16 TEA 



0'03 lb., and in 1780 it had risen to only 0'57 Ib. During 

 the first four decades of the next century the average 

 stood at about 1*25 lb., but after 1840, the period at 

 which tea-planting was rapidly being extended in India, 

 the consumption rose very quickly. In spite of the 

 increasing consumption, however, tea has continued to 

 fall in price owing to the enormous increase in production. 



