124 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF [ Thea. 
in the midst of similar vegetation that the tea-plant is everywhere found; and as we have 
some of the very genera and species, which were first found in the tea regions, they point 
out, that here it may most fitly be introduced. It cannot be a difficult task to transfer 
from one country to another a plant, which grows naturally and is cultivated extensively, 
in one which possesses so many of the plants which are common to the two, and not 
found elsewhere. Particularly when we consider that a tea-plant introduced from China 
by one of the triennial embassies, has lived for many years in the open air in Nepal, 
and was there seen ten feet high by Dr.Wallich. 
There is little doubt, therefore, that many situations fit for the growth of the tea- 
plant, may be found in the Himalayas; but it is important to consider whether all 
the circumstances are so similar, as to render it probable, that the leaves would 
secrete only the present quantity of astringent, and retain the full proportion of volatile 
and fragrant matter, upon which their virtues especially depend. The territories of the 
British in the Himalayas, as Kemaon, or those under their protection, as Gurhwal 
and Sirmore, extend from 28° to 314° of N. latitude, and present every diversity of 
climate and vegetation from their tropical bases to their snow-clad summits (v. p. 12 
to 24): but as the same latitudes are warmer in India than in China, we must go 
further north, or ascend higher to obtain a similar temperature. Dr. Abel, from the 
correspondence in climate, and the soil being composed of the detritus of granite, 
s¢histus and sandstone, recommended the Cape of Good Hope as well suited to: the 
cultivation of the tea-plant; but the soil in the Himalayas, consisting chiefly of the 
debris of primary rocks (v. Geol. Sect. Pl. 1. Sect. 1 and 2), must’ be equally eligible 
for the purpose. Further, as he advises hilly situations, a meagre soil, and a moderate 
temperature, while another author states, that leaves of the finest quality are only 
produced in light stony ground, we may hope to see the slopes of the Himalaya covered, 
and the edges of the terraced flats—for here, more completely than either in Italy or 
China, ‘‘ The peaks are shelved and terraced round,”—surrounded with plantations 
of the tea-plant. 
A climate less severe than that of Pekin, but cooler than that of Canton, is indicated. 
Dr. Wallich has stated a temperature between 30° and 80° as requisite, and this cannot 
| | be 
grains of camphor in its wood, while his Melanorrhea usitata (P1. As. Rar. p. 9 t, 11 and 12) yields abundance of 
excellent varnish ; besides Rhus vernicifera, the varnish-tree of Japan is common in the Himalaya. Wood-oil is 
yielded by several species of Dipterocarpus. Oil is procured as in China from the apricot, and also from 
Prinsepia ulilis and other plants; and even a vegetable butter is yielded by Bassia butyracea, commion in the 
hills about Almorah, and most probably allied to the shea-tree of Bruce. Paper is equally made in both 
countries from Daphne cannabina; and the Indian Shola is analogous to the Chinese rice-paper. But a few 
Chinese genera have not been found in India or its mountains, as Illicium, Nandina, Bocconia (Maclayea) 
Koelreuteria, Vatica, which may, however, be the same as Vateria, Chimonanthus, Broussonetia, Astranthus, 
Apactis, Bladhia, Beckea, Aucuba, Polychroa, El@ococcus, Salisburia, Cunninghamia, and Hamamelis ; though 
Bucklandia, a new genus of the small, but widely-spread order of Hamamelidee, is found in the mountains 
above Silhet. Cookia, Triphasia, and several of the Chinese fruits succeed in every part of India. A few new 
genera have, moreover, been added by Bunge from the north of China, 
7. 
