September i, 189^] THE TRDPfdAL AdRIOULTURiST. 
cotumoD, old tea — much of it many seasona eld. The 
peculiar earthy fla-vonr of this description attracted 
the attention of onr Onstom-house tea experts, who 
by their action in seodins; the first shipments back to 
the original port of shipment, caused the tranehip- 
ment of the bulk of the Bhipments following, with the 
result that the adjoining colonies accepted leaf un- 
Buitable for Melbourne to the extent of about 600,0001b. 
The net benefit to this colony was that, on the whole 
a somewhat purer tea reached the public at the 
espenee of a diversion of trado to our neighbours. 
But it the rejected tea is good enough for Australians 
at large, why deprive Vicfcoriana of it ? If however, 
the Victorian Customs officers were right it is to be 
i-epretted that the other colonies admitted it. 
The inferior value shown at the commencement of 
the season for all low grade teas naturally reduced 
the export from Fooohow, and so afterwards enabled 
B fairly remunerative trade to be done in them, but 
the absence of London demand for all better qualities, 
had such a depressing effect that quantities of these 
grades out of all pro portion to requirements were 
sent forward because they were relatively cheap. 
The result has been that except within the first mouth 
after the opening sales — when fancy prices were paid 
for finest congous — it has been impossible for shippers 
to cover coat above Sgd.; and in some instances, to- 
wards the close of the season, heavy losses have had 
to be faced upon all good medium to fine teas. The 
excellent vahuie thus obtained b.as certainly been of 
creat assistnce to the blending trade, euablicg them 
to more ensily pay the higher prices ruling for the 
Indian, Ceylon, and scented requirements of their 
trade. Against the unfavourable results to importers 
of good quality co. gone, csused simply by over-supply, 
we find fancy lines, such ss scented pekoes and cap'^rs, 
and also kaisow buds, commanding handsome profits, 
through shortage in sujiply, a shortage caused by the 
ruinous prices paid during the one or two preceding 
years curtailing mannfaoture. 
INDIAN TEA. 
From Calcutta we find a large increase in shipmentsi 
the respective figures being 4,800,0001b for the past 
season against 3,600,000!b and 2,880,0001b the two 
preceding- years respectively. Large as this increase 
hai beeo, it does not fairly indicate the increase in 
public favour of these full tess, because tbe bulk of 
our demand at present is confined to plain, strong, 
clean kinds, and these have also been so freely taken 
for London at high rates that our limited selection 
commanded almost equal prices to fair pekoes. To 
more clearly indicate the strength of the demand, we 
find that for over eight months of the year cleau sou- 
chongs were selling within |d per pound of strong thick 
pekoes, whereas, had we had a quiet market without 
disturbance in the lower grades, probably the extra 
trade in them would have added another 1,000,0001b, 
to our consumption. With a strong London demand 
for low cost leaf and with our local market over-sup- 
plied in good pekoes and fine teas, it would have been 
unreaBonable to have expected this trade to have been 
satisfactory to shippers, and it is surprising that large 
quantities were taken at and over 9id per pcuud, con- 
siderintr that the colonial markets were mainly created 
by equally valuable teas at Id to Ijd per lb. less in 
soucliongs and pekoe souchongs, and by far smaller 
quantities of pekoes and fine teas. 
CEYLON TEA. 
From Colombo we have even a more rapid develop- 
ment of the exportation^ of tea to the colonies to chro- 
nicle, the fhipmyntci luunlng up to 2, f 00, 000 lb. ss 
against 1,50:(,0';0 lb. nnd 940,000 lb. for ti.ct\io prc- 
cedinn yeiira rospectivoly . The public tas'e i as cer- 
t.^inly iiikeu rapidly to the more flavcury suiter teas 
ot Ce'jloii, Hiid tht-io can be no doubt liial not only 
Chinft, but also India, has much tn \oir from the coai- 
petitijutrom Ceyb n, The wcll-cured Ue>luu 1g:.3 arc 
certainly nio^t attractive, beii.;; ri;inarkahly flavou-y, 
with goo't ftrcngth. Ceylon teas, how-ver, have i;ne 
Serious di3advuntage, and that apper.rs lo be tLoir 
interior heeping qaalitica ; and, judging from tho 
present yonr's rcceiplp. Ibis trade is certainly "tho 
jam tart trade " in tea— tbey are all better sold fresh 
than stale and fiat, which, in many instances, from 
inferior manufaoture, they soon become. There is, 
however, a somewhat better demand for choice Oeyloa 
pekoes than for Indian pekoes, and it only requires 
time to educate the publio taste for the demand to be 
good for choice teas from both Calcutta and Co- 
lombo. For this trade it is somewhat difficult to 
gauge the financial result, bo much being sent upon 
garden account or upon speculative consignment tha 
one becomes quite accustomed to diasstrous losi^es upon 
invoice cost ; but as far as we can gather the trsdc, ag 
B whole, has yielded better results than that in Indians 
though in many instances very imperfectly cured leaf 
and, poor tondepoript breaks have been sent to this 
market because Loudon did rot take them freely. 
DISTBIBUTION. 
The marked change shown above in the demand fo^ 
Indmn and Ceylon teas as against China sorts has necffl' 
sarlly led to eitecsive changes in the distributing buei' 
ness, compelling diatributova to add blending and pack- 
ing to their existing tea departments. So rapidly has 
this trade increased, that even at this early stage it is 
cot uncommon to hear salesmen complaining about 
the small volume of sales passing in "straight" teas. 
The complaints of distributors wero both loud p.nd 
deep upon discovery that the official returns of st'^'cks 
in bond were understated, more especially as only 12 
months since they were issued as correct, this error 
leading to unprofitable speculation based upon the ap- 
parent shortness of supplies. 
STATISTICS, 
We are indebted to the courtesy of the secretary cf 
Customs for the following particulars (for Victoria 
ODly) regarding the imports, 'exports and home con- 
sumption of tea for the season July 1st, 1890, to June 
SOtb, 1891. Imports were as follows •' — 
Duty Paid, Ware- 
Ex Ship, housed. Total. 
From— Lb. Lb. Lb. 
Foochow ... 122,969 8 972,350 9,005 319 
Hong Kong ... 127,678 502,442 630,120 
Calcutta ... 43,074 2,826,281 2,869,305 
Colombo ... 45,763 1,207,578 1,253,341 
Other colonies, &c. 55,120 579,453 634.513 
14,482,028 
Total ... 394,604 14,088,024 
Quarter by qnarterthe imports were as folic 
Lb. 
September quarter, 1890 
December quarter, 1890 
March quarter, 1891 
June quarter, 1891 
Exports comprised 2,876,255 1b. under drawback, and 
3,7846981b. ex bond. 
5.480,427 
5280,643 
2 950, ,506 
771,052 
NOTES ON PBODUCE AND FINANCE. 
New Maekets foe Indian Tea.— Our readers will 
be glad to learn that a reaMy hona fide attempt is 
about to be made, under the auspices of influential 
and representative leaders of the Indian Tea Industry, 
to consolidate and place on a firm footing proposals 
for opening up new markets, for Indian tea. Various 
laudable, but at the .same time more or less isolated 
efforts have, during the past eight or ten years, been 
made to accomplish this end. Bat there has unfortu- 
nately been a great lack of continuity, an absence 
i f that " Ehoulder-fo->bouWer " movement, which 
is required, a want of the proverbial unity of 
pnrjiose, which constitutes strength, end last but not 
least a dearth of fimds sulficient to ensure sustaineel 
action. These faults of the past, it is confidently hoped, 
will no longer ex'st, and, en the partly-shattered, but 
.■•till living, remains of tho movements initiated at the 
Heahherie.";, at the Indiau and Colonial Bxbibiiiou. by 
the Associated Planters (American scheme), and at 
the Paris Exhibition, a solid and iindunug structure is, 
v?e believe, arising. A small company has been formed, 
which it is proposed should commence its operatiou 
