May 2, 1892.3 
THE TROPJOAl AORldULTUmST. 
799 
A partial translation will now be given of the 
leading features in this practical and instructive essay ; 
and the faithful rendering into English will even 
preserve some of the peouliarities of expression of 
the original. 
The teas of Russia, of which we oocnpy ourselves 
more especially in this study, are nothing else than 
the best crude teas of China. They are, in some sort, 
for the teas in general, what the ChAteaux-Laffito 
or the Chateaux-Yquom brands are for the wines of 
France, 
The plantations are, since nearly two centuries 
engrossed or monopolised by the Russians or by 
their correspondents on the Chinese markets, and 
imrticularly at Hangkow, which is their veritable 
quarter-general. 1 ho Russian merchants at Moscow 
(the chief tea-depdt of the European east) have 
numerous buyers in China, on the same spots of 
production, and cause their different teas to come 
by caravan. 
The convoys which are formed at Tientsin are 
sent in a northerly direction, after which the camels 
transport these merchandises across the great and 
grand desert of Gobi, arrived at Mai-Ma-Tchiii and 
then at Kiachta, ville situate on the Siberian frontier. 
It is in this neighbourhood that are centralised 
equally the teas of the septentrional provinces of 
China, which the inhabitants exchange for Russian 
merchandises and some manufactured objects. 
It is at Kiachta also that are found estab- 
lished the premier bureaux of sale and of re- 
expedition of the principal Russian Houses, who con- 
trol carefully the merchandise, take the quantity 
necessary to the needs of the country, then put the 
cases in an envelope of cowskin of which the hair 
is turned to the interior, and send them to Irkontsk. 
In this latter ville exists a now tea exchange, or 
comptoir, which takes the provision necessary for 
the commerce in tea of this country, and then 
causes to follow or forward tho gross-bulk of the cargo 
train upon Tomsk and on Irbit. 
Naturally, in this country, covered with snow pend- 
ing the major part of the year, tho slodgos, chariots, 
and horses have replaced the camels. 
It is at Irbit where each year has placed the grandest 
Asiatic fair, when myriads of nationalities Hock to- 
gether to do business, and when an important sale 
of teas is made ; after which the convoys traverse 
the Ural gaining tho Volga, in leaving a certain 
number of bales in each ville encountered on their 
route. 
Once arrived at Nijni-Novgorod by the way of the 
grand river, the cases, of which the number is now 
much diminished, pass into the railw'ay waggons, 
which conduct them to Moscow, from whence they 
are repanded or distributed in all parts of tho nigh 
boundless state of Russia, as weil as to abroad. 
Tho caravans, of which we have come to indicate tho 
itinerary, port from Hangkow in tho month of May, 
arriving at Irbit (in tho Asiatic part of the Govern- 
ment of Perm) about the middle of February of the 
year following, and, after having mounted in sledges 
the congealed course of tho Volga, they attain Nijni- 
Novgorod in March, and Moscow in April. 
That makes U months of voyage to traverse China, 
Siberia, and the orient of Russia. ’ 
Russian tea is an excellent tonic and nutritive 
drink. These two qualities are duo in part to two 
elements : the theine and the tannin. More tho tea 
contains tho theine, more it will be of value ; further, 
— a detail to note, — is that the tea is more nutritive 
than coffee, because it is always more rich in theine 
than coffee is in cafeine. 
Other than its native superiority, that which has 
made tho Russian tea what it is and will bo always 
—the best of all tho teas — is this: that, coming by 
land and not being exposed to the atmopshore humid 
and warm of the nolus of ships, it has no need to 
undergo the preparations indispensable to all teas 
coming by sea. 
Among the different varieties of tea the most liked 
by tho amateurs, we must cite, in tho black teas, 
[or example the Ki-Chin; in tho fiower-toas, the 
Sio-Faioum; in the green teas, tho Van-Kedzi; and 
W the yellow teas, tho Ven-iLi and tho Ta-tchon. | 
There 
of the 
tablettes 
may be signalised os a great spoclaltv 
loading Russian houses, the tea in 
(a brevetted system). This is a pro- 
duct of excellent qnnlity, compressed in a fashion 
guard concentrated all its force and all its aroma 
under tho most petty volume possible. The voyagers, 
the chasers or sportsmen, the soldiers of all condi- 
tions appreciate it much in Russia, whore they have 
named these tablettes “ plitochni." 
One must not confound those “plitochni” with the 
tea in bricks, of inferior quality named " kirpiohni, " 
of which use is mode by the Kalmoucks, the Tartars, 
and the classes the most poor of the Siberian popu- 
lations. 
The tea in tablettes, which is broken in several 
morsels, is cast into boiling water the same as when 
making tea by infusing the leaves. A tab- 
lette suffices for making at least 120 cups of tea qnite 
strong enough. It is prepared very rapidly, and pos- 
sesses the some aroma and the same hygienic qnalKies 
as the different species which wo nave just cited 
higher up. 
In resumen, owing to tho powerful organization of 
this enterprise, wo believe that tho Russian teas, of 
which the price is not much superior to that for 
Chinese teas properly styled, or of the English teas, 
have them place marked in all tho families of con- 
tinental Europe, and in all the establishments of 
consumption caWs, hotelsl, restaurants, where, in be- 
coming a favorite drink, they take range among tho 
m^t precious auxiliaries of the public health. 
_ Of course, everybody to their tastes: many persons of 
judgment there are who do not care for Russian teas. 
\Vo know, among our friends, semeresoluto amateurs 
of tea, a petty number of adversaries more or less 
decided and a quantity of gents indifferent or un- 
decided, recognising themselves incapable, after some 
contradictory experiences, of declaring for or against 
the famous infusion adored by the Chinese, tho 
Russians, and tho English. 
This is, according to ns, exclusively due to the 
multiple frauds of which tea is the object, that one 
has to attribute the hesitations of the public to pro- 
nounce in favour of certain infusions more or loss 
faded and disagreeable, which he is made, to take or 
has passed off on him for some Chinese tea or Rus- 
sian tea. 
Such is the veritable cause which, unto now, has 
prevented in France the consumption on an extensive 
scale of these different products. 
The subject is of interest not only to tho general 
public, but also to business people. Some practical and 
edifying information has lieen given, sumi ns seldom 
the community is mode acquainted with. L. A, 
OUR PORTRAITS. 
MB. CnABUia ABTHUR TUBION. 
Wo are always glad to be able to odd to the list 
of portraits which have already appeared in this 
journal any that are of persons who have claims to 
public notice, and this we think the subject of our 
portrait this week, Mr. C. A. Tnrton, has, in that he 
is the myontor of one of tho most useful inventions 
relating to tea mannfaoture that has perhaps ever 
been before the pnblio. i-vincpo ever 
Mr. Tnrton is the son of the late Rev. Henry 
f n Sngnall Hall, Staffordshire, Vicsi 
U.u C r county, and was bom on the 
8 th of January I 8 .I 7 . He was educated at Urodffold 
College, Berkshire, and on leaving school be wont 
f?! "^1 ^ntor as he was intended for the Home 
Civil Service for which he had a nomination. This 
however he throw np and elected to go into business 
in Civerpool. He remained in Liverpool durine a 
continuous period of seven years in the service of 
one of the Ingest mercantile houses in that citv 
During the depression in tho cotton trade in the 
year 1870, brouuht about chiefly by the Fmnw 
Prussian war, hfr. Turton suffered some pecTOi^v 
losses, and seeing little prospect of obtaiS a 
partnership in any good Arm in Liverpool h^SJ 
‘ho pining East, and sMwted Wm 
as tho hold for hw future operation#. •“•ssaui 
