Supplement io the “ Tropical Agriculturist." 
GEO. WHITE & CO.’S TEA REPORT FOR 1897. 
tea in CEYLON AND JAVA. 
GEO WHITE & CO.'S ANNUAL IND'A, 
CEYLON & JAVA TEA REPOBT. 
LONDON, 31, FRKCaOBCH 6TRBET, B.C., 
23rd March, 1898. 
Tn fcftlrioc a retfospeclive view of tbe eeason 
now drSg to a close, it ie evident .bat .he 
nntioipa.ion of fxceas.ve supplies, as foreshadowed 
in .ho first estimates given of the ludiitn crop, 
toaeiher with the increase >lso looked for from 
revlon. caused the trade Io exere.ss much cau- 
tier, at the outset in making purchases. Subse- 
quently however it was found that these expeot- 
Stions^ss to the yield from both .he 
ouarters would not be realized, and Ibis Io s .no 
Slent imparted coofideeoe, .hough buyers remained 
Tervoas end business was more or less qiuet 
throughonl, owing to several causes, inelud.ng the 
Jubilee feslivities and the cnginec.e strike, &c. 
India. 
The Indian Tea Asaocialion of Oalcutta in 
May 1897, originally computed .ho total out-turn 
for that ^ear at 156,669,000 . 
thought 1384 million lbs. would be available for 
Great Britain. Ibis was alltrwards r.due.d to 
148 million lbs. and 130 m.lhon lbs resprcl.v 1; 
and it would now seem that about 134 irnlhon 
lbs. will bo sent to this country f.om l'^l.‘■ 
On the other ham , imports fiom _S nth India 
(say, 3,000 000 Ibf.) are not included iii t e above 
and will about oounterbalar cs "ovoisido sbipmeii s 
from here to America, Canada, &■•. Taking this 
into consideration, there will therefore be abe t 
3 million lbs. more than Inst teason lo be di.alt 
'''o'liality from Ihe dilfertut disiricis generally w.s 
not of an atlraotive chaianer. A-taius piMVod the 
beet. Dsrjeelings were on the whole, oisiippoint- 
inp Doeare were at times g od, but the bulk 
was below that of 1896. Caobaisand b.lbets were 
of ordinary etyle, while the prodiio , ol the -Non. i 
West Districts and that of ihe Madras BreEldeocy 
was not op to that of former years. 
Tbs feature of the eeeson therefore, has been 
the euper-abnodance of plain ard charac.er.e-s 
Teas, which caused a very low range lo be rs- 
tablished for Ihe-e diaoript ons, but as a set- oft to 
this really fine full-flavound parc.ls benehUed by 
thoir comparative scarci'y, sntl commanded good 
pilots. It is disappointing neverthe ess to no M" 
that the redooed ecale of values has not, as is 
usnal, atimnlated coDsnmptioD. Io some quar.ers 
this is attributed to the impetus given In the sa.e 
of cocoa and similar artichs by ep cial alvfrtiee- 
monts which have poaeibly drown p.iblio otlention 
to them, while there is no donbt that the labour 
troubles which have effected some of onr manu- 
facturing industries, have much curtailed the spen- 
ding power ol the olssBee interested. Deliveries 
from the London Bonded Warehouses for the eight 
mon'he from let July, 1897, were 85,837,000 lbs. 
vems 86,537,000 lbs. in the previous alas n, and 
therefore did not show the expansion upro'.ed; 
while Stock at the end of February wa< 64,080,000 
lbs. against 55,425,000 lbs. on the same date in 
1897 
j.*’rom 1st Jaly, 1897, to the oloae of last moalb 
the aveiaRe for 927,000 packages sold oo g-rdea 
account was 8Jcl. per lb„ in oontra-distinetiDu to 
9§d. per lb. for 890,000 pacUagea. and 9i. per lb- 
lor 800 000 packages in the corresponding inter- 
vals of 1896-7 and 1895-6. Planters have moreover 
had to contend with the results of earlhquaKs?, 
higher rates of exchange and freight, as well as 
dearer rice owing to famine in several of the pro- 
vinces. 
CEYLON. 
Althougli scarcely equal to that of the preoed* 
ing year, the 1897 crop was on the whole fairly 
good, but there was a noticeable lack of really fine 
invoices in the public sales during the summer 
months, and consequently prices were dep-esssd, 
the average for July falling lo 7|d. p?r lb. 
After August however, quality commenced to im- 
prove and the results were more satisfactory, until 
less desirable Teas sgaio came forward. During 
the twelve months the amount which passed through 
the London Auction Boom was ; — 
1897, 1896, 1895, . 
1,138,000 pkg?. 1,049,000 pkgs, 950,0U0 pkes. 
(Av.74d. per lo.) (Av.Sid.per lb.) (Av. 8|d.per )b.) 
No doubt the decline io tbo average !s chieliy 
due to the inferior. ty of a portion of the crop 
consequent on abnormally iocUment wiaiher during 
the major part of the season. Th's foupied with 
adverse rates of exchange, fteight, &c., hts bien 
detrimental to the interests of those engaged in 
the industry. The jie'd fr.im the I la-d show- cl 
an important increase, es total extorts for 1997 were 
116,000,000 lbs. against 108,000,000 lbi=., and 
98 OOOjOOO lbs. in 1896 and 1895, while Bhiptofiiia 
to Great Britain rose to 98,998 OOO lbs. conuasted 
with 93,936,000 lbs., and 85,753,000 lbs. in the two i 
nrovious oalondar yeais. Consumption however 
more than kept pace with receipts, which were 
9T 446,000 Iba. from 1st January lo Slab December, 
cieBTances for that troop being 9.5.172, 000 lbs., oppoeed 
to 85 450,000 lbs. in 1896, of wh eh 10^ railiiofi lbs. 
was exported «n 1897, or say 2 million lbs. more 
\han in the (oregoing 12 months. 
Java. 
Simnlies to this country were moderate, the 
n«.ntrtv offered at Public tSale from the 1st July, 
lb»7 W the 28th olt., being 26,000 paoksges versus 
25,000 packages and 37,000 packages in the same 
period of 1896-1897 and 1895-1896, Qualiiy was 
fully maiatained end the style of manufacture for 
tho most part was of a very useful ''esoription, 
particularly in the. case of loaf plucked from plants 
rei ed from Assam and Ceylon seed, which has 
rendered ihe Teas serviceable to the Homo Tr.ide 
who now take them freely for blending purposes. 
Expouts PBOii the United Kingdom. 
The total amount of all Tea exported from the 
United Kir gdom during the pas’- eight months, as 
noiupaved with the two previous years, is as 
fo'lows :~ 
July Lt 1897 to end of Feb. 1898:— 
July 1st 1896 to end of February 1897 
July 1st 1895 to end of February 1896: — 
India. Ceylon. Total British China. Java. 
Grown. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
1S07-08 3,872,000 0,555,000 10,427,000 13,2^4,000 004, UOO 
1S90-07 .3,952,o00 0,131,"OU 10,033,000 13,954,000 605,000 
1.S95-06 2,730,00a 4,850,' 00 7,69-',000 13,385,000 720,-00 
and the distribution for three complete yea»s a» taken 
from statiftics furnished by the courtesy of H. M. 
Customs was as under, and from which it is evident 
that this branch of the industry is clfvelopiog, 
Continent United rcvnri.. Other 
of Europe. States. Countries. Total. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
lb. 
India, 1897 2,935,0n0 025,000 1,033,(00 91c,' 00 5,508,' 00 
Ceylon ., 6,273,000 1,625,00 1,296,' 00 1,3 -,00') 10,504,000 
.lava, Ac. „ 73l,00'» 56,000 11,600 17^,000 068,000 
Ciiirni „ 12,130,010 2,020,1100 1,368,000 4,048,000 19,566,000 
Tota s 22,r09,f'000 4,320,000 3,708.000 6,443,000 36,546,000 
Inrtla. 1896 1,809,000 903,000 847,000 841,0f'0 4,400,000 
Ceylon „ 4,085,000 1,408,000 1,266,000 1,137,000 8,196,000 
Java &c „ 707,000 88,000 31,000 172,000 1,058,000 
China „ n, 089, 000 1,979,000 1,918,000 4,341,000 10, 3i:7,000 
Totals IS, 36", 000 4,378,000 4,062,000 6,491,000 33,281,000 
India, 1805 1,59^,000 009,000 780,000 603,000 3,974,000 
Ceylon „ 3, -20, 000 1,423,00a 1,034,000 870,000 7,147,000 
Java, Ac. ,, 658, OoO 111,000 61,000 i6<,U00 99 00 
China „ 9,751,- 00 1,075,000 2,206 , OOj 6,407,1-00 18,439,000 
Tot'.ils 1.5,821,000 3,518,000 4,031,000 7,133,000 30,553,000 
Th’ followioc is a Comparative Table, shewing 
IMPOKT.S <f Tea into the Port of L-ndon from 
India, Ceylon and Chine, for twenty-three sea^-ons. 
Total 
India- Ceylon. Brit.-grown. 
25.500.000 , 200 25,500,200 
29.000. 000 
36.500.000 
35.500.000 
39.250.000 
45.260.000 
49.260.000 
55.000. 000 
60.500.000 
61.760.000 
67.250.000 
73.500.000 
Season 1875-76 
„ 1876-77 
„ 1877-73 
, 1878-79 
„ 1879-80 
„ 1880-81 
.. 1881-82 
„ 1882-83 
„ 1883-84 
, 1884-85 
, 1385-86 
188fi-87 
, 1887-83 
„ 1888-39 
„ 1889-90 
„ 1890-91 
,, 1891-92 
,, 1892-93 
,, 1893-94 
„ 1891-95 
„ 1895-96 
1896-97 
1,700 
3,500 
81,500 
104.000 
278.000 
623.000 
1.523.000 
2.263.000 
3.797.000 
6.361.000 
8.667.000 
86.750.000 15,614,000 102,364,000 
94.500.000 27,899,000 122,399,000 
100.685.000 34,290,000 134,975.000 
100.984.000 60,191,000 151,175,000 
111.017.000 63,768,000 174,786,000 
107.509.000 65,139,000 172,648,000 
114.508.000 72,124,000 186.632.000 
115.261.000 76,287,000 191,548,000 
118.182.000 83,206 000 201 388-000 
131.665.000 92,623,000 224.288,000 
29,001,700 
36,503,500 
3.5,581,600 
39.354.000 
45.528.000 
49.873.000 
.56,523,000 
62.763.000 
65.647.000 
72.611.000 
87.167.000 
PartlyBSateci} 98.000, fOO 233,000,000 
Imports into London' 'T/.ini ■nv.uscV. 
iSeason 1875-76 
„ 1876-77 
„ 1877-78 
,, 1778-79 
„ 1879-80 
„ 1880-81 
„ 1881-82 
,, 1882-83 
„ 1883-84 
„ 1884-85 
„ 1885-88 
„ 1886-87 
, 1887-88 
’ 1888.69 
„ 1889-90 
„ 1890-91 
„ 1891-92 
„ 1892-93 
„ 1893-94 
„ 1894.95 
1876-96 
„ 1896-97 
„ 1897-98 
Pa-tly Estimated 
China. 
149.000. 000 
156.000. 000 
152.000. 000 
142.000. 000 
153.000. 000 
164.500.000 
159.500.000 
146.000. 000 
148.500.000 
139.000. 000 
143.000. 000 
134.000. 000 
119.500.000 
92.500.000 
89.900.000 
69.742.000 
60.214.000 
M, 680,090 
54.372.000 
46.470.000 
40.859.000 
33.333.000 
80,000,000 
Total British 
grown & Chi- 
na Iinporto. 
174,500,200 
185,001,700 
188.503.500 
177.581.500 
192.354.000 
210.028.000 
209.373.000 
202.623.000 
211.263.000 
2^4,647,000 
215.611.000 
221.167.000 
221.864.000 
214.899.000 
224.876.000 
220.917.000 
234.999.000 
227 . 228.000 
341 000.000 
238.018.000 
242.247.000 
257.621.000 
263,000,000 
l-'a-tly iistimateu ) 
null/, untilUOih April, I890,6d.perlb.,afeenoands4d, per lb 
N',I3. — “Overside” Transhipments for thg Copti- 
Dent, America, Cinada, «fec., viaLomlon, and direct 
shipments to other Ports of the United Kingdom, 
are not included in the above. Prior to Season 
1885-1886, Ihe Ceylon figures given represent total ex- 
ports from Colombo, the proportion se-it from there 
to Foreign ports before that date bhiwif unimportant. 
Arrivals from Java are omitted, as they yavy in 
different years, being regulated according to the state 
of the markets which take them. 
The following figures will show the Exports to 
other Ports than (Groat Britain from Calcutta and 
Colombo the latter inarking conriderable developt- 
meiita. — « 
Connoent 
Lraluda- Asia. Anierica, 6|fEjirppo. Total. 
18(17-8 
lh»t5-7 
■eus-e 
0,788,000 
«.U62,I‘00 
B.ssi.ooa 
.3,300,000 
4,?3'^,000 
■1,018,000 
lb. 
2.015.000 
1.027.000 
1.084.000 
lb. 
797.000 
437.000 
076,(09 
12.096,0(0 
12.C4S 000 
12, 859, 000 
Sh'pnujiits from Colombo 12 months 
’897 I3.ia:i,gi(0 1.724,000 S.ll,' 00 
1804 n,807,n0i K'lf'S.iiOO 710,000 it,-. 
1895 O.iiSO.OOO 1,187,000 394.000 890.COO 11,81 
The Board of Trade returns (which embrace 
tUticB from all tho bonded Warehoueea in the United 
l-\726.ni0 
14,‘'32.000 
11,861,000 
sta- 
Kingdom) for the pest three c«l'’ndsr years wer" 
Home Con- Total Deli- Bonded Stock 
summion Export. verips. Dec 31 
lb. lb. lb. I'b 
1807 231.400.000 36.MG.(l(0 267.916.0 0 101.870000 
1800 227,;80.OOU 3:-i,af,0'0 26i,-i67,0a0 103,799 000 
189.5 v21,'-0i',(00 :-0, 551000 2o2,:'5',0 0 101,33i’,W0 
Owing to the check given to businefs, as indicated 
over leaf, the increase in the Home consumption 
was not so greAt as in 1896, but the quantity ex- 
ported from here shows a comparatively important 
expaDFiOD. 
It is mat unreasonable to enppose that the more 
settled condition of the iiidus;rial situation in this 
coui-try, coupled with additional p-ogi’-ra in our 
dealings with foreign partp, will admit of improved 
bu in'ss throughout the coming twelvemonth^, and 
the-efore to conclude tha'. our requirements will 
grow, and ihat we ehall b'- able to dispose of 
275,000,000 ib?. No official (stimales of the India 
Crop are yet to band, tut «e may probably lock 
(or tbe undermentioned supplies from the aeviial 
producing enuntrioe, viz. : — 
India (including the Madras 
Presidency) ... ... 138,000,000 lb. 
Ceylon ... ... ... 102,000,000 lb. 
Java ... . ... 5,000,000 lb. 
Leaving China lo furniEh, say ... 30,000,000 lb. 
275,000,000 lb. 
PnosPECTS. 
Should climatic conditi' ns be favourable and tlie 
1898 crop prove good it will be cf muoh assistance 
to the market. By the time the new Teas from 
India arrive io lulk the Bonded Stock, which at 
the moment looks rather heavy, will roost likely 
be wrrked down, a'^d the Trade will opi=rate with 
confidence if there is a prospect of dealirg with 
devirahle end attractive parcels from both India 
a-id Ceylon. During tbe sensnn row under review 
buyprs have been overwhelmed wiih a heavy supp y 
nf uninto-e=ting quality, wbiob has led to a very 
low range of value for all but “stand out" gra-les, 
resulting in disappointment to nrarly aU those 
interes'ed in the industry. 
If tho figures given above should prove accurate 
there would apprar lo be no difficluty in dUtributiog- 
the increased yield of Btitirh-grown Tea. ic 
must however be borne in mind that we have 
hitherto been able lo meet the snnually augmentfd 
out-torn from India and Ceylon by a reduction in 
shirmeuts to this oouniry from China, which in 
1880 81 reached the hiuh total of 164^ million lbs. 
and are now only *-bout 30 million lbs. A further 
diminution from this (luarter can, perhaps, hardly be 
looked for, .and (htr-uore it is neesdsory that every 
endeavour should be made to further fosver oiher 
market", as has been done for eonie lim« passed 
with con.siderable success by both thi India aod 
Ceylon Tea Associations ar.fl other agencies in 
Rus ia and various parts of the Cootment ss well 
13 in Ca.1 iuIa ;>nd America. If llu locJ cousump- 
lion in tbo Eaet Indies amonget the teeming 
native populat'oos could also be encouraged, a 
large quantity of course leaf and dust might be 
worked off which at prerent often does cot realise 
sufficient to cover cost and freight lo this coun- 
try aod tends lo increase the supply of poor nnd 
low c’sss glades which aje really not warned. Tbe 
interests of growers woul<i be much benefitted if 
a mutual movement in this direction could be 
made by some influential Association which miebt 
be subbii'lsed, even if it was Qonsidered advisable 
to make a compulsQiy “cees'* for that purpose on 
each property. 
MANUFACTURE. 
Now that 30 many improv' ments in machinery 
for wilbeiing, fermenting, lollmg acd drying the 
green leaf have bee" intriduced, it set ms that not 
so much scope is 1- ft fur aua-lvame in this di- 
rection as form'rly, and it br comes more aod more 
evident that the gnat veriations in quality (again 
noticeable in the past season) are altnoet entirely 
at'ributablo to climatic infinenoe while the flushes 
are n^uturiog. Qver this stage the Manager can 
exercise po coDt-rpl, -buti by directing bis eupervi- 
siip to plucking and the diffvrept" processes of 
manafg'.'ture ^ gopd deal may be to c iuq- 
t^ract tbe effects of q-’toward weather, Inst ed 
of ppFnding la'ge sums of money on new clear-r 
aiices It would often be advantageous to inoresBe 
the labour force and coDoeotrate aiteot on on the 
oultiva'iou and improvement of existing gardens. 
Expeii(nce has proyed that on tbe m jority of 
estates, especially those situated at a high eleva- 
tion, moderately flue plucking, whiob means 
the tmp oymtnb of a full ^staff, gives the be»t 
result, and i i localitirs where Teas ^wiih special 
point ]^e pigduced |t would perhaps be 
better to alvivo after th§ attgioment of this, e8r 
peoially when ordinary and meiliocre desoriptioua 
from low lying g'ir>:ens predominate. These remarks 
apply to parts of Assam, Darjeeling and Ceylon, 
where choice flavoured Tt-as can be made ami where 
by tbe enobanced prices obtainable the course sug- 
gested syugld probably often pay even if quantity 
was reduced, * 
Size of Breaks. 
No alteration bas been made in the limits for 
large breaks since laEt year which stand as un- 
der, viz. ; — 
Indian — 20 Chests 30 Half-Chesfs, 50 Boxes. 
Ceylon — 18 CheAs, 24 Half-Chests, 40 Boxes. Breaks 
of Irsser si;te are sold separately at tbe close of 
tho auctions, 
Assortment 
As the whole crop from Ind-a has practically 
to be dealt with in about six monthe, owing to 
tbe greater facilities now afforded by railways and 
accelerated steamer traneit, while during this busy 
period large quantities are also coming forward 
from Ceylon, buyera complain of the succession 
of small »^hipments which are often despatched at 
slort intervals from tbo same est'<tc, aod this 
should, if possible, be obviated. The sorting into 
too many grades is also inadvisable. A Broken 
Pekoe of say 30 chests or more ; a good Pekoe 
of 50 chests or over; a Pekoe Sououong of 70 
chests or upwards; with a break of Broken Tea 
or Pekoe Faoniogs will generally be found to an- 
swer. Parods oontaioing dust are not readily sale- 
hble and therefore this should be sifted out' and 
packed by itself, for which purpose some of the 
patent packages now in vogue might be utilized 
so as to avoid leakage on the voyage result- 
ing in the loss of weight which often occurs 
with country made chests. The exception to 
tlio foregoing is when a tippy Brokm Orange 
Pekoe or Orange pekoe can be made, as these 
when really floe usually command high figures, 
whether from India or Ceylon. Should the quantity 
of leaf available for this not suffice for a full sized 
break in Chests it might be packed in Half-Chests. 
N. B. — In view of the low scale of piicea now 
established any plan that will efifect a raving in 
the haodling of Teas will be of interest to the 
grower and we have therefore compiled a few hints 
as regards packages, bulking, Ac. , waiehous'j charges, 
and weighing, and thes^ innt.ers are dealt with in 
our “ Notes for tbe Tea Factory,” published separ- 
ately, uupies of which we shall oe happy to furnish to 
thosu conu^rned in tbe cultivation of tho article. 
ANALYSIS OF CROP FROM INDIA- 
The yield from this district bas on the whole been 
above the average, many of the shipmuots being of 
a very desirable character, whilst tbe leaf of those 
possessing autumn flavour was in most c ses devoid 
i-f the leddisu bppearanoe wuich often depreciates 
tbe value of closiog invoices. Owing to ihe scar- 
city of good liquoring parcels from other quariers 
the Trade was acxious to secure these at euhanc d 
pne 8. Output for 1897 was baiey up to that 
of tbe previous ye^r, being 58 million Ibe. against 
5g^ million lbs. in 1896 and compares with 55^ 
million lbs. in 1895. 
CACBAR AND SYLHBT. 
As a ru'e the crop was below par in oup, but the 
Teas were well made and of a saleabele description. 
Tbe total manufacture was ratber more viz* • 464 
.opposed to 45i million lbs. and’ S9J 
million lbs. m the two preceding seasons. 
DARJEELING AND TEBAI. 
Wilh few exceptions quality was decidedly inferior 
aod averages disappointing almost throughout, 
weather having been very unp-opitious for the pro- 
duction of fine flavour. For ihne seasons, 11, iU 
and lOJ million lbs, were sent away. ^ 
DOOAPS. 
Although receipts were of a fairly useful chara- 
cter throughout, tbeio was a lack of invoices with 
fu.l ooloury il-fu^ion8 similar to those of 1896. 
On acooun-. of tho increased acreage coming into 
beating nearly 24 miil -n lb-*, were despatched 
from the gardens, contrested wilh 22 nnd 20 million 
lbs. in the two years befo e. 
CUnTAGONG. 
Theio ia nothing special to note in tbo ouUurn 
from here, the yield being about the same as last 
year, viz., 1,000,000, as against 800,000 lbs. in 1896. 
KANOBA, DBBA-DOON AND KUMAON, * 
Weather appeira to have been unfavourable all 
through the seaaon for making the fine quality 
for which the former diatrict waa noted, while the 
crop from the l»at two coulinuea to be principillv 
diapoied cf locally. The Quaniity manufaetutocl 
waa Bimilar to that (or Ihe last two jeaia, namely 
about 4 million lbs. 
TRAVAHCORE ADN 9. INDIA. 
From tho Madras Presidency a few nice flavoured 
leas have been received, espeoially from amouK 
those grown on the Neilghetry Hills and Ibo 
Wynaad. Toe l.rger amount, however, hos come 
from Iravaneore, wbieh though of ueelul style 
wih few txceptions, did not show the strong dark 
liquors, which at one t-me wore a leading feature 
of these Teas. About 3 million lbs. have been 
shipped to this country, against 25 and 2+ milbon 
b-: in 1896 and 1695, respectively. 
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