Another hopeful feature is (for details see further on) a growing demand for Indian Tea is now established in Australia, and has quite lately commenced in America. Thus, I think, the increased produce from India (which in no case can be large for some years[90]) will probably be met by this outside demand, leaving no greater quantity than now available for the home market. True Ceylon (a new field) will increase the supply, but it will not be by much for some time. Take it all in all, I look hopefully at the prospects of Indian Tea in the future. I never anticipate a range of prices as good even as ruled in 1881, but a good deal better than we had in 1882, and thus enough to make the industry a paying one. I have lately received a valuable paper on Indian Tea statistics from Messrs. Gow and Wilson, Indian Tea brokers. I cannot transcribe the diagram they allude to, but otherwise I give the complete paper as sent me:-- 19, Little Tower Street, Mincing Lane, London, _15th February, 1883_. “INDIAN TEA STATISTICS.” Dear Sir,--Now that the annual figures are made up, we beg to submit a statement showing the continued progress made by Indian Tea in public estimation, together with comparative figures relating to the consumption of China and Indian Teas,--And remain, dear Sir, yours faithfully, GOW AND WILSON, _Indian Tea Brokers_. The very considerable increase in the home consumption of Indian Tea during the last quarter of 1882, and January this year, once more attracts attention to the growing importance of India as a field of production, and the increasing appreciation of the British public for Indian Teas, whether used alone or mixed with China sorts. Notwithstanding the check to consumption in the early part of 1882, when Indian medium and common Teas were just 50 per cent. dearer than they now are, the average monthly deliveries of the first three months were 3,670,000 lbs., or 230,000 lbs. a month more than the average of the first quarter of 1880, with prices much the same at both periods. Quotations last year receded step by step, and, as prices dropped, so we found the consumption grew, till for the last quarter of 1882, with its very low range of prices, the average monthly deliveries reached the unprecedented figures of over 5-1/4 million pounds. The average monthly deliveries in each quarter of the last five years have been as follows:-- (In thousands of lbs., 000’s omitted.) Jan-Mar. April-June. July-Sept. Oct-Dec. 1878 3,216 3,129 2,869 3,041 1879 3,444 2,688 2,461 3,155 1880 3,441 3,418 3,522 4,228 1881 4,197 4,172 3,824 4,094 1882 3,670 4,125 4,116 5,254