OF VARIOUS KINDS OF TEA. 
7 
from plants of different ages growing on the same field, under 
exactly the same external conditions. The percentage com¬ 
position of these four specimens was found to be as follows : 
Age of the shrubs, years. 
No. I. 
4 
No. II. 
7 
No. III. 
16 
No. IV. 
20 
Water. 
bo 
00 
76.11 
76.08 
74.68 
In loo parts of dry matter : 
Crude protein . 
34.06 
37.00 
33-06 
33-88 
Ethereal extract . 
4.08 
4-47 
5-43 
4.76 
Crude fibre . 
12.47 
13-53 
15.50 
T 4-33 
Nitrogen-free extract . 
44.22 
39.02 
40.59 
41.46 
Ash. 
5- r 7 
5-98 
5.42 
5-57 
Theine . 
2.60 
2.0 7 
2.88 
2.17 
Soluble in hot water .. 
33-94 
36.64 
32.21 
32.86 
Total nitrogen . 
5-45 
5.92 
4-03 
5.42 
Albuminoid nitrogen . 
4-31 
4.41 
2.88 
4.10 
In ioo parts of pure ash : 
Potash . 
49-34 
49-37 
00 
47-49 
Soda . 
1.08 
i -53 
1.85 
1.94 
Lime . 
6.76 
6.07 
4-99 
4.1g 
Magnesia . 
4-97 
6.03 
00 
Ln 
-#* 
9.68 
Mangano-manganic oxide . 
1.20 
1.23 
I- 3 I 
i.og 
Ferric oxide . 
5.46 
3.86 
5.16 
3-78 
Phosphoric acid . 
19.49 
O 
r^. 
M 
1 7-57 
16.80 
Sulphuric acid . 
g.67 
9.81 
7-93 
10.39 
Silica. 
o.go 
1.17 
i -33 
1.58 
Chlorine . 
1.58 
1.21 
i -39 
1.68 
From these figures, we see that there is no regular variation 
in the composition of the leaves as a consequence of the age of 
the plants except the percentage of water which gradually 
decreases in the leaves of the older plants. Thus, so far as 
the chemical composition of the leaves is concerned, the pre¬ 
vailing opinion is erroneous ; on the contrary, careful pruning 
