THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Maroh 1. 1899. 
lb. and this onrplus stock had, of coarse, to be held by 
the niiiiket nntil supplies grew moie moderate. The 
old firms had been accustomed to hold the smaller 
stocks of earlier days, but their resouices had not 
grown with the expansion of the business, and in the 
last few years there has been a f^iealer tendency to 
push the stock on the market when the conditions 
were unfavourable. Huyers, knowing the weak state 
of the market, did not come forward and took as little 
as poi^sible in order to gain every advantage from 
forced sales. There is a limit to this state of affairs, 
and the creation of a number of joint-stock sellers cf 
tea is helping to improve matters. These large deal- 
ers with their numerous shops find it advantageous 
to buy in cou.siderable quantities and as direct fiom 
the growers as possible. Their resources enable them 
to carry their shocks for some time, an<l as their 
number iucreases the competition when prices are de- 
pressed tends to grow. So far this new order of things 
has not had much effect, but prices have improved a 
good deal of late and it is huped that the development 
of competition among buyers may strengthen the 
market for Indian teas. Ceylon teas do not suffer fiom 
the sanis cause, except sj mpa'lhetically, as the produce 
from the island comes in fairly regularly each month, 
and at no time do shipments exceed delivery to any 
great extent. 
TEA IN (iERMANY. 
Stinsford, Veyangoda, Feb. 12. 
Dear Sir,--I append a literal translation of ari 
article appearing; in the " Cheinnilzer Taf^eljlatt" 
of tlie IGtli Dec. 1898. Tliinkin;,' it may prove 
of interest to your readers. — Iain, deai sir, yours 
truly, li. M- ECKERi'. 
{Copy.) 
CONSUMPTION OF TKA, COCOA AND COl'FKH 
IN GERMANY. 
While in former days the consumption of tea and 
cocoa in Germany, was liruited to a sm.ill section of 
the population, it has with the ailvance of time, ex- 
tended to larger circles and today its cousumptiou 
extends over a large area. 
Different is the case with coffee, which was long 
ago a wellkuown drink in Germany and could there- 
fore not have increased in the sume proportion as tea 
and cocoa. All these three products are inip' rted from 
foreign countries and the consumption can thus easily 
be authenticated by a reference to the Customs returns. 
As to Tea. — lu 1863, 741 tons were imported into 
Germany, whilst in 1897, 2,.')52 tons were im- 
ported. "We have therefore during the last 35 
years increased the imports by nearly three-fold. 
This continuous rise was only interrupted during 
the years 1879 80, owing to the increase of (?uty from 
40 to 100 marks per 100 kilograms, importers getting 
in as much stock as possible before the 7th July, 
1879, the date when tne new Tariff charges came 
into force, and which naturally resulted in a con- 
siderable decrease of the article during the follow- 
ing twelve months. The export of tea from Germany 
is naturally very small, in comparison with the quan- 
tity imported. lu 1897 the total being only six tons ! 
The maximum exported was in 1892 when a total of 
twelve tons was reached. 
Cocoa.— This article shows a very much larger in- 
crease than in the case of tea. In 1862 only 918 tons 
(cured and uncured) were imported, while in 1897 the 
total reached 15,473. An increase of sixteen-fold ! The 
export was originally smUl and during the last few 
years has ceased altogether, the consumption being 
entirely local. Cocoa has a special interest for Ger- 
mans, as of late years it has been largely cultivated 
in our German- African Colonies, whence the export to 
the mother-country, has been steadily increa5ed. The 
imports in 1893 being 2G-3 tons as against 78'7 in 1897. 
Coffee. — With reference to the consumption of this 
pi'oJuct, our Custom House Returns show that the 
Imports of raw and mixed coffee (excepting chicoryj 
were 76,979 tons in lfe07, whilst during 1897 the 
total reached i:-J6,39.0 tons. Coffee oiigiuully «aj 
largely consumed, whilst tea Aud cacao " »eie 
almost unknown articles. The former b&e however 
steadily increased though not in the proportion to 
the two lat'.i-r articles. - the 6giir<-s leading : <o(f e, 
under two folde, tea three folds, and cocva JUfold. The 
export of raw coffee has conijid.-rabl.r decreased in 
latter yeais, the maximura reached being 5'i tons in 
1888, whilst in 1897 only 14 tons were exported, "i'he 
following table showd the imports of coffee from our 
African Colonies : 
in 1889 51 0 tons 1892 137 2 tons 1895 9-6 tons 
1890 16.'') 0 „ 1»93 8 7 „ 11596 4C 0 ,. 
1891 1832 „ 1894 7 5 „ 18J7 47 8 „ 
In comparison with the import of the above aitic!e«, 
it will be seen, from the rigures quoted below, ttat 
tlie consumption shows a steady iucn^a-e, viz : 
TEA, ;0C0A, COFFEK, IN KILCCRAMS. 
1865 0 02 00:i 1 «7 per head. 
lH7t;.80 0 03 0 05 2-33 
ls96 0 05 0 23 2-46 
1897 0-05 027 2-53 „ 
We therefore see. that during ibe last 36 year* 
the consumption of tea, shows an increase of 2^ f<^dd, 
that of cocoa nine fold, whilst coffee with iu fluctua- 
tions now shows an increase of 35 pi.'r cent. Conn del - 
ing that tea and coffee are supposed to b bent licikl 
to the health of the popuhice, if consumed in limitec 
quantities only, as against cacoa with its nutritivo 
properties its increased consumption ma.-<t be en- 
cjuruging. — This article, in iho future, will be Gf 
special interest, as it is largely cultivated in our otrn 
Colonies. 
FRUIT IMPORTEU FROM VICTORIA. 
Colombo, Feb. 15. 
Dk.\r Sir, —In pur.suaiice of our letter of 
Dee(.'inber 27, re " The (lanj,'er of Insei-t peftt 
heinfi intioduced into Cej-loii by the importation 
of fruit from Australia," we have picHMiiie in 
enclosing; for your pertisal (and publication if 
desirable) a letter received from I lie Hon. the 
Mini.ster of Airricullure, Melbourne, in wbicli lie 
assures 11."^ that every care will be taken to allow 
of only t,'ood and sound fruit being exported troni 
the Colony of Victoria. 
" The Expoi ted I'rodiicts Act " referred to, is 
very stringent in the measures adopted for 
inspection ami super* ision of exports. 
We nay aihl our Mnlhouriie lirm are specially 
careful in selectinj; only the best fruits for our 
trade in Ceylon. — \Vc are, dear sir, yours 
faithfully. W. THOMPSON ^: to. 
Melbourne, Jan. 30. 
Mcssi-s. W. Thompson & Co., 6 York St., Colombo. 
Gentlemen, — I beg to acknowledge receipt of your 
comojunication of the 2nd ir.st., and to enclose for 
your information copies ot the Veget.ition Distasis 
Act and the Exported Products Act, w hich have re- 
cently have been pa.ssed by the Legislature of this 
Colony, the former providing for fffectively dealing 
with fruit pests and diseases ia the orchard, itc, and 
the latter for the examination for fruit and other perish- 
able products by Government Inspectoi s bffore sliip- 
ment, with power to reject such as may not be 
deemed satisfactory. 
These measures are being vigorously enfirced and 
should afford gurantee to cor.niries dealing in 
Victorian products that every effort is made to ensure 
that products exported from ths Colony shall be in 
all respects sound and in good condition. 
I also forward copies of the ''Argus" and the 
" Age," newspapers of the 2,ith inst., containing re- 
fers ces to your letter. I have the honour to be 
gentlemen. — Your obedient servant, 
J. W. TARVERNER, Minister of Agricu:tare. 
