CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION. 53 



rice-husks or parched earth. In growing, many of the 

 seeds prove abortive, scarcely one in five germinating. 

 When the nurslings have attained a height of from four 

 to six inches they are transplanted to the beds of the 

 gardens in which they are to grow four to five feet 

 apart. The plants are never manured in China, nor 

 does it appear to be customary to prepare the ground 

 for their reception, it being claimed by many authorities 

 that manure, while it increases the yield, invariably 

 spoils the flavor of the tea. Chinese growers in general 

 asserting that teas produced without the aid of manure 

 are always the most fragrant and aromatic. 



The plantations are laid out in the early spring, and 

 being well watered by the copious rains which fall during 

 this season, the young plants establish themselves, requir- 

 ing very little care thereafter. Until they have attained 

 a height of about 18 inches, the weeds are pulled regu- 

 larly, not raked, and the leading shoots pinched to induce 

 them to become numerous and bushy. When the season 

 is dry they are saturated with rice-water and the roots 

 covered, and if severely cold they are protected by a 

 wrapping of straw, rising up in a cluster when the rains 

 come and become firmly established, after which they 

 require very little more attention except occasional weed- 

 ing, until they are three years old. In some districts the 

 branches are periodically pruned, the constant abstrac- 

 tion of the foliage having a tendency to reduce the height 

 and expand laterally, making them resemble a collection 

 of plants rather than single shrubs, the size of the leaves 

 in such cases being* smaller than when the plants are 

 suffered to grow at will, but covering the branches so 

 thickly as to prevent the hand being thrust through. 

 An eastern exposure is avoided when near the sea, and 

 care is also taken not to overshadow them by huge trees 



