140 



ADULTERATION AND DETECTION. 



SKELETON OF GENUINE TEA-LEAF. 



But in order to better detect the presence of spurious 

 leaves in tea a keener knowledge of the botanical formation 

 of the true tea-leaf is requisite, for which purpose the use 

 of a microscope will be found an invaluable aid. Tea- 

 leaves in general construction bear a strong resemblance 

 to those of the willow and many other plants of the 

 kind, vary widely in size and form, being much smaller, 

 more deeply serrated, and ending more regularly just 

 short of the stalk. The venations are very characteristic, 

 the veins running out from the middle rib, almost parallel 

 with each other, altering their course before reaching the 

 extremities, and turning so as to leave a bare space within 

 the border. When infused and unfolded it is of a bright- 

 green color, the loopings together of the principal vein- 

 ings in the true leaf being very characteristic. While the 

 spurious leaf is either of a greenish-yellow or reddish- 

 brown color, and irregular in form under the same con- 

 dition. or when deprived of its cosmetics. 



