68 THE TALLOW TREE. [Cuar. V. 
( Thea viridis) is cultivated every where ; but, if we 
except a small quantity which is annually sent over 
to the main land—to Ningpo and the adjacent towns, 
—the whole is used by the inhabitants themselves. 
Every small farmer and cottager has a few plants 
on his premises, which he rears with considerable 
care, but seems to have no wish to enter on its 
cultivation on a larger scale. Indeed it is ques- 
tionable if it would answer, as the soil is scarcely 
rich enough; and, although the shrub grows pretty 
well, it is far from being so luxuriant as it is in 
the larger tea districts on the main land. The 
forests of different varieties of bamboo are very 
striking, and give a kind of tropical character to 
the Chusan scenery. I do not know any thing 
more beautiful than the yellow bamboo with its clean 
and straight stem, and graceful top and branches 
waving in the breeze: it always reminded me of 
our young larch forests at home. The fir tree, 
found in the south, is also common in this part of 
China: it seems to be an exception to a general 
rule, being met with all over the country, and in 
every degree of latitude. Here the Cunninghamia 
sinensis, another of the pine tribe, is also found in 
abundance: it is more rare in the south. Besides 
these there are several species of cypress and juni- 
per, which are always found growing around the 
tombs of the wealthy, which are scattered over the 
valley and hill-sides. 
In fruits Chusan is meagre indeed. All the 
peaches, grapes, pears, plums, oranges, &c., which 
