G R O W T H of T E A. 205 
feafons, and alfo from the foil in which it grows, juft as we 
find hay or hops of different years and places of growth, differ 
extremely. 
Bohea tea is gathered at different times, viz. the first in 
april, the leaf being yet young and green : this is what the 
Chinese call souchoon, of which no great quantity, of the true 
fort, is obtainable, tho* the grocer may give you the fecond 
fort of tea under this denomination. Souchoon is the moft 
grateful to the tafte, and of the fineft flavor : if any tea is 
wholfome, this is the moft fo, and in china it is in the higheft 
efteem. 
The second fort, which the Chinese call congou, is ga- 
thered in june ; but here alfo they make many divifions or 
aflortments, all eflentially different in quality, according to the 
foil, and the feafons in which it is gathered. 
The third, or common fort, goes under the general deno- 
mination of tcha bou, or boui. This is what is fold fo ex- 
tremely cheap at feveral European markets, of which I fhall 
have occafion to fay more hereafter. But in this are alfo many 
different qualities or degrees of goodnefs, or badness, which you 
pleafe. 
If the firft fhoots of tea were picked leaf by leaf, as was for- 
merly done in china, and not mixed, as is now pradifed, 
we (hould find a greater difference in the flavor of fuch tea, 
compared even with what we yet call fine tea, than there is 
between the delicacy and tafte of young peas, and thofe which 
are full grown. The 
