The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-17

caves are set il Whorls CT four or five,
the yellow starlike flowers being produced
On long, slender stocks from near the
base of the leaves. 1t is common TO al
most every woodland.
The leaves of the New Jersey tea low
bush which grows everywhere in dry
woodlands. and bears in June and July
d profusion of delicate white blooms. was
also extensively used during the Revo-
luton. An infusion of the leaves boils
bright amber color. and in looks is as at
tractive as the real beverage; but the
taste, though astringent, is by no means
lively
Some effort has been recently made in
commercial circles 10 revive the use of
this plant as a substitute for tea. The
leaves are said to contain about ten Fer
cent Of tannin. Hemlock leaves and those
Of the arbor vitae have played an import
ant part in the making OF rustic tea.
The arbor vitae is 4 tree that grows wild
in great abundance in northern woods,
and the old-time Maine lumberman used
frequently to resort to its leaves for tea
when other heritage failed them for the
purpose. 1t was thought to We very in
MIGRATING.
The leaves of the wintergreen. a small
plant, whose bright red berries. about the
size Of peas, "a resold on the streets under
the name Of teaberry, have long been
used for tea. From this it takes the name
bys which it is known in Pennsylvania
New Engianders. for some unknown rea-
son, call it checkerberry. The foliage is
very aromatic, and people who like
dash of spicness in their drink have
sometimes added its flavor to real tea.
1t is near of kin and similar in taste to
the creeping snow berry, small. delicate
vine, abundant in the great boys and
messy woods OF the north and Allegheny
regions and this is tlso approved by
mountain paiates as a substitute for tea.
Thereau. in THE Maine Woods" tells
of his Indian guide bringing it into
camp one night and recommending it as
the best of all substitutes for tea. 1T
has slight checkerberry flavor" he re-
cords. and We both agree that il was
better than the black tea we had bought.
We Thought it n discovery and that it
might be dried and sold in the shops"
Better known as tea plant is the Lab
botanists which grows in cold bogs and
mountain woods from Pennsylvania north
ward. The leaves. which emit a eight.
not unpleasant fragrance when bruised.
are tough and leathery. and covered with
a rusty brown wool. STEPPED. they give
a wild. gumy flavor to hot water. and the
drink resulting suggests a poor grade of
black tea
Sweet fern. which is such an abundant
growth everywhere On sterile hillside and
by mountain roads, is another famous tea
plant. often known as mountain tea"
During the war Of the rebellion it's use
for tea was particularly prevalent in the
southern states. and many a southern
lady who was reared in luxury was re-
ducei TO drinking this poor substitute for
her favorite Ooiong or fowery Pekoe.
The foliage and flowers Of all the gold
enrOds are imbued with an astrinCent
principle, and are moderately stirnulant.
so that their suitability for the manufac-
ture Of domestic tea was recognized by /
the American colonists as long ago as
when George III. was king over them.
One species. the fragrant leaved golden /
rod. known sometimes as Blue Mountain /
tea possesses, in addition. the flavor Of
icorice. Drunk piping hot IN the wilder /
ness. it makes a pleasant feature in the 4
-ampers limited menu
This especial kind Of goldenr0d begins (
"a bloom quite early in the summer and F.
s easy OF recognition. even hv the nom 4
botanical. because Of the iicorice perfume /
which the leaves give out when rubbed. I
( is a very common species in the pine
larrens Of Jersey.
TIE astringent quality, in greater or
ess degree. Is possessed by nearly all
hese plants. They also contain consider
bile fannie acid in their makeup. These
NO qualities 20 far TO make tea the
popular beFerage it is.-New York Herald