Middletown transcript., 1872-04-13
TEA.


TEA.
Tho leaves Of quite variety Of shusbs
sre in use in different parts Of the world
for msking tho teas which have become %
universal beverage. The most common
Of these shrubs 10 the China tea plant. Il
10 quito uncertain when this 6rsi bcgss 70
be used. but tradition 6xcs the period ~
early as tho third century, though il seems
certainly as late ss the seventh that the
use became general iu China. wherc the
plant is native growth. Early is the
ninth II was introduced into Japan. but Il
was not brought TO Europe ill the sig
tecnsh or seventeenth century. II vas con-
siderably past the middle Of the ls.ter that
the East India Company thought il rare
gift TO present 70 tho Queen Of Englsnd
two pounds Of tea. while, about the same
time, Il seemed thing worthy Of record
that the Russian ambassadors brought
back 10 Moscow some carefully packed
green tea, which was received with great
acceptance. But probably the use 81 no
article has ever extended itself moro rapid
ly, and il 10 now common beverage, not
only in Europe and America. but in al
most every country Of tho world. Indeed
il is believed to be used at present by Rvo
hundred million people. or half the iuhab.
itants Of the world.
Though indigenous in China. the native
growth there is not much depended on for
a supply. On tho contrary, the plant Is
most carefully cultivated, and affords one
chief employment to the people Of that
vast empire. The region adapted TO its
growth is very extensive, reaching through
more than twenty degrees Of latitude, and
more than twice us many Of longitude.
though the more important district is near
the coast abou, Shanghai and Sou,hward
The plant is grown in almost every variety
Of soil, but that best sdaptcd to i. is a
Hight lon'n, more or less stony. abounding
, in vegetable mould aud moist but moi
wet. The seeds are gathered in October
aud KEEP, in sand till the following Spring
when they are sowu, either in rows in ihc
field where they are 10 grow, or else IN
beds. from which they are ,ransplan,ed
il the latter they are put out the second
year in rows three or four feet apart. II
, growing, they look not unlike field o
goosebcrry bushes with US. They ar,
, hardy, yet il the weather is very cold they
. need proiection; il dry, the cultvators
r resort to irrigation. Tho gathering Of th,
. leaves sometimes commence the third
r year. though often not till the fourth
, There are three or four harvcs,s-the first
Of leaf buds. early in April, though many
prefer to forego this. and allow the leaves
to grow. II gathered. these buds mak'
the choices, variety Of black tea. know
ms Pckoc. But new leaves soon appear
+ and a second gathering occurs the last o
April or carly in may. which is the prin
, eipal harvest. aud affords fine tea as ,h
product 4 third gathering occurs carl
in July. which furnishes leaves Of an in
= ferior quality. and sometimes thcro 10
fourth gathering in August or September
which furnishes leaves still coarser an,
poorer. The plants rarely last more thai
eight or ten years, when they are dug ul
aud replaced with u new stock. In gath
cring the leaves are stripped off withou
i much care, and carried 10 building whcr
they are assorted and dried.
The drying process varies according 4
the kind of tea to he produced, for on
varieties of green aud black tsa are not =
much the product Of different species o
!. regions as result from different ways q
curing the same leaf.
a The green tens arc cured almost as 500
. as the leaves are brought from the field
a being allowed to remain not more than =
n hour or two thinly spread upon trays. I
dry Oft any snpertiuous moisture, bcfor
i they are put into the roasting pans. Thcs
!, latter have been 10 the meantime heate
a BY brisk fire. and into them are throw
!. n few Of the leaves. which are allowed I
a remain four or five minutes, rapidly shak
/. en- aud stirred, when they are thrown ou
l. upon table aud rolled with the hand.
Afterwards they are again thrown into
II pan heated by slow steady fire. aud n
! lowed to remain an hoar or an hour and
n half. being KEEP. all the time in motion b
. the hands Of the workmcn. Sometime
. they are thrown upon table to be role
!, second time. This completes the Chi,
part Of the operation, though afterwards
n when considerable quantity has thu
q been finished. i, goes through fur,he
= process Of winnowing aud sitting TO sep,
rate impurities. mud asserting into diiie,
. ent varieties, and relocating also to be sur
q that the drying is complete. The Orr
n GERS Price -Curreni, New York.
N -.--.~------- . -
Il LONGEVITY or FARMERS. In the Ia,
IL Al I'LL.