91 



CHAP. V. 



TIME OF GATHERING THREE GATHERINGS — DIFFERENCE OF 



QUALITY OF THE GATHERINGS — ONLY YOUNG SUCCULENT 

 LEAVES FIT FOR TEA MODE AT JAVA. 



The Pun Csao Kiang Moo states, that for the 

 proper time of gathering flowers, fruits, leaves, and 

 the stalks of plants (for medicinal purposes), this 

 general rule may be observed, that they be gathered 

 in their perfect maturity. 



We also say that the best time for gathering 

 simples is when the plant is at its highest state of 

 perfection ; and this we deem to be, as a general 

 rule, just at or after its efflorescence. 



Now the tea shrub begins to flower in the south 

 generally about October, and seems to continue 

 flowering through the winter, for I have seen some 

 shrubs in flower so late as the beginning of March * ; 

 and the first gathering of the leaves for Pekoe tea 

 commences fifteen days after the vernal equinox. 



The time of gathering the tea leaves, however, 



* Cunningham states that the tea shrubs flower at Chusan from 

 October to January, and that the seed is ripe in September or 

 October. Ting: Hing, a respectable green tea factor, states that 

 they flower from September to November ; another green tea 

 factor, so late as February. Kcempfer observes that at Japan 

 the shrubs flower from August until late in the^ winter. Von 

 Siebold states from November to February. 



