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propagate this valuable plant in France, if one could procure a sufficient 
number of individuals to make experiments, by cultivating it in different 
soils and under different climates. This object deserves the attention of 
government, as the consumption of tea is immense, and as the quantity 
imported every year amounts to a considerable sum, for which Europe is 
rendered tributary to China. The tea seeds brought to us from that country 
become rancid, and spoil at sea; so that scarcely one of a thousand produces 
plants. It would, therefore, be necessary that persons who go to China 
should procure them exceedingly fresh, and take care to sow them, before 
they sail, in boxes filled with light earth: they would then spring up on the 
passage. Nothing would be necessary but to water them from time to time, 
and to preserve them from the sea water: the young plants might then 
arrive in safety. 
These are the chief distinctions of teas in Europe: 
GREEN TEAS. 
1. Bing, so called from the man who first made that tea, Imperial or 
Bloom Tea , with a large loose leaf, of a light green colour, and a faint delicate 
smell. The leaves are not rolled/ 
2. Hy-tiann , hikiong , hayssuen or hee-chun. Known to us by the name 
of Hyson Tea,f named from an Indian merchant, who first sold tea to an 
European, his tea being asked for ever after. The leaves are closely curled 
and small, of a green colour verging towards blue.—Another Hyson Tea , with 
narrow short leaves, is called Hyson-utchin . There is also a Green Tea 
named Gobe, with long narrow leaves, strongly rolled. 
3. Song-lo or Singlo, which name it receives, like several others, from 
the place where it is cultivated, j 
* The Bing grows four days journey from the hyson country. The leaves are long and thin, 
those of Singlo short and thick.— Asiatic Researches. 
f Of Hyson there are two gatherings, and each gathering is distinguished into two or more 
sorts; but as great care is taken in gathering it, 6o catties (a catty is 2 i ounces and a third, or three 
catties is four pounds) from one pecul, when only 45 catties can be chosen from the Singlo. 
Hyson-skin, as it is called, has its name from being compared to the skin or peel to the Hyson 
tea, a sort of cover to it, and consequently not so good. It consists of the largest leaves, flat, 
unhandsome, bad coloured. This is called in London bloom tea. 
Gobe, Gomi, and Ootseen, are also leaves picked from the Hyson leaves. Those called Gomi 
are small, and very much twisted, so that they appear like bits of wire. The Ootsieu are more like 
little balls.-— Asiatic Researches. 
+ Tunkey Singlo tea is the best, which is owing to the soil: it grows near the Hyson country. 
4 O 
