October i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
267 
picking of 1887 made tho crop 20 per cent, woreo than 
it need have beeu. Lastly, in China there is not the 
same care in packing that there is in India. The remi- 
diee proposed for improving this unfortunate state of 
things in the Hankow Tea trade are threefold. — 1st, 
the reduction of supply; and 2nd, the adoption of a 
better system of cultivation and preparation J and 3rd) 
the abolition Or reduction of taxation. 
Auother remedy it is said has also beeu suggested, 
namely, to drive Indian Tea out of the market by 
sending a lecturer through England to preach a crusade 
(.gainst it, and to proclaim its unwhblesomeness and 
the danger arising from drinking it. 
Whatever might be the result of a better system 
of cultivation and preparation, the last proposition 
would probably hasten its decline, by advertising, and 
consequently increasing the sale of, Indian tea.— 
' Ittrdt iu i-s' Chronicle. 
TEA NOTES. 
The dried leaves of the Baxifraya crassifloia are used 
in Siberia and other par ts ot upper Asia as a substitute 
foi t< a. They are chiefly gathered in the valley of the 
rysh on a mountain, which, on that account, is 
oalled by the Russians Tshaynaja Sopka, the " Tea- 
mountain." The leathery, spongy leaves of this plant 
fall off in the fourth year," when those only are gathered 
which are quite black. They require no otlrir prepara- 
tion to be used. The infusion is reddish and of an 
astringent taste, similar to that of tea, but the aro- 
matic flavour is wanting. — Penny Cyclopiedia, Article 
" Altai Mountains," 1832. 
Hyduunuea ThuNBKHGI, Siebold, Japan — The h aves 
ot this shrub give a peculiar tea, there called the " Tea 
of Heaven." 
A.NDltoi'OdON Citratus, Candotle. — The Lemon Grass 
of India. It yields an essential oil for perfumery ; 
besides, it is occasionally used for tea. This applies 
as well to Andropogun Nardus, L., and some allied 
grasses. 
Ilex (Jassine, Linn, Southern States of North Ame- 
rica.— A Tea bush to which remarkable medicinal pro- 
perties are ascribed. 
Ii.kx Pabaouensih, St. Hilaire, Uruguay, Paraguay, 
and Southern Brazil— The Mate. This holly bu-h, 
which attains tho size of a small trie, is inserted in 
this list lather as a stimulating medicinal plant than 
as a subxtitute for the ordinary Tea Plant, although in 
its Dative Country it is very extensively used for this 
purpose. Prbm the province of Paiana alone there 
ITejrC exported more than 30 million pounds in 1871, 
besides "J million pounds used for home consumption ; 
while' iu Kio Grande de Sul the local provincial 
Consumption 18 nearly four times as much, not counting 
large quantities consumed by tho aboriginal race. It 
is cheaper than Cofloo or Tea (about 5d. per lb.), and 
an individual thoru uses about 1 lb. por week. It has 
a pleasant aroma and can be taken with milk ami 
sugar. It is the favourite beverago in large portions 
el South America ( Dr. .Merccdo Soarr.sj. The leaves 
destined for the Mate are slightly roasted. I. Dahoou 
ami I. Dipyreiut are used for the same purpose, and pro- 
bably other hollies may be found equally good. Uhcini- 
cul principles: Callein, quina acid, and a peculiar 
tannic ac ill, which Lttcr can be converted into viri- 
diu auid. 
MyBTDS AciUNOIDKS. J'. von. Mueller. Queensland. — 
Tho fragrant leaves of this nndjof A/. Fragrantittima 
used for tluvoriug tea, according to Mr. P. O'Shuncsy. 
Camellia Tiika, Link. (Thra Chinonsis, Limit.) — 
The tea sbru>> of South Iv. stein Asia, said to bo in- 
digenous also to some localities of Japan, — for instance, 
Nuruga. This evergreen and ornamental bush has 
proved quite hardy in the lowlands ot Melbourne, 
wlier in . \|> i-i 1 positions it endiros without any 
attoutioll our night I rusts as well i. • the free access of 
scorching summer winds. Hut, it is in humid valleys, 
with rich nlluvinl soil and access to springs tor ii l igation, 
where onU tho most productive ten-fields can he 
pormod. i he plant conies into plenlilul hearing of its 
Irotluct as early as the Vino an I earlier than the 
Olive. Iu culture is surrounded with no difficulties, 
aud it is tiugularly free from diseases, if plumed iu 
proper localities. Pruning is effected in the cool sea- 
son, in order to obtain a large quantity of small tender 
leaves from young branches, .both the Chinese and 
Assam tea are produced by varieties pf one ( ingle spec.es, 
the tea-shrub being indigenous in the forest, country of 
Assam. Declivities are best adapted and usually chosen 
for tea culture, particularly for Congou, Pekoe, and 
Souchong, while Bohea is often grown in flat countries. 
In Japan tea cultivation extends to 39" north latitude, 
whore the thermometer occasionally sinks to 10" 
F. (Simmons). For many lull details Fortune's 
work, " The Toa Districts of China " might be con- 
sulted. 'I he very troublesome Tea-bug of Asia is 
Htlopeltis theivoTu. Fumigation and the application 
of birdlime are among the remedies to cope with this 
insect. The third volume of the Journal of the Agri- 
cultural and Horticultural Society of India is mainly 
occupied by Lt.-Col. Ed. Money's and Mr. Watson's 
elaborate essays on the Cultivation aud Manufacture of 
Tea in India. For full advice on the culture and 
preparation on tea, consult the writer's printed lecture, 
delivered in 1875 at the Farmer's Club of Ballarat. 
The Tea of commerce consists of the young leaves, 
heated, curled, and sweated. The process of preparing 
the leaves can be effected by steam machin- 
ery. A machine of particular construction has been 
suggested recently by Mr. Joachimi according to require- 
ments explained by the writer. In 1866 three machines 
for dressing tea have beeu patented in England, one 
by Messrs. Campbell and Burgess, one by Mr. Thomson, 
and one by Mr. Tayser. To give an idea of the quan- 
tity of tea which is consumed at the present time, it 
may be stated that, from June to September 1871, 
11,000,000 lb. of tea were shipped from China alone to 
Australia, and that the produce of tea in India from 
Jauy. to June 1872 has heen 18,500,000 lb. Iudia 
sent only a first small sample of tea in 1840 
to the European market, but exported in 1877 to 
England 40,000,000 lb. — that is as much as the whole 
English exportation thirty years ago (liurrell). Seeds 
of the tea-bush are now iu many parts of Australia 
locally to be gatherei from plants distributed by the 
writer, and for years to come tho cultivation of the 
tea-bush, merely to secure local supplies of fresh 
seeds, ready to germinate, will in all likelihood prove 
highly lucrative. Tea contiins an alkaloid, caffein, 
B peculiar essential oil, and Bohea acid, along with 
other substances. 
♦ 
GLASGOW AND BRUSSELS EXHIBITION : 
CEYLON TEA FOR AMERICA. 
Ceylon Court, International Exhibition, 
Glasgow, 31st August 1888. 
The Secretary, Planters' Association, Kandy. 
Dear Sir, — I have to thank you for your letter re- 
ceived last week, containing draft of a Brussels Exhi- 
bition £100. 
You will have since received Mr. Haldane's report 
on his visit to Brussels, and you will learn that iu 
spite of the magnificent buildings, the tempting sur- 
roundings and the splendid promise, the Exhibition 
in Brussels is as far as attracting numbers goes a 
comparative failure. 
Exhibitions are always lotteries ■ Glasgow has suc- 
ceeded beyond the expectation of the most sanguine. 
Brussels has disappointed everybody, but the Plan- 
ters' Association need not be discouraged iu conse- 
quence, and I believe though the Exhibition will only bu 
visited by perhaps one million instead of the estima- 
ted five and the number of cups of tea drunk will be 
proportionately less than wo expected, the advertise- 
ment will he a good one and will well repay the 
Planters' Association. One of tho native servants, 
Simon Peter was reported to be ill, and, as we had 
also unsatisfactory reports of his general conduct, 
1 ordered him to bo sent here, the directors of 
tho S. S. " I.idy Gordon" having kindly consented to 
convey him to l.ljylon. 1 had him examined by a doctor 
on arrival here, and, as the doctor thought him too ill 
to travel, I was obliged to place him in tho infirmary. 
1 visitod him there yenterday md find lie is improving, 
mid I shall send him l-aok by the tint opportunity. 
