November 2, 1S91.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
341 
remarks that it seems strange in view of the fact tiiat 
the shipowners of Liverpool are the largest carriers 
by sea of any port in the world, that Liverpool mer- 
chants should buy their teas in London. It is un- 
doubtedly straogo. Indian and Ceylon tta planters 
would, however, be very glad if the idea suggested in 
the Journal of CoinmiYce were acted upou, anything 
tending to increase the sale of tea in the north of 
IUnglaud and in Wales being greatly to their advantage. 
Loudon brokers and dealers, uo doubt, use the matter 
iu a very different light. 
A Pat on thk Back — Oeylon planters have no cause 
to complain of the amount of advioe gratis showered 
on them. The Financial rVeav eajs ; “ Since we last re- 
ferred to Ceylou and Indian teas the new season’s 
imports have assumed large proportion*, the excess 
over last year of the Ceylon product alone btiog 50,000 
packages, aud the increased shipment from Calcutta 
d0,000 packages. The bopos of British tea planters, 
aud those of Ceylon particularly, must rest less upon 
a largo output lh:iu au improvement iu the quality 
and ‘keeping* properties of the leaf; and from that 
point of view it is satisfactory to find that the 
more reoent shipments are marked by an advance in 
quality, and are realiting better prices thou the earlier 
parcels.” 
Last Week's Tka Mauket.— Discussing last week's 
tea market, the Grocer siysi— The market is suffer- 
ing from a state of unoirtuiiily. Supplies from liidis 
up to date have been some <1,000,000 lb over last 
season, and the total outturn for 1891-92 is estimated 
to reach some 10,000,000 10 more. China export up 
to dale is also some 400,000 lb over last year, hut there 
the season has been earlier, and wo are told that 
the total export from China a ill be from 10,000,000 1 b 
to 15,000,000 lb less than Isat year. The present state 
ol the market is mest nuaatisfactory, aud ruinous lotaas 
are already being faced, but such a state of affairs 
must materially affect the ultimato supply. Ceyluus 
are at last beginuing to come iu in moderate quantity 
aud as the quality is improving, so are prices, aud there 
IB no getting away from the fact that Ceylon tta is 
carrying everytbiug before it. Wo are s. fftring greatly 
from the want of an export demau.l in the opou 
market— yol export ffgures aro good np to date. 
Dealers say they are doing no trade, yet the weekly 
deliveries ate splendid, aud continue to show increase 
upon luoreafo. The general position is a puzzle, aud 
it makes one come to the conclusion that the trodo 
is going into a few hands. Supply and demand holi 
the key to the positmn— two or three millions too 
much may lower prices pence per lb. and ifce tersa. 
The bulk of the supplies from all parts are of poor aud 
undesirable quality. Taking into coiusidoraiion the 
ciroumstiineo that this has been another week of 
excessively heavy supplies, and that the trade re- 
quires more breathing lime to work off the extra 
large quaniitiea that have, as it w. re, been forced 
upon tnem of late, it must be admitted that the 
market for Indian tea has maiutaiiicd great steadi- 
ness since our last report, for no less than 31,9B0 
packages Assam aud other kinds have been offered 
at public sale, and have b:en nearly all oloartd 
The common qiialitiea, as usual, have been the sorts 
to Buffer more from the effects of ovcr-aupply than 
most other desoriptious, aud as even some of these 
have been rather worse than belter than llio ordinary 
run of New Season’s tens, their disposal has not been 
completed without holders cocasionnlly submitting to 
lower prices; otherwiae.the almost too numerous auctions 
have passed off fairly well. Supplies of Oeylon teas 
coming forward are getting snisiUr,and the market is 
firm. Fiuest grades aro scarce, ana sell at hardening 
prices. Low and common kinds continue to sell nt 
very low rates. Much of this ten would be scarcely 
saleable if it was not Oeylcn, and proves what a hold 
111 has ill the country. Tbs depression iu the market 
has been due to the almost entire absence of fine 
grades. The Produce Markets' Jteeieio says— 'J'ho 
large imports have oniply auppHad the market with 
a good general assortment ot Indian tea. The 
demand for moat grides is active, and prices cx- 
oeptiug for the oonftnouer sorts, havo on the whole 
been maintained. For the lowest grades the m irko 
has now touched a point which will enable them to 
bo more generally need in tho commoner blends, and 
buyers have purchased more freely, as these teas now 
compare favourably with the values of tho lower 
kinds of Ceylon growths. However, a.s the proportion 
of the lower grades bids fair to bo large, aud quite 
Buflioieut to meet any reasocablo increase in the eon- 
samptioD, the market will no doubt continno favour- 
aMo to buyers for some time to come. For the med- 
dium kinds there has been a good enquiry, aud 
excepting for teas giving a poor infusion, which sold 
at easier rates, prices havo remained eteady. 
The fine and finest descriptions ointinue to meet 
with brisk competition, especially the Assam and 
Darjeeling growths. The supplies of Ceylon Teas have 
sgain been coniparatively small, and prices have been 
well maintained; there is, however, so far no 
appearance of a repetition of tho large advances in rates 
which took place last and the preceding year, and 
buyers havo not apparently pnrohassd in advance of 
requirements, except, perhaps, of the lowest grades, 
aud these not to any great extent. The shipments 
for the present month bid fair, however, to be small 
and the stock at the end of the month will probably 
bo reduced some two million pounds. The quality of 
the pieseut snppliea still maiutaina the late improve- 
ment, aud the demand for the country is consequeutlv 
quite satisfactory.—//, and 0. Mail. 
SPEOULATION IN TKA. 
To tho Editor of the Home and Colonial Mail. 
your article entitled “ Speculative dealings 
111 Indian Tea,’ in last week's issue, you suggest the 
necessity of " combined action ” on the nart of tea 
iinDorters to avoid au “ undue disturbance of value ” 
.. ““‘i ‘1*8 “Ofal difference between a 
bull purohaso and a •' bear ” ssle ; but your readers 
will, I should think, fail to noto any nioe dlstioc 
lion. You invite importers to lay their heads together 
to regulate supplies, but you reflect on what von call 
the *• bear game.'* I should sy (hat on, Han^aefioa 
IS as moral as another. I 1 have reason to believe 
that prices will be lower this day month I oaii make 
plans aooordmgly. If another man thinks that by 
holding back Ilia tea he can affeot tho price lot him 
do BO. As the rnraours for and against tl,« . 
they count for nothing. StatltL Te open “o al 
and each rauBl judge for himself. Any nJniGer of 
argnmo.its about regn Uting the supplies will u?t affect 
the law of supply and demand. It is impos.iMrto 
bull the ten msrkel to any appreciable extent. 
to^"°bMr’*^*it^°** *" oooasioually made 
Tea, ike tho other products dealt in in Mincing Luio 
must take its ebanoo. It is part of an imouitor’s 
bnsiucss to study tho market and do tho host ho o»n 
with his produce; but I doubt if he will Xot Lmh 
by endeavouring to regulate the supplies. My Spirop 
as a constant loader, is that vonr Innrroi nP' 
nmeh for.te, planters, b„t I dHt t"low th^e iS 
are to gam by taking your advioo in this inslanor 
obodioiitly, OusekveS 
[We publish the shore letter, bnt doolino to 
di6cus3 the apeenUtivo operations in (o» from 
tho»r mor a standpoiiit. although we Rhm.],? ^ “ 
“bull** operator the best ot if on a onf.o., * 71 ^* 
kind. One argument in the inte^ests^ of Indian 
Ceylou tea growers was that a ''beat” of cither stooTs'* 
ke^ aid 't^t ^hl ’ ‘’'f tc.-lopreeuuf he mJr-’ 
Ket, and that this, so far as tea is concerned, is an 
inipoctaiit mstter to planters and importers who rely 
upon disintorented advioe from Loud< as to the stale 
cf the market. In the interest of the tea grower we 
deeply rcKret that tea haa been iutrodnoed into feh« 
game ct speculation. Our correspeudent's oontsntinn 
that ro useful purpose is served bj regulating tho 
plies placed ou the market must be takeu fop 
is worth, and in our opinion this is verv litf 
dots not rtquire tjio exercise of romarWahii . *1 
arrive at thu ooimhiRinn th*f if Wit'dom to 
arrive at the oonclusion that if a mrysw? .® dom to 
hurled on a market already overstoXT‘]hL'f “s 
prices IS not stimulating, lor is it ft on 
tiiom an upward tendoLy.— Ed U C? M 
