1837.] M. A. De Candolle on the Tea Plant of Assam. 415 



variety. We know already that, in the interior of China itself, the 

 selling price of tea varies much in different places. It, is with the tea 

 plant as with the vine, which yields very different products in places 

 near to each other ; which should not surprise us, for, besides the diver- 

 sities of soil and situation, there are many differences in the period of 

 gathering the leaves, in the number of crops, in the preparation of the 

 leaves, and perhaps also in the kinds or varieties which have been 

 cultivated from time immemorial in each locality. The wild tea may 

 very likely afford a stronger and m ore pungent flavour, and a less deli- 

 cate perfume. 



This consideration, however, does not diminish, in our eyes, the 

 interest of the English discovery. If the province of Assam which 

 touches China, affords the tea plant spontaneously, it must be eminently 

 fit for the culture of the plant. Supposing that the wild plant may 

 prove of little use, the cultivated plant, especially that which may be 

 brought from China, may prove of great advantage. 



The Calcutta Committee has well determined. It has despatched 

 Dr. Wallich to Assam. It is not the first mission of the kind of that 

 zealous naturalist. He was sent, in 1827, to the province of Martaban, 

 to explore the forests of teak wood. He has in lijie manner visited 

 other regions of the vast empire of the British, to report on their 

 natural resources, and he has always acquitted himself in these missions, 

 with the ardour and talent which characterize him. 



We are able to say nothing more of the results of the expedition to 

 Assam, which is still going on.* f 



Extract of a letter from Dr. Wallich, Superintendent of the Botanic 

 Garden of Calcutta, to M. Benjamin Delessert, dated 10th August 1835. 



" I purpose to start in four days, first for the mountains neighbouring 

 Silhet, particularly Churra-Poonje, and Myrung, where I remain until 

 October. Traversing then the mountains of Khasiya, I proceed straight 

 to Gowahutty in Assam, and thence to Suddiya in Upper Assam on the 

 Burrampooter, where I shall commence my investigations for the re- 

 port on Tea. I shall be accompanied by a medical gentleman whose 

 name is well known to you, as well as to M.M. Mirbel and Brongni- 



* Subjoined to the above we publish an extract from a letter from Dr. Wallich, which 

 gives some details of the early results of the journey.— Editor Annales. 



+ The particulars of this interesting expedition, so important to Commerce as well as to 

 Science, remain to this time unknown to the public. From the talents of the gentlemen 

 of the deputation there is no doubt but that the Reports to Government have been most 

 ample and satisfactory, and would prove highly interesting. Incidentally something has 

 been made known by Mr. Griffiths, through our pagesand those of the Bengal Journal, 

 on the botany of Assam ; but nothing like a narrative of the expedition has yet been 

 promulgated.— Editor Madras Journal. 



