379 
December r, 1891.') THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
N0TE8 ON PRODUCE AND FINANCE. 
Then ani> Now.— A few y.*ars ago it wai quite a 
tiifiicnlt ointtcr to prOi.‘uro pure lutlian tea from the 
retailer. lu iesuofl of tliis paper, published in 1881 
and 1882, we frequentlly called attention to the 
projiidioo shown by grocers to toa of Indian growth, 
and the difficulty experienced in purchasing it 
without an admixture of China toa. All this 
is now altered. The giooer now takes a Tory dif- 
ferent view of the matter a: il their trade organs no 
longer giro a •' friendly Dad ’’ to the Chinese leaf. 
In an article on tea. which appeared in the Northern 
Ooanties Grocer's Jtsckw, wo fiud the following 
“The introduotion of Indian tea into England 
was gradual, but retailers, having once comraenoed 
to use it in their blends, very soon began to in- 
crease the proportion, it giving a superior flivour 
to the China |iroduct. No stronger proof can he 
adduced of the hold which Indian tea has obtained 
in Great Britain than the iuorcasing percentage of 
the total amount of tea consumed. Its progress 
may have been slow, hut it has been sure ; no taint 
of adulteration has ever sullied the reputation of 
British-grown tea; its purity has been al-ovo sus- 
picion, and its character uuimpeaohsble. The substitu- 
tiou of maohinery for the performance of many of 
those functions which in China are carried on by 
the ^ hands of the natives greatly reduces the prob- 
ability of oontaminatiou, aul tends to pteservo the 
aromatic properties natural to the loaf.” Of Ceylon 
tea the same artiole sav8r-“The developrnontrfthe 
tea industry in Ceylttn is of sucli comparatively 
recent date that the luatory of the euterpriso is of 
very great interest, showing, ns it does, that the 
pluck and endurauoo of the colonists, after having 
passed through somo most disastrous duauciai 
diffioiiities, is likely to lead fo one of the greatest 
indnstrios of our Eastern possessions. Tho bulk in 
fact nearly the whole of the exports of Ceylon tea, 
have been consigned to EugUnd, but the aunuat 
statistical retnrns show that the Coutinent and America, 
and nearly every tea-driiikiug country have fouad 
out the value of Ceylon tea, ant nppreciato the 
same, includiug Russia, which has during tho past 
season taken a considerable qmntity of tho finest 
favoured teas.” 
Last Week’s TE.e MAniCET. — Discussing last week's 
tea market, the Grocer says; — Homo trade la most 
depressing, and export is worse. Tho famine in 
Russia is so bad, that there is no likelihood 
of their being able to take Monings in any 
quantity from hero, and the fate of all tho fine 
Niugchows left looks sad. Our market docs not want 
them over Is. per lb., and that only lu limited 
quantity, but we believe at 7d. to lOd. (tho price at 
which medium to fine Ningchows are now soiling, 
tho trade must find they are of nso to thorn. Teas 
now oiler splendid value, but dealers are most un- 
willing buyers. The feeling is “panic,” but wo 
cannot holfevo it will go on, as present rates must 
have tho effect of stopping very oonsidorably the 
export from China; this idea is reflected in the 
clearing-house by hardening qiiotations for tho 
spring months. The heavy supply and low quoto- 
tiQiis of common Indians is amo very bad for tho 
market— they are so poor that they are not wanted 
by trade- low-priced Cliinaa offer them bettor 
value, and are more naefnl in blending. What 
tho trade want (in quantity) is good Indian toa 
about 8d. to lOd. per lb., not sixpenny batliy 
hot water. Tlio quantity of Ceylon is falling oil, 
and quality is iraproviug, so that prices and the position 
get stioiiger each week. Einfst grades Csyloii tea 
have been in strong demand, and mark au advance 
of Id to 2d. Estates suoh as Tortswood, Uoatfell, 
Invery, and Chapoiton maintain a standard of high 
quality, and realise piviportionato rates. Nearly 
16,000 packages were offered. Commoucst kinds still 
move at low rates. Tho market olosoa with a healthy 
tone. Tho statistiosof this artiolo for September, just 
completsd, sliow that the imports into Loudon wore 
4,71d,2001h., against 3,244,8001b. in 1890 ; and notwith- 
standing that tile deliveries for tho menth were 
heavy, viz., 5,277,4001b., instead of only 3,960.4601b 
in tlie previous year, the stock of 16,682,3001b. on 
the lat inet. exhibited a considtrable excess — via. 
one of not les-s than 0,701,900’.h. Tho total landing, 
of tea of all kindo at this port during Soptombes 
have reached 28, 452, 1601b. as compared with 22,342,390 
lb. in 1890; so that as thejoiet deliveries have not 
exceeded 20,437,20018. against Sl.514, 65016. in tho same 
month last year, the general stock has been largely 
augmented, end now present a relative surplus of 
8,800 7001b. 
The Recent Spkcuiation in Copfeb.— The recent 
disfurbsoce in the coffee markets of Havre, Hamburg, 
and Antwerp is due, says the f'inaimat ^etas, to tho 
operations of a ciiquo who have tried fo " corner ” 
coffee. In July Ust tho brilliant idea was conoeivod of 
cornering ooffes in Europe, in face of the largest coffee 
crop ever marketed in Brazil, The rig was palpable, 
and liad a certain amount of success because of the 
discinlinatiou of merchants to sell "September ’’ owing 
to ttio sraall stocks in Europe and the generally strong 
stat'slical position at the time of the article. Then the 
October position was taken in hand, and prices of this 
delivery were also advanood by leaps and bounds, until 
at last merchants felt that tho clique had over-stepped 
the mark, and offered freely ooffoe for shipment from 
Brazil at lower and lower prioos, until the rig utterly 
collapsed and loft the clique with a large stock of high* 
priced coffee. 
The Board of Thadh Ketdbns anh Pboddcb.— 
The Board of Trade Returos for tho post month at« 
ugsiu nnsatisfaotory, especially as regards the exports, 
but it niu-t ho rumeraberod that in September, 1890, 
tl.e exports wore swollen by cxira shipments to the 
United .States. The imports ara valued at £34,189,000, 
a decrease of £1,362, 000, or about 3i per cent.; and 
thuexpnrts at .£20.703,000, a decrease of £1,971,000, 
or about 8J per oeut. Tho import of tea for the month 
is 27,078,703 lb., representing in value by £1,201,409 
as against 22,490 7‘jI9 in Sept. Inst year, represent- 
ing in value 1,021,661. CefPje 48,533 owt., against 
32,788 in the corresponding period last year. The in 
creased receipts of tea are tnaiuly caused by the Chinei- 
ehipments being much heavier. At the same time there 
is a decreased oonsumplion of China tea, Ceylon sorts 
being in demand. Tho oanc-producing countries have 
oontributod to swell the total of raw sugar; for in- 
sfanoe, the receipts from Java, which in September, 
1890, were nrf, last month were 189,481 owt., and from 
the Philippine Islands and the British East Indies the 
landings were 153,403 owt. and 1,38,820 owt. respoc- 
lively, against 38,700 owt. and 78‘903 owt. The sources 
of our supply of wheat have changed considerably 
siuofi last year. For example, Russia, which sent us 
1.893.287 owt. in September, 1890, has only shinpod 
620,603 cwf. ; the Roumanian supply has dropped from 
1 ,6-27,1 83 owt. to 110,652 owt., and tho Australasian from 
391,176 owt. to ?73,107 owl. On the other hand, the 
Uniled Status sent us nearly twice as much as last 
year, the quantity being 2,791, 60'3 owt. oompnted with 
1,410,927 cwt., and in addition 1,014,007 owt. of wheat 
flour were received thence, compared with 887,587 owt. 
Chili, the Rritish East Indies, and Canada alsoappoar 
to liave surpluses nf wheat, as the shipments in each 
case were larger. — II. and V. Mail, Got. 9th. 
— 4 
THE RETAIL PROFIT ON TEA. 
Tho interest of tho ton planter in the product he 
oultivates is not confined to tho price it realises in 
•Mincing Lane, hut extends to the retailing of tea as 
well as tho le'ailer and his profits. Two trade 
journals, whose province it is to guard and protect 
the grocer from the harm tliat besets him in thia 
sinful world had something to say Inst week on the 
subject of toa aud the profit made on it by tho retailer. 
TkA PUIFBBS AND the ObOCKBS. 
Taking the above for ita theme, the Produce Markets' 
Herirw says In not very remote times there was a 
certain respect ibility attached to the toa trade, but 
it has now evidently fallen on evil days. Even a 
