Feb 1, 1900.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
527 
to buyers. In July and August, when quality 
was poor, the quotation ran down fi-om 6|;1 to 5J(3, 
with a very weak market; but quality and prices 
in September began to improve. Kates for fine teas 
were extreme, and Broken Orange Pekoes realised 
Is 3d to Is 8d for the favourite garden marks. A 
good business, with improving prices, ruled up to 
November. Then quality fell off, and up to the end 
of the year there were small nps and downs in leaf 
teas for price, with steady trade and good deliveries. 
By Ceylon circulars we find that the year's crop 
shows an increase of over 7 million lb. America aud 
Russia each tiike 1 million more, and Australia i 
million more, ihe surplus balance being shipped to 
the United Kingdom, but probably nearly a million 
will go overside for transhipment. The last sale of 
the year closes with a very strong tone for price 
tea, the quotation being 6id , against .5Jd last year 
for either Pekoe Souchong or Pekoes. Good liquoring 
Pekoes and Orange Pekoes, however, are, if an\ thing, 
rather lower than last year, say at 7d to 8d, and 
Broken Pekoes look about on a par. Dusts and tan- 
nings are a good Id. dearer, thus showing what a 
run there is on "price" tea. 
Coffee in 1899. — The total receipts of coffee in the 
United Kingdon during the first eleven months of 
the year now closed were 974,070 nwt, in comparison 
with 900,fc50 cwt in 1898 and 720,6U0 cwt in 1897, 
and the only instances where a decrease occurred 
were furnished by Brazil and Central America. 
Although very little Brazil coffee reaches this conn- 
try, most of it goii g to other European ports and 
the United States, it none the less exercises the 
greatest influence on the world's markets, when the 
crops in Rio and Santos come to be considered ; 
and the strongest movements, which are speculative, 
are regulated entirely by what happens in connection 
with the production of coffee in the Brazils. This, 
in 1898, proved to be the largest on record, embrac- 
ing 11,332,000 bags, as contrasted with 8,942,000 bags 
in 1897 and 5,969,000 bags in 1896. 'ihe effect of 
this enormously big crop has been to overwhelm the 
coiJee market everywhere, and almost throughout 
1899 a downward tendency has existed. 
Mocha Coffee. — In a recent report the American 
Consul at Aden discusses a statement which is fre- 
quently made, and which has been repeated quite 
recently, thi.t no genuine Mocha coffee reaches 
the European or American markets from the Arabian 
ports. The Consul says this statement is quite 
erroneous, for the books of his own Consulate at Aden 
and rf the Consular Agency at Hodeida show that 
over 5, 000,0001b of Moch i coffee were invoiced from 
these places to the United States last year not to 
speak of the quantity sent to Europe. But it is said 
that though nominally shipped from Arabian ports, 
it is really coffee grown elsewhere, and then shipped 
to Aden to be reshipped as Mocha. This suggestion 
is also erroneous, as appears from a letter Jrom the 
British authorities at Aden on the subject. It is true 
that parcels of coffee from Java, Singapore, and other 
places landed in Aden, but according .to the ol£ -ial 
communication above mentionfd, these parcels are 
bonded in the warehouses of !he owners nt ?\faalla, 
and the key lodged in the trade registration depart- 
ment. "When the owner desires to export, a peon 
of the department is sent with the key to count the 
bags and bring them to the wharf, fis the merchant 
or owner can have no access to his goods unless 
accompanied by the peon of the department, the tra nsfer 
of the inferior bean to Aden for mixing with that 
of Mocha or Harrar is hardly possible." The Consul 
adds that an examination of the- Customs authori- 
ties' reports show that foreign coffees are promptly 
re-exported toother ports, being landed at Aden for 
transhipment only; while the precautions in Turkish 
Arabia to prevent mixing are equally stringent. No 
doubt Mocha coffee is mixed with inferior beans in 
Europe and sold as genuine Mocha, but it is hardly 
possible that an importer buying in an Arabian port 
could get anything but ^genuine Mocha or Harrar 
coff'ce. — ll. C. Mail, Jan. 5. 
CEYLON PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION. 
ESTIMATE OF TEA CROP ,1900. 
At the last meeting of the Phmters' 
Association Coumiittee, a huge amount of 
business was got through, but it is not 
necessary here to do more than indicate 
the main points. The tea crop for the 
current year is estimated ac 138,000,000 lb. 
of which 108 millions will go to the United 
Kingdom and the rest to Russia, Australia, 
America and other countries. A suggestion 
was made by the Chamber of Connnerce that 
the grant to America should be reduced and 
greater attention paid to the continent, bub 
the allocation having been already made 
and intimated to our Commissioner no action 
can be taken in this direction at present. 
We thoroughly agree with the Chamber that 
there is very large scope for our energies on 
the continent and we li're confident that much 
good will remit from the labours of Mr. 
Renton there as well as from the Paris 
Exhibition where Governmant is to incur ex- 
penditure amounting to £3,477 on account 
of the tea industry. We hope Government 
will see its way to adopt the suggestion as 
to adorning the first-class railway carriages 
with photographs depicting the tea industry. 
As was to be expected a hearty vote of 
thanks was passed to H.E. the Governor 
for securing the appointment of a mycologist, 
and we hope that when they next meet 
they may have the pleasure of passing a 
similar compliment upon the appointment 
of Mr. KelwayBamber as agricultural chemist 
for the Colony. Mr. Wilkinson — has been 
in communication with the Committee on 
the subject of Labour Supply and he has 
been informed that there is work available 
on estates for no fewer than 50,000 coolies. 
The present is considered a favourable time 
for recruiting from the Coast and we have 
no doubt employers of labour will make a 
note of the fact and act upon the hint. 
The Committee are prepared to substantiate 
the allegations which have been made re- 
garding short, delivery of goods on the 
railway. If the General Manager meets 
tiiem in conference as requested, a better 
understanding may be arrived at and steps 
taken to avoid future annoyance in this 
respect. Other subjects considered were fire 
insurance rates, the prevention of cattle 
disease, the inadequacy of the batta allowed 
to witnesses attending the Supreme Court 
Sessions (to consider which a sub committee 
has been appointed); a proposal by Mr. 
Borrett (deferred at present) that an ordi- 
nance should be drafted for the purpose of 
checking abuses that at present prevail in 
connection with promissoi'y notes ; the 
duties and powers of hospital visitors ; and 
the opening of the Victoria Commemora- 
tion Buildings which His Excellency the 
Governor has been asked to perform on the 
17th February. The objects of the Society 
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 
have been approved, and the Ceylon Nurses' 
