ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 93 
it is cultivated. It is now grown with success in Java under the equator, and is said 
to be cultivated as far north as the 40° of northern latitude, it is also cultivated on the banks of 
the Rio Janeiro in 223 S. latitude. In Siam and Cochin-China between the 10th and 16th . 
parallels of N. latitude, it is produced in considerable quantity ; while in China, judging from 
the enormous quantities exported, and the still greater consumed among themselves, it is clear 
it must occupy very extensive tracts of country, and be subject to very great varieties of 
climate, both as relates to temperature and humidity, and is my opinion, goes far to prove that it 
may be cultivated with success in almost any tropical climate, combining humidity with a mode- 
rate range of temperature. It is true we are told that unless the climate partakes more of the tem- 
preparation to which it has been subjected. 
In throwing out these remarks I do not mean to infer that the plant might, under proper 
cultivation, be made to produce tea of good quality under any climate in which it can be made to 
grow, but with the view of encouraging trials in such climates as the Indian Peninsula supplies, 
and discouraging the idea that, because we have not a climate within these limits, with a range 
of temperature extending from 30° to 80° of Fahrenheit’s scale, that therefore it would be in 
vain to attempt its culture. This I do, because the regulation of the climate not being within our 
power, to suppose it opposed to our efforts, is at once to declare all attempts at introduction futile, 
but the selection and modification, by artificial means, of the qualities of the soil, being an every 
day occurrence in agriculture, holds out good reason to hope for success if opposed by that only. 
To show however that in so far as temperature is concerned, we are not unprovided with 
localities enjoying a climate if not the best, yet far from unsuitable for the culture of this shrub, I 
extract from Mr. Griffiths’ report some tables showing the mean temperature of Canton and 
Sadiya, from which it will be perceived that both Malabar and Mysore are not very different, 
while the former, as well as the south-west coast of Ceylon, enjoys a climate but little, if at all less 
humid, than is experienced in the vicinity of Canton. i 
« T extract from Mr. Royle’s work the following table of the means of the several Month’s 
at Canton, which was furnished by Mr. Reeves to Dr. Lindley. 
c. 
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. De 
8 90 94 90 88 85 80 70 
Maxima. 74 78 82 86 
Minima, - 29 38 44 55 64 74 79 75 70 57 40 45 
Means..... 51-5 58 63. 70-5 76 82 86-5 82-5 79 71 60 57-5 
Mean annual temperature 69—7° 
L extract from Mr. Davis’s work on the Chinese corre spond 
And as a companion to this, during a series of 
portions of a table, the “ Result of Observations made at Canton, 
32% 
ing 
years 
Jan, Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 
Mo fe ihre ae i Ms SO ee 8.88 
co ee Ae we ee ee Oo 
Means. 51 51-5 65-5 72-5 75-5 81-5 86 845 81-5 73 45 57-5 
Mean annual temperature 70—4. 
* Davis vol, ii. p. 38). 
