166 Bibliography, 



genera afford respecting the nature of the climate. Part IV is occu- 

 pied with a Comparison between the climate of Upper Assam and 

 that of the Tea Provinces of Central China, compiled from the im- 

 perfect observations that have been made. Part V, is an Examina- 

 tion into the nature of the stations of the Tea-plant in the Province 

 Kiang-nan and Kiang-see, in which Mr. Griffith contradicts the opin- 

 ion introduced by Abeel, and for a long time prevalent, that the plant 

 is a native of, or at least better adapted to, places of considerable ele- 

 vation, or of snch a nature that snow and frost are of common occur- 

 rence in the winter months. In Part VI, Remarks on the genus to 

 which the Tea-plant belongs, and, on the geographical distribution of 

 the Indian plants of the same natural order, the author comes to the 

 conclusion that the tea-plant and the Camellia belong to the same ge- 

 nus. Part VII, which is occupied with Remarks on the plans of Tea 

 culture adopted by the Tea Committee, and on a proposed new and 

 improved mode of cultivation ; it contains a brief history of the at- 

 tempts which have been made to introduce and cultivate the tea-plant 

 in India, and of the alleged mistakes which have been committed ; it 

 is very controversial in its character. The author also takes up the 

 question whether the green and black teas of commerce are the pro- 

 duce of the same species, modified by culture, soil, and mode of pre- 

 paration; or whether they are derived from two distinct species. But 

 after enumerating the various opinions which have been advanced, he 

 leaves this long controverted question exactly where he found it. The 

 remainder of the report is chiefly devoted to a detailed consideration 

 of the steps which should be followed in the cultivation of the plant, 

 ■whether indigenous or imported, and which, in his opinion, would 

 render its success certain. This conclusion is adopted on the follow- 

 ing grounds, viz : — 



1. That the tea-plant is indigenous to, and distributed extensively 

 over, large portions of Upper Assam. 



2. That there is a similarity in configuration between the valley of 

 Assam and two of the best known tea provinces of China. 



3. That there is a similarity between the climates of the two coun- 

 tries, both with regard to temperature and humidity. 



4. That there is a precise similarity between the stations of the 

 tea-plant in Upper Assam, and its stations in those parts of the prov- 

 inces of Kiang-nan and Kiang-see that have been traversed by Eu- 

 ropeans. 



5. That there is a similarity both in the associated and the general 

 vegetation of both Assam and those parts of Chinese tea provinces 

 situated in or about the same latitude. 



