BOTANICAL DIFFERENCE. 331 



out every part of the Chinese Empire, as well as to 

 the preference given them by Europeans. 



It is probable therefore that, like the Chinese, we 

 may still be indebted to these districts for superior 

 teas, however successfully the shrub may be culti- 

 vated in other parts of the world. 



At the same time it is impossible to foresee what 

 improvements may be made in the plant, by the 

 novel modes of cultivation which science has 

 introduced into Europe. It has already been 

 observed, more than once, that a vast improve- 

 ment was effected by the Chinese in the Singlo tea 

 by an improved mode of cultivation, by which its 

 value was enhanced in some cases nearly threefold. 

 And though the Chinese cultivators of black tea 

 may not have received sufficient encouragement to 

 attempt any great amelioration of the shrub by im- 

 proved methods of cultivation on an extensive scale 

 (the great profit on black tea having always been 

 engrossed and monopolised by the Hong merchants 

 at Canton), yet it by no means follows, when the 

 superior activity, enterprise, skill, intelligence, and 

 capital of Europeans shall be brought to bear on 

 these points in our own colonies, that such efforts 

 may not be rewarded with eminent success. 



It is encouraging, then, to reflect, that a field so 

 vast, with so goodly promise, is now opening to the 

 exercise of ingenuity, skill, and commercial advan- 

 tage of those enterprising individuals, and those en- 



