. Cyclopedia of farm crops. Farm produce; Agriculture. 636 TEA TEASEL smaller the dry leaf particles the better is the brew. Enemies. Thus far the only enemies developed by the American tea experimentation have been the red- spider, during exceptionally dry vi'eather and on weak plants, and the mealy-bug on bushes in the dim light under the covering of the shelter-tea frames. Pruning and burning are the most effective reme- dies for these pests. Cattle, goats and the general farm-thief do not molest tea gardens; and the dep- redations of the army-worm must be regarded as an advantage, as the w
. Cyclopedia of farm crops. Farm produce; Agriculture. 636 TEA TEASEL smaller the dry leaf particles the better is the brew. Enemies. Thus far the only enemies developed by the American tea experimentation have been the red- spider, during exceptionally dry vi'eather and on weak plants, and the mealy-bug on bushes in the dim light under the covering of the shelter-tea frames. Pruning and burning are the most effective reme- dies for these pests. Cattle, goats and the general farm-thief do not molest tea gardens; and the dep- redations of the army-worm must be regarded as an advantage, as the worm spares the tea while destroying the grass. Quantity versus quality in the product. The production of large yields is generally at the expense of quality, as frequent flushes appear to interfere with the formation of those chemical combinations which impart value to the leaf. Nevertheless, the problem of quantity or quality steadily presents itself to the average tea-planter of the Orient, and the profit of production vacillates between the two. Of late there would seem to have been more money in poorer and cheaper teas. The price of tea has fallen to about half the price it held one generation ago. If the quality had been maintained, which under the circumstances was impossible, the only sufferers might have been the producers; but as matters now stand, the poorer classes in losing their health from the consumption of inferior teas are most to be pitied. First came the terrible struggle of the Indian and Ceylon planters with China for the supremacy of the world's tea markets; and once accustomed to a steady decline in price, the dealers, both wholesale and retail, have never ceased to demand yet greater cheapness of the commodity, even though incom- patible with the real enjoyment or healthfulness of the beverage. Good tea is imported into this coun- try and commands its proper price, but it plays a subordinate part to the great bulk of cheap, often harmfully astringent or
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