128 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
and from Miss Mc¥all, High Shoals, S. C., during the month of May. 
These lots were from 1 to 8 pounds each. In each of these samples re- 
ceived the leaves were quite unsuitable for the preparation of tea, owing 
to their maturity, as will be evident from their size, which was from 2 to 
3 inches in length by one inch in width. Owing to this, it was found 
quite impossible to roll the leaves, and the teas made from them were 
said to resemble the “flat-leaf teas” of China and Japan, called by the 
Chinese Bonketis, and by the Japanese Twankees, said to be used by 
the natives of these countries, but never exported. 
Owing to the impossibility of manipulating these leaves, on account 
of their age and toughness, several modifications were made in the pro- 
cess of manufacture, but the results were unsatisfactory, showing that 
it is important that the leaves be plucked while they are still young and 
tender. 
OIL FROM TEA SEED. 
A small quantity of oil expressed from tea seed was submitted for 
examination. 
The oil possesses a light yellow color, is faintly acid in reaction, and 
has a slight odor from the admixture of a trace of a volatile oil. 
Its specific gravity at 28° C. was .9078. It is a non-drying oil and 
well adapted for lubricating light machinery, but with too little body 
for heavy machinery. 
TEA-SEED HULLS. 
The use of a decoction of tea-hulls being common in certain localities 
as a remedy in cases where quinia is generally employed, led to an ex- 
amination of the hulls to determine the presence of any alkaloid, but, 
with the exception of a small quantity of theine, nothing was found of 
therapeutic value. 
EXAMINATION OF SOPHISTICATED THA. 
A sample of so-called tea was submitted for examination by the Health 
Officer of the District of Columbia, it having been seized under the sus- 
picion that, from the low price at which it was offered for sale, it was 
not a genuine tea. In appearance it closely resembled a good specimen 
of gunpowder tea. An examination and analysis fully confirmed the 
suspicions concerning its character. It contained nearly twice the nor- 
mal amount of ash, there being present 10.06 per cent. This ash was 
composed largely of sand, and the portion soluble in acid consisted 
chiefly of iron, alumina, and lime. 
The magnet removed numerous small grains from the tea, which 
appeared to be bits of magnetic iron. Upon passing the tea over a fine 
sieve there was removed a fine powder which, under the microscope, 
showed blue grains, which proved to be Prussian blue. 
Upon boiling the tea in water there were found but few perfect leaves, 
and these proved to be other than leaves of the tea-plant, but the mass 
proved to be a collection of broken stems and fragments of leaves. 
Only a trace of theine was present, and there was no doubt but that 
the so-called tea was a sophisticated product, intended and well caleu- 
lated to deceive the ordinary purchaser. 
Ti hardly seems probable that this is an exceptional case, and doubt- 
less careful search would result inthe detection of many similar products 
sold as tea in the market. 
