416 GAEDEJST PLANTS. ART 11. 



those who have the facility of procuring it direct from C a. 

 If thought worth the expense and trouble, it might no dou oe 

 obtained with ease from Europe; but in this country there 

 appears no prospect of its being brought to exist long in a 

 thriving condition. Three years, it is said, is the longest p( "iod 

 that it continues to blossom satisfactorily here; after that it 

 begins to die off, or produce only worthless flowers. It must, 

 however, be remembered that even in England this plant will 

 not bear exposure to the sun ; but to be cultivated successfully 

 requires to be screened from its rays, by being placed on the 

 north side of a wall, or in some other way. Perhaps to the 

 neglect of this precaution its want of success in India may be i 

 some measure owing. It blossoms towards the end of the C 

 season. 



Thea. 



TEA-PLANT. 



T. Chinensis. The three kinds of plant known in Tea- 

 plantations by the names of the China, the Assam, and the 

 Hybrid, though very distinct in habit and peculiarities, are 

 decided to be but the same species. The several sorts of Tea 

 of commerce owe their distinction to the age of the leaf when 

 gathered, and the process of manufacturing it, and may be 

 obtained indifferently from any variety of the plant. 



The leaves are elliptical, saw-edged, and of a deep shining 

 green, contrasting well with the flowers, which resemble much 

 those of a Bramble, more interesting from association than from 

 any beauty they possess. 



CLUSIACE^:. 



Mesua. 



IRON-WOOD TREE. 



M. ferrea Nagsura. A small tree common in Assam, of 

 great beauty, pyramidal in form, with dense foliage of small 

 leathery lancet-shaped leaves, polished on the upper, and hoary 

 white on the under surface, which on first putting forth in 

 March are of a brilliant crimson tinge, and make the tree 

 resemble a flame of fire, particularly when the morning or 

 evening sun is upon it; bears in April, in great profusion, 



