TESTING, BLENDING AND PREPARING. 173 



should be taken to keep it away from such commodities 

 as fish, soap, coal-oil, molasses and spices, as it quickly 

 absorbs all pungent odors. Yet I have known of teas 

 that were imported with or stored in close proximity 

 to wine, oranges, lemons and even camphor to be im- 

 proved in flavor, more particularly when very lightly 

 tainted by such odors. Still teas should be kept as much 

 as possible from the light and air, particularly in damp 

 or humid weather, as the oxydizing influences of the 

 atmosphere has a more or less deleterious effect upon 

 them. They should never be sold out of freshly-painted 

 bins or newly-japanned tea-caddies, being much better, at 

 all times, to deal them out of the original packages, repla- 

 cing the lead and lid when through. The most successful 

 tea-dealers I have met invariably sell them in this manner. 

 Do not keep your teas too close to a fire or stove, a dry, 

 cool atmosphere of moderate temperature is always best. 

 The tea-market fluctuating considerably in the course of 

 the year, it will be necessary for the dealer to understand 

 something of the law of supply and demand, which 

 affects the fluctuation to a considerable. extent, before he 

 can make profitable purchases. The dealer who is 

 best " posted " in his business makes the best busi- 

 ness man, so that the tea-dealer who not only under- 

 stands the article he is dealing in, but whose knowledge 

 and discrimination enable him "to buy the right tea 

 at the right time " possesses advantages over his com- 

 petitors, the value of which can hardly be overesti- 

 mated. Each season, on the " first arrivals," high 

 prices are paid, and if there be a brisk demand those full 

 prices are continued for some time, after which follows a 

 dull, drooping or listless market, from which but little 

 satisfaction can be obtained ; but should the demand on 

 arrival be light, through dealers holding off for better 



