^54< Cnliivatiun of Tea in China. 



The pits here vary in wicUh, from 5 ft. 8 in. to 6 ft. 10 in. 

 Some of the wide ones have no transverse surface flues; and 

 in these pine crowns and suckers are rooted in the summer 

 months, and an abundant supply of asparagus and sea-kale is 

 obtained in the winter. In early forcing, Mr. Thompson 

 adopts the practice of supporting the vines of cucumbers on a 

 neat wood trellis, or on coarse wickerwork. 



I am, Sir, Sec. 

 WdbecJc Garden^ Sejyt. 17. 1828. Henry Thompson. 



Art. III. Ofi the Cultivation of Tea in China. 

 By Mr. Main. 



Sir, • 



As some account of the tea plant may be interesting to 



many of your young readers, 1 take the liberty to send you 



the following, thinking it not unsuitable for a place in your 



columns : — 



This celebrated plant is indigenous to the empire of China, 

 and is not less regarded as a principal in their hortus dietetica, 

 than for its value as a means of national wealth. Among the 

 natives (even from the times of Confucius, it is said) it has 

 been immemorially used, not only as a most pleasant and in- 

 vigorating beverage, but as a medicinal condiment, peculiarly 

 salutary to the human constitution. It has been the theme of 

 their poets, the idol of their husbandmen, and the highest 

 favourite of the emperor and his government. A particular 

 tract of the empire is called the tea country, viz. Tok-yen, 

 Ho-ping, An-koy, &c., situated between the thirtieth and thirty- 

 third degrees of north latitude. Tea is not generally culti- 

 vated over the empire, the northern parts being too cold, and 

 the southern parts, perhaps, being too warm. There are but 

 few plantations near Canton, and they of no great extent. 

 The trees are planted about four or five feet asunder, and the 

 ground between is kept always very clean and free from weeds ; 

 they are not allowed to grow higher than is convenient for 

 men, women, and children to pick the leaves. Repeated 

 gathering, from one to four times in the course of each year, 

 according to the age of the plants, gives the whole a stunted 

 appearance. All the diiferent kinds of tea named in the in- 

 voices, or in the shops of merchants, are produced from the 

 same kind or variety of the plant; it is only the difference in 

 the times of gathering and manner of curing which causes the 

 difference in appearance, qualities, and value. The leaves 



