554 FOURTH BULLETIN OF [1846. 



ly at the foot of mountains. It is also produced on level tracts, but less advanta- 

 geously. Besides the explicit information given by Dr. Abel, from actual ex- 

 amination of one district, it is sufficiently certain that tho rock formations in most 

 of the tea districts are chiefly primary, from their being productive of metals which 

 are only found in such formations. 



The best soils arc said to be light gravelly, sandy and whitish, (probably cal- 

 careous,) with little accumulation of vegotable mould. Le Conte says the best 

 tea is produced in a gravelly soil; and inferior in yellow, (probably clayey foil.) 

 It also thrives best with an open exposure to the south. 



The circumstances of climato, therefore, in regard of temperature and moisture, 

 under which the tea-plant is cultivated in China, may be stated thus; fluit tea is 

 produced over an extent of country where the mean annual heat ranges from 73° 

 to 54° 5' Fahrenheit, where the heat of summer does not descend below 80'', and the 

 cold of winter ranges from 54° to 26°, whore the difference between summer and 

 winter heat is on the northern Imiit 59° and on the southern 30° Fahrenheit ; tiiat 

 it is cultiva»ed in highest perfection, whore the mean annual heat ranges from 56° 

 to 64°. That rain falls in all months of the year ; and that the moisture of the cli- 

 mate is on the whole moderate. 



The foregoing remarks will apply, in some measure, to some portions of our 

 southern countries, where, if labor could be had at a more moderate rate, would 

 probably form a profitable article of tlie planter's attention. 



In Brazil, the tea-plant has been introduced for some years by the government, 

 and Chinese accustomed to tiie culture in China were employed for some lime, but 

 notwithstanding it languished, for some cause unknown to me; but of late years, 

 the culture has bepu revived iu the province of St. Paul's, whero I was informed 

 that it was the mo):t profitable crop raised, and flourished well, where coffoo fre- 

 quently failed from frost. It is being exported from the province now, in con- 

 siderable quantities. 



Ginseng The root of the Panax quinquefoliura has long been used in China 



in large quantities, being obtained in Taitary, and also brought from the United 

 States. That from Tartary they consider vastly superior to the American, and think 

 it altogether distinct, and are greatly surprized to hear that we think it identical 

 with our own ; but the only difference that I could perceive, is that the roots were 

 smaller, better clarified, and a))peared to be prepared with greater care; yet from 

 the root alone it is impossible to determine whether it is the same, or a different 

 species. As the Chinese are very superstitious and whimsical in their opinions 

 and actions, and governed or influenced more or less by them, it is owing to this 

 that they put so much more value on that brought from Tartary, as I was informed 

 by several Chinese, that their ginseng comes f-om the "cold country," (Tartary,) 

 and is found but on one island, which is inhabiiL-J by tigers, making it very dan- 

 gerous to visit it, and that the ginseng is without leaves, and therefore cannot be 

 seen in the day-time, but at niglit a fliame issues from it, at which time the island is 

 visited by those who wish to procure it, and shoot arrows at the place, leaving them 

 to mark the spot, until the next day, when the roots are dug up. Immense 

 quantities are coiisumed-by tho Chinese, who consider it a panacea, and think that it 

 gives great efficacy to other medicines, with which they always mix a small quanti- 

 ty, or the more wealthy use it alone in tea, esteeming it a great tonic and aphro- 

 disiac. That brought from the United Stiles in 1834 sold for twenty five cents per 

 pound ; in 1838, it brought fifty cents ; and in 1845, it was worth sixty cents. No 

 doubt much higher prices could be oblainrd, if more care was taken in tho prepara- 

 tion and transporting it, as the American appears in the market in Canton as very 

 inferior. The Tartar ginseng is carefully put up in boxes, made of pasteboard and 

 handsomely gilt. 



The root is also enveloped in gilt paper stamped with the druggist's name who 

 vends It, and other particulars, and the box is half filled wiih roasted rice. Pre- 

 pared in this manner, somo of tho best clarified roots, with odd forms, will sell for 

 more than their weight in gold. The I'anax quinquefolia is found in tho United 

 States, from Canada to Alabama, growing in thick shady woods on tho mountain's 

 »idc, but is most abundant in North Carolina, whero a largo quantity is dug every 

 year, and sold to persons in a green state for six and seven cents per pound, who 

 clarify it by steamirig and then drying it. If the process of preparing it were hotter 



