39^ [AsSEMBLT 



— opposite to our stormy Cape Hatteras, where the climates seem to 

 meet. I believe that the Connecticut valley grape is an Isabella. 



THE ALPACA. 



Mr. Pell reported that the NewYork Agricultural Association had 

 sent funds to South America, and that several of these animals 

 might be expected to arrive within a few months. 



TEA. 



Junius Smith, of Astoria, returned from London in October last, 

 with several hundred tea plants, which he is placing in such locations 

 in our country as are most favorable to them. He justly deems it 

 best to select several locations of some difference of soil, elevation, 

 &c., so that his experiment to establish the tea plant in our country, 

 may have all chances of succees. 



It is considered that China, the mother land of tea, and the United 

 States, are very similarly situated in reference to their respective con- 

 tinents and latitudes. They are both eastern countries of the conti- 

 nent, and their latitudes about the same; — they are of course visited 

 by like winds. Their westerly breezes, passing vast bodies of land, 

 are usually dry; while their eastern gales, moistened by the oceans 

 over which they pass to the shores of China and the United States, 

 constitute a common similitude which doubtless may be fairly argued 

 in favor of the success of tea in the United States. And what is true 

 of Brazil, the eastern land of South America, where tea is somewhat 

 established, is doubtless more likely to prove so in the United States, 

 whose position so perfectly resembles China. Mr. Smith wisely 

 destines all his plants to the production of seeds, which he proposes 

 to plant, until there shall be plants enough to commence the picking 

 of the leaves for tea. 



Mr. Meigs. — The tea plant in China is grown in rows about five feet 

 apart, perfectly cultivated. The plants are, by pruning,kept at a con- 

 venient heio-ht for the gathering of the leaves. The seed is remark- 

 ably difficalt of growth. The Chinese plant seven or eight seeds in 

 one hill, in order to secure the growth of one plant. The plant, at 

 three years old, yields abundant flowers, very like the flowers of our 

 wild rose or eglantine. These flowers end in a pod which contains, 

 generally, three while seeds, of the size of small hazel nuts, which 

 the Chinese plant soon after they are ripe. 



