April 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
707 
UNFERJIENTKD TEAS. 
Some saciples ef nnfermented or Oolong teas made 
in India were pent to ine early in the year. They were 
found EO snitable for the market, and firms were so 
ready to give immediate large orders, that I have 
had to revise the opinion I formerly had as to the 
impossibility of Indian gardens preparing suitable 
teas of this class. I now believe that there are cer- 
tain districts in India where Oolong teas of a 
character to command ready sale can be made, and 
that if such teas are produced, there is practically no 
limit to the business that could be done. I have dealt 
with this matter at length in another place, so will 
confine myself here to adding a warning, so that the 
same stumbling block which our black teas encounter 
every day may be avoided. I refer to the 
INEQUALITY OF THE TEA TEADE. 
It does not appear to matter what tea finds favour 
here, as soon as one lot of it is sold, and orders are 
ready for more of exactly the same tea, there seems 
an impossibility of supplying them. In filling the 
repeat orders the leaf or liquor, or both, differ from 
the original, and there is no firm in business cn this 
market which will guarantee to duplicate any 
given sample of tea exactly. This is one of the most 
serious obstacles to the expansion of the trade. 
More than two years ago I urged careful considera- 
tion being given to the question of blending teas in 
Calcutta for this market as the one possible means of 
supplying a standard article. Now that there is a 
question of manufacturing a special tea, I feel it my 
duty to make this point very clear, as the success of 
the enterprise will depend in a great measure on 
sopplyiug exactly the tea ordered — not a tea which 
resembles it, or which may even be thought better. 
The experience of what was done in the London 
market cannot be taken as a guide, conditions being 
different. If a tea (black or green) is found acceptable 
here, means should be found to supply that identical 
article. The cost of holding the tea and blending 
until the standard is reached will not be lost. 
GENKEAL. 
The year 1898 will long be remembered as an ex- 
ceptional one by the tea trade of America. The 
period under review was marked by the war with 
Spain which necessitated the taxation of tea as a war 
measure. The imposition of duty having been threat- 
ened in the previous year, and being withdrawn in 
the face of the objection of its undue incidence on the 
poor man, came as a surprise to the trade, and caught 
it quite unprepared. The only tea it was possible to 
rush in before the act became law was that in the Cana- 
dian market, whence a fair quantity was drawn. There 
was a sudden bocm in prices and a great deal of tea 
changed hands, but witn the imposition' of duty the 
merchants cabled to China and Japan cancelling 
buying ordeis and a long period of great depression 
ensued. During the previous season the new Tea 
Act had become law nuder which certain standards 
of tea were selected and much inferior rubbish 
heretofore finding a ready market here was kept out. 
The action of the law had been to reduce the imports 
of the previous season, and the imposition of a duty 
of 10 cents per lb, added to the impossibility of im- 
porting cheap teas, still the retailers would not pay 
•n enhanced price and business came to a standstill. 
It was then found that there were quantities of tea 
left over from previous seasons which had been looked 
upon as unsaleable, and some of which had been 
stored in this country over 20 years. The novel 
conditions placed a premium on the antique rubbish, 
valued previous to the passing of the duty, at 
say tour cents per lb. It was dragged forth once 
more into the light of day and sold at prices 
ranging np to 20 cents per lb. The stocks held all 
over the country proved a surprise to the trade, 
and it is only now that they are getting exhausted. 
What these stocks must have been can be gathered 
from the fact that, although the importations of all 
teas into this country since the let of .June to the 
80th NoTember ware approximately 40 million lb., 
til* amount of t%% which has paid daty, or in other 
words has been put upon the market, was only 12 
million lb., approximately, in the same period. I am 
unable to quote the figures for December, inclusive, 
as they have not so far been p:jblished. With the 
trade in this condition, the sales of India and 
Ceylon tea have of course snffered, tiut less I think 
than those from other countries. The fact that any 
India and Ceylon tea has b»en sold speaks highly 
for the vitality of the demand which has'hoen rreated 
for them. It must be borne in mind that China 
and Japm manufacture a distinct class of tea for 
sale to America alone, and wliicli hai no sale else- 
where. These teas once manufrtctuved must come 
here, there being no other market for them, and 
once here have to be sold, even at great loss, to 
meet bank obligations and so on. India and Ceylon 
teas have other markets, and are imported only to 
meet actual or anticipated demand,' and can be 
diverted to other markets. Under the circumstances, 
it is a matter of some surprise to me that so much 
business has been done in them during the last 
disastrous six monthF, There is an arf.ifioial de- 
mand for the packet Indian and Ceylon, created 
purely by advertising ; and it is within ray knowledge 
that the past year has been quite un to the average 
with the packet tea fii-ms ; iudeed,"some of them 
have doue quite well, and even extended their 
business. Now that stocks are approaching exhaus- 
tion, I look very confidently forward to a widespread 
and lasting dernand for tea from all pirts of the 
country. Stocks must be renewed, and though the 
fear remains that the duty may be remo°ed at 
any time, and will curtail orders to actual re- 
quirements, the market will gain by the steady de- 
maud this method of doing business will bring 
about, and will be saved the uubealfchy effects of 
a sudden boom. Conditions point to our gaining mor« 
than our due share of business, as the crop of 
China and Japan i^ estimated to be at least six 
million lb. short of last year, to v^'hich has to be 
added the rejections, which will be at least another 
million lb. If my estimate of the position is at all 
accurate, it appears to me that an unusually large 
quantity will have to be drawn from other markets 
before new season's China and Japan come in. Be- 
fore closing this report, I have to record considerable 
more activity on the part of the advertisers of Jaiit.n 
tea. AVith the commencement of the new year 
they have, I understand, made contracts for q iite' 
an extensive scheme of advertising, some of which 
is already in evidence.— I am, sir, yours faithfully, 
{SignedJ EICHARD BLECHYNDEN. 
TEA IN AMERICA. 
New York, Feb. 15. 
Note the very light imports for 1893 and we have 
sufficient reason for the very firm market. The tea 
duty and the Inspection Act, have combined to re- 
lieve importers of low grade tea held here for years. 
Recent sales cover 3,500 packages, Black■^, at full 
figures. 
The imports of tea for the year 1898, are reported 
by the LI. S. Bureau of Statistics for 1898, compare 
with those for 1897 as follows : — 
From 
Japan 
China 
United Kingdom 
East Indies 
British North Amsrica 
Quantity Value 
lbs. Dollars. 
30,92:3,813 4,103,121 
30,5!>1,.5(16 4,0tj.-i,H5 
2,5H7:i;71 506,.'i54 
1,976.968 298,199 
1,4.37,772 226,406 
Other Asia and Oceanica 1,327,15G 13. 166 
Other Countries , , 9.077 •2,39.t 
Total imports 1898 ... 68.803,963 9.."<1 J,97« 
1897 ... 99,708,133 13,Mo,080 
The above shows that Japan fnrnished 45 per cent of 
the total imports ; China, 44'4 per cent — Amra'ca^ 
Grocer 
