Evening star., 1915-05-16

to this campaign. Also. the growers
are helping. The government of Japan
has adopted very rigid regulations
against the use Of artificial coloring
matter. and several provinces of China
have done likewise.
Indigo, Prusstan blue, tumeric and
soapstone are some of the materials
which have been added to give an at
tracatiye appearance to tea for Ameri-
can consumption. The presence of this.
of course, can be determined by elabo-
rate and slow chemical analysis, but a
quicker and equally sure chemical test
has been devised, known as the Read
test
This was devised by DIR. Alberta E.
Read of the Department of Agriculture.
A measured portion Of tea is poured on
a sheet of white paper and rubbed into
the paper with a spatula- If artificially
colored the specks of coIoring matter
adhere to the paper 1t is a test that
any one can make. but if it is desired
to know the kind of color used the
sheets can be sent to a chemist for
an identification of the spots.
so. then. the basis of our judgment
the country is first the dup test which
is in accordance with the customs Of
the tea trade. and the Read test for
s.
in which it works out:
I'm February OF each year the board
of tea experts assemblies to esta blish
standards for the year. In the mean
time we have taken what might be
called a direct primary in the trade
that is, we have asked all importers
to submit samples of such teas as they
think suitable for Standards giving
every one a chance to make his sug-
gestions. From the samples presented
the board. after testing and tasting
all, makes its selections. We now have
twelve standards. Formerly there We're
more. but we found that the different
varieties could be grouped. For ex-
ample. we have but one standard for
the black teas of India, Cey1on and
Java.
Then we buy from the tea merchants
a sufficient quantity of these standard
teas to make up our samples. Several
sets of samples. each sample being in
a half-pound canister, are then sent to
each Of our tea examiners Other sets
are sold to the trade. The importers
send samples to their buyers abroad in
plenty Of time for use prior to the
opening of the new tea season. May l.
These samples represent the mimi
mum of quality and purity in each
variety that will be admitted. Thus
the buyers and importers have exact
knOWIeuSc OI what SORT OF Tea tHtS
may obtain for the American trade.
Also the buyers and the importers may
equip themselves, at an expense of
but Il few dollars each, with the ma
terials for making the Read test. Hence
there is absolutely no excuse for any
tea being brought into this country
that is subject to rejection.
"of course. now and then an importer
will make an attempt to get something
in which is below standard. 1t is only
fair to say, however, that with uni
formity of examination these attempts
are growing less and less in number.
In 1871 the rejections were about 1.400.-
600 pounds. $4,000 pounds of which
were for deficiency in quality and 3d.
600 pounds for color or facing. IN
1914 the total reflections were only
Sal 900 pounds, of which $4,000 pounds
were for deficiency in quality and 64s.-
600 for color or facing.
"On the arrival of shipment Of tea
in this country, samples are drawn
and tested by the local tea--examiner.