Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-11-18
CDR N27out5's frirIlb.
Tea.

Of life. There are many denomina-
tions Of Tea, in commerce; as Hperi-
d, GmpoRder, SfngyO, HysoR, &c,
But the general divisions may be
stated thus, J1aek and green teas.
Some travellers tell us, that there is
tut one SOFT of plant from wl1ish the
leaves are taken, and that all the
difference is made by their being
either young leaves, or fully grown.
Yet botanfsts usually hold, that
there are al least two species; differ
ing something in their leaves, and
essentially different in their flowers;
that of the bohea, or black tea, fhav-
ing SIX petals; and that Of the green
tea-shrub having nine. Tt is said,
too, that the finest tea-shrubs grow
in Japan, On one particular noun
tain, which is enclosed with a strong
hedge, and wide bitches, and careful
Ily guarded, BY persons maintained
for this express BUSINESS. These
have, a troqblesdme office, as they
are charged not to suffer the dust to
remain upon the leaves. They mast
never breathe on them, Inor touch
them with their fingers when they
gather them, but must wear very del
Iicate gloves. When this tea is fully
prepared, lit is conducted, under a
strong guard of soldiers, to the en-
peror's palace; becaus e it is all set
apart fol- his personal use. Ofeourse,
this is not the tea which we drink
;. Indeed, we are not allowed to trade
(. to Japan. The tea we have in
America comes from China. And
tie trade id it fdrms a very impor-
tant branch q cor merce. The
quantity of tea now consumed in
the United StateB is very great, and
it increases every year; as the lowest
persons Of Q ur large population make
a part Of their meals Of it. The
quantity brp ought annually into Eng
land thirty years ago was twenty
millions Of pounds, and nearly as
much more goes now to the other
nations Of Europe. The English
government obtains a revenue from
what comes to Britain, amounting to
Il between three and four millions d
] pounds stei+ ding every year. Sixty
or seventy fears ago tea was scarce
Il ~ known among the common people
) a story is related Of a iarmer's wife.
to whom was sent present of q
! pound of tea; and she was SO igno-
/ rant Of the propd mode of using it
I that she bGiledit Iall in milk, ard The
! family aterit up, leaves and all, al
! one meal; declaring it was very gooC
\ indeed! The use Of tea, is compar-
I atively modern The first that came
j Unto Europe was brought by tho
+ Dutch, in the year 1910. Fifty
! years after this, it was introduced in
II London. at 1.-The coffee-houses, as {
rarity and d luxury. It was two
Il years longer Before some of the phi
vate familid S among the nobility
adopted it, At this time, it was
| sold at lively e dollars per pound; Il
\ could not therefore come into COM
!, mon use. As greater quantities were
brought over, the. price was lowered;
and the use gradually increased; till
it is now become almost one of the
necess;gries Of life to people even in
the humblest stations. The plant
which produces tea will grow, if pert
mitted, I'd ten or twelve feet id
height; but in China, where it is very
carefully cultivated, it is kept much
lower. They dibble the seeds into
the earth ID regular rows. They
will then grow with only the care Of
pruning, and wedding. Some of the
Hcultivators richly manure the soil; for
the Chinese are as careful of their
tea-plahts. as Europeans are of their
vines. The plant must be three
years old, before the leaves are fit for
use; and when it has borne for about
an equal length of time, the leaves
get so coarse and hard as not to be.
worth cultiyating any longer. The
plant must then be cut down almost
to the ground; this will accession a
new set Of shoots to arise, which, in
their turn, yield young and excellent
leaves for several seasons The flow
er which it bears is not very splendid. !
Neither is the fruit Of it of any use.
1t bears a sort. of triple berry; we
now and then find 3neamong the tea.