NATURE OF THE SOIL. G3 



Tea," that an immense improvement was effected 

 in that tea by transplanting it from the hills into 

 the plains, and by cultivating it in garden soil, fit 

 for vegetables ; moreover, by the use of manure. 

 The black tea, however, is not manured. 



Again, in situations " on the banks of rivers, 

 where the ground is level, and subject to inunda- 

 tion," the soil may be " sandy, and stony on the 

 surface " (p. 47. § 4.), but the subsoil being formed 

 and benefited by filtration from a rich alluvial 

 deposit, the plants are thereby furnished with an 

 inexhaustible source of nourishment; and while 

 the stony and sandy superstratum defends the roots 

 against the scorching heat of the sun, they receive 

 the genial influence of its rays, and are afforded 

 ventilation, evaporation, and filtration. 



So on the ledges and terraces of the " inner 

 range " of the Bohea mountains, a light sandy soil, 

 as described by Du Halde, may be beneficial on 

 these flats. A light soil with a rocky bottom must 

 obviously favour filtration, which these levels or 

 easy slopes, in common with plains, more especially 

 demand ; and if in addition to the progressive dis- 

 integration which may naturally be supposed to be 

 going on in the rocky substratum by acid excre- 

 tions from the roots, and from the free action which 

 a light sandy soil affords to moisture and atmo- 

 spheric influence, these ledges or flats be enriched 

 by alluvial deposits from igneous or primitive rocks, 

 by alumina, and decomposed vegetable fibre from 



