Aug, 1, 1901.T THE TROPICAL AGRlCULTUtllST. 
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But important as this would be if supply and de- 
mand were evenly balanced, it is of comparative in- 
significance at the present juncture, for production 
has outstripped the combined reqiirements of home 
and foreign markets, and a limit has been foundj.for 
the present, to the quantity that cau be taken at 
prices that will pay tue producer. 
To this untoward fact the decline in value must 
be directly attributed. The fall would probably have 
taken place eighteen months ago, if it had not been 
for the heavy speculative transactions in anticipation 
of the Budget of 19i-0 ; it has been accentuated by 
the re-»ction which followed, by the strain upon the 
Traders' resources caused by the high duty, by the 
heavy and poor crop, and to some extent by the use 
of unsuitable chests. 
An opinion is held by some that economy has per- 
haps been pushed further than is wise, but we do 
not propose to tread upon this debatable ground, or 
to dwell upon market fluctuations, exchange, the 
rainfall or the temperature, or to discuss those 
details of administration and manufacture which 
rightly occupy the attention of Managers — prefer- 
ring to pass to the consideration of broader issues. 
Stated in the fewest words these issues aie — im- 
provement of quality, restriction of quantity, conso- 
lidation of interests, the development of new marksts, 
and the outlook for our home and export trade. 
To revert to a higher standard of quality, where it 
is possible, appears to us of primary importance. The 
stocks held everywhere consisting of inferior tea, the 
turn for a finer crop has come ; London and Provin- 
cial buyers ask for it and will handle it with more 
aonfideuce, whereas they regard with foreboding the 
possibility of another large and common one. It is 
quite true that trade has been stimulated in the past 
by abundant and cheap supplies, but a low quotation 
alone, without merit in the tea itself, no longer brings 
new customers, and a larger business without profit 
benefits no one but the shipowner, the »varehonse- 
keeper, and the Custom House. 
We emphasise the need of listening to what the 
Home Trade say, because they are in touch with con- 
sumers ; while taking, as they do, 80 per cent, of the 
total output of India and Ceylon they ultimately deter- 
mine the value of the whole, wherever sold or how- 
ever distributed. 
Methodical and deliberate curtailment of quantity 
is of almost equal importance. An agreement between 
a large number of planters to effect it would have 
been a useful addition to the measures which, others 
are going to take in their own interest; but the reasons 
of those who were unable to bind themselves in the 
manner suggested are quite intelligible, and after all, 
it might have failed of its purpose if it had led mana- 
gers to regard it as the one panacea for all ills, and to 
relax their efforts to make better quality. Its failure, 
however, is an additional reason for those who know 
that they can make finer and more valuable tea to do 
so, and not be turned from their purpose if they hear 
that a shorter supply has improved the position of low- 
priced teas without benefiting fine — in eventuality 
for which they must be prepared. It may be that, 
if managers were not required to make estimates 
before the season has commenced, cr at least if their 
"estimates were not published, they would be less 
tempted to realise them at all costs, when, perhaps, 
they ought to be doing just the reverse. 
The amalgamation of separate and sometimes of 
conflicting interests might make it easier to unite in 
pursuit of a common policy. The process is capable 
of development— not necessarily in the form of a Trust 
but preferably on the lines of some of the older asso- 
ciations under one strong central management and 
control which have proved successful in Ceylon 
and India. The risk being distributed in this way 
over wider areas, and between estates yielding 
both high-priced and low-priced tea, the invest- 
ment of capital becomes more secure, financing 
is made easier, and the shareholder has a more liquid 
dsaet, 
We pass on to consider the markets outside the 
United Kingdom open to' u;-, and the best means of 
gaming entrance to them. The fact thit of the tea 
used at home oidy 5 per cent, now comes from China 
shows how little margin there is for increased sale 
here of British-grown ti-a, a id illustrates the impor- 
tiin^ce ot finding customers elsewhere. 
UsefiiTand even necessary as advertisement, subsidy, 
and the intelligent work of special agents have been in 
countries where our tea was practically unknown, we 
have now to rely upon tusiuesi expanding through 
the regular channels of trade, to work upun a com- 
mercial basis, and to trust to our ability to sell 
cheaper and better tea thin can be obtained from 
other sources. 
There is not room for a much lavgar business with 
Australia, which already draws from Calcutta and 
Colombo 80 per cent, of its supply (lej,ving only some 
6 or 7 million lb. of Cnina tea to be displaced), and 
can obtain from those markets all it wants, as L uidou 
buyers will probably be ordering less this year. 
Canada takes about 1.5 per cent, of its import from u-' 
leaving some 13 or 14 millions of Japan and China 
tea to be displaced. The trade with Asia is becoming 
useful, as it takes tea of which there is sometimes aa 
over-supply, thus relieving this market. Grerraany, 
South America, and South Africa are still small 
outlets though steadily growing. 
Tliere remain the great markets of Ra3sia a'nd the 
United States, using annually some 180 million lb. 
Of these, the Russian is the more hopeful, because ic 
require! blick tea, appreciates quality, and ii 
taking more from us every year, b> direct im- 
portation or from London ; it, too, is calling for 
batter tea. Our trade with America coatmnea 
to disappoint soma who had not grasped the diffi- 
culty of persuading people who prefer tea uncoloured 
or green to drink our strong black sorts. The attempd 
to manufacture tea to suit their tastes is enterprising 
but we fear lest it be made in a way which will give 
trouble and bring disappointment to a number of 
individual growers, without substantial benefit to 
anyone. It will take a* decade to create a trade worth 
anything to us by means of specimens unlike in 
make or flavour; for large distributors hesitate to in- 
troduce a new kind of tea to their customers nnless 
th»/ can rely upon a regular, uniform and free supply. 
We think if Americans had this matter in hand on 
their own account th«Jr would rent for a term of 
years estates capable of producing, at the lowest 
possible cost, millions of pounds per annum, have it 
all made uniformly into two or three grades, pro- 
cure men and materials from Cliina for packing it 
in the way Americans like, give a constant supply, 
and uniersell their rivals until the trade was made. 
It would cost money, but it might prove the cheapest 
and most effectual way of making a market— assum- 
ing, of coursa, that we can make unfermented tea 
that Americans will drink. Seeing that we have 
obtained less than 10 per cent of a trade amounting 
to 84 million lb. per annum, after twenty years of 
heavy expenditure by planters and strenuous effort 
by the agents of London Dealers, it is obvious that 
other means must bo tried. It has been said that 
tea is not likely to become in America the popular 
beverage that it is here and in the Colonies ; bat it 
may be that the small and declining consumption 
in the United States— now only IJ lb. per head 
per annum— IS due to the astringent and un- 
satisfying nature of the Japan and China teas 
principally used, as compared with the softer 
and richer teas of India and Ceylon which other races 
of Anglo-Sixon origin find such a cheap and whole- 
some article of diet that their annual consumption 
has reached the rate of nearly 6 lb. per head. It 
should be noted how largely the use of tea here has 
increased since the introduction of our own in place 
of Chinese growths. 
As regards the Home Trade— which is the most im. 
portant factor, inasmnch as our 42 millions of people, 
taking their 250 million lb. per annum, uee nearly aij 
