TEMPERATURE OF THE TEA COUNTRIES. 29 



them), snow is sometimes two or three feet deep on 

 the plains, and several inches thick on the house- 

 tops. In cloudy weather it may thus remain on 

 the plains for ten days together ; but soon melts on 

 the re-appearance of the sun. They further state 

 that excessive cold is injurious to the plant; some 

 are occasionally killed, and others injured and 

 checked in their growth, by frost and snow. They 

 add, however, that this part of the country is not 

 subject to such sudden changes of temperature as 

 are experienced at Canton. In April and May the 

 winds begin to veer to the southward, and bring 

 occasional showers; but the south-west monsoon 

 does not set in steadily before the end of May, or 

 beginning of June. In this latter month the great 

 rains commence. In July the summer regularly 

 sets in, and the intensity of the heat is equal to 

 that of Canton. 



The Bohea country, in Fokien, differs little from 

 the Hyson districts in point of temperature. The 

 tea men describe the cold as less severe ; and the 

 fall of snow, as well as the thickness of the ice, as 

 somewhat less. Indeed it is a mountainous dis- 

 trict, with sheltered vallies, fenced in and protected 

 from cold north-easterly and north-westerly winds 

 by the lofty and continuous range of mountains 

 which forms the barrier between this province and 

 those of Chekiang and Kiangsee. December and 

 January are considered the coldest months. It is 

 said that the Kieu-kio-kee. a shallow stream which 



