46 SITUATIONS THE MOST FAVOURABLE. 



ever, because the soil is stony, but most probably 

 because the alluvial deposit formed during rain 

 enriches the soil of these ledges. The hills whence 

 the greater part of the tea connected with Euro- 

 pean consumption is procured, agreeably to infor- 

 mation received from the tea merchants, are of 

 gentle ascent, and in no way remarkable for their 

 height; neither do they possess the rocky nature 

 or singularity of form of the Bohea Mountains. 



I shall now subjoin some extracts from accounts 

 procured by me through the Koman Catholic mis- 

 sionaries resident in the province of Fo-kien in 

 answer to questions proposed to them on the sub- 

 ject of soil, situation, and manipulation of tea. 



1. One observes — "The soil should consist of 

 a vegetable mould, sprinkled with sand, light and 

 loose, and rather moist, exposed to the wind, and 

 fronting the east." 



2. Another — " That tea may be planted either 

 in a rich or a poor soil, sandy or garden soil ; but 

 that which is moist is the most suitable, and the 

 eastern aspect the best ; it need not be exposed to, 

 or sheltered from the wind, neither does it require 

 high hills or level ground ; either will do, but 

 garden ground, and the embankments of gardens 

 or fields, are the most favourable." 



3. I shall here conclude these extracts with the 

 opinions of the Spanish missionary first alluded to, 

 whose account of the tea plant is so highly valu- 

 able. He observes : "In the province of Fo-kien 



