BEVERAGE PLANTS 277 



deal largely with their neighbor on the east. And 

 the demand for tea is growing in all countries except 

 the United States where it is falling off. 



The tea seed is started in a special seed bed, and 

 the little plants set out irrigated in nursery rows 

 that are well tended, and sheltered from the sun. 

 When about a foot high they are transplanted and 

 cultivated until they are three years old. Then 

 they are well covered with young leaf shoots 

 called "flush," and the first picking is done. As 

 the branches lengthen, pruning is needed to induce 

 the sprouting of new leafy shoots. This "flush" 

 is constantly renewed, and the bearing of flowers 

 is discouraged. 



The plucking is hand-work of a very particular 

 kind. It is an open question whether or not tea 

 can be profitably raised in the Southern States, 

 where labor costs so much more than in China 

 and India and Ceylon. There coolie labor costs 

 very little. Tea growing is practicable in this 

 country. But tea harvesting may be impracti- 

 cable. 



If one could only be sure he is getting what he 

 pays for, he might be more interested in the fol- 

 lowing classification and names of brands used in 

 Ceylon. The three leaves nearest the tip of the 

 shoots make the "pekoe" teas. The larger leaves 



