CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



Discovery and early history of the tea tree in China — Intro- 

 duction and gradual improvements of the processes required 

 in its manipulation — Geographical distribution of the tree 

 in China — Its extensive use, and mode of using it in China 

 — At Japan — Von Siebold's opinion, that the tea tree was 

 originally introduced into China from Corea, examined — ■ 

 Proved to be indigenous — Identity of Assam tree doubtful 

 — Extensive geographical distribution of the Chinese tree- 

 Page 1 



CHAP. II. 



Climate of China influenced by monsoon winds — No wet and 

 dry season as in India — Quantity of rain at Canton — At 

 Peking — Increase of temperature and humidity great from 

 March to May — Temperature at Peking — At Canton — In 

 the green and black tea countries — Foo-chew-foo — Amoy — 

 Frost severe but not continuous — Ice preserved through the 

 summer — Temperature of Shang-hai — Chusan — Great 

 variation of temperature principally in winter — Daily 

 variation small — Climate generally salubrious — Tea tree 

 exposed to great differences of climate — Climate most suit- 

 able - - - - - - 19 



CHAP. III. 



Black tea — Districts where the best kinds are found and culti- 

 vated — What situations are the most favourable — Exposure 

 and nature of the soil — Accounts given in Chinese works — 

 By European missionaries — The various opinions as to the 

 most suitable soil examined — Attempt to reconcile some 



