78 



CHAP. IV. 



CULTURE ACCOUNTS GIVEN IN CHINESE WORKS — BY EUROPEAN 



MISSIONARIES — PLANTATIONS SEEN BY MR. GORDON AT AMOY 



CULTIVATION OF GREEN TEA DIFFERENT FROM BLACK 



MODE PRACTISED IN JAPAN — IN JAVA. 



The only mode of propagation of the tea plant 

 mentioned in the Chinese works I have had an 

 opportunity of consulting, is by seed. The Chinese, 

 also, with whom I have conversed on this subject, 

 seem generally to admit that it is the best method, 

 though they affirm that this practice rarely obtains 

 in the Bohea district in the present day. The 

 plantations of Ho Nan, in the vicinity of Canton, 

 to the south, are propagated with seed. The soil 

 consists of coarse red sand and gravel, the situa- 

 tion is low and flat, and the heat of the climate 

 unfavourable. The shrubs are ragged and stunted 

 in their appearance, and the leaves thin and small, 

 producing tea altogether unsuitable for European 

 consumption. 



The following instructions for planting are found 

 in the Kiun Fang Pu, under the article " Tea" : — 



" Seeding. — The seed must be collected in Han 

 Lu (October), dried in the sun, then mixed up 

 with moistened sand, and packed in baskets. 



" Planting. — Tea naturally dislikes water [to 



