MAY 1, 1903.1 THE TROnCAl; 
GEORGE WHITE & COS ANNUAL 
TEA REPORT. 
{Extracted- ) 
London, 31, Fenchuieh Street," E C, March, 1903. 
When jnst a year ago we ventured in our 
Annual Report to dwell on tlie gradually improv- 
ing prospects, it seemed scarcely possible that the 
hope then put forward of better times could be so 
quickly realised. As it is, owing to a variety of 
causes, some of which could not have been fore- 
seen, the tea trade has within the last few months 
attained a measure of health and general sound- 
ness on which it may well be congratulated. The 
Clearing House dispute wliieh arose in September 
for scnio time demoralised the trade, and no doubt 
retarded the development of the situation. On 
the other hand, had it not then occurred, more of 
the crop would have been quitted on the lower 
level of value, as during the dispute every day was 
adding to the strength of the position, owing to 
the reception of confirmatory cables of the shortage 
and the eventual result was combined action on 
the part of sellers. The chief causes of the altered 
situation are to be found, first inthe crop falling far 
short of expectations, and secondly in the marked 
expansion in the demand for the British-grown 
article, especially in America, Canada and Russia, 
and also in less degree, to the displacing of black 
by green tea particularly in Ceylon. 
CEYLON. 
Participates with India in the greatly im- 
proved position above referred to. Similar agen- 
cies have been at work, viz.:— a stationary out- 
put and largely increased shipments to markets 
other than the United Kingdom, together with a 
very appreciable displacement of black by green 
tea. In both cases the recent removal of the 
import tax in America has had a very stimulating 
effect on business with that country. Quality.— 
Has been a good average, if not quite reaching 
the unusual excellence of the preceding year. 
Really fine high-grown tea has throughout been 
comparatively scarce and where the standard was 
fully maintained good prices resulted; on the other 
hand when it has just been missed the shrinkage 
in value even in well known marks has been very 
apparent, as buyers when dealing in high cost tea 
are extremely sensitive. It is satisfactory to note 
that really low common, no doubt largely due to 
the increased niannf.actnre of green tea in the 
lower districts, has again been practically elimi- 
nr.ted from shipments to London and the supply 
in the inferior grades ha<=, on the whole, been of a 
useful description. Possibly it is in a measure 
owing to this that the difTerence in value looked 
for between tea grown on the higher and lower 
levels has often been disappointing to owners of 
the former, who ha--e not the advantage of a large 
outturn per acre. 
Statistical Position.— Altlion,s;h during 1902 
iliere was a falling off in the deliveiics of some 
7 million lb, partially accounted for by the reduced 
imports, the stock of 19| millions on .Slsfi 
December as against 6S;j Indian shows the 
situation as relatively stronger. Shipments to 
United Kingdom for the past year totalled lOSi 
millions, or a decrease of nearly 8^ com pn red 
with 1901, while the estimate for the current 
season is only 96 million lb, 
95 
AGRICULTUIUST. ' 757 
For the twelve months the following on Estate 
Account pa.ssfd the hammer in Loudon : — 
1902. 1901. 1900. 
1,012,100 pkgs. 1,059,800 pkgs. 1,125,100 pkgB. 
(Av. 6idper lb.) (Av. 7d per lb.) (Av. Vgd per lb.) 
PROSPECTS. 
With the steady progress that is being made in 
all consuming countries the necessity of keeping 
supply from outstripping consumption appears to 
be the one thing needful to ensure a continuance of 
the brighter outlook now before us, and on looking 
back at the crops under reference it is a good omen 
to see, that judging from the average quality, there 
would appear to have been a praiseworthy disposi- 
tion not to sacrifice the success achieved when our 
last Annual was issued, and we would venture to 
refer to the exhaustive remarks then made on this 
important subject. Formerly a somewhat curious 
phase of the industry has apparently been that no 
sooner had a better position been built up than 
every possible means were taken to demolish it, 
for instance, a remunerative price for common tea 
being the general signal for indiscriminate plucking, 
the obvious result being an eventual slump in values. 
"Climatic causes " have once again proved to 
be a trnsty friend in disguise, as, to judge from 
unoHicial estimates of the crop put forward in 
some quarters last spring, had the season been 
more favourable for flushing, our congratulations 
today would be more modified. We do not sug- 
gest that growers would have again fallen into the 
fatal and long felt error of 1900, when prudence 
was cast to the winds, and aided in that instance 
by the weather, the competition to produce 
quantity at any cost, resulted in a crop out of 
all proportion to requirements and upset for a 
long while the important relations of supply and 
demand. The danger cannot be said to have 
altogether passed and we would urge upon those 
interested in the industry to adopt such a policy 
that the measure of prosperity now attained may 
be in no fear of being dissipated. The outlook is 
undoubtedly one of great promise and the 
temptation to mar it by a system of coarse 
plucking is bound to have its attractions. We 
cannot conclude this subject better than by 
saying " Remember 1900." In this relation the 
labour question has become a most important 
factor when considering the contingency of an 
unduly large crop, as even given the rare ex- 
perience of a weather being favourable throughout 
all the districts to abnormally free growth, it is 
impossible to take the leaf without a corre- 
spondingly increased force of coolies, and this, 
under existing conditions, is apparently not 
available. These remarks more e.^pecially refer to 
India, but Ceylon is not exempt from troubles in 
this direction. 
MANUFACTUP.E. 
Instead of any endeavour being made to suit a 
perhaps momentary feature of the demand, whioli 
may have disappeared ere the Tea made to meet 
it has been shipped, we commend each garden to 
adopt the system wbich has been found best suited 
to its soil and surroundings, and so afford a varied 
supply, rather than all following a geneial policy, 
be it that of coarse, medium, or fine l iucking. On 
the average of seasoi.s this will be found to give 
the best re.•^ult. Uniforu)ity in leaf and liquor is 
to be aimed at, as buyers will always then folio*- 
a mark to its advantage. 
