202 REMARKS ON THEIR MANAGEMENT. ([Cuap. XI. 
youth and prime, while others are in their childhood, 
in the labours of the field. He stands in the midst 
of them, bowed down with age. But, to the honour 
of the Chinese as a nation, he is always looked up 
to by all with pride and affection, and his old age 
and grey hairs are honoured, revered, and loved. 
When, after the labours of the day are over, they 
return to their humble and happy homes, their fare 
consists chiefly of rice, fish, and vegetables, which 
they enjoy with great zest, and are happy and con- 
tented. I really believe that there is no country in 
the world where the agricultural population are 
better off than they are in the north of China. 
Labour with them is pleasure, for its fruits are 
eaten by themselves, and the rod of the oppressor is 
unfelt and unknown. 
In the green tea districts of Chekiang near 
Ning-po, the first crop of leaves is generally 
gathered about the middle of April. This con- 
sists of the young leaf-buds just as they begin to 
unfold, and forms a fine and delicate kind of 
young hyson, which is held in high estimation by © 
the natives, and is generally sent about in small 
quantities as presents to their friends. It is a 
scarce and expensive article, and the picking of 
the leaves in such a young state does considerable 
injury to the tea plantations. The summer rains, 
however, which fall copiously about this season, 
moisten the earth and air, and if the plants are 
young and vigorous they soon push out fresh 
leaves. 
