56 NATURE OF THE SOIL. 



been shown that this shrub possesses great powers 

 of adaptation to climate, so also, as observed by 

 Dr. Wallich, " it may be easily satisfied with 

 respect to soil." * 



Kaempfer f states that the tea shrub is planted 

 everywhere at Japan without regard to soil ; and 

 the same may be affirmed of China, when cultivated 

 by the farmer for his own domestic use. 



The vine, which seems to partake somewhat of 

 the nature of the tea plant, as regards the extent 

 of its geographical distribution and adaptation to 

 climate, also shows great indifference with respect 

 to soil. De Candolle observes, that " grapes may 

 be produced in almost any soil, provided the Vine 

 be of a nature to suit it. The vineyards of Bour- 

 deaux are planted in a gravelly soil, thence the 

 name of Yin de Grave ; those of Burgundy in cal- 

 careous clay ; Hermitage grows in granite ; and 

 Lachryma Christi is raised in the volcanic soil of 

 Mount Vesuvius. The vineyards of Switzerland 

 consist of a stiff compact calcareous earth." J 



Mr. M'Cleland also, seeing the various condi- 

 tions under which the tea plant grows at Assam, 

 concludes that " there is a disposition in the plant 

 to accommodate itself to any soil, as far at least as 

 its vegetative powers are concerned." § And he 



* Parliamentary Papers, Tea Cultivation, 27th Feb. 1839. 

 f Japan, Appendix, p. 4. 

 J Marcet's Vegetable Physiology, p. 406. 

 § Transactions of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society 

 of India, vol. iv. p. 28. 



