TEA. 101 



oblong moulds or boxes, into which a light frame is previously 

 fixed, holding, stretched from one end to the other, a number of 

 cords of packthread. The mould filled with syrup is then put into 

 the drying stove, and suffered to remain undisturbed for a consider- 

 able time, during which the sugar gradually deposits itself iu crystals 

 around the threads. The mould is then removed, and the frame is 

 lifted out, with every thread thickly and very beautifully encrusted 

 with the candy, and is afterwards drained to free it from the adher- 

 ing syrup. Sugar-candy is more transparent and much harder than 

 common sugar. The brown sort crystallizes full as regularly as the 

 white, but becomes clammy and deliquescent in a damp air, while 

 the white remains always dry. On account of its superior hard- 

 ness it, is less soluble than the loaf-sugar, and appears to have much 

 less taste, but it has full as strong a body of sugar, and would be 

 excellently calculated for preserving all vegetable food if the price 

 were lower. 



[Pantohgia. 



SECTION XIV. 



Tea. 

 Thea. -Likv. 



The tea. plant is a native of Japan, China and Tonquin, and has 

 not, as far as we can learn, been found growing spontaneously in 

 any other part of the world *. It is a small ever-green tree, or 

 shrub, much branched, and covered with a bright dark grey bark. 

 Mr. Aiton affirms that it was first introduced into this country in 

 1768, by John Ellis, Esq. who raised it from seeds and presented it 

 to the king's gardener at Kew : but Dr. Woodville inclines to be- 

 lieve that the tea-plant which first flowered iu Europe belonged to 

 his grace the Duke of Northumberland, at Sion House. 



Sir Charles Thunberg, one of the most distinguished pupils of 

 Linneus, who resided sixteen months in Batavia and Japan, has 

 given a full botanical description of the tea plant : and having 



* Captain Cook found a low ever-green shrub in great abundance on the 

 island of Teneriffe ; which he observes, possesses a great resemblance to the 

 thea of Japan and China, and which, though not propagated, and regarded as a 

 weed is used at tea by many of th^ Spaniards, of the island, who affirm it has 

 the same taste. But we know nothing of the sxual characters of this plant. 



Editor. 

 H 3 



