?id 
per lb down from highest point. Quality was im- 
proving, and in March we had a strong enquiry for 
tine teas, while at tlie other end of the gamut low 
grades had receded to 5jd per lb. Throughout April 
and May quality was indifferent, but prices were 
useful, and wi'.h 6d per lb grades showing wonder- 
ful value a large business was done, the blenders 
in particular operating freely as prices exactly 
suited them. All the enquiry was however for 
leaf, and Brokens were going anyhow. 
May closed quietly witli bad tea and easier prices. 
There was plenty of Pekoe Souchong and Pekoe at 
D^d per lb , and a fair amount at ojd per lb. Enor- 
mous quantities were being offered and this not only 
killed the Ceylon enquiry but reacted on other 
markets as well. Poor quality and more tea th.in 
the trade wanted at this time of year had brought 
down the average price to 6Jd per lb. as against 7|d 
per lb. in the previous season. 
In June again the market was entirely overdone 
with tea autl prices receded to 5jd per lb. for leaf 
and 5jd per lb. for Broken, practically the whole 
weight of tea selling between 5d per lb. and 7d 
per lb. 
Quality improved in July and a better market re- 
sulted, and by the end of the month the average 
price had risen to 7^d per lb., with .5Jd per lb. le- 
presenting about the lowest price for common leaf. 
Auctions had been heavy right through what is 
usually the slack season and this led to a deal 
of fluctuation in prices, and by the end of August 
we had a decidedly slumpy market, with a much 
larger supply of Hi per lb. and 5jd per lb. tea. 
This feeling wa? even more pronounced in Septem- 
ber, and the very bad condition in which a large 
proportion of the 'tea was lauded tended to create 
a further knock-out iu prices. 
Quantities dropped off a little in October, and 
there was rather less 5d per lb. tea, but, except 
in the case of finest, there was a poor market. 
Free buying in the upper grades, especially by the 
blenders, hardened up prices for anything with 
quality, and to show that fine tea is appreciated, 
there wore Pekoe Souchongs selling at Is per lb. 
and Is Id per lb. during the brief period in Octo- 
ber whan really good tea was being offered. 
The last two months of the year showed a con- 
tinuously weak market for Common and unfortu- 
nately the very low class of much of the tea offared 
(the worst ever seen) tended to keep down quota 
|i90B, and \o discredit Ceylon Tea generally, That 
buyers would rather deal in good articles was shoTvn 
by the fact that while the grades up to 5d per lb. 
were neglected, there was nearly always a strong 
enquiry for useful medium between Gd per lb. and 
9d per lb. 
During the past twelve months it was more than 
ever noticeable that the planters are sacrificing 
quality to quantity, and tins is much to be re- 
gretted especially as the exxiort branch of the trade 
has of late years ste;idily increased. The Continental 
orders are now an important factor but if Ceylon tea 
is to hold its position, quality must be confidered as of 
the first importance. 
A result of the low prices, and a most satisfactory 
one, was the very considerable increase in the Export 
of Indians and Ceylons to other countries and this 
opening up of new outlets capable of absorbing large 
quantities must prove of the greatest value in the 
future. 
After the experiences of the past season planters 
will doubtless see tlmt it is to their interest to reduce 
production by plucking fiuer, and we hear that pro- 
posals are afoot for combined action by both Indian 
and Ceylon Garden Owners to bring about this desir- 
able consummation. If carried out elficiently this 
would be an enormous advantage to every branch of 
the trade as it would raise the standard of quality 
all round. 
An unsatisfactory feature has been the large pro- 
portion of tea which was laid down here in a tainted 
coadition. A certain amount of friction and endless 
trouble has resulted, and never before have we seen 
anything like the same number of parcels thrown 
up or contracts cancelled. Unsuitable packages, no 
doubt, largely account for the flat teas, but injthe 
case of real taint we are l:ound to look for olher 
causes, and shippers, rightly or wrongly, are be- 
coming very suspicious of some of the steamship 
lines. 
PLAMTING NOTES. 
A Large Australian Pumpkin.— Canon Gar- 
land has senc to the Minister of Lands a liuge 
pumpkin, of the ironbark species, which was grown 
by the boys of the Swan Orphanage. Thi.s great 
vegetable when weighed turned the scales at 30 lb. 
— Wesiraliah paper, Jm. 14. 
The Seychelles.— Mr. Chamberlain has 
given his sanction to the establishment of a 
botanic station in the Seychelles, which, with the 
co-operation of the Director of the Kew Gardens, 
will be started on the liist day of the coming 
century, Some people have actually assigned 
the site of the Garden of Eden to the Aklabra 
group in the Indian Ocean, now famous for 
little else than the gigantic land tortoises, 
of which so many have been sent to the Zoolog- 
ical Gardens through the instrumentality of 
the Hon. Walter Rothschild, M.P. Every 
description of plant whieli is likely to be of the 
slightest economic value will be obtained from 
other countries, and the treatment of the soil 
will be made the subject of special experiments. 
The islands are in direct communication by 
steamer with Colombo, Mauritus, Aden, Zanzi- 
bar, and Bombay, a factor which is likely to 
play an important part in the development of 
their internal resources. Our contemporary, the 
Daily News, overlooks the famous double-cocoa- 
nut, around which so many legends have col- 
lected, the most fantastic being the theory of 
the late Gen, Gordon above alluded to, that 
this was the forbidden fruit,— (?arcZe/!e>''s Chro 
nick, 
