364 



TEA DISTEICTS OF CHINA. 



Chap. XXI. 



higher elevations of the Himalayas. Hence the 

 Indian Government, at the suggestion of Dr. Royle? 

 established in 1826 another nursery near the well- 

 known stations of Mussooree and Landour, and from 

 six to seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. 



As the garden at Mussooree is of more interest to 

 the English reader than those at Calcutta and Sa- 

 harunpore, I shall endeavour to give a description 

 of it. It is situated on the northern side of the first 

 range of the Himalayas, and extends a considerable 

 way down a romantic-looking glen. A public road 

 or bridle-path leads along the brow of the hill above 

 the garden, and it was from this road that I had the 

 first view of this pretty and interesting place. A 

 single glance was sufficient to convince me that this 

 was the celebrated garden from which so many in- 

 teresting Himalayan trees and shrubs had found their 

 way to Europe. Many of the hill pines were most 

 conspicuous. The beautiful Deodar was seen tower- 

 ing above the other trees, and, although all the 

 specimens were comparatively young, they were yet 

 striking and graceful. Near it was the Abies 

 Smithiana. It had a dark and sombre appearance, 

 yet it was peculiarly graceful, owing to its symme- 

 trical form and somewhat pendulous habit. Then 

 there was the Cupressus torulosa, which stood promi- 

 nently out from amongst the other trees, and a 

 distinct variety of the same species said to be from 

 Cashmere. 



On entering the garden I commenced a minute 

 inspection of its interesting and varied productions. 



