The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-24
CULTIVATION AND MANUFACTURES OF TEA

Murray, of London, has published a journal of
residance among the Chinese, from 1853 to 1855,
by Robert Fortune, who has written other works
OH China, some extracts of which have been co
pied into previous numbers Of the Merchants
Magazine. MIR. L. occupied much time in OBJ
tanning information respecting the cultivation and
manufacture Of tea. In Tse-kec tea leaves are
for sule in the market, just they come from
the bushes; and the inhabitants who have 10
tea plantations, can purchase tho leaves and
manufacture them in their own way. They are
sold at from three to five farihings pound, and
II takes about four pounds of raw leaves TO make
pound of tea. The seeming of tea is performed
by mixing fresh orange flowers with The dry tea,
and allowing them to lie mixed twenty four hours.
The flowers then carefully siftcd and VIM
moved out. Other flowers are often use for this
purpose. This operation is carried ON at Canton
only.
The form of tea called "capcr," is to black tea
what the "imperar' and gunpowlrr" are to
green. Ono gathering of ten is said to yield 10
per cent of orange pekoe, 25 per cent. of Sou
chong, and per cent. of capcr but there is IA
singular manipulation by which the quantity of
cuperis increased. The leaves arc softencd by
stenrh, and then pressed into strong canvass
bag, which is closely tied, and then rolled and
kneaded, aud twisted for long time, chiefly by
treading it with their feet and allowed To lie for
severa! hours. The leaves are thus rolled up,
End curl still further in drying, until consder:,-
bio part OF them assume the shot.like appearance
desired. The name is supposed to have been de-
rived from the resemblance to the flow er buds of
the European caper-busl. Mr. Fortune saws
that imperia! and gunpowder teas are often made
troD, the caper, by dying with Russian blue
The tea dust in the manufactures is sometimes
sprinkled finely with rice water, and thus gath.
cred into little globules, which dry in that FORM
ahd'are sold as caper but the quantity Of this
is not large. The author denies that leaves OF
other plants are mingled with the teas if beech.
leaves are found in the teapot, they are, MIR. +.
thinks, of English growth.
The writer asserts that both black and green
teas can be made from any variety of the tea
plant. At the present time the Niuhelow dis.
iricts produce black teas only, while they former.
ly produced only green.
In the tea harvest the natives may be seen on
every hillside, in groups of from eight to twelve
persons one old man usually leading the group,
and the rest being women and children. Each
has small stool, with one leg. which is sharp
ened, and thus is supported in the ground, and
Set the seat is easily removed. Good hands will
EasheF iorty or fifty pounds of lelves in a day,
sno days wages is from six 10 nine English
ponce. The food of these laborers consists of
nee, vegetables and small quantity of animal
i"od' such as fish or pork. But the Chinese are
ingenious in making an agreeable meal out of
sHsFle materials. they do not thrive upon the
food OF the English laborer. The Chinese sailor
enjoys much more pleasant and healthy diet
than the English, although not more expensive.
-Hsnfs Merehanfs Magazine.