254 green-house — repotting. [March. 
nisliing the domestic drug called Tea. T. viridis, and T. 
hoi tea are said to be the species which supply the tea. Some 
have asserted that there is only one shrub used, but by ex- 
amination it may be easily perceived that there are leaves of 
various shape and texture, some of them similar to Camellia 
sesanqua. Dr. Abel gives an explicit detail of the growing 
and manufacturing process of tea, from which, in compliment 
to our fair patrons, we give a few extracts : 
"The tea districts of China extend from the twenty- 
seventh to the thirty-first degree of north latitude. It seems 
to succeed best on the sides of mountains. The soil from which 
I collected the best specimens consisted chiefly of sandstone, 
schistus, or granite. The plants are raised from seeds sown 
where they are to remain. Three or more are dropped into 
a hole four or five inches deep; these come up without farther 
trouble, and require little culture, except that of removing 
weeds, till the plants are three years old. The more careful 
stir the soil, and some manure it, but the latter practice is 
seldom adopted. The third year the leaves are gathered, at 
three successive gatherings, in February, April, and June, and 
so on until the bushes become stunted or slow in their growth, 
which generally happens in from six to ten years. They are 
then cut in to encourage the production of fresh roots. 
" The gathering of the leaves is performed with care and 
selection. The leaves are plucked off one by one ; at the first 
gathering only the unexpanded and tender are taken ; at the 
second those that are of full growth ; and at the third the 
coarsest. The first forms, what is called in Europe, imperial 
tea ; but, as to the other names by which tea is known, the 
Chinese know nothing; and the compounds and names are 
supposed to be made and given by the merchants at Canton, 
who, from the great number of varieties brought to them, have 
an ample opportunity of doing so. Formerly it was thought 
that green tea was gathered exclusively from T. viridis ; but 
that now is doubtful, though it is certain that there is what 
is called the green tea district and black tea district; and the 
varieties grown in the one district differ from those of the 
other. I was told by competent persons that either of the 
two plants will afford the black or green tea of the shops, but 
that the broad thin-leaved plant ( T. viridis) is preferred for 
making the green tea. 
"The tea leaves being gathered, are cured in houses which 
