March i, 1892.] 
TMP TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
639 
of the year, but the low prices of tlie last three 
months have again given them an impetus, and 
when the figures are made up at the end of the 
year we expect deliveries will be just under 
102 million lb., or say, 1 million lb. loss than last 
year. The total import for IKIK)-!)! season was just 
under 10(> million lb., so tliat there was some 
justification for a rise at the beginning of this 
year. [Tnluckily, spoculators rushed in and raised 
prices so higli that they drove the teas out of 
consumption, and got left high and dry with 
stock they had to take 2d. to 3a. per lb. loss on, 
w'honever anyone could bo found to relieve them 
of their burden. The year onenod at Jd. to Id. per 
111. advance, with a splendiu demand for teas for 
price, say Ud, per lb., while Pekoes were also Id to 
2d per lo. higher at opening. Merchants offered 
their teas as fast as tliey could, but prices con- 
tinued to rise right up to the end of April, 
until 105 was reached for typo grade, hut good 
and stylish Pekoes only brought Jd to Id 
per lb more. At the beginning of May 
undesirable teas began to waver, and from then 
onward prices dropped steadily, and holders were 
glad to nnd buyers at any price, so that by the end 
of Juno 8Jd was about the (^rotation for Pekoe 
Souchongs, and Pekoes only a little better. It will 
be remembered that the crop of was not so 
good as that of the previous season, while tho 
present crop is stili worse; the bulk is with no 
point, and more than half of tho supplies up to date 
(say two-thirds of tho crop) has been sold under 8d 
per lb. One exception must be made, and that 
must- be for Diu'jcelings— some of the better teas 
this year having fine llavour and bouquet, whereas 
last season they were dull and pointless. Teas 
under 9d per lb. are now from Id to 2d per lb. 
cheaper than at this time last year, but goo j liquoring 
pekoes about lid to Is 2<t of which we had an over- 
supply last seasoD, a^'e quite 11 to 2d p:ir ib dearer 
quality considered. Fine teas are again very scarce 
and realise extreme rates. The new season’s have 
come forward very fast, and wo have already had some 
10 million lb more than last season to date. The new 
crop is now estimated at 108 million lb. for this market 
RO that we have already bad more than the surplus. 
Prices are temptingly low, and there are already symp- 
toms of higher prices. The first of the newsoafon’s came 
of in July very poor and thin, from Tjd to 8d for pekoes 
and pekoe souchongs, and old teas were being used 
instead, as showing much belter value. Sales ^ot 
very heavy in September, and common nnd undesir- 
able teas were quoted easier etery week up to the 
beginning of December, when there was a sudtleu rise 
of Id to .^d per lb. On the other hand, good-liquoring 
and finer teas oontiouod to improve iu value and were 
well competed for at full prices and at over last 
season’s rates, the rise in good Pekoes and Broken 
Pokoo being 2d to 3d per lb. between September and 
the middle of Deoember. Before the end of the year 
dealers had got rid of all their oil stock, and the 
feeling was mooh more hopeful, ns there was a large 
trade doing, and a very healthy, firm naarket. Stock 
on January lat, 1891, was 36^ million Ib , or 1 J 
million lb. leas than January Ist, 1890, while the season 
ended on May Slat with 20^ million lb. stock against 
undvr 27^ miUions in 1890. 
Ceylon Tea. 
Is nnliko the 'faded honuty,’ that U put on 
the shelf when yonth nnd freshness are past. No 
^^ival can yet replace her, althoogh the true rich 
Oeylon flavour is Beldoin to ho met with now. Tho 
hulk of this year’s crop has been very poor, and 
many of the teas have been raw and ooarso-hurnt, 
and often characterised as ‘Indian kind.* Quality 
Varies several times a year and often a fall ol 2d, 
to 3d. por Ib. in certain marks is no fall at all, but only 
an allowance for the difference in qiiality. Ceylon, 
like nil powerful and eucoessful people, is hated by 
its rivals, and one often hears the wish expressed 
that the wretched little island were nt the bottom 
nf the sea. The public are infatuated with Ooylou 
tea, and they never seem to gtnmblo, although 
quality so often falls off> The growth of oonsnmp- 
tioD this year is enormous, viz., over 15 million lb., 
or eay 10 million lb. since Jnoe 1. The total im- 
port for the year will be about 60 million lb , and 
delivery about 54 jniDioo lb. Next year they talk 
abcut sending us some 76 million lb., but if quality 
continues to decrease as quantity increases, the day 
will not be far distant when they will have nailed up 
their own coffin. Prestige will not last for ever. 
Prices now, as compared with the same time last year, 
might be summed up as follows:— Souchongs, Pekoe 
Souchongs, and low-priced and infcriorliquoring brokens 
are quite 2d. per lb. lower, good Pekoes Id. to 2d. per 
lb. lower, while good liquoring broken Pekoes and finest 
lines are dearor and very scarce, although at two or 
three periods of tho year they have been 2d. 
or 8rd, por lb. dearer than at present. The 
Year 1801 opened with ao advance of ^d. to Id. per 
lb. for low-priced teas on the closing pHcos of 1890, 
and a good trade was done up to the beginning of 
March at alw^vs improving rates; salea then became 
large, and, with small trade demand, Ad to Id drop 
iu teas for price, Id to 2(i drop iu Pekoes, and 2d 
to 3d drop in Broken Pekoes was registered by the 
end of April, During May another drop of la per 
lb. was noted. In June and July supplies were very 
heavy, quality very bad, and few teas to be fouad 
with any true Ceylon flivour. Souchongs were quoted 
at Od to 6jd, Pekoos at 7d to 8d, and Broken Pekoes 
at 0§d to lO^d, but flue liquoring brokens were 
dearer than ever, and selling from Is 6d to Is 
lOid per lb. Prices theu kept steady, although 
with heavy suppUes, for another month or so, when 
they began to fall off; quality began to improve, 
and prices distinctly rose op to the end of the 
year for all bub common rubbirh, which kept 
ludi’in, while even this class suddenly improved 
about il per lb. at the middle Deoembsr sale. 
From fome of the foregoing remarks we do not wish 
it to be inferred that we disparage Ouylou teas* 
When they ate good we think they are the perfootion 
of tea— they are most necessary in blending with 
China tea, and tho two go well together, as China 
tea (ones down the rathor too highly-flavoured Ceylou 
growths. As long ns quality keeps fairly good we 
do not think that any tea will supersedo it. China 
it has almost killed, autl India, no doubt, is suffering 
from it# competition. Let us only hope that her out- 
put may looreaso on account of new ground being 
brought under cultivation. This year tho increase has 
principally been brought about by the heavy rains 
and early flushings, which had the effect of produoiag 
a heavier but coarser crop. This year has been noted 
for several sales of small lots of golden and silver- 
tipped teas— the ei'ravagant prices realised were, how- 
ever, more of an advertisement, and not a represen- 
tation of actual value .” — II and C, Mailt Jan. 8ih. 
— — ■ 
NOTES ON COORG. 
TUe admini.tratiou of Coorg during 1890 91 doea 
not oall for much noLice. Tbo tokal revenue under 
f ^‘?15,988. and the total expenditure 
to K607,b-8. There is ai\ incrouBe observable both in 
revenue and expondiluro, the latter of which was 
due to tlie cost of the new Survey Dep&rtmont- Sur- 
vey Workii seems to have been energetically pushed 
on, and though men had to bo procured and iustrnoled, 
the skeleton turvey of 2/8 villages, bavisg sn area 
of 592 sqiiaro miles, and the cadastral survey of 165 
villages, having an area of 270 sifuaro miles, was oom- 
ploted at a coal of 1149,798. (friat auooess is reported 
to have attended the trsinlog of local men a.s mea- 
surers, and nearly all the subordinates of the Depart- 
ment are now Coorgs, who have worked well, while 
their cmployiiiont baa dune a great deal towards les- 
seniug the unpopularity wbirli the sutvey was at 
first threatened with. The increase in revenue was 
chiefly coniribiited by the forest department tho 
sandalwood sales being unusually successful ' The 
year's^ harvest was poor; the rioe crop was generallv 
a ight one and m some places nearly a complete 
failure while the coffee crop was only 2,129^0^^ 
