NATURE OF THE SOIL. 47 



there are many plantations, where the care and the 

 method of preparing tea are nearly the same, whilst 

 the tea is very different, whether we consider the 

 leaves, the flavour, or the effects which it produces ; 

 consequently the nature of the soil cannot be the 

 same. The Chinese themselves sufficiently prove 

 this, by their frequent declaration that the Ty Tu, 

 or soil, occasions the principal difference in the 

 quality of tea." * 



4. " With regard to the soil which is the most 

 favourable, I shall explain first what I have seen 

 myself, and then what I have heard related of the 

 district of Kien Ning Fu. In the southern part 

 of the province there are many plantations in low 

 situations, some of which are sandy and stony, as 

 may be seen by those which are near rivers ; but 

 they are rendered sufficiently moist in consequence 

 of annual inundations. Others are placed in situa- 

 tions a little raised, yet level, like those which are 

 seen at the foot of mountains ; the soil of which (as 

 the Chinese express it) is red or pale, rather cold 

 and damp. The other plantations, and these are 

 the most numerous, are situated amidst the decli- 

 vities of mountains, on sloping ground, many of 

 which are stony and sandy at the surface, but the 

 soil is deep, moist, and, in consequence of the fre- 

 quent winds, rather cold. Those that are on level 



* This observation is confirmed by my own inquiries. Ask 

 a Chinese what causes the difference of quality in tea? and his 

 reply invariably is, the Ty Tu, i, e. the soil. 



