80 THE RICE-PAPER PLANT. 
ceeded in procuring for me, from the island of Formosa, six live speci- 
mens of this remarkable plant, four of which have been transmitted to 
England by the Overland route, two being retained here to give them 
a chance of flowering and fruiting in a genial climate. Since their re- 
ceipt the latter have increased considerably in size, and are now in a 
very flourishing state. 
* The Tung-tsaou*, or Rice-Paper plant, grows abundantly in nume- 
rous parts of the island of Formosa. The names of the places where it 
is chiefly cultivated to advantage are, Ke-lung-shan (within the Tau- 
shwuy Sub-prefecture) and the three districts named Fung-shan, Kea-e, 
and Chang-hwa, all within 200 miles of the Chief-prefecture city, Tai- 
wan-foo, the capital of the Island, the furthest being Ke-lung-shan, at 
about 600 le from Tai-wan-foo. The extent of Ke-lung-shan, which is 
the largest of the Tung-tsaou plantations, is computed at 400 le in cir- 
cumference; of this area nearly the whole is devoted to the rearing of 
the plant. The Tung-tsaou is said not to grow from seed, but to throw 
-up shoots like the Bamboo from its roots. 
“ Tt forms a main source of revenue to the population engaged in its 
cultivation, and the inhabitants depend chiefly upon it for their main- 
tenance. Lots of land are apportioned off to each, and every grower 
cultivates his own patch; the cultivation is under no monopoly restric- 
tions, and Government seldom interferes. 
“ The plant is reported to be of a delicate nature, as suffering from a 
cold or damp air and withering in a bleak wind: a warm mild tempera- 
ture appears to be a chief condition of its thriving. It is said not to 
attain a greater height than six Chinese chih, the average being from 
four or five chih; but considering the size of some of the specimens of 
pith received by me, which can scarcely be supposed to be produced by 
a plant of so small a size, this statement is probably incorrect. The 
young shoots appear above ground early in spring, and when a few 
inches high are carefully separated from the parent roots and trans- 
planted into pots, in which they remain until about a foot high, when 
they are removed to land prepared for them. They are now carefully 
inspected every day that they may be kept free from insects, and are 
recommended to be protected from the sun by an awning until two or 
* The Chinese name of the plant and the names of the places where it is cultiva- 
ted are in the original fuxther given in the Chinese character, which we cannot here 
furnish, and which, if we could, would not be intelligible to our readers.— Ep. 
