CHAPTER X.
Collections shipped for India — Success attending this year's importations — Visit Canton — Method of scenting teas described — Flowers used in the operation — Their scientific and Chinese names — Their relative value — Prices paid for them — Manufacture of "caper" described — Inferior ditto — " Lie capers " — Orange pekoe — High character of foreign merchants in China — Howqua's garden described — Its plants, ornamental doors, and alcoves, &c. — Polite notices to visitors worthy of imitation.
The various collections I had made during the summer and autumn had been left, from time to time as they were formed, in the charge of Chinese friends in various parts of the country. Mr. Meadows, of the British consulate in Ningpo, and Mr. Wadman, a merchant there, had also taken charge of some plants which I had planted for safety in their gardens. It was now of great importance to get all these collections together as speedily as possible, and have them conveyed to the port of Shangliae, where they could be packed in a proper manner and shipped to Hongkong, and from thence to India. This was satisfactorily accomplished, and, being luckily favoured with fine weather and a leading wind, I reached Shanghae in two days, and deposed my collections safely in the garden of Mr. Beale. A large number of Ward's cases, having been ordered some time be-
