28 TEMPERATURE OF THE TEA COUNTRIES. 



but, in the absence of all scientific details, a few 

 general observations and facts may not prove un- 

 acceptable to those whose views may be directed 

 to the introduction and cultivation of the tea tree 

 in other parts of the world. 



In the green tea country, situated in the district 

 of Whey-chew-fu, N. L. 29° 58' 30" in the province 

 of Kiang-nan, the northern winds begin to prevail, 

 the Chinese say, in September. In October persons 

 in easy circumstances begin to clothe themselves in 

 their fur dresses ; and in November the winter 

 (or rather, perhaps, the N. E. monsoon) regularly 

 sets in ; when the young tea shrubs are said to be 

 bound round with wisps of straw, to prevent them 

 from being broken or injured by the wind and snow 

 which falls in the winter season. The severity of 

 winter, however, is not felt before December. From 

 this time until March the weather continues cold ; 

 frost frequently prevails, and snow occasionally : 

 water freezes in the house : but the Chinese houses 

 are badly put together; windows and doors are 

 roughly fitted ; in fact they are built for hot weather, 

 not for cold. The Chinese defend themselves against 

 cold by an additional quantity and different quality 

 of clothing : their houses being thus much exposed 

 to every change of temperature, a little tea acci- 

 dentally left in a tea- cup over-night in any of the 

 rooms will occasionally be found frozen in the 

 morning. If we may rely on the statements of the 

 Chinese (and recent accounts seem to confirm 



