AiAY 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
759 
INDIAN TEA. 
(CARRITT MOKAN & CO.'S INDIAN TEA MARKET 
REVIEW, SEASON 1902-1903,) 
Calcutta, April 1903.— Season 1902 1903 has 
closed with an actual crop through Calcutta and 
Chittagong of 175 millions, of wiiich shipments to 
the United Kingdom have totalled 1454 millions, 
the corresponding ligures for last year 
were 174| and 153 millions, respectively. 
The quantity sold on the Calcutta market 
totalled 47i millions or 27i% of the crop. 
(iUALITY. 
In respect of quality the crop has been barely 
up to average standard, and taken all round has 
not been eriual to that of last year. Assams have, 
in some measure, been disappointing, at no period 
during the season have they stood above ordinary 
average quality, and like last year the supply of 
good, autumn teas has been small, Cachars & 
Sylhets have, as a rule, been good, Terais fair, 
and Dar jeelings, with the usual exceptions, have 
been attractive. Dooars teas in the early months 
were plain and somewhat indirterent, but towards 
the close of the rains they rapidly improved, and 
this district was fortunate in producing a parti 
cularly good autumn crop which commenced early 
and was consistently desirable until the close. 
From Southern India supplies have again found 
their way to this market in small quantities ; the 
ofierings throughout the season have totalled two 
thousand packages, which have realised an average 
of about 5i annas. The teas have been well-re- 
ceived, considering that they are strangers to this 
market, and also that growers have not yet had 
time or opportunity to study the particular require- 
ments of the trade liere, and produce such types as 
would secure for them a price that would be really 
indicative of the full benefit to be derived on this 
market, where freight and charges are so much 
lower than they have been accustomed to pay. 
MANUFACTURE. 
The system of manufacture, in Travancore more 
especially, seems to be chielly directed towards cup 
character, in which a colory liquor is apparently 
the desideratum, and aimed for consequently at 
much expense of style and appearance. London 
having hitherto been the exclu.sive market, this 
tendency is explained and the teas are doubtless 
right for that centre, In Calcutta, however, much 
importance is attached to make and shape, and 
generally stylish appearance in teas of the same 
level of value, and Travancore teas could un- 
doubtedly be made a great deal more attractive 
than they are with some slight deviation from 
the present recognised system of withering and 
rolling and particularly in respect of sorting also, 
which requires more careful and thorough manipu- 
lation. With these imiJi'oveTuents tln'ie is no 
doubt that the Eastern market, with its variety 
of interests, would give a fair return to producers, 
provided the supply became regular and CDUsi^tent. 
The industry has again been perlinus more 
fortunate than circumspect in producing a moder- 
ate crop"; like last year the weather has played an 
all iniportant part in levelling down supplies, and 
although it canuot be said that there has been 
auy positive tendency to increase the supply at 
the expense of a quality, the impression never- 
theless is that the real check is explaiaed by 
ADVERSE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. 
The effects of weather as affecting su|)- 
ply have been phenomenal ; the cold 
season set in early, and at the same 
time so earnestly that a few days sufhced 
to upset all calculations, and a continued shortage 
became evident as the season grew oliier. The 
local market respoudeJ immediately to the altered 
conditions and prices advanced appreciably and 
steadily from sale to sale. London, however, was 
slow to recognise the changed aspect; it eventually 
broke away from its dead level of value, but 
only for a time, and in spite of a heavy shortage 
in supply, not only from here but also from 
other countries of production, it again set 
back. The sullen and sensitive tone which 
existed in the home market for many weeks, 
difficulty in moving up values, and a non- 
responsive trade generally must at the time have 
been a great disappointment to sellers and pro- 
ductive of serious reflection on their part. 
THE RELATIONS BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS 
in London in the latter months have never been so 
pregnant with suppressed antagonism as indications 
seemed to portray, and in this was probably seen 
the inconsistency of the position of the home trade. 
Sellers, however, have since had the balance all 
in their favour, they have seen their opportunity to 
force the market and have taken advantage of a 
position which though new to them, was assured 
and justifiable. They have had to carry the stocks 
but it has paid them to do so, and it has been no 
burden to them. Buyers have retaliated by 
holding aloof and relying upon hand to 
mouth dealings to see them through, but 
it could not last long enough and they 
were unable to keep pace with consumption, 
At the close of the twelve months therefore 
the producer finds his position strengthened very 
considerably, but it should be recognised as the out- 
come of a short yield and a -etill further deficient 
supply, so far as London is concerned, owing to the 
increased ofltake in Calcutta by new markets. 
These are the factors that have formed the back- 
bone of the seller.s' position, enabling them to 
carefully nurse the home market in a way that 
has not hitherto been experienced in the trade, 
and with results so satisfactory to themselves. 
To producers, the season, though full of en- 
couragement at the close, has again shown 
disappointing results. The position on their side 
is undoubtedly stronger and a brighter future is 
before them, and it is not ditlicult at present for 
them to appreciate both, seeing that the recent 
recovery iu prices has imparted huancial 
encouragement to some slight degree. They 
have, however, been handicapped by climatic 
inlluences which have cut down yield and 
the advance in value has beefi long delayed. 
THE PRODUCERS' POSITION. 
That they have done much to improve their 
position canuot be denied, the improvement 
though acquired is not yet fully apparent but 
will certainly take substantial form in the near 
future. In tire meantime the history of Indian Tea 
for the past two seasoas affords much for contem- 
plation on the part of the grower. On a two years' 
comparison he will recognise thot the supply of 
the United Kingdom has been about right, that 
market having stood two consecutive short crops 
without disturbing the average value to any great 
extent ; at the moment demand ami supply at borne 
