TEA 



Every one would suppose that a trade like this, which 

 benefits everybody, would be very carefully fostered by 

 Government. 



Far from it, for this is one of those articles that are 

 always being attacked by Chancellors of the Exchequer, who 

 seem to have a special ill will against tea. 



Indeed, it is so heavily taxed that it is extremely difficult 

 to make a profit on tea-gardens. Elsewhere in this chapter 

 some other v^y curious facts will be found illustrating the 

 extraordinary habits and methods of the British Govern- 

 ment. 



The author does not try to explain these facts, but only 

 points them out ; a nation that can manage to exist at all 

 when such things are done by its Government is a nation to 

 which one is proud to belong. 



The Tea-plant is a native of China and Assam. It is a 

 very handsome shrub resembling a camellia, with dark, 

 glossy, green leaves and beautiful flowers. It is said to have 

 been used in China about 2700 b.c, and the first plantations 

 in India were made with Chinese seed. But a Mr. Bruce 

 reported the presence of an indigenous wild tea in Assam.^ 

 Three botanists who were sent to investigate the question 

 suggested that this Assam variety was only the Chinese plant 

 run wild, and advised the introduction of Chinese seedlings. 

 This was a very unfortunate mistake, for the wild Assam 

 plant gives much better results. 



The jungle is first cut down and cleared away by the 

 native tribes, with the help of elephants. Then at the right 

 season, i.e. after the rains begin, the Indian women and 



^ Watt, Economic Dictionary of the Products of India. This valuable 

 work of reference should be consulted for interesting details as to all the 

 plants cited in this chapter. 



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