288 



they are put into liiing-paus and kept iu motiou for about twenty minutes. It changes 

 color to a greenish tinge and has a fine aromatic odor. 



The last operation is to fan the dust out. About two or three pounds are placed in a 

 hamhoo vessel shaped like a coal-shovel, having a sqnare edge on one side and high 

 curved sides on the other three. The man who holds it tosses the tea up and at the 

 same time forces the sides together, making the bottom quite concave. A^the tea falls 

 he extends the sides, thus allowing the bottom to spring back to its natural position, 

 and making it act as a fan to produce a ciirrent of air under the tea. As all the dust 

 falls, sinking below the large leaves, it is brought into contact with this air, and so 

 blown out on the floor. It is then boxed up and sent to the European merchant. 



The preparation of tea for use -would not be complete without a description of the 

 operation it goes through with in the hands of the foreign merchant. The tea, as 

 received from the native merchant, after being weighed is thrown into a large bin, 

 from which it is measured out to the firing-girls. Instead of the wood and paper 

 trays they have iron bowls about two feet in diameter, encased in long masonry ovens, 

 with a place for the charcoal fire under each one. The tea in them (over a heat of 

 about 175°) is kejit continually moving to insure equal heating. Experts move about 

 while the firing is going on, and when it has reached the proper point, direct it to be 

 removed. It is then a grayish-green color, perfectly dry, and has an improved flavor, 

 biit being very brittle, is considerably broken up. It is then sifted to exclude the dust, 

 packed in leaded cases, covered with mats, and is ready to be shipped. The entire loss 

 in w^eight, from the time the leaf is picked until it reaches the consumer, is about 80 

 per cent. ; from which we see that the small province of Snruga alone produces yearly 

 about 100,000 piculs, or over 13,000,000 pouuds, of the green leaf. 



INDUSTRIAL EXPOSITIONS. 



Universal Exhibition at Vienna, in 1873. — An exhibition of 

 unusual maguitude and importance is to Tbe held at Vienna during- the 

 coming year, under the patronage of the Emperor of Austria. It is 

 designed to afford a complete representation of the present state of 

 civilization and the entire sphere of national economy. An act of 

 Congress, passed at the last session, authorized the President to ap- 

 point one or more agents to represent the Government of the United 

 States at this international exposition, provided that such appointments 

 shall not impose on this Government any liability for the expense 

 they may occasion. In accordance with this act the President has ap- 

 pointed Mr. Thomas B. Van Buren to be commissioner on the part of 

 our Government. Mr. Van Buren has an office at 51 Chambers street, 

 New York, where exhibitors may obtain any desired information con- 

 cerning the exposition. The exhibition will be held in the Imperial Prae- 

 ter, a place admirably adapted to give it the best effect by affording 

 the amplest facilities for the display of the contemplated vast collec- 

 tion of the arts and industries of universal civilization. The Praeter 

 is an immense park, some five or six miles in length, traversed by six 

 noble avenues of chestnut-trees, running in different directions, the 

 principal one being 15,000 feet in length. It is divided into three parts, 

 one for horsemen, one for pedestrians, and the other a broad road for^ 

 carriages. jSTothing of the kind in the world, perhaps, exceeds this 

 grand promenade and drive. It is the customary place of resort for the 

 citizens of Vienna on Sundays and holidays, and on ordinary occasions 

 it presents the appearance of a great fair. It is characteristic of the 

 gay and hospitable people of Vienna, and gives full scope to their 

 proverbial love of harmless amusements. 



Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and industries of every descrip- 

 tion, including the arts of war as well as of peace, and the fine arts, 

 will be embraced in the objects to be exhibited. An attempt will be 



