(8 }- 
third year’s growth, at which period they He plentiful, and in 
their prime. 
In about feven years the fhrub rifes to a man’s height; but 
as it then bears few leaves, and grows flowly, it is cut down to 
the ftem, which occafions fuch an exuberance of frefh fhoots 
and leaves the fucceeding fummer, as abundantly compenfates 
the owners for their former lofs and trouble. Some defer 
cutting them till they are of ten years growth, 
So far as can be gathered from authors and travellers of 
credit, this fhrub is cultivated and. prepared in China, in a 
- fimilar manner to what is practifed in Japan; but as the Chinefe 
export confiderable quantities of Tea, they plant whole fields 
with it, to fupply foreign markets, as well as for home con- 
fumption. 
The Tea-tree delights particularly in vallies; or on the de- 
clivities of hills, and upon the banks of rivers, where it enjoys 
a fouthern expofure to the fun; though it endures confiderable 
variations of heat and cold, as it flourifhes in the northern 
clime of Pekin, as well as about Canton’, the former of | 
* The beft Tea grows in a mild temperate climate; the country about Nankin 
producing better Tea than either Pekin cr Canton, between which places it is 
-fituated. It has been afferted, that no Tea-plants have yet died in England through 
excefs of cold; but the contrary, I know, has happened. The plant in the 
Princefs Dowager’s garden at Kew flourifhed under glafs windows, with the 
natural heat of the fun, as now do thofe at Mile-end, in the poffeffion of the 
intelligent Botanift J. Gordon. The Tea-plant belonging to Dr. Fothergilt thrives 
_ in his garden at Upton, expofed to the open air, and the plant introduced into the 
Botanic garden at Chelfea had one leaf which meafured five inches and a quarter 
in length. 
E 2 ae which 
