e marked distinguishing characters
between the two species are the coriaceous dark-green leaves in the
_Thea Bohea_, and the large pale-green monhanaeous leaves of the
_Thea viridis_. The manner, too, of growth is very striking, and on
entering the plantation the distinction is at once marked to the
most unobservant eye. This species of _Thea Bohea_ forms nearly the
whole of the plantations, and was brought from China by Dr. Gordon.

In the plantations there is a third plant, which, however, can only
be considered a marked variety of _Thea Bohea_. Its leaves are
thick, coriaceous, and of dark-green color, but invariably very
small, and not exceeding two inches in length, and thinly
lanceolate; the serratures, too, on the edge, which are straight,
are not so deep. In other characters it is identical. This marked
variety was received from Calcutta at the plantation in a separate
despatch from the others.

But in addition to these there are, no doubt, many more varieties,
and though it may be a fact that, in certain districts, green tea is
manufactured from a species differing from that from which black tea
is manufactured, yet, in other districts, green and black teas are
manufactured from one and the same plant. The Chinese manufacturers
now in Kumaon state that the plant is one and the same, and that it
can be proved by converting black tea into green. In manufacturing
teas now in the manufactory, if a large quantity of leaves are
brought in from the plantations, one half are converted into green,
and one half into black tea. This only shows that much of the green
and black teas of commerce are manufactured from one and the same
plant. The Assam plant is, from the characters given, quite a
distinct plant, and agrees, as already stated, most nearly with the
species described as _Thea viridis_. It would, therefore, be most
desirable to procure seeds of this so-called species, and also of
other varieties, of which, no doubt, there is a great variety. From
the northern districts of China in particular, seeds ought to be
imported, not, however, in large quantities, but in quantities of
two or three seers, so that they might, on arrival at Calcutta, be
sent up the country as quickly as possible, for, if the seeds are
kept long out of the ground, not one will germinate; such was the
f