FOREWORD 
HE reason that so little is known of the 
manufacture of Tea in China is because 
foreigners have been discouraged from visit- 
ing the producing districts —in fact, actual hostilit) 
has been shown to would-be explorers. 
‘This trip was inspired by the possibility of per- 
suading the Natives to improve their methods, a 
difficult task, as all of them are convinced that the 
system adopted by their ancestors and hallowed by 
antiquity must of necessity be better than any modern 
ideas. ‘The result of the visit leaves us astounded 
that any quality at all is exhibited in China Tea. 
(The crop may be said “‘just to happen,” as there is 
no attempt at cultivation nor is any care taken in its 
manufacture, thus proving that the inherent qualities 
must be wonderful. There is not a doubt that with 
careful cultivation and picking and proper manufac- 
* ture, China could produce some of the finest Tea in 
the World. 
IRWIN-HARRISONS & CROSFIELD, Inc. 
Robert L. Hecht, 
SECRETARY 
