16 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



(setting aside the aroma which is believed to be artificially 

 added) is not inferior to that of the finest Tea from China, 

 still the growers have not realized any large profits. They 

 have assuredly manufactured an immense quantity of Tea, 

 to judge by what I saw in the warehouses at St Paul, but 

 they cannot afford to sell it under 6 francs for the half kilo- 

 gramme, a lb. weight, which is higher than Ciiinese Tea of 

 equally good quality. Indeed, the trade of Tea is still in 

 great activity between China and Brazil, partly by ships 

 which come straight from the former country to Rio Janeiro, 

 and partly through the United States. Could we ensure 

 France a similar modicum of success in rearing the plants, as 

 in Brazil, it may be fairly calculated that considerable im- 

 provements would take place, the lower price of labour would 

 diminish the cost of its produce, more economical and expe- 

 ditious plans for preparing the leaf might easily be invented; 

 and finally, if we could succeed in imparting the perfume 

 that distinguishes the Chinese Tea, there can exist little doubt 

 that our home grown article might compete advantageously 

 with the foreign one, especially in the event of a war with China, 

 or other interruption of our maritime intercourse with the 

 East. Whatever be the tenor of future public affairs, the 

 cultivation of the Tea plant should, under every circum- 

 stance, be carefully essayed in France ; a fair trial should be 

 given to it, and as it could not be prejudicial to other agri- 

 cultural interests, requiring such a locality as is little adapted 

 to other productions, I am the more disposed to think that it 

 merits the encouragement and favour of Government. 



II.—BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



Mr Pamplin has just received a letter from Dr Steudel of 

 Eslingen, dated August 26, 1840, in which that gentleman 

 states, for the information of the friends of the Unio Itine- 

 raria, who have already subscribed to the Abyssinian botani- 

 cal collections of Mr Schimpcr, tliat upon further considera- 

 tion, *'the Directors of the Unio Itineraria have decided 



