290 
WANDERINGS IN CHINA. 
Chap. XIX. 
cutta on the 15th of March. Here we took up our 
abode with Dr. Falconer, the superintendent of the 
H.C. Botanic Garden, and it was at this time that the 
.counterfeit tea was made from the leaves of Pongamia 
I glabra, the account of which I have given in a former 
chapter. All the glass cases were taken to the garden 
to be examined and put in order for the next part of the 
journey. 
When the cases were opened in Calcutta the young 
tea-plants were found to be in good condition. The 
seeds which had been sown between the rows were also 
just beginning to germinate. These, of course, were left 
undisturbed, as there was room enough for them to 
grow ; but it was necessary to take other measures with 
those in the camellia-cases. On opening the latter, the 
whole mass of seeds, from the bottom to the top, was 
swelling, and germination had just commenced. The 
camellias, which had now arrived at their destination, 
were lifted gently out and potted, and appeared as if 
they had never left their native country. Fourteen new 
cases were got ready, filled with earth, and these germi- 
nating seeds were sown thickly over the surface, and 
covered with soil in the usual way. In a few days the 
young plants came sprouting through the soil ; every 
seed seemed to have grown ; and by this simple plan 
about twelve thousand plants were added to the Hima- 
layan plantations. 
Many attempts are yearly made by persons in Europe 
to send out seeds of our oaks and chestnuts to distant 
parts of the world, and these attempts generally end in 
