Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/221

Rh  which is otherwise liable to be impeded.

Immense quantities of tea-leaves are annually imported by the East India Company, paving a duty of 5l. per cent. according to the value; and, when taken out for home-consumption, they are subject to the farther charge of 15l. per cent.; if they be under the price of 2s. 6d. per lb. at the Company's sales; but in case the tea exceed that sum, it is chargeable with the duty of 30l. per cent.  TEAL, the Common, or Anas creca, L. a bird of passage, frequenting lakes, ponds, and fenny places: it is about 14 inches in length, has a green spot on the wings, and is marked with a white line, both above and below the eyes.

The Teal commonly associates with wild ; being also taken together, and sold in our markets. The former birds subsist on grass and weeds, growing on the margin of ponds, sometimes on the seeds of rushes; and, though occasionally eating small fishes, yet their flesh is much esteemed. They construct their nests in April, among rushes, on the edges of ponds: the eggs are of a size similar to those of pigeons, but of a greasy-white colour, and marked with small hazel spots.  TEASEL, or Dipsacus, L. a genus of plants exhibiting five species: three are indigenous; but the principal is the fullonum (more properly sativus), Manured, or Fuller's Teasel. It is raised from seed, which must be scattered on ridges, 7 or 10 inches apart, in the proportion of two pecks per acre. The most proper season for its propagation, is the month of April: the soil ought to be a strong, rich clay, or, what agriculturists term, a good wheat-land. The young plants should be carefully weeded; and, if they grow too closely together, it will be proper to thin them, to the distance of one foot. In the spring of the second year, the teasels must be earthed up; and, in the succeeding month of July, the heads will begin to flower. In August, as soon as the blossoms decay, such heads must be cut off, and exposed daily to the sun, till they become completely dry; care being taken to shelter them from rain.

The teasel is an article of considerable importance to clothiers, who employ the crooked awns of the heads, for raising the knap on woollen cloths. For this purpose, they are fixed round the periphery of a large broad wheel; against which the cloth is held, while the machine is turned.—Lastly, the blossoms of the teasel supply bees with honey; and the water, which collects within the cavities of leaves grown together, is said to be an useful application to weak or inflamed eyes; and likewise to afford a harmless cosmetic for removing spots from the face.  TEETH, a set of bones, situated in the upper and lower jaws, for the purpose of mastication: in adults, there are 32 in number, or 16 in each jaw-bone.

The teeth are of various size, being arranged in the following order: four in the front, termed cutting teet, on each side of which is a sharp-pointed, canine, or eye-tooth; adjoining to these are five grinders on each side, the last of which is denominated the tooth of wisdom; because it seldom appears before the 25th year. The front and eye-teeth are furnished