Jan. 1, 1900.1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
497 
" SENTIMENTAL " RISES IN COFFEE. 
Says the London Grocer of Cec. 16 :- In their 
circular of the 14th ultimo, Messrs. W. H. Cross- 
man & Bio., of New York, make it appear that 
the recent advance, principally in Brazil enlfee, 
lias been entirely " sentimental "—that is, not 
based on sound and cogent reasons. They, in effect, 
declare tiiat the higher prices established were 
engineered on the reports of bubonic plague in the 
Brazil which, however, was not epidemic, simply 
sporadic; and though it did not interfere with 
receipts or shipments of coffee, yet, for " sentimen- 
tal " purposes, the word " plague '" was deemed 
sufficient, in the absence of actual facts, to pio- 
duce a rallying power in favour of rising m.arkets. 
A further manoeuvre to foster speculation in the 
article was to publish repoits about; Italian 
labourers leaving the Brazils in large num- 
bers," which, as those know who are familiar with 
their ways, is no more than they usually do after 
" the picking of the crop" is over. It also often 
liappens that just as many and even more labour- 
ers of the same class return to the work again 
when the time comes round. Again, the stateme_nt 
that there was a "shortage of labour " is easily 
disproved by the bare fact that as m.any as 
3.600,000 bags of Santos coffee were moved and 
marketed this season with four months. In Mincing- 
lane, -likewise, a leading firm of bfokers last month 
described the feeling in favour of dearer coffee as 
merely one of "sentiment." It must be owned 
that some idea of this sort has had a good deal 
to do with the strong upward movement that 
has sprung up in every branch of the coffee 
trade since September, when prices were at their 
lowest. The firm added— " We cannot forget 
when Brazil coffee was sold from 80s. to 90s., 
and that only two or three years ago 50s. was 
looked upon as a very low ligure ; SSs. 6d. for 
good average Santos now cannot therefore be 
assessed as anything but a very low price, even 
if i*; has been current under exceptional circum- 
stances, at some tew shillings lower." The phrase 
"some few shillings lower" refers undoubtedly to 
the period when a similar kind of coffee was dis- 
posed of in London for September delivery at about 
25s. per cwt., a point at which the most discon- 
tented of " bears," we should think, would be 
satisfied to see the downward tendency cease. 
Since, then, however, it cannot be denied that the 
rise in prices has made good progress, being equal 
to at least 7s. per cwt., and it is not improbable 
tliat, considering the highly speculative character 
of the business in this class of coffee, a fresh start 
forward will be made ere long. Still, it should 
be borne in mind that there is another side 
to the question as to whether the value of -coffee is 
likely to advance or decline, and of that we are 
reminded by Messrs. W H Crossnian & Brother, 
who tells that — " The low value of coffee results 
from over-production. The only real help for gen- 
uine better prices for coffee is diminished produc- 
tion. Up to now prospects of the growing crop in 
Brazil are reported favourable. Not a single ex- 
porter of good standing in Brazil reports the 
slightest doubt of this. On the weight of supplies 
alone coffee values declined to the lowest point, 
but sentiment (say they) soon put them up, and 
this in the face of indications of larger supplies 
next September than ever known before, with the 
1900-1901 ci op, if anything, in excess of the pre- 
sent— which shows positively that over-production 
is in full swing. The trade must remember ' bull ' 
sentiment does not consume coffee, but higher 
prices so created stimtilate production. Values 
finally are not decided by 'sentiment,' but en- 
tirely by supply and den. and. Hnd it is probable 
the present sentimental rise will bring tlie same 
experience that has attended the diUcrent at- 
tempts to lift values artificially during the past 
three years." 
-- - -o- - 
PLANTING EEVIEW FOB 1889. 
( Special.) 
Tea.— Considerably more tea has been 
secured than the amount estimated by the 
Planters' Association in February, 1899. We 
have exported 5,000,100 lb. more than 
estimated to all parts of the world, and we 
have sent about 10,000,0001b. more to United 
Kingdom than last year. The Planters' As- 
sociation ovei'-estimated the exports of tea 
to Russia by two and Australia by one and 
a half millions. In this they erred in good 
company. Messrs. Forbes & Walker 
made the same estimate, and there were 
well-known and smart Colombo merchants 
on the P. A. Committee who made up the 
estimate of exports of tea to other parts 
than the United Kingdom. There are two or 
three reasons given for the Planters' Asso- 
ciation under-estimating the output of 1899. 
Mcinxtriny. — Doubtless a large sum of 
money has been spent in the last eighteen 
months on manure ; and if manin'e is really to 
do us much good, it was botmd to increase the 
exports in l;he last few months of 1899, and 
it will be wise in the Committee of the 
Planters' Association to take into account 
a still greater increase to our exports by 
manuring in 1900, for a second application 
of manure has always a more potent effect 
on the bearing than the first. 
1899 was, taking it all round, a wetter 
season than 1898, and there can be no doubt 
that a good rainfall exerts a very strong 
influence on the flushing of tea bushes. 
Prices. — A terrible dead level has been 
noticeable in 1899 — lowcountry and medium 
levelling up and high country levelling down. 
There are only a few stand-out teas, and the 
outside public cannot judge if these stand- 
out teas result from finer plucking and lower 
yields, or disposing of low grades under another 
mark. Of this we may be certain : manure will 
force out more leaf where the trees naturally 
flush more freely, and that is where teas are 
low priced, being wanting in strength and 
flavour. I do not lose sight of the fact that 
manure will also help the bushes to give 
more leaf in months when the tea bushes 
do not flush freely and yield good cLass teas. 
However, all this extra flush in tea will 
necessitate tea estates having plenty of 
withering room in their factories, and also 
machinery. Is there much inducement 
planters plucking ftner and .sending high 
to grades of tea to the market? 
The first market wire advice received 
from London in ISOO was : " Prices firm 
and steady demand for tea except for 
fine broken pekoes and fine pekoes." What 
are the con's to much increase of tea ship- 
ments in 1900 ? 
Zaboitr.— Plumbago mining and extension 
of railways no doubt will shorten the supply 
of labolU'. You hear already well-kupwjij 
