GATHERING AND MANIPULATION. 213 



Singlo improved by cultivation : but leaving this 

 question, we will now proceed to treat of the mani- 

 pulation of green tea. 



There are only two gatherings of the leaves of green 

 tea : the first begins between the 20th of April and 

 the 5th of May (Ko Yu and Ly Hia), and lasts for 

 about ten or fifteen days : and the second at the sum- 

 mer solstice. The green tea factors universally agree 

 that the sooner the leaves of green tea are roasted 

 after gathering the better ; and that all exposure 

 to the air is unnecessary, and to the sun, injurious.* 

 But as all the leaves cannot be roasted at the same 

 moment, means are necessarily resorted to in order 

 to prevent their heating or turning yellow. They 

 are therefore thinly strewed on tiled floors, or 

 placed in flat bamboo trays on stands in shady 

 places exposed to the air, or on the low walls which 

 are commonly seen about Chinese houses and 

 gardens : which process, as the reader will recol- 

 lect, corresponds with that of Leang Ching, already 

 described under that article. A man or woman 

 occasionally passes round to examine the leaves ; 

 and if those at the bottom show the least disposi- 

 tion to heat or ferment and turn yellow, they are 

 then turned, otherwise they are allowed to remain 

 undisturbed. 



* Tien Hing observes, if the roasting be deferred till the 

 following day, or if the leaves be exposed to the sun, the veins 

 become red and the flavour is injured. (MS.) 



p 3 



