328 BOTANICAL DIFFERENCE. 



to the authority of this gentleman on such a point. 

 But it may be here observed, that Mr. Reeves 

 speaks doubtingly as regards species, and evidently 

 contends simply that manipulation would not be suf- 

 ficient to account for the dissimilar flavours found 

 in these teas, black and green, without some marked 

 and essential difference between the two plants. 

 But Mr. Reeves is willing to admit, as every other 

 botanist must be, that variety is sufficient to pro- 

 duce all the difference here required. There is a 

 diversity of flavour and quality found in the golden 

 pippin, the nonpareil, and the codling, and in the 

 common crab and the cultivated apple ; yet botani- 

 cally they are all of the same species ; and, again, in 

 different wines made from different varieties of the 

 grape. 



All, therefore, that Mr. Reeves means to observe 

 is, that there must be a strongly marked difference 

 between plants yielding flavours so distinct as those 

 of black and green tea, whether there be a specific 

 distinction or not. 



It was the opinion of Kerr the botanist, a highly 

 respectable and meritorious man, who was sent to 

 Canton by Sir Joseph Banks, and who resided there 

 several years under the protection of the British 

 Establishment, that there was only one species, but 

 many varieties, and this opinion was formed on 

 examination of plants seen at Canton. 



Not having made botany a study, my opinion of 

 course is deserving of less weight, but having paid 



