June 1, 1899.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
833 
Fine teas have maintaiued their value tbvonghout 
the season, and have realised full pries whenever 
brought forwaid, indicating that there has been no 
falling-off in tlie appreciation of really good tea. 
The distinction made by thu home tr;ide between good 
to fivio tea and tea barely reaching that s andavd haa 
been severely retiected in prices ; the difference 
in value has become more accentuated, and Darjeeling 
gardens have been the chief sufl'erers. When teas 
from this district fall short of good to fine quality 
{whic'i is as a rule unavoi jable in respect of " first 
flash" and ''rains" manufacture ) they drop into the 
plana of ordinary classes, and Ijscome difficult to 
move ; they fare badly in London in competition with 
Chylous, and unlike Calcutta, with it.s various outlets, 
there are, oomparatrvely, no special demands for Dar- 
jeelinga of intermediate quality to look to for support. 
The distribution of the crop from Calcutta, aa 
compared with last year, has been as follows 
la38-99. 1897-98. 
To United Kiugdom .. lb.5i millions, 133| millions. 
,, Colonies ... 6|- ,, „ 
,, America ... 3i ,, 2 ,, 
,, Bombay, Persian Gulf, 
Black Sea ports, C n- 
lineutife other markets Si ,, 4i 
The above figures may be considered eminently 
Eatisfactory, showing aa they do, healthy competi- 
tion and a substantially extended business between 
Calcutta and new outlets for Indian tea. The -quantity 
drawn from Calcutta sales to meet these demands 
has amounted to 173 millions, or about SGJ per 
cent, of the total offerings, and contrasted with last 
year's work in this direction the details are as 
follows :— 
1898-99. 1897-98. 
Total quantity sold in Calcutta 49 milliona 46 millions 
Percentage of the above ex- 
ported to the Colonies . . 13 % 14| % 
„ „ „ America ... 6| % 4^ % 
„ „ „ Bombay, &c... 17 % 9i % 
The satisfactory increase in trade with America and 
Bombay cin in a great measure be attributed to the 
fact that a somewhat more liberal supply of teas suitable 
to their particular requirements have been offered in 
the Calcutta market. 
As foreshadowed in our review last year, these 
markets have readily responded to the opportunities 
given them, and it is encouraging to know that the 
endeavours made to stimulate these demands have 
been so snccesaftil. It is a clear indication of proba- 
bilities, and should offer producers a strong induce- 
ment to teeil these valuable outlets more freely, as 
they are capable of rapid esSension und can generally 
pay a better price th-.iu obtainuble in London for 
biinil-dr descriptions. 
Tnc benohts of such a policy are manifold : Lon- 
don would be relieved to some extent of a class o£ 
tea which is yearly becoming more iinsuitod to the 
home trade, and which has consequently shrunk ia 
value considerably; the demxnds lor new markets 
which are, in a great measure, the salvation of the 
industry and are gradually but surely extending in 
Calcutt-i, would bs nurtured, and the grower, in doing 
this, would derive advantage in piice. Our trade with 
Anieiica, Canada and lUissia is surprisingly small 
when contrasted with an annual consnmpiion of 150 
to 2i.'J millions, but Indian tea has secured a footing, 
and considerable progios.s may bo confidently expected 
in these directions, provided the proper channels are 
used to tncourago it. 
The strength of these demands, and tlie imperative* 
11C3S oC drawing sup))lies from Calcutta, were clcirly 
demon^<trated during the early months of the sea- 
son. Hitherto operations had been almost exclusi- 
vely contiuod to Cachars aud bylhels, but owing 
to Bovote drought, supplies wore much curtailed ; 
tiio volume of business however was not affected, 
buyers freely subititutiug the produce of other 
districts. Npilgherry and Travancoro teas, of 
wUi^h uyoe itppccif on tlis ujaj-liiiti woulJ be taLcu 
freely, aud it is a matter well worth the consideration 
of growers in those centres if it would not benefit 
them, suitable as their teas are for the various foreign 
markets, to sell in Calcutta. 
The market has felt the want of a better selection 
of high class tea; no fine, and very few really good 
Assams have been seen daring the season, the bulk 
of the offerings havmg been of the or'^inary descrip- 
tion. The same may be said of Darjeelings, though a 
few attractive second flush teas were shown. 
The growing scarcity of the higher grades in the 
market acts as a serious check to the progress of our 
trade with Australia and !Xew Zealand particularh-, 
and to this is partially attributable the disappointing 
export figures to these ports. In the case of Dar- 
jeeling-f, paucity of supplies has been specially observ- 
able, and importers in those centres do not disguise 
the fact, that owing to the difficulty and delay ex- 
perienced in fin.ling their requirements in Calcutta, 
they have often been compelled to substitute Ceylon 
growths. 
A featnre of considerable importance as affecting 
the price of tea in Calcutta is the appreciable quantity 
ijuw being purchased for direct shipment to the 
lai-ge distributing houses in Great Britain. From 
the commencement of the season up to the middle 
of January last Calcutta siles have totalled about 
43 millions, of which lo millions have been absorbed 
by outside markets, leaving 28 millions for London. 
Allowing for transit, the corresponding period iu 
which this tea wotild be placed on the London market 
extends from the beginning or July until the end ot 
February. Daring this interval sales in Mincing Laue 
of Calcutta bought teas have totalled -25 millions 
against 23 millions actually shipped. The appreciable 
balance may be regarded as going to the distributor 
direct and to America. Such teas are therefore never 
seen on the London market; heavy warehouse and 
other charges are consequently avoided, and the buyer 
is therefore in a position to pay the producer a 
better price proportionate to the charges he saves. 
The question of exchange has attracted consider- 
able attention during the yeai. Producers have 
viewed the prospect of a fixed rate of Is 4d wita 
dismay, and it would seem that they have good reason 
for regarding the future with no little concern. 
The immediate effect of an appreciated rupee haa 
been to severely handicap the industry, so much so 
that many concerns that could have existed on a 
natural exchange, or even at a compromised rate, 
have been obliged to give up the striiggle, as no com- 
pensating advantage has been secured in sterling 
values, the movement being in the opposite direction. 
Difficulties iu arranging finance, whicli may in some 
measure be attributed to the same cause, have also 
hampered the industry, and the v.ork of opening out 
new markets, although it has made considerable pro- 
gress, has nevertheless been cramped. Advanced ex- 
change has been reflected in a higher cost of produc- 
tion, and as it is a matter of price alone that can en- 
able us to compete in new countries of consumption, 
the natural progress of our trade in this direction ia 
iu danger of being materially checked. 
It has been argued that the state of over-production 
has been reached, and that a fixed exchange of Is Id 
would be the means of checking supply and restoring 
a healthy position. So far figures show that we are 
some distance oft" this deadlock ; excess supply has 
appeared l( miiorai ili/ duriug the rush of shipments, 
Init home deliveries for the past twelve months have 
outstripped receipts to the extent of 7 million.s, and 
Blocks on this date are over li.^ millions iess than 
last year. 
Prospects for the ensuing season are brighter, and 
there are indications of a more prosperous year before 
the trade. The present strong position will doubt- 
loss become accentuated by the end of INIay. and sta- 
tistically the outlook is exceptionally encouraging. 
The low scale of prices has enabled distributors to 
handle tea freely and force cousuiuptiou, and the 
extraordinary increase in iiouia deliveries ia the moat 
