May 2, 1892.1 
THE TROPICAL AORltSOLTURlST. 
8 s 3 
WILSON, SMITHETT & CO.’S CEYLON 
TEA MEMORANDA FOR 1891. 
London, March, lSa2. 
The Ceylon Tea market during the year 1891 has 
pursued a remarkably uneventful coiurse. During the 
first two or throe mouths the strong statistical poei- 
tiou of the article as a whole gave rise to consider- 
able speculation in the “future ” market, and caused 
a quite disproportionate advance in the quotations for 
low grade leaf tea, but the unexpectedly heavy arrivals 
from Ceylon, at this juncture, consequent upon an 
abnormally wet spring, speedily dispelled any fears 
as to possible short supply, and a reaction followed, 
from which the market never thoroughly recovered 
during the remaining portion of the year. 
The weight of Coylou tea offered in auction between 
.Tanuary 1st and December Hist, 1891, amounted to 
t)0,(KI0,000 11). or 50 per cent in excess of the supply 
in the previous year, and realised an average price 
of about lojd per lb. against lOjd in 1890 and 1889. 
On the opening after the Christmas holidays of 1890 
a strong demand set in, establishing an advance of Jd 
to Id per lb. on useful medium Souchongs and Pekoes; 
prices for all desirable leaf teas mi to Is per lb., 
also gradually hardened throughout January and Feb- 
ruary, but during this time ordinary Broken Pekoes 
experienced a flat and irregular market. At the close 
of February the artificial character of the "boom ' 
in teas for “price” became more widely recognised; 
the high rates established had checked business in 
the country, and dealers being well stocked, this class 
of tea commenced at once to decline in value. To- 
wards the end of March a slight recovery took place 
in teas up to lOd per lb., but above this price buyers 
acted cautiously. After Easter there was again a 
slight upward movement which was maintained 
throughout .April until Whitsuntide, when the largo 
supply coming forward had a very depressing effect 
upon the inaAet. In .Tune the demand tended more 
strongly towards really good liquoring teas, which 
commanded much more attention than they had ro- 
ceived throughout the spring; common teas, on the 
other hand, were neglected. At the close of July the 
market had relapsed into extreme dullness and at this 
period the average price had receded from Is in 
.lanuary-Februory to 83d per lb., or as low as 
at the most depressed period in 1889, when, 
however, lower rates for common grades caused 
the reduced average, whereas now the fall ex- 
tended over a much wider area. After the August 
holiday a good demand for really good to fine tea 
sprang up which lasted throughout the autumn, values 
gradually hardening, and at the end of October the 
average price had advanced to lOd per lb. During 
November the market showed loss buoyancy but a 
bettor tone became apparent next month,' and the year 
closed with firm rates and an average of lO^d per lb. 
The list of estates, which wo have tabulated this 
year, gives the results on .562 gardens, which have* 
Sold over 20,000 lb. of ten during 1891, on the London 
market, under their own marks. On comparing these 
tesults with lost year’s it will be noticed that in the 
fO^eat majority of instances the largely increased yields 
have boon disposed of at a marked reduction in the 
prices roaliseu; this decline in value was mainly 
confined to tlie large bulk of ordinary quality tea, the 
range of prices being woU maintained in those gardens 
favoured by elevation and climatic advantages. 
1 ortswood, which has increased its output by about 
cO per cent, shows an average of la lid per lb. for 
the year against la Id in 1890, this being again the 
highest on the list. A rise of Id per lb. in the aver- 
^ccompauied by a very substantial increase in the 
yields of Chapolton, Glendovon, Norwood, Moror, and 
^oatfell must be considered highly satisfactory, es- 
pecially when the generally depressed state o’f the 
market in 1891 is taken into consideration, and 
servos to emphasise the fact that really good tea 
will almost always command the special attention 
of the trade. On numerous other estates almost 
equally satisfactory results are shown, as toforence 
to the nam es of Bogawantalawa, llonfold. Gleimlpin. 
* Each of which has.— Ed. JC. J. 
107 
Spring 'Valley, Invery, Glenugie, Elbodde, Gorthio, 
Mount 'Vernon, Ouvoli Kellie, Frotoft, &c., will testify. 
Of the different districts, Bogawantalawa, the neigh- 
bourhood of Nnwora Eliya, and Dimbnla again head 
the list ; the two former suffering a diminution of 
jd and the latter Id per Ih. in the avei^e price ob- 
tained ; the greatest reduction is shewn in the Kelani 
Valley, whtjre the average was 9d against K^d in 1890. 
The exports during 1891 shew very satisfactory 
extension, the actual figures being 2,100,Ci00 lb., against 
1.182,(100 lb. in 1890. The Continental demand was 
considerably interfered with by the distress in Bussia, 
occasioned by the failure of cereal and other crops, 
which gave rise to restrictions and prohibitions in 
exports, and consequently depreciated the rouble; 
despite this a fair trade ^ias passed in Ceylon tea 
with Russia, and there is ample evidence that in 
that country partioularlyjt is coming more and more 
into favour. 
The trade with jVmerica has also developed con- 
siderably during the past season, and much pains 
are being taken to push Ceylon Tea at the 'World’s 
Fair to be held at Chicago next year; evidence is 
multiplying on all sides that this branch of the 
trade will yet show a groat expansion, and the des- 
patch of a Special Commissioner from Ceylon should 
have very substantial results. 
During the past year, which has been decidedly 
one of over-production, Ceylon has still further out- 
distanced its rivals in the race for popular favour. 
Up till last season China hod the nndoubted ad- 
vantage. in that it practicallv commanded the market 
lor tea tor price, common Congou forming the basis 
of the blenders' operations. But now that the relative 
ositions of China and East Indian growths have 
ecome reversed, Ceylon has demonstrated its ability 
to undersell its old rival, and to give a much better- 
article at the normal price of " common Ooimou.” 
It would also seem that the decline of the China 
trade is operating entirely to the benefit of Ceylon. 
The bulk of Indian tea, being much stronger and 
more rasping than Ceylon, is in groat measure 
dependent on Cliina for blending pur-poses to render 
it more acceptable to the palate, whereas Ceylon 
ireeds none of this toning down to make it a pleasant 
and wholesome beverage. However this may bo, a 
glance at the Board of Trade returns lor the year- 
will shew that whereas the Homo Consumption 
of China tea during 1891 fell off to the extent of 
over 5,0(X),(XXJ lb., and Indian to the extent of 
3,(KW,(X)0 lb., that of Ceylon has increased to 16,71X),(XX) 
lb. Reference has also been mode to the over-pro- 
duction in 1891, and it may bo advisable to devote 
some attention to the prospects of the future. The 
extraordinarily wet spring ,in Coylou. last year was 
productive of heavy flushing, and the yield on a Pffeat 
number of estates consequently almost doubled the 
estimates made. It was this uncxpectemy heavy sup- 
ply that upset the ca'culations of speculators on the 
“ future ’’ niai'kot and had such a depressing effect 
on the trade throughout the remainder of the year. 
The low rates after-wards established bad the lughly 
desirable effect of sending Ceylon tea rapidly into 
consumption, and it is very satisfactory to note that 
practicallv all the Ceylon tea imported since June lost 
up to date has been delivered from the warehouses. 
At the close of the year the apprehensions of the 
trade as to the supply of the forthcoming season were 
not allayed by the sanguine estimates formed of the 
probable yield of 1892, and the report was widely cir- 
culated tliat wo should have between 80,(XX),tXX) and 
90,(XX),0(X) lb. from the i sland, some going so far as to give 
a still more extravagant amount as our probaMe sup- 
ply. Maturer reflection has considerably pared down 
this weighty total, and the most reliable authorities 
do not now estimate the exports for 1892 over 
7r),lK)0,(X)01b.. and several causes ore likely to still 
furtherdiminish this total. Firstly, the heavy coldrains 
in January considerably reduced the aniount we might 
reasonably have expected daring the first two months 
of the year ; secondly after the heavy flushing of last 
ear some reaction will probably set in, the bushes 
oing scarcely likelyto prove so prolific in the coming 
season ; and thirdly, the low rates current tor common 
grades have inducod.many gi-qwers to adopt, at any 
