15(i 



HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. 



I. 



( fi". 126.) China, Dr. Abel observes, from the great extent of latitude contained in its 

 boundaries, and from its extensive plains and lofty mountains, partakes of the advan- 

 tages and defects of many climates, and displays a country of features infinitely varied 

 by nature. Every thing artificial, however, has nearly the same characters in every 

 province. 



965. The soil varies exceedingly : it is in many parts not naturally fertile ; but has 

 almost every where been rendered so by the application of culture and manure for- suc- 

 cessive ages. 



966. The landed property of China is considered as the absolute right of the emperor: 

 but the sub-proprietor, or first holder, is never turned out of possession as long as he 

 continues to pay about the tenth part of what his farm is supposed capable of yielding ; 

 and, though the holder of lands is only considered as a tenant at will, it is his own 

 fault if he is dispossessed. If any one happens to hold more than his family can con- 

 veniently cultivate, he lets it to another, on condition of receiving half the produce, 

 out of which he pays the whole of the emperor's taxes. The greater part of the poor 

 peasantry cultivate land on these terms. In China there are no immense estates, no 

 fisheries are let out to farm. Every subject is equally entitled to the free and uninter- 

 rupted enjoyment of the sea, of the coasts, of the estuaries, of the lakes and rivers. 

 There are no manor lords with exclusive privileges, nor any game laws. 



967. The agricultural products of China extend to every useful vegetable. There 

 is scarcely a grain, a fruit, a tree, or a culinary vegetable of Europe, or the rest of the 

 world, that they do not cultivate ; and they have a number peculiar to themselves. 

 Fowl and fish are not extensively reared, as the chief articles of diet are vegetables. 

 Rice is the common grain of the country ; a species of cabbage, the universal culinary 

 vegetable ; swine, the most abundant live stock ; and tea, the chief plant of export. 



968. The tea districts of China extend from the 27th to the 31st degree of latitude. 

 According to the missionaries, it thrives in the more northern provinces ; and from 

 Ksmpfer it appears to be cultivated in Japan as far north as lat. 45°. It seems, according 

 to Dr. Abel's observation, to succeed best on the sides of mountains, where there can be 

 but little accumulation of vegetable mould. The soils from which he collected the 

 best specimens consisted chiefly of sandstone, schistus, or granite. The land forming 

 the Cape of Good Hope consisting of the same rocks, and its geographical position 

 corresponding to that of the tea districts of China, Dr. Abel considers it might be 

 grown there, if desirable, to such an extent as to supersede the necessity of procuring it 

 from China. It grows well in St. Helena and Rio Janeiro, and will grow any where in 

 a meagre soil and moderate temperature. 



969. The culture of the tea plant in China has been given by various authors. It is 

 raised from seeds sown where the plants are lo remain. Three or more are dropped into 

 a hole four or five inches deep; these come up without further trouble, and require 

 little culture, except that of removing weeds, till the plants are three years old. The 

 more careful stir the soil, and -some manure it ; but the latter practice is seldom adopted. 

 The third year the leaves are gathered, at three successive gatherings, in February, 

 April, and June, and so on till the bushes become stinted or tardy in their growth, 

 whirh generally happens in from six to ten years. They are then cut-in to encourage 

 the production of fresh shoots. 



