, 1890-04-24
WHERE TEA IS PRODUCED.
INDIA WILL RIVAL CHINA IN THE
SUPPLY OF THE FUTURE.

SUPPLY OF THE FUTURE.
-. Gam. First from Java and Not from
chIna-Enormous Prices Charged for the
Drug at Firt-ChinA's Exports Are Fall
IN. on-cheap Labor.
Contrary to the popular impression, we
did not receive our first supplies of what
was then known as "chaw," and drunk
out of I.silver porringers," from China,
but from Java, which, until the Dutch
obtained possession of the island, was an
English settlement. The commerce in the
herb could not, however, have been great,
for at first the price ranged from &C to
e1O per pound. Even during the reign of
Charles ii and his brother it was disposed
of at from fifteen shillings to fifty shill-
ings, according to quality, the duty pay
able on every gallon of the beverage sold
in the coffee houses being eightPence.
The tea trade was, however, in that era
a comparatively small branch of com
merce, being mainly a monopoly in the
hands of the East India company. 1t was
when the consumption increased enor-
mously, while the business of supplying
the demand was not too much subdivided,
that it became and continued so remark
ably lucrative. The prices were not high
enough to be prohibitory, and yet were
sufficiently good to permit of a handsome
profit to growers, buyers, brokers and
sellers. This is no longer the case. The
people who expect to live by the traffic
have multiplied out of all proportions to
A.. 18Th shn innuffahla a
suit that prices have been whitfield down
to a figure which admits of little margin.
In China-so it is affirmed by those in a
position to know-a suicidal attempt has
been made by the native growers to re-
COUP themselves for falling prices by
more slovenly manufacture and eve by
fragrant adulteration. This, at least, is
the verdict of a body so well qualified to
pronounce on the evidence before them
as the Shanghai chamber Of m
DECREASE IN CHINA's EXPoRT.
A fact ever more conclusive is that
while the exports Of China tea have
fallen off enormously, those of the newer
tea producing districts have increased in
an inverse ratio. 1t is known that be-
tween 1861 and 1886 the export decreased
by "a 900 900 pounds, while that of In
dian and Ceylon teas increased by nearly
IS, 900, 900, and since then the disparity
has been ever greater. Thus it is OBJ
viously useless for China any longer to
regard herself as able to control the tea
trade OF the world, or to conduct herself
as if she were the prime producer. She
may be fortunate, indeed, if India, Cey-
Ion and lava leave her the second place
in the struggle for supremacy.
The planters of Assam were the first to
work their gardens OF the principles Of
scientific high farming, and now they
are reaping their reward. But of all the
competitors who nave disputed the China
monopoly Ceylon is likely to prove the
most formidable, though she entered the
field so recently that tea was only regard
ed as a likely crop when the destruction
Of their coffee plantations compelled the
owners of estates to try other products.
Now, thanks to the experience of India
with which the planters began, and to
the advantages of climate and soil, the
export of Ceylon tea is increasing year
by year, while the quality, taking one
season with another, is of n decidedly
high standard.
Thasa countries ara hoyever onIv two
90 ,hs tue MOS, v;gorons nf China's
Ivals Ianan hoe lcng d.,I, lorosiy In
green ,aa and seems determinedt 70 grow
rroa, daaI p,ore row thot Tho western
narLets are onen 10 her raiders
cur.p Itpop avn curAp tn.
Tono,,in and cocbip ohm, are magyar
,LaIv 70 ,rnra s~er;ous co,nne,itors Tor
our custom their tea hsing of nm inferior
hrard Rrt Jay, IL NOT f.ninr hebird
in ,be race md all the hin countries of
Ind;a Assom Dnbr,-Dnn Kumnun
DariiIing Cacbar Kangra Uozaribagb
Cbittagong the Tarai and he Nilgbiris
arc e,tending their operations in block
too Natl bas haen damonstratad 10 be
a tea Growing region and there are
Grounds for believing that the West In
S;as the southern limited States Rrazil
Fiji Australia. and even the south of
E1rope can produce fair marketable leaf.
But there are other elements besides
ouality which enter into the tea growing
;ndpsfrv and the frat ~ ,bep, Is chaa1
Ns nI'Ieu -"