NATURE OF THE SOIL. 51 



is often found growing on the sides and tops of 

 embankments of eultivated fields ; on the declivities 

 of hills, independently of its natural habitat ; and 

 such lands as are generally devoted to the growth 

 of timber. 



The opinions given by the ancient Jesuits must 

 be deemed authentic, and of high authority. They 

 were men not only distinguished by natural talent 

 and great acquirements, but they were the only 

 Europeans who have had any opportunity of ex- 

 amining the tea plant in those particular sites, 

 where it more especially flourishes, and where it 

 is cultivated for foreign consumption. But whether 

 their information be derived from personal ob- 

 servation, from translations of Chinese works, or 

 from verbal accounts received from the Chinese, 

 does not appear, and this involves a very important 

 distinction. 



On the other hand, Dr. Von Siebold* states, that 

 " the soil most congenial to the tea plant at Japan 

 consists of a clayey heavy soil, rich in iron, con- 

 taining fragments of wacke, basalt, basaltic horn- 

 blende, and fossils peculiar to the trap formation. 

 It is somewhat sandy and chalky, and on being 

 washed exhibits very little vegetable mould?" f 



A very elaborate analysis has since been made 

 by two able chemists, Dr. Yon Essenbech and L. C. 

 Marquart, of a specimen of soil brought home by 



* Nippon, part 6. t Dammerde. 



e 2 



