=Japan Congou=—Approximates in many of its leading features to that of the India species, the cured leaf possessing similar properties to many of the finer grades of the latter. The infusion is brighter in color but thinner in body, and more acidulous in flavor, and the reverse of palatable, owing to its imperfect fermentation and high or overfiring. =Japan Oolongs=—Although cured in identically the same manner as the China variety, resemble them only in general contour. The leaf is darker in color but finer in make, approaching more to the Souchong order. The infusion is also darker in draw, but very “toasty,” that is, “burnt” in flavor, owing to too high firing, retaining all the original peculiarities of a regular Japan tea. =Japan Imperials, Gunpowders and Young Hysons=—Differ only from the ordinary Japan teas in form, make and color. Being prepared from the same leaf, they naturally possess the same general characteristics and cup qualities; the demand not justifying, they are not produced in any appreciable quantities. The production of tea in Japan is constantly increasing and its quality improving, a wider area being devoted to its cultivation each year, largely superseding sericulture in many districts. The total area now under cultivation amounts to nearly 42,000 _Cho_, or about 100,000 acres. The total annual product is estimated at 100,000,000 pounds, a gain of over 30,000,000 as compared with 1890, of which 40,000,000 pounds, or 44 per cent. of the total production was consumed in the United States during the fiscal year of 1891. The American taste for Japan teas continues to grow in proportion, particularly in the Northwestern and Pacific States, their consumption in this country nearly doubling that of Oolongs and Congous combined, and trebling that of Green teas of all makes. This too, notwithstanding the fact that only a very small proportion of really choice Japan teas are ever exported, rarely exceeding one per cent. of the entire crop, being principally retained for home consumption. INDIA TEAS. One of the most remarkable circumstances in connection with the development of the Tea trade is the rapid increase in the production and consumption of India Teas. Almost unknown to commerce thirty years ago, they are fast becoming an important factor in the business, particularly in the English and colonial markets, India being already of such importance to them as a source of tea supply that it is only a question of a very short time when the tea consumers of these countries will no longer regard China as a tea-growing country indispensable to them.