766 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May I, 1891. 
WILSOjST, SMITHETT & Co.’s CEYLON TEA 
MEMOEAKDA EOE 1890. 
London, March 1891. 
The emount of Ceylon Tea brought to auction in 
London between January 1st and December 31st, 1890, 
was about 30 per cent in excess oi the supply in 
1889, and, it is eatisfactory to note, realised the 
same average price as was recorded for that year, 
viz., lOid per lb,, and only id per lb. less than in 
1888, when the Imports were Jess than half those 
of the year under review. 
The event of the year has undoubtedly been the 
reduction of the Tea Duty from 6d to 4d per lb. 
When m the early spring rumours were afloat as to 
the intention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to 
partly utilise his surplus in thus relieving taxation the 
idea that Tea would be one of the articles touched 
was not generally credited ; it was argued that if once 
reduced the old duty could never be re-imposed 
unless under most pressing circumstances, and 
that the reduction itself would give no relief to the 
poorest class of consumers who buy their tea in 
penny worths. The eventual decision of Mr. Goschen 
has, however, been gratefully acknowledged by a 
large section of tea-drinkers, and so far as Indian 
and Ceylon producers are concerned the boon was 
conferred at a most opportune time. The rise in silver, 
precluding any invasion of the market by low-class 
China leaf, the impetus given to the home consump- 
tion shown by the increase of 8,400,0001bs. in 1890 
over that of the two previous years, operated entirely 
to the benefit of British-grown teas. The silver 
question itself threatened at one time to be of grave 
import to the industry, hut tha crisis once past it 
may reasonably be questioned whether the danger was 
not after all a blessing in disguise. 
In taking a retrospect ot the course of the market 
during 1890 we are chiefly struck with the compara- 
tively uniform range of prices ruling throughout the 
twelve months ; the aver,>ge never sank to the low 
level it touched in the spring of 1889, whilst it failed 
to reach the high average attained in the autumn 
of that year. The fears of the trade as to any 
prospective over-supply were effectually allayed by the 
rise in silver, whereby the exports from China were 
considerably curtailed ; and on the other hand, in the 
autnmn, when the strong statistical position of the 
trade as a whole might have led us to expect a 
more important advance in values, a check was im- 
posed by the wave of commercial depression caused 
by financial troubles, which at one time threatened 
to overwhelm the credit of the country. 
Early in the year we enjoyed a very firm market 
for the lowest grades for price, but the better 
qualities soon commenced to recede in value, and 
the average price of llfd for the first week in 
January was reduced to lid at the end of the month. 
In February a generally dull tone supervened, and 
operations were conducted in a very hand-to-mouth 
manner. At the earliest sales in March the market 
became very flat, and the quality of the offerings 
at this period was not calculated to counteract 
the downward tendency ; the average price gradually 
declined, and one week was as low as 9|d per lb. This 
low range attracted attention for a while, and some 
slight improvement took place: good Broken Pekoes 
and Pekoes, which showed the greatest depression, were 
more enquired for, and sold at enhanced values. A 
temporary flatness soon followed ; in view of the possible 
reduction in the duty country buyers deemed it expedient 
to clear as little as posj-ible, and dealers consequently also 
refrained from going into stock to an extent. After 
K. sier, as the time for the disclosure of the Budget 
proposals approached, the chief buyers began to take 
advantage of the heavier sales to extend their opera- 
tion.-; in view of heavy clearing orders in the near 
future; finest qualities rose slightly in value, but the 
lowest grades were chiefly alfected, medium qualities, 
for tlio time, being disregarded, and the average price 
ior ecveral weeks lluctuafed from lOid to lOJd per lb. 
The reduction of the duty, in due course, was accepted 
very quietly, but if it did not cause any marked ad- 
vance in prices, it was no doubt an important faetor 
in preventing any decline at this usually depressed 
period. Throughout June and July a steady tone 
prevailed, the beat teas were well supported, and 
indeed the fluctuations were principally effected by 
the quality of the offerings. On the 1st July the first 
New Season’s Chinas were offered, and, with the excep- 
tion of several of the finest lines which commanded very 
full rates for export, sold at a low range. In August, 
the generally poor quality of Indian and China directed 
more attention to Ceylon — more especially to the fine 
teas. In September the improvement became more 
accentuated, and the average price gradually rose to 
Is Jd — the highest rate recorded in the year. In 
October tbe low rates luliog for ordinary Indian 
Pekoes unfavourably affected the corresponding grade 
of Ceylon leaf ; but a good all-round demand pre- 
vailed, the finest invoices being strongly competed for. 
After the first week in November the market began 
to show signs of weakness and irregularity, particularly 
for the more undesirable sorts; common Souchongs 
declined ^d per lb., and the weekly average gradually 
receded, and at the closing sale of December stood at 
lid per lb. 
The issue of our Annual Circular has again been 
unavoidably delayed by the heavy amount of work 
entailed in summarising the results obtained by most 
of the chief eatates|in Ceylon, numbering over 450. 
It is quite possible, that, for reasons advanced 
on previous occasions, seme slight miscalculation may 
be discovered ; we can, however, confidently recommend 
our statistics as substantially correct for all intents 
and purposer, and, we trust, that all those whom our 
circular reaches will prove it so for themselves, and 
regard it as of some practical interest and value. 
We can only once more congratulate Planters and all 
c-noerued on the highly satiffactory state of the in- 
dustry, and confide our researches to the r favourable 
consideration and study. It will be remembered 
that whereas last year only five names appeared 
in the first group of estates aggregating over 
200.000 lbs. seventeen are to be found this year, two 
of which, Mariawatte and the Kadawella group, have 
contributed over half-a-million lb. each. The fine 
teas of the New Dimbula Co., with a yield of 
209.000 lbs., head the list with auj average of Is IJd 
against Is Id per lb. last year closely followed by 
Wallaha with an output ot more than double that 
quantity. In several other cases last year’s average 
has not been maintained, but in many instances this 
is to be traced to rather freer plucking, and we 
doubt whether many more satisfactory results can 
be quoted than the average of Is Ojd per lb. for 
Chapeltou with a yield of 450 lbs. an acre. In the 
second group Labukelle has given 15,000 lb. less 
tea, but has more than compensated by an increase 
of 2|d per lb. in the average price realised ; the 
fine delicate flavoury teas of this garden have sold 
largely for Bussiau account throughout the year. 
The next estate in the list — Kotiyagalla— whose 
Pekoes also have again found marked favour in the 
same market, has with an increased yield of 16,000 
Ibs... averaged 2Jd per lb. more than in 1889. 
Kirkoswald sending 43,000 lb. more has maintained 
the same average. Glendevon with an increase of 
20.000 lb., is only a per lb. behind, and Invery 
at a like small expense has increased its yield by 
about 70 per cent. lu the third group Mooloya with 
a stationary yield has advanced Id per lb. 
The Highest average of all is that of Portswood 
viz : — Is 4d, against Is 4^d per lb. last year ; perhaps 
no estate has so well maintained its distinctive char- 
acter as this well-known mark. 
Bogawantalawa and the country round about Nuwera- 
Elija bead the Districts with an average of Is OJd, 
or lid above the average realised by the Ceylon Tea 
cold on the London Market; but the case ol Dimbula 
will perhaps be considered the most satisfactory ; the 
yield Irom this fine district we estimated last year 
at 3,800.000 lb., this year we put it at 6,700,000 lbs., 
wim the same arerage, viz., H|d, Amongst the 
