NEW PUBLICATIONS. 59 
“The leading tree is Gordonia, integrifolia, Roxb. ; the leading shrub, 
Melastoma Malabathricum ; the leading flower, Exacum. tetragonum ; the lead- 
ing. Grass, Imperata cylindrica; the leading Fern, Hymenostachys dulcis.” 
With these, “ Osbeckia Wightiana and O. angustifolia, as well as species of 
Mussenda, Hedyotis, Randia, Styrax, Tabernemontana, Panicum, Paspalum, 
Poa, Hypericum, Torenia, Vandellia, Gratiola, Hypoxis, and Burmannia.” 
Elsewhere we find mentioned the following genera :— Casfanea, 
Aquilaria, Laurus, Artocarpus, Bignonia, Cordia, Cedrela, Jambosa, 
Mesua, Michelia, Lagerstremia, Clerodendrum, Spermacoce, Mangifera, 
Dillenia, Dipterocarpus, Parkia, Nauelea, Terminalia, Eranthemum, 
many Ferns, Grasses, etc. etc. 
The reporter collected a very large number of the different varieties 
of the Tea-plant grown in Assam, and also specimens in illustration of 
the n: ture of the soil, as well as of the general geological character of 
the district. Great part of the report is taken up with a descrip- 
tion of the numerous varieties of the Tea-shrub now in cultivation. 
Some of these were derived from the species indigenous to Assam, 
others from seeds originally sent from China. Some of the latter, Mr. 
Masters says, are *not worth cultivating in Assam for the manufac- 
ture of Tea, that produced from the indigenous plant being much supe- 
rior,’ but this remark does not apply to all the plants of Chinese 
origin. The indigenous plant, which Dr. Seemann regards as the ori- 
in of all our various kinds of Tea, and figures in the ° Linnean Trans- 
actions, vol. xxii. t. 61, under the name of Thea Chinensis, from speci- 
in clusters, sometimes solitary.” Mr. Masters ‘ attaches considerable import- 
ance to the pellucid dots in the leaves, believing that the quality of the tea is 
affected thereby ; and with regard to which the leaves of the different varieties 
differ greatly as respects number and size. The arrangement of the veins also- 
is different." . ; 3 à i i i i 
“Some information of a practical character is given as to the proper 
method of cultivating the shrub, and as to the best means of preparing 
the leaves for commercial purposes. The extent to which the cultiva- 
tion and manufacture are now carried, may be judged from a perusal of 
these pages. Let one extract suffice :— ——mÀ 
