Tea and China are almost synonymous terms. It is indisputably the “Land of tea.” Its cultivation forms the chief industry of that country, and has been the largest contributor to the revenue of the government for centuries, its export being the principal feature of all her foreign dealings. The welfare of the inhabitants of her fairest provinces depend on its production. It has been in universal use among them from time immemorial, forming not only the regular beverage of the people, but also administering to the luxury of the epicure. They drink it at all times and under all circumstances from early morning until late at night, in sickness or in health, working or playing, traveling or resting, all business being transacted there between two cups of tea. In brief, it is the natural beverage of the country constituting what wine is to the French, beer to the German and ale to the English, and but without which no Chinese family could live or thrive. Considering all this, the claim under the circumstances that any other country is the “home of tea,” as is attempted at the present time by some English writers, is about as futile and absurd as the endeavor to substitute Americus for Columbus, or Bacon for Shakespeare. And not only is China the original home of tea, but in addition, _China Tea is the only true tea, surpassing that of all other countries in every property and quality constituting and distinguishing tea, and possessing certain distinctive characteristics peculiar to and contained in no other variety grown or known_. Yet while grown to a greater or less extent all over that vast empire, its cultivation for commercial purposes appears to be chiefly confined to the eastern provinces of Che-kiang, Kiang-see, Gan-hwuy and Fo-kien, some little also being produced for export in the western province of Sze-chuan. China Green Teas are produced principally in the provinces of Che-kiang, Gan-hwuy and Kiang-see, and are known to trade as Sunglos, Moyunes, Hychows, Fychows, Tienkes, Tayshings, Pingsueys, Cantons, and Country green teas, district terms and grading in the order named. These varieties being again subdivided into Gunpowders, Imperials, Hysons, Young Hysons, Hyson-Pekoes, and Hyson-Skin—appellations denoting age, size, style, or form of make.