254 GREEN-HOUSE — REPOTTING. [March, 



nishing the domestic drug called Tea. T. viridis, and T. 

 hohea are said to be the species which supply the tea. Some 

 have asserted that there is only one shrub used, but by ex- 

 amination it may be easily perceived that there are leaves of 

 various shape and texture, some of them similar to Camellia 

 semnqna. Dr. Abel gives an explicit detail of the growing 

 and manufacturing process of tea, from which, in compliment 

 to our fair patrons, we give a few extracts : 



"The tea districts of China extend from the twenty- 

 seventh to the thirty-first degree of north latitude. It seems 

 to succeed best on the sides of mountains. The soil from which 

 I collected the best specimens consisted chiefly of sandstone, 

 schistus, or granite. The plants are raised from seeds sown 

 where they are to remain. Three or more are dropped into 

 a hole four or five inches deep ; these come up without farther 

 trouble, and require little culture, except that of removing 

 weeds, till the plants are three years old. The more careful 

 stir the soil, and some manure it, but the latter practice is 

 seldom adopted. The third year the leaves are gathered, at 

 three successive gatherings, in February, April, and June, and 

 so on until the bushes become stunted or slow in their growth, 

 which generally happens in from six to ten years. They are 

 then cut in to encourage the production of fresh roots. 



" The gathering of the leaves is performed with care and 

 selection. The leaves are plucked off one by one : at the first 

 gathering only the unexpanded and tender are taken ; at the 

 second those that are of full growth ; and at the third the 

 coarsest. The first forms what is called in Europe imperial 

 tea: but, as to the other names by which tea is known, the 

 Chinese know nothing ; and the compounds and names are 

 supposed to be made and given by the merchants at Canton, 

 who, from the great number of varieties brought to them, have 

 an ample opportunity of doing so. Formerly it was thought 

 that green tea was gathered exclusively from T. viridis', but 

 that now is doubtful, though it is certain that there is what 

 is called the green tea district and black tea district; and the 

 varieties grown in the one district differ from those of the 

 other. I was told by competent persons that either of the 

 two plants will afford the black or green tea of the shops, but 

 that the broad thin-leaved plant [2\ viridh) is preferred for 

 making the green tea. 



" The tea leaves being gathered, are cured in houses which 



