784 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[May I, 1891. 
CEYLON TEA MEMOEANDA. 
(From Messrs. Geo. White df Co.’s Review for 1800.) 
Phospects. — There IS little probability that thecausos 
which brought about smaller supplies than expected 
boih from India and China in the season now closing, 
will be again m operation this year. We must there- 
fore, in the ordinary course of events, be prepared for 
larger crops Iromludiaand Ceylon, while the belter 
prices realised for China Congou throughout, and the 
high rates paid by liussinn buyers at the northern 
ports lor hue teas suit itile to their requirements, will 
no doubt unluce the Chinese to pick and manufaoture 
con-iidenibly more. It must not be forgotten that in 
1890 almost the whole of the second crop and part of 
thi hi SI was destroyed by wet and unfavourable weather, 
■while the high rate of exchange also helped to curtail 
sbipm- nts. Fortunately, to meet this pirobable larger 
sipply, our requiremen s have become gieater, and 
show a slight tendency still 10 expand ; but as the es- 
timate of China given overleaf will most likely be ex- 
ceeded, there will be a surplus, and prices current in 
1890-91 must not be looked for. 
Additional Outlets. — Although the consumption of 
Tea in the United Kingdom has risen to raiher over 
5 lb. per head of populaiion in 1IS90, against 4| lb. 
per head in 1880, it would appear that the present con- 
suming power of this country will not suffice to couuter- 
balance the annually increasing output. It is therefore 
all the more important that every elloit should be 
made to further foster the Trade in British grown Tea 
with our Oolouies, Europe and America. It is gra ifying to 
note that shipments to Australa ia have shewn consider- 
able development, the export Irom Calcutta 1st April, 
1890, to 31.st January, 1891, being 4,279,000 lb., agaiust 
3,lo6,000 lb. Ill 1889-90, ami irom OolomLo 2,448,000 lb. 
against 1,076,000 Ih. To America direct sbipm. nts from 
Oalcut a are disappointing, ss they have lalieii from 
174 0001b. to 106, UUO lb. in the same period, but irom 
Oolumbo they have quadrupled, b'-ing 172,500 lb. tgaiust 
42.C00 lb. prdviiig ihit the persistent ofiorls to push 
the T ade there have bem rewardeJ. 
A.s regards the Continent of Europe export figures 
from Oacuitaand 0. lorn o are not much guide, the 
great poiti' n of the Trade being done from here. Con- 
siderable aitention has been given to the pr. motion 
of business in both India and Ceylon Tea in Kussia. 
The G.vtrnmeiit there is inclined to assist the intco- 
ductiou of these growths, and to prove the interest 
taken in the e^uestion one of the largest Eussian buyers 
in Hankow called at Colombo on his way to China 
and is repoitadto have visited several Tea gardens. 
MANUFACroRE. — Heavy shipments being expected 
from all the pioducing countries, it behoves British 
planltrs to use eveiy endeavour to prevent the market, 
being flooded with mediocre Teas of poor liquor- 
They will therelcre probably find that by plucking 
a little finer than usual they will make much better 
Tea, and in the long tun show a more satisfactory 
result financially, astue enchaiiced prices obtained will 
more than recoup them even should the total output 
he smaller. 
Garden managers are much more independent of the 
■weather than lormerly, owing to the introduction of 
withering machines, such as “ Blackman’s.” Manufac- 
ture and the use of patent dryers are also now so much 
better undersiood, that it is quite except iotial to come 
across over-tiiod, scorched, or sour invoi es, which wore 
noLicOAbie in former years, and the few that are seen 
geneitilly remit from some exceptional cause. In the 
early part of the season many of the Assams had a 
;,i ' uliar musty flavour, attributed by some to the Tea 
iiHving been packed too hot into damp or not thoroughly 
sea .lied chests. 
The requirements of the Trade vary from time to 
tin I;, but thick ncli liquoring parcels with a bright in- 
XII, lo-if, ", Inch cream over when cold, are always in 
. ' 'lucst, ( n).'ibia!)y for Ireland. Fuiige-ut Teas ot good 
flavour.' with grceiiisli lufusud leaf, have also 
neuii in dcuiand for i.V'we time past. Oeylons with 
tl-f ■■: dial .iclerislich hav/. 0 coJ’’'®dally sold at higli 
rnti- 1 , !iiit iiiiicSH (in.- qiialiiy can secured this 
' i' Of li riiientutioii is otiiigoious. It must bs 
i-ored, however, that a I'aucy article is liabjo to meet I 
with capricious sales, as in the case of Ceylon greess. 
The first arrivals of these were particularly choice, 
and brought exceptional prices, but they did not 
appear to meet the public taste generally, and later 
shipments were very difficult of sale. Teas with good 
leal are likely to be in favour, being used more freely 
by the large blender.s than Broken Pekoes, which have 
been somewhat neglected ucless possessing exceptional 
strength. Lsafy kinds are also taken for export, and 
the demand is gradually increasing. Many gardens 
now send large breaks of 200 packages or more, 
which as a rule meet with spirited competition, 
especially in the case of Pekoe Souchongs wliich are 
suitable for the terminal market. Planters would 
probably find it worth their while to bear this in mind, 
and instead of making so many breaks to go in tor 
three leading ones— viz., one first-c'ass Broken Pekoe, 
Pi koe, and Pekoe Souchong, instead of say, two Broken 
Pekoes and two Pekoes — any remaining might be 
classified as Broken Tea or Pekoe fanniugs, and occa- 
sionally an oud package or two of dust. 
Style of Package.— For the Home Trade full chests 
are ordinary tunable, though many buyers prefer 
half-chests, especially for export. Leafy kinds, lor 
self-drinking, often sell well in boxes, but to avoid 
the 1 lb. draft they should be under 28 lb. gross. 
Bulking and Packing. — A large quantity ot factory- 
bulked Tea has cume to hand, and as more care 
has been displayed in filling the chests, to as to avoid 
ernthing the leaf when treading in the last few pounos 
and thus altering its colour, they bave been in favour 
with the Trade; while exporters prefer them, as they 
can re-ship them without the leads being cut. The 
tares must not, however, vary more than 2 lb. in each 
break, otherwise every package is turned out by the 
Customs authorities for separate tare. By attention to 
the scale on which the warehouse charges are at pre- 
sent based, a considerable saving may often be effected; 
as, for example, chests weighing 199 lb. gross, are not 
charged more than those of 160 lb. Half chests weighing 
89 lb. gross, not more than tho--e of 80 Ih. Boxes 
weighing 28 lb. gross not mure thaul7ib. 
Marking, — We would again point out the objection 
which exists to marking either weight or tare on the 
packages, the name ot garden, description of tea and 
chest number being all that is necessary. 
Analysis cp Oecp. — The India crop ofl890 has, taken 
as a whole, been good, though from time to time quality 
has shown considerable ffuotuations. Some oi the 
Darjeelings have been of exceptionally fine flavour, 
while other invoices from the same garden have been 
much inferior, no doubt due to climatic influence. This 
has also bean more or less the case with the Assams, 
but gen rally the quality improved as the season 
advanced. Dooars at times have been desirable and 
chiefly of a useful quality. Caebars and Sylhe s were 
of ordinary character at first, though later shipments 
shewed some improvement. Kangras and Kumaons 
bave throughout the season been disappointing in the 
cup, with the exception of a few invoices ot each 
mark, they evidently, like the Darjeelings, having been 
affected by the inclement weather. Although some 
ot the Travancores bave been of good strength and 
flavour, the average of many gardens is low. The ap- 
pearance of the dry leaf might olten be improved, and 
no doubt this will bo remedied as the out-iurr in- 
creases. Not BO much variation in the quality of ■. eylons 
has been noticeable as in former years ; the crop, 
though a vtry useful one, has been rather deficient 
in choice parce s. The general result should be satis- 
factory to garden proprietors, as although during a great 
portion ot the season exchange has been high, they have 
not, as in the case of India, suffered from a diminution 
ill out. put through the early setting in of cold weather. 
The rise in the price of silver also acted as a salutary 
check on the shipment ot common China Congous. 
As previously noted, the general quality of Javas 
has shewn a distinct improvement in consequenoe ot 
the plants raised from Assam seed becoming more 
developed, so that in many cases they are similar, 
to Teas of India growth. Although the total aver- 
age price is still rather low, that obtained for the 
produce of several estates is very good, ranging from 
lOa, iC 
