84 MODES ADOPTED FOR CULTIVATING 



the same time, and at no great distance, in the 

 same rice field. 



In the " Inner Range " of the Bohea Mountains 

 regular and well kept plantations prevail ; also on 

 plains and parts of hills sufficiently level to he 

 formed into beds ; but, for reasons already assigned, 

 the Chinese cannot afford the expense of forming 

 their hills into terraces for this purpose. Mr. 

 Gordon states, that the ground was not terraced 

 at Amoy, but formed into beds which were partly 

 levelled. The plantations were perfectly well 

 dressed as in garden cultivation, and each was sur- 

 rounded with a low stone fence and a trench. 



The cultivation of green tea differs essentially 

 from that of the black, inasmuch as the finest de- 

 scription, denominated Hyson, is cultivated on plains 

 in a fertile soil, and manured. The price paid by 

 foreigners for this quality of tea affords sufficient 

 encouragement to the grower to induce him to ap- 

 propriate a more fruitful soil to its cultivation. 

 Why the cultivation of Souchong tea is not more 

 extended, I have never been able satisfactorily to 

 understand, except, as stated by the Chinese, that 

 the soil favourable to its growth is confined to a 

 locality of limited extent, whereas Hyson tea may 

 be produced in any quantity. Higher prices have 

 been paid by the East India Company for the finest 

 description of Souchong or Paochong tea, than 

 were ever given for green tea, and every pains 

 taken to encourage its growth. In a free trade these 



