$rd. That there is a similarity between the climates 

 of the two countries, bvth with regard to tempera- 

 ture and humidity. 



4th. That there is a precise similarity 'between 

 the stations of the tea plant in Upper Assam, and 

 its stations in those parts of the provinces of KEANG- 

 NAN AND KEANQ-SEE that have been traversed by 

 Europeans. 



5th That there ?V a similarity both in the asso- 

 ciated and the general vegetation of bvth Assam, and 

 those parts of the Chinese tea provinces situated in 

 or about the same latitudes? 



I give prominent insertion to this extract, as 

 containing those philosophic principles oil which an 

 enquiry of scientific and great national importance 

 should be conducted. It is of vital moment in a 

 country like India, where we are almost daily called 

 on to pronounce an opinion on the feasibility of 

 supplying the mother country with some new want, 

 that important questions of this nature 'instead of 

 being decided on the random reports and desultory 

 opinions of men, admitedly, let it be, of great general 

 intelligence, but wholly incompetent to give an 

 opinion of any value whatever on questions requir- 

 ing scientific and special attainments- should be 

 first carefull}' considered by men of acknowledged 

 ability to deal with them. It will be seen ou 

 reference to the minute of the Governor General 

 from which I have quoted above, that he started 



