NATURE OF THE SOIL. 57 



further observes, regarding the soil which came 

 under his inspection, " that the vegetable matter in 

 tea soils acts only as an absorbent of moisture, as 

 appears by the fact, that where the vegetable 

 matter is greatest, alumina, the common absorbent 

 principle of soil, is least*; and the quantity of 

 alumina is also in proportion to the degree of 

 insulation of the soil, in regard to moisture and 

 the greater drainage to which it is exposed;" 

 whence Mr. M'Cleland concludes that "the nar- 

 rowest inference we can draw from this is, that the 

 same soil would not be suitable to the plant in 

 every situation." f 



Now there are two circumstances elicited in this 

 inquiry, in which the several statements j)rocured 

 from the missionaries in the province of Fokien 

 agree, and in which the Chinese coincide, viz. that 

 the tea plant delights in moisture, and that an 

 eastern aspect is the best. 



Mr. Jacobson of Java states that the tea plant 

 requires a moist soil, but still one where water 

 niters freely. J 



Mr. Bruce also observes, " that one thing is 

 worthy of notice, that all the Assam tea grows 

 near water, of which it appears to be very fond, 

 for wherever there is a small stream or jheel, tea is 

 sure to be there." § 



* Page 33. t p age 34. 



J Handboek v. d. Kult. en Fabrik. v. Thee, § 33. 

 § M. Guillemin states that "|the part of the botanic garden 

 at Rio de Janeiro devoted to the cultivation of tea contains only 



