554 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. 1, 1904, 
The following are fluctuations on rates of 
freight on tea to London during the last 
decade ; — 
Max. 
Min. 
Max. 
Min. 
1894 
853 
20a 
1899 
30s 
253 
1895 
30a 
17a ea .. 
1900 
303 
1896 
253 
7s 6d . . 
1901 
25a 
203 
1897 
353 
103 
1902 
25s 
2.')3 
1898 
40s 
20a 
1903 
27s ea 
253 
To Odessa, tonnage for copra was available 
tor the best part of the year at 15s per 20 cwt , 
an exceptionally low freight. Bearing in 
mind that 12 cwts. of copra are recognised as 
occupying 50 cubic feet of space, this would 
mean only 9s per ton Ceylon scale for the 
steamer. 
The exceptionally high freights on Tea, 
which in recent years ruled from Colombo to 
Australia, have at last given way. This was 
brought about by several importing firms in 
Australifi chartering and cutting under the 
•'Combine." To shut out opposition, the 
"Combine" reduced freight to R15 for 
several steamers. Charterers were shut out, 
and rates by the "Combine" now stand at 
R35. The nett result of the opposition has 
been a reduction of R15 on every ton of tea 
from Ceylon to Australia. When it is 
observed that Tea provides 40 per cent, of the 
total export for "Shipping " from Ceylon, the 
policy of shipowners should not be one of 
sweating Ceylon Tea in the direction of Aus- 
tralia, where it has to meet the keen competi- 
tion of Indian and China Teas. 
The London Homeward Freight Conference 
has kept rates very steady, but beyond rais- 
ing tlierate on tea from 25s to 27s 6d, there is 
nothing of note to record. So long as the 
Conference does not try to rush shippers — as 
was the cfse in past years with the Australian 
Conference— but keeps freight to London at 
about a par with those for Continental Ports, 
Shippers and " Shipping" at Colombo will be 
at peace. 
CEILON GREEN TEA IN AMERICA IN 1903. 
In connection with the tea trade in America 
there have been two unexpected develoirnienta 
justifying the heavy importations expected ; first, 
the entrance into the market as importers of 
small wholesale grocery house.", which heretofore 
had patronised importers to the disadvantaoe of 
buyers in the east, competing as they did for'lea, 
and thus bulling the market; second was the pur- 
suance of a policy general in the trade, not to buy tea 
except as it was wanted, a sentiment which was 
assisted by the high prices ruling. The importers 
have thus been compelled to carry much larger 
stocks than ihey expected to do. At the close of 
the year this condition still swayed the market. 
The surprise of the year was the continuation of 
the scarcity of green tea. It had been expected 
that China would more than supply the hungry 
market, but although a large quantity of this tea 
was produced, our maw wiis insatiable, and con- 
tinues so. Ceylon and India have attempted to 
come to the rescue with 15,000,000 pounds of green 
tea as an offering of their enterprise, yet ilie 
market for tbe grades desired has been but little 
afiected, A fact of the year in this connection seems 
to be the permanent establishment of this tea in 
our markets, Japan tea has been as abundant as 
ever, but the absorption of it seems to have 
increased despite that prices have ruled higher, 
seemingly mainly on account of the firm control of 
the market by the so called Japanese trust, which is 
reaching out moi*e and more to become the extent 
sive vendors of their own commodiiy. The Ceylon 
and Ir:dia tea men have caused the Japanese to 
recognise a substantial rival in them, and in the 
few tilts that so far have occurred between them 
we have not discovered that the British representa- 
tives have retired from the field with colours lowered. 
Indeed, their enterprise has been refreshing to note 
especially that of the large private fiims, which are 
pui-hing the British tea in fetching packages, 
establishing theieby another notable and significant 
feature of the tea year closed. Moreover, unlike 
their policy in England, these houses sell in the 
main, tea of fine quality, and perhaps it is due to this 
fact that the call for better grades of tea, this year 
so prominent, is to he credited. Such permanent 
improvement in tea drinking would be a consumma- 
tion indeed, .ind be an anticipatory realisation of 
the National Tea Association of the United States, 
also horn in 1903, to bring about a betterment in 
American tea conditions. — Tea and Coffee Trade 
Journal, Jan. 5. 
OYSTERS NOT TO BE OFFERED FOR 
AUCTION. 
We learn that there will probably be 
a fishery this year, barring unforeseen 
circumstances, but the scale and character 
of the operations will not be determined 
until Mr. Hornell has ascertained by means 
of diving, what numbers of pearl oysters 
are of fishable age. It is not likely that the 
oysters will be offered by auction — the in- 
tention being to utilise mechanical apparatus, 
presumably Mr. Dixon's patent for washing. 
The ' Ready ' — not the ' Triton ' (as a morning 
paper states)— is the steamer to be employed 
dredging. The apparatus imported from home 
by the B. I. s.s. ' Matiana ' a few days ago 
pertains — we may mention — to the oyster- 
washing machinery. 
PLANTIMG AND OTHER NOTES, 
Cotton in Paraguay.— One of the members 
of the Paraguayan Agricultural Department has 
proposed developing cotton cultivation by obliging 
every farmer who obtains money advances from 
the Banco Agricola to sow a piece of land with 
cotton. The bank gives the seed gratis. — H. and 
C. Mail, Jan. 8. 
Ceylon Rubber in 1903.-7-The following 
extract from Messrs. Figgis & Co.'s annual 
report, for 1903, will be of interest and encour- 
agement to Ceylon and Straits growers : — 
Fenang sent more, which sold well; price to- 
day for red about 7d above a year ago ; whites 
and pickings show little advance. We have seen 
small lots grown from Para seed in the Malay 
States of nice quality and much liked. Imports 
should be encouraged. lb sells very readily on 
the basis of Ceylon prices. Ceylon sent ranch 
more ; very nice thin sheet from Para seed sold 
well, also scrap negrohead sold readily and clean 
soft Ceara strips. (Jultivation should be encour- 
aged, as we can consume what can be produced. 
