66 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



first about $25 per pound. For a long time, because of its great price, its use 

 was confiued to the wealthy, and even in the early part of the preseut century 

 it was sold in France only by druggists. 



Chemistry. — The characteristic substance found in tea is thelne, whose 

 formula is C8H10N4O2. 



Preparation. — The varieties of tea are due to different methods of prepara- 

 ation. The first gathering of the season is the best, and the last, which consists 

 of large leaves, of an inferior flavor, is the worst. Black tea is exposed to 

 the atmosphere for a considerable time ; in this exposure an uxidation takes 

 place, which produces chemical changes greatly modifying the tannin, theine, 

 volatile oil, etc., but the green teas are not exposed to the action of the air in 

 the same way, and the same chemical changes do not occur. They are roasted 

 without fermeuting, and are afterwards rolled and dried. Hence the different 

 effect of tlie green teas upon the nervous system. Pekoe is green tea scented 

 by flowers of the fragrant olive and other plants. 



Use. — The leaves are steeped in boiling water, and the decoction is used as 

 a beverage. This beverage has an exhilarating effect upon the system, due 

 to a chemical substance found in it known as theine (see Chemistry), which is 

 an alkaloid. It also yields a large percentage of tannic acid, with essential 

 oil. When first introduced into Europe it was looked upon with disfavor and 

 suspicion, and the origin of a number of diseases was traced to its use ; but 

 it has overcome all obstacles, and is now the daily beverage of more than 

 600,000,000 people, who consume over 2,306,500,000 pounds annually, and this 

 quantity is constantly increasing. 



Statistics. — The quantity of tea used in the world is amazingly large. In 

 Great Britain alone (mostly in England) about 163,000,000 pounds are con- 

 sumed annually. In one year 52,424,545 pounds were brought into the eastern 

 ports of the U. S., besides what came from China and Japan to California. 



The following table shows the comparative consumption among the great 

 tea-drinking peoples : — 



China consumes 2,000,000,000 pounds. 



Great Britain 163,000,000 



United States 52,000,000 " 



Russia 26,000,000 '* 



Holland 10,000,000 " 



Dominion of Canada 9,000,000 " 



France 6,500,000 " 



North Germany 21,000,000 " 



Victoria and other British Colonies in the Pacific . 1 1,000,000 " 

 From Japan more than 4,000,000 pounds are ex- 

 ported 4,000,000 ** 



and far more is consumed at home, but allowing 



the same for home consumption in Japan , . . 4,000,000 " 



The world's annual consumption amounts to . . . 2,306,500,000 pounds. 



Propagation. — The propagation is by seeds. The seeds must be planted 

 as soon as they are ripe, in a moist soil, and as soon as the plants are three 

 inches high, they must be pricked out as the gardener puts out his cabbage or 

 lettuce ; when they are six to eight inches high they may be reset in a nursery, 

 six to twelve inches apart, and kept free from weeds. After six to ten months 

 in the nursery they may be planted in the orchard or plantation. 



