TEA. 



the inhabitants have recourse to a singular 

 expedient. A great number of monkeys 

 generally resort to these steep places, and 

 being irritated and provoked, tear off the 

 branches and shower them down upon those 

 who have teased them ; the aggressors collect 

 these branches and strip them of their leaves. 



The tea shrub does not thrive well in 

 either a sandy or a fat soil, although the Ja- 

 panese plant it as a border to their fields 

 without regard to the soil. 



It is raised in China from seeds, but it is 

 said, that not more than one out of five arc 

 found to vegetate, therefore they put from 

 six to twelve into each hole, which is made 

 about five inches deep. Whole fields and 

 vallies are planted in this manner, which only 

 require to be kept free from weeds for about 

 three years, when they begin to gather. In 

 seven years the shrubs <>;et about six feet 

 high, when they are cut down to the stem, to 

 give the roots strength to produce fresh shoot - 

 and numerous leaves. 



Near the end of the first month of the 

 Japanese year, that is about the beginning 

 of March, the mothers of families with then- 

 children and servants, go with their basket- 

 into the tea plantations, when the weather il 



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