May 1, 1903.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
701 
it probable that between 1^- and 2 millions have 
to be thus accounted for which will further im- 
prove the foregoing Ogures. At the same time 
it is probable that a certain quantity eveiitu- 
allj finds its way to London where it hat- 
possibly been intercepted on its way elsewhere. 
The following tif;ures show the ratio between 
exports to foreign markets from Calcutta and sales 
on the local market. The total is 62| per cent 
of the ofi'erings compared with 44£ last year. 
1902- 1901- 190a- 1899" 
1903. 1902. 1901. 1900 
mills, mills, mills, mills, 
of Caloutta sales .. 47^ 46J 492 50 
Shi ^ cent. cent. V cent. V cent, 
^f'pments to Colonies .. 12 l8i 2U 16^ 
is pmentB to America .. 19i 4f 9 12 
ipments to other markets 30| 2li 20 15| 
GREE.\ TEAS. 
The past year has seen a definite start made 
in the manufacture of green teas and in respect of 
value these types have, as a rule, compared favour- 
ably with ordinary blacks from the same garden. 
A fair quantity has been made, totalling about 1}^ 
million pounds, and in the Calcutta market f 
million pounds liave changed hands at an average 
of Si annas per pound. Consistent and regular sup- 
plies have been received from the following gard-?ns: 
— Manabarrie, Moheema, North Western Cachar, 
Longview and Kolbong, and occasional invoices 
have come forward from Holta and East India 
(Cachar) ; in addition to these sundry lots of a ten- 
tative nature hav2 been seen bub they have been of 
no service for gauging comparative values of greens 
against blacks, the breaks having been small, in 
many cases single chests or half chests only. As a 
test of style and character they have hov.'ever been 
useful, but in regard to price, to obtain a true com- 
parison of probable results of manufacture of each 
type, it is necessary to conduct the tiial on market 
lines and put fair-sized breaks before the trade, 
The class of green tea chiefly produced has been 
the unfinished type, which has met a ready 
demand for certain outlets. But in this state 
other markets that required finished types have 
not had opportunity to interest themselves, a few 
small lots only having appeared spontaneously, 
but these have also been good and have been 
well spoken of in the terminal market. The pro- 
cess of converting the unfinished into pure finished 
types has now been introduced and has proved 
successful ; it is simple and effective and the 
finishing is done at small extra cost. During 
the ensuing season arrangements will probably 
be made for finishing teas in Calcutta, which 
can be availed of either by sellers or buyers. 
The duty question has once more formed the sub- 
ject of an appeal to the Home Government, and the 
Tea Association have asked the powers on this side 
to use their inliuence in suppor^. Twelvemonths 
ago the industry was disturbed to some extent in 
expectation of the possibility oi an increased im- 
post, which happily did not occur ; this year antici- 
pated legislation has also had some eiiict on the 
markets, but in a difl'erent direction, dealings for 
some time past having been controlled by the 
prospect of a reduction in duty which is generally 
considered reasonable and fair. The Indian Tea 
Association are to be congratulated on the success 
tbey have achieved in the direction of instituting a 
compulsory tax on all exports, similar to that 
which has been in existence in Ceylon since 189.3. 
There are many ways in which the object of 
the bill can be attained, all of which, it may be 
assured, will receive the Ccuefiil attention ot the 
special Committee to be appointed to deal with the 
funds ; one of the most important, liowevei', is 
in connection with the manufacture of green tea, 
and the opportunity aflbrded to induce freer sup- 
plies. Ceylon gi anted bonuses to producers of 
green tea last year to tiie extent of about R2,50.000; 
the supply increased almost 2J, millions during that 
period. 
That more attention will be given to green 
tea in India seems probable, but at the .=anie 
lime there is some hesitation in taking up and 
providing for its manufacture. This is to he 
understood, as in the present state of the 
industry producers do not see their v.ay to 
increase their outlay by the cost of additional 
and necessary machinery, and to em Lark on 
a new enterprise without having some induce- 
ment which, as in the case of Ceylon, might 
take the form ot a bonus. It would, of course, be 
unwise for any garden to allow a return of this 
nature to have any bearing in estimating possible 
results of the manufacture of greens, it siiould be 
ignored altogether, and a self-supporting b.isis 
only considered ; what is required is iiidacemcnL 
at the start, and provision against the possibility of 
unfavourable results during tlie experiment a! ages. 
A bonus would supjily this want. The maiinfacture 
of greens in India would not have been stai uil \:\>\. 
year had it not been the Association's bonus that 
originally icducid it ; the American and Canadian 
markets can take greens freely, and if India does 
not make them she cannot hope to push her trade 
with these centres to any appreciable extent. Cey- 
lon in the meantime is making rapid strides in this 
direction, and she will capture those outlets to her 
exclusive advantage unless India; if she wants a 
share of the trade, is placed on the same footing. 
In anticipating the ensuing season events during 
the past year furnish useful indications. Kecent 
incidents are full of significance in respect of the 
course of the home market which promises to be 
an extremely sensitive one. The movements of 
exports from this end, which will be carefu'ly kept 
in view, and the handling of supplies in London, 
which will be cautiously followed, will be the chief 
factors in determining the value of lea. At the 
moment the producer's position is strong and his 
prospects good, better than they liave been for 
•some years ; home consumption is free, stocks 
light, (they will probably be abnormally low in 
July next) and buyers cany no burden in the 
shape of dear tea and difticulty in moving it. 
To maintain their position and further improve 
it, the producers' policy is clearly suggested in 
keeping the crop within reasonable limits, and in 
being fully alive to the ceiiainty of a return to 
starvation prices as a result of the taking of any 
liberties in the dirtction of supply. The recent 
bed rock level of value has in some measure 
influenced better and less tea, but there is 
no disguising the fact that weather has been 
the prime mover. At this juncture it would be 
ex remely unwise if the recent advance 
in value should be met by converse working, 
and reflected in a freer system of plucking, 
the drawbacks of which may be further aggravated 
by weather favourable to yield. The interests 
of growers and selleis being identical, the latter 
will realise from the pasi year.-' experience the 
advantages derived by leedini.' the market 
