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THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
IAppji. 1,1899. 
CEYLON TEA IN 1898. 
This mail brings us the annual Report of 
Messrs. Wilson, Smithett & Co., entitled 
" Ceylon Tea Memoranda for 1898." Pend- 
ing its publication in full, we may call at- 
tention to some of its more salient features 
and we are glad to see that these are so 
favourable to the prospects of om- planting 
community. For instance, at the outset, this 
Well-known Mincing Lane Firm with their large 
experience, express the belief "that the bed- 
rock of value has at length been struck, 
and that wc may look forward in the future 
to a greater stability of the market and to 
less nervous apprehension with regard to 
over-supply. A period seems to have arrived 
When production is not likely to increase to 
a gi-eater extent than the expansion in the 
new markets will be able to jirovide for." 
It had been previously shown that the average 
price for Ceylon tea in 1898 was practically 
the same as in 1897. On garden account, 
the teas sold worked out an average of 
7-78d last year, against 7-83d in 1897 and 
8'21d in 189C. "Home consumption" of 
Ceylon tea in the United Kingdom fell 
shortly 3 million lb., due entirely to restricted 
shipments from Colombo to London. On the 
other hand the re-exports last year amounted 
to 11*7 per cent of the total delivei-ies against 
lO'l per cent in 1897 ; but the gi-eat expansion, 
of covirse, took place in the direct trade 
from Ceylon to other countries than Great 
Britain. As to the quality during 1898, the 
report is that it Avas fully up to the 
average ; while dm'ing last autunm a 
really high level was reached for a 
large proportion of the offerings. As to 
" small bre.aks " of tea the limits continue 
to be defined as 18 chests, 24 half-chests and 
40 boxes. In the summary of estate sales, 
the first estate mentioned is Diyagama with 
1,119,5001b. the average being so high as 9^d 
against 9|d for 1,115,0001b. in 1897. This 
report arrives very appropriately, just as 
the able and experienced resident Manager 
of Diyagama, Mr. Dick-Lauder, is about to 
return home on well-eai-ned fm-lough. To 
have shipped the largest record quantity of 
tea for any estate and to have secured 
so high an average is no small testimony 
to the great value of the property and to 
the admirable management in both field 
and factory. Next we have Galaha with 
1,003,000 lb. at an average of 7d against 
934,000 lb. averaging 7id in 1897, Of estates 
shipping over 500,000 lb., the lead is taken 
by Hauteville with 592,0001b. at lOd.— the 
same average as 1897. St. Leonards has 
the highest average lljd for 522,5001b. 
For 350,000 lb. and over we get Bandara- 
pola first with 366,5001b. averaging 6M 
against 6d for 391,000 lb. in 1897. Talawakelle 
has the highest average (lOJd) for 400,000 lb. 
Above 200,0001b. we get Abbotsleigh with 
^1,«XJ lb and an average of l(Jd : while 
Kagalla takes the lead with 2S(,oUJ lb. aver- 
^^'\g}nA^ ■'i^i^.h^ki 229.i>J0Ulb. averaging »*d 
1<J".<''J'J Ih., comes Abbot^ford 
with 188,(J(JU lb., and an average of 9jd,; the 
lead bemg taken by t oncordiH with \h. 
averaging lljd. AJx.ve rX),UWj lb.. Aber- 
geldje comes with 8«J,5001b. averaging 7d, 
^^'^'i «ilverkandv for 
.'• '"J'* ?" «i^'«i'*ge of l"^ Id. Above 
20,000 lb the lead is taken by Pedro and 
Holbrook, lioth with an average of lid, the 
former sdling 30,00<J II)., and the latt«r 2U,0UU lb. 
ot t**a. Ihe return for Districts is given a« 
follows :— ** 
Estiniated relative Yield and Average Pric« re- 
ahseci for the d.ljerent Ceylon Tea District*. 
piled from the Public Auctions hchl in Loudon 
between January' 1st and Decemtx-r aist, \>m :- 
Average Average 
Nu« ara Eliya, Matu- 
nitta and Udapus- 
seliuwa 
Dimbula 
Bogawantalwa ... 
Dikoya... 
Haputale 
Uva ... 
Maskelij'a 
Hewaheta 
Pusselawa, Kotmalc, 
Pundaloya & Kam- 
boda ... 
Ambegamuwa and 
Lower Dikova ... 
Nilambe and "Han- 
tane 
Sabaragamuwa ... 
Knuckles, Kalle- 
bokka, Rangala, &c. 
Mataleand Hunas- 
geria 
Kadugannawa and 
Alagala 
Kalutara 
Dolosbagie and 
Yackdessa 
Kelani Valley 
lb. 
about 
3,aOU,aOO 
18.000,(XJ0 
a,ooo,ooo 
r).(x(o.(xio 
-'.'>< "0.000 
O.IMJ.OOO 
4,000,000 
1,500,000 
8,500,000 
3,000,000 
4,000,000 
2,500,000 
4,500,000 
4,000,000 
1,500,000 
3,000,000 
Price 
per lb. 
Mm. 
about 
id 
8d 
7id 
7id 
7id 
]f 
7d 
7d 
Price 
per lb. 
i«n. 
about 
lOd 
9d 
SAd 
8d 
7| 
7id 
7id 
7d 
7d 
7d 
Oid 
d 
6id 
5,000,000 6Jc 
8,000,000 6i<: 
9 Si^^n?'^''''"'^'''^?'^ '^5''''^ ^? ^'^t^nt of about 
2 000,000 lb. a^ eraging /d per lb. are not included in 
the above estimate 
Coffee- Planting and Self-Help" is the 
title of a letter from Mr. W. R. Rowland of 
'Lamquart Port Dickson "to the Singapore Frtt 
Fress, in which he mentions disadvantages of 
Malayan planters : — 
1.— Having to try oar coffee more thoronghly be- 
fore sending it to Singapore than to Port Dickson 
o ^--Having to pay from Port Dickson to Singapore 
an? water """^ °" parchi^ent 
^n^ol^^M^K^ no chance of making a profit on snch 
an establishment and reduce working-cost considerably 
later on, as would be if we had one on the Estate 
or If this co-eperative mill were started 
stl at'^Por\'^DiSon'£"^°* ^ coffee-curing 
end tri?T,?°'f''°^^^ in Port Dickson, there is an 
^nii I Y to Singapore to be 
milled whatever amount of care we ma? bestow upon 
n 'tn.r„ *^''f ''■}'''^^ ''^fo'-e estabhshing there 
a known mark-if ever- and probably others, who 
fSs'oroV^toiis^.^" ''^"^ 
