SOIL THE MOST SUITABLE. 73 



so, may it not have the.- same on leaves ? At all 

 events it is useful as regarding tea, in dissipating the 

 mists from the atmosphere, as well as the moisture 

 from the leaves, before the gatherers begin to as- 

 semble on the hills. It will be seen in the process 

 of manipulation of black tea, that it is desirable to 

 evaporate as much moisture as possible from the 

 leaves before they are roasted. 



Thus we come to nearly the same conclusions 

 as the Rev. Father Carpina, that the black tea tree 

 in China delights in hilly sites, though of moderate 

 elevation ; yet it is also successfully cultivated in 

 plains, under favourable circumstances, such as 

 along the banks of rivers, in a light stony soil, 

 subject to occasional inundation ; in an open ex- 

 posure to the sun, and the genial winds of a 

 somewhat hot climate, tempered by intervals of 

 rain, and exhalations during the night ; an aspect 

 fronting the south-east, or one benefited by the 

 morning sun ; a soil rich and somewhat compact, 

 or retentive of moisture, though of easy filtration ; 

 sufficiently porous to be permeable to the numerous 

 and delicate fibres of the roots of the plant, as well 

 as atmospheric influences ; and sufficiently tena- 

 cious to supply a healthy moisture to the plant, 

 without being liable to be dried up and baked 

 during the alternations of sun and rain, which 

 take place at no very remote intervals between the 

 vernal and autumnal equinoxes. 



