BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
51 
convenient. Those growing on trees generally require the piece of bark on which 
they grow to be sliced off with a knife, and those on stones the piece of rock to be 
broken with a hammer. Both may be wrapped in paper like mineralogical speci- 
mens. In all cases the localities and dates of collection should be mentioned, and 
any further information as to uses, &c., which may be known to the collector. 
TEA CULTURE IN INDIA. 
Dr. Lawson read a letter from Mr. W. Mclver, Kingston, accompanying speci- 
mens of Tea leaves, with a brief description of the mode of growth and preparation^ 
received from his brother, Mr. K. Mclver, Kousanee Tea Plantation, near Almorah, 
Kumaon, India. Mr. Mclver's description was in the following terms : " I enclose 
herein two or three leaves, pressed, of the Tea Plant, from large bushes, each bush 
containing five or six, or sometimes more plants, of two to four feet high, and two- 
or three feet in diameter. We pluck only the young or new sprouting leaves, such- 
as I enclose, for making the tea. The remainder of the large green leaves with 
which the bush is still covered are left untouched, as they crumble and break and 
cannot be rolled or manipulated. These young leaves are soft and pliant, and can 
be kneaded without breaking." 
A NEW CANADIAN DYE. 
Professor Lawson exhibited specimens of a new Dye of great richness, pre- 
pared in the Laboratory of Queen's College, from an insect, a species of Coccus, 
found for the first time last summer on a tree of the common black spruce (Abies 
nigra, Poir), in the neighborhood of Kingston. This new dye closely resembles 
true Cochineal, a most expensive coloring matter capable of being produced in 
warm countries only, and which is used to give a fine and permanent dye in red, 
crimson and scarlets, to wool and silk. Unlike Cochineal, the new dye, discovered 
at Kingston, is a native Canadian product, and capable of being produced in tem- 
perate countries. Having been but recently observed, a sufficient quantity has not 
yet been obtained for a complete series of experiments as to its nature and uses ; 
but the habits of the insect, as well as the properties of the dye, seem to indicat-e 
that it may become of practical importance. In color it closely resembles ordinary 
Cochineal, having rather more the scarlet hue of the flowers of Adonis autumnalis, 
and no doubt other shades will be obtained. The true Mexican Cochineal is now 
being cultivated in Teneriffc, and other vine growing countries of Europe and 
Africa, with such success as to displace the culture of the grape vine ; yet the 
Directors of the East India Company offered in vain £2,000 for its introduction 
into India. 
