( ^8 ) 
Latin Names. 
ad Ed. Lin. Sp. 
Englifti Names. 
Obfervatiens,. 
Thea 
Lin. Sp. p. 734. 
Tea 
From Japan and China. Se.» 
Ktempfer’s Amcenitates, p. 
60 *. 
Gardenia Florida 
P- 3°5 
UmkyoflheChinefe 
Ufed in dying fcarlet In China.- 
The pulp that furrounds the 
feeds, gives in wann water 
a moft excellent yellow co- 
lour, inclining to orange. 
See Phil. Tranf. Vol. 52. 
p. -654. where there is an 
exa£t figure of it. 
familiar in our iflands. But too much-pains cannot be taken in the propagation of this plants 
as its ufes are manifold and extenfive, both in building, and all kinds of domeftic inftruments. 
• It is aflerted by fome people, that the green tea and the bohea tea are two different fpecies ; 
but without foundation : they are one and the fame fpecies. It is the nature of the foil, the 
culture, and manner of gathering and drying the leaves, that makes the difference ; for take a 
green tea-tree and plant it in the bohea country, and it will produce bohea tea, and fo the con* 
trary. This is a faft attefted by gentlemen now in London, that have refided many years in 
China, and who have had great experience in this article. 
The method of bringing over this valuable plant being already defcribed,I fhall only mention 
an obfervation of the celebrated Linnams, who is now in poffeflion of the true tea-tree, two of 
which he received from Captain Ekenberg, the commander of a Swedifh Eaft-Indiaman, in the 
year 1763, who raifed them from feed on the voyage. This celebrated profeffor had tried for 
many years to get this curious tree into the phyfic-garden at Upfal ; but, by a variety of acci- 
dents, they were all dellroyed on the paffage. At length, about the year 1755, Mr. Lagerflrom, 
a diredlor of the Swedifh Eaft-India Company, brought him .wo plants alive to the garden at 
Upfal, wich he had bought in China: they grew very vigoroufly for two years; but when they 
came to fhew their bloffom, they proved to be of that genus of plants, called by Kasmpfer 
Tfubakki, and by himfelf Camellia, Sp. Plant, p. 982. The crafty Chinefe, when they fold 
the plants to Mr. Lagerflrom for the true tea plants, had artfully pulled off theblofibms. 
Kasmpfer obferves, that there is one fpecies of Tfubakki, (fee his Amoenit. Exotieae, p, 
the leaves of which they prepare, and mix with their tea, to give it a fine flavour; and Linnteus 
fays, that the leaves of his Camellia are fo like the true tea, that they would deceive the moll 
fkilful botanift : the only difference is, that they are a little broader. In 0. letter, dated Upfal, 
November 8, 1769, he fays, that he has juft received from a very great perfon in France, a fmall 
branch of a plant, which was brought from China for the true tea ; but it proves to be the Ca- 
mellia. This caution is intended for captains of Eaft-India fhips, not to purchafe the plants, 
but the frefh feeds of the tea in their capfules; which they may foon fow after they pafs the 
Cape of Good Hope, or on other parts of the voyage as directed. 
A new kind of tea-tree being this laft fummer brought from China, it is fufpefted may be a 
Camellia; but as that is a moft elegant flowering fhrub, it may be as valuable an acquifition to 
the gardeners as a tea-plant, confidering the many tea-feeds that have fucceeded lately, which' 
have been brought home in wax, and otherways. 
The late Lord Petre, of Thorndon-hall in Effex, was formerly in pofleflion of one of thefe 
beautiful Tfubakki’s, or Camellia’s, which was greatly admired for the elegant brightnefs of 
its flowers. See the figure in Edwards’s Hiftory of Birds, vol. ii, t, 67. 
This 
