The samples examined in the course of the investigations were purchased in stores of all grades. The analyses of these teas and general statements concerning them are given in the following tables:

Description Of Samples

Date of purchase.

Serial number

Retail dealer.

Sold as -

Retail price per pound.

1887. Feb. 15

4850

Metzger, Seventh between D and K streets.

Cheap green tea....................

$0.50

4851

......do...............................

Cheap black tea....................

.50

4852

G. G. Cornwall & Sons................

Gunpowder.........................

1.30

4853

......do...............................

Oolong tea..........................

.88

Jan. 18

4860

B. W. Reed's Sons....................

......do............................

.60

4863

Pacific Tea Store, Seventh street N W.

Black tea...........................................

.50

4864

......do...............................

Green tea..........................................

.50

4865

Brought from China by T. C. Trescot esq.

From a Formasa garden (black) ....

......

Apr. 8

4940

Metzgars, Seventh street..............

Imperial tea.......................................

1.00

4941

......do...............................

Formasa Oolong...............................

.75

4942

Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Seventh street.

English breakfast..............................

.80

Date of purchase.

Serial number

Retail dealer.

Sold as -

Retail price per pound.

1887. Apr. 8

4943

Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., Seventh street.

English breakfast..................

$0.60

4944

......do...............................

......do.............................

.40

July 27

5139

N. M. Burchell, 1325 F street..........

Russian tea (black).................

1.25

5140

......do...............................

English breakfast..................

1.00

5141

......do...............................

Gunpowder.........................

.75

5142

527 Tenth street NW.................

Black tea..........................

.60

5143

Jas. Rutherford, 906 D street NW ....

......do.............................

.50

5144

W. H. Combs, 920 Pennsylvaniaavenue

Gunpowder.........................

.50

5145

......do...............................

Uncolored Japan...................

.50

5146

Wm. Orme & Son, 1013 Pennsylvania avenue.

English breakfast..................

.90

5147

M. Goddard, 620 Twelfth streets N W

Uncolored Japan...............................

.75

Aug. 19

5152

1200 Thirteenth street NW...........

Oolong..............................

.60

5153

1130 Thirteenth street................

Japan ..............................

.50

5154

700 Thirteenth street.................

Gunpowder.........................

.90

5155

Corner New York avenue and Thirteenth streets NW.

Oolong..............................

.50

5156

F. N. Lanckton, 209 Four-and-a-half street.

Fine imperial.....................................

.50

5157

J. H. Grimes, 235 Pennsylvania avenue

Basket fired.......................................

.60

5158

B. Maranghi, 101 B street SE..........

Black tea...........................

.45

5159

M. McCormack, 227 Pennsylvania avenue.

Japan ..............................

.50

5160

G. Riani, 135 B SE....................

Black tea...........................................

.50

5161

Enterprise Tea Co., Fourth street and Pennsylvania avenue SE.

Mixed................................................

.40

Aug. 23

5167

Pekin Tea and Coffee Co., 1308 Seventh street.

Old Hyson tea...................................

.60

5168

Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co., 1620 Fourteenth street.

......do.............................

.50

5169

United States Tea Co., 628 Pennsylvania avenue.

......do.............................

.50

5170

Chicago Grocery Co., 806 Seventh street.

Young Hyson tea..................

.50

5171

China and Japan Tea Co.,714 Seventh street.

......do.............................

.60

5172

Moyune Gunpowder................

.80

5173

J. C. Ergood, 915 Louisiana avenue...........

Moyune Gunpowder, third picking.

.75

5174

212 Thirteenth street SW.............

Cheap Moyune Gunpowder.........

.50

5175

Geo. E. Kennedy, 1209 F street........

Gunpowder.........................

1.00

5176

Jackson & Co., 626 Pennsylvania avenue.

......do.............................

.75

5177

F. Bell Tea Co., 824 Seventh street ...

Japan Basket ......................

.50

5178

F. Bell Tea Co., 824 Seventh street___

Mixed teas..........................

.50

5179

1367 C street SW.....................

Oolong..............................

.50

5180

301 Fourteenth street N W............

Black, cheap........................

.50

5181

G.G.Cornwall & Son, 1416 Pennsylvania avenue.

Pekoe................................................

.85

1881. June 1

5940

Park & Tilford, Broadway, New York.

Best Formosa Oolong...............

.75

5944

......do...............................

Best English Breakfast.............

.90

5945

......do...............................

Best Oolong......................................

.80

5946

......do...............................

Best Japan.........................................

1.00

Date of purchase.

Serial number

Retail dealer.

Sold as -

Retail price per pound.

1881. June 1

5947

Park & Tilford, Broadway, New York.

Best Young Hyson.................

$1.00

5948

......do...............................

Best Gunpowder....................

1.00

5949

Not Known, New York........................

Black tea1..........................

.47

13

5960

Martin, Gillet & Co., Baltimore, Md...

Standard Heno Tea.................

.........

5961

Presented by the Chinese minister to the ladies' committee, Garfield Hospital.

...........................................................

.........

19

5963

Abbott Branch Store, H and Eleventh streets NW.

Imperial cheap green tea...........

.50

1890. Feb. 3

6659

McGruder, New York avenue NW........

Best Oolong........................

1.00

6660

......do..............................

Best English Breakfast.............

1.00

Mar. 8

6679

C. D. Kenny, corner Seventh and Ninth streets NW.

Gunpowder........................................

.30

10

6680

Redstrake, New York avenue and Sixth streets.

Johnson's Spring Leaf Blended Tea2

.55

Apr. 26

6803

The Boston Store.................................

Tetley's India and Ceylon Tea No. 1.

.70

6804

......do...............................

Tetley's India and Ceylon Tea No. 2.

.50

1 Sold only in 5-pound packages.

2 Sold in 5-cent packages; 11 packages = 15 3/4

Analyses Of Teas

Date of purchase.

Serial number.

Moisture.

Total ash.

Soluble ash.

Insoluble ash.

Soluble ash. per-cent total ash.

Total extract.

Half-hour extract.

Tannin.

Nitrogen.

Theine.

1887.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Feb. 15

4850

5.52

5.86

3.93

2.03

65.36

52. 75

..........

..........

3.83

2.50

4851

5. 38

6.00

3.54

2.46

59.00

48.98

..........

13.17

3.60

1.09

4852

5.72

6.21

4.01

2.20

64.58

50.11

44.02

14.11

4.58

3.01

4853

5.40

6.63

3.31

3.32

49.92

49.47

........

12.30

4.06

1.50

Jan. 18

4860

8. 96

5.88

3.37

2.51

57.31

51.06

........

15.41

4.12

2.13

4863

5. 65

5.76

2.57

3.19

44.62

46.84

..........

11.17

3.46

2.69

4864

5.31

7.40

2.87

4.53

38.78

47.27

34.92

10.74

3.27

1.12

4865

7.05

5. 69

3.24

2.45

56.94

..........

31. 72

..........

4.01

............

Apr. 8

4940

6.99

5.76

3.67

2.09

63.72

48.28

36. 58

12.57

4.03

2.13

4941

6.45

6.83

3.47

3.36

50.81

48.22

35. 88

7.44

4.00

1.92

4942

7.05

6.48

4.19

2.29

64.66

44.60

32.12

5.07

3.98

3.11

4943

8.43

6.13

3.21

2.92

52. 37

44. 50

31.56

9.88

3.70

1.58

4944

7.76

6.66

3.79

2.87

56.91

42. 84

30.08

5.29

3.99

2.89

July 27

5139

7.78

5.83

3.65

2.18

62.61

51.26

39.70

10.71

4.09

3.43

5140

8.79

5.85

3.55

2.30

60.61

47.73

22.00

7.63

4.39

3.43

5141

6.39

5.93

3.54

2.39

59.70

48.28

28.26

6.93

4.37

2.60

5142

6.67

6.41

3.04

3.37

47.41

46. 75

34.20

8.13

3.45

2.42

5143

8.24

5.83

2.78

3.05

47.69

48.33

32. to

8.51

3.23

1.06

5144

6.35

6.87

3.29

3.58

47.89

48.25

34.50

9.05

3. 36

1.62

5145

7.89

6.40

3.16

3.30

48.92

47.83

38.10

8. 86

3. 97

2.07

5140

8.57

6.45

2 59

3. 86

40.16

47.86

36.12

11.02

3.93

2.53

5147

7.18

7.18

3. 55

3.60

49.66

50.91

40.56

12.51

..........

1.00

Aug. 19

5152

8.74

6.08

3. 50

2.49

59.15

47. 93

39. 04

8.00

3.12

1.61

5153

8.12

7.69

2.87

4.82

37.33

46.18

34.14

7.03

3.09

2.20

Date of purchase.

Serial number.

Moisture.

Total ash.

Soluble ash.

Insoluble ash.

Soluble ash, per cent total ash.

Total extract.

Half-hour extract.

Tannin.

Nitrogen.

Theine.

1887.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Per ct.

Aug. 19

5154

6.32

6.69

3.41

3.28

50.87

53. 76

42.68

8.61

3.24

1.87

5155

7.40

6.13

2.99

3.14

48.85

49.09

39.42

9.92

3.34

1.55

5156

6.59

5.99

3.28

2.71

54.67

50.40

39.60

9.79

3.83

1.55

5157

4.91

6.55

4.34

2.21

66.26

49.31

39.24

8.65

3.86

1.49

5158

8.58

6.11

3.21

2.90

52.87

48.98

31.66

10.10

3.25

1.04

5159

9.58

5.89

3.50

2.39

59.42

49.27

37.54

7.61

4.11

2.31

5160

8.46

5.92

1.78

4.14

30.03

45.44

34.44

8.76

3.16

2.14

5161

7.82

6.83

2.61

4.22

38.21

48.26

38.42

7.70

3.30

1.57

23

5167

8.71

6.21

3.24

2.97

52.18

43.40

33.98

6.71

3.18

1.93

5168

9.90

6.05

2.58

3.47

42.58

47.08

34. 52

8.25

3.33

2.00

5169

8.61

5.93

2.67

3.26

45.01

48.40

29.78

4.77

3.19

2.53

5170

9.72

5.36

1.66

3.70

31.02

46.44

36.12

10.75

2.91

1.98

5171

8.75

6.43

4.21

2.18

66.10

48.98

39.06

11.62

3.53

2.27

5172

8.28

6.02

2.78

3.24

46.14

50.52

39.30

14.09

3.80

2.01

5173

8.40

6.45

4.25

2.20

65.89

50.76

40.96

11.48

4.15

2.00

5174

9.64

6.65

1.99

4.66

34.37

47.70

36.68

7.23

3.33

1.26

5175

5.05

6.09

4.41

2.68

55.95

52.93

43.54

12.60

4.16

2.22

5176

7.54

6.65

4.40

2.25

66.09

47.56

38. 30

8.26

3.93

2.29

5177

8.70

5.59

3.04

2.55

55.35

49.97

38.74

14.76

3.76

2.05

5178

9.15

6.20

2.41

3.79

38.91

47.88

34.84

6.13

3.37

2.98

5179

8.64

5.98

3.09

2.89

51.67

48.51

37.02

10.06

3.38

2.09

5180

8.60

5.66

2.88

2.78

50.87

49.65

37.98

12.39

3.32

1.43

5181

8.49

5.38

2.71

2.67

50.39

53.32

39. 98

15.51

3.82

2.06

1888.

June 1

5943

5.82

6.53

4.18

2.40

63.53

52. 07

39.90

14.58

...........

2.17

5944

8.22

6.36

4.22

2.14

66.36

48.79

39.82

5.87

........

2.73

5945

4.95

6.33

3.83

2.50

60.51

50.16

38.55

12.34

..........

1.34

5946

4.87

6.17

3.63

2.54

58.39

51.19

45.28

8.38

..........

2.54

5947

5.54

6.10

4.22

1.88

69.18

49.53

41.98

11.48

..........

1.73

5948

5.32

6.50

4.61

1.89

70.92

54.36

40.94

12.01

..........

1.64

5949

6.03

6.75

4.23

2.52

62.67

50.41

38.32

10.19

..........

1.03

June 13

5960

4.85

6.40

3.84

2.56

60.00

42.68

40.24

11.08

..........

2.15

5961

3.59

6.98

3.86

3.12

55.30

48.03

38.31

14.76

..........

1.93

June 19

5963

4.61

6.00

3.66

2.34

61.00

41.38

39.20

9.01

..........

1.28

1890.

Feb. 3

6659

5.08

6.21

3.45

2.76

55.55

50.11

41.00

12.85

..........

3.09

6660

3 65

5.29

3.24

2.05

61.06

49.46

40.40

15.21

..........

2.06

Mar. 8

6679

4.14

7.40

3.00

4.40

40.54

47.38

35.18

8.91

..........

1.49

Mar. 10

6680

3.70

7.12

2.87

4.25

40.31

47.86

32.70

12. 35

..........

1.43

Apr. 26

6803

4.84

5.61

3.48

2.13

62.03

47.26

..........

13.67

..........

2.15

6804

4.50

5.90

3.51

2.39

59.48

45.56

..........

11.99

..........

1.92

Table Showing The Condition Of The Leaves And The Foreign Matters Present

Serial No.

Color, etc.

Retail price per pound.

Qualitative examination.

4850

Green........

$0.50

Largely composed of broken leaves. Faced.

4851

Black.....

.50

Leaves large.

4852

....do...........

1.30

Leaves medium size, very much broken. Faced with black lead.

4853

....do...........

.88

Leaves very much broken.

4860

........do.......

.60

Composed entirely of broken leaves. Faced.

4863

.....do.........

.50

Leaves small, mostly broken.

4864

Green.......

.50

Largely composed of fragments. Faced.

4865

Black........

Do.

4940

Green........

1.00

Large leaves, very much broken. Faced.

4941

Black.........

.75

Fragments of medium and small sized leaves,

4942

....do.....

.80

Largely composed of fragments of medium leaves.

4943

...do.........

.60

Do.

4844

....do........

.40

Consists largely of fragments and frayed leaves. Black lead facing; contains magnetic iron oxide.

5139

....do...........

1.25

Largely composed of fragments.

5140

....do.....

1.00

Do.

5141

Green........

.75

Composed of large leaves. Faced.

5142

Black........

.60

Largely composed of fragments.

5143

.....do........

.50

Leaves large.

5144

Green......

.50

Leaves frayed and largely fragments. Faced.

5145

Uncolored Japan.

.50

Fragments of large and small leaves; frayed. Faced.

5146

Black........

.90

Fragments of medium sized leaves; frayed. Black lead facing.

5147

Uncolored Japan.

.75

Medium and small leaves, and a large proportion of stems.

5152

Black .......

.60

Medium and small leaves.

5153

Uncolored Japan.

.50

Composed of fragments of leaves. Faced.

5154

Green.........

.90

Fragments. Faced.

5155

Black ........

.50

Fragments. Contains paddy husks and rice seed. Black lead facing. Contains magnetic iron oxide.

5156

Green.......

.50

Medium and small leaves. Faced.

5157

Black ......

.60

Large leaves, frayed. Contains paddy husks. Black lead facing. Contains catechu.

5158

....do .......

.45

Largo leaves, frayed. Contained paddy husks.

5159

...do.........

.50

Largo leaves, frayed. Black lead facing.

6160

....do .......

.50

Fragments. Contains paddy husks. Black lead facing,

5161

Black and green.

.40

Fragments of large leaves. Black lead and Prussian blue facing

5167

Green......

.60

Largely composed of fragments. Indigo facing.

5168

.....do.........

.50

Fragments of large leaves. Faced.

5169

Black ....

.50

Fragments of leaves. Contained pieces of gypsum, wood, and fragments apparently nut shells.

5170

Green.......

.50

Fragments. Faced.

5171

... .do.........

.60

Fragments. Faced.

5172

.....do.......

.80

Large leaves. Faced.

5173

...do..........

.75

Large leaves. Faced.

5174

...do.....

.50

Large leaves. Faced.

5175

...do.........

1.00

Leaves small. Many fragments. Faced.

6176

...do..........

.75

Leaves large. About 20 per cent tea-dust. Faced.

6177

Japan basket.

.50

Leaves small. Fragments few. Contains paddy busks.

1 Facing unless otherwise stated is a mixture containing Prussian blue.

Serial No.

Color, etc.

Retail price per pound.

Qualitative examination.

5178

Black and green.

$0.50

Fragments of large leaves. Prussian blue and black lead facing. Contains magnetic iron oxide.

5179

Black.....

.50

Fragmentsof medium-sized leaves. Black-lead facing contains magnetic iron oxide.

5180

......do.........

.50

Fragments of large leaves. Contains paddy husks.

5181

.......do........

.85

Small leaves and fragments. Black-lead facing.

5943

.......do.........

.75

Small leaves and fragments. Contains paddy husks. Black-lead facing.

5944

.......do........

.90

Small leaf fragments.

5945

........do.........

.80

Small leaf fragments. Black-lead facing.

5946

Japan.........

1.00

Small leaves, fragments, and pekoe tips.

5947

Green........

1.00

Small leaves. Indigo facing.

5948

...do .....

1.00

Small leaves and fragments. Indigo facing.

*5949

Black.....

.47

Small leaf fragments.

5960

Black and green.

...........

All fragments. Contains paddy husks.

5961

Green.........

...........

All stems and leaf buds.

5963

......do.....

.50

A large proportion of fragments of leaves.

6659

Black.....

1.00

Very few fragments.

6660

...do.....

1.00

Largely composed of fragments.

6679

Green.....

.30

Fragments of leaves. Contains fragments of brick and lead. Faced.

6680

Green and black.

.55

Fragments of leaves. Contains paddy husks and a few grains of rice. Black lead and Prussian blue facing.

* Sold in $5 packages only.

The prices of a few samples are omitted, since these teas were not purchased by the Department. As nearly as possible all the grades of teas on the market are represented in this work.

Many of these samples are of very inferior quality, but neither the analytical nor microscopical data give positive evidence of the addition of spent or foreign leaves. That this latter form of adulteration is still practiced is evidenced by the work of a Canadian official chemist who found two samples containing foreign leaves.1 Dr. Jesse P. Battershall2 examined nearly 2,000 suspected samples of teas under the United States tea adulteration act, and states that he found foreign leaves present in only a few instances.

Some of the higher-priced teas contained frayed and unrolled leaves, but not in sufficient quantities to justify considering the sample to have been adulterated with spent leaves, especially as the relative proportions of the soluble constituents of the teas varied little from the average for genuine, unadulterated samples.

A large number of the samples examined by the writer were faced. With the present ideas in regard to this practice, it can not be considered a form of adulteration, but facing should be condemned on account of its use in making inferior teas appear to be of a superior quality. This practice also enables the admixture of spent leaves with little fear of detection. Faced teas can not be excluded from this country under the United States tea adulteration act, since this law specifies that the addition of chemical and other deleterious substances must be in sufficient quantities to render the tea unfit for use. This wording admits of excessive facing, since it has never been shown that the substances usually employed for this purpose are prejudicial to health, even when taken in greater quantities than could be employed in treating teas.

1 Report on adulteration of food. Supplement in to the report of the Department of Inland Revenue, 1886. Ottawa.

2 Food adulteration. Jesse P. Battershall, page 20.

A few of the samples examined contained magnetic-iron oxide, probably derived from the black-lead facing. Serial number 6079 contained a few fragments of brick and lead. These substances were probably added to increase the weight of the tea and were not accidental.

A general qualitative examination was made of each sample. The foreign matters detected are given in the table, p. 890. Very few objectionable substances were found. A statement of the condition of the leaves is also given in this table. The teas of all grades were largely composed of fragments of leaves.

Conclusion

The analytical and other work in connection with this report indicates that there are few if any spurious teas on the market. The range in quality is undoubtedly very great, many samples deserving to be termed "tea" simply because they are composed of the leaves of the Then, and not through the many pleasant qualities which we usually associate with the beverage of this name.

With the strict enforcement of the United States adulteration act, the consumer is reasonably well protected, so far as securing the genuine leaf is concerned, but of course has no protection from the sale of inferior teas.