Thea. THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. 127 
teas should not at first be successfully: cultivated, an immense- ‘consumption would 
be found among Asiatic nations for even infériof kinds, which would still be superior 
to what they now use. This would greatly i increase the resources of the Hill provinces, 
give rise to an extended “commerce with Northern and Central Asia, as_ the Tatar 
nations habitually use it, and all Asiatics, even the natives of India, think so highly of 
the virtues of tea, as to have recourse to it, whenever they can procure even the most 
inferior kinds in cases of sickness. But at all events, an article of which the exports 
amount in quantity to about fifty millions of pounds weight, and its yalue to about 
two and a-half millions of money, is well worthy the consideration of a Government 
which possesses territories apparently so favourable for its cultivation, 
To shew that these opinions have not been hastily formed, or adopted in consequence 
of the change in Indian commerce, I beg to quote a few lines from a report which I ad- 
dressed to Dr. Wallich for the information of the Indian Government, by which it will be 
seen that so long ago as the end of the year 1827, when it would have been my duty, had 
it been desired to have carried the suggestion into execution, in recommending the culti- 
vation of the tea-plant in the Northern and Hill provinces of India, I remarked that ‘‘ 
does not appear by any means so delicate or so limited in geographical distribution as is 
generally supposed. It is said to delight particularly in sheltered valleys, the declivities 
of hills, or the banks of rivers, where it enjoys a southern exposure to the sun, These 
warm situations do not, however, appear to be essential to its welfare, as it is, found on 
the rugged tops of mountains; and although it appears to attain the greatest perfection 
in the mild climate about Nankin, yet it flourishes in the northern latitude of Pekin and 
in Japan, as well-as about Canton ; and thus appears to be confined within, the parallels 
of 20° and 40° of northern latitude.”* 
Eurya acuminata; (Wall. Cat. N. 1464) ramulis ultimis pilosiusculis, foliis elliptico-oblongis acumi- 
natis inferioribus caducis, floribus axillaribus fasciculatis.—E. acuminata et E. multiflora. D.C. Prod. 1. 
p. 525. v. Tab. 25. fig. 1—This shrub attains a height of about eight to ten feet, and is common at 
6,500 feet 
* Though not essential to the above attempt at proving the strong probability of a successful cultivation of 
tea in the northern parts of India, it will render it more complete to add a short account of the cares 
which are bestowed on the cultivation and subsequent preparation. These appear to be few and simple. 
The month of February is said to be the usual time for sowing the seeds. Siebold, however, states (and from 
the oiliness of the seeds most likely very correctly) that they should be sown in autumn. Several are dropped 
into a hole afew inches deep, which are in rows from four to five feet asunder. The seeds come up easily, 
and the plants require little subsequent culture, except keeping them free from weeds, which must also be 
useful in stirring the soil. When the plants are three years old, the first crop of leaves is gathered ; and when 
three or four years older, they are.cut down to encourage the production of fresh shoots, which abound more 
than the old in leaves. In the province of Kiangnan, the green-tea plant is kept low by pruning ; but in the 
black-tea country the plant is allowed to attain its full height. The Ieaves are usually gathered singly ; first 
in March, when the young leaves are scarcely expanded ; the second in May and June; and the third in 
August... But authors vary in their accounts of the numbers and the seasons of the crops ; and differences must 
necessarily exist according to the nature of the crop which is desired, as well as according to the climate in which 
it is grown; though many of the varieties are known to be produced by mixtures at Canton. When the tea- 
leaves 
