622 



as the end of a man's thumb, with a small bit of ginger, is to be 

 boiled in water, and then taken as the Chinese take the ordinary tea.' 



"2nd. Seeds of the Chinese tallow-tree {Stillingia sehifera). It 

 will be observed that these seeds are coated with a tallow-looking 

 substance. This is, in fact, the vegetable tallow, an article which is 

 extensively used over the whole of China, and particularly in the 

 central and more northern part of the empire. The seeds, after the 

 tallow is removed, also furnish oil, which is much used ; and the 

 refuse, or oil-cake, is employed in manuring the land. 



" 3rd. Green-tea dyes. These are gypsum, turmeric, and Prussian 

 blue (two kinds). They are taken from a tea manufactured in the 

 green-tea country, where they were being used in preparing tea for 

 our depraved tastes. In my new book I have given a full account of 

 this manufacture. 



" 4th and 5th. Two kinds of arrow-root made from the root-stocks 

 of Nelumbium speciosum. This substance is held in high esteem by 

 the Chinese, and is extensively used in the central parts of the 

 empire. 



" 6th. A noble specimen of the fingered citron, from China. 



" 7th. A bottle of fruit of Gardenia radicans. It furnishes a yellow 

 dye, used in colouring wood. The dye is boiled with a small portion 

 of glue, rubbed on the wood, which is thus oiled over. The wood is 

 much used for ornamental work, and for boats. 



" 8th. Liquid indigo made from Isatis Indigotica, largely used in 

 the northern province of China. It is the Tein-Ching of the Chinese, 

 and is used exclusively in dying cotton-cloth. It is much in use in 

 China. It is produced in a district near Shanghae, and is hence called 

 Shanghae Indigo. 



" 9th. Specimens of the fibre of the hemp palm {ChatiKBrops sp.). 

 This is a most beautiful palm-tree. It grows in the northern province 

 (Chekiang and Kiangnan), where the winters are excessively cold, and 

 where other tropical forms of vegetation are unknown. It produces 

 large quantities of the brown fibre on its stem, which is probably 

 intended by Nature to protect it from cold. These trees are very va- 

 luable to the natives, who remove a quantity of fibre from them every 

 year. Its fibre, as in the sample sent, is converted into ropes, cables 

 for junks, and brushes ; hats and cloaks are also made of it, and worn 

 in wet weather by the agricultural labourers and others. It makes 

 excellent bottoms for beds and couches, and is used in many other 

 ways. I believe it is much more hardy than any of its tribe ; indeed, 

 it has been living in the open air at Kew for some years. Sir Wil- 



