V34 
THE TEOPICAl; AGRICULTURIST. 
[May 1, 1903. 
thi6 description of tea. The .manufacture of , this 
variety has materially increased siuc-e the date of our 
last Annual Circular-, and though it mubt still be 
considered to a certain extent as experimental, there 
is every reason to congratulate planters on the suc- 
cess which this latest phase of their enterprise and 
energy has met with. The true Green teas, manu- 
factured for the first time this year, are especially 
to be commended, and appear to us to compare most 
favourably with coloured Japans. It is open to 
question whether the substantial increase in the 
out-turn of Green tea, estimated variously at from 
10 to 15 million lbs., contemplated this season is not 
too great, but there can be little doubt that the high 
rates ruling at present for Japan and China Greens, 
which, as far as Japan ia concerned, are likely to be 
maintained, owing to the advance in the value of 
labour following the development of manufacturing 
industries in that country, afford a most favourable 
opportunity for a successful assault upon the Ameri- 
can and Canadian markets, by supplying an equally 
good article at a more reasonable price. 
Packing. — Both wood and lead have occasionally 
left a good deal to be desired during the past year. 
The U8e of chests made of unsuitable or unseasoned 
wood has been responsible for a good deal of deterior- 
ation in values, butio the incroascd use of thin lead 
is probably due the " woodincss" which has marred 
the flavour of many a good tea. The economy 
practL■^ed in the use of "two-ounce" lead is, we 
think, false, as in the case of good and fine qualities 
the particular point and flavour is often so neutra- 
lised that a loss of Id. per lb. in Value may easily 
result. 
Our list of Estates this year gives the quantity sold 
in Public Sale and average price realised of 550 
marks : a good deal of tea was again disposed of 
privately but not to the same extent as in 1901, when 
the agitation in favour of imreported sales was, for 
a time, in force. The chief feature to note is the 
rather better value generally realised for low-grown 
tea, despite the low rates ruling for this class during 
the summer and early autumn. With the exception 
of DiMBULA, which averaged exactly the same figure 
as in 1901, viz., 8-25d. per Ih., high grown teas 
generally sold at a rather lower range, and the large 
proportion of medium tea also shewed some irregu- 
larity. Owing to the development of the Uva side 
of the island— Badulla in particular— this group of 
districts shews a considerable expansion in yield, and 
it is very satisfactory to note that this expansion 
Was accompanied by a substantial advance in the 
average realised. 
Iilslimated relative Yield and Average Price realised for the difierent Ceylon Tea Districts, 
compiled from the Public Auctions held in London between January 1st and December 31st, 1902: — 
Uda Posselawa , 
DiMBULA 
Newara Elita, •& Maturata 
DiKOYA 
Haputale 
Bogawantalawa 
Maskbliya 
Uva 
Hewaheta 
Pdsselawa, Koxmale, Pundaloya & 
Ramboda .. ■. 
Ambegamuwa and Lower Dikoya 
Knuckles, Kallebokka &Rangale.., 
Matale and Hunasgeria.. 
DoLosBAGE and Yacdessa. 
Kaduqanawa 
Kalutaba, Ajiblangoda & Udagama... 
•Kel-ani Valley and Kegalla 
SABARAOAMP WA 
NlLAM*E and Hantane 
Av. Price 
Av. Price 
Av. Price 
per lb. 
per lb. 
per lb. 
1902. 
about 
1901. 
about 
1900. 
about 
lbs. about 
1902. 
lbs. about 
1901. 
lbs. about 
1900. 
2,500,000 
8-55d. 
2,200,960 
8 90d. 
* 
16,000,000 
8-25 
19,825,000 
8-25 
18,250,000 
8-7od, 
2,-215,000 
7-85 
2,350,000 
8-00 
4,500,000 
9-10 
5,000,000 
7-50 
5,950,000 
7-50 
6,000,000 
8 00 
3,000,000 
7-20 
3,45'i,000 
7-00 
3,250,000 
7-90 
.3,650,000 
715 
4,250,000 
7-50 
4,500,000 
7-90 
3,500,000 
6-95 
4,100,000 
6-50 
4,000,000 
7-45 
9,100,000 
6'90 
6,750,000 
6'00 
6,750,000 
6-90 
1,950,000 
6-65 
2,350,000 
6-50 
2,500,000 
6-90 
8,750,000 
6-50 
8,300,000 
6-75 
8,500,000 
7-00 . 
2,700,000 
6 35 
2,900,000 
G-25 
3,500,000 
6-60 
2,950,000 
6-30 
3,950,000 
6-15 
4,750,000 
6-35 
6,900,000 
6 05 
5,700,000 
6 25 
5,750,000 
6-85 
4,150,000 
6'i 5 
4,700,000 
5-75 
6,000,(00 
6-20 
2,150,000 
6- 0 
2,000,000 
5-90 - 
2,500,000 
6-40 
2,550,0 10 
5-95 
3,250,000 
6-25 
3,000,000 
6-25 
8,500,1 00 
5'90 
8,800,000 
5-65 
10,0f0,o00 
6-10 
1,850,000 
5-90 
1,550,000 
6-00 
1,750,000 
6-55 
3,750,000 
5-8) 
3,350,000 
6-25 
2,500,000 
6-40 
Sutka invoices on Gardsn Account, only are included in <jhe above estimate. 
'■■ UcA PussELAWA Was grouped with N. Ei,iya iii lOOO. 
