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98 ANNUAL REGISTER
of the earth.  I leave a deeper research to some more curious and more philosophical correspondent.

Wonderful Contrivance of Nature for the Preservation of a Plant that grows in the River Rhone.

This plant consists of a small root, with a few long leaves rising from it, and in the midst of them a stalk of two or three feet in length, but so weak, that it is by no means able to support itself erect.  On the top of each stalk, is one single flower, in some degree resembling a single flower from a bunch of Jessamine.  It appears to be the purpose of nature, and it is absolutely necessary to the wellbeing of the plant, that every part of it should be immersed in water, except just the flower at the top of each stalk.  But these flowers must be always kept above the water; and the heat of the sun is requisite to the opening the seeds contained in the cup at the base of them.  Now the Rhone, wherein this plant grows in great abundance, is a river of very uncertain depth, and that in places very near one another: if the feeds of this plant, or the side shoots from the root, produce new ones at different depths, how is the flower to be carried to the top, and only just to the top of the water in each?  The Rhone is also of all rivers, the most apt to be swelled by sudden floods; in this case, how is the plant that was just flowering in its proper manner, at four feet depth, to be kept in the necessary state of having that flower above water when the depth is increased to fix?  Or how is it to be kept from falling on the surface of the water, and rotting, when the depth decreases, and leaves a foot or two of a naked stalk, which is unable to support itself?  All this is provided for by nature, or rather by God the creator, who with apparent wisdom and intention has made the stalk which supports the flower of this plant of such a form and texture, that it at all times suits itself to the depth of the water it is in; for the stalks are not strait [straight], but twisted in a spiral form, in the manner of a cork-screw, or rather in the manner of those springs of wire, which we see made by wrapping the wire round a small stick.  By this formation, the stalks of this plant have a power of extending and contracting themselves in length, and this so suddenly, that let the rise or fall of the water be ever so quick, the lengthening or shortening of the stalks accompany it; and the same formation suits them in a yet easier manner to different depths.  By this formation (the like of which is not seen in any other plant in nature) the flower of the Vallisneria (for so this singular vegetable is called) is kept just at the surface of the water, be the depth what it will, or the changes in depth ever so sudden.  By this means, the fun has power to ripen the flower till the seeds are scattered on the surface of the water in perfect ripeness, where they float a little while; but when thoroughly wetted sink, and take root at the bottom.  To prove to ocular demonstration what is said of this plant, several of them have been put into vessels of water, some of them with stalks so long, that one half of them was above the surface of the water; others with them to short, that they were

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were immersed several inches under it; but in a few hours they had each adapted the length of their stalks to the depth, and the flower of every one was floating just on the surface.

Dr. Lettsome's Account of the Tea-Tree, and its Medical Qualities.

We are principally indebted to Kæmpfer, for any accounts that may be relied on, in respect to the method of cultivation; and his description was drawn up in Japan.  We shall give what he says upon this subject, and then state the accounts we have been able to collect of the Chinese method.

Kæmpfer tells us, that no particular gardens or fields are alloted [allotted] for this plant, but that it is cultivated round the borders of the field, without any regard to the soil.  Any number of the seeds, as they are contained in their seed-vessels, not usually less than six, or exceeding twelve or fifteen, are promiscuously put into one hole, made four or five inches deep in the ground, at certain distances from each other.  The seeds contain a large proportion of oil, which is soon liable to turn rancid; hence scarce a fifth part of them germinate, and this makes it necessary to plant so many together.

The seeds vegetate without any other care; but the more industrious annually remove the weeds, and manure the land.  The leaves which succeed are not fit to be plucked before the third year's growth, at which period they are plentiful, and at their prime.

In about seven years the shrub rises to a man's height; but as it then bears few leaves, and grows slowly, it is cut down to the stem, which occasions such an exuberance of fresh shoots and leaves the succeeding summer, as abundantly compensates the owners for their former loss and trouble.  Some defer cutting them till they are of ten years growth.

So far as can be gathered from authors and travellers [travelers] of credit, this shrub is cultivated and prepared in China in a similar manner to what is practiced in Japan; but as the Chinese export considerable quantities of tea, they plant whole fields with it, to supply foreign markets, as well as for home consumption.

The Tea-tree delights particularly in vallies [valleys], or on the declivities of hills, and upon the banks of rivers, where it enjoys a southern exposure to the sun; though it endures considerable variations of heat and cold, as it flourishes in the northern clime of Pekin, as well as about Canton*, the former of which is in the same latitude with Rome; and from meteorological observations.

* The best tea grows in a mild, temperate climate; the country about Nankin producing better tea than either Pekin or Canton, betwixt which places it is situated.  It has been asserted, that no tea plants have yet died in England through excess of cold, but an example of the contrary I know has happened.  The plant in the princess dowager's garden at Kew flourishes, under glass-windows, with the natural heat of the sun, as well as those at Mile-end, in the possession of the indefatigable J. Gordon.  Two of the tea-plants belonging to Dr. Fothergill thrive in his garden at Upton, exposed to the open air in Summer.

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