274 [Assembly 



state among the Tea growing distriots of our country, and antici- 

 pate the time when the celestial evergreen will wave over his plan- 

 tations, and its fragrant leaf gladden his festivities and cheer his 

 heart. 



In considering the climate, latitude, temperature, and soil best 

 adapted to the growth of the Tea Plant, our attention is naturally 

 directed to the Tea growing districts of China. Our object will be 

 sufficiently gained if we confine our enquiry to the eighteen provin- 

 ces into which China proper is divided, all, to a greater or less ex- 

 tent. Tea growing districts. This, examination, especially when we 

 come to consider the parallels of latitude in our own country, will 

 probably show most satisfactorily and conclusively the error of 

 popular opinion. 



China proper, exclusive of its dependencies upon the Northwest 

 and South, comprehends a space situated between 20° and 41° N. 

 Lat., and from 101° to 122° East Longitude. 



Chihli is the most northern of the eighteen provinces. The capi- 

 tal, Peking, is in Lat. 40°, about 120 miles from Tungku, on the 

 coast of Pachele Gulf, and is situated in the northern part of this 

 province. 



The climate of this province is colder than it is in the United 

 States in the same parallel of latitude. In Peking, the thermome- 

 ter stands during the night in winter months 18 to 20° of Fahren- 

 heit, and during the day is below freezing point. It is seldom so 

 cold in this country south of 40° F. The summers are warmer than 

 the same parallel in the United States. The temperature generally 

 from 75 to 90° F., sometimes 95 to 105°. But notwithstanding the 

 rigor of winter, the Tea Plant cultivated in the district contiguous to 

 Peking, produces the finest, most fragrant, and most expensive tea 

 in China. It is from this province that the Peking Tea Company 

 collects the richest and greatest variety of Tea for exportation to 

 Russia and other countries. It is from these gardens that the Em- 

 peror's household and the great officers of the court are supplied. 

 Beyond the boundaries of China proper on the north, the Tea Plant 

 is cultivated as high as 45° N. Lat., of an inferior quality it is true, 

 as the high latitudes will not admit, from the length of winter and 

 shortness of summer, of so early and so vigorous a growth, and of 

 course of so delicate a leaf, as more temperate latitudes. It is mani- 



