Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 646

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CHINA

Government has evinced its interest in this organisation by increasing the official grant, and, judging by the progress already made, the future may be looked forward to with confidence. An ample supply to the farmers of disease-free selected eggs would not only increase the quantity but also improve the quality of the silk.

The total quantity of tea of all kinds exported came to 801,417 piculs in 1923, which represents an increase of 225,344 piculs over the preceding year and is the best result achieved since 1917. This welcome improvement is the exportation of China tea is reported to be due to the fact that the Indian, Ceylon, and Java crops did not come up to expectations, while a greater demand for black teas was received from markets which in former years consumed small quantities only. These latter kinds of tea were in 1923 chiefly exported to Great Britain (134,906 piculs), America (75,627 piculs), Hongkong (71,931 piculs), and the Netherlands (27,847 piculs); green teas were much sought after in Turkey, Persia, Egypt (67,398 piculs), America (64,973 piculs), Hongkong (53,842 piculs), British India (47,740 piculs), and France (18,385 piculs).

Turning now to a brief survey of the condition of the markets and of the tea trade generally during the year under review, it may at once be stated that the recent tea season was the most satisfactory one since the year 1917, which immediately preceded the great slump; but it is well to remember that in 1917 exports already showed a sérious decline from what they were in 1915, which was the record year of the last decade. Production in 1923 was stimulated by good profits realised during the pre- vious season, while high prices of Indian, Ceylon and Java teas caused an active demand for common and medium China congou, a comparatively cheap article. The result was that larger crops of all varieties of tea were forthcoming in 1923 to the detriment of quality, which was too much sacrificed to quantity.

Export of raw cotton from China to foreign countries is steadily attaining higher figures. While the exportation in 1920 reached 376,230 piculs, this amount had grown to as much as 974,574 piculs in 1923, as compared with 842,010 piculs in the preceding year. Notwithstanding this increasing exportation of raw cotton from China, which would lead one to suppose that there exists a surplus of supply in this country, there is an annual importation of foreign cotton into China, chiefly from America and India, which amounted in 1923 to 72,851 piculs received from the former and to 1,147,948 piculs imported from the latter country, as against 155,319 and 1,370,069 piculs res- pectively in 1922. Farmers having realised good profits during the 1922-23 season, it is likely that the area planted for the season 1923-24 was in excess of that of the previous year, although the actual yield is estimated to have been about 70 per cent. of a mormal yield. The yield for that year for all China, according to a report issued by the Chinese Cotton Millowners' Association, was 8,210,355 piculs. The general trade conditions which prevailed during the whole of the year 1923 were very dis- couraging as compared with those of the year 1922; in fact, the year just ended is pro- nounced to have been the worst experienced by the cotton mills in China for many

years.

The remarkable expansion of the cotton-spining industry in China during the past few year deserves more than passing notice. It is only during the last 20 years-that is, since the Russo-Japanese War-that modern weaving machinery began to be used on a large scale in China. The industry is one which has grown rapidly during recent years, and its further extension would appear likely. The future in this direction is pregnant with great possibilities, and it is interesting to allow one's thoughts to dwell on the possibility that China at some future date-perliaps not so remote as is believed in some quarters-may be in a position to produce Chinese-made cotton goods in sufficient quantities to satisfy not only her home demand but even to leave a consider- able surplus for exportation abroad. There is practically no limit to the possible cul- tivation of cotton. Large tracts are annually added to the existing acreage under cotton cultivation, and the production of cotton is constantly stimulated by the increased demand resulting from the development of the textile industry. From figures kindly supplied to us it appears that the number of spindles in operation in Shanghai and other ports in China in 1923 was estimated at 2,540,854, while those in course of construction amounted to another 1,094,880: looms working total 13,403, and those in construction number 5,625.

Although little attention was paid in the past to the method of cultivation of raw cotton in China, it is pleasing to record that a change is noticeable in the former attitude of indifference to the quality and modes of production of the raw material. The Government, Chinese educational institutions, and the Chinese Cotton Millowners' Association are all combining for the purpose of improving the condition and aggre- gate yield of the Chinese crops by the introduction of selected American seeds and

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