70 SOIL THE MOST SUITABLE. 



manipulation, and that this treatment is repeated 

 at certain intervals three times between spring and 

 autumn, we acknowledge it is difficult to com- 

 prehend how this shrub can preserve its vigour, 

 without all the aids favourable to vegetation which 

 fertility of soil, heat, and moisture afford. 



It is judiciously observed by Mr. Fortune that 

 this frequent " gathering of the leaves is very 

 detrimental to the shrubs, and, in fact, ultimately 

 kills them. Hence a principal object with the 

 grower is to keep his bushes in as robust health as 

 possible, and this cannot be done in a poor soil." * 



Moreover ; if it be true, as stated by Liebig, that 

 trees, the leaves of which are renewed annually, 

 require for their leaves six to ten times more 

 alkalies than the fir tree or the pine, then the tea 

 tree, by the unnatural treatment it receives as here 

 alluded to, is placed, though an evergreen, in the 

 condition of a deciduous tree. Consequently, it 

 ought to require more alkalies than if left in its 

 natural state, and be less likely to flourish in sandy 

 and calcareous soils upon which the pine thrives. f 



Thus there seems little reason to doubt the con- 

 clusion drawn by Von Essenbeck after analysis of 

 the Japanese soil, brought home by Yon Siebold, 

 that tea soils deficient in lightness require the 

 addition of coarse sand ; and failing in nutritive 

 properties, that strong manure and alkaline matter 



* Wanderings in China, 201. 



t Agricultural Chemistry, 2d ed. 132. 



