ee eee ee ae a er Salih ta 
preparation of Teas, and the Tea-country being at a great 
distance from the European Factory, it is very doubtful if 
any scientific person has, from personal observation, been 
able to decide the question. An assertion is, indeed, (and, 
perhaps, rather too hastily,) made, in the “ General System 
of Gardening and Botany,” namely, “ that all the different 
kinds of Teas brought to this country from China are the 
produce of Tua viridis :” and, again, under Tura Bohea, 
“this is falsely called Bohea Tea, as we find the Bohea 
Teas of the shops as well as other kinds, both green and 
black, to be the leaves of the former species” (T. viridis). 
Dr. Azet * satisfactorily notices the two kinds of Tea-plant 
under consideration, and he adds, “ from persons conversant 
with the Chinese method, I learnt, that either of the two 
Plants will afford the black or green Tea of the shops; but 
that the broad, thin-leaved plant (our T. viridis,) is pre- 
ferred for making the green Tea.” This statement is cor- 
roborated by a communication from my valued friend 
Cuartes Mitxerr, Esq. of Canton, who holds a high official 
situation in the Company’s Factory there, and to whom I 
Wrote to request information on the subject. ‘“ The Tea- 
plant,” he says, in a letter, dated Canton, 12th December, 
1827, « is almost as scarce in this neighbourhood as it is in 
England. The Tea-country is at a great distance from 
hence, and the Teas brought to Canton are several months 
on their route by inland navigation. Of the plants there 
are two kinds ; of which, one has a leaf of a much darker 
green than the other. This difference may partly arise 
from cultivation : but it is to the various modes of prepara- 
lion, that the green and the black Tas (as they are called in 
England) of the shops are due. In proof of this, we sent 
ome last year green Tea from the black Tea-plant. You 
may, therefore, conclude that, though there are two plants, 
ering as much in appearance and growth as any two 
Varieties of the Cametxia Japonica, each, by proper manage- 
ment; will produce black or green Tea indifferently. The 
Varieties of Teas, from the several provinces, arise from 
soil, culture, mode of preparation, and, above all, from the 
Part of the shrub whence the leaves are pulled. From the 
Same individual plant, indeed, there are three crops or gath- 
“rings annually ; the first affords the finer Teas, of which 
© Pourchong is the produce of the larger leaves of the 
young shoots. The extreme shoots, with the opening leaf- 
Uds, constitute the Peko. This is in England commonly 
: supposed 
_™* Narrative of a J ourney to the Interior of China, p. 221. ce cad 
