620 TH£ TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [March 2, 1891. 
BAEK AND DEUG EEPOBT. 
(From the Chemist and Druggist.) 
London, Jan. 8th, 1891. 
ANNATTO. — Prices arc a shade easier as compared 
with the lost auctions, and 33 bag-s of good seeds from 
Ceylon sold at 2(d per lb. For a parcel of 50 bags fine seed 
from Ceylon, an offer of 2d per lb. was refused, SJd per lb. 
being named as the price. 
Coca Leaves.— Of 5 bales South American leaves offered 
none were sold. Thin, dusty, and very broken Truxtllo 
leaves are held for Is per lb. A parcel of small, thick, 
dark brown damaged Ceylon leaves was offered at 4d per lb., 
but there was no demand. New York quotes higher prices— 
viz,. Is per lb. o.i. f. for light green Truxillo, while Huanoco 
leaves are reported out of stock. 
OiL.s (Essential).— Of lOO cases Citronella, 20 cases (in 
tins; sold at |d per oz. Nine cases oinnamon-leaf oil sold 
at l|d per oz. 
QniNINK.— We have not heard of any business in this 
article this week, but the market hat become very dull, 
second-hand German bulk being offered tjdayat Is peroz. 
At the auctions 5,000 oz. B. & 3. second-hand lu 100-oz. tins 
wore bought in at 12fd per oz. 
NOTES ON PRODUCE AND FINANCE. 
(From the and C. Mail, Jan. 9th.) 
English Ergisteued Indian Tea Companies. — 
There are altogether sixtg different companies, with 
capital varying from Til, 800 up to .-£354,000, and with an 
aggregate paid up capital of nearly £4,800,000. Add 
to this the mortgage debentures of about £700,000, 
and we arrive at a total capital expenditure of 5J 
millions sterling. The cultivated area of the sixty con- 
cerns totals up about 115,000 acres. In addition to 
this, of course, there are all the Calcutta registered 
companies, as well as the iunumerable private proper- 
ties,- many of which are very large, so that we shall 
not be far wrong in estimating the entire capital sunk 
at .something near to 10 millions sterling. It is re- 
markable that with so large a block of stock the pro- 
perty is still so very unmarketable, and that at all times 
it is alike difficult either to realise or to acquire even 
a very small number of shares. Time, and also a more 
extended knowledge of the conditions under which 
the vast enterprise is carried on, will, no doubt, even- 
tually cause an alteration in this respect. Already, as 
has before been mentioned in our columns, various efforts 
of a substantial kind are being made both to induce 
holders to turn over their stock and to induce invest- 
ment companies, private investors, and insurance and 
other bodies to direct their attention to these much 
neglected securities. 
The Grocer dare not go back to China Tea. — 
In connection with a statement made in an article on 
the Board of Trade returns in yesterday’s Times, to 
the effect that a revival of the China trade may bs 
expected, the following from the Grocer of last week 
is interesting. In its reference to Indis-n tea it says ; 
— The consumption is again on the inorease, and the 
total deliveries for the year 1890 will be over 
103,000,000 lb. against 99,000,000 lb. in 1889, or an in- 
crease of over 4,000,000 lb. for the year, while in 1889 
the incree.se was 11,750,000 lb. over 1888, The strides 
that Indian tea is making in public favour are only 
equalled or excelled by Ceylon growths. The publio 
will have strong and dark-liquorirg tea irrespective 
of flavour, and the grocer finds that only India can 
supply it. The value that the grocer has been able 
to get from 8J to lOd per lb. is striking, and he has 
been obliged to make use of Indian growths freely, 
to the detriment of poor China. Last year Ohiua teas 
were exc(-]>5ionally poor, but although they have been 
better this year, yet the grocer has so cultivated the 
public taste that lie dare not go back to China ias: 
except in the smallest way. 
China Tea ritosPECTs— Messrs. W. J. and H. 
Tliompson, in tiieir China Tea Circular take a hope- 
ful view of the prospects of China tea. They say ; 
P'or tho past year wo have to note a very satis- 
factory increase in deliveries, homo consumption show- 
ing BOYOU millions and export ono million in oxooso 
of last year, the total amounting to 231 millions, 
against 223 millions. The stock on December 31st, 
1890, was 11 millions lefs than at the same time in 
1889. The large increase in the home consumption is, 
no doubt, chiefly owing to the reduction of dnty in 
May last from 6d to 4d per lb., but also to the im- 
proved state of trade, which has, to some extent, 
benefited the large oonsumiug classeB. The increase 
in export from this couutry was quite unexpected 
early in the seaaoD, owing to the large purchases 
made in China for Eussia ; but the. supplies of 
suitable qualities proving inadequate, considerable 
orders had still to be executed in this market. 
The figures for export include nearly four millions 
of Indian and Ceylon teas, which seems growing in 
favour in Russia as well as iu other countries. 
The quality of the crop from Ohiua was again dis- 
appointing, but, iu consequence of the moderate 
supply, prices for the finer grades of black-leaf 
Congous ruiod very high, and were mostly taken 
for export. Shippers from the northern porta 
have had reason to be satisfied with results ; from 
Foochow, however, the reverse has been the case, 
except as regards the finest chops, which sold at 
good profits. The quantity of the lower grades 
has been comparatively large, hid been met with 
small demand beyond the moderate requirements of 
the trade for these classes. The total export from 
Cbiua promises to be about 20,000,000 less than last 
year, and as the deliveries for the last six months 
have been almost equal to the corresponding period iu 
1889, and with much reduced stock, the position of 
China tea must be considered more favourable than 
for some time past. 
Ceylon Tea. 
The Grocer says ; — The total consumption for 1890 
is nearly 38,000.000 lb. against just over 30,000,000 
in 1889, and 18,500,000 lb. in 1888, thus showing an 
iucre.ae of nearly 8,000,000 lb. for the year, and 
19,500,000 lb. for the two years. The supply for the 
year is about 40,000,000 lb., and the stock has in- 
creased some 3,000,000 lb. to, say, 8,600,000 lb., or two 
and a-half mouths’ slock, which may be considered very 
moderate and quite necessary recollecting the steady, 
all-round demand there always is for Ceylon teas. The 
year’s crop of 1891 is now estimated to yield 50,000.000 
lb. for the London market, so that consumption will 
again have to make great strides to keep pace with 
such an import. Now the question arises, What is this 
extra supply to take the place of ? China Congou 
for homo consumption is already so small that it cannot 
well be smaller, unless it is to be wiped out altogether. 
Perhaps these teas will rapidly iucrease in favour 
on the Continent, and if so, it would prove a great 
relief — otherwise we cannot but foresee a fall in prices 
before the summer, which would prove Very disastrous 
to this deservedly popular British possession. Still, the 
trade has little to do with this question, as supplies are 
so evenly regulated that dealers only supply their 
wants week by week ; the sale of Ceylon is also so steady 
that buyers require to hold stock, 
^ 
The Extension of Fruit Cultivation. — 
We learn from the Fall Mall Gazette that about 
Loudon, iu almost every direotiou, but espeoiaily 
towards Farningham, in Kent, an added extent of 
laud is beii'.g prepared for tho growth of fruit. Fields 
many acres in extent, are wholly arranged for 
Strawberries. There am scores of acres being planted 
with Current bushes. For the most part this vast 
area of fruit is destined for jam-making, an industry 
very large in London, which the policy of the Govern- 
ment as to sugar at one time placed in jeopardy. 
An estimate has been published iu an official 
document, that seven of tbe principal jam-makers 
and confectioners in London use 34,000 tons of sugar 
per annum. It has been estimated that tbe quantity 
used in Scotland for similar purposes is about 40,000 
tons per annum. The soil and climate of parts of 
Scotland are admirably adapted for Strawberries, and, 
as far norlli ns Aberdeen they are produced verjr 
ex t ensi voly CUro nick, 
