984 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Oct, I, 1897. 
91,800,000 lb. ; in 1895, 96,.500,000 lb. ; and n 1896 
over 100,000,000 lb. Canada imported in 1896 about 
22,000,000 lb. These figures are unofficial, and too 
much reliance must not be placed upon them. The 
tea for American consumption, however, is supplied 
almost wholly from China and Japan. The consump- 
tion of British-grown tea, althongh increasing, is in- 
significant. According to Mr. Blechynden, the agent 
of the Indian Tea Association, Indian tea is displacing 
the China varieties in the American market. Although 
the capture of this market would be a valuable prize 
for the Indian tea industry, we do not think that it 
is in this displacement that British planters can look 
for relief from the threatened evils of over-production. 
The American consumption averages only 1^ lb. per 
head of the population, against 8 or 9 lb 
for the United Kingdom, and we note also that Mr. 
Blechynden, in his 1896 report, specially qualifies his 
statement regarding the displacement of China teas, 
by adding, parenthetically, “not Jap.an.’’ This indi' 
oates that the energetic and enterprising Jap will prove 
a more formidable competitor than his neighbour, the 
Chinaman. We think, therefore, that the best chance 
for Indian and Ceylon tea lies i . creating a demand of 
its own, not in attempting to take the market — and 
that a comparatively small one— from rival varieties. 
That would come later, in the natural course of things. 
British-grown tea is steadily making its way in the 
favour of our American cousins and Canadian breth- 
ren as the following statistics, being the imports 
from 1690 to 1895, will show : — 
1890 
1891 
1892 
2,364,152 lb. 
2,635,772 ,, 
3,208,655 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 (C. S.) 9,474,019 lb. 
4,211,075 lb. 
5,379,542 „ 
9,283,144 „ 
This improvement continues, and Mr. Wm. McKenzie, 
the agent of the Ceylon Association, reports that the 
shipments of Ceylon and Indian teas for London to 
North America in January and February of this year 
amounted to 1,202,0001b. against 262,0001b. in the 
corresponding months of the previous year. There was 
also a much larger shipment direct from Colombo 
and Calcutta, although he adds that the apprehension 
that a duty might be put upon tea may partly account 
for the enorm us increase. Notwithstanding this, it is 
estimated that during the present year the American 
market will take upwards of five or six million lb. 
more than in 1896. If this expectation be realised — 
and there is every indication that it will — the outlook 
for Biitish-grown tea securing at least a f<ir propor- 
tion of iha American market is very favourable. Still 
there is the Japanese competition to meet. Already 
the Japanese Governinent has voted a sum of about 
245,000 dols. to be expended over a period of seven 
years in the United States for the purpose of pushing 
the sale of Japan teas. 
Outside of the United Kingdom, Australia is the 
largest consumer of British-grown tea. The tea drink- 
ing of the Australians is a by-word among nations, and 
it is in this market that the grower of Indian and 
Ceylon has the best chance of expansion, for here again 
he comes into competition with the China tea, which 
he has already shown he can easily beat. The quantity 
of British gi'own tea consumed in the Australias is 
steadily increasing, having risen from eight millions to 
sixteen million lb. in the years 1891-6. In the last 
season the direct export from India and Ceylon was 
n- million lb. out of a total import into Australia of 
28 000 000 lb. This represents a considerable displace- 
ment of the China variety. 
The other great possible market is Europe, and here 
again the outlook is distinctly promising. Tea is com- 
ing more and more into favour in the countries of the 
n C A C M r Q Q a really 
UtArii^-GOi genuine Cure for Deafness. 
Ringing in Ears &c. , no matter how severe or long 
stainling, will he sent post free. — Artificial Ear- 
drums iuid similar appliances entirely superseded. 
Address THOMAS KEMFE, Victoria Cham- 
bers, 19, Southampton Buiruings, Holborn, 
London. 
Continent. lu the short space of five years the con- 
sumption has increased in Russia and Germany from 
1 to 4| millions lb. ; in Turkey and Persia fr.im 4^* to 
6J millions. The French have not yet t. ken toil. In 
1896 only 200,000 lb. was imported, although this is an 
increase of 100 per cent, in five years. In all these 
countries, however, there is promise of very consider- 
able development. 
In determining the value of tea shares, it is also 
necessary to consider several ciicumstances which 
are much in their favour. For the most part the 
Companies are not over-capitalised, and, in the 
second place, speaking generally, they are managed 
by practical busiue.ss men of great experience either 
in tea planting, or in the tea market ac home, or who 
are well versed in Indian and Ceylon administiatioa ' 
There are, perhaps, fewer “ ornamental'’ directors in 
this industry than in any other of equal importance 
in the City. The trade is also a secure one — for tea 
is not a commodity which is at all likely to lose its hold 
on public favour. 
With combined and energetic action on the part of 
British planters the new markets indicated above should 
furnish an appreciable outlet for the increased out- 
turns. If growers do not find some such outlet the price 
of tea, which has already fallen 2d per lb. within 
the last few years, must fall still further. 
EiiiiATCM. — In the statistical table in our previous 
article, the dividend on the ordinary or “C’’ shares 
of the new Dimbula Co. appeared as 6 pet ceu .; 
it should have been 14 per cent. The net profit of 
i‘20,323, on a capital of £86,200, mado the mistake 
obvious. — Investors' Guardian, Aug. 21. 
DRUG REPORT. 
(From the Chemist and Druggist.) 
Loudon, Sept. 9th. 
Cinchona.— The auctions to be held in Amsterdam 
on September 80th will con.sist of bags and 366 
cases Java bark, details of which will be published next 
week. The stock in first hands now consists of :I,6tl 
packages, exclu.sive of above quantity. The stock in se- 
cond hands have also decreased by l,.'i03 packages. Tlie 
exports of cincliona bark from Java during the period 
from July 1st to June 30th have been as follows : 
1896-7 
1895-6 
1894-5 
1S93-4 
Amst. 
Amst. 
Amst. 
Amst. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lie 
Private Planta 
tions 
8,826,536 
8,401.28'2 
8,030, 5i(3 
6.961. 296 
Government 
Plantations 
615,255 
707,103 
674,471 
467,1.10 
9,441,791 
9,108,385 
8^705,057 
7,128,333 
Cocaine. — It is reported that one continental manu- 
facturer is offering Hydvochlorate at 8s 6d per oz., but 
we have not heard of any business at this figure. The 
makers of B. & S. brand do not seem to be ottering, 
though the nominal quotation is from 9.sto9s0d per oz, 
.Seven packager crude have arrived, per the “ Atrato,” 
from Callao. 
Cocoa-butter. — At auction on "Wednesday 800 cases 
(30 tons), Cadbury's brand, sold at iHd to ll^d, the 
average being about 11 13-16th d. against 10#d per lb. in 
August.^ One hundred and fifty cases of Dutch were 
bought in at lOJd per lb. At the Amsterdam auctions, 
held on September 7, 85,000 kilos (S4 tons) Van Iloiiten’s 
brand were offered, and sold at prices ranging from 
60c to 63c per kilo (equal to Is to Is 0.)d); 30,(10 kilos 
(29J tons) Hamer sold at 59c (equal to II Id). For 1.5,000 
kilos (15 tons) Holland.sche 55c (Ud) was’ bid, ami re- 
fused ; 7,600 kilos (7-: tuns) Mignon were bought in, 
59c {11 jd) being refused. Of 4,0o0 kilos (4 tons) .Sueh- 
ard’s brand ottered, 2,000 kilos sidd at 58c the leraain- 
der being bought in. On the whole, the market was 
irregular. 
Oils (Essenti 1).— Citronella oilis steady, but unchanged, 
at Is 2d to Is 2Jd per lb. on the spot for either drums 
or tins. Owing to the continued rise in cloves the 
English oil has been advanced Id per lb., making list- 
price I’S 3d per lb. for opt., and 2s Id per lb. for B 
quality, these prices being without engagement consider- 
ing the strong positio 1 of the article. Lemongrassis firm 
g.t 2 lM6th d. to 2Jd per oz. c. i. f. terms. 
