CAMELLIE.E. 119 



inches long, and 1| broad. Flowers pedunded, axillary, soli- 

 tary, drooping 1 , rather large, white, slightly fragrant. Peduncle 

 half an inch in length. Sepals 6, green, roundish, concave. 

 Petals 9 (according to some Botanists, usually 6), roundish, 

 slightly clawed, in 2 or 3 series, of which the outer are smaller 

 and greenish, the inner of a pure white. Stamens unequal in 

 length, fixed on the base of the petals, subcoalescing among 

 themselves at the base. Ovary small, spherical, puberulous, 

 3-celled, each cell containing two ovules ; styles 4, combined 

 below, free above : stigmata obtuse. Capsule size of a chesnut, 

 3-lobed, 3-celled, 3-valved ; valves coriaceous, bearing the septa 

 from their middle. Seeds large, of a chesnut colour, usually 

 (sometimes from abortion only one) attached to a 3-quetrous 

 central column. 



De Candolle has been led into a mistake, in considering, that 

 the divisions of the capsule are formed by the involuted margins 

 of the valves. 



The Tea Plant was introduced into the Garden at Cold- 

 Spring by the late M. VV alien, Esq. The house had for many 

 years fallen into decay, and the garden was neglected and 

 allowed to grow up in weeds. Notwithstanding this, on clear- 

 ing the land, for the purpose of planting it in Coffee, about two 

 years ago, the Tea trees were found to have survived, and 

 young plants to have grown up. They are now in a very thriving 

 condition, flowering and perfecting their seeds ; and a supply of 

 young plants may at any time be procured. 



The Tea is a native of the temperate districts of China, and 

 Cochin-China, and as far north as the 45 of latitude in Ja- 

 pan. In the neighbourhood of Canton it is seldom met with. 

 There cannot be a doubt but that the cultivation would succeed 

 in our cooler mountains, and it is probable that when the price 

 of labour becomes less, that a supply may be obtained sufficient 

 for our own wants. The Chinese, in the cultivation of the 

 Tea, plant the seeds during the month of February, either along 

 the borders of their fields, or, where it is grown in a large scale, 

 in the open plain. They prefer a southern exposure, in the 

 neighbourhood of a stream or rivulet. 



According to Dr Abel, the green Tea of the shops may be 

 obtained from the species before us, as also from the Tltea bohea. 

 The leaves of the former however are preferred. According 

 to Mr Millet, a gentleman resident at Canton, in a letter to Sir 

 William Hooker, the varieties of Teas depend on the soil, 

 culture, mode of preparation, and above all from the part of 

 the shrub, whence the leaves are pulled. From the same plant, 

 three crops are annually collected ; the first affords the finer teas, 

 and takes place in June; the second in July; and the third in 

 August. The strongest description of tea is procured from 

 the buds and unexpanded leaves. According to Dr Abel, the 



