320 BOTANICAL DIFFERENCE. 



be cultivated in Tonquin and Cochin China ; and 

 was, so far as regards its vegetative powers, suc- 

 cessfully propagated at Penang at low altitudes, 

 but its cultivation there was finally abandoned on 

 account of a total deficiency of flavour. 



However, whether the Assam tree be a distinct 

 species or otherwise, it is certain that teas of 

 useful quality are now made at Assam. By 

 cutting down the stems of the old trees to encourage 

 the growth of young shoots, by exposure to direct 

 solar light and heat and free ventilation, and by 

 cultivation from seed, the character of the Assam 

 tree has been much improved, and now approxi- 

 mates more to the flavour and quality of Chinese 

 tea. It is diminished, however, in strength, and is 

 still very deficient in flavour. 



Let us now examine on what ground the specific 

 difference of black and green tea was originally 

 received and now stands. 



The first classification of the tea plant of any 

 authority was by Linnaeus, in his Species Plant arum 

 of 1753, He first classed it as one species (Thea 

 Sinensis), but in the second Edition, 1762, he was 

 induced, by reasons which do not appear, to alter his 

 specific arrangement to the Thea Bohea and Thea 

 Viridis. Up to that time he had seen no living 

 plant, but in October, 1763, he obtained living 

 specimens through C. G. Ekeberg, a captain of a 

 trading vessel, which were the first brought to 



