The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04

berries. There are different kinds
the best having a very small leaf OF
a dark green shade. The seeds be
come so hard and dry n few days
after picking that they can he cut
only with a very sharp utens!l.
Harvesting the leaves is conducted
nov in the same way that II was
done centuries ago. The branches are
collected and piled up IN the form OF
a h~aystack. Then the torrefaction. as
the smoking process is called. begins
and lasts for about three days. The
natives are very skilful in deciding
just when the leaves have reached
the proper degree Of dryness for use.
Usually abou; t~wenty-four hours Is
the right time for exposing them TO
heat. sometimes more, but never less.
The Indians originally did nothing
but gather the leaves from the forest
trees. but the Jesuits cultivated them
from the seed and there has been a
steady growth in this cultivation. As
South America supplies the world and
as the beverage Is becoming increas-
ingly popular more and more cult
walton will probably be necessary to
supply the demand. II has ben esti-
mated hat the number OF drinkers OF
Paraguay tea Is about 10. 900, 900 per-
sons in South America and it Is stated
that the supply frequently falls short
of the demand. The yearly consump-
ton per capita OF this drink is given
as follows: Chile. 112ia pounds; b.
livia. Al pounds; Argentina. 20
pounds; Uruguay, % pounds: Para
quay. "a pounds; and even In the
Brazilian State OF Parana, very neal
the coffee growing centre OF the world,
the annual consumption per capita is
- pounds, which shows the influence
the habit makes on the European i'm
! migrant, for Parana has a relatively
| large proportion OF Germans and
Poles among its colonists.
Throughout Brazil and Argentina
the average retail price of the tea
| which we drink is about Size a pound,
while mate sells for less than 90 cents
a pound. In large quantities could
purchase II for 10 cents a pound, SO
that It surely could be sold in the
United States at from 90 to % nts
a pound. For making one cup more
mate Is needed than IL our regular
NlllIid t'a bt uSfb. NliIld YEA Y -
up its strength more quickly when
dropped into boiling water than does
mate, China tea leaves, however, are
Of little use for the second cup, while
the same mate leaves are good for a
second Dr. third cup. Thus in making
one cup of tea our regular China tea
is more convenient and perhaps as
cheap, but in serving an entire family
mate could be used To great advantage.
Some day II will surely be introduced
extensively throughout the United
States and some persons will make
a large amount of money in the
process.
Minas Geraes, the centre OF the
mining industry and larger than the
republic Of France. Is the most density
populated OF all the South American
States. Its capital, Bello Horizonte. Is
unique In that 1t was built to order
only Il few years ago on n previously
unoccupied site. It's Government
buildings alone cost $40, 900, 900. OF
the State of Minas Geraes. Marie
Robinson Wright Uhe accomplished
traveller and brilliant writer who has
lately died) said: "Of all the fabulous
tales related Of bonanza princes. the
palm for extravaganza belongs to the
history of the early mining days in
Brazil, when horses were shod with
gold, when lawyers supported their
plead!ngs before Judges with gifts of
what appeared at first sight tn be the
choicest range and bananas but
proved TO be solid gold limitations,
when guests were entertained at din
e by the discovery of gold pebbles