BOTANICAL SOCIETY OP CANADA. 
65 
India. These Zinnias form perhaps the most valuable addition that has been made 
to our flower garden plants during the year. A sufficient supply of seeds has been 
obtained for the Members. 
Tea Culture. — Tea culture, long confined to China and Japan, is now being 
extended over the globe. A valuable report on this subject has been presented by 
Prof. Cleghorn, of the India Service, to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 
The following are notes made during his tours, upon the tea plants seen in the 
different districts of the Presidency of Madras: — 1. Shevaroy Hills (4000 feet); 
several well grown trees at Yercand, introduced by G. Fischer, which have not been 
picked or pruned, and have been left to nature, but are growing vigorously. 2. 
Coorg (4500 feet, rain-fall 120 inches, mean temp. 68 ). A case of plants was 
brought from China by Colonel Dyce in 1843 ; those at Mercara appear to be over 
luxuriant, producing a rapid growth of leaves, and not bearing seed with regular- 
ity. 3. Nundidroog (4800 feet). A number of plants have lately been sent to this 
Hill Sanatarium ; they were beginning to droop in the Lai Bagh Garden, Bangalore, 
but there is hope of their thriving in their new location. The mean temp, of Ban- 
galore is 75 , and the average rain-fall 35 inches. The climate being too dry and 
too hot, the plants necessarily become dwarfed. 4. Bababooden Hills (5600 feet, 
rain-fall and mean temp, not known). Four plants from General Dyce's stock were 
received from Mercara in 1847 ; these grew well without care. Colonel Porter, su- 
perintendent of Nuggur, raised 23 plants above Ghat, near the Sicar bungalow, and 
a number of seedlings have been planted out about a thousand feet lower by Mr. 
Denton, coffee planter. 5. Nilgiri Hills — a. Goonoor (6000 feet, rain-fall 55 'inches). 
h. Ootacamund (7300 feet, rain-fall 60 inches, mean temperature 50 ), introduced 
or raised by Mr. Mclvor, Government Gardens, from Saharunpore seed, and by 
General F. C. Cotton, at Woodcote ; c. Kaity — Introduced or raised by Sir S. 
Lushington and Lord Elphinstone ; d. Kulhutty — Introduced or raised by Mr. 
Rae. 6. Pulni Hills (7100 feet). Major Hamilton reported that a considerable 
number of tea plants at Kudaikarnal, were several inches above ground, and 
appeared fresh and healthy. 7. Curtallum (1200 feet). Flowering specimens 
from the old spice gardens, correspond with the standard figures of Thea Ghinensis. 
The shrubs are 20 years old, 12 to 15 feet high ; where the seed came from is not 
known. 8. Travancore. — Tea trees grow luxuriantly in Messrs. Binney & Co.'s 
plantations (formerly Mr. Huxham's) 40 miles east of Quilon, on the road to Cur- 
tallam, and from whence some plants were procured ten or twelve years ago,, which 
were planted at Yellymallay, near Udagiri (1800 feet, rain-fall 80 inches), and at 
Atkaboo, near Tinnevelly frontier (3200 feet, rain-fall 40 inches). At both places 
they are growing luxuriantly. These facts are taken from General Cullen's letter, 
and seeds received from him were planted and throve on the Nilgiris, at an eleva- 
tion of 550 feet. In tea, as in all cultivated plants, there are variations, the dis- 
q 
