734 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUKIST. 
[May 2, 1904. 
When all the dangers attending the future 
prosperity of tea-cultivation, however, are re- 
cognised, the indubitable fact remains that the 
enterprise is in a far more healthy position than 
has been the case for some years. With practi- 
cally no invisible duty-paid stocks in the 
United Kingdom, and no reason for any fears 
regarding over-production, except those due 
to climatic conditions, the outlook appears very 
hopeful, while the fact that supplies now 
approximately equal the demand should give 
merchants every encouragement to regulate 
their sales in dull periods. 
Home Consumption" of Ceylon tea during 1903 
has shewn a further marked decline. The 
increased cxuantity of G«een tea manufactured, 
mainly in the low-country districts, deprived 
the market of a large quantity of good common 
qualities, and the deficiency was supplied, not 
merely by a greater Aveight of Indian leaf, 
but by a notable expansion in tlie use of China 
and Java teas. The actual quantity of Chylon 
taken for HojSIE Consomption last year amounted 
■ to only 78,403,000 lbs. or 30-75 per cent of the 
total of all growths, against 85,541,000 lbs. 
f33-C0 per cent.) in 1902. FiVK Years ago the 
quantity of Ceylon tea consumed in the United 
JviNGBOM was 82,450,000 lbs. or 83 per cent, of 
all tea used, and we have to go back ten YiOAUS 
before we find the proportion of Ceylon tea 
devoted to Home CONSuan>TiON as low as it was 
last year. 
POEEIGN Trade. — The contraction in the supply 
last year had the natural effect of diminishing 
the actual quantity re-exported, but the pro- 
portion of Ceylon Tea thus disposed of shewed 
a further expansion, from 38'15 per cent, of 
all growths in 1902, to 39'23 per cent, lasb 
yeap. In five years the proportion re-expo*rted 
has risen 8*16 per cent., and in TEN YEARS has 
increased 27'23 per cent. This feature, so satis- 
factory when contrasted with the decline in 
HOJIE Consumption, is accounted for by the fact 
that the demand from abroad has been largely 
attracted to the better qualities. The demands 
of Foreign and Colonial Countries upon the 
COLOJIBO mtirket shewed a further expansion 
in 1903, and afford welcome proof of the firm 
position now secured by the Ceylon leaf in 
all the tea-consuming countries of the World. 
The quantity exported to RUSSIA direct marked 
an increase of about 1,500,000 lbs. while Austra- 
lia took l.OOOjOOO lbs. more than during the 
previous year. It is, however, to America and 
Canada that the shipments shewed most import- 
ant development. Stocks in America had been 
considerably reduced in the spring of last year, 
in consequence of the advance in common tea 
on this side, which attracted some quantity of 
China tea from New York to London ; partly 
owing to this fact 2,200.000 lbs. more Black 
tea were exported from COLOMBO to the trans- 
atlantic markets than in 1902, while tlie ship- 
ments of Green tea rose from under 2,000,000 lbs. 
in 1002 to over 7,000,000 lbs. last year. 
Packages. — We are glad to be able to notice 
some improvement in the quality of the chests 
used during the past season, and there were 
fewer instances of " cheesy " wood to note ; 
we would, however, impress upon planters the 
necessity of watchfulness in this respect in 
the eiirrent season, in view of the probable 
difficulty in obtaining a sufiiciency of JAPAN 
packages owing to the war. We would also 
draw attention to the undesirability of shipping 
dusts in Chests ; such packages contain too 
great a weight of tea to stand the strain im- 
posed upon them in transit inland, and buyers 
frequently complain of the state in which they 
reach their customers. 
Estimated relative Yield and Average Price realised for the different Ceylon Tea Districts, 
compiled from the Public Auctions held in London between January 1st and December 31st, 1903 
Av. Price 
Av. Price 
Av Price 
per lb. 
per lb. 
per lb. 
1903. 
about 
1902. 
about. 
1901. 
about 
lbs. about. 
1903. 
Lbs. about. 
1902. 
lbs. about. 
1901. 
Uda Pussellawa 
2,4..50,000 
8-8oa. 
2,500,000 
8 -r.od. 
2,200,000 
8 90d, 
DiMBULA. 
15,450,000 
8 60 1 
16,000,000 
8-25 
19,825,000 
8-25. ■ 
DiKOYA 
3,950,000 
8-30 
5,000,000 
7-50 
5,930,000 
7-.50 ' 
BOGAWANTALAWA 
3,050,000 
■ 7-95 
3,650,000 
7-15 
4,250,000 
7 15\ 
NuwAEA Eliya and Matubata 
2,550,000 
7-85 
2,210.000 
7-85 
2,350,000 
s-oo'-' 
Haputale and New GAiiWAY 
3,050,000 
7-SO 
3,000.000 
7'20 
.3,450,000 
7 00 
Uya 
8,050,000 
7-50 
9,100,000 
6-90 
6.760,000 
6-00 
Maskeliya 
3,050,000 
7 45 
3,500,000 
6 95 
4,100,000 
G-50 
Hewaheta 
1,700,000 
7 35 
1,950,000 
6-65 
2,350,000 
6-50. 
Pussellawa, Kotmale, Pcndaluoya 
...1 
andRAMBODA 
8,350,000 
7-20 
8,750,000 
6-50 
8, .300,000 
1 6'75j 
Ambegamuwa and Loweb, Dikoya 
2,450,000 
7-] 5 
2,700.000 
0-35 
2,900,000 
6-25 
DoLOSBAGE and Yakdessa 
4,000,00( 
6-95 
4,150,000 
G-05 
4,700,000 
5-75 
Kkuckles, Kallebokka & Rangala... 
3,250,000 
6-95 
2,950,000 
6-30 
3,950,000 
6-15 
NiLAMBE and Hantane , 
2,800,000 
6-90 
3,750,000 
5-80 
3,350,000 
6-25 
Matale and Hunasgekiya 
5,250,000 
6-85 
5,900,000 
6-05 
,5,700,000 
6-25 
Sab ABAC AMUWA 
1,250,000 
6-85 
1,850,000 
5-90 
1,550.000 
6-00 
K.ELAM Valley 
6,600,000 
6'75 
8,500,000 
5-90 
1,550,000 
qoo 
Kadugankawa, Alagala and Kuru- 
negalla 
1,900,000 
6-70 
2,150,000 
6 00 
2,000,000 
5-90 ' 
Kalutaba, Amblangoda & Udagama.. 
1,650,000 
6 '65 
2,550,595 
5-95, 
3,250,000 
6-25 
