76 THE TEA PLANT. 
son, deep scarlet, rose-colored, yellow, or purple, and 
hang in large bunches at the ends of the branches. 
Travellers in the Himalaya Mountains speak of the 
Rhododendrons as being among the most beautiful 
of the many vegetable curiosities of that fertile 
region. 
There are also many plants whose leaves, as well 
as their flowers, form objects of wonder; and some 
are rendered peculiarly interesting because of the 
prominent part they occupy in our domestic economy. 
Thus, the common Tea Plant is so well known, that 
every one should be made acquainted with the mode 
of its culture, as well as with the method of convert- 
ing the leaves into that useful article, which takes so 
conspicuous a place in the commerce of the world. 
This plant grows about eight feet in height, with 
leaves two and a half inches long, and one and a half 
wide, and bears a small white flower. The Chinese 
raise the plants from seed, and when they have grown 
of sufficient size, they are set out in the ground at 
intervals of about three or four feet apart; they are 
kept cropped close for a year or two, to make them 
grow thick and bushy. When they are about four 
years of age, they commence to gather the leaves; 
this is done several times during the year, and is 
continued for about six or eight years, when they are 
removed and fresh ones planted. The leaves first 
gathered in the spring make the finest flavored teas, 
while those which are taken subsequently produce a 
much inferior article. 
What are commonly known as green and black 
