The I,ondon market cannot easily absorb the quantity of te,a that now reaches it from India and China. In 1871 the exports of tea from India to all ports were 13,250,000 lbs., valued at X1,139,703 ; in 1881 they were 38,400,000 lbs., valued at £3,072,244. The consumption of Indian tea has increased necessarily in the ten years; but during that time China has largely increased her export, and it i3 commonly said in London that, for the time being, the supply of tea of one sort or another is in excess of the world's demand. The export of tea from China is not increasing ; and the proportion of really good to unquestion ably inferior tett that she ships is steadily de clining. China, in 1873, exported 39,299,000 II. taels, aud in 1882, 31,332,000, a tael being 12 oz. avoir. India is strong in high-class teas, and her planters should spare no pains to maintain the repute of those teas in European, American, and colonial markets.
There is no information as to the quantities of teas retained for home consumption amongst all the millions using it in the countries in the S.E. of Asia. There is a large export trade of tea from China, through Si-ning-fu in Kan-sti, with Muhammadan and other tribes, who bring horses in exchange. The Russians established in Illi-peli have taken out of Chinese hands the making of brick tea for the Mongols, Siberians, and Kirghiz The prices of the teas of China greatly vary. The Russian teas, brought by caravans, are the most expensive and are the best used in Europe. The Chinese themselves pay 74 dollars per lb. for the Yen Pouchong teas. Full chests were ex hibited in 1851 by Mr. Ripley of various Pekoe teas, some of which sell at .50s. per lb. in the China market ; whilst 7s. was the very highest 'price any of the sort fetched in England, and that only as a fancy article. The plain and orange-scented l'ekoes bring little in Great Britain. All cara van teas are purchased by the wealthier Russian fzunilies. The finest, however, never leave China, .beitig bought up by the mandarins; for though the transit expenses add 3s. to 4s. per lb. to the value when sold in Russia, the highest market price in St. Petersburg is alwaytt under 50s. Among the scented teas are various caper teas, flavoured with flowers and the buds of plants belonging to the orange tribe, Magnolia fuscata, Olca flowers, etc. The Corti; Sou-choung or Xing young teas are chiefly purchased for the American market. Oolong tea. was long the favourite drink in Calcutta, though less prized in England, its delicate flavour being injured by the length of the voyage. For delicacy, no teas approach those
usually called Mandarin teas,' which, being slightly fired and rather damp when in the fittest state for use, will bear neither transport nor keeping. They are in great demand among the wealthy Chinese, and average 20s. per lb. in the native market. The dealers in China are very particular in the selection of high-sounding and felicitous titles for their several parcels. and often a particular parcel acquires such a name as to be eagerly sought after for each successive season.
In Great Britain there is so little demand for the high-priced teas, that in 1878 no tea in the market over 3s. per lb. found purchasers; in 1882 the best of the Indian teas were selling at ls. 3(1. per lb., and in 1883 prices were ranging from Gd. per lb. upwards.
In Formosa, tea is largely grown and exported to Foh-kien and Macao, where it is freely mixed with the Caeton teas. Oolong tea is also pro duced in Formosa, and exported to the United States. Tea is grown in Cochin-China, but is considered inferior to that of China, being less strong and pleasant in flavour.
In Japan, 36,000,000 lbs. of tea were produced in 1871, the province of Suraga contributing 13,000,000 lbs. of that quantity.
What Indian tea is becoming t,o Chinese in Great Britain, Japanese tea is becoming to that of China in the United States. The loss to China in that quarter is even greater, for more than a third of the tea now consumed there comes from Japan.
Into Java, in 1828, the tea plant was introduced by the Dutch ; and, so early as 1848, nearly 1,000,000 lbs. were exported to Holland. 31r. Jacobson, inspector of tea culture in Java, pub lished a book upon the mode of cultivating this plant, upon the choice of ground, and the best processes for the preparation and manipulation of the leaves. On the mountain range which runs through the centre of the island, the tea gardens, extending from near the base high up the moun tains, reach an atmosphere tempered by elevation.
In Ceylon, the cultivation of tea is become important. Begun about the year 1867, at which time about 10 acres were planted, it made snaall progress till 1875, when the acreage was esti mated at 1080. Since then the increase has been more rapid, the area under tea at the close of 1880 being estimated at close upon 9300 acres. The exports for fire years were 187G, 757 lbs. Rs. 1,907 1879, 95,9691bs.lts.85,229 1877, 2,105 „ 3,457 18S0,139,752 „ 1878, 19,G07A „ 20,900 This does not represent the whole annual out turn, there being a large local consumption.