1838.] Report on the Tea Plant of Upper Assam. 



369 



I have above stated my conviction, that success is, under the circum- 

 stances alluded to, certain: and I have adopted this conviction on the 

 following grounds : — 



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 provinces 

 Kiang-nan and Kiang-see, that have been traversed by Europeans. 



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

 vegetation of both Assam and those parts of the Chinese Tea provinces, 

 situated in or about the same latitude. 



I have before more than once alluded to the success that has attended 

 the cultivation of Tea plants in Java. I have but little hesitation in af- 

 firming, that Java does not present the necessary qualifications to such an 

 extent as does x\ssam; yet success has been ensured to an unexpected de- 

 gree. This success appears to have been obtained by annual importati. 

 ons of excellent seed, and by great care in procuring the best possible 

 cultivators. Of the degree of the success, some idea may be formed by 

 the fact, that a gentleman of great experience recognized in Java Tea 

 taken to Canton, the flavour of the original stock. It is said to have suc- 

 ceeded at Rio Janeiro,* and in the western parts of North America, but 

 in no place but in Java has it been carried to such an extent as to allow 

 of its exportation. 



* Mr. Masters informs me, that ' he finds from good authority, that Tea plants are 

 much grown and encouraged at Rio Janeiro, in lat. 23=, S. or thereabouts ; they thrive in, 

 company with cloves, oranges, pine-apples, cinnamon, nutmegs, &c. in ferruginous 

 clay, in a valley not more than half a mile from the s«a. His authority is Mr. McCullogh 

 gardener to the Pacha of Egypt' 



